Can someone please talk me off the ledge??

[Cruz91]

I haven't been around much since just after the '13 WDW Full, but I could use a little reassurance now. Since Jan, I've been running pretty regularly and now run my long runs at about a 11:15 pace. That's a DRASTIC improvement over my '13 full time. I ran the Cleveland RnR JUST to get a good corral time. I PR'd at 2:30. The problem? I didn't send proof of time to RunDisney until Saturday, about 12 hours past the deadline. Will I be stuck in the last corral? I did put my planned time as an 11:30 pace. If I'm all the say in the back, the bobbing through traffic will significantly impact my time. Usually I'm not worried about that, but I've just put in so much work for this, I hate to have it seriously impacted by working my way through so many people. I'm so demotivated right now I don't even want to run.

 

[cewait]

It's Disney and magic can happen. While officially you missed the date, I am 100% certain that no one was looking at their email over the weekend. You have a great chance of being included in the on time group.

If the worse case does happen I think the new corrals will help tremendously. You will just have to have a little extra patience in mile 1, mile 4 and mile 7. Once through these three areas and you really should not have a problem. I ran the half in the first Goofy from the last corral. I found that while crowded, I had a straight shot if I ran along the edge of the grass. The grass is smooth, you can run a decent pace and you will not be alone out there. I just tried to land in the foot fall of the runner in front of me and then watch their hips. If one dipped, I knew I needed to look out for a hole.

Never fear, all is not lost.

 

[Cruz91]

Thanks Coach. I got an automated email saying my request was late and wouldn't be considered, and I've talked to some folks at RunDisney and they indicated the same. I guess I'll just hope they're just saying that, and they'll really include my time. I guess what I don't know is where I would be put, without proof of time, in comparison to someone who had a proof of time of 14 minutes/mile. You're right, though, I'll get through it.

What is special about those miles you laid out though?

Thanks again. I knew you'd respond with encouragement.

 

[taratru]

Do they not let you change corrals at the expo anymore? My sister in law took updated results with her to the expo and they moved her. (I confess I haven't been paying attention to that)

 

[Cruz91]

They stopped expo changes about 2 years ago, I think...

 

[taratru]

They stopped expo changes about 2 years ago, I think...

Huh. She did that just this past January. I'm sure it got to be too much of a pain.

 

[bumbershoot]

They stopped expo changes about 2 years ago, I think...

I think it's a 2014 (and on) thing. I changed corrals for TOT at the expo just last month, and the Wine&Dine info indicates at-expo changes can be made as well.

Now...maybe they haven't allowed it for the *marathon* weekend in 2 years, but that's just my knowledge of the other races.



OP, it'll be OK. Just be careful. It's not the same at all except maybe emotionally, but I managed to move myself to E at the expo with the time from a 10K, then got caught in the portapotty mess at TOT, and ended up leaving with H corral. I was in despair, since I had originally been slated for J with absolutely NO idea how long I would take, and I felt like "why did I try?" But it was OK.

 

[cewait]

Thanks Coach. I got an automated email saying my request was late and wouldn't be considered, and I've talked to some folks at RunDisney and they indicated the same. I guess I'll just hope they're just saying that, and they'll really include my time. I guess what I don't know is where I would be put, without proof of time, in comparison to someone who had a proof of time of 14 minutes/mile. You're right, though, I'll get through it.

What is special about those miles you laid out though?

Thanks again. I knew you'd respond with encouragement.

For the posts above, the 2014 Disney Marathon weekend is the first race where Disney said enough. In all seriousness, folks were presenting dummy results to the runners help booth and the booth folks had no way of verifying anything other than was was sitting on the desk in front of them.

I was hoping that you had the weekend. Sorry, but I am also glad to hear that they are seriously following their own rules.



With regard to the mile posts...

Mile 1- the course necks down to one lane as it crosses an overpass. Since there is no way to over flow into the grass the course backs up.

