Inaugural Disney Wine&Dine**1/2 Marathon** Post Race Discussion!

[cewait]

cewait, why do you think the relay switch point would be a sweep point? If runner A was averaging slower than 16 miles, but runner B could do 8 minute miles, wouldn't that make up the difference?

Yes you are correct in your example that Runner B would soon get in front of the 16 minute pace for the team.

My thoughts were that the relay point is (ok should) be in AK parking lot. A solo runner who is not making pace will not speed up at that point. The race will be heading back out onto Osceola after the parking lot. The race will have a permit issue with keeping the street closed too long. Just makes sense to put a hard sweep there.

However, thinking about a relay runner, I would still think that the race would not allow Runner B to start if Runner A fell behind the caboose runner marking the sweep pace (16 minute pace based on the last runner). If runner A was over a personal 16 minute pace but still in front of the sweeper pace Runner B would be allowed to go no questions. Too many folks with to manage individual paces at that point. - Hope that makes sense.


I would yield that if the course looks anything like what I mapped based on their description that hard sweep point could be at parking lot exit... maybe as many as 2 miles after the relay exchange. Though I just do not think it fair to allow Runner B to start and then get pulled a couple miles later.

 

[Shannon84]

There will be definite points where a runner will be pulled from the course if they fall behind the 16 minute pace. This is a new course, new event so the hard points are uncertain but I would definitely bet on the relay point being a hard sweep point.

You are solely responsible for maintaining you pace so I recommend a stop watch of some sort to keep track of time. In the older days I had a 100 lap Timex Ironman watch. I started the timer at the start line and then hit the lap button at each mile point. I could toggle between overall time and individual lap times. You could rely on the clocks at the mile markers but you may drive yourself crazy. The mile marker clocks are set at gun time; or the time the race actually started. If it takes you 10 minutes to cross the start line and you went a 15 minute pace your first check point would be mile 1 with a clock reading of 25 minutes (10 + 15). Mile 2 would be 40 minutes. It is simply easier to have your own stop watch so you can look at your own time at each mile marker.

Note that the 16 minute pace starts with the last person to cross the start line. So IF YOU are the last person you would need to maintain the 16 minute pace to assure yourself of not being swept. Most larger races, including Disney will have a caboose person (usually decorated with balloons and often on a bike) who will pick up the last person’s pace and attempt to move forward at a 16 minute mile. A word to the wise… unless you are confident in the timer on your arm do not count on this person being 100% correct. I would push a little harder to gain a buffer in front of the caboose person. There are cases where the caboose was pacing just a little slower than minimum pace and the last runners in the race were forced on the sweep bus.

Another example – if you cross the start line 10 minutes after the gun and the last person starts at 26 minutes after the gun, you have a 13 minute buffer in front of the moving sweep clock. That gives you a slight advantage of 13 minutes more than the last start person. Or with some simple math, you could get away with a 17 minute mile for the entire race. ------- Obviously, you will not know how much buffer you have between the last starter and where you start unless you are in the back of the last corral. So always try to keep a 16 minute pace or faster at all times.

So to answer your exact question, You could actually average slower than 16 minute pace at times during the race – as long you do not fall behind the caboose of the race.

Hope this helps

Im assuming (maybe incorrectly) that this would depend on the corral that you are in too, is that correct? So if i am in the very last corral my time depends on the last person in my corral...because the first corral may start about 20 minutes prior possibly?!?

 

[FireDancer]

Im assuming (maybe incorrectly) that this would depend on the corral that you are in too, is that correct? So if i am in the very last corral my time depends on the last person in my corral...because the first corral may start about 20 minutes prior possibly?!?

Sweep times are based on the very last person in the very last corral's starting time, at least in the other Disney races. If you can start 3 minutes before the last person crosses the start line you have a 3 minute cushion. In theory you could be 2:59 short of the sweep time over your half of the relay but still make it to the exchange point because relative to the last person that crossed the line you are above the sweep time.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[cewait]

Im assuming (maybe incorrectly) that this would depend on the corral that you are in too, is that correct? So if i am in the very last corral my time depends on the last person in my corral...because the first corral may start about 20 minutes prior possibly?!?

