Marathon Program is released

[cewait]

Just checked today's emails and I found a link to the program.

http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/media/ewwos/emails/rundisney/WDW11Program.pdf

Enjoy!

 

[cewait]

Changes to be aware of...

Race time moved to 5:30 for the first waves

Eight half waves
Eight Full Waves

 

[FFigawi]

Interesting that there's no mention of the two different red/blue courses they had in the past for the marathon. Guess they're going with a full linear set of corrals and not side by side.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Interesting that there's no mention of the two different red/blue courses they had in the past for the marathon. Guess they're going with a full linear set of corrals and not side by side.

I wonder if this has to do with lower registration numbers this year than in previous years...

 

[cewait]

The map (both the program and on the web) does not show the two start format, either. They finally got it. The mile 3.3 merge point has been terrible for runners in the latter half of the left or blue start as well as the front corral runners on the red side. I think that it is just tooling around on John's part and finally taking a page from the RNR starts.

The great news is that if you are a faster runner you get to go into the front of Epcot this year, also

 

[jmasgat]

Holy cow-5:35 start? And did they always used to say "you must be in your corral by 5:00 am or you will not be allowed to start"?

 

[cewait]

It wasn't too long ago that the time to be in corrals was 5:30. the wording was not as terse until a couple years ago.

The good news is that the race transportation has not been move up a half hour so its 30 minutes less in the holding area.

 

[cewait]

You know talking about the two starts…

The two start layout at Disney was born not of crowd control, rather two race starts. In the early years, the left start was the half start while the right start was the full. Then as the races grew, specifically the half, runners were mixed half and full based on times with the right side being for the faster runners and the slower runners on the left. That did not work well as the wheels will zip through the first lap before the left side clears mile 1. In 2006 when the half was moved to Saturday, the corral seeding was unique for the full. The left side went corrals A, C, E and the right B, D, F, G, H… that failed to work well so the format of the last four years; three fastest on the left and the remainder on the right was run.

I am looking forward to the new start format. I think that it will open up the course so that the crazy merge point issue will finally go away. I will hold judgment on the next pinch point at mile 5; but I will bet it is not as bad for most runners, also.

 

[FFigawi]

I hope they keep the course from the left side. I loved running all the way around Epcot in the dark. It was so peaceful to see the globe all lit up, the fire torches lit up, and all the countries silent with a few cast members in front of some of them along the way, with all the great running and Olympic songs playing.

 

[FFigawi]

It wasn't too long ago that the time to be in corrals was 5:30. the wording was not as terse until a couple years ago.

The good news is that the race transportation has not been move up a half hour so its 30 minutes less in the holding area.

I must have missed that wording last year. Along with thousands of other runners, I don't think I got to my corral until 10 minutes before the start. It was way to cold to just be sitting out there in a corral for that long.

 

[cewait]

I hope they keep the course from the left side. I loved running all the way around Epcot in the dark. It was so peaceful to see the globe all lit up, the fire torches lit up, and all the countries silent with a few cast members in front of some of them along the way, with all the great running and Olympic songs playing.

While I like both sides of the course I also prefer the left side....

1) The Mile 1 hill that wakes the body up - great way to check out what did not survive the half the morning before
2) Into Epcot quicker - by just a little
3) The view of Spaceship Earth from the back of World Showcase.

Saying that, the maps point to the right side.

So,
1) I really like the crowd as we enter Epcot at the monorail
2) I love the wind tunnel effect of running under Spaceship earth and thinking in less than 5 hours I will be back.
3) I love the cooling effect of the swamp in the big sweeping corner at mile 1
4) Running through turnstiles and toll booths is always fun – OK the turnsyles are taken up for the race but watch out for the plywood over laying the line.
5) The Christmas lights just past the fountain should be up this year. Seeing runners running past the Odyssey Center across the pond and taking all three aisles on the main route through the lights is cool.

OK stretching a little here.

 

[Hockeychic]

Yaaaaa expo is open at 10AM on Thursday!!!!!! I think ithas been noon previous years.

Thanks for posting this Charles, getting super excited now!!!!

 

[TnTsParty]

I noticed on the first page of the program where it says Save the Date - registration for 2012 Marathon weekend doesn't open until March - guess they figure set the registration open date further back and it might attract more people??

I do like that they moved the Expedition Everest Challenge to May 7 - I might think about doing it again this year with my niece. I did it the first year with my DH.

 

[FFigawi]

Charles, you're stretching more than a little.

I'm really disappointed we don't get to run all the way around, but there's nothing we can do about that now. I'll have to make sure to complain about the course change when I fill out my post-race survey.

 

[wvjules]

Ok so actually getting the program has made me a little nauseous. What in the world am I going to be like on race morning?

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Yaaaaa expo is open at 10AM on Thursday!!!!!! I think ithas been noon previous years.

Thanks for posting this Charles, getting super excited now!!!!

Oh, thanks for noticing! I have a breakfast ADR at Ohana that I need to try to change! The original plan was MK for EMH to get my baby on Dumbo without waiting rotfl: - he won't even be 6 months, but I finally have an excuse to ride Dumbo for the first time!) and then 10:30 ADR at Ohana, and then bus from the Poly to the expo. Looks like the timetable needs moving up!

 

[rubato]

Ok so actually getting the program has made me a little nauseous. What in the world am I going to be like on race morning?

It certainly does seem more "real" now! I'm just getting really excited at this point.

I was glad to see the 10am Thursday time as well. We're getting in on Wednesday, but aren't going to the parks until Thursday. So, my family can enjoy the parks, and I'll be back to them in time for lunch! At least, I hope it won't take long if I'm there first thing.

Oh, I did have a question: Do you think it's really necessary to go to the talks? The only one I'm concerned with Dave McGillivray one that discusses Goofy. I figure I've learned enough on here and just reading through the packet that I don't need to go, but just wanted to hear what you guys think.

 

[verticalchaos]

I don't think you HAVE to go. I'm planning to go back on Saturday afternoon to John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield's talk - mainly because if I don't get into the NYCM via lottery (and it's not likely I will since I live in NYC) I'll be running it for charity and am interested to hear about that. But the other talks don't really interest me.

As I understand it, the only requirement for the expo is to pick up your bib and stuff.

 

[FFigawi]

Oh, I did have a question: Do you think it's really necessary to go to the talks? The only one I'm concerned with Dave McGillivray one that discusses Goofy. I figure I've learned enough on here and just reading through the packet that I don't need to go, but just wanted to hear what you guys think.

It's not necessary by any stretch, but they can be pretty interesting. Galloway, Bingham, etc., are all quite entertaining and no matter how experienced a runner you are, it's always fun to listen to their stories, experiences, and advice. If you've got time, I'd go to see them, but if not, I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[jmasgat]

The original plan was MK for EMH to get my baby on Dumbo without waiting rotfl: - he won't even be 6 months, but I finally have an excuse to ride Dumbo for the first time!)

Who needs an excuse? I was one of the first on Dumbo at DL the Friday before half marathon....just me, myself and I

Maura