Just ran Castaway Cay 5K!

[2CME911]

Did you notice if they were selling T-shirts? If so, where were they being sold and how much did they cost? Thanks!

Thin, crappy cotton T shirts (sorry DCL, call it like I see it) for $21.95 in the little shop right near the start/finish.

If those nonrunners were on our cruise they would have been disappointed, as we were by NO means first off the ship.

Absolutely correct, but this might vary by cruise. I remember thinking how did all these people get off before we did?

Your the first that I've seen that's said yes. I've always had my son with me for every 5k I've done. This would be amazing. Do you know if they have jogging strollers to use? I didn't plan on bringing mine.

No, you would have to bring your own.

What exactly is "a good chunk of the day?" My husband wants to run but is a little concerned about how long it will take. I'm assuming there's a trail and the race isn't on sand?

I disagree with the post saying that it took a good chunk of the day. If its something you want to do, I encourage you to try it. The pre-race meet will take 20-30 minutes MAX, get off with the group and walk to start, about 15 minutes, run the course X minutes, done. It consumes about an hour and a half at the most. You should have your family or friends get a good beach location and just go find them when your done.

What do you mean by chunk? How long did it take? How much waiting around? Was it maybe just the wrong chunk for you to be missing from your family??? What time did it start and what time were you able to rejoin your family? The race itself cannot take that long.

Agreed. The longest waiting time is at the pre-race meet, but I just use that time to drink a bunch of water and stretch, so it's really not wasted time.

Are there age requirements/restrictions? My DS will be 11 when we cruise and typically runs 3 5ks a year with my DH. I would love it if we could all run it as a family (DD will be 9). Will we all be allowed to run it together?

Yes, minimum age is 12. In the past, the CMs have been pretty forgiving about handing out bibs to youngsters, usually announcing the minimum age and asking any kids who look close: "What's your age? Say twelve." Last week we were asked to show KTTW cards, which I don't remember ever having to show before, so I kind of wonder if they might be tightening this up a bit. But I do not have a kid who ran, so I don't actually know for sure. Nine is probably too young, IMHO.

Last week there were over 170 people who showed up to register for the run, which blew me away. Unfortunately all the extra company did nothing for my time!

 

[Aggiefan92]

Depends on how fast you run. You are off the ship by 9:45 and should be first group off. 5 minute walk to start. Worst case you should be done by 10:30 and haven't missed much of anything. Lunch is 11:30-2:00.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

I know it was a little bit ago, but they were selling the CC 5K shirts in a small gift shop that was right were the starting line was. My cruise was in Jan, so I know a little bit ago....but....can attest they were there

In May there were t-shirts too.

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[momto3gr8boys]

What exactly is "a good chunk of the day?" My husband wants to run but is a little concerned about how long it will take. I'm assuming there's a trail and the race isn't on sand?

I wouldn't say a chunk of the day. We were finished before 10:00 in May. And the race is on the airstrip and bike loop. Here's the path from my Garmin (the satellite took a bit to get going so there are a few gaps.

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[Mrspeaks]

I've read that there are some jogging style strollers on cc for a first come first serve basis. I would love to do the 5k as a family of 3, however we were only planning on ringing our small umbrella stroller on the trip. Does anyone know or have had experience with securing one of the Disney provided strollers on cc? I don't feel I can count on that.

 

[Kristina - Mom]

Thanks so much for all the great info. I am planning to do this for the first time! So excited and I have been "training" in the crazy heat and humidity we have had this summer in CT to hopefully help.

Kristina

 

[CBass]

This looks like fun. Some in my family will run, others will walk. Fast people can run it in under 20 minutes. I'm doing good if I'm under 30. Most people can walk it in under an hour even if they are just casually walking.

 

[micknme]

Just out of curiosity, were there people who walked the 5k? I had an accident involving one of my knees so my running days are over at least for now. After rehab, I am now up to a brisk power walk easily handling the 5K distance, but I am wondering if I will be the only one at this pace.

Though I am looking forward to the 5K, I'm thinking maybe I should postpone this until next year when hopefully I'm able to run it? Not quite sure what to do if I won't be having any company at my current pace???

 

[Dug720]

Just out of curiosity, were there people who walked the 5k? I had an accident involving one of my knees so my running days are over at least for now. After rehab, I am now up to a brisk power walk easily handling the 5K distance, but I am wondering if I will be the only one at this pace.

Though I am looking forward to the 5K, I'm thinking maybe I should postpone this until next year when hopefully I'm able to run it? Not quite sure what to do if I won't be having any company at my current pace???

Yes, there were people walking it on Saturday.

