Castaway Cay 5k

[Hendlaw]

Has anyone done the 5k and is it worth it or just too hot, etc. I thought it might be a good way to get in a little exercise and see the island. Thanks!

 

[Msidescooter]

We did it when we were stopped at Castaway Cay in March. I'm not a runner and made it through to the end for the little rubber metal they give out. Was it hot, yes. Was it difficult to breathe the extra humid air, yes. But, I'm glad we did it and we'll probably do it the next time we're on the island.

 

[bumbershoot]

It is hot.
It is worth it.

 

[Luvzmy3boys]

Definitely hot and humid in August but good to get some exercise and keep those extra unwanted pounds off. Not particularly scenic but it helped me get my bearings since you walk quite a ways to get to the starting line. I would do it again

 

[staceymay00]

Has anyone done the 5k and is it worth it or just too hot, etc. I thought it might be a good way to get in a little exercise and see the island. Thanks!

My sons and I ran it last month. Hot and humid, yes. Scenic, not really. But we had fun and would do it again. I am not a runner and walked some of the time, my youngest son is good at long distance running and finished near the front of the pack, my oldest son is in between. There was a wide range of running ability represented. My husband and daughter decided running a 5k was not something they wanted to do on vacation.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I wouldn't do it again. You run through a path that is bordered by high vegetation, so there is no breeze. Then you run up and down an asphalt runway, where there is no shade, through the vegetation maze again and then back across the runway. I thought, "It's in the morning, in April. How hot could it be?" I'd just as soon run laps on the ship.

 

[poohs4me]

Agree with MalificientRN. I have done it twice.the second time I only did it to get the rubber medal. The next time I will do it is to get a castaway challenge medal

It really isn't scenic. It also cuts into your time on the island. If you want to snorkel you would be better doing that and running around the decks or on a treadmill before the day on the island begins

 

[bumbershoot]

The next time I will do it is to get a castaway challenge medal

You have January scheduled?
Last January you could do the normal, free, "island" 5K after the Challenge 5K and get two of the lovely new rubber medals (along with the gigantor metal medal), which debuted at the January challenge.

It also cuts into your time on the island.

See, I think it makes the time on the island BETTER. Running on deck brings you past a smoking area and my lungs have a problem with that. And it's seriously NOT fun. I get off the island, do the not-quite-5K free island run, go back onboard the ship, get ready, meet my family, and then we go have a lovely day. It just sets me up for a nice day.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Running on deck brings you past a smoking area and my lungs have a problem with that. And it's seriously NOT fun.

It's only a smoking area from 6p-6a.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's only a smoking area from 6p-6a.

There have been people smoking there when I was running. Rules don't always mean much to people.

 

[cyctorres]

In castaway are doing the normal 5k for the rubber medal? or only now do the Challenge 5K for the real medal?

 

[ludari]

It is a bit hot and humid for me but I do enjoy doing the 5K. I think you can better view of the island by renting a bicycle.

 

[Donna3271]

It is a cute race. Not a true 3.1 miles (more like 2.87). I continue after the finish line to get in a decent run. I usually run 8-13 miles, so running laps on the ship gets monotonous. I'll take real estate whenever I can get it!

 

[Narnia_girl]

When my husband ran this we found it to be disorganized to start with. The actual course was hot and boring but he said he'd run it again. I didn't like the way it cut into our family day on the beach. By the time he finished and our teens joined us the family beach was packed.

 

[mtchurchmonica]

We did it for the first time last September. None of us run regularly at home. We did it for the novelty of the experience. I think we would do it again. Maybe to better our time. Dh and I "trained" for 6 weeks prior to the cruise but our kids (teens) didn't.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We have done it twice now. We have fun with it. Great way to get in some exercise. And it is on an island, in the Bahamas! Bragging rights! Plus, you meet some really nice people. This last run I had the opportunity to run with a retired naval officer in his 70's. We chatted the entire route. So nice. Great memory! Plus, no guilt about hitting the ice cream machine immediately after.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

In castaway are doing the normal 5k for the rubber medal? or only now do the Challenge 5K for the real medal?

Okay,so I am an out-of-shape, overweight, 50 yr old asthmatic, but I would love to do this as long as I can WALK the whole way and take my time. If anyone knows the answer to some questions:

What time is it and how long do you have to finish?

How do you register/sign up?

What is diff between "normal 5k and "Challenge 5k"?

 

[Bree]

What time is it and how long do you have to finish?

It is first thing in the morning. From what I have read here on Disboards you get off the ship around 8:30am or possibly later. It is not a timed race nor does it have a required pace time. You can take as long as you want, but sometimes there won't be a castmember at the finish line after a certain amount of time has gone by.

How do you register/sign up?

You sign up onboard at the Port Adventures Desk.

What is diff between "normal 5k and "Challenge 5k"

The "normal" 5K is a free fun run that is offered when the ships dock at Castaway Cay. The Castaway Challenge is an official RunDisney race that is run on a separate officially measured course and they track your time. You have to pay to run that course AND run in one the WDW Marathon races which is the weekend before the cruise.

 

[Quellman]

Okay,so I am an out-of-shape, overweight, 50 yr old asthmatic, but I would love to do this as long as I can WALK the whole way and take my time. If anyone knows the answer to some questions:

What time is it and how long do you have to finish?
It is the first event of the day. You can walk the race. Typically there is about 70-80 minutes time limit where the cruise staff will be at the finish line handing out medals. They usually have a provision if you finish later.

For other commenters:
I completed the race once. It was fun for what it was, and I received a generic Mickey Medal. We were on a full Halloween sailing, so I packed a bag with clothes to change into and used a bathroom to not waste time going back to the ship. Met the family already on the beach.

As someone who doesn't train distance running, I'm not so sure I would recommend it during the summer without precautions for heat.

I will be running it again on our next trip to make sure that I get the new rubber medal. But after that I won't be back running it again. Just so many other things to do.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

What time is it and how long do you have to finish?

It is first thing in the morning. From what I have read here on Disboards you get off the ship around 8:30am or possibly later. It is not a timed race nor does it have a required pace time. You can take as long as you want, but sometimes there won't be a castmember at the finish line after a certain amount of time has gone by.

How do you register/sign up?

You sign up onboard at the Port Adventures Desk.

What is diff between "normal 5k and "Challenge 5k"

The "normal" 5K is a free fun run that is offered when the ships dock at Castaway Cay. The Castaway Challenge is an official RunDisney race that is run on a separate officially measured course and they track your time. You have to pay to run that course AND run in one the WDW Marathon races which is the weekend before the cruise.

Thanks! I want to give it a go. Something healthy to shoot for before the holidays,