2014 Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend ** Check-In ** Updated 7/29 with Corral Info

[mershell]

First Disney run and as such I'll be in last corral. How is placement done within this corral for those with no previous racing time entered? If I want to be near the front of the corral, do I have a choice? Do I get there earlier (if so, what time do you suggest) or will I be placed based on another set of standards? I'm sure nobody wants to be near the very back, for obvious reasons (I swear I'm gonna have nightmares about the balloon lady ), so I assume I'm not the only one with this question.

Thanks in advance to all who can offer up some advice for this very green racer

 

[liesel]

I just realized I'm not on this check in thread! I am returning for my second Dumbo and will be running the 10K with DS12 (his first 10K!). I'm hoping for better weather this time. I'm nowhere near where I want to be right now, but we have 3 months and I'm determined to get there! I keep getting sucked into these events. Now that DL has 4 races, I'll have to start making some choices. That's not stopping me from attempting to register for Star Wars, though!

As for the corral question, you can line up anywhere you want within your corral. I would recommend getting there early. Last year I was part of the corral D debacle (corral was deemed full and we weren't allowed in) and had to start in E instead.

 

[mershell]

As for the corral question, you can line up anywhere you want within your corral. I would recommend getting there early. Last year I was part of the corral D debacle (corral was deemed full and we weren't allowed in) and had to start in E instead.

Wow, good to know. Early bird gets the worm. Got it! I honestly don't know how I'm even going to sleep that night before. I don't sleep well in hotel beds and excitement and nerves will keep me up. My running mate and I have planned our park visits for before the race, hotel booked and everything and I'm now wondering if that was a good idea. Don't want to be worn out. We'll just have to be careful to get lots of downtime in.

Thanks!

 

[Belle Ella]

It's funny, I was just mapping this out yesterday.

Thanks. I do kind of a modified Galloway, it's a hybrid of his experienced runners finish in the upright and the experienced runners time improvement. I realize that might sound a bit silly to be using the experienced runners versions but it is what works best for me, the other wasn't giving me the workouts I wanted. Although I only started running a year ago I was doing other things so switching to running 3 of my workout days impacted my cardio and I wanted to ensure that stayed relatively level.

Basically I do 2 days of the time improvement version for my weekday maintenance runs (45 min-ish, which is around 4-5 miles) and then 6m or more for my long runs, just ramping myself up to whatever goal I think I need by scheduled races. I really should do some speedwork as I would like to hit a certain time goal for the half, but I really don't enjoy it so rarely rarely do it. I will get my miles up to at least 14 before then, not really worried about it, question will be if I decide to go farther than that which is what the time improvement plan calls for. For me sticking to his plans too "exactly" doesn't work as well as I'd like with my overall workout goals. For example if I look at the time improvement one, I'm basically on week 7 as I had a 15K on Sunday and an 8K the week before and did a long run of 10.5 miles the week before that. But if I backtrack and shorten the long runs, he wants me to do speedwork, and that speedwork is less time spent on cardio than I want for my long run days and the idea of running around a track or exactly figuring out the 800 meter mark on a trail is.... Bleh.

But most other plans call for 4 days of running and since I cross train 2, that just doesn't work for me either.

I kind of figure if I just keep doing what I am doing and, at a minimum get up to 14 or longer for my long run by 8/9 or 8/16 I will be fine. It's worked out pretty well so far. My guess is I'll do something like this for my long run schedule.

6/1: 6 miles (have some blister/callus issues so this could change, see a podiatrist on the 4th)
6/8: 8 miles
6/15: 10 miles
6/21: 10K race
6/29: 6 miles
7/6: 11 miles
7/13: 6 miles
7/20: 12 miles
7/26: possible 8k race, not registered yet. If we don't do it, I may do 13 this week and 6 the next.
8/3: 13 miles
8/10: 14-17 miles. 14 for sure, more will be entirely mood dependent.
8/16: possible 10K race, not registered yet
8/24: 5 miles

Nothing sounds silly if it's what works for you. I've been using his training methods since I started running (after trying Couch to 5K to get me started running in the first place and finding that it didn't work for me) but I modify them to what works for me as well. His training plans posted on the runDisney site vary from his training plans on the Apps I have for my cell phone so I kind of combine them. I'm horribly undisciplined though. Half the time I'm too tired or don't have time to fit my running in between work and work.