I am also in the camp that says it's not a "chunk" of the day. Meeting was 8:15. We were running probably by 8:45 - 9 at the latest. I am not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I was done and changed before 10. Went to Serenity Bay to meet my parents and sister and discovered they were still on the ship.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Just out of curiosity, were there people who walked the 5k? I had an accident involving one of my knees so my running days are over at least for now. After rehab, I am now up to a brisk power walk easily handling the 5K distance, but I am wondering if I will be the only one at this pace.

Though I am looking forward to the 5K, I'm thinking maybe I should postpone this until next year when hopefully I'm able to run it? Not quite sure what to do if I won't be having any company at my current pace???

There were walkers in our group. We found lounge chairs not far from the finish line, and when I walked past to go to the bathroom a good 30-40 minutes after I finished, the CM in charge was still waiting for finishers. I asked her if there were people still out there and she said the walking bunch was almost finished (they walkie talkie each other apparently). The course is very flat so I think you'll be fine.

 

[micknme]

Yes, there were people walking it on Saturday.

I am also in the camp that says it's not a "chunk" of the day. Meeting was 8:15. We were running probably by 8:45 - 9 at the latest. I am not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I was done and changed before 10. Went to Serenity Bay to meet my parents and sister and discovered they were still on the ship.

There were walkers in our group. We found lounge chairs not far from the finish line, and when I walked past to go to the bathroom a good 30-40 minutes after I finished, the CM in charge was still waiting for finishers. I asked her if there were people still out there and she said the walking bunch was almost finished (they walkie talkie each other apparently). The course is very flat so I think you'll be fine.

Thank you both for your encouraging answers to my question. For sure we are going to attempt the 5K. Can't wait for our first visit at CC!!!

 

[tink2007]

Thank you so much for posting this info. I am contemplating running while on our cruise in October. I will be running the Tower of Terror 10 Miler the night before we leave on our cruise. I guess I will see what kind of shape my legs are after the 10 Miler.

 

[mordecai]

Just to throw in my 2 cents

I felt it took up a good portion of time although I wouldn't say "chunk of the day" and I got to the lounge early so it may have skewed my view. They didn't stick to the leaving the ship time which I think was 8:30. The CM's signed up people to around 9 then took our time getting all off the boat, took a picture with "running goofy" before we even headed to the start line which was a bit of a walk. We ran it in 26 minutes and by the time we got back to the boat it was after 10:30.

We may have had a larger group and a lot of "late" people or something but that was our experience. Don't want to give anyone the wrong impression but to see what possibly could be the scenario.

 

[DonDuck707]

Video I shot of our run this past February showing the entire 5K course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLSVy-NsEyY&feature=player_detailpage

 

[shefor24]

Isn't funny how something so simple can vary so much! We went on the Dream July 4-7 and I ran the 5K. Wow was it hot! Anyway, here is my experience:
Sign up for it the night before. The Cast Member just said "show up at this lounge at 8:15. Pulled into Castaway at about 7:30 ish, meet in lounge at 8:15, there must've been about 30 people or so, just a nice number of people. We got our bib's attached and the CM was about halfway thru the directions/instructions when they came on and said we can get off the ship. The CM stopped what she was doing and said "lets beat the crowd!" and away we went. We walked right off the ship and walked a nice pace to the start line, it must've been about.... 8:50 or so before we got to the start line. No stops and no Goofy as some other posters mentioned. She kinda finished going over the directions again, we ended up standing there for probably about 5-6 minutes waiting on these two other CM's who assisted by being the lead and the chaser and then counted down and said "go" and we took off. Did I mention it was HOT!? When I was done I couldn't WAIT to get that cool Mickey metal! Ohhh was I excited- thats why I wanted to run this thing! YAY! So here i come across the line and the CM puts this wide ribbon'd (with the word WINNER on it) around my neck and I didn't feel the weight of the metal.... I grabbed ahold of it and it is a cheap plastic large mickey head shaped piece and the center of it has a sticker that has the Disney Cruise Line logo on it. Fun race but I was disappointed for sure. Thats okay, I mean I shouldn't have had my hopes up. As I walked back to the ship there was a Shutters photo opp right in front of the ship and she wasn't busy so I had her take my picture holding my plastic fake metal up and my cool Castaway bib on me, its a good pic I ended up buying. As for the T shirt- again a disappointment and I agree completely with the other poster who said it is a cheap made thin "after thought" design on the front of the tee shirt and they only come in white, $21.95. Anyway, I was back on the ship, changed and waited the the line to get back off the ship with the family and sitting ON the beach in our spot by probably 10:30 at the very latest. Didn't take much time at all. Kudos to the CM for being so quick on getting us out there, etc but come on Disney, can't you do a little better on the metal?