Mile 4 - Just past the TTC where the course re-enters World Drive, it also necks down to one lane. Just before the water bridge the course will slow and then almost halt as folks walk up the far side of the viaduct. Stay course left.... There is a sidewalk on the left side through the area. Disney security will be there about half of the races attempting to push you back into the melee; This is the only time I really ignore these guys and run by. There will be an issue for 2014 due to the new bus stop construction. Just after the water bridge, the sidewalk becomes part of that construction project. You will be forced to merge into the road at that point.

Mile 6 - It's really 6.3 or 4 and is just after you leave MK. Floridian Way is necked down to one lane. This mile stretch is just over crowded. Course left is the grassy side and the road is hard coned on course right. At one time, the cones were not as tight and one could weave back and forth onto the opposite lane. Today, you are forced into the grass to avoid rolling roadblocks. I try to run on the white line through this section. Even with a C corral start, this section is tight.

 

[goofeygirl]

I was sentenced to the dead last corral this year. Yes it stinks...literally! Because the pop's where there too...it stinks because you have to wait so long to get started and it stinks because you have literally EVERYBODY ahead of you.
Myself and my brother were actually the DEAD LAST to cross the start line. The only people behind us where the balloon ladies...and that is when I had proof of their existence.

This year I mailed in proof of time. But this is my thinking,,,,I am hoping for the best but expecting the worse. I am not banking on having a better corral placement. No matter what time I finished this year and what time I emailed them a few mos ago...I am just going to expect that I will be placed in the back of the train.

It is a pita to weed through people. I saw a fellow fall...probably from trying to pass people...he was sidelined...I realized then it wasn't worth it for me to try to beat this...so I walked fast....a lot of walkers in the back...I ended up passing thousands of people during the course. Some areas were impossible, like some entrance ramp - no way...during the full marathon (I did the Goofy) there was a road someplace where it was so friggen narrow...no way...so there are areas where it will not work or not be worth trying. However you will pass thousands of people and in some areas, that will be an easy task.

Overall, this is not a race to go for a great time. Too many people no matter what corral you begin from...unless its A where no one is ahead of you.

Just assume at this point you are headed for the rear end and just accept it...if you end up someplace closer (which I doubt you will) then that will be good.

I don't want to be in the back. I sent my proof of time on time but I have a feeling I am going to be in the back.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Do what you can. Get to the start corrals early, get to the front of whatever corral you are assigned.

When I don't feel like exercising I buy a new gadget or download a new mapping app. Better living through plastic.

 

[Cruz91]

The most frustrating thing for me is this... I was unable to use my bib for a local half, so I let a guy run that one for me. He finished in 1:20, making "me" 2nd place in "my" age group and I think 40th overall. I could have sent that in and gotten A corral, no questions asked. Instead, I did the work myself and sent in my real time. From a different race. So much for being a rule follower!

 

[flatlandcycle]

The most frustrating thing for me is this... I was unable to use my bib for a local half, so I let a guy run that one for me. He finished in 1:20, making "me" 2nd place in "my" age group and I think 40th overall. I could have sent that in and gotten A corral, no questions asked. Instead, I did the work myself and sent in my real time. From a different race. So much for being a rule follower!

In keeping with the ledge theme. Have you ever run at Highbanks Metro Park? I ran there a bunch training for Glass City Marathon, a lifetime ago, in the early 1990's. I remember hills and small Adena Mounds, but I can't remember how steep the hills were.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

The most frustrating thing for me is this... I was unable to use my bib for a local half, so I let a guy run that one for me. He finished in 1:20, making "me" 2nd place in "my" age group and I think 40th overall. I could have sent that in and gotten A corral, no questions asked. Instead, I did the work myself and sent in my real time. From a different race. So much for being a rule follower!

I just want to say kudos to you for being a rule follower and for being honest! If more people did this it would really raise the overall experience in many areas.

I will likely be pretty far back myself. And while I'm not worried about finishing under pace, I just don't want to start 40 minutes, 60 minutes, whatever, after the official start. Especially if it is cold or raining.

