2014 Marathon Course

[EMHDad]

I am not sure if someone put this up already. I found this...


http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL12023TY

 

[cewait]

the Map my run version of the 14 course

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/243214561/

 

[goofeygirl]

I am looking at mile 21 and that's where I lost my mojo.

Overall I was very chipper for the full...I was looking forward to seeing MK (like I hadn't seen it the day before) and then AK and then the track..and then my goal was to look forward to HS...after the track at mile 20 and passing that group of Disney charactors on a stage and dancing...I was fine...but when I went up the ramp and saw the sign for 21 I could feel my mojo slipping. I was trying to convince myself how wonderful it is...so close...

But I think this is what did it for me... I was expecting to see HS entrance when I got to the top of the hill where that mile 21 sign was. Going up that ramp, (well it felt like a hill by then) I was thinking I would see HS entrance and the next 5 miles would be HS and then Epcot. But this wasn't so. All I saw was more long dark endless hot highway and I think that's what did it for me. I wanted to see HS and all I saw was more of the same highway.

I had to stop and stretch at some road barrier and blast Rhianna for something to help but it did little. I was gone by then...emotionally over it.

HS now seemed dreadfully far away and with every step I was looking for it..the entrance, a sign for something other than highway!

By the time I got to HS, I didn't care. My head was down and I was just moving forward. Everything now seemed to drag on...I couldn't wait to move through HS ... I know people were cheering and high fiving and clapping but I didn't care...(I wish I would have enjoyed this more because this was one of the fun parts)
Passing by Epcot resorts dragged on even though it was probably just a mile long...Going through Epcot took forever and three days...head down...no joy.

Finally the finish line.

So my mental prep must be restratigized. I now know that HS is not just around the corner from mile 21 so I must think of a plan...a mental plan! I want to enjoy the end of this race because that's the best part of it.



Okay so now rechecking out this full map I realize that HS really isn't that far from mile 21. In fact it looks like its a mile and a half...so when I get to the top of that mountain (the entrance ramp) and see a long stretch of more endless dark hot highway...that doesn't end...I will now know that just over a mile is the HS entrance. Of course a mile but this time is a long journey...but perhaps it will help. Doing the full this past January, I didn't know where the HS entrance was, only that the highway kept going.

 

[FFigawi]

So my mental prep must be restratigized. I now know that HS is not just around the corner from mile 21 so I must think of a plan...a mental plan! I want to enjoy the end of this race because that's the best part of it.

Okay so now rechecking out this full map I realize that HS really isn't that far from mile 21. In fact it looks like its a mile and a half...so when I get to the top of that mountain (the entrance ramp) and see a long stretch of more endless dark hot highway...that doesn't end...I will now know that just over a mile is the HS entrance. Of course a mile but this time is a long journey...but perhaps it will help. Doing the full this past January, I didn't know where the HS entrance was, only that the highway kept going.

One way to look at it is that once you're up to the top of the ramp, you can finally run in the shade again. It's a welcome change from the sun beating on you on Osceola.

 

[goofeygirl]

I actually don't remember it being shady!

 

[cherrybomb11]

Now I have to figure out where my family will be able to see me. I think it's been discussed in past threads so I will dig through them. They are staying at Pop Century but won't have park tickets. I'm thinking the easiest would be to meet me at the AK lot at the halfway point, then hop the bus and watch me finish. I'm projecting almost 3 hours between halfway point and finish, which sounds like plenty of time right? Thoughts?

By the way, theESPN spectator tool does not take into account this course map. Their map has MK at mile 10.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Now I have to figure out where my family will be able to see me. I think it's been discussed in past threads so I will dig through them. They are staying at Pop Century but won't have park tickets. I'm thinking the easiest would be to meet me at the AK lot at the halfway point, then hop the bus and watch me finish. I'm projecting almost 3 hours between halfway point and finish, which sounds like plenty of time right? Thoughts?

By the way, theESPN spectator tool does not take into account this course map. Their map has MK at mile 10.

my husband and kids were outside of AK to cheer for me and then met me at epcot in front of the margarita stand at mile 25 (?). so that's basically what your family will do since they'll be at the end. it worked well for us. another thing they could do is see you at ak and then on the path between the boardwalk and DHS. that's at mile 24ish. i had friends who were right there on the path and it was great! a nice push to the end.

 

[goofeygirl]

I thought there was some sort of a tracking device where someone could check where you are by entering your bib number...and they can get a general idea of what time you would finish...


I love the idea of someone meeting me at Epcot and then go get a margarita...gee that sounds like something to motivate you!

 

[cewait]

Now I have to figure out where my family will be able to see me. I think it's been discussed in past threads so I will dig through them. They are staying at Pop Century but won't have park tickets. I'm thinking the easiest would be to meet me at the AK lot at the halfway point, then hop the bus and watch me finish. I'm projecting almost 3 hours between halfway point and finish, which sounds like plenty of time right? Thoughts?

By the way, theESPN spectator tool does not take into account this course map. Their map has MK at mile 10.

Not sure of your expected pace or their appetite to head out early. If they do want to sleep in a little, then from POP they could catch a regular Disney DAK starting around 00730 - 0800. That would put them in front of the DAK for a 5:30 isn marathoner; depending on how corrals line up and how early the first bus runs. Form there, there is either an Epcot or POP bus that they could catch. Thinking that there is still 13 miles to go, they may want to catch the POP bus and refresh.

 

[cewait]

I thought there was some sort of a tracking device where someone could check where you are by entering your bib number...and they can get a general idea of what time you would finish...


I love the idea of someone meeting me at Epcot and then go get a margarita...gee that sounds like something to motivate you!

Runner tracking will come out about 10 days pre-race. It's a text or email alert that lets folks know when you cross certain points.

Half - Start, 5k, 10k, 15k and Finish
Full - Start, 5 mile, 10 mile, Half, 20 Mile and finish.

The last couple years have worked well, but it is not an absolute.

Runkeeper Pro or what ever the upgrade version is called has a live tracker that allows spectators to follow their runner. Because it's relying more of cell towers for position and there is a time delay, it is usually good within a quarter mile in a race situation.

Also, the new Garmin 620 has a feature to use the runner's cell phone to broadcast their position to Garmin connect live. Trying it out this weekend

 

[RunRookie]

I thought there was some sort of a tracking device where someone could check where you are by entering your bib number...and they can get a general idea of what time you would finish...


I love the idea of someone meeting me at Epcot and then go get a margarita...gee that sounds like something to motivate you!

If you have an iPhone there is an app called "Find Friends" which allow people you approve to see exactly where you are via GPS. It won't tell you pacing or anything like that. But if you know the course, and you are getting the runner tracking text messages (that includes pacing), you will be all set.