Have we reached the saturation point?

[roxymama]

Are you signed up for the half that weekend? I can't remember.

Running the 5k and Hubby is running the 10k. That's the plan for now.

The point of our trip is our kiddo's 5th birthday which is on Halloween, so bulk of the trip is way before W&D weekend. We were going to leave on Friday originally but changed that plan so hubby could run the 10k and we'll just leave after. We just can't quite justify adding another day or more for the half (flying out same day as the half sounds Ugh.) Plus neither one of us wants to "save our legs" for the half either. Maybe if it ran through the castle we'd be more tempted. We both are running the Chicago Half Marathon end of Sept and will probably need a training break.
Am I leaving the Coast to Coast on the table...yeah, for now. I just currently am valuing my family trip higher than my medal count right now. I'm doing Tink without them, so I don't want to abandon them at WDW too much.
FOMO though...FOMO!

 

[Ariel484]

Running the 5k and Hubby is running the 10k. That's the plan for now.

The point of our trip is our kiddo's 5th birthday which is on Halloween, so bulk of the trip is way before W&D weekend. We were going to leave on Friday originally but changed that plan so hubby could run the 10k and we'll just leave after. We just can't quite justify adding another day or more for the half (flying out same day as the half sounds Ugh.) Plus neither one of us wants to "save our legs" for the half either. Maybe if it ran through the castle we'd be more tempted. We both are running the Chicago Half Marathon end of Sept and will probably need a training break.
Am I leaving the Coast to Coast on the table...yeah, for now. I just currently am valuing my family trip higher than my medal count right now. I'm doing Tink without them, so I don't want to abandon them at WDW too much.
FOMO though...FOMO!

I knew you were doing the 5K and definitely thought you were doing the half as well, oops!

Honestly, I agree with your thoughts on skipping the half. The course is pretty weak right now with the DHS construction. And family time is a very good thing!!

 

[roxymama]

I knew you were doing the 5K and definitely thought you were doing the half as well, oops!

Honestly, I agree with your thoughts on skipping the half. The course is pretty weak right now with the DHS construction. And family time is a very good thing!!

Yeah, W&D weekend wasn't even on our radar until all of a sudden the dates were lining up. I'm super excited to get to run a "bonus" race on my vacation and trying not to talk myself into more than I actually really want to do on that trip.
Kind of how I talked myself out of PDC instead of Half only for Tink weekend because I really want to spend Saturday like a real park day with my sis and I want the half to be my magical first castle run through. But PDC not selling out is soooooo tempting me to want to change. I'm like "SELL OUT ALREADY!"

I feel like a full shabang 5k + challenge is a thing for a future year for me right now. Gotta have a reason to bug my hubs about going back.

 

[rteetz]

I feel like a full shabang 5k + challenge is a thing for a future year for me right now

You mean Dopey right?

 

[roxymama]

You mean Dopey right?

Yes, anniversary year! Dopey '28...so I can be in the masters division.

 

[rteetz]

Yes, anniversary year! Dopey '28...so I can be in the masters division.

You know registration is only 12 days away....

 

[roxymama]

You know registration is only 12 days away....

Don't you mean 10 years and 12 days away?

 

[rteetz]

Don't you mean 10 years and 12 days away?

At this rate they'll probably open registration for 2028 in 2020 so only 3 years and 12 days.

 

[roxymama]

At this rate they'll probably open registration for 2028 in 2020 so only 3 years and 12 days.

Oh good, I'll be able to get whatever knee or hip replacement that I'll need between registration and race day. I expect that to be a pre-order VIP experience add-on by then. Knee replacement + Tervis Tumbler

But fo' realz...I'm gonna see if I survive my first half first before thinking about dwarves. So TBD

 

[rteetz]

Oh good, I'll be able to get whatever knee or hip replacement that I'll need between registration and race day. I expect that to be a pre-order VIP experience add-on by then. Knee replacement + Tervis Tumbler

But fo' realz...I'm gonna see if I survive my first half first before thinking about dwarves. So TBD

You'll do great!

 

[ZellyB]

Oh good, I'll be able to get whatever knee or hip replacement that I'll need between registration and race day. I expect that to be a pre-order VIP experience add-on by then. Knee replacement + Tervis Tumbler

But fo' realz...I'm gonna see if I survive my first half first before thinking about dwarves. So TBD

Bolded made me literally laugh out loud!

 

[opusone]

At this rate they'll probably open registration for 2028 in 2020 so only 3 years and 12 days.

That's just so you'll have time to pay the registration fee using the new Dopey Payment Plan (just $19.99 per month for 96 months).

 

[rteetz]

That's just so you'll have time to pay the registration fee using the new Dopey Payment Plan (just $19.99 per month for 96 months).

That's one expensive Dopey!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Yeah, W&D weekend wasn't even on our radar until all of a sudden the dates were lining up. I'm super excited to get to run a "bonus" race on my vacation and trying not to talk myself into more than I actually really want to do on that trip.
Kind of how I talked myself out of PDC instead of Half only for Tink weekend because I really want to spend Saturday like a real park day with my sis and I want the half to be my magical first castle run through. But PDC not selling out is soooooo tempting me to want to change. I'm like "SELL OUT ALREADY!"

I feel like a full shabang 5k + challenge is a thing for a future year for me right now. Gotta have a reason to bug my hubs about going back.

Speaking for myself, there isn't much difference between how I tour the parks on a challenge weekend vs a 1/2 only weekend. Still have to be careful to not do too much the day before the 1/2 and I'm still leaving the park around 6 or 7 instead of 11 or 12. And in my own personal experience, I've learned that I like running a challenge weekend because I get to deal with all of my "what did I get myself into" during a long run out of the way during the 10K so I'm not dealing with them again during the 1/2. But that's me.

