Castaway 5K

[le506]

Question for those of you who have run the Castaway 5k. If as runners we get off the boat earlier than everyone else, is it possible to go reserve your chair and umbrella for the day before hitting the starting line or do they do a pretty good job of cattle driving you directly from the boat to the race?

 

[cheermom2four]

Actually when I participated back in Feb on my Magic cruise, we werent the first ones off surprisingly. Then again, people kept trinkling into the meet up place to get your bib and hear about the route etc. I think you might have time if you really hurry as they give time for parents to drop their kids off at the CC kids club area.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Just ran the 5K this past weekend. We were on the Dream. First off the ship at 8:30am. As you walk by the beach, you can certainly put your stuff on a chair. You start when you start the race, if you know what I mean. We just put our stuff in the big bin at the start line. Once we finished, we still had plenty off choices as to where to settle in for the day. Enjoy our cruise and the 5K!

 

[ChipNDale86]

Ran it while on the Fantasy back in January. By the time everyone checked in and got bibs etc., we were barely off the boat before everyone else. I was near the front of the crowd walking to the start line and when we got there we had to wait at least 15 minutes for everyone else to get there before we started. Main reasons was because there are only 3 CMs who really run the whole thing and two of them were at the back of the line making sure everyone got to the starting location.

They told us there was a pretty big group who signed up (I think it was around 300) but a lot of times they'll have up to 500 or so (on the Fantasy at least). So the more people who are running it the slower the process of starting probably is.

I would say if you are near the front of the crowd of runners getting off the boat you should have time to put your stuff at a chair and then get over to the starting line before they officially start. Even if you don't make it back right on time you can always start a little bit later. There is a clock there but it's not an official time or anything.

 

[Anisum]

When I ran it on the Magic back in February we were just about the first ones off the boat. They do lead you as a group to the start but they make a stop at Scuttle's Cove for runners to drop off young children before the run. I would get at that point you may be able to get ahead of the group (if you plan on going to the family beach) and find a place to park your stuff. If you plan to go to Serenity Bay you would have to carry your stuff for the first half of the race and put it in a spot before looping back. It depends of how fast you run but generally I would say there's plenty of time to grab a good spot after the run if you just leave your stuff near the start line as others have suggested.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

They told us there was a pretty big group who signed up (I think it was around 300) but a lot of times they'll have up to 500 or so (on the Fantasy at least). So the more people who are running it the slower the process of starting probably is.

I would say if you are near the front of the crowd of runners getting off the boat you should have time to put your stuff at a chair and then get over to the starting line before they officially start. Even if you don't make it back right on time you can always start a little bit later. There is a clock there but it's not an official time or anything.

I was really surprised at what a small crowd there was running and walking this time. When the cruise director asked at the show the night before how many were running the 5k in the morning, only a few hands went up and I think some people boo'ed. LOL. Thankfully, due to the low numbers, things were pretty organized and moved right along.

 

[Nikitahyc]

Is there a charge for the 5k?

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Is there a charge for the 5k?

No charge

 

[Conceptualice]

When I ran it on the Magic back in February we were just about the first ones off the boat. They do lead you as a group to the start but they make a stop at Scuttle's Cove for runners to drop off young children before the run. I would get at that point you may be able to get ahead of the group (if you plan on going to the family beach) and find a place to park your stuff. If you plan to go to Serenity Bay you would have to carry your stuff for the first half of the race and put it in a spot before looping back. It depends of how fast you run but generally I would say there's plenty of time to grab a good spot after the run if you just leave your stuff near the start line as others have suggested.

You can actually drop off young children so you can participate in the run? (Kiddos would be 4 & 8) Last time DH & I ran we only had DS, and family watched him since has a toddler.

 

[Anisum]

You can actually drop off young children so you can participate in the run? (Kiddos would be 4 & 8) Last time DH & I ran we only had DS, and family watched him since has a toddler.

In February you could. I've only run it once but they made a special stop so people could drop off the kids.

 

[Conceptualice]

Thanks for the insight! I know DH & I would love to run together again. (If possible!) We would love the kiddos to honestly run with us, but I understand the reasons for age limits.

 

[jahber]

You can actually drop off young children so you can participate in the run? (Kiddos would be 4 & 8) Last time DH & I ran we only had DS, and family watched him since has a toddler.

Yes, you can

 

[bumbershoot]

You can actually drop off young children so you can participate in the run? (Kiddos would be 4 & 8) Last time DH & I ran we only had DS, and family watched him since has a toddler.

Yes.

People also stop to use the bathroom.


I have no interest in dropping bags or in being on the beach area you pass by (we're more Pelican-area people), so I haven't done that, but I suppose you could.

I've never been off the ship first, and I've done the free island 5K several times.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I'm planning on running, and dropping my 6 year old off at Scuttle's (just found out about it!).. I will not be able to place any items on the beach. Do most people do this? Will there still be decent spots available for the ones who can not?

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm planning on running, and dropping my 6 year old off at Scuttle's (just found out about it!).. I will not be able to place any items on the beach. Do most people do this? Will there still be decent spots available for the ones who can not?

I don't think most people do it at all.

I tend to run, go back to the ship where I meet up with hubby and son, I shower, change, sunscreen-up...I've even then gotten breakfast, and then we get off the ship. There are 3 of us and we rarely get 3 loungers, and we haven't had a problem getting loungers. If you want to be right near the ship, you'll have a problem, but we don't want to do that, so we just keep walking.

 

[loril13]

We're just starting the whole planning process. This will be our first ever cruise. We'll be on the February 26th sailing of the Wonder. One thing I know for sure is I definitely want to do the Castaway 5k. Hubby will do it with me.
This is probably a really dumb question -
I assume we bring a beach bag with our swimsuits, extra sunscreen, water bottles, etc and leave it in the big bin I keep reading about? We'll change into our swimsuits in the restrooms?

 

[CamColt]

We're just starting the whole planning process. This will be our first ever cruise. We'll be on the February 26th sailing of the Wonder. One thing I know for sure is I definitely want to do the Castaway 5k. Hubby will do it with me.
This is probably a really dumb question -
I assume we bring a beach bag with our swimsuits, extra sunscreen, water bottles, etc and leave it in the big bin I keep reading about? We'll change into our swimsuits in the restrooms?

You can do that or go back to the ship to shower and change. That is what I do as I couldn't stand the thought of being all sweaty after a run in that humidity.

 

[loril13]

You can do that or go back to the ship to shower and change. That is what I do as I couldn't stand the thought of being all sweaty after a run in that humidity.

I've seen this optio0n mentioned a couple of times. Getting back to the ship, shower & change, get back off the ship - doesn't eat too much of limited island time?

 

[Anisum]

I've seen this optio0n mentioned a couple of times. Getting back to the ship, shower & change, get back off the ship - doesn't eat too much of limited island time?

To be fair a lot of us have been on the island before and/or aren't huge beach people. I really only feel the need to spend an hour or two on island beyond the 5k. The rest of the time I enjoy how quiet the ship is with everyone on the beach.

 

[ChipNDale86]

I got back on the boat to shower/change after doing the 5k on my first cruise and I enjoyed it. I wouldn't have wanted to stay sweaty and smelly the rest of the day. We had a Cabana that had a little outdoor shower, but I really wanted to get clean. I shower quickly so don't feel like it took too long.

Granted we didn't have great weather (rainy and VERY windy the whole day) so we didn't spend the whole day on the island anyways, but I don't think it would have really cut into my island time that much even if the weather was nice.

There is a bin near the start of the 5k but it is very small and unless you're near the front of the line it may be hard to actually get your stuff in that bin.