Disneyland Half Marathon 2024

[nekonekoneko]

https://t.me/s/rundisregstatus

 

[StarGirl11]

Unless they want to change a system that wasn't broken, in the past they gave a wristband to you at bib pickup for the second half of doing a C2C.

2017 C2C both regular and the pink versions (that year they let us get all possible medals instead of having to choose one):

View attachment 783963

I’m honestly kind of hoping that they might go the route of how they do challenges and just have us take a photo for them they can check. I know people love the wristbands. But I have sensitive skin and beyond being a neat souvenir I could do without having to wear them

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

So I'm doing the 10k & Half Challenge and intend to use the runDisney training plan, found here: https://www.rundisney.com/running-training-programs/

I'm also doing the WDW Half the week prior, and I'm struggling with the schedule.
If Week 18 is the Disneyland Half (Jan 14th), it puts the 14 mile training run on Week 16 (Dec 31st) - the week prior to the WDW Half.
Week 17 (Jan 7th - WDW Half weekend) has 4 miles for the scheduled run.

Week 16 has 5 miles for Saturday and 14 for Sunday, to be very similar to the challenge, but then that's 3 consecutive weeks of halves. I feel like this somehow needs to be adjusted given the WDW Half timing, but I don't know how best to do that.

As scheduled, week 1 would be the week of August 27th so the weekend run is on Sept 3, so I am trying to figure this out soon so I can write the runs into my day book... and then ideally stick to the schedule. (THAT is the difficult part!)

 

[nekonekoneko]

So I'm doing the 10k & Half Challenge and intend to use the runDisney training plan, found here: https://www.rundisney.com/running-training-programs/

I'm also doing the WDW Half the week prior, and I'm struggling with the schedule.
If Week 18 is the Disneyland Half (Jan 14th), it puts the 14 mile training run on Week 16 (Dec 31st) - the week prior to the WDW Half.
Week 17 (Jan 7th - WDW Half weekend) has 4 miles for the scheduled run.

Week 16 has 5 miles for Saturday and 14 for Sunday, to be very similar to the challenge, but then that's 3 consecutive weeks of halves. I feel like this somehow needs to be adjusted given the WDW Half timing, but I don't know how best to do that.

As scheduled, week 1 would be the week of August 27th so the weekend run is on Sept 3, so I am trying to figure this out soon so I can write the runs into my day book... and then ideally stick to the schedule. (THAT is the difficult part!)

I can think of two solutions:

1) Swap week 16 and week 17. So make week 16 a slightly easier week before going to WDW. And the day before the WDW1/2, run the 5 miles on your own, or see if you can sneak into the WDW10k the day before.

2) shift the entire schedule up a week, so that week 18 would be in WDW instead of in DLR. Readjust the 10k day on the new week 18 accordingly. Then your week 19, instead of being the cooldown week, would then be a repeat of week 18.

One (I hope silly) question: how many half marathons have you run before?

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I can think of two solutions:

1) Swap week 16 and week 17. So make week 16 a slightly easier week before going to WDW. And the day before the WDW1/2, run the 5 miles on your own, or see if you can sneak into the WDW10k the day before.

2) shift the entire schedule up a week, so that week 18 would be in WDW instead of in DLR. Readjust the 10k day on the new week 18 accordingly. Then your week 19, instead of being the cooldown week, would then be a repeat of week 18.

One (I hope silly) question: how many half marathons have you run before?

Thank you for your ideas.

I’ve done 7 half marathons; all runDisney.

I’ve done Coast to Coast twice, and in 2017 they were back to back weekends (Wine & Dine and Avengers).

I’ve also done 10k/Half Challenges twice - one Pixie Dust and one Fairy Tale.

 

[nekonekoneko]

Thank you for your ideas.

I’ve done 7 half marathons; all runDisney.

I’ve done Coast to Coast twice, and in 2017 they were back to back weekends (Wine & Dine and Avengers).

I’ve also done 10k/Half Challenges twice - one Pixie Dust and one Fairy Tale.

Ok. So you know what to expect then from the races! . I think either of my two options should be decent enough for you!

