marathon and monorail resort

[ufmurphy]

I am running the full marathon in Jan. and booked the CR for the sat. night prior to the race. The CM at Wide World of Sports said I would be able to use the monorail to get to EPCOT for the start of the race and may get to sleep in longer. Has anyone out there used the monorail to get to the race? If it is not more convenient than the bus service I would prefer to stay at AKL (if I can get the Fl resident rate). Thanks for the advice.

 

[ufmurphy]

I wanted to ask also will my kids like the CR, anything interesting about it that I may not know? Do they still have the parade on the water and will we be able to see it from the resort? Thanks

 

[Muffy]

CR is great and I'm sure your kids would love it. If you want to visit MK it is just a short walk. If you want to get to Epcot it is a 5 min monorail ride. Chef Mickey's is located at the CR for the kiddies and Cali Grill for the grown ups! You cans see Wishes from the observation deck outside Cali Grill. Yes, they do still have the water pagent every night. Hope this helps!

 

[ufmurphy]

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the characters are always at Chef Mickeys or only during specific times. My 7 year old is terrified of all the characters, loves the princess just not the big characters (I know it's Disney) She loves going to Disney but wants no part of Mickey or Goofy getting near her. Thanks again.

 

[Muffy]

Yes, the characters are always at Chef Mickey's. The GF has 1900 Park Fare with the Princesses. It would be a short ride on the monorail. Good luck!

 

[ironz]

Seems like this past year they did have the monorail available for getting runners to the start at Epcot....but I am not 100% positive. The busses sure leave early, but that's part of how they keep it all so very organized.

I think the CR would be a fun place to stay (we've stayed at the Poly for race weekend and love the convenience--not limited to race day).

And you could think of it this way...even if you have to ride the bus to the race start, the monorails will definitely be running to get you back to your resort after the race!!

 

[Calcio]

Hello ufmurphy and ironz. We keep meeting here.

I think the answer is yes, the monorails run all morning. I recall from this year the monorail was available for spectators to get from the start in the EPCOT parking lot to the ticket and transport center and the MK to cheer the runners. Given this, I suspect the monorail will not shut down early like the busses.

The race will go right past the CR, so your kids can cheer on their mom. You'll run under the canal used by the boat transport from the MK to the WL, so they can support you.

Good luck. 79 days and counting.

 

[Calcio]

OOPS.

Should preview, oh well. The start is on the roads just east of the EPCOT parking lot. The staging area, complete with port a potties, is in the EPCOT parking lots. Sorry.

 

[ufmurphy]

Thanks so much for the reply. Do you know about how far into the run we will go under the canal near the CR? I didn't expect my family to try to track me down during the race just meet at the end but if I run right under the resort that would be very convenient! I would love any other tips you have. Ironz knows this is my first marathon and has been helpful too. A CM at Wide WOrld of Sports said a disneymarathon website should be up next week and they started mailing info packets this week. Thanks again!

 

[Tinks]

I recall the CR being around mile 9 - 10. Hope that helps!

 

[rundogrun]

Just checked the map. CR is at mile 10.

We're staying at POFQ...I was thinking I could run over in the morning to the start. But now with the monorail idea I'm reconsidering...

 

[ufmurphy]

After reading these boards my first thought was to stay at POFQ but when I called they were booked. I was able to get the CR at a fl resident rate of $168, Garden. Thanks for the info on the mile marker. My kids may still be asleep at that point! I would love to know if anyone has actually used the monorail to get to the race. Do you know where the start of the race is in relation to where the monorail would drop people off? I'm so worried I'm doing all this training and I would get to the starting place on time!

 

[ironz]

ufmurphy...no worries...or as they just said on "The Lion King" that I just watched, "Hakuna Matata" (yep...gotta love being a single 41 y/o watching Disney movies on a Friday night...not)

The monorail would drop you off at the front of Epcot, where the station is. The staging/pre-race area is in the parking lot to the right, if you picture it as if you are walking out of Epcot. There are tents there with tables to drop off a bag of clothes (if you wear an extra jacket that you want to pick up at the finish, etc.), and there are some water tables, and lots of portapotties. Now that I think of it, this is one race where the portapotty lines never seem too long, 'cause they make sure there are plenty!

