BernardandMissBianca
Rum makes math fun!
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2005
- Messages
- 23,882
Water stops and fuel stops:
I felt that in all 3 races the water stops and fuel stops were in perfect places. I never felt thirsty or dehydrated. My only complaint was the mess that people had made with the cups. They were tossed in the middle of the course which made it very slippery for those of us in the back. I stepped on one cup and almost went down. I also dodged the 1/2 used cliff shots, that was a mess!! Oh and I took someone (coach’s?) advice and moved down to the end of the water lines, a lot less congested!
Runners/photos/costumes/music:
For the most part the other runners I encountered were very nice and happy to chat to help distract each other. I did come across a few rude and pushy runners here and there but not to many. Several runners were rude to DH and the kids as they cheered from mile 12 though. Maybe it as because the runners were tired but there really is no reason to be ugly. Some runners were really helpful to a lady who fell about mile 9. She stepped right into a recessed water line access point. She fell hard, but she did catch up to me at Spaceship Earth so it was good to see she was ok.
As for the bad, the fight for the photographers was a little ridiculous. I don’t know if there weren’t enough photogs out there or what but some runners were jumping in front of other people to get shots in.
I saw some great costumes out there. Not sure I’d ever wear a tutu, but I now know what kind of tulle to get and what kind not to get. I do like that fact that you can have fun with this race and get a little silly.
I opted to not run with music and I’m glad I didn’t. I could focus on what was going on around me, especially since there were so many people. Some people with music could not hear me say passing on the left/right/excuse me. I also threw in the towel with intervals. I could not hear my watch over the other alarms and it got confusing at times when several of the same watch went off at different times.
Volunteers:
I said thanks to as many as I could. They are awesome. I didn’t really need much guidance so I’m not sure how knowledgeable they were but they were super nice cheering everyone on. I know it was a long day for them too. Lots of high fives from CM’s and volunteers after the finish.
Soreness:
I was pretty sore after day 3 but not as bad as I thought it would be. As long as I kept moving, I was ok. When I sat and the got back up, it was a little hard getting started. I ran into my chiropractor unexpectedly at MGM (knew he was at WDW, just didn’t know where) so he gave me a quick adjustment and I felt a million times better. Even about 90% of the soreness in my legs went away. I love my chiro!
Tips and tricks:
Carry tissues. When I got to the porta-potties when I jumped the corral, they were empty of TP, so I’m glad I had tissues.
When you get your cup at a water stop, squeeze it to make a spout. Less spillage.
Walk to the end of the water line, less traffic.
Don’t run outside the cones when there is oncoming traffic. I didn’t do this but security was really strict and yelling at runners. The road was open to traffic on the other side.
To do in the future:
Make sure my watch is in working order before the start. The fog makes the GPS take forever.
Get compression recovery sleeves for my calves. I think I would have felt tons better if I had. My legs were pretty swollen the next day. They weren’t uncomfortable but I think I would have felt much better.
I will put more time into costumes for the family 5K.
Make sure I get a pic of the whole family after the 5K. I did get one after I finished the 1/2 though.
Leave the point and shoot in the room and just bring my phone. I just used my phone for the 1/2 and it worked well and event the pics in the dark came out good.
Get faster so I can actually stop to get character pics with me in it instead of doing a drive by.
Limit my park tickets, we over spent because I wanted to keep the kids happy. I would just get 2 day park hoppers.
Possibly stay on the monorail loop or do split stay and move after the 10K. Being on the Epcot loop was nice for the 10K, but being on the monorail loop would have been a lot easier for DH and the kids.
Run with a friend. I suck at selfies, I need someone to take a pic for me!! LOL
I felt that in all 3 races the water stops and fuel stops were in perfect places. I never felt thirsty or dehydrated. My only complaint was the mess that people had made with the cups. They were tossed in the middle of the course which made it very slippery for those of us in the back. I stepped on one cup and almost went down. I also dodged the 1/2 used cliff shots, that was a mess!! Oh and I took someone (coach’s?) advice and moved down to the end of the water lines, a lot less congested!
Runners/photos/costumes/music:
For the most part the other runners I encountered were very nice and happy to chat to help distract each other. I did come across a few rude and pushy runners here and there but not to many. Several runners were rude to DH and the kids as they cheered from mile 12 though. Maybe it as because the runners were tired but there really is no reason to be ugly. Some runners were really helpful to a lady who fell about mile 9. She stepped right into a recessed water line access point. She fell hard, but she did catch up to me at Spaceship Earth so it was good to see she was ok.
As for the bad, the fight for the photographers was a little ridiculous. I don’t know if there weren’t enough photogs out there or what but some runners were jumping in front of other people to get shots in.
I saw some great costumes out there. Not sure I’d ever wear a tutu, but I now know what kind of tulle to get and what kind not to get. I do like that fact that you can have fun with this race and get a little silly.
I opted to not run with music and I’m glad I didn’t. I could focus on what was going on around me, especially since there were so many people. Some people with music could not hear me say passing on the left/right/excuse me. I also threw in the towel with intervals. I could not hear my watch over the other alarms and it got confusing at times when several of the same watch went off at different times.
Volunteers:
I said thanks to as many as I could. They are awesome. I didn’t really need much guidance so I’m not sure how knowledgeable they were but they were super nice cheering everyone on. I know it was a long day for them too. Lots of high fives from CM’s and volunteers after the finish.
Soreness:
I was pretty sore after day 3 but not as bad as I thought it would be. As long as I kept moving, I was ok. When I sat and the got back up, it was a little hard getting started. I ran into my chiropractor unexpectedly at MGM (knew he was at WDW, just didn’t know where) so he gave me a quick adjustment and I felt a million times better. Even about 90% of the soreness in my legs went away. I love my chiro!
Tips and tricks:
Carry tissues. When I got to the porta-potties when I jumped the corral, they were empty of TP, so I’m glad I had tissues.
When you get your cup at a water stop, squeeze it to make a spout. Less spillage.
Walk to the end of the water line, less traffic.
Don’t run outside the cones when there is oncoming traffic. I didn’t do this but security was really strict and yelling at runners. The road was open to traffic on the other side.
To do in the future:
Make sure my watch is in working order before the start. The fog makes the GPS take forever.
Get compression recovery sleeves for my calves. I think I would have felt tons better if I had. My legs were pretty swollen the next day. They weren’t uncomfortable but I think I would have felt much better.
I will put more time into costumes for the family 5K.
Make sure I get a pic of the whole family after the 5K. I did get one after I finished the 1/2 though.
Leave the point and shoot in the room and just bring my phone. I just used my phone for the 1/2 and it worked well and event the pics in the dark came out good.
Get faster so I can actually stop to get character pics with me in it instead of doing a drive by.
Limit my park tickets, we over spent because I wanted to keep the kids happy. I would just get 2 day park hoppers.
Possibly stay on the monorail loop or do split stay and move after the 10K. Being on the Epcot loop was nice for the 10K, but being on the monorail loop would have been a lot easier for DH and the kids.
Run with a friend. I suck at selfies, I need someone to take a pic for me!! LOL