 

[opusone]

So, I know I'm about a week late to the discussion, but it sounds like there was SERIOUS discussion about the SERIOUS nature of SERIOUS running races which evidently excludes the non-SERIOUS runDisney races. Here's my two cents...

When I have heard or seen people mention rD races as being "non-serious," I don't take it personally. Instead, I translate it as meaning "non-competitive," and so I agree... this non-competitive atmosphere is precisely the reason that I really enjoy rD races:

1. I love that each runner isn't looking around at the competition, sizing each other up, trying to figure out who's faster than whom, or playing surge games during the race.
2. I love that there is no prize money for the winners. Participate only for the love (or challenge) of running.
3. I love that this non-competitive atmosphere encourages so many folks to become first-time runners and try things that they never imagined they would do.
4. I love that the relaxed atmosphere allows complete strangers to talk and bond in the starting corrals instead of mentally readying themselves for the battle about to take place.
5. I love that the character stops, or video screens, or DJs, or 1/4 mile long string of speakers on the side of the road provide entertainment all along the route (regardless of whether you stop along the way or not).
6. I love that everyone is so encouraging of each other out on the course. Sure, this exists at other races, but not to the same extent (at least from my 30ish years of running experience).
7. I love that Jeff Galloway and his running method, although not considered the most competitive approach, is front and center given the proven benefit for so many runners over the years.
8. I love that you get to run through the theme parks (which are places meant to take you away from all the seriousness of the world). By definition, this shouldn't in any way be a serious event. I like that it seems to be more of a celebration, and that is fitting for a running event given what it often takes to get to the starting line.
9. I love that people are happy there.

All that being said, this non-competitive atmosphere does not prevent you from trying for a PR if you are so inclined, nor does it prevent you from going for the win if that is your goal. You don't have to stop for the entertainment; you don't even have to pay attention to the castle as you run right through it. As many have stated, it is your race to make of it what you want. What you likely won't get is some fierce competitor staring you down as he/she passes by, and I'm okay with that. I'll take the friendly smile, the simple "hello" or "good morning," the words of encouragement, and the occasional laugh as we make our way towards the finish line: a common goal we all share instead of the place to which one of us is trying to beat the other.

Sure I run many local races during the year, but I specifically run [space] Disney because it is a different race, and the differences mentioned above make it much more fun that any competitive race in which I've participated.

-----------------------------------

Not really sure what my above comments have to do with the OP.

 

[DISfam2401]

I love RunDisney and love that (at least in the further back corrals) it tends to be non-competetive. I would add to the list above that I love that people wear their medals proudly at the parks and it doesn't matter if you finished first or last, but if you have a medal, you get kudos from runners and non-runners alike. I do have to mention, though, at one of last years races, someone yelled at my husband "Slow down, buddy" as he was running (further back corral than he belonged in because something got messed up with his proof of time)

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Oh good, I'll be able to get whatever knee or hip replacement that I'll need between registration and race day. I expect that to be a pre-order VIP experience add-on by then. Knee replacement + Tervis Tumbler

But fo' realz...I'm gonna see if I survive my first half first before thinking about dwarves. So TBD

It was after my 3rd 1/2 that I even began to consider a challenge. And the Star Wars theme was what pushed me over the top. To my way of thinking, if I could successfully finish a 1/2 days after recovering from a cold and at the very end of a normal visit to Walt Disney World where I began the trip still recovering from that cold and staying up until 1:00am because the Magic Kingdom was open that late, I concluded that with training a challenge was possible.

But as for a challenge involving a dwarf? First I have to convince myself that I actually want to run a full.

 

[Keels]

I can tell you this - charities most DEFINITELY were hurt by lack of interest in Marathon Weekend this year. In fact, as I posted on the Marathon Weekend 2018 thread ... Team in Training is offering to waive the $100 registration fee for people interested in guaranteed registration for Marathon Weekend. Every participating charity that I've contacted today has been INCREDIBLY aggressive to get commitments from people.

The fundraising minimums aren't bad - unfortunately, it doesn't look like they're offering Dopey WITHOUT a five-night hotel stay ... but if you can fundraise $4500, TiT will pay your registration and for five-nights at a hotel. Of course, I have no idea how that compares to other years as I've never looked in to the charity option until now, but it's definitely something I'll keep in mind going forward.

 

[rteetz]

I can tell you this - charities most DEFINITELY were hurt by lack of interest in Marathon Weekend this year. In fact, as I posted on the Marathon Weekend 2018 thread ... Team in Training is offering to waive the $100 registration fee for people interested in guaranteed registration for Marathon Weekend. Every participating charity that I've contacted today has been INCREDIBLY aggressive to get commitments from people.

The fundraising minimums aren't bad - unfortunately, it doesn't look like they're offering Dopey WITHOUT a five-night hotel stay ... but if you can fundraise $4500, TiT will pay your registration and for five-nights at a hotel. Of course, I have no idea how that compares to other years as I've never looked in to the charity option until now, but it's definitely something I'll keep in mind going forward.

Interesting thanks for sharing!

 

[GreatLakes]

I like a lot of people I know lost almost all interest when they changed it to just another morning race. It would be interesting if rD still put up the percentage sold bars on the events pages.

Yep. The night race and after party are big selling points for W&D. It was my favorite rD event when it was a night event.

Disney races are serious if you want them to be (my marathon PR is Disney and the half was my PR 3 different times) or casual if you don't. Most people in other races don't stop for pictures and if they do it might be at one specific spot, like the start/finish line of the Indy race.