half race route description

[luvsTink]

Good Morning!
Can someone direct me to a good description of the route terrain (where flat, hills, etc)?

Thanks!
Anne

 

[scoolover]

http://disneyrunning.com/NEWHalfCourse2009.pdf

Here is the course. It is mostly flat except for some over passes and some enterance ramps getting on and off different highways.

 

[Sandy321]

Scott - it says "new" race - but that looks the same route I took in '08 - what is new? or is it the same as 08? was it different in '09? TIA

Anne for me the only "hill" was the one going under the water before the Contemporary Resort Mile 4 1/2 maybe? I think Jeff (Aloha Jeff!) has great pictures of the whole route! http://mkymsehi.blogspot.com/ I really appreciate Jeff's spirit, and his pictures were very helpful to me!

Also at Mile 10 is the infamous "bus" sweeper - they put the bus before that overpass - and if you arent on a 16 min mile pace - they will sweep you - so going up that "clover leaf" at 10 was difficult for me - not so much a hill, but it was sideways as well as a "hill" but the inclines arent that bad - I was at the "end" of the pack, and getting on top of the overpass and looking down, and seeing NO ONE else coming up - made the whole "sweeper" thing really "real"!

 

[FireDancer]

Scott - it says "new" race - but that looks the same route I took in '08 - what is new? or is it the same as 08? was it different in '09? TIA

I seem to remember there being some speculation that there might be a course change and even maybe 2 halves. The second is obviously not happening for 2010 so I wonder if the first will go along with the second.

Also at Mile 10 is the infamous "bus" sweeper - they put the bus before that overpass - and if you arent on a 16 min mile pace - they will sweep you - so going up that "clover leaf" at 10 was difficult for me - not so much a hill, but it was sideways as well as a "hill" but the inclines arent that bad - I was at the "end" of the pack, and getting on top of the overpass and looking down, and seeing NO ONE else coming up - made the whole "sweeper" thing really "real"!

That hill at 10 is really the only one I would consider tough. There is the one as you go into the tunnel by the contemporary which is at about 4.5 but it is pretty short and early in the race. Combine that with all the people lining the route and I didn't really notice it. That one at 10 is later in the race and longer and there are not a whole lot of people there to distract you. Once you get over it though you go through the mob of people by the Epcot bus stop and through the park. I also believe that is the last sweep so once you get past that overpass you get to finish.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I thought the overpass/bridge going into Epcot (I think it's between mile 11 and 12) was a tough one. I didn't really notice the Contemporary/water bridge - probably because it was really packed there.

 

[dsnyfan21]

There was a different route this past January Half. Instead of starting out going over the overpasses and then taking the on ramp down to the road to MK, we took the road off to the right of that and under the monorial and then used the right side of the road towards MK. Also we went through the MK entrance "gate" area this year instead of going off to the left around the racetrack. The Princess this year was exactly the same as the "old" Half in 08. There is the part before the comptemporary when you go down in the little tunnel and then up.
On the way back to EPCOT you go up the on ramp and over the over pass, then you have another overpass and then you turn right into the parking area where you have one last over pass.

Hope that helps.

Tracy

 

[TnTsParty]

I thought the overpass/bridge going into Epcot (I think it's between mile 11 and 12) was a tough one. I didn't really notice the Contemporary/water bridge - probably because it was really packed there.

I too thought that the overpass/bridge going into Epcot around mile 11 or 12 was a tough one. That was the only place I had to stop and walk during the Princess this year (since I didn't do the 2009 half) The Contemporary/water bridge wasn't bad (although I have heard from several people its a bad stretch for them) I actually enjoyed that section since I think its so cool to be running "under" water.

 

[liznboys]

There was a different route this past January Half. Instead of starting out going over the overpasses and then taking the on ramp down to the road to MK, we took the road off to the right of that and under the monorial and then used the right side of the road towards MK. Also we went through the MK entrance "gate" area this year instead of going off to the left around the racetrack. The Princess this year was exactly the same as the "old" Half in 08. There is the part before the comptemporary when you go down in the little tunnel and then up.
On the way back to EPCOT you go up the on ramp and over the over pass, then you have another overpass and then you turn right into the parking area where you have one last over pass.

Hope that helps.

Tracy

So there are 4 uphills then, to be exact? lol

 

[dsnyfan21]

I want to say yes, if they use the same Half route as they did this year I would say 4 uphills: (Looking at the map it looks like they are, so I will put mile markers in)
1. Around mile 4.5 - the up hill after the down hill going under the water.
2. Around mile 10.4is the up ramp (which is going almost in a full circle) and over the over pass heading to EPCOT.
3. Near mile 11 is another over pass.
4. you make a shart turn to the right, more that 90 degrees and then head towards your last over pass (Mile 12ish) into the EPCOT parking lot.

I looked back at my garmin and this was as close to the mile mark as I could figure.
I do think the last "hill" overpass is the toughest, not sure why? makebe because it is a bit steeper than the others? You come at it from a bit of an angle and directly at it, so you see it differently?? Not sure - or maybe just because it is the last one. Who knows.

There is a bit of a slight, and I mean slight, incline when you enter EPCOT from backstage behind the living seas area, not really much of anything, but when you have done that many miles you tend to feel anything at that point.

-Tracy

 

[cewait]

Actually everyone misses the MK Hill. You gain about 15 feet as you go under the railraod track and up into the park....

I would say the climb out of the Seven Seas Viaduct (mile 4) is the steepest hill and kind of tricky since it is a reverse hill....i.e. down then up.

The Epcot Parking hil is next steepest. The mile 10 jug handle turn hill is the longest and is compounded by the road camber around the curve.

None of these hill are all that bad and you have time to train for them. This is a flat course for the most part with less than 60 foot elevation change.

 

[ironz]

I recall hearing the most groaning on the overpass close to Epcot near the end of the 1/2. But none of the hills are super steep, nor super long.