DVCers Running Marathon/Half Marathon

[CorbsVWL]

I was just curious how many DVC members are registered to run the Disney Marathon or Half Marathon in January?

I'm running the Half and was wondering where others might recommend staying from past experience.

Maybe we can start a little support/training group thread.

Hope to hear from you all!

 

[pmcpmc]

staying at BWv wit a boardwalk view.
A friend did this when her husband was running and she could see him from the balcony.

 

[BCVOwner in MA]

Hi!

I ran-- actually ran and walked, but finished nevertheless-- the Half Marathon last January. I stayed at OKW, which was nice since the bus ride back-and-forth from Epcot was fairly short. (A short bus ride is a wonderful thing at 3:30 AM).

Next January I'll be running (and finishing, gosh darn it) the Marathon. We're booked at SSR since we recently did an add-on there and that would be our first opportunity to stay there.

A support/training group thread is a great idea!

So.... who else is joining us?

 

[sunan]

We've done the full marathon four times; big brother joined us from Tokyo for three, and this time we're backing off to the half so we can drag little sister from Alaska along. We've always stayed in the EPCOT resort area... this will be our first trip home and we've got a 2BR BoardWalk view.

The BWV location is particularly good for the full marathon, but this will be our first time doing the half, which finishes near the Polynesian. I would guess VWL is more convenient, though the buses are quite plush and run with some frequency, so I don't imagine we'll mind resting our weary bones in a comfy, air conditioned bus for the trip back to BWV. Besides, it can't possibly take as long as running another 13.1 miles to get back to EPCOT!

 

[karebear1]

My DH and I will be walking the 1/2 marathon in January. We are staying at BCV's. Sometime last year I posted a thread on the WISH board that said I have always dreamed about doing the WDW half marathon- then I asked if anyone would be interested in doing this with me. To my surprise- there were tons of replys , and as a result, we now have a group of about 50 WISHWalker's going to the marathon together! If you're intersted, there is a training/inspiration thread there. We renew the thread every week and just talk about what we are doing for training each day. WE post the good and the bad and we range from people with no experience to those with a little experience to those that have run marathons before. It's been very helpful to me in the training I am doing now. Please come and join us if you're so inclined.

 

[sunan]

What a great story! Thanks for the invite. Maybe I'll mosey on over...

 

[Disney Doll]

We are not runners but we are "cheerers" for our friend who is a runner.

We usually stay at the Swan/Dolphin for that weekend, then move to the DVC on Monday.

In 2005, we are staying , hopefully, at the Swan/Dolphin and then on Monday moving to an OKW GV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sunan]

We love cheerers! Will you be throwing a big bash for us at your Grand Villa?

 

[tinker925]

My husband is "FINISHING" the full marathon, he guesses he'll run and/or walk, but he will finish. He had a gastric bypass 11 months ago and has lost 140lbs. so this is his ultimate goal!

I'm going to do the family run the day before and have entered our DS's in the kids age appropriate run too. We are booked to stay at SSR, but may try to change at the 7 month window to stay with DVC owner cousins who will be there too!

 

[ralphd]

My DD and I will be in the half marathon. The rest of the family will probably be asleep. We will be making BCV's home for the marathon weekend.

ralphd

 

[Deb & Bill]

My son and I will do the 5K on Saturday and my husband will do the full marathon on Sunday. We did the 5K last year (had a great time) and my husband did the half. We had a great time.

 

[Calcio]

Good luck to your CorbsVWL in the run.

I ran the 1/2 last January and had a very good time. My wife was so excited about my result (maybe she was just shocked I actually finished close to my time goal), that she started talking about doing it herself. I settled the issue by signing both of us up for this coming January 9.

The good part is the course itself. Running through EPCOT as dawn breaks, listening to great music piped through the sound system. Turning up World Drive and heading to the MK. Running through the ticket and transportation center to the applause of the spectators. Entering the MK and turning right up Main Street. Slipping out of the MK by Splash Mountain. Running past the GF and POLY (sadly I was too wiped out to even notice the Poly). Finishing. I've not done the full yet (someday), but I'm sure there is great stuff on the last 1/2 of the course as well.