Like Frank said, the sweep clcok starts with the very last person's crossing of the start. It does not vary by corral.

Again, the best way to not have to worry about being swept is to maintain your personal pace at 16 minutes per mile.

 

[John VN]

......However, thinking about a relay runner, I would still think that the race would not allow Runner B to start if Runner A fell behind the caboose runner marking the sweep pace (16 minute pace based on the last runner)......

I would think that runner B would be allowed to start her/his race even if runner A was swept. RB'sST would be at G+L+S

RB'sST=runner B's start time
G=gun time
L=the time the last runner passes the start
S=sweep time which at 4.8 miles and a 16/mile pace would=76minutes and 48seconds

I am runner B. I will be using the chip time for the Goofy in Jan. If I can not start because DW sprains her ankle and can not complete her first section I just can't imagine Disney saying I can not complete my race. I would just start at RB'sST

DW just read this and does not agree because she said the race is a Relay Race. She is correct that it is a Relay Race but it is a Timed Relay Race and because there is a set end time for the first section I still think, wishing, the second runner will be allowed to start.

 

[srp1103]

Has anyone ever run in a relay of this type before? How will you know when your partner is approaching and when you can start if you are runner B?

Thanks!

 

[Villains_Rock]

OK guys...I'm registered!!! See ya in October!

 

[Shannon84]

Sweep times are based on the very last person in the very last corral's starting time, at least in the other Disney races. If you can start 3 minutes before the last person crosses the start line you have a 3 minute cushion. In theory you could be 2:59 short of the sweep time over your half of the relay but still make it to the exchange point because relative to the last person that crossed the line you are above the sweep time.

Hope that makes sense.

Ok that makes sense...I have just been getting nervous lately...I have never participated in a race that has a time requirement such as this one. I usually maintain an average 13 minute mile, so hopefully I will be ok, but I have time to work on that average as well!! Thanks for answering

 

[LadyDooley]

:

OK guys...I'm registered!!! See ya in October!

SEE YOU THERE!!!

 

[cewait]

Has anyone ever run in a relay of this type before? How will you know when your partner is approaching and when you can start if you are runner B?

Thanks!

I have run a few relays… all in the day so spotting your teammate was not as much an issue. I am sure Disney will have thought out an easy way to create the exchange between runners. I know in most that I have run we exchanged a wrist band as proof of meeting up with one another in the race. Just make sure you know what your running mate is wearing and what time you should expect to see them at the relay exchange point. This may not be the best race to wear a WISH shirt (for relay runners) due to the multitude of WISH runners out there.

One really cool relay had a jumbo-tron type device in the relay area. There was a satellite timing mat maybe a 100 yards (or could have been less) in front of the exchange area. Runner A would cross the mat and the chip would trigger the team’s number to appear on the screen. You had a short time to get into the staging area once your team number appeared. Once you spotted your teammate you would and your teammate would cross the timing mat at the exit of the exchange zone together. Runner A would then exit to the cool down area and Runner B would take off down the course. As I recall if Runner B was believed to have crossed too far in front of Runner A the team would be DQ’d.

I would think that runner B would be allowed to start her/his race even if runner A was swept. RB'sST would be at G+L+S

RB'sST=runner B's start time
G=gun time
L=the time the last runner passes the start
S=sweep time which at 4.8 miles and a 16/mile pace would=76minutes and 48seconds

I am runner B. I will be using the chip time for the Goofy in Jan. If I can not start because DW sprains her ankle and can not complete her first section I just can't imagine Disney saying I can not complete my race. I would just start at RB'sST

DW just read this and does not agree because she said the race is a Relay Race. She is correct that it is a Relay Race but it is a Timed Relay Race and because there is a set end time for the first section I still think, wishing, the second runner will be allowed to start.

