I think it would be great to meet before too, if there's time. Was it Corinna who said she pees 3 times before every race? I've been reading so much I forget who said what, but 3 times in the porta potty must entail some waiting around time. It'd be fun to have a group to wait with. We could plan to meet at the t-z tent, and have the cell as a backup.
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So does that mean the numbers correspond to the corral we'll be in? That would be great to see who's with us.
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I'll be in that last corral too. I wonder how many people like us are slower and don't enter proof of time, and could there be more than one full corral, so some end up in the second to last. That would be nice, and extra 7 minutes. I can picture you in the subway.
So funny.
Guilty as charged on the 3x to the portas before the corral. Sometimes I am nervous before a race, so it's nice to have something to "do." I am not the only one - Mel on the Princess thread (and Ohana) recently said she does the same thing.
Actually, come to think of it, I often don't have the patience to wait near the T-Z tent for too long - I will try to do better this time, but I usually meet up with people on the other side of bag check. However, for the first time this January, it got WAY too squishy in there way too early - they were encouraging people through bag check well in advance of being ready to open the gates to let us through.
Also remember, it is a bit of a long walk from the staging area to the start. Not to mention the walk from the busses to the staging area. At least half a mile, I'd say. It's cool because it's on this back service road, but it is easily an extra mile of walking all together. No pacing requirements for that part, of course.
As for bib numbers and corrals, yes, in the past the numbers have indicated where in the line-up you will fall, though it's always a guess. I had thought maybe B for January, but it turned out to be C for me.
As for being in the last corral(s) for lack of proof of time, yes, there are a lot of people for whom that is the case. If you have done a race 10K or longer, you can bring a print out of the results to the Expo - ANY time will probably get you moved up at least one corral. Although being in the last corral is not necessarily a problem. It does put you that much closer to the sweepers if you have any pace concerns.
So here are the tips for starting in the last corral:
1. The back of the pack is where the fun is!
2. Get to your corral early and stake out a place right at the front. This will buy you a few more minutes and will mean that when they start your wave, you will not have to jockey for space, you can just GO.
3. Don't worry if you are passed by a few runners - there are always a few faster people who don't bother to submit a time and then try to make their way through.
4. If someone falls behind pace, the sweepers tend to be really nice and they won't pull you out of the race without some warning and giving you a chance to catch up. If a person does get swept, they board a van and are be on Disney's timetable, but they *will* get everyone back to the Epcot staging area.
5. Have we talked about "throw away clothes" yet? If it is cool enough for a great run (which it was last year) you will want to bring along a few items to keep comfortable at the start of the race. The people in the last corrals have the longest to wait for the start - as much as an extra 45 minutes, potentially, so make sure you're prepared. They collect clothes from the race course, launder them and donate them. Good things to have along if the weather is cool and you like to be warm: sweatshirt or jacket, gloves, pants with zippers at the bottom or pajama pants that can be removed over shoes. Others prefer a trash bag with a hole in the top - very princessy, but I've done it - $1 store poncho or mylar blanket. If it's really cold, I bring those hot hands warmer things. It probably won't be that cold on the day of our race though.
Oh and if we could maybe post pics of ourself on here too so I can have a visual to go by. I too will be at the expo for 10 Kathy so once we get numbers I will either call or text you once Im there. Lisa if it goes by last names our stuff is probably at the same table.
Happy Birthday!!
I think posting pictures is a great idea. Of course you've all seen my photos, but I'll post one again later.
Sounds like a very nice birthday, Lindsay. The t-z tent before the race sounds good, and then off to the portapotty lines.
I think now that i have my skirt, I'm going to worry about how late I can go to the bathroom and then get in my corral.
I'm trying to figure out where my sil and the kids would see me best at the end of the race, if anyone has suggestions. It looks like the bleachers at the end are pretty crowded, but since they will have park passes and the park should be open before I finish I wondered if they might be able to see me better inside the park, beyond spaceship earth, or if the finishline is the best. I plan to have my cell and thought I'd call sil at mile 10-11 to let her know about the time I'd be coming in. Any suggestions, Corinna or Maria?
Remember, there are corrals out near the corrals. You probably want to go once before heading for the corrals, but then at least one more time once you get out to the corrals. If you have a few people waiting together, it is possible to leave the corral once you've gone in, but eventually it will probably get too squishy to make your way back to the group easily.
Hey Sparkly Ones!
Lindsay -- Those who have already done the Princess can answer better than I. Before the WDW races I've entered there's usually a group of WISHers gathered in the Port-o-Potty area, recognizable by the lime green if it's warm enough.
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Corinna -- Great advice as always! I have one more piece of Expo advice -- if you see something you want, buy it then! Do not plan on it being there later (particularly if you wear any size other than Extra Small
). I also try to eat light the day before. I don't mean skip meals or just have soup, but I do try to make sure I'm never more than comfortably full, and actually prefer to feel like there's a little room left. Ok, I have one more thing -- I love to have chocolate milk after the race. It's a good recovery food, and for me it's a special treat.
Congratulations on your new PR!! Fabulous!
I am glad you have gotten some WW answers - Olive oil in excess could definitely do it. I never thought of it - I use cooking spray for most things, myself. It's amazing how much less oil you can get away with for almost all cooking.
Good advice on the Expo. It's true - things sell out. Also good advice on the eating reasonably the day before. I know that I like to eat well the day before the race - I probably eat a little more than I do most of the time, actually, but I would not want to go overboard at a buffet the night before either, definitely. Comfortably satisfied is the way to feel!
If we can't meet before we should definitely try to meet in the T-Z tent after.
I'm pretty sure I will be in the last corral.
I have heard having the email and text updates is a good way to keep track of folks -- if they work.
What a great story about your trip to NYC - it sounds like something out of a movie!!!
So are you thinking of getting email/text alerts on your phone while you're in the race? That could be fun...or distracting, I guess, as you say, if it works. I may set it up on my phone once we get our numbers, though - for after. Sometimes the alerts definitely get delayed or lost. Last year during the cold marathon, we were tracking a friend and saw the 20 mile alert and then....nothing. We ended up wondering if he was OK. Which he was. The finish alert just didn't appear in anything like a timely fashion.
Watch out for Winter, everyone! Seems like it's cold, snowy, windy or otherwise slightly wretched pretty much all over the country right now.
We are doing 3 parks that day. I hope it wont come back to bite me in the end. We are doing AK for a few hours, then DHS, then going to MK for the main st electrical parade and wishes, then heading back to the resort to bed. 
We have dentist appts at 730am. I am hoping to just have a relaxing easy going day.
It will go with a lot of colors for shirts, too, even the black shirt you are wearing in your pic (from W&D?) will work. 
Remember make the decision that is best for your family! 
I love your skirt, totally cute! 
Congratulations on your fabulous weight loss!
You are so good to keep us chatting, I always smile when I see you've posted 
But we do remember that subway ride! 
thanks for the tips too. I was thinking i wouldn't want to eat at crystal palace on saturday since I always eat way too much there. Have fun in NYC!! It's not supposed to be too cold tomorrow, so it would probably be a nice day for a walk. Be careful.
Another snow day tomorrow. I'm ready for spring.
