The early alarms, the corrals, the castle, the finish line glow—Marathon Weekend is closer than it feels, and we’re tackling the questions you’re actually asking. We dig into the big simulation week and why it’s more about patience than pace, then talk taper calm and how to internalize race pace without burning yourself out. From there, we zoom into the choices that matter: smart carb loading at Disney (yes, fries can be part of a plan), when a hydration vest helps, and how to keep your hands, feet, and head warm with simple gear that won’t slow you down.

We map spectator routes that work for early birds and back-of-packers—TTC for easy mid-race cheers and a monorail return to EPCOT for the finish—plus a cheer squad meetup near Coronado Springs around Mile 20–21 for that late-race lift. Sleep still tricky? We share practical routines, layered alarms, and low-stress morning timelines that get you to security, a character photo, and your corral without rushing. We also break down shoe rotation for challenges and the one rule we never break: nothing new on race day.

Course talk stays honest: which Magic Kingdom approach feels better, why Cone Alley relief matters, and how to segment the marathon into bite-size goals that carry you through the hard miles. If the wall shows up, tuck into a Galloway pace group or lean on the runners beside you; conversation, music, and simple countdowns can turn a tough patch into forward motion. 

We wrap with a race report full of cold PRs, muddy finishes, and a spotlight on Rocket City’s hat trick challenge, proving again how community turns big goals into finish-line moments. If this is your first 5K or your seventh start at 26.2, there’s a plan here to make race day feel doable.

Subscribe, share with a friend gearing up for Marathon Weekend, and tell us your best cold-weather or spectating tip in a review—we’ll feature our favorites on a future episode.

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