Does the marathon affect Ft. Wilderness?

[poptoone]

If I'm not mistaken the triathlon takes place partly in FW. Does the marathon in Jan. affect FW or any of the roads coming into the resort. We arrive on Jan 12th the day of the half-marathon.

 

[emoose]

Answer 1:

The Half and Full effect all driving conditions between 4:00 am to roughly 2:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. There are plenty of detours and they work but it is slower going.

The races do not run inside of ft wilderness but do run on world drive - the main road that goes into MK. In year past the runners run on the "exiting the park" direction so the entering the park direction remains open. You should be able to drive on world drive and make the right hand turn onto the road in front of the FT wilderness. Both races "open the roads" behind the last runner. There are minimum times before slower people get swept so the roads can open.

In my opinion the worst traffic situation is between AK and MGM. there are runners on Osceola Pkwy as late as 12:00 or 1:00. None of this is a killer. Use park transportation if you can and by noon or 1:00 nearly everything is normal.

Answer 2:

Yes it effects Ft. Wilderness. I have run the Goofy (both races) for the last two years and will do so this January again! I stay in Ft Wilderness so it makes Ft. Wilderness more fun.

 

[rKyDeX]

emoose's answers are right on. I'm another FW marathoner. I ran in the cold in 2006, and in the heat in 2007. For 2008 I'm going to run the half and full with DS18. DW is running the full only.

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half Fast Marathon Team

 

[Colson39]

If I'm not mistaken, weren't people also talking about the massive influx of breakfast visitors at the Settlement during the marathon? I swear I remembered someone talking about how a lot of the food was gone early during the marathon (understandably so since the runners are up much earlier than the normal guests).

If that's the case, I could see that perhaps affecting the Fort as well.

Good luck to you runners in your future races!

 

[Lan]

I'm a FW 1/2 half marathoner

 

[pooh4me]

The triathlon which is partialy held in Fort Wilderness in Sept is the one where Trails End was almost out of food. It also caused problems getting around FW. It is being held Sept 23 this year.

 

[emoose]

Food shouldn't be a problem for the Marathon or Half since you have to be on a bus by 4:30 AM (Ahhhhhhhhhhiiiiiieieeeeeeee ) Besides who eats a big breakfast BEFORE a race That is for AFTER

Awesome too see so many FW runners! Good luck this Jan. I will be in FW "training" this October.

 

[rKyDeX]

My 3:30am breakfast is a Bagel and a banana washed down with a sports drink. I don't know if TE is even open on marathon mornings.

There are probably only the equivelant of a "bus load" of runners that stay at the Fort. They have no effect on the capacity of TE. We were able to get in with no wait on the evening after the marathon.

Most of the runners tend to stay nearer to EPCOT or WWOS.

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-Fast Marathon Team

ps - FW runners check out:

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=109

 

[DznyRulz]

I'm a participant in a different marathon. Preferably the one on TVLand but I also participate in marathons on SciFi and FX.