Castaway Cay 5K question

[Mousemommy1]

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that there is a 5k on every Dream sailing. If that's true, I have questions.

We set sail on our 1st cruise in a little over 2 weeks!! A Dream 4 night cruise.

DH is interested in doing the 5K now. Is that something you have to register for ahead of time?

What is the cost to run in the race?

Is there a "prize"? Shirt? Medal?

What time of day is it typically run?

Thanks in advance for any answers!!

 

[stacecakes]

the 5k is offered at Castaway Cay. If you stop there, it's offered. You should register ahead of time. You can do this at guest services. There is usually a reminder in the navigator the day before but it's not always obvious. Participation is free, and officially limited to those 10 or older ( I have occasionally heard 12 as an official number, and also very rarely younger kids sneaking into the event in an unofficial manner)
There will be a set meeting time and place on the boat in the morning where participants will get assigned a bib and receive instructions. The group will leave the ship together, walk to the race start line. There is a bin there to store bags/ gear if needed. Time is allowed for drop offs at Scuttles cove if you need to park a kid. The runner group is usually among the first to disembark the ship so they have less traffic on the race course ( the course is on pathways open to everyone so slower runners/walkers may encounter traffic as they come in to the finish). they also try to do it early to minimize impact of the heat/humidity. It's not really an event to try to earn a PR.
There is a timer at the finish line, and water available on the course if needed. The path is pretty clearly marked and will often have CMs at critical points for directions or assistance if needed. Participants will be awarded a medal at the finish line. They were redesigned not too long ago and are pretty sweet. Commemorative t-shirts are available in the gift shops on the island only so if you want one, get it before you reboard the ship.

That's what I can remember- I'll be running it again a week from now!

 

[ajo]

When I ran it last month, they didn't give out any bibs. We met on the ship at 8:15, but I didn't pay attention to when we actually started running. There is also water available on the course.

 

[Shanti]

• You register at Guest Services or Port Adventures upon boarding the ship.
• Participation is free.
• Everyone who finishes (no matter how slow) gets the same medal. It's made of plastic with a ribbon strap, but large and well-designed.
• It is run in the morning on your Castaway Cay day. You'll have a designated area on the ship to meet that morning, where you'll get your number/bib & learn the guidelines for the run, then you'll walk out to the island together to the starting line.
• My son is 11 and he was allowed to run with them knowing his age, & no issue.
• Be prepared for it to be uncomfortably warm, sunny & humid during the run. But that does make the cool ocean water feel better afterwards.
• We ran it this January & the medals are my favorite souvenir from the cruise. The run wasn't easy for us, so it felt like an accomplishment.
• We don't feel the need for a rerun next cruise, though.

 

[Joel0917]

On 3/26 our cruise was delayed getting to cc, so they ran the 5k on the 4th deck starting at 845 am. My dd11 ran it. 7.5 laps around the ship.

 

[bumbershoot]

When I ran it last month, they didn't give out any bibs. We met on the ship at 8:15, but I didn't pay attention to when we actually started running. There is also water available on the course.

There must have been something funky going on on at least one of the ships last month; I heard of someone not getting a medal, either. I *think* they carry bibs and medals onboard, so if one ship hasn't gotten their stock replenished yet, that ship's 5Ks are going to "suffer".


OP, it's free, you should get a medal. You can BUY a hat (if they still have them), a pin (if they still have them) and/or a shirt (when I got them the sizing ran BEYOND small) if you wish.

Register for it at the Port Adventures desk. Don't wait until it's in the Navigator, just go by when there's no line (and they are open) and get it done.

 

[CamColt]

OP, it's free, you should get a medal. You can BUY a hat (if they still have them), a pin (if they still have them) and/or a shirt (when I got them the sizing ran BEYOND small) if you wish.

I agree! When I finally tried my shirt on, I thought I had bought a child's size.

 

[cheermom2four]

I did it end of February this year and we met at I think 8:15am in one of the lounges to get an overview of route we would be taking and to get our bibs (we each got one). Then once we all received our bibs they walked us out and we all went to the meeting place where the race starts. Some ran, some walked, I did a combo of both. We got rubber medals at the finish line. I bought a CC 5k tshirt there at the finish line too. They had quite a few choices of shirts to purchase but all we got was the bib and medal and the race for free.

 

[cheermom2four]

I agree! When I finally tried my shirt on, I thought I had bought a child's size.

LOL Just saw this and yep, I tried my shirt on and it defintely felt like a childs shirt.

 

[Amanda129]

On 3/26 our cruise was delayed getting to cc, so they ran the 5k on the 4th deck starting at 845 am. My dd11 ran it. 7.5 laps around the ship.

Oy! That's disappointing The main reason I want to run it is to see the island. (My sister just wants the medal )

 

[bumbershoot]

Oy! That's disappointing The main reason I want to run it is to see the island. (My sister just wants the medal )

There's nothing special about the course. You walk through the main area until you get to the start area, you run out to the old runway area, go up to the loop, go out up towards Serenity, back to and through the loop, and back. ALL of these areas are available to see while walking on the island.

So the only way you won't see those areas is if you don't get to the island at all. They must have run the 5K onboard because they were going to be so delayed that it would have been too hot and/or crowded to run it.

 

[Ratpack]

Can't wait to do this in June. Just hope I am not the only one that is walking as well as running. Just started my running earlier in Feb so I am not at the level to run a full 5K.

 

[bumbershoot]

You will not be the only one using Galloway-style intervals.

 

[jahber]

Can't wait to do this in June. Just hope I am not the only one that is walking as well as running. Just started my running earlier in Feb so I am not at the level to run a full 5K.