Your schedule looks good!

First Disney run and as such I'll be in last corral. How is placement done within this corral for those with no previous racing time entered? If I want to be near the front of the corral, do I have a choice? Do I get there earlier (if so, what time do you suggest) or will I be placed based on another set of standards? I'm sure nobody wants to be near the very back, for obvious reasons (I swear I'm gonna have nightmares about the balloon lady ), so I assume I'm not the only one with this question.

Thanks in advance to all who can offer up some advice for this very green racer

Don't worry about the last corral, you'll be fine. And as the PP already mentioned just get there early and you can get towards the front of the corral and even if you can't. I always like to be right at the start of the corral and I'm paranoid about it. I get there super early because of it every time.

I just realized I'm not on this check in thread! I am returning for my second Dumbo and will be running the 10K with DS12 (his first 10K!). I'm hoping for better weather this time. I'm nowhere near where I want to be right now, but we have 3 months and I'm determined to get there! I keep getting sucked into these events. Now that DL has 4 races, I'll have to start making some choices. That's not stopping me from attempting to register for Star Wars, though!

As for the corral question, you can line up anywhere you want within your corral. I would recommend getting there early. Last year I was part of the corral D debacle (corral was deemed full and we weren't allowed in) and had to start in E instead.

It sure would be nice to have cooler weather this year, but I'm pretty sure we wont be that lucky. But still I will hope!

Good luck to your DS on his first 10K! It sounds like fun to get the family involved. But I'm with you on not being anywhere near where I wanted to be. I'm getting nervous that I'm going to blink and it'll be the start of August and I'll have missed all of my training opportunity. Grad Nites are just killing me with sleep and my other job so any free time I have I want to sleep, not run for an hour or so. But so far, we still have time and we can do this!

And decisions are gonna get tough pretty soon on which races to run. Right now I'm debating on three goals for 2015:

• Run every single event here at Disneyland (every 5K, every 10K, every half, every challenge)
• Run my first Coast to Coast (Star Wars since it's inaugural, Tink since I'm going for legacy, and then Wine and Dine because it's the biggest draw for me at WDW)
• If there's any truth to a runDisney event in Paris in 2015, that might be my goal of all goals.

Wow, good to know. Early bird gets the worm. Got it! I honestly don't know how I'm even going to sleep that night before. I don't sleep well in hotel beds and excitement and nerves will keep me up. My running mate and I have planned our park visits for before the race, hotel booked and everything and I'm now wondering if that was a good idea. Don't want to be worn out. We'll just have to be careful to get lots of downtime in.

Thanks!

Just take it easy when you are in the parks and you'll be fine Maybe even all the walking around the parks and rides will tire you out enough that even with your nerves you can get some decent sleep the night before. I remember the night before my first half though. I definitely couldn't sleep.

 

[mershell]

Just take it easy when you are in the parks and you'll be fine Maybe even all the walking around the parks and rides will tire you out enough that even with your nerves you can get some decent sleep the night before. I remember the night before my first half though. I definitely couldn't sleep.

I've pretty much surrendered to the fact there will be no real sleep had the night before . LOL I plan to get a lot of pool time in during our stay.
I live here and go to DL alot, so going into the park is not a big deal for me. I'm gonna make sure my running mate (lives in Oregon) gets to see what he wants, but beyond that, all I want to do is spend bunches of time floating in a pool at the hotel and relaxing. He arrives Wednesday and we're at the hotel Thursday through Sunday so we can do the park Thurs/Friday on and off and use Saturday to just kick. I think that should work.

 

[Belle Ella]

Sounds like a pretty darn good plan to me! Is this his first visit to the resort? Where are you guys staying? But man, relaxing at the pool sounds like a great idea!

