Official Castaway Cay 5K Thread

[NC State]

Love this thread, thank you for the picture and information!

We planning to be there after Sept 8th, how is weather there at that time?

 

[Rogue1230]

Love this thread, thank you for the picture and information!

We planning to be there after Sept 8th, how is weather there at that time?

will you be sailing on the dream??? My friend and I are running the CC5k too!

 

[NC State]

Yes, we're be on the Dream...I can't wait! This will be our first cruise!

 

[Rogue1230]

Us too!!! Well nice to meet you! have you joined the cruise thread and facebook page?

 

[cleophus12]

How do you get signed up for this? I noticed it is not listed on the Port Adventures for CC. DD is very interested.

 

[nannylori]

Never forget:
Dead Last Finish is greater than Did Not Finish, which trumps Did Not Start.

I absolutely LOVE this quote!!!

 

[nannylori]

I just got off the Fantasy and ran the 5K. It was awesome! There were plenty of "winner" medals for everyone and the staff was great. 65 or so people ran it. There was no shortage of 5K t-shirts. I really enjoyed it.

Did my first 5k with new feet a few weeks ago. When I finally came across the finish line, there were those groups of people,thank goodness, who like to clap for people finishing, which made me feel good. But the lady with the medals was only handing them to the half marathon finishers. DH was volunteering at another location,so there was no one there understanding why I was crying after finishing. The half marathoners got the nice backpacks(5k-plastic bags), medals and certificates. Their accomplishments were certainly something to aspire to,but what I wouldn't have given for a medal to hang anywhere at home,to show what I did that day. I guess it sounds small minded, because I really was proud of myself for simply not crawling over the finish line,but being upright to the end.....but a medal or a certificate would have been nice. I do have my was once sweaty but now dry Bib,which I treasure.
Looking forward, in an anxious way, to the CC 5K. Still breaking in my "Lamarrs"-I named my new Nike sneakers after the young man who spent over an hour making sure I had just the right footwear. Turned out to be bright blue cross trainers-can't miss me!!!!!!!

 

[Tiggersisimtheonly1]

For all those looking to do the 5k remember to bring a photo ID along with KTTW card for the sign up as they require them to sign up and get your bib number. They do give time to go back and get it if you forget.

 

[nannylori]

Thank-you so much for the reminder!!!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I was on the Dream from the 7th to 10th, and did the 5K on the 9th. Yay me!

When we got the Navigator for the 9th, I saw the meeting times for the 5K, so made my plans accordingly. Got to Evolution at the appropriate time, and eventually they got organized. They handed out bibs to everyone there, but NOT the 7ish year old child. The parent seemed a bit miffed and it seemed like the CM told the parent that she would get a bib to the child after the race, which mollified the parent (I was sitting one empty chair away from the child, so was sort of able to hear the exchange).

To finish the child-story, they started ahead of me but I passed them on the first loop, where it seemed that the child was EXTREMELY unhappy about running. The parent seemed unhappy with the situation. All in all I can't help but wonder if the parent wished they had not taken the young child. It sure made ME happy that I had left my 8 year old (who had wanted to do it but not enough to get up early) with his dad on the ship! I am still a beginning runner, and don't do well with talking and jogging, especially on real ground (vs treadmill).


Anyway, they just passed out bibs and safety pins to everyone 12+ sitting there. Quickly realized that very many people only had their KTTW and NOT their IDs, and their solution was to just keep your bib number on to indicate you had gotten off the ship with the running group. They were very free and easy with the photo ID thing in my experience. When I got back on board the ship at nearly the last minute (after the run I was very pleased with myself and lazed allll day on my lounger and wanted to hide out and stay on the Cay) they didn't ask ANYONE for photo ID. And I wasn't wearing my bib number. All they were asking for was the KTTW.

I wouldn't count on that for others, but it was the experience I had on the 9th.

We walked as a group off the ship and down to the starting point. I was wishing for a bathroom break, but none was made. Some people stopped anyway, but I didn't feel confident enough to do that (first time on the island).