 

[Kender]

I’m honestly kind of hoping that they might go the route of how they do challenges and just have us take a photo for them they can check. I know people love the wristbands. But I have sensitive skin and beyond being a neat souvenir I could do without having to wear them

Same on the sensitive skin. I got a rash that lasted days from my smartwatch within the first short couple hours trying it out before getting a different band for it and I can't use most bandaids (allergic to the adhesive). Obviously everyone is different, but I didn't get a rash from the C2C ones I had which shocked me. They were just annoying. They left enough breathing room which helped.

It also wasn't super hot/humid when I had them on which also could easily have contributed to just being annoying and not skin irritating. If I had them on in Florida instead of California in the spring that might have been a different story.

It will be interesting what they choose to do. A convention I work for does require wristbands and 2022 they were plastic. In 2023 they were cloth. The way the cloth one was designed, though, was far more annoying. But a fabric band is always another possibility if they insist on wristbands.

It's a "prepare for the worst; hope for the best" kind of situation. Past precedent says wristbands. But if they can find a better solution then that would be wonderful.

 

[Naomeri]

Same on the sensitive skin. I got a rash that lasted days from my smartwatch within the first short couple hours trying it out before getting a different band for it and I can't use most bandaids (allergic to the adhesive). Obviously everyone is different, but I didn't get a rash from the C2C ones I had which shocked me. They were just annoying. They left enough breathing room which helped.

It also wasn't super hot/humid when I had them on which also could easily have contributed to just being annoying and not skin irritating. If I had them on in Florida instead of California in the spring that might have been a different story.

It will be interesting what they choose to do. A convention I work for does require wristbands and 2022 they were plastic. In 2023 they were cloth. The way the cloth one was designed, though, was far more annoying. But a fabric band is always another possibility if they insist on wristbands.

It's a "prepare for the worst; hope for the best" kind of situation. Past precedent says wristbands. But if they can find a better solution then that would be wonderful.

I think I saw that WDW is doing ribbon wristbands for the Halloween party (they’ve got a bead or something that tightens them, but can’t be undone to pass the wristband to someone else)

 

[sandam1]

So I'm doing the 10k & Half Challenge and intend to use the runDisney training plan, found here: https://www.rundisney.com/running-training-programs/

I'm also doing the WDW Half the week prior, and I'm struggling with the schedule.

My thought would be to primarily follow the challenge training plan, but have Marathon Weekend as your finish date. This will get you properly trained and tapered leading up Marathon Weekend, which is the most important thing. The week in between should all be about facilitating recovery so I can't see doing more than recovery walks and easy runs (if that).

I'm planning on doing Dopey to Dumbo in 2025 and the one thing that has already been drilled into my head is the concept that I MUST take Marathon Weekend slow. Like really slow! Like long run (i.e. 2 minutes slower than race pace) slow! If I do that, recovery should be as quick and easy as my normal long runs (less than 48 hours). If I go too fast, it's going to get very ugly, very quickly.

 

[Kender]

I think I saw that WDW is doing ribbon wristbands for the Halloween party (they’ve got a bead or something that tightens them, but can’t be undone to pass the wristband to someone else)

Yeah, that's the fabric band I mentioned. It was super annoying wearing one for 5 days and it was really easy to accidentally tighten it to the point of cutting off circulation.

They're designed to shred if someone tries to take them off

DLR uses paper like ones for OBB.

 

[RunWI1265]

I think I saw that WDW is doing ribbon wristbands for the Halloween party (they’ve got a bead or something that tightens them, but can’t be undone to pass the wristband to someone else)

I saw they changed up the wristbands this year for the party. I didn't see how the mechanics of it works though. Fabric could get a little stinky for those that have to wear multiple days with it getting sweaty and wet.

 

[twodogs]

I have looked at the runDisney site and read through as much of this as I can. Is the sold out January 2024 race the only DL race so far for 2024? We would love to do our first one, but obviously missed this registration by a mile!!!

 

[Naomeri]

I have looked at the runDisney site and read through as much of this as I can. Is the sold out January 2024 race the only DL race so far for 2024? We would love to do our first one, but obviously missed this registration by a mile!!!

