Balloon Lady Question

[NewfieMom]

Did our first outdoor run today in preparation for the 2012 Princess Half and we were talking about the dreaded Balloon Lady . Is there a balloon lady for each corral, or just for the back of the pack? We were trying to figure out if they just want to make sure everyone finishes by a certain time, or if everyone finishes within the same time frame, regardless of where they start the race?

I know there's apparently a 16 minute mile minimum, but I've seen some times posted for almost & over 4 hours. Is there a maximum time? (Really hoping to not need to worry about that, just wondering )

We're really excited about doing this

 

[verticalchaos]

The 16-minute "clock" starts when the very last runner in the very last corral crosses the starting line. So the further towards the front of the race you are, the more of a cushion you have.

 

[NewfieMom]

Thank you! We're planning to do a 10 mile race this summer, and were talking about the benefits of having an official time and starting in an earlier corral. Having a better cushion is definitely a motivator!

 

[verticalchaos]

Yep! My 15K time got me into Corral C for Marathon Weekend, and my running partners and I (one was C, one was A but moved back) got as close to the front of our corral as we could. More cushion!!

 

[faith-hope-joy]

I thought there was a balloon lady for each corral. Not that those in the first few needed one.

 

[longhorns2]

Nope, only one balloon lady.

I was one that started in corral B due to a previous time, but ended up with an over 4 hr finish time. I never saw the balloon lady, but did see the sweeper biker guys with the orange flags as they were finishing for the day.

So if you can get a finish time that will push you up a corral or two or 5... lol... that should be all the cushion you need. I'd guess the E and F corrals would be most likely to get swept if they can't keep the time in 16 min. I was hitting 18 min by the end and still allowed to finish.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Can anyone explain what this balloon lady is? I have been in three Disney races and have never seen anyone with balloons...she is someone to be scared of? My times haven't been impressive at all but I have yet to see one sweeper. I thought I would at the WDW Marathon but never did.

 

[chimera]

Can anyone explain what this balloon lady is? I have been in three Disney races and have never seen anyone with balloons...she is someone to be scared of? My times haven't been impressive at all but I have yet to see one sweeper. I thought I would at the WDW Marathon but never did.

A lot of races have someone that runs or walks in the absolute back of the pack to maintain the minimum pace. Often, it's a woman carrying balloons. As long as you're in front of her, you're fine. Once you get behind the balloon lady, you may be swept.

I've never seen one an actual balloon lady during a half at WDW, though have heard there was one for Princess. We pass out food at HS until the last participant goes by for the full...at that point, the sweepers are guys on bikes...no balloons.

 

[MeredithRX]

There was a balloon lady for the Princess last weekend. She was carrying pink balloons and barking to the people behind me - 'If you aren't ahead of me before we hit the Mile 5 marker, you're getting on the bus!'. I don't know where she came from, or where she went after that, but I definitely saw her. Somehow, once we got to the mile 5 marker, we were told that we were several minutes ahead of sweeper time, so I have no clue why they were threatening us at that point. It was around the TTC when we saw her, so I guess they were trying to get things organized going into MK and then they'd pick up with sweeping people again after we got out of the park.

We didn't see the bike sweepers until close to the end when I think they were calling it a day. They had their orange flags rolled up and lying down, so we didn't freak out when they went flying past us.

 

[stitchfan18]

If you don't provide proof of time, but put an estimated finish of just over 2:45, will you still end up in the last corral?

 

[longhorns2]

If you don't provide proof of time, but put an estimated finish of just over 2:45, will you still end up in the last corral?

Not necessarily. I think it would depend on the people and times in the end who do sign up.

but one friend estimated 2:55 finish and was in corral D and my sister estimated 3:00 finish and was in corral E. neither had proof of times to turn in as this was their first race over a 5K.

So logically speaking, those that put in 2:45 and no proof could have been in C

 

[stitchfan18]

Not necessarily. I think it would depend on the people and times in the end who do sign up.

but one friend estimated 2:55 finish and was in corral D and my sister estimated 3:00 finish and was in corral E. neither had proof of times to turn in as this was their first race over a 5K.

So logically speaking, those that put in 2:45 and no proof could have been in C

Thanks for the info! My mom is planning on doing the 1/2 in January, but has only done 5k's. I don't know whether she'll run a 10k before then for a proof of time or not. I always thought if you didn't provide a proof of time you were definitely in the last corral.

 

[cewait]

If you don't provide proof of time, but put an estimated finish of just over 2:45, will you still end up in the last corral?

Not necessarily. I think it would depend on the people and times in the end who do sign up.

but one friend estimated 2:55 finish and was in corral D and my sister estimated 3:00 finish and was in corral E. neither had proof of times to turn in as this was their first race over a 5K.

So logically speaking, those that put in 2:45 and no proof could have been in C

Definitely not. The last corral is reserved for those who put a sub 245 expected time and for those who put no expected time.

A little secret is to put 2:46 as your expected time. You will be in the first corral just after all those who provided time.

 

[verticalchaos]

Definitely not. The last corral is reserved for those who put a sub 245 expected time and for those who put no expected time.

A little secret is to put 2:46 as your expected time. You will be in the first corral just after all those who provided time.

Do you mean sub-2:45 without providing proof of time?

Marathon weekend I put in sub-2:45 (I think I put in 2:40) and provided proof of time and was definitely NOT in the last corral.

 

[cewait]

Do you mean sub-2:45 without providing proof of time?

Marathon weekend I put in sub-2:45 (I think I put in 2:40) and provided proof of time and was definitely NOT in the last corral.

correct My bad ommission

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

My recent marathon weekend experience was interesting. It was not my first event; I was in the appropriate corral for the half but have no idea what happened with my assignment for the full. I was put in the last corral for the full.
My thoughts,
Nothing is guaranteed, unless you bring proof of time just in case. Don't count on the corral placements to be exact.

Train now as best as you can there is time. Count on you.

You CAN do it!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

My recent marathon weekend experience was interesting. It was not my first event; I was in the appropriate corral for the half but have no idea what happened with my assignment for the full. I was put in the last corral for the full.
My thoughts,
Nothing is guaranteed, unless you bring proof of time just in case. Don't count on the corral placements to be exact.

Train now as best as you can there is time. Count on you.

You CAN do it!

Did you ask at the expo to change your corral?