And for all you walkers, enjoy yourself and feel good about reaching your goal. Do the runners a favor, however, and start in the back. Ideally a big run falls out at the start, as the rabbits are in front, the "middle of the packers" like me are in the middle, and the walkers are in the back. Unfortunately too many participants start near the front, in spite of their planned 14 minute per mile pace, which can be extremely dangerous when the mob surges forward.

We stayed at the BWI last year and are now BWV members for the coming race. Getting to the staging area in the EPCOT parking lot, however, is a pain. They say the busses start running early, and quit running early, so I went to plan b. I woke up at 4:30, stretched, etc., then walked out of the BWI lobby at 5:10. There is no direct route from the EPCOT resorts to the EPCOT parking lot, so I'd planned to walk behind EPCOT and turn left up towards the start area and find my way there. A WDW bus stopped and the driver told me she was headed to the staging area, and offered the ride. I happily took at, and got to the staging area about 5:40, which was plenty of time to get to the start.

The funny thing was many people seemed to have also come up with "alternative" means to the staging area, as at 5:40 there were a mass of people walking quickly towards the start. A few runners came from the Port Orleans resort area, and they seemed to have a very short route, just walking a few steps from their resort to the start.

If anyove has better hints at getting to the start, I'd love to hear them.

The finish to the 1/2 is in the MK parking lot, just in front of the Poly. I know they provide bus transport back to the resorts, but I don't know how that works out. I'm sure someone else can help you.

Anyway, enjoy your training. I really enjoyed the run last year, and I'm sure you will as well.

 

[Kewz1]

DH and I are both running the half. We're staying at BWV again. Last year we stayed at OKW and talked about walking over to the start from the resort. We asked about it when checking in and we're told NO! Of course, what did we see the morning of the marathon?? People walking over from OKW. We're seriously thinking about switching resorts back to OKW just for that extra hour of sleep!

Have fun! It's a great course to run!

Kristen

 

[Kristi1357]

Dh will be running the marathon again this year. He's done 2 full and 1 half marathon at WDW.

Have no idea where we will stay since we are using all our pts. up in December...

 

[Buttercup]

Hello All,
I'm jealous. I can't do either race in 01/05. DH and I have done the half twice and I did the full once. It is a great race. You're gonna love it.

The busses from the half finish take you to the full finish in the Epcot parking lot. From there you can catch a bus to your resort. We did this the first year and it takes quite some time. The second time, we walked from the half finish (MK parking lot near Poly) to the TTC and caught a bus directly to our resort. That was faster. We did feel kinda bad for the other people on the bus. I'm sure we weren't fresh as roses!

Don't worry about the early morning bus situation. The excitement and adrenaline keep you going even with minimal sleep the night before. Just make sure you get lots of sleep 2 nights before.

Happy training!
Buttercup

 

[TNMomof3]

We've got a group of about a dozen or so who are online friends doing the 1/2 this year. Some will run/walk, but most of us are walking.

I'm pretty sure DH and I will pay cash and stay at the Polynesian for this. It's where most of the group is staying, and we're trying to preserve our 2005 points for a BWV stay at Christmas. They chose that location since we can monorail to the start, and walk back to the room from the finish. I sure will miss my DVC that trip, but Christmas will be worth it.

We also doing regular chats, and sharing news on our training. I'll have to check out the WISH group.

 

[LittleMissMickey]

Hello, Fellow DVCers!

My DBrother and I will be doing the half on 01/09, and are staying at OKW. I just found this board today! I've been over on the WISH boards. Ya'll should come join us there, we have a great time and everybody offers a LOT of support. Let me know if anybody else will be at OKW that weekend. I'm considering moving over to BCV, because I KNOW people will be in that area!!

Hope to hear from you all soon on the WISH Marathon Training Thread!

Ashley, aka
LittleMiss