Hello all - I posted this in another thread, but thought I would ask it over here as well. My bother, a good friend, and I all are signed up to run our first ever Disney HM this year. Sadly, we did not meet the Nov 1 deadline for submitting a proof of time to the runDisney folks so it looks like we will be placed in the last few corrals. I probably know the answer since the course tends to get very congested, but how easy will it be to keep a somewhat normal pace? For example, my current HM pace is just over 8 min/mile. I'm sure there will be other "quick" runners that did not submit a time so I'm worried that the back corrals could be somewhat cluttered? I'm not concerned about getting a PR, but would like to have something respectable while not stepping on those in front of me
Second question, my parents will be down to watch us race, and I was looking at some of the Chear Packages as a possible Christmas gift. I was hoping that they would be able to view us from somewhere (once) along the course and then towards the finish. They are pretty mobile so getting around isn't an issue. Which package (if at all) sounds the most reasonable? They will probably arrive with us first thing in the morning so they will have to wait as well if that matters. We are all staying over the Bonnet Creek Resort who provides bus transportation.
My couple times in the back as a 9 minute runner was not all that bad, but it does require some patience in three really bad sections.
Bridge at Mile 1 Here the course necks from a 2-lane road with shoulders and smooth grassy aprons to a one lane bridge. Just after the bridge the course bends then merges into World Drive and is wide open.
World Drive at about mile 4.2 The course returns to World drive on a coned off one lane section. There is grass on the left, but it can be a little rutted here. This section goes up to the turn into MK and includes the Seven Seas Lagoon water bridge (under pass). Stay course left and when you see a sidewalk appear, hop up on it. You will avoid the real mess up the hill on the back side of the under pass. Security is out about every other race through here trying to escort runners off. This is about the only time I have ever just ignored them.
Mile 6.5 on Floridian At the point where we turn left out of the back side of MK the course is once again necked down to one lane with cones. Until about 3 years ago, the coning was rater loose, but they have started coning it tightly (ie. Large cones touching). Hang course left and hop off onto the grass as required.
Otherwise, just bide your time.
Really a package is not required. They are nice for the swag but the seating benefits in my opinion are not what you are purchasing.
They should plan on coming with you to the staging area on race morning. As runners are called to the corrals, they should hop the monorail and head up to MK. If you get the Chear pack (higher than bronze) with viewing area privileges, they could then get into MK (free for all spectators during the race) and work their way up to the Castle to the Chear area. They can wait for your there, but if you are an 8 mm runner, they most likely will not get back to the finish area in time for your finish.
As an alternative, I would have them head to the TTC and wait for you to pass there and then return to Epcot and try to grab a seat there. If they have the level of package allowing a bleacher seat, they would have time to grab the monorail and get back to the finish.
Not sure if this helps.