Is there a SWEEPER at Minnie 5K ???

[HalfMarathon]

Hi ... I did my first 1/2 marathon in January at Disney at barely made the 16 minute mile pace ... I am very concerned about being swept at the 15K ... BUTTTTTT my question concerns the 5K ... my sister and I are walking with my mother for the 5K .. there is NO WAY she will do it in 15 minute miles (she is 72 and we are just doing this for fun) ... I have not seen any mention of a sweeper bus but is there one???? ... I assume since you don't go through any parks that there is no reason to stop you from walking but I would really like to know ahead of time ... any insight would be appreciated! Thanks! Karen

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Hi Karen, I e-mail WDW Endurance Sports last week to ask about a sweeper for the 5K because I am concerned about my mom walking the 15 min/mi pace. Here's the response I got:

The 15 minute per mile pace must be maintained the entire length of the event. Participants not keeping the 15 minute per mile pace can be picked up at any point during the race.

I would just advise your mom to go out and have fun and not worry about sweepers. I'm not entirely sure how they will sweep the course, so fingers crossed for our moms!

 

[ninaeve]

You know, now that I think about the course, exactly how would they sweep. The only area where you could be carted to a bus would be the beginning at the shopping area or maybe at SSR? Unless they are going to golf cart people in.

I understand having to clear the parks, and having sweepers for longer races, but I find it sad that for a race that is encouraging ALL women to get healthier, they are immedietely discouraging the people that might just be slower. I know they have the 1mile walk, but some people in my friend circle would love to go for mileage but can't get the speed. Wish they had a 16-20 minutes mile division. LOL Guess, then there would be some complaining about that cutoff, huh?

 

[HalfMarathon]

Thanks for your replies Leana and Kimberly ... I am still wondering what is going to happen though ... is this the first year of the 5K??? If not, someone must know from last year if there was a sweeper or not....

Good luck this weekend! Karen

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Karen - Previously I was able to look over last year's results and people were coming in at an hour after the start, so well above the 15 min/mi requirement. I asked others, but never got a definitive answer on whether there were sweepers last year. I'm hoping that they won't sweep this one - the whole concept behind the start is you line up in one corral if you are running, another if you are walking. A 15 min/mi pace is a bit fast for just a casual walker, so here is hoping it is more like a Race for the Cure event where you don't have to keep looking over your shoulder for those sweepers!

 

[LFNikita]

The idea of a sweeper scares me. I'm relatively new to walking for exercise. I've walked two 5Ks before and neither had timing restrictions. I walked a 15:17 on the last one. I would think Go For Red would be encouraging women of all ages and walking abilities. Last year had a 15:00 restriction as well, but there were many people listed in the results that took over an hour. I have been walking on the treadmill at 4 mph or a 15:00 minute per mile pace. It will take me over two hours to drive to the event. Am I wasting my time? I don't want to drive there, only to be "sweeped" up immediately.

 

[HalfMarathon]

Hi LFNIkita,

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not be discouraged by my sweeper question ... if you are that close to 15 minute miles you will not be swept ... the time limit does not start until the LAST runner crosses the starting line, so you will actually have the 15 minutes per mile PLUS the difference in time if took you to start from the time the last person started ... MAKE SENSE???

.. just don't be the last starter!!!

I want to hear next week that you did it! Have fun! Karen

 

[MiniGirl]

Hi Karen, I e-mail WDW Endurance Sports last week to ask about a sweeper for the 5K because I am concerned about my mom walking the 15 min/mi pace. Here's the response I got:

The 15 minute per mile pace must be maintained the entire length of the event. Participants not keeping the 15 minute per mile pace can be picked up at any point during the race.

I would just advise your mom to go out and have fun and not worry about sweepers. I'm not entirely sure how they will sweep the course, so fingers crossed for our moms!

Do you think this could just be a canned response? I mean they very well couldn't say, "Yeah, we have time limits listed, but you don't have to worry about them. They're just there as a formality." KWIM? I'm hoping there are no sweepers. I've (and my kiddos) have been ill, so I know I am slower than that pace because I haven't been able to train. I'm excited about my 1st Disney race and hope to be able to finish, and I'll know I finsh if I'm allowed to. Right now I'm at about a 17 min pace -- maybe a little less.

 

[LFNikita]

I believe the kids race is going to be starting at approximately 8:30 on the same runway that the Go For Red 5K. If this is truly the case, that would mean they expect everyone to be done in under an hour. Oh,well..... time is running out for me to decide whether to go for it or not.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

MiniGirl: I received the exact response on the pace about a month ago. My DW and I are going to do the best we can but expect about a 15:30 pace. What are they going to do if we take 1 1/2 minutes too long

See you tomorrow. I will be wearing the bright orange muscle shirt(no muscles inside )

 

[MiniGirl]

I believe the kids race is going to be starting at approximately 8:30 on the same runway that the Go For Red 5K. If this is truly the case, that would mean they expect everyone to be done in under an hour. Oh,well..... time is running out for me to decide whether to go for it or not.

So, did you go?!?! We had a great time. I hope you made it.

MiniGirl: I received the exact response on the pace about a month ago. My DW and I are going to do the best we can but expect about a 15:30 pace. What are they going to do if we take 1 1/2 minutes too long

See you tomorrow. I will be wearing the bright orange muscle shirt(no muscles inside )

Robert, it was great meeting you this morning. Too funny about the muscle shirt. Hope the meets went well. Sorry we couldn't make it but I had to get back home.

BTW, there were no sweepers -- at least not that I saw, and I was slower than 15 min/mile.

 

[LFNikita]

Hi all! I decided to take a chance and go for it! I talked to someone at the packet pickup table on the morning of the race and she said that they would be sweeping but that they would be allowing a few extra minutes, so not to worry. I never actually saw anybody sweeping though. I don't know what my time was, but I felt some what safe during the run as there were many people behind me. As long as I heard voices behind me, I was okay. LOL. I will say that this was harder than expected, most likely because of the timing stress. The other two 5ks I've participated in had no timing restrictions, so there was no pressure (except trying not to be last). Or maybe it was all those little ups and downs towards the end of the race.... the last 1/2 mile was hard.

I loved how some of the participants dressed up for the event in Minnie wear. And I saw three women with long red dresses and boas on.

 

[eeyore45]

hmmmm running with a boa in the Florida heat??!!

Sounds like a hoot!! I thought I saw some Minnie type dresses in the pictures posted!!

Congratulations on finishing!!

 

[HalfMarathon]

Hi all ... I am glad I started this thread! Good news to report... I finished the 5K as did my sister and my 71 year old mother .... we had a great time (and took longer than 15 minute miles!) ...... Take care! Karen