1/2 marathon...last "check" at 10 miles?

[klh-or]

I've read that a couple of places. Does that mean that if you are on pace at 10 miles you are home free and won't get swept? Even if you crawl the last 3 miles? Oh, please let it be true... (Okay, maybe not "crawl" but...)

 

[Hey Mickey]

I've read that a couple of places. Does that mean that if you are on pace at 10 miles you are home free and won't get swept? Even if you crawl the last 3 miles? Oh, please let it be true... (Okay, maybe not "crawl" but...)

As far as I know and based on my experience, yes, that is true for both the WDW and DL 1/2 marathons. This past DL 1/2, once we got through Angel Stadium (mile 10), people started high fiving each other because they were "safe" from being swept. There was a bus around mile 11 in case you needed to drop out voluntarily, but no sign of sweepers anywhere!

However, you should be aware that they start dismantling the course and turning off clocks after the time it would take the last runner to cross the start to complete the course at a 16min/mile pace. But the finish line will be there waiting for you, and you will be allowed to get there under your own steam! Although I suspect that won't be an issue -- I find that once I hit the 10 mile mark and know there is *only* 3.1 miles between me and my medal, pace is less of an issue. In fact, I think thats why I saw several people go down between mile 10 and the finish line at Disneyland -- it was too hot and people started to really push to get done knowing the finish was relatively close!

Erica

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As far as I know and based on my experience, yes, that is true for both the WDW and DL 1/2 marathons. This past DL 1/2, once we got through Angel Stadium (mile 10), people started high fiving each other because they were "safe" from being swept. There was a bus around mile 11 in case you needed to drop out voluntarily, but no sign of sweepers anywhere!

However, you should be aware that they start dismantling the course and turning off clocks after the time it would take the last runner to cross the start to complete the course at a 16min/mile pace. But the finish line will be there waiting for you, and you will be allowed to get there under your own steam! Although I suspect that won't be an issue -- I find that once I hit the 10 mile mark and know there is *only* 3.1 miles between me and my medal, pace is less of an issue. In fact, I think thats why I saw several people go down between mile 10 and the finish line at Disneyland -- it was too hot and people started to really push to get done knowing the finish was relatively close!

Erica

No they don't start dismantling until after the runner has passed.

I finished beyond race pace once and have stayed to watch the complete end of the full.

They do turn off the mat so that no more times register. If you are past the pace, you won't get a certificate or a chip time--but the clock is still rolling. You will still get a medal.

A CM with a clock on wheels was rolling behind the last person to finish the full in 2006. Dismantling did not take place until after the race was "over over". The grandstands were still there, the barricades, the medical tent, the water, the tables of food et cetera.

The finish clock is still running though. That doesn't stop until all runners are off the course. (We were at the bend leading up to the clock and it was still running as we told people to look up that the finish was literally just around the corner.)


They want all runners off the main roads though--so check your marathon packet for official sweep times. Chip mats and sweep locations were not necessarily co-mingling on the course.

For the full, once you enter EPCOT, you can finish. (actually I think once you get out of MGM and onto that walkway by the water leading to the boardwalk area, you can finish).

Since the half finishes along the highway in front of EPCOT and goes through the parking lot into the front entrance, I am not quite sure how that works.

 

[Hey Mickey]

sorry, my mistake. I've never watched the end of the WDW races, but I've watched the end portions of both DL 1/2 marathons, and in both instances they were dismantling things before all the runners had passed. For example, I know as I was walking back through Downtown Disney cheering people on this time, the 13 mile clock was gone. I was a little surpirsed -- I figured they would tsrat dismantling things set up on the streets of Anaheim at a given point, but figured they would leave up anything on Disney property until the last participant was off the course...

Erica

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

sorry, my mistake. I've never watched the end of the WDW races, but I've watched the end portions of both DL 1/2 marathons, and in both instances they were dismantling things before all the runners had passed. For example, I know as I was walking back through Downtown Disney cheering people on this time, the 13 mile clock was gone. I was a little surpirsed -- I figured they would tsrat dismantling things set up on the streets of Anaheim at a given point, but figured they would leave up anything on Disney property until the last participant was off the course...

Erica

Hmmm...interesting. Maybe b/c of permitting on city streets?

I think as the last runner passes, they will start dismantling. I've not been "on" course...well...I could see the fire trucks as we came off the turnaround at WWS and was exiting onto MGM. But anything that was there for the race was still there when I passed in a very very poor state (flu and I was DONE DONE DONE and sooooo not interested in the fun anymore). i think the choir was still there.

That seems unfortunate they were tearing down the end with runners still on the course. That is soooo poor sportsmanship!!!! I could understand if they were really lagging behind, but with sweep points, there just isn't any excuse.

At least the good news for the end of the half---the finish line stays up in full for the next days full marathon.

 

[windwalker]

sorry, my mistake. I've never watched the end of the WDW races, but I've watched the end portions of both DL 1/2 marathons, and in both instances they were dismantling things before all the runners had passed. For example, I know as I was walking back through Downtown Disney cheering people on this time, the 13 mile clock was gone. I was a little surpirsed -- I figured they would tsrat dismantling things set up on the streets of Anaheim at a given point, but figured they would leave up anything on Disney property until the last participant was off the course...

Erica

They wouldn't dare do that at WDW, there would be an army of lime green clad Knights and Warrior Princesses, storming the Magic Castle wanting someone's head.

They were going to do a 15 min per mile time limit at the Tower of Terror Race but we brought out the big guns. (actually we begged) They changed it to the current 18 min per mile.

Dave

 

[klh-or]

18 minute mile? That's more my speed. Clearly I'm registered for the wrong event!