I trained for my first 1/2IM while training for the Boston Marathon (1 month later) and I won't lie to you, it was tiring. Now that it's over I can tell you what I learned from it. I entered this with fairly high confidence since I come from a running background and had already done 4 marathons. If you haven't ever done a marathon, then I honestly hope you've done an 1/2IM, so that you'll have some idea of what you're getting into.

My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you eat healthy, stretch regularly, get your rest and make the most of recovery weeks. My second piece of advice is once you get above any 2 hour runs, you'll probably also be riding 3+ hours, alternate weeks for long rides and do the long runs on the other weekend; unless you don't have the time commitments forcing these events to both be on the weekends. Taper well and make sure you recover adequately from the tri before any more hard running. I felt absolutely dead going into my half IM, but the race was much easier than expected, especially the run, probably because of my concurrent marathon training. However, I didn't recover well enough from the tri and pushed another 20 into that month between and didn't run my marathon as well as I would have liked. Good luck

I'm likely going to either the marathon or the Goofy. When did the event close last time? I dont mind registering a bit in advance, but also have a few more tris to pay for first...

My longest run for this cycle is 2.5hrs (my long endurance days are my fave workouts). I'd love to do back to back long run days - that's a really good idea. When do you suggest incorporating those (I'm in the early base period right now)?

Thanks for everyone's input!! :)

I did the "Dopey Challenge" last year, the "Goofy challenge" of the 1/2 and full marathons back to back with the extra 5k dose of masochism too.

I am registered to do the same this year.
Anton- I am glad you mentioned the 5k being on Friday.
I didn't see it on the Disney site when I registered. I would like to pre register for that too. Send me the link if you know where it is.

I know only about 3K did the ''Goofy'', but I wonder if they know how many went for the "Dopey". I heard it was a couple of hundred. An elite grade of kooks I must say.:D

Donegel- If your 1/2 IM is in October you should be fine.
I did the Hartford Mary in early October, then IM Florida in early November, rested a couple of weeks and resumed training for the "Dopey Challenge" in early January.

I felt pretty good endurance-wise, and was able to talk thru all my races pretty non-stop too. Anton even survived that, with minimal time in therapy. I think the electro-shock really helped him.

When It gets closer we can plan the trifueler meet up, down in Orlando

Cool!! I wonder what the Disney Theme for the 5k will be??
It is usually the current popular Disney movie.
Last year it was 'Chicken Little'

I will make it the ''Dopey Challenge" again :D

I made it in. How many other tifuelers made it??
We have to do something fun while we are down there.
Besides the running thing of course.

Kona,

If you want it to be a "REALLY Stupid Human trick" I would recommend to add the 5k as well. Guranteed to bring down the IQ for about a week..

On New Years Eve day I will be doing a 5 miler, followed by the polar bear plunge into the 35 degree Atlantic Ocean.

By doing both of these things I am guaranteed of doing my "REALLY Stupid Human Tricks" to end the old year and to begin the new one.

:D

Empacher, I run 4-6x per week during triathlon training. My winter schedule while training for Goofy Challenge last year looked like this:
M: AM swim, mid-day or PM run about :50, including :10 strides
T: AM strength, mid-day or PM 1:30 interval ride on trainer
W: AM swim, mid-day or PM run about 1:00, building to :25 tempo finish
Th: AM abs/core, mid-day or PM 1:30 interval ride on trainer
F: AM swim, mid-day or PM run about :50, easy to steady
Sa: 2:30 long ride trainer w/:30 brick run
Su: 1:30-2:15 long ride, building to :25 tempo finish, :30 recovery swim

So you see 5 runs in there. I had never run 2 big runs back to back either before Goofy. At first I thought I'd just walk the 1/2 (just to get a medal???). Then, I came to think that was a stupid idea. So my objective was to run more or less the same pace both days. I ended up running a little faster in the 1/2, but that was OK.

A key thing is that on Saturday after you finish the race, you do as little as possible, but first things first: eat, light stretching, and soak your legs in a cold tub of water! It will really make a HUGE difference to recover somewhat for Sunday.

Also, if you come in from out of town like I did, I'd recommend coming in on Thursday night or Friday morning.

Me & Beads stayed (separate hotels!) just outside the park, and it was a 10 min. drive to Epcot, very convenient, VERY easy.

On race morning, you get there early to get a good parking spot, and just hang out in your car. It was VERY cold last time, but hopefully we will get 40's or 50's this time.

Empacher...
Stayong on the grounds is too cool..I'm like you and avoid cars when I can. (It's an old hippie,earth hugger savin' money kind of thing). The park shuttles are easy and you don't have to mess with cars ...period..and staying on the grounds they offer a free shuttle from the airport...Very cool.
Last year the start temps were about 35 degrees...I say about because everyone you talk to has a different temp. Everyone used toss away clothes...which by the way, are collected and washed and distributed to the poor and homeless in the Orlando area.
AS to the heat...You should be done the half while it's still cool. For the Marathon it did get warmer but wasn't hot. The year before it was very hot.
Being from new England do what I did...In the late fall and early winter get in some treadmill time to stay acclimated to the heat.
Sounds like alot of trifuelers going....could be fun.

The PJs wern't bad...it was the bunny slippers that got to ME!