From this area, you will walk about 1/2 mile or so to the actual start area, which, if you are looking at the front of Epcot straight on from the parking lot, is behind and mostly to the left of Epcot. They have lots of spotlights to light the way.

Keep in mind that the weather is variable. The last 2 times I have run, it has been very cold, and though I dropped off an extra jacket at the start staging area, I wore extra clothes to the actual race start (an old sweatshirt and extra jacket). I ended up ditching the sweatshirt during mile 1, and ditched the extra jacket by mile 3. Then tossed another shirt to my friend at the 1/2 way point. Like I said, it was COLD at the start, but I warm up when I get running. Another option, of course, is to wear a large trash bag to stay warm and keep the wind off. Then you can toss that. Be sure and run over to the side of the road when you do that, though, so other runners don't trip on it.

TTC was mile 9....I think mile 10 was just past CR, right before you get into MK. My friend that went to watch me last year slept in (relatively) at the Poly on race morning, then she was at the TTC area (short walk from Poly) when I went by at about 7:40ish, then she walked over to the TTC parking lot/1/2 marathon finish area and caught me there...then she had breakfast before she rode the monorail over to Epcot for the finish. What a good friend! We got my extra sweatshirt at the start/finish area (as soon as I stopped running, I felt cold again), and then rode the monorail back to our resort.

 

[Calcio]

This is great stuff. Thanks everybody for the information.

Yes, the ticket and transport center is mile 9, and the mile 10 marker is at the little guard hut we pass as we enter the MK. I'd guess we go by the CR at 9.8 miles. The start is right at 6 a.m. for the wheelchairs, with the runners off about 6:05, so if you're doing 10 minute miles, you'll go past the CR 7:43 or so. If your kids are all excited about your challenge, they may surprise you and be out there yelling.

I've seen the trash bag thing to keep warm in the corrals, but I went another direction this year. I bought an inexpensive set of sweats, and cut the legs up the side at the bottom a few inches so I could slip them off in the corrals without sitting down or having to take off my shoes. Just before the start for the runners I took them off and tossed them out of the corrals to the side (as a bunch of others did). They kept me warm before the start on a chilly and windy morning and I didn't have to worry about picking up anything after the race. As I went through the starting area on the second pass at mile 3, all the sweats, etc. were gone. My understanding is Disney picks them, launders them, and donates them to social service agengies.

One last bit of painful advice. No cotton undies. Well you see it was cool and windy last year, and once my engine was running I was perspiring a lot. My tights don't hold water, but the cotton undies did. At about mile 8, just past a medical tent, the chafing began. At the next tent I delicately put as much vasoline as possible on the spots, but it was too little to late. The soap and water in the shower after the race was interesting to say the least. This year it's underarmor everything.

This discussion is getting me all revved up. This year my lovely spouse is running, her first try at a 1/2. rundogrun we're also staying at POFQ the night before. Last year I saw lots of runners coming over from the resort just before the start, and that's our plan to avoid the 4 am bus ride. We'll see you all early on Sunday January 9.

 

[jlieblaw]

Is there a site I can go to for info? My sister is running her first marathon ever there in Jan. and I'm sure would appreciate any advice/information she can find.

Thanks

 

[Calcio]

I'm not aware of a site for the run. From time to time threads like this pop up, and the veterans of the run, like ironz provide excellent information about the race. If you sis has any specific or general questions, she'll get an answer here.

I was a first timer this January and the entire trip, the run and the time at WDW after was wonderful. I hope your sister has a similar experience.

Most of the posts you'll see here are about getting to the start, which was a big concern of mine in my first try. There are a lot of runners, and getting there can be an adventure.

Also prepare your sister for slow first few miles. The crowd is large, and it takes a while until you are running your planned pace in the open. She'll be one of thousands of first timers, so whe'll have strength in numbers.

Yesterday was 79 days, so today is . . .78!

