Marathon questions

[thebwit]

Forgive me if this info is posted, I tried to find it, but alas my google-fu is failing me and this is my first marathon.

I know the marathon starts at 5:30am. What time does one have to get to the starting area at?

I am assuming there is disney transportation that early in the morning to get there and do I need to set it up specially depending on where on property I am staying?

How are the staggered starts done? More specifically if I was to be put in the last starting block, what time would that really be starting at?

Are headphones allowed during the run? I know in some races they aren't, but that's only for the people who are trying to WIN the thing versus FINISH.

Where's the best place for the rest of my family to go to cheer me on? Is it easy to find room at the finish as well?

Thanks!

 

[rubato]

Join us over on the events/competition board. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=109There are lots of experienced racers there to give lots of info. As far as what time you HAVE to be at your corral, I don't know. I got there early this year, like at 5:00, and had to leave my resort at 3-3:15 to make it by 5. There's a line, at your resort, for the bus. Then , there's a decently long walk to drop off your bag, go potty, etc. Then, there's a good, long walk to get to the corral (and all of this is ridiculously shoulder to shoulder crowded). If you have any plans to meet up with anyone or anything, it takes even longer. Lots of people will be able to tell you about how long it takes each corral, but I don't have that answer, sorry.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I am transerring this thread to the Events/Competition side of WISH where you will probably have a better opportunity to find answers to this specific event.

 

[FFigawi]

Forgive me if this info is posted, I tried to find it, but alas my google-fu is failing me and this is my first marathon.

I know the marathon starts at 5:30am. What time does one have to get to the starting area at?

I am assuming there is disney transportation that early in the morning to get there and do I need to set it up specially depending on where on property I am staying?

How are the staggered starts done? More specifically if I was to be put in the last starting block, what time would that really be starting at?

Are headphones allowed during the run? I know in some races they aren't, but that's only for the people who are trying to WIN the thing versus FINISH.

Where's the best place for the rest of my family to go to cheer me on? Is it easy to find room at the finish as well?

Thanks!

1) You should be at the starting area by 5-ish. That'll give you plenty of time to hit the porta-potties one last time and make your way into your corral before the start.

2) Buses and/or monorails will run from all the Disney properties. All you need to do is head out your door and follow all the other runners.

3) The corrals start every 6-8 minutes. If you're in the last corral, you'll be starting close to 630.

4) Headphones are strongly discouraged, but I've never seen anyone removed from the race for wearing them.

5) There are lots of places all around the course for them to see you and cheer you on. When Disney publishes the race program, they'll have some good tools in there to help them map out where to be when based on your pace.

 

[thebwit]

Thanks for the info! I am excited and nervous about this trip and trying to plan now for it, before it becomes too late.

 

[Bookwood]

There are a couple of places that I can recommend cheering from- that will give your family a double dip opportunity to cheer for you. The first is the TTC (for all these set up a specific place and side of the road or have them text you when they get there) and then they can hop the monorail and get to MK to see you on Main Street. Then hop the monorail again for Epcot have them head to the World showcase bridge they can cheer there then head to the finish (outside of Epcot) and meet you at the meet and great area if they choose. This is assuming they will be using WDW transportation (I wouldn't suggest cars just cause I've heard the horror stories of wait times). I have done this double double myself and it works. (I actually had time to eat at the Swan and Dolphin (after walking through epcot to the Boardwalk) cheered at the bridge on the boardwalk, but was mmeting friends so that's why I did that. If they are on their own- I like the inside Epcot by the bridge to WS it's less walking (especially if cheerleaders are young) and may give them some things to do besides just wait. (visit shops ect.- especially if you have a way to contact them when you hit the boardwalk!)

 

[GBBTomorrow]

In 2010, our family was able to see me and DH three times. Here's how they did it. (Know that we are back-of-the-packers...if you're a speed-demon, this may or may not work. Faster people would be able to answer that.)

Our group was our three kids and MIL and FIL. We first saw them when we entered Animal Kingdom. They had tracked our progress and had a rough idea of when we would arrive, and it worked very smoothly. They were right there when we first entered the park. Then they hustled out to the front of the park as fast as they could, and they were in position to see us again just as we passed the bus stop area. (My favorite photo of the day was taken there. MIL got a shot of us waving when we realized they were there.)

Their next step was to get to Epcot to see us close to the finish. The bus line to Epcot was enormous, but MIL is brilliant and got them all on the bus to TTC, where they took the monorail to Epcot and were waiting for us right before we made the final turn into the finish area. I just screamed when I saw them there, as I never imagined we'd see them again. When I screamed, the whole crowd cheered too, then we turned the corner to the Alleluia choir, and then the tears started and I cried and cried and cried. One of the absolute best moments of my entire life!

Have fun, and good luck!

 

[thebwit]

Again thanks so much for the advice. A couple more questions:

There's photo ops with characters and I have read about people bringing their camera with. Am I correct in assuming that they will also have a CM there using photo pass?

If I was to bring a camera with, any particular method for carrying said camera?

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

Again thanks so much for the advice. A couple more questions:

There's photo ops with characters and I have read about people bringing their camera with. Am I correct in assuming that they will also have a CM there using photo pass?

If I was to bring a camera with, any particular method for carrying said camera?

If I'm not mistaken from what I've read, the picture takers at the characters do *not* use PhotoPass (the one you buy from Disney).. instead it is an external company/site that is made available after your race for purchase. You can, however, hand your camera to a Cast Member. Those who have shared here have either had a camera in their running belt, if small enough, or even run with one in their hand. I may try the latter, as I'm used to carrying *something* when running in the neighborhood anyway.

George

 

[GBBTomorrow]

DH carried a small digital camera in an armband. I saw some people wearing water belts with a pocket...it would probably fit in something like that too.

