2007 Disneyland Half Marathon

[1Robins]

I was just wondering if anybody registered for the Disneyland Half Marathon? I ran it last year and had a lot of fun. I was a little upset that Disney decided to have it on Labor Day weekend and that they changed the date from Sun. Sept 2nd to Mon. Sept. 3rd. I'm registered to run, but I won't go into the parks afterwards; it'll be way too crowded.

I noticed that they increased the field by 1,000 (total field of 13,000), but they are limiting the number of Southern Californian residents to 4,000. Last year, did they have a lot of people from out of state wanting to register to run, but waited too late? Anybody else have any theories as to why they restructured the registration this way?

 

[TEK224]

I did the DL 1/2 in 2006. The date change killed it for me. Don't really want to hit DL on a holiday weekend.

Terri

 

[lap3]

I'm registered for the DL 1/2 mary this year. I just hope they change the course a bit. The stretch running through the business park last year was a bit boring. Hopefully, they'll be able to make it a more scenic run...such as more running through the parks. Just a thought...

 

[tennisnut]

My DH and I ran the DL half last year and loved it. The date killed it this year for us too ! Who likes Labor Day air and hotel prices?

I still gaze at my loverly castle medal

I felt that there was more down time during the DL half and the DUST after leaving the stadium about killed me

Susan

TEK....did you run the half at WDW ? Was it you that I stopped and talked to around the Grand Floridian

 

[goingthedistance]

I did the DL 1/2 last year, and am strongly considering doing it again this year. The big "con" to this year's race is the fact that it is over Labor Day weekend. Big crowds and big costs. As my chances of doing the Goofy again in 2008 diminish, the chances of me doing the DL 1/2 increase. I will need to make a decision very soon.

Paul

 

[TXAng]

Both my DH and I are registered for it! We're not planning on going into the parks on Monday after the race, though. We've got some family in the area that we're planning to visit with on Monday, so we'll do the parks on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I missed LY as I booked a trip to London before I knew it existed and was ready to do it this year but when moved to Labor day weekend it is off my schedule again. Hoping the will move it back in 08! Parks too busy and my AP blacked out

IMHO, I beleive they are increasing the out of towners is $$$. They spend money on hotels, food, park tickets(SC people buy AP's), merchandise, etc than locals.

 

[AprilN]

I was seriously thinking about it, as I really enjoyed my experience running the first DL Half - but the move to Labor Day put a huge damper on my excitement. While I'm only in northern CA, it's still a flight or a long drive down to DL, and it's not really worth such a trip just for a race (there's no way I'd do the parks over a summer holiday weekend).

The timing last year seemed to work great, but I guess they're hoping for an even larger turnout with a holiday weekend. Oh well, I may still do it - but almost certainly on the cheap, with no park visits, and possibly finding a friend/relative to stay with.

 

[Bahamamomma1]

Hello all,
I am new to the forum, I have been lurking for awhile, following the great stories of the walkers/runners in the WDW races. Bravo!!
My DD and I are signed up for the 1/2. I have heard, but don't know for sure, that the reason for the date change, compared to last year, was the stadium availability....it's going to be crazy crowded for sure!

 

[AprilN]

I have heard, but don't know for sure, that the reason for the date change, compared to last year, was the stadium availability....it's going to be crazy crowded for sure!

That's a possibility. According to the LAA Angels Sept. 2007 schedule on their website, there will actually be a game in the stadium on Labor Day in the evening! And the original weekend (Sunday Sept. 16) is completely free, with the Angels playing in Chicago.

Now, perhaps there's another event in the stadium that weekend, but obviously evening events don't seem to interfere. I'm inclined to agree with the general concensus that DL moved the race to intice more out-of-towners to visit over the holiday weekend. It's all about the $$$...

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Hi all,

FYI, from Disney's site. All CA residents look to have an issue

Registration update for California Residents

We have filled the 4,000 registration spots reserved for local residents from the five-county Southern California area including Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside. If you are a resident of the five-county area, at this time you are invited to sign up to join our waiting list. If additional registrations become available at a later date, members of the waiting list will be offered a chance to register, on a first come first served basis.

If you are a California resident from outside the five-county area, at this time you will need to sign up for the waiting list as well, however you will receive confirmation of acceptance into the race and instructions for completing your registration within one week's time of your application until our total race registration capacity of 14,000 has been met.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Hi all,

FYI, from Disney's site. All CA residents look to have an issue

Registration update for California Residents

We have filled the 4,000 registration spots reserved for local residents from the five-county Southern California area including Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside. If you are a resident of the five-county area, at this time you are invited to sign up to join our waiting list. If additional registrations become available at a later date, members of the waiting list will be offered a chance to register, on a first come first served basis.

If you are a California resident from outside the five-county area, at this time you will need to sign up for the waiting list as well, however you will receive confirmation of acceptance into the race and instructions for completing your registration within one week's time of your application until our total race registration capacity of 14,000 has been met.

Wow! This is just wrong! DH and I did the half last year and love our castle medals, but we will not be back (I much prefer WDW, but was glad to experience DL). It would serve DL right if they have trouble filling the race. Talk about greedy!

 

[turtle51]

Hi there
I was wondering does anyone know if the 4,000 includes the 5k run? Thats what i wanted to do. Man the registration has only been open less than a month.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

The 4,000 limit applies to the Half Marathon only.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

The reason I'm not doing it this year is the date change too, a Sept event fits in really nicely with my annual work trip to London as I have to stop in the US or Asia to get there so hey LA works for me, but it was just that bit too early this year, plus again, we didn't want to deal with the crowds. I've been to DL on Xmas and New Year, it's a nightmare, can't imagine Labour weekend is any better.

 

[turtle51]

Yea im am excited that i can still participate in the 5k. My first time doing anything like this. Can anyone tell me if you recieve anything before or afterwards? Good luck to everyone.

 

[lap3]

Yea im am excited that i can still participate in the 5k. My first time doing anything like this. Can anyone tell me if you recieve anything before or afterwards? Good luck to everyone.

My DW did the 5k last year and she received a shirt at the expo and a medal for finishing. Both had the POTC theme to it and looked very nice. She loved the fact that the whole course was strictly on the DL property.