 

[ironz]

www.disneyworldsports.com

Then click on marathon/endurance events on the left, and it gives you a list of running races/triathlon/inline skating races.

under the marathon, click on "more info", "latest updates" and the like. They have a good map of the race course on the website.

I've run the 1/2 twice and the full marathon once; going back for the full again in 2006, I think.

Great race; excellent for first-timers and those people (like me) who are not super fast...though the flat course and excellent organization are also good for the speedier folks.

Any questions, please let me know on the boards or PM me. I love this type of stuff! I will assume your sis is training with a coach or training group??

Cheers,
betsy

 

[ufmurphy]

I was told by Wide World of Sports that a new website (disneymarathon.com) will be up next week. Thanks for all this info. I am new to marathon running and all the advice is so helpful (especially the underwear advice!). Do they have lots of water stations and do they just have water or other drinks too. How about the post race party? Is it near the finish line? Any suggestions for dinner the night before? Does the CR have any good restaurants or somewhere else? Thanks again! Kerri

 

[Calcio]

I look forward to seeing the new site for the marathon. I've only done it once, but January will be number 2, and I'm sure there's lots left to know.

They do have lots of water stations, with both water and a carb sports drink, so you can choose. The volunteers are good about letting you know which one they have. The course map will be specific where they are, but I recall them about every 2 miles.

The post race party is at Pleasure Island. I received my cd-rom from this year which shows the Saturday kids event, the Sunday race, and the Sunday evening party at PI. I had grand designs of going to the party, but during the last half of dinner the fatigue hit. We went back to the resort, spent a few minutes in the hot tub, and I was asleep soon thereafter. My wife laughed about that, but this year, her first ever 1/2, will give me a change for pay back.

The only dinner suggestion I have is to NOT do the pasta party at the All Star Sports Cafe at the Sports complex. The cafe is right there where you'll pick up your packet, number, and chip, and last year (1) Saturday was really cold and windy (Sunday morning much better), and (2) the line for the pasta dinner was really really long. We had dinner at Spoodles, which is always one of our favorites. Also be sure to have a priority seating time on Saturday evening, because it's sure to be a mob at any of the decent restaurants with all the runners looking for a meal.

As with ironz, feel free to PM me. I've run 5 half marathons, but never had the time to train for the full. Maybe someday. I enjoyed the race and course so much, especially entering EPCOT right as dawn began to break, with my favorite classical piece, Clair de lune, playing from the park's sound system. All I could think of was, "this is pretty cool."

Good luck Kerri. Training and planning for the run cannot be easy with 2 little ones. When you finish remember how hard you worked to get to 13.1 and be very proud of yourself.

Craig

 

[ironz]

Good words there from Craig.

In the first half, there are water/sports drink stations every two miles, then they are about every mile for the rest of the marathon.

Immediately at the finish, you will get your finisher's medal , a "space blanket" to keep warm (or just look cool), find your friends/family, and there are places to get some more water/sports drink/bananas/etc. They keep you walking from the immediate finish line over to the parking lot, but that is probably better for you anyway.

I have never gone to the post-race party Sunday night at PI...my after race tradition has always been to go shower, get fresh clothes on, and get back over to Epcot to get a margarita at Mexico! (well, eventually...not generally right when I get there...gotta get some food, too!). You will need to make sure and eat plenty after the race, including carbs and protein, for recovery. And though you might not feel like walking around, it probably helps a little to keep moving that afternoon.

Pre-race pasta...we went to the marathon pasta dinner the first year...it wasn't too bad...was held that year (2000) in a tent outside at WWOS. Don't remember what we did in 2003. This year, my friend and I went to the Italian place at DTD...can't think of the name off-hand. It was good. definitely needed a PS...lots of runners there! And for the triathlon I did there in May, we carbo-loaded off-site. (not my preference, but then again, at least I wasn't eating something "different" from what I'm used to)

And I'll certainly agree with Craig...running through the parks with the music playing...it's magical...esp. early in the morning (first pass through Epcot, and MK) when (except for main street) it's just the runners and CMs in the parks.