I think I finished in 43 minutes, and there were a few people behind me, so I was overjoyed!

It was REALLY neat that there were people at the end clapping for the runners.

I didn't even think about trying to get hubby and son to be there for me at the end, but as it turned out, after meeting Jack Sparrow (they were first in line! and the character handler made sure that Jack knew they were first, which was pretty awesome for them) the tram only got them there about 3 minutes after I finished. They didn't see me finish, but they saw me still sweaty, lucky them.

The young woman organizing the run had medals that she handed as you crossed the finish line. I wasn't expecting there to be medals, so I was absolutely stunned and happy at this. All I wanted was the bib (I love those things!), and I even forgot that some ships have the certificates until a week later.

So that's how it went on my cruise and run.

For all those looking to do the 5k remember to bring a photo ID along with KTTW card for the sign up as they require them to sign up and get your bib number. They do give time to go back and get it if you forget.

When was your run? In my experience, they noticed that almost everyone had forgotten their photo ID, and they let everyone off and back on the ship without it. And they definitely were not asking for ANYTHING when handing out bibs to our group, they just gave them out to everyone old enough. They were handing out the bib numbers up to the last minute, too (very haphazardly, too, they pretty much missed me, sitting right in front nearly dead center and among the first to get there), and actually told people to NOT go back to their rooms, that there was no time.

How do you get signed up for this? I noticed it is not listed on the Port Adventures for CC. DD is very interested.

No signing up, just pay attention to the Navigator the evening before your Castaway day! It will tell you exactly when and where to meet.

 

[bumbershoot]

By the way, especially if you are a slower runner/jogger, watch out for bikes!

Before the cruise, when I thought DS and DH would be off the ship and able to watch me (underestimating how tired we would all be), I thought it was cool that they might be able to rent a bike and be on the course at the same time. And then I experienced the bikes on the course. YIKES.

Family of 4 all spread out, going the wrong way on the loop, nearly hitting me... And doing that despite there being other runners in front of me that they *had to have seen*. They had to have known there were runners going the opposite way as them, but they kept on spreading out. I called out to them that there were more runners behind me, but I doubt they cared if they heard. And even the non-family bikers were pretty lazy about moving out of the way of us. I was really very unimpressed by the courtesy of the bicyclists, quite frankly.

Of course, it also irritated me that some fellow runners were doing the loop backwards, too. (I'm a quietly irritable runner, LOL)

And speaking of that loop, it's NOT flat! There are some slight up and downs, and it's not flat side to side, either. My ankles are really sensitive, and I can feel the slant of a road very easily. For some reason I expected it to be perfectly flat, but my legs and ankles told me otherwise.

 

[jahber]

Did my first 5k with new feet a few weeks ago.

The half marathoners got the nice backpacks(5k-plastic bags), medals and certificates. Their accomplishments were certainly something to aspire to,but what I wouldn't have given for a medal to hang anywhere at home,to show what I did that day. I guess it sounds small minded, because I really was proud of myself for simply not crawling over the finish line,but being upright to the end.....but a medal or a certificate would have been nice. I do have my was once sweaty but now dry Bib,which I treasure.

Congrats on your first 5K! What an accomplishment! This is a little OT, but I wanted to let you know that many 5Ks don't offer medals and cool swag (some do, so if you love medals as many of us do, look for those!). 5Ks are typically much less expensive than half and full marathons to make them accessible to everyone, which is great. But the downside is less cool stuff Don't let it discourage you, though! I'll bet you can find a 5K or two near you (or a virtual 5K) that offers really cool medals. If DCL DOES end up giving medals to everyone for the CC 5K, I'll have to run it for sure!

 

[Auntieluncher]

This will be our 6th Magic cruise and I will be in the 5K if it kills me!! I've wanted to do it for the last 3 years but never been in shape enough to complete the course (I'm just fat and lazy, nothing serious). So excited to be on the cruise and able to 'run' with the group. Doesn't matter where I finish, just that I cross the line at some point!

 

[NC State]

That's the spirit! I can't wait either!

