Any word on 2016 Marathon Course

[LSUlakes]

As long as we still go past McDonald's and I can stop for my M&M McFlurry, I'm good to go with any course!

McFlurry John

Is the McDonald stop really that big of a thing? Isn't it at mile 15ish? 10-11 miles to go with dairy in your stomach would either have me throwing up (probably preferred) or port a potty. A beer though sounds amazing at mile 20 ish. Something refreshing and different than Gatorade without the stomach problems.

Speaking of beer, wouldn't it be awesome if a beer mile was added to the weekend events? It could take place at Epcot Sunday night. Each quarter mile you drink a beer from the closes country. I'd pay more than the marathon fee for that. A marathon PR and beer mile PR in the same day would be epic.

 

[John VN]

Is the McDonald stop really that big of a thing? Isn't it at mile 15ish? 10-11 miles to go with dairy in your stomach would either have me throwing up (probably preferred) or port a potty. A beer though sounds amazing at mile 20 ish. Something refreshing and different than Gatorade without the stomach problems.

Speaking of beer, wouldn't it be awesome if a beer mile was added to the weekend events? It could take place at Epcot Sunday night. Each quarter mile you drink a beer from the closes country. I'd pay more than the marathon fee for that. A marathon PR and beer mile PR in the same day would be epic.

Mile 15 has been the distance for going off course, last 3 years, to get that M&M McFlurry, but if the new marathon course is changed, all bets are off as far as distance location. Big Thing??, apparently only for me since no one else seems to be Dopey enough to have done it. A cast iron stomach is a good thing to have for eating a McFlurry during a marathon.

McFlurry John

 

[FFigawi]

We have our beer stop at mile 24 just outside Boardwalk. It's a pretty convenient place for one.

 

[LSUlakes]

Any updates on the course change yet? Have they actually started to demo the race track yet?

 

[rteetz]

Any updates on the course change yet? Have they actually started to demo the race track yet?

Not that I am aware but rumors are construction for toy story at DHS will start in October.

 

[IamTrike]

So I could be off, but I seem to remember people in the past looking at the course certification to figure out what the course would likely be.

Does anyone know how far out Disney will have to get the course certified for the race?

 

[IamTrike]

Actually never mind. I found this post by coach Charles (he's the best, I miss him) in 2013. That year the marathon course wasn't certified until early Nov and course maps didn't come out until a couple weeks after that.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/course-map.3203544/#post-50160979

Here's the link to the USATF certified Marathon Courses currently at WDW
http://www.usatf.org/events/courses...tionYear=&lastName=&format=view&submit=Search

 

[rteetz]

Just saw on wdwmagic that construction equipment is being moved in this week for construction to begin very quickly...

 

[IamTrike]

Just bumping this thread. We were at Disney this weekend. Looking at studios the old course used to go through the backlot. I wonder if there will be anything there to run through in January?

Anyone have any idea what the backstage of studios looks like now?

 

[RunDisneyDad]

Just bumping this thread. We were at Disney this weekend. Looking at studios the old course used to go through the backlot. I wonder if there will be anything there to run through in January?

Anyone have any idea what the backstage of studios looks like now?

Did you have a chance to check out the Race Track? I'm curious how they will be able to tear it down, pave the parking lot, measure it and then get the course certified. Maybe that stuff happens quickly and its easy. Just can't wait to see what the course will look like.

 

[rteetz]

Just bumping this thread. We were at Disney this weekend. Looking at studios the old course used to go through the backlot. I wonder if there will be anything there to run through in January?

Anyone have any idea what the backstage of studios looks like now?

Backstage studios hasn't changed much yet. I've heard construction in that area could start as early as October at the start of the new fiscal year.

The race track is pretty much all gone now. They left the Mickey shaped pond but the track and building is rubble.

 

[IamTrike]

The race track seemed like it was gone. We drove by it and there was a lot of construction equipment still there though. I hope they don't make us loop the parking lot there.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

The race track seemed like it was gone. We drove by it and there was a lot of construction equipment still there though. I hope they don't make us loop the parking lot there.

Yea, that is my fear as well. I was looking on a different site and someone had overlayed the updated parking lot plans over the race track and based on what I saw there would be plenty of room to either loop the parking lot or do some sort of down and back. Bleh.

 

[Baloo in MI]

The race track seemed like it was gone. We drove by it and there was a lot of construction equipment still there though. I hope they don't make us loop the parking lot there.

I sure hope it is not looping a huge parking lot! I liked last year's course and I get that they can't keep us in the parks the whole time for a half marathon, let alone a full marathon. Running the backroads was ok for me, lots of entertainment but running a parking lot, that would not be my favorite part. Excited to see the changes.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I sure hope it is not looping a huge parking lot! I liked last year's course and I get that they can't keep us in the parks the whole time for a half marathon, let alone a full marathon. Running the backroads was ok for me, lots of entertainment but running a parking lot, that would not be my favorite part. Excited to see the changes.

Unfortunately the race track always felt like a glorified parking lot to me anyway, so I wouldn't feel much of a change if they just added a parking lot loop. They can line the classic cars at some other point in the course and not lose the effect. Of course this is coming from someone without much of an affinity for motor sports, so the enjoyment may just be lost in translation. I'm hoping they have something better rolled up their sleeves, but I wouldn't be disappointed if a parking lot loop is the solution.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Unfortunately the race track always felt like a glorified parking lot to me anyway, so I wouldn't feel much of a change if they just added a parking lot loop. They can line the classic cars at some other point in the course and not lose the effect. Of course this is coming from someone without much of an affinity for motor sports, so the enjoyment may just be lost in translation. I'm hoping they have something better rolled up their sleeves, but I wouldn't be disappointed if a parking lot loop is the solution.

To add, a flat parking lot loop would be preferable to the slanted track loop, anyway. I hated that loop.

 

[IamTrike]

To add, a flat parking lot loop would be preferable to the slanted track loop, anyway. I hated that loop.

I always had to try and stay really low on the course so the slant didn't bother me. I didn't like the choke point of going through the tunnel to get on the speedway though.

 

[Ariel484]

To add, a flat parking lot loop would be preferable to the slanted track loop, anyway. I hated that loop.

I hated that loop too. Mostly the steep hill getting into the track - thought I was gonna take a tumble!

 

[cavepig]

I liked the speedway for the cars to look at and looking back on all the people going around, but agree the slant was bad, I stayed near the top of it. I'm excited to see what they do to the course without it, If it's just parking lot looping I hope they stick a character out there at least.

 

[derekleigh]

To add, a flat parking lot loop would be preferable to the slanted track loop, anyway. I hated that loop.

I agree, the slant was awful, mostly the reason why I didn't enjoy the track loop.

The traffic running into/onto the track wasn't bad, but I could see problems if it was congested when people started to run in.