Is Boston the reason for quick sell outs?

[goofeygirl]

Just wondering why these races are selling so quickly. It isn't just Disney but I see other races that seem to be selling nearly doubly fast than years before.

It was a thought that sort of just occurred to me.

 

[DOOM1001]

Several reasons,first of all everybody and their cousins are getting into running,I single handedly have made about 5 co workers sign up for multiple races,and just like that one of those people can get 5 more into it.Then you have Disney offering these challenges,the Dopey challenge for example is a huge reason for the quick sell outs.Think about it there's like 7-8,000 people who just by themselves almost fill up the 5k and 10k and are like 1/3 of the half and full marathons.About 4-5 years ago the full marathon was open until like November,The Disneyland marathon has sold out super fast for a good while but I had no idea the WDW races would catch up this quick,how could they not,you get people to sign up for EEC,TOT or W&D and obviously their next step is to sign up for another race and before you know it there's somebody else signing up for Goofy or Dopey.This trend was happening before anything happened in Boston.

 

[goofeygirl]

....its a good thing...but if I recall last year...the half marathon was open for at least a few weeks. I am thinking a month or so might have gone by before it sold out...that was a huge difference from the year before in which I knew people that signed up - in June or July.

Fast forward to today and the race is already at 85% sold out and 12 hours haven't passed since registration opened.

Lots more runners...but I do wonder if Boston didn't maybe do something...not sure what or how...just seems strange that races are filling out really really fast...faster than ever before.

 

[ANIM8R]

Several reasons,first of all everybody and their cousins are getting into running,I single handedly have made about 5 co workers sign up for multiple races,and just like that one of those people can get 5 more into it.

That's all I need to read - it's Doom's fault everybody. Let's all blame Doom for this.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's all I need to read - it's Doom's fault everybody. Let's all blame Doom for this.

I've always thought that Doom was behind everything.

 

[FFigawi]

I don't think Boston has or had anything to do with how fast Disney races are selling out. I think it's more likely due to several other factors...

1) running distance races is getting more popular across the country
2) people are tired of just a normal race and are looking for new & different experiences (Goofy, Dopey, color runs, mud runs, etc.)
3) destination races like Disney are easy ways for a runner to get away to a race with non-running family members
4) races with generally good reputations for treating their runners well, having good course support, and solid organization are always popular
5) Disney offers unique and interesting medals. Lots of people run for the bling.

 

[Castle2Castle]

Speaking for myself, I think runDisney has grown a lot in gaining exposure through social media since I first heard about runDisney events in 2012. Without subscribing to or reading Runner's World, I would think that partnering with them has probably helped as well.

The California races went super fast even before Boston last year. With the speed of those races and the tie-in to getting a Coast-to-Coast medal, I think there's just been a feedback loop that has continued to increase the speed at which people feel they need to register and in fact do register.

 

[cewait]

I think the inclusion of the 10k as well as the bundling is a huge driver for the recent increase in demand. DL has always had a higher demand than WDW and I think the fact that they are forced to cap distances at a half peak that demand. The half is by far the draw for a race weekend. It brings in many more folks who just are not ready to commit to a full training program. Add the 10k which now bridges the 5k to the half with a 'quarterthon' and the demand becomes insane.

 

[Pleglech]

I'd imagine DL gets a lot more local demand than DW too.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I think runDisney is also seeing a boost because of the exclusive merchandising--bags you can only get at the expo, shoes that are only released for the race, etc. Another factor is that of the word of mouth on run Disney--more people that have done a race and raved about it now that they have been planning these a while (i.e. the tipping point on word of mouth). Also, the fun factor. The race will appeal to normal non racers because of the novelty of running through parks etc. Finally, the timing works out. Very few make last minute trips to disney; visitors plan their trips with theoretically enough time to train should they decide to do so.

I only ever considered running any of these originally because I wanted those cindy newbalance shoes!!! Now my whole family is signed up for marathon weekend, 6 runners if you include the two kids

 

[dumbo_buddy]

I don't think Boston has or had anything to do with how fast Disney races are selling out. I think it's more likely due to several other factors...

1) running distance races is getting more popular across the country
2) people are tired of just a normal race and are looking for new & different experiences (Goofy, Dopey, color runs, mud runs, etc.)
3) destination races like Disney are easy ways for a runner to get away to a race with non-running family members
4) races with generally good reputations for treating their runners well, having good course support, and solid organization are always popular
5) Disney offers unique and interesting medals. Lots of people run for the bling.

ditto. the races were getting more and more popular previous to just one year ago. agree with above points.

 

[Dug720]

ditto. the races were getting more and more popular previous to just one year ago. agree with above points.

Exactly. These are the reasons. Honestly outside of the running world in any other year, very few people outside of Boston would even bat an eye at a race going on. The general public only had a slightly heightened interest this year because of the events of last year.

IMHO, the "special shoes" have very little to do with it for people who run Disney races as a part of their overall schedule. New Balance shoes only work for a small number of people, and those of us who run other races (and in general) throughout the year know that running distance in the wrong shoes for you is a recipe for disaster. Not to mention that the expos are open to anyone, not just participants, so ANYONE can get an appointment to get the "special shoes".

 

[Barca33Runner]

Nothing particularly new to add to the story, but as a relative newcomer to the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend I will add my two cents.

I signed up to run my first half marathon in September 2011 for the 2012 Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon in response to my sister looking for someone to run with and my own feeling that it could be helpful in providing motivation for the lifestyle change I needed. My cousin took a couple extra weeks to decide and eventually signed up as well. So, it was just three years ago that a race that sold out in about one day this year was taking well into the fall to fill.

My sister and I have been back and are somewhat hooked, running the Marathon in 2013, the Dopey Challenge in 2014, and once again signed up for Dopey in 2015. I think RunDisney has an incredible retention rate among runners contributing to the sellouts with the overall running boom contributing the largest influence. Boston may be a small inflence, but I think it would be only insomuch as it may have a small influence on the overall increase in runners.

I am grateful that there were still half marathon spots available in Fall 2011, I don't know if I would ever made the commitment to better fitness were it not for that first half marathon. I do feel a bit bad that the option to discover the race and sign up the way I did is no longer an option. I'm not sure a local 5K, 10K or half marathon would have had the added cachet of Disney World to help get me off the couch.

 

[WhereInFlorida]

I think RunDisney has an incredible retention rate among runners contributing to the sellouts with the overall running boom contributing the largest influence.

+1 to retention. When a race does it right, it pays off in the long run. Several years ago was my first, registering in November for the marathon which seems like a by-gone day given the registration rates.

 

[twinkie567]

Well, the Boston Marathon was what inspired me to sign up. My husband is the runner in the family. I'm the official couch potato. On Monday he ran his 14th consecutive Boston, and his 23rd marathon. He came home and that night I talked him into Goofy. With sign ups the next day, the timing couldn't have been better. In a moment of craziness I signed myself up for the 10K. The spirit amongst the spectators in Boston this year was unbelievable. Marathon Monday is always a special day, but this year it was just incredible, and that is what ultimately got me to take the plunge. So now I need to get off the couch and hit the roads! And yes, I'm also doing it for the Dooney, and the cute sneakers, and the Minnie bling!