Experiences with the 1 mile kids run?

[VAfamily1998]

I will be running the marathon only (no Goofy or Dopey for me) and we are considering bringing the whole family down (2 parents, 4 kids.)

I see there is still availability for the kid races for Marathon weekend, and I am thinking of signing my kids up for the Mickey mile. They are 8 and 10 (I also have a 13 and 14 year old, but they are too old for this.)

Do they separate the kids by age (will my 8 and 10 year olds be running at the same time/same general area?) Do parents run with the kids?

My 8 year old ran a kids run at a different (non Disney) race a few months ago, and it was chaos. They encouraged parents to run with the kids, there were a ton of jogging strollers on the course--and then everyone just stopped at the finish line which caused a HUGE backup. Is that what the Mickey Mile would be like?

And the kids races--they get a t shirt, right?
Anything else I should know? Thanks!

 

[RookieLady]

My kids ran. During the mile there is no separation. Parents can run with kids. I did not think the finish was too bad. They wouldn't let parents back without your kids ticket which made kid pick up a little chaotic but I appreciated the vigilance. It was clear non one but me was getting my kid. They wouldn't let my husband have them because he didn't have the ticket.

 

[VAfamily1998]

My kids ran. During the mile there is no separation. Parents can run with kids. I did not think the finish was too bad. They wouldn't let parents back without your kids ticket which made kid pick up a little chaotic but I appreciated the vigilance. It was clear non one but me was getting my kid. They wouldn't let my husband have them because he didn't have the ticket.

Thanks! That is good to know that it is a secure area. May I ask, how old your kids were at the time--and did they enjoy it?

 

[luvformickey]

My kids did it this past January and really enjoyed it. DS was 11 at DD was 8 at the time. They wanted to run it on their own so we watched them start and then hustled to the finish area. We were able to see them cross the finish line and then they had a finisher's area where they got their medals, photos taken, and a snack just like the racers in the bigger races. Pick up was easy...we just showed our ticket.

Yes, kids get a t-shirt and a rubber medal. The starts were staggered so all the kids weren't starting at once and there was a lot or organization.

 

[bumbershoot]

My son was 9. It would have been more enjoyable if I hadn't been sick, if DS hadn't been getting sick (we didn't know it until the following day), and if the weather hadn't changed by something like 30 degrees inside of 12 hours.

I couldn't run with him because I was carrying a bunch of stuff (and was sick). Since he wasn't feeling terrific he was pretty slow, and he was later in the staggered starts (which are not divided by age but simply on where you are in the clump of people moving from the gathering spot to the starting line), and he was slowing down when some other older kids were encouraging him along. He really appreciated their help.

I didn't find the finish to be chaotic, nor did I find pickup to be chaotic. I really appreciated the vigilance they had, and to me it felt orderly. Maybe I was just focusing on the CMs, though, and not other parents? The CMs knew what they were doing, and that was all that mattered to me.

I remember no strollers on the course.

DS is doing it again this year, though for some reason I picked the same day as my Half for it. That was a bit of an error on my part, oh well. No rest for me!

In case you've never been to the ESPN/WWoS complex, the kid races are held WAY in the back. Especially for me, after the Half, it's going to feel like well over a mile to get back there from the buses or parking spaces. It takes time, so give yourself that time.

They had water and bananas for the kids after. The shirts are cotton (and this year's at least were somewhat babyish, which means my boy will only wear his around the house) and like the other poster said, the medals are rubber. (as are the 5K medals)

 

[Fruto76]

My 11 and 13 year olds ran the mile for W&D weekend. Both had a great time. Start was not staggered... Pretty crazy but it loosened up quickly. We watched the start... High fived between 1/4 and 1/2 mile and made it to see them at finish line.
They both had a great time but I agree with PP shirts were babyish for this race, so neither has worn them. They will make great sleep shirts...They did both wear their medals during the weekend.
Both said they would do it again I might sign them up for marathon weekend

 

[VAfamily1998]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I just signed them both up! I'm excited to see how it goes!