Does anyone know if you still have to be in the corrals by 5 if not starting until 6:30? I assume you can exit to the PoPs if you need to right up to before your corral starts?

 

[paxsarah]

Did you submit any proof of time (since it's clear that you've done races of the required distance before registration)? I know it's too late for the OP if she did not, but my advice to anyone doing a Disney race is to finish a race of the necessary length and get that proof in, even if it's not the pace you'd hoped for, and then work to improve it before the deadline. But any verifiable result would get someone out of that last corral.

OP, if you didn't submit any race results at the time of registration, I'm wondering if you could "play dumb" at this point and say that you thought that because you'd run Disney races in the past, that they would automatically consider those results. That would at least get you out of the back corral, even if it isn't where your PR would place you. Otherwise, having started in corrals behind my assigned one, my advice is to just be patient and you will be able to pass a lot of people. What I have learned is although it seems slower, not to expend too much energy with lateral movement getting around people - take smooth openings, but not zigzaggy ones. As a run/walker, my run pace is usually faster than those around me (and then they pass me back when I'm walking), and sometimes the prudent thing to do is hold up and hang behind people on those narrow single-lane stretches. You will have more energy when you do get that opening to move through it and make the pass.

 

[WhereInFlorida]

Do what you can. Get to the start corrals early, get to the front of whatever corral you are assigned.

You will feel like a monster picking off runners for miles.

If I were there I would not get to the back corrals early at all but would get a bit more sleep and rest. I am not one to like the waiting around before a race, if that is your personality, embrace it.

 

[IamTrike]

What was your time when you ran the Marathon in Jan. It seems in the worst case they would use that as your baseline. It seems like if that was less than 6 hours or so you will at least not be in the last corral. Given the increased number of corrals for this year, I am not sure how far up it would put you though.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

You will feel like a monster picking off runners for miles.

If I were there I would not get to the back corrals early at all but would get a bit more sleep and rest. I am not one to like the waiting around before a race, if that is your personality, embrace it.

Do they truly stop running busses and monorails at 4 am? Or cani still hop on at 4:15 or 4;30?

 

[flatlandcycle]

Do they truly stop running busses and monorails at 4 am? Or cani still hop on at 4:15 or 4;30?

Resort Buses stop at 4:00 a.m., the Monorail does stop at some point later for a bit and then begins transporting Spectators from EPCOT to TTC at like 5:15-5:30. Driving traffic is closed into EPCOT from 5:00 am to 7:00 am.

In years past arriving in the corral by 5:00 am was tough, even if you were the first out of the Baggage Claim area. They do close early starting corrals and force late arrivals into the last corral. The way they are enforcing rules this year, I wouldn't push it.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

No, I definitely won't push it. Is be too afraid the one time I arrive a little later would be the time Disney starts strictly enforcing!

 

[cewait]

Resort Buses stop at 4:00 a.m., the Monorail does stop at some point later for a bit and then begins transporting Spectators from EPCOT to TTC at like 5:15-5:30. Driving traffic is closed into EPCOT from 5:00 am to 7:00 am.

In years past arriving in the corral by 5:00 am was tough, even if you were the first out of the Baggage Claim area. They do close early starting corrals and force late arrivals into the last corral. The way they are enforcing rules this year, I wouldn't push it.

And I as a runner would not suggest pouching the 5 am cut off.... There have been a couple race starts where I looked over to see hundreds of cars waiting for the parking lot to open.

I thought the monorail remained operational for the entire period. I can see where they would stack trains in anticipation of the change from runners to spectators. I know that I got really nervous the year I stayed BLT. It was the Disney on Ice year (2010) and there were several of us waiting in the contemporary lobby attempting to decide what train to catch. We caught one between 415 and 420 and basically walked into the corrals from the monorail station. At least I think. My eyes froze for about 2 hours that morning.

BTW - I am on the monorail again this marathon. Pack a couple sets of throw down sweats.