If I had done the smart thing and stayed at the hotel for an extra night that would have been my plan after the half, but I'm only staying for one night and pretty sure you can't get to the pool after check out. Maybe if I can get there before check out I can lounge at the pool for a little while, but I doubt that's gonna work.

 

[mershell]

Sounds like a pretty darn good plan to me! Is this his first visit to the resort? Where are you guys staying? But man, relaxing at the pool sounds like a great idea!

If I had done the smart thing and stayed at the hotel for an extra night that would have been my plan after the half, but I'm only staying for one night and pretty sure you can't get to the pool after check out. Maybe if I can get there before check out I can lounge at the pool for a little while, but I doubt that's gonna work.

Yeah, he's been alot, so I think he'll be good with the relaxing part too. We're staying at Disneyland Hotel and I think you can use everything through the day you're there. Some other hotels offer that too, you might wanna check.

 

[Belle Ella]

Sounds like it's gonna be a great and memorable trip for you guys!

I'll also be staying at the Disneyland Hotel. It's my birthday treat to myself (well, early - my birthday is 10 days after the race), but I'm local so I decided to only stay for the one night before the race. I'll have to call and double check. It's not the end of the world if I can't, but it sure would be nice to really get to relax after a race for once. The trek back home, even though it's only a 3 mile drive can be a you-know-what by the time I get to my car at the parking structure and get all the way home. And I haven't sat by a pool in ... since high school when I actually swam?

 

[Belle Ella]

By the way, did everyone get the "Welcome to the Disneyland Half Marathon" email over the past couple of days? I've been running with them since 2011 and this is the first time I've gotten one of the race emails. I'm doing an absolute happy dance.

Hopefully everyone that needed to was able to submit their proof of time as today was the deadline!

 

[liesel]

Nothing sounds silly if it's what works for you. I've been using his training methods since I started running (after trying Couch to 5K to get me started running in the first place and finding that it didn't work for me) but I modify them to what works for me as well. His training plans posted on the runDisney site vary from his training plans on the Apps I have for my cell phone so I kind of combine them. I'm horribly undisciplined though. Half the time I'm too tired or don't have time to fit my running in between work and work.

Your schedule looks good!



Don't worry about the last corral, you'll be fine. And as the PP already mentioned just get there early and you can get towards the front of the corral and even if you can't. I always like to be right at the start of the corral and I'm paranoid about it. I get there super early because of it every time.



It sure would be nice to have cooler weather this year, but I'm pretty sure we wont be that lucky. But still I will hope!

Good luck to your DS on his first 10K! It sounds like fun to get the family involved. But I'm with you on not being anywhere near where I wanted to be. I'm getting nervous that I'm going to blink and it'll be the start of August and I'll have missed all of my training opportunity. Grad Nites are just killing me with sleep and my other job so any free time I have I want to sleep, not run for an hour or so. But so far, we still have time and we can do this!

And decisions are gonna get tough pretty soon on which races to run. Right now I'm debating on three goals for 2015:

• Run every single event here at Disneyland (every 5K, every 10K, every half, every challenge)
• Run my first Coast to Coast (Star Wars since it's inaugural, Tink since I'm going for legacy, and then Wine and Dine because it's the biggest draw for me at WDW)
• If there's any truth to a runDisney event in Paris in 2015, that might be my goal of all goals.

Just take it easy when you are in the parks and you'll be fine Maybe even all the walking around the parks and rides will tire you out enough that even with your nerves you can get some decent sleep the night before. I remember the night before my first half though. I definitely couldn't sleep.

Wow, doing every event next year, plus C2C! I saw that you were planning on Wine and Dine, I'd love to do that race someday. I ended up with 4 Run Disney races this year when I had only planned for two. I ran Tink (legacy too!), then Princess for my first C2C, and I am registered for DDD and Avengers. I'm still not sure how all that happened. Next year is a milestone birthday (in May so Tink will be my birthday race) and I had made a promise many years ago to run a marathon by this birthday. I've decided that it still counts if I do it any time that year. So I am shooting for the Honolulu Marathon December 2015. So I am most likely not running Avengers next year and am a maybe for Dumbo. I have to try to get in for Star Wars, though!