You won't be the only one walking, for sure! Especially since it will be hot--hotter than hot--when you go. I live (and run) in Florida, and it was still hooooot for me in November. We didn't even start running until 9. I carry my own water because I am prone to dehydration, but they do have water stops along the way.

 

[elephig]

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that there is a 5k on every Dream sailing. If that's true, I have questions.

We set sail on our 1st cruise in a little over 2 weeks!! A Dream 4 night cruise.

DH is interested in doing the 5K now. Is that something you have to register for ahead of time?

What is the cost to run in the race?

Is there a "prize"? Shirt? Medal?

What time of day is it typically run?

Thanks in advance for any answers!!

We just ran the Castaway Cay 5k (6/16/18) when we sailed on the Fantasy Western Caribbean.

• We registered everyone from our three staterooms at Guest Services when we first boarded.
• It's free registration. Registered runners were the first group that gets off the ship.
• Not all our registered family members ran. Those who didn't run watched over our stuff on the beach.
• We got a medal made of rare material called RubberPlastic with the year on the lanyard and a running bib. Previous medals had runDisney and the year, but not this years medal. The numbered bibs didn't have the runDisney logo on it either.
• The meeting area was at the Walt Disney Theater. It used to be at the Tube. I take it that it's getting bigger. The meeting time started around 8:15am, but people started coming in around 8am. We were let out of the ship around 8:30am. The sooner you can get out, the less of a line to have your picture taken with a character by the post office or in front of the ship.
• By the time we all walked by the bike rental area, the race started around 9:15am. At the start, it was a bottleneck until it opens up around the airstrip area. You can book it from there or take your time.
• There's one main water station going in the "loop of doom", there's a water cooler just passed the turn to the look out tower, and another one maybe 500ft away. These are the only place you can get water inside the loop. The coolers inside the mangroves were empty by the time we went in the loop the second time.
• I would suggest to bring a small hydration pouch if it's really hot. I brought one for my wife cuz I know there's usually a line for the water coolers or it will be empty in side the mangroves.
• There's a photographer by the finish line to take your pic with your medal and the 5K sign at the starting point.
• It's also pretty awesome hearing the crowd cheering for everyone as you make the turn by Cookies II.

I noticed the apparels and the medal/bib doesn't have the runDisney logos on them anymore. I'm not sure if they just don't want this race as part of the official runDisney events. Or if they have a different apparels during the actual runDisney event in January after the Disney Marathon week.

I hope these info helps!

 

[LSUfan4444]

When I ran it last month, they didn't give out any bibs. We met on the ship at 8:15, but I didn't pay attention to when we actually started running. There is also water available on the course.

What sailing? Thats weird.....I ran it last month and got a bib and medal.

 

[LSUfan4444]

When I ran it last month, they didn't give out any bibs. We met on the ship at 8:15, but I didn't pay attention to when we actually started running. There is also water available on the course.

You know what...Im feeling magical today.

If you PM me your address I'll mail you my medal if you want it. I race all the time and have medals from races around the world and its not that I don't want the 5K medal but someone else might appreciate it more. If you're interested PM me, if not no biggie.

If I really wanted the medal I know it's be upset I didnt get one.

 

[Dug720]

I noticed the apparels and the medal/bib doesn't have the runDisney logos on them anymore. I'm not sure if they just don't want this race as part of the official runDisney events. Or if they have a different apparels during the actual runDisney event in January after the Disney Marathon week.

Yes. The Challenge (the official one by RunDisney) is different than the not-quite-5K-fun-run on any other sailing to Castaway Cay, so the merch would be different.

 

[bumbershoot]

. Registered runners were the first group that gets off the ship.

Doesn't always happen fwiw. I've done the 5k a few times now and we've never been the first off. I also did the paid actually-a-5k January 2015 and for that one we were first off.

Previous medals had runDisney and the year, but not this years medal

2015 had it but since then it's a ribbon change.

There's one main water station going in the "loop of doom", there's a water cooler just passed the turn to the look out tower, and another one maybe 500ft away. These are the only place you can get water inside the loop. The coolers inside the mangroves were empty by the time we went in the loop the second time.

I've never had working coolers inside the loop, but you can hit the one outside the loop 4 times if you need. On the way in, the way out, go up the runway then back to the loop and get water on the way in the out again.

It's also pretty awesome hearing the crowd cheering for everyone as you make the turn by Cookies II.

Wow, lucky.

I'm not sure if they just don't want this race as part of the official runDisney events.

It's not really. It's run by rundisney more than it used to be, but it's not on their lineup except for the ONE sailing a year in January. And that's a different course.

What sailing? Thats weird.....I ran it last month and got a bib and medal.

They posted in April 2016 about running the month before.

You know what...Im feeling magical today.

If you PM me your address I'll mail you my medal if you want it. I race all the time and have medals from races around the world and its not that I don't want the 5K medal but someone else might appreciate it more. If you're interested PM me, if not no biggie.

If I really wanted the medal I know it's be upset I didnt get one.

You're so sweet but I think they only said they didn't get a bib.

 

[ajo]

You know what...Im feeling magical today.

If you PM me your address I'll mail you my medal if you want it. I race all the time and have medals from races around the world and its not that I don't want the 5K medal but someone else might appreciate it more. If you're interested PM me, if not no biggie.

If I really wanted the medal I know it's be upset I didnt get one.

Thanks for the very sweet offer @LSUfan4444 (and sorry for the very long delay in responding-for some reason I missed your offer when it was originally posted). But as @bumbershoot noted, in my original post I stated I didn't get a bib on that particular 5K (spring break on the Magic). I did get the rubber medal.