Family 5K question

[CruiseBoundnKY]

I have been working out now for about 2months. I'm doing the C25K program and one at my local run/walk shop.

I know I have a LONG way to go before I am half marathon ready, as I walk mostly. Yesterday I did my first 5K walking and had a little over a 16 minute mile. I didn't push nearly as hard as I think I could have. I was with a friend who just started working out this week and was there to be my support. She walked it in jeans. UGH!!! I could never do that.

Anyway. I was looking at the Princess weekend and would love to make it my reward for stinking with this over 6 months. It would be a great motivator through the holidays and keep me grounded. But I've read horrible reviews on the family 5K. Can anyone tell me about it. I'd like to know more about the route, pace, pictures, can you still go to the expo, anything you can share.

Also, I was thinking fly in on Thursday and out on Monday so we have time to enjoy the parks.

Thanks! Karen

 

[ohMom]

going to move this to the Events/Competition sub-forum where i think you'll get a better response

 

[KristinU]

My DH ran the 5K during the Princess weekend in 2011. It was pretty much a fun run and it wasn't chip timed, which was a frustration to my DH. My DS ran the kids mile and was chip timed...so it was puzzling to us why they wouldn't time the 5K, especially with what they charge for it. He got a rubbery finisher's medal and a cotton tee. They don't have start corrals, but do queue up based on pace...but DH said a lot of people lined up in a spot that was overly optimistic so it was pretty congested at the beginning. He's a fasty, though, so average runners might not find it as frustrating as he did. The route was great, though, through Epcot including part of World Showcase, which is more than the half goes through.

So I don't know if they've changed it since 2011, but just don't expect to have an official time.

You definitely can and need to go to the expo to pick up your race packet, so you'll certainly be able to look at all of the vendors and stuff and enjoy the buzz there.

 

[PrincessV]

I did the Princess 5K this year with my DS, then 9yo, and I'll ditto most of what was said above. It was a lot of fun - so much so that we also did the Expedition Everest Challenge and are signed up for the Wine & Dine 5K this year! But I sure wasn't running it for time.

My experience with the corral was that there were only two entrances into it: one at the very front and one at the very back. Fast runners entered in the front and stayed there, and slow runners entered in the back and stayed there, effectively blocking both entrances. When the race started, at least half of us weren't even in the corral yet! Not a big deal - as people started to move forward, we all got through the back entrance and got going. But it meant that there were many, MANY strollers and walkers ahead of faster, stroller-less runners, which made it difficult to impossible to maintain pace. Lots and lots of dodging and weaving.

But it was totally worth it to run through an empty EP! It really was a lot of fun and I'm happy it was my first race, even if my time was lousy, lol!