Castaway 5k tips for first timer?

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Planning to do the 5k on castaway for the first time? Any tips? We plan to do it at 2pm....I know it will be hot but that's when our son will be booked in the nursery for his nap and we will take our older daughter to the kids club on the ship.

DH is a runner and got excited when he heard about this so....(He's not a Disney person so I was happy he got excited about something) I am not a runner but I'm going to work my way up to 3 miles on the treadmill before we leave....in 25 days lol

Anything cool to see? Are the signs easy to follow? Anyway to choose a more shaded way?

 

[lilmc]

There are signs but they can be vague imo if you don’t have an idea of what the course is. Especially because you’re supposed to do the “loop” twice. It will definitely be hot! There are water stations on course, but that late in the afternoon they might be empty. I would recommend bringing a water bottle. On the “loop” part sometimes you can shade chase, but the airstrip part will be full on sun.

 

[RedHead0186]

There's not a ton of shade, a little bit on the loops but none on the airstrip. It'll be very hot. It's once up and back on the airstrip plus two loops (you can do them in any order). There are some signs but it's not super well marked so maybe check out the map ahead of time. Ask for your medal at the bike rental stand.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Hot- that time of day. Mostly full sun. Hydrate well

 

[LorrieAnn5]

If you or your husband really care about getting the full 5k on your watch go as far as you can at the turn around on the air strip and/ or start a bit before the starting sign....
I thought I ran the course correctly and it was only 3 miles so I had to add on a bit extra to get 3.1.
The heat will be brutal so temper your speed expectations.

 

[DMMarla07860]

At that time of Day the heat will be brutal, I ended up walking most of mine last time lol I did run the first day though did a back-2-back cruise so

 

[Cruising Engineer]

If he is an avid runner, have him sign up for the early start time. His 3.1-mile run will be done in no time. Switch off the baby duties back on the ship, and you do your run before it gets HOT.

 

[RedHead0186]

If he is an avid runner, have him sign up for the early start time. His 3.1-mile run will be done in no time. Switch off the baby duties back on the ship, and you do your run before it gets HOT.

There is no sign up, it's all on you own now.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

At that time of Day the heat will be brutal, I ended up walking most of mine last time lol I did run the first day though did a back-2-back cruise so

Time wise my goal is one hourish

 

[greensombrero]

I’ll second avoid the afternoon time if you can or bring water and plenty of sunscreen. I had zero running experience when I did it the first time. My wife and I did couch to 5K before our first cruise. The heat and humidity was a shocker even first thing in the morning.

However I discovered I love running. I’ve done a bunch of races now, mainly half marathons once I worked up to them. I’ve done a bunch of different courses along with some unique races.

I will say Castaway is not the best place to run in many ways but I do it every time I visit partially because it started my running addiction and partially because there is something magical despite the heat and humidity and the fact you don’t get the ocean views I was hoping for my first time.

There are some fun little things to see on the loop that Disney has set up and you can take a detour up the lookout tower. Last time I decided not to do the loop twice and went down the bike trail behind serenity bay and back which ends up more than a 5K in the end.

Take it at your own pace, hydrate and most of all have fun!

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

My children (11) took off there shoes and jumped into the ocean in there running clothes. I changed into my suit. I was really wishing I wore something I could just get wet. It was HOT and we did it at 11am. Have fun.