I don't sleep well before half marathons either, no worries! If you are relaxing and spend some time off your feet the day before the race you'll be fine. I've accepted that part of Run Disney races is that you aren't always at your best. There's too much fun to have!

 

[Belle Ella]

Wow, doing every event next year, plus C2C! I saw that you were planning on Wine and Dine, I'd love to do that race someday. I ended up with 4 Run Disney races this year when I had only planned for two. I ran Tink (legacy too!), then Princess for my first C2C, and I am registered for DDD and Avengers. I'm still not sure how all that happened. Next year is a milestone birthday (in May so Tink will be my birthday race) and I had made a promise many years ago to run a marathon by this birthday. I've decided that it still counts if I do it any time that year. So I am shooting for the Honolulu Marathon December 2015. So I am most likely not running Avengers next year and am a maybe for Dumbo. I have to try to get in for Star Wars, though!


I don't sleep well before half marathons either, no worries! If you are relaxing and spend some time off your feet the day before the race you'll be fine. I've accepted that part of Run Disney races is that you aren't always at your best. There's too much fun to have!

It totally counts to run a marathon during any point of the milestone birthday year! When I do my first full I want it to be the WDW marathon which either means the January before my birthday which is a stretch $ wise, or the January after my birthday at which point I'll still be 30. The goal is to just do it before I turn 31. So I love your idea of doing the Honolulu Marathon!

As for my goals for 2015, I have a feeling I can only make one of the three work. So it's just a waiting game. I'll definitely be doing Star Wars and Tink though. Avengers holds no interest for me, but I'm heartbroken I'm missing out on the inaugural medal this year. So I'll only go for all races at DL next year if my coast to coast doesn't pan out. A flight to WDW isn't cheap, even if I get to save substantially on hotels and park entry as a cast member. But if I can make it all work, I'm totally in!

It's funny how addictive this gets. I only ever intended for Tink to be my race just so I could go for legacy. But each year I just can't say no to the others! And then I finally say no to one (Avengers) and I get mad about it, lol.

Addictive!

 

[adykate]

Belle Ella - I am sure you have answered this before (or maybe prefer not to?), but I was just curious what type of job you have at Disney? You are just a great resource of knowledge for so much and always give such in depth replies to everyone . I was just curious.

 

[Belle Ella]

Belle Ella - I am sure you have answered this before (or maybe prefer not to?), but I was just curious what type of job you have at Disney? You are just a great resource of knowledge for so much and always give such in depth replies to everyone . I was just curious.

I help out with what I information can when I can, but there are definitely a lot of people who know a lot more than me! But I work in stores at DCA, specifically Hollywoodland and Cars Land.

 

[mershell]

By the way, did everyone get the "Welcome to the Disneyland Half Marathon" email over the past couple of days? I've been running with them since 2011 and this is the first time I've gotten one of the race emails. I'm doing an absolute happy dance.

Hopefully everyone that needed to was able to submit their proof of time as today was the deadline!

Yup, got my e-mail. So, not the norm, huh? I was excited and honestly I needed the boost. I started training for this 1/2 back in January and have become totally burnt on it and got to the point where I wasn't even looking forward to it anymore and was tired of training. The e-mail helped to re-motivate me and I'm looking forward to more updates. By the way, in the e-mail I notice a link to the course map, yet when I click it, I get no map. Anyone else have this issue?

Liesel...too right! Too much fun to be had...and that's what it's all about right?

Bella, so cool you work for Disney. That's been a life long dream of mine.

 

[zanzibar138]

I'm doing the 5k and the 10k. Will I get an email, or was it just for the half?