 

[thebwit]

If I'm not mistaken from what I've read, the picture takers at the characters do *not* use PhotoPass (the one you buy from Disney).. instead it is an external company/site that is made available after your race for purchase. You can, however, hand your camera to a Cast Member. Those who have shared here have either had a camera in their running belt, if small enough, or even run with one in their hand. I may try the latter, as I'm used to carrying *something* when running in the neighborhood anyway.

George

Wow I am kinda shocked that Disney would even allow an outside company for this... Seems like a no brainer to me for another way to give my money to Mickey

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

Wow I am kinda shocked that Disney would even allow an outside company for this... Seems like a no brainer to me for another way to give my money to Mickey

I agree - the PhotoPass would be quite a deal, considering how many pictures you could stop for both during the race and in the parks before/after the race.

I'm guessing ASI (they seem to be the folks that do the photos for a LOT of events, including Disney) must pay some significant portion of their proceeds back to Disney.

The race itself is also a fundraiser, not a profit generator, full of volunteers, etc, so perhaps that factors in. Yes, I know that there is residual profit from having folks in the parks before and after, but as far as I've heard, the race is for the charity/organization beneficiary.

These are all just observations, though, perhaps someone closer or more well read can offer us more details.

George

 

[paxsarah]

My guess is that there is no way that Disney's Photopass photographers could take the tens of thousands of photographs necessary to cover races like the half and full marathons, plus Photopass photographers don't necessarily have any training in sports photography - so they have to get an outside large-scale sports photography outfit like ASI. I would assume that as part of the deal with ASI, Disney couldn't also have their own photographers on the course to take the more standard character photo ops, so ASI gets all of the on-course photography business.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

ASI does pay Disney a lot of money to be at our races. Photopass photographers are hardly professionals (there are some that are) and we have had some horrible photographs from them and some really great ones. But, it is definitely hit or miss. I am guessing Disney can't find enough good photographers. I think that ASI had some part in the D-Tags going away and the change to the B-Tags because a lot of runners covered up their bibs and most aren't going to make the effort to dig through the unmatched photographs. I hear you can still cover up your bib, but that you really shouldn't with the B-Tags.

I would much rather have Photopass photographers at the race because then I could also get pictures when I was in the park all at once. ASI is expensive, I am not that impressed by their photos and their packages don't make a whole lot of sense. But, it appears they make money.

 

[paxsarah]

ASI does pay Disney a lot of money to be at our races. Photopass photographers are hardly professionals (there are some that are) and we have had some horrible photographs from them and some really great ones. But, it is definitely hit or miss. I am guessing Disney can't find enough good photographers. I think that ASI had some part in the D-Tags going away and the change to the B-Tags because a lot of runners covered up their bibs and most aren't going to make the effort to dig through the unmatched photographs. I hear you can still cover up your bib, but that you really shouldn't with the B-Tags.

I would much rather have Photopass photographers at the race because then I could also get pictures when I was in the park all at once. ASI is expensive, I am not that impressed by their photos and their packages don't make a whole lot of sense. But, it appears they make money.

I seriously went through 200,000 photographs looking for two that were taken by an ASI photographer, because they didn't show up in mine or the unclaimed section. Never again. It was insane. I never did find them. Next year it's hand-the-iPhone-to-the-cast-member time.

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

Yikes! So, if your bib isn't visible in every picture, you may be looking through the unclaimed? I guess I'll be making sure I have a camera as well.. I was hoping to just buy the CD from ASI and be lazy!

 

[paxsarah]

Yikes! So, if your bib isn't visible in every picture, you may be looking through the unclaimed? I guess I'll be making sure I have a camera as well.. I was hoping to just buy the CD from ASI and be lazy!

The unclaimed wasn't that bad - I want to say there were no more than 12,000 or so in that section. My problem was that my bib was showing and there were two photos that didn't show up, period - one character shot and then my medal photo - even after spending many evenings paging through the entire 200,000. I had already paid for the package, so I was pretty annoyed. They were also not particularly helpful when I asked about their limited and antiquated search options on their website. So in 2012 I will not be counting on ASI.

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

The unclaimed wasn't that bad - I want to say there were no more than 12,000 or so in that section. My problem was that my bib was showing and there were two photos that didn't show up, period - one character shot and then my medal photo - even after spending many evenings paging through the entire 200,000. I had already paid for the package, so I was pretty annoyed. They were also not particularly helpful when I asked about their limited and antiquated search options on their website. So in 2012 I will not be counting on ASI.

Good to know! I also noticed that the resolution of the images they sell is somewhat disappointing.. (1024x1536 pixels).. this is wayyyyy lower than what just about any digital camera you buy these days will get you. I guess with the thousands of pictures that they've got to store and sell, they needed to make the call, but it seems to me that disk storage is so inexpensive these days, and for $80 I'd hope to get some pretty high quality stuff... oh well!

I noticed your signature says you're doing your first Goofy.. Way to go!!

 

[FFigawi]

Good to know! I also noticed that the resolution of the images they sell is somewhat disappointing.. (1024x1536 pixels).. this is wayyyyy lower than what just about any digital camera you buy these days will get you. I guess with the thousands of pictures that they've got to store and sell, they needed to make the call, but it seems to me that disk storage is so inexpensive these days, and for $80 I'd hope to get some pretty high quality stuff... oh well!

While their resolution is not what you can get from most digital cameras, the ASI shots really aren't that bad. For posting online, placing in digital picture albums, and making 4x6 or 5x7 prints, they do just fine. I printed two of mine out to use in a shadow box and they look great. My only gripe is about the price, but for $75 for both days and the video clips, it's better than what I've seen at other big races.