Half Marathon/Marathon/Goofy Questions

[ultramickeymouse]

I so appreciate this thread, and look forward to lots of advice and ideas!!

Here are my questions, for my first Half Marathon in January:

1. We are staying at the Grand Floridian - can we take the monorail to Epcot?

2. I would love to hear about the awards celebration at PI:
A. What happens there?
B. Do we need to buy a PI pass if we want to visit the clubs in addition to the party?

3. Is the $50 fee worth it for the Runner's Retreat?

4. If we don't do the Runner's Retreat, are there any treats for runners at the end?

5. Is the last timed checkpoint at the 10 minute mile? What if I make that, but then slow down considerably?

6. I am confused about the end. Where does the race end? It seems like it must be the World Showcase, since us slow runners may finish at 9:30, which means that Epcot is already open...

What else do I need to know??

1)Yes, you can ride the monorail to the strat. It runs long and later than the busses. You can get a few more minutes sleep.

2) The party is rom 7:00 pm to 2:00am and you get a free pass to all of Pleasure Island(including clubs). You get 1/2 price couppons for non runners.

3) I don't feel it's worth it. Especially since you now have to pay the $10/$20 for a massage.

4)Everyone gets the same food at the end. The RR get a place to hang out by yourself.

5)The last cut is at mile 10. If you make it past there, you will be able to finish and get a medal. If you are way slow, you may not get listed as a finisher.

6)The race end in the parking lot of EPCOT. This is where we the staging area for the start is. The race course goes into EPCOT to the edge of WC but not into and turns around. Here is a link to the course map from my website at http://www.disneyrunning.com/08HalfMarathonCourseMap.pdf. EPCOT will be open but not WC.

Enjoy and bring a camera to take pics. You can see some of my 100's on my website

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

Enjoy and bring a camera to take pics. You can see some of my 100's on my website

I really enjoyed looking at the photos! Although I am nervous, the pictues made me get excited. I am wondering - are people getting photos DURING the race with characters?

It looks like the Christmas decorations are still up - I didn't anticipate that! Do you know if the Osborne lights are still going on that weekend?

 

[ultramickeymouse]

With the race being a week later, I wouldn't expect X-Mas decorations up. If I remember, the Osborne light went down the Thurs before the race this year. This would mean they won't be around either.

 

[twotoohappy]

I really enjoyed looking at the photos! Although I am nervous, the pictues made me get excited. I am wondering - are people getting photos DURING the race with characters?

I was wondering that too! Do you stop? Do you photopass it or bring your own?

 

[eeyore45]

DH had a marathon question -

about the sweeping time of the marathon? I know I can find a link, he was curious how many hours the marathoners have to complete the race? Does it start at 6am? and do you run thru parks that have opened for the day?

TIA

PS - is the disneyrunning site down? (Thur nite Oct 11 that is!)

 

[scuba diver]

Also we may be modifying our trip plans to stay at my brother's house for free. He lives by the airport and quite frankly it appeals to me to have a cool or warm place to park my fanny while waiting for the race to start. Take a nap if necessary. Pack a port o potty. Okay, maybe not that.

I drove in last year for the 1/2 and loved it. We were parked at 3:30. Asleep by 3:45 and woke up at 5:00 to head to the line.

Even though we are staying on property this year we are still considering driving over so we have a place to park and rest.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Walking question:

Does speedwork/drills/whatever Bingham actually calls them....

Does it work for walking like it does running.

Walking is new territory for me and I am having trouble believing it will improve my time any. They are on my schedule 1 day per week.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

DH had a marathon question -

about the sweeping time of the marathon? I know I can find a link, he was curious how many hours the marathoners have to complete the race? Does it start at 6am? and do you run thru parks that have opened for the day?

TIA

PS - is the disneyrunning site down? (Thur nite Oct 11 that is!)

6am sounds about right for the start times...last year they did some staggered thing, so I am clueless about that as I didn't participate last year...

for the full, you have 7 hours.
for the half you have 3.5 hours.

Your half must be those times or less---give or take a couple of extra minutes depending on when they shut down the mat (those times plus whatever time it took the field to entirely cross the start)--to be considered an "official finisher".

What that means--is to get the certificate, be included in the finish roll call, to have this count as an official Florida marathon for the 50 states marathon...You must finish in those times officially. that time corresponds to your chip time. But official or not--if you are permitted to physically finish and cross that finish line..you will get the medal.

There is a point of no return for both events--where they will no longer sweep you and allow you to finish...but I don't know exactly where that is on either course. Unofficially it is once you pass the final sweep checkpoint...but where that corresponds to the course, I have no idea.

I think for the full--once you have made it out of MGM and onto the riverfront heading to boardwalk...you will pretty much be permitted to finish.

You will go through Magic Kingdom for both events. They will not be open to park activity. However, there will be spectators along main street cheering you. (park is open only for that purpose). For sweeping purposes--you must be in and out by 9am as a general guideline. The official sweep time corresponds to that and I believe is before MK, but not positive. It is the only park you go through that isn't operating as you go through it.

For the full:
AK will be open and operating (I get a giggle at the crossing guards for guests along the course) as will MGM (by then....I think Walt Disney Studios). And of course EPCOT will be fully operating by the time you finish up.

As you can see by my siggy--I did finish the full 3 years ago...but that time...was less than 1 minute after they shut off the mats. So had I had the strength to put a little power into it and finished 1 minute earlier..I would have been an official finisher. But hey--I still get the medal.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was wondering that too! Do you stop? Do you photopass it or bring your own?

folks carry cameras in a fanny pack.

I don't recall photopass being their 2 years ago. They did have a CM who takes a photo of you and the character with your camera. They are pretty good about getting it done real quick.

However--if there is a line...I would totally pass on that photo op.

 

[scoolover]

I was wondering that too! Do you stop? Do you photopass it or bring your own?

I know that Lisa already answered this but I like to pimp my marathon report and this is the perfect opportunity.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1303681

I probably would not have stopped for many pictures had I not lost my chip. Since I did lose it, I figured, "what the heck, no point in rushing now." I must have stopped about 25 times. All but one character had a CM to take the picture and for that one I swiched off with another girl who was doing the same thing I was. The pictures were easily the best part of the race. If you want to get a PR, this is probably not the race. Slow down and have fun.
This year I want a Darth Vader picture. If he is not out, I will wait.

 

[DisneyMarathon]

I so appreciate this thread, and look forward to lots of advice and ideas!!

Here are my questions, for my first Half Marathon in January:

1. We are staying at the Grand Floridian - can we take the monorail to Epcot?

2. I would love to hear about the awards celebration at PI:
A. What happens there?
B. Do we need to buy a PI pass if we want to visit the clubs in addition to the party?

3. Is the $50 fee worth it for the Runner's Retreat?

4. If we don't do the Runner's Retreat, are there any treats for runners at the end?

5. Is the last timed checkpoint at the 10 minute mile? What if I make that, but then slow down considerably?

6. I am confused about the end. Where does the race end? It seems like it must be the World Showcase, since us slow runners may finish at 9:30, which means that Epcot is already open...

What else do I need to know??

Hello,
I will suggest NOT to get the Runner's Retreat. Waiting in line with thousands other runners in the pre-dawn hours is part of the marathon experience!