 

[nannylori]

Congrats on your first 5K! What an accomplishment! This is a little OT, but I wanted to let you know that many 5Ks don't offer medals and cool swag (some do, so if you love medals as many of us do, look for those!). 5Ks are typically much less expensive than half and full marathons to make them accessible to everyone, which is great. But the downside is less cool stuff Don't let it discourage you, though! I'll bet you can find a 5K or two near you (or a virtual 5K) that offers really cool medals. If DCL DOES end up giving medals to everyone for the CC 5K, I'll have to run it for sure!

Thanks so much for the "Atta Girl" encouragement!! I really do appreciate it!!
What is a virtual 5k? How do you "run/walk" on a computer? Would I still be able to lace up my new blue Nike "Lamarrs" and put rubber to the road??????

When I signed up for the Key West 5k,it put me on the list for all the runs in Florida & I'm beginning to detect a pattern. The more money you put up for signing on,the more swag you get in return, and the longer your mileage, the more money it is to register.... I wish,for the newly motivated,such as myself,that there was some type of upgrade button,that we could throw in a little more money if we wanted a few more perks. It would be nice to have the option to acquire a medal, or certificate or nicer shirt or backpack.Since most races give some proceeds to charities/non-profits,it could be a way to raise more money. Us newly motivated/ just starting out walkers/runners are an untapped possible gold mine........

 

[jahber]

Thanks so much for the "Atta Girl" encouragement!! I really do appreciate it!!
What is a virtual 5k? How do you "run/walk" on a computer? Would I still be able to lace up my new blue Nike "Lamarrs" and put rubber to the road??????

Hee hee. A virtual race is one you run wherever you are, at home, on a treadmill, on vacation. Whatever you are able to manage on the day of the "race." There's usually a web site you visit to log your race stats (time you took to complete) when you are done. It's all honor system, but you are mailed a bib, medal, and sometimes even a shirt/sweatshirt. My one and only sweatshirt was from the runningnerds.com virtual half. This Fl girl doesn't have much use for sweatshirts, but it's cute! . And just a plug for Disney races--they are expensive but you ALWAYS get a medal (got one today, as a matter of fact)

 

[bumbershoot]

If DCL DOES end up giving medals to everyone for the CC 5K, I'll have to run it for sure!

The ships don't seem to always have medals according to this thread, but if they do, they give them for the CC 5K. They only have the 5K there, so there's no one else to give them to.

 

[nannylori]

Hee hee. A virtual race is one you run wherever you are, at home, on a treadmill, on vacation. Whatever you are able to manage on the day of the "race." There's usually a web site you visit to log your race stats (time you took to complete) when you are done. It's all honor system, but you are mailed a bib, medal, and sometimes even a shirt/sweatshirt. My one and only sweatshirt was from the runningnerds.com virtual half. This Fl girl doesn't have much use for sweatshirts, but it's cute! . And just a plug for Disney races--they are expensive but you ALWAYS get a medal (got one today, as a matter of fact)

Thanks so much!!! When I saw "virtual", my brain went immediately to online!!!

Yesterday, I followed a link, and just when I thought I was falling down a 5k rabbit hole I couldn't get out of,almost hopelessly lost,up popped "Run Disney". I never knew this "area" of Disney even existed! Although it seemed,once again,that more attention is being given to the half & full runners,there are a sprinkling of 5k's in there. I was looking at the one in early November-not too hot, not too cold....but I also realized it's one of those situations where one has to weigh out the expense of staying in the area for around 3 days for a 3 mile run, against not doing it at all. I tend to think in terms of, just do it once and see how it feels......soooooo, if I survive the CC5k,coming across the finish line upright,not pulling up lame, with energy left to chew through a few ribs at Cookies at lunchtime, I may turn my attention towards Disney later on. Just don't want to get too full of myself too soon.....

 

[emmabean]

Just got off the Dream on 2/21 - and did my 1st 5K - Woo Hoo... They did hand out Medals - No certificates! Happy Running

 

[nannylori]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!

How'd you feel afterwards????

How was the weather????