Did anyone reply about what time to get there to get to the front of the corral? I plan to get there early, but don't know what time 'early' is for a Disney run! I was going to aim for 4:30am (because I've heard that it's a good idea to get there an hour before the starting time), but will that be too late? We'll be at DI&S, so will just be a short walk through DTD

And is it true that if you bring a jacket you can just discard it at the starting line and they will be donated to charity? I'm thinking of bringing 2 'disposable' jackets, one for the 5k and one for the 10k. Then I can replace them with new jackets too

 

[Belle Ella]

I'm doing the 5k and the 10k. Will I get an email, or was it just for the half?

Did anyone reply about what time to get there to get to the front of the corral? I plan to get there early, but don't know what time 'early' is for a Disney run! I was going to aim for 4:30am (because I've heard that it's a good idea to get there an hour before the starting time), but will that be too late? We'll be at DI&S, so will just be a short walk through DTD

And is it true that if you bring a jacket you can just discard it at the starting line and they will be donated to charity? I'm thinking of bringing 2 'disposable' jackets, one for the 5k and one for the 10k. Then I can replace them with new jackets too

For sure everyone who signed up for the half should have gotten the email, I'm not sure about the 10K or the 5K. Keep in mind I've been running runDisney events for 4 years now and this is the first time I've gotten any kind of update email if I remember correctly. There wasn't much to it, mostly a reminder about submitting proof of time by today.

If you want an actual time, I usually shoot to be there about half an hour before the actual time that they open the corrals. And then when I get there I pretty much wait for them to open so I can get to my corral and be right at the gate. If not, I usually manage to get myself up there regardless. It's usually loosely packed so you can pick your way through if you'd like (I'm a horrible person, haha).

And yes, the clothing items that you discard are donated! I usually find a new overshirt or jacket for each event that I run for this reason. But I'm still cheap, so I find them on clearance in the off season

Yup, got my e-mail. So, not the norm, huh? I was excited and honestly I needed the boost. I started training for this 1/2 back in January and have become totally burnt on it and got to the point where I wasn't even looking forward to it anymore and was tired of training. The e-mail helped to re-motivate me and I'm looking forward to more updates. By the way, in the e-mail I notice a link to the course map, yet when I click it, I get no map. Anyone else have this issue?

Liesel...too right! Too much fun to be had...and that's what it's all about right?

Bella, so cool you work for Disney. That's been a life long dream of mine.

I know that feeling of getting burnt out. Does anyone have good advice on how they keep things going when they get that way? Usually for me it's the repetition so in theory I try to switch it up a bit. I usually have to train on a treadmill but I keep telling myself that I'm going to explore some parks or trails around here for my long runs so I can at least get some variation. Or even just drive to the beach and run along the sidewalk out there. Something to keep things interesting. Maybe even something as simple as changing up your playlist more often? I don't even know.

And thank you! It was mine for a long time

 

[zanzibar138]

If you want an actual time, I usually shoot to be there about half an hour before the actual time that they open the corrals. And then when I get there I pretty much wait for them to open so I can get to my corral and be right at the gate. If not, I usually manage to get myself up there regardless. It's usually loosely packed so you can pick your way through if you'd like (I'm a horrible person, haha).

What time do they usually open the corrals?

 

[MarisaLZ]

Hi there,

I'm brand new to this forum and am hoping for some advice! I did the Tinkerbell 10K last Feb and am now training for the 1/2! However, I was out with the stomach flu this weekend and missed the 6.5 mile run

Any advice on what to do? Try to run it asap? Run it instead of a 30 min run this week? Any thoughts or input is appreciated!

Thank you

-Marisa

 

[Belle Ella]

What time do they usually open the corrals?

That's a darn good question. I've been going over all of my old final race instructions to see if it lists them, which I could have sworn they did, but I can't find it listed anywhere. Hmph. Maybe someone else has a better memory of when they normally do. We still have time before the final race instructions and hopefully they will announce something then?

 

[zanzibar138]

That's a darn good question. I've been going over all of my old final race instructions to see if it lists them, which I could have sworn they did, but I can't find it listed anywhere. Hmph. Maybe someone else has a better memory of when they normally do. We still have time before the final race instructions and hopefully they will announce something then?

Yep, plenty of time yet I'm just a bit obsessive and planning my timetable already