Yes, and it seems that it will be the only DL race in 2024. There is also no mention of adding more DL races in 2025 at this point, but anything is possible.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Yes, and it seems that it will be the only DL race in 2024. There is also no mention of adding more DL races in 2025 at this point, but anything is possible.

While it's always difficult to know what the future will bring, we can look at past Disneyland races to get an idea.

When Disneyland races went on their very long hiatus in 2017, the races themselves were by and large not selling out. 2016 Avengers was offering deep discounts a week before the race. 2017 Avengers challenge was still available 3 weeks before the race itself and I believe they were still offering race registration for Avengers at the Expo after everyone knew it would be the last race for a long time.

Even the Star Wars races, which at point held the runDisney record for selling out the fastest were not selling out.

While I think the construction around the resort at the time had a lot more to do with the hiatus than the assorted issues with the cities they were trying to work through, it's also possible that Disneyland races offered far more supply than demand.

Accordingly, I think it may take a couple of years before they ramp up to more than one race weekend again, although I would not be surprised if they settle at 3 eventually.

Disneyland Half Marathon
Women's Themed Race in May
November race

Based on how insanely hot Anaheim can get over Labor Day weekend, I think they may try to steer clear of that weekend going forward. Last year the entire weekend was over 105 degrees every day.

 

[nekonekoneko]

While it's always difficult to know what the future will bring, we can look at past Disneyland races to get an idea.

When Disneyland races went on their very long hiatus in 2017, the races themselves were by and large not selling out. 2016 Avengers was offering deep discounts a week before the race. 2017 Avengers challenge was still available 3 weeks before the race itself and I believe they were still offering race registration for Avengers at the Expo after everyone knew it would be the last race for a long time.

Even the Star Wars races, which at point held the runDisney record for selling out the fastest were not selling out.

While I think the construction around the resort at the time had a lot more to do with the hiatus than the assorted issues with the cities they were trying to work through, it's also possible that Disneyland races offered far more supply than demand.

Accordingly, I think it may take a couple of years before they ramp up to more than one race weekend again, although I would not be surprised if they settle at 3 eventually.

Disneyland Half Marathon
Women's Themed Race in May
November race

Based on how insanely hot Anaheim can get over Labor Day weekend, I think they may try to steer clear of that weekend going forward. Last year the entire weekend was over 105 degrees every day.

The counterpoint would be what's been going on with WDW race registrations since the pandemic. Before then, we were measuring how long it took to sell out in months or days. Now, we're measuring sell outs in minutes. We saw that this topic's race also followed the crazy patterns that WDW is seeing. I wonder if that will convince them to try opening up more races.

Though, in Disneyland's case, they still need to coordinate things within The City of Anaheim, which makes everything more difficult to plan.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Marriott was nice enough to extend some free night awards for me that were expiring the end of this month for six months…so I was able to switch my first few nights to the Fairfield! Luckily I booked my original stay as a split stay to use cash/points separately so I was able to do this. So now my week at Disneyland is all on points/awards Also phew am I glad I booked early. The race weekend itself seems to have slim pickings, Hojo looked to be sold out even? I cancelled a Hojo reservation and Wyndham Anaheim reservation I no longer need for 1/11-1/15 so I wonder if those will go back to inventory.

Interestingly enough, the Hyatt House still has not made 2024 booking available. It’ll be interesting what rates/pts look like when they do.

 

[nekonekoneko]

The race weekend itself seems to have slim pickings, Hojo looked to be sold out even?

Priceline says they have 2 rooms (though how many "last rooms" have they sold?). Going down Harbor looks slim at this point.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Park Vue Inn on Harbor has rooms that show up in a search on their website for 1/11-1/15. They are next door to the Best Western Park Place Inn, right at the crosswalk, and I've been pleased with my stays there (pre-Covid).

They do not show up on third party search sites. https://www.parkvueinn.com/

 

[jwblane]

Just registered for the Springtime Surprise Ohana Challenge. Can you please add the * to my name on this Challenge since I will be trying for the C2C?

 

[nekonekoneko]

Just registered for the Springtime Surprise Ohana Challenge. Can you please add the * to my name on this Challenge since I will be trying for the C2C?

Got it!