You make a good point. Since Disney has not done a good job posting their rules all bets are off. It is Disney and they do attempt to make magic happen. It was not too long ago that swept runners were given medals as they exited the busses. Although I agree with you DW, this will be treated at a real relay race. Disney has talked about an exchange zone and batons. I recall reading somewhere where you will have to meet your runner in the exchange zone but I could be mistaken. I just don’t see it being fair to other teams if one runner does not make the race distance.

I hope for teams with slower members that there is some magic but if I were in the relay and were ‘beat’ by a team with a phantom runner I would be disappointed. After all most Disney races are truly a fun run type of event. I know I will never run a BQ at Disney due to the many distractions, the sharp corners in the parks and the choke points on course.

 

[CdnKayDee]

I have never run any type of event and I am a little unclear as to the corrals. To clarify does my sweep time start when the last person in my corral crosses the line or the last person in the entire race?

 

[marathonmommy]

I have never run any type of event and I am a little unclear as to the corrals. To clarify does my sweep time start when the last person in my corral crosses the line or the last person in the entire race?

Last in the race...they wouldn't be able to manage who was in what corral at a certain point.

 

[Mrs D]

I love the exchange of info here, the advise form the 'pros' and the supportive environment. And it's so fun to get to know other DISers and I'm looking forward to meeting many of you in Oct!

Yet another reason why I love the DIS!

 

[CdnKayDee]

Last in the race...they wouldn't be able to manage who was in what corral at a certain point.

Here's to hoping I am close to first in the race!

 

[CdnKayDee]

Thanks for the responses to my questions so far. One more how is it determined which corral you will be in. Is it registration date? When you go to pick up you package? Alphabetical? When you show up to the race?

 

[cewait]

Thanks for the responses to my questions so far. One more how is it determined which corral you will be in. Is it registration date? When you go to pick up you package? Alphabetical? When you show up to the race?

You are seeded in corrals based on your expected finish time. Corrals generally hold between 3 and 4,000 folks. Seeding puts the faster runners in corral A, the next faster in B ... all the way to the slowest runners in the final corrals. There is a secondary sort that is entry date based for those corrals that would have more particiapnts than the corral would hold. A good example would be the corral with those who expect to finish in 3:00. If there 5,000 runners with a 3:00 expected finish time the first 3-4,000 entries would be seeded in the first corral with the 3:00 predicted runners and remaining 3:00 would end up in the next corral.

Help?

 

[CdnKayDee]

You are seeded in corrals based on your expected finish time. Corrals generally hold between 3 and 4,000 folks. Seeding puts the faster runners in corral A, the next faster in B ... all the way to the slowest runners in the final corrals. There is a secondary sort that is entry date based for those corrals that would have more particiapnts than the corral would hold. A good example would be the corral with those who expect to finish in 3:00. If there 5,000 runners with a 3:00 expected finish time the first 3-4,000 entries would be seeded in the first corral with the 3:00 predicted runners and remaining 3:00 would end up in the next corral.

Help?

Yes it does help. I have no idea what time I put to finish. I had no idea why was important. I likely put a lot of time which won't end up being good for me.

 

[marathonmommy]

Yes it does help. I have no idea what time I put to finish. I had no idea why was important. I likely put a lot of time which won't end up being good for me.

Don't worry about it...any time faster than 2:45 requires proof of time.

 

[cewait]

Don't worry about it...any time faster than 2:45 requires proof of time.

I agree, don't sweat the small stuff. Just get out and train over the next few weeks and before you know it we will be at the line ready to go. The best piece of advice I can offer is to go with the flow. Once you enter, most everything is automatic and only requires that you follow the crowd

 

[BealsRwe]

Hi everyone. My hubby and I are running the half relay for this event. We are registered for our 1st half marathon at WDW in Jan 2011. The Wine & Dine half relay is part of our 12 races this year (our personal goal-8 completed 5k and 10k as of July 4, 2010). I am not a runner-but I attempt it. My motto is I am slow and steady, and I finish the race!