 

[Dug720]

Isn't funny how something so simple can vary so much! We went on the Dream July 4-7 and I ran the 5K. Wow was it hot! Anyway, here is my experience:
Sign up for it the night before. The Cast Member just said "show up at this lounge at 8:15. Pulled into Castaway at about 7:30 ish, meet in lounge at 8:15, there must've been about 30 people or so, just a nice number of people. We got our bib's attached and the CM was about halfway thru the directions/instructions when they came on and said we can get off the ship. The CM stopped what she was doing and said "lets beat the crowd!" and away we went. We walked right off the ship and walked a nice pace to the start line, it must've been about.... 8:50 or so before we got to the start line. No stops and no Goofy as some other posters mentioned. She kinda finished going over the directions again, we ended up standing there for probably about 5-6 minutes waiting on these two other CM's who assisted by being the lead and the chaser and then counted down and said "go" and we took off. Did I mention it was HOT!? When I was done I couldn't WAIT to get that cool Mickey metal! Ohhh was I excited- thats why I wanted to run this thing! YAY! So here i come across the line and the CM puts this wide ribbon'd (with the word WINNER on it) around my neck and I didn't feel the weight of the metal.... I grabbed ahold of it and it is a cheap plastic large mickey head shaped piece and the center of it has a sticker that has the Disney Cruise Line logo on it. Fun race but I was disappointed for sure. Thats okay, I mean I shouldn't have had my hopes up. As I walked back to the ship there was a Shutters photo opp right in front of the ship and she wasn't busy so I had her take my picture holding my plastic fake metal up and my cool Castaway bib on me, its a good pic I ended up buying. As for the T shirt- again a disappointment and I agree completely with the other poster who said it is a cheap made thin "after thought" design on the front of the tee shirt and they only come in white, $21.95. Anyway, I was back on the ship, changed and waited the the line to get back off the ship with the family and sitting ON the beach in our spot by probably 10:30 at the very latest. Didn't take much time at all. Kudos to the CM for being so quick on getting us out there, etc but come on Disney, can't you do a little better on the metal?

It's a FREE race. They don't have to offer any medals. Most 5k races, even paid ones, don't offer medals. The official runDisney 5Ks have PVC medals - but they're $55 or more to run.

 

[mordecai]

I agree, most 5k's don't give out any medal at all so it's a nice perk that they do on a free one! Also, I'm really glad to see they're doing the signup the night before. Hopefully this is a permanent change cause my signup was that morning and I think that's what took up so much time. I'm going to do it again in September so I'll let you know!

 

[shefor24]

Very good point DUG720, and although I was a bit disappointed about the medal I was sure glad I ran it. Just for self glory. I am just glad they offer the 5K and I would do it again in a second, even though it was hot... did I mention it was hot? lol Yes, don't mistake me- it didn't ruin the day or my mood in any way shape or form. Had a blast the entire cruise!

 

[Dug720]

I agree, most 5k's don't give out any medal at all so it's a nice perk that they do on a free one! Also, I'm really glad to see they're doing the signup the night before. Hopefully this is a permanent change cause my signup was that morning and I think that's what took up so much time. I'm going to do it again in September so I'll let you know!

I was on the July 11-14 cruise and we didn't sign up. Actually we didn't sign anything - just showed up and got the bibs and went.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just out of curiosity, were there people who walked the 5k?

There are definitely walkers. Don't worry about being the only one.

We ran it in 26 minutes and by the time we got back to the boat it was after 10:30.

Is it possible that going back to the boat is something that helped in the view that it took a lot of time? I went to the meetup, leaving DH to get himself and DS ready, and they were on the tram as I was finishing. They had my stuff and I just went to the restrooms to change. If I had gone back to the ship to shower and change (as I halfway thought I was going to do until that morning) I would have felt miserable with all the wasted time.

Sign up for it the night before. ...

I grabbed ahold of it and it is a cheap plastic large mickey head shaped piece and the center of it has a sticker that has the Disney Cruise Line logo on it. .... but come on Disney, can't you do a little better on the metal?

Where did you sign up? How did you find out about signing up? In Feb they only included the info on the Navigator that showed up in our room the night before, so there wouldn't have been much time to sign up.

And yes, it's plastic. And it's generic. They use it for other things, like basketball hoop shooting contests with teens, etc. No one should get their hopes up over the medal.

It's a free race, and they are making up bibs (bibs are my fave! I'm developing a Buddhist-prayer-flag-style bib banner in my scrapbook area at home) for us and making CMs available for it and they even have a time clock for it...let's not complain about the plastic medal.