Marathon Weekend 2016

[LSUlakes]

This may have already been discussed, but I was thinking about it yesterday after reading a few running trip reports - hi @Ariel484 totally stalking your reports

What is everyone's character picture strategy during their race(s)? And what has worked for those who are race veterans (or not worked.) Any tips or regrets or anything to help a newbie out?
I was thinking maybe I would want to at the very least stop for one picture even if the lines are long...More if the lines are ok. And then try to take some selfies and absolutely want the picture near the golf-ball in Epcot. We are going to Chef Mickey's with the whole family after the race so I know I'm going to get pics with my medal with the fab 4 or 5. I'd regret not doing at least one pic since that's half the fun right, but I fear that in the moment I will give up on the lines.
BTW I'm doing only the 5k this year.

I don't have any plans to stop at this time. I have a lot of respect for people who can stop at various times to take photos and possible small lines, but for myself, the stopping and going is harder than to just keep going. I do enjoy reading the many trip reports people have posted here and other sites with all the pictures. So yall take lots of pictures and make a trip report when its all over!

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Wanted to do Dopey but not $$ feasible, so DD, DS, DH & I are doing 5K together and then DH & I are running 10k. I still hope to find a marathon entry but don't know if that will be possible. RunDisney is getting $$$$!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I don't have any plans to stop at this time. I have a lot of respect for people who can stop at various times to take photos and possible small lines, but for myself, the stopping and going is harder than to just keep going. I do enjoy reading the many trip reports people have posted here and other sites with all the pictures. So yall take lots of pictures and make a trip report when its all over!

Same here. One of my running weaknesses is after I get started and in a groove I can't stop. If I stop, I usually can't get my pace back and if I do it seems much harder. This is true for water stops as well. I envy those that can start and stop for water/pictures at will.

 

[Barca33Runner]

This may have already been discussed, but I was thinking about it yesterday after reading a few running trip reports - hi @Ariel484 totally stalking your reports

What is everyone's character picture strategy during their race(s)? And what has worked for those who are race veterans (or not worked.) Any tips or regrets or anything to help a newbie out?
I was thinking maybe I would want to at the very least stop for one picture even if the lines are long...More if the lines are ok. And then try to take some selfies and absolutely want the picture near the golf-ball in Epcot. We are going to Chef Mickey's with the whole family after the race so I know I'm going to get pics with my medal with the fab 4 or 5. I'd regret not doing at least one pic since that's half the fun right, but I fear that in the moment I will give up on the lines.
BTW I'm doing only the 5k this year.

I never really plan how I am going to stop. It's usually when the character resonates with me (late 80's/early 90's characters) and the line isn't particularly intimidating. I am hoping Launchpad and Darkwing Duck are back on the half course this year, they have always been taking a break in the past when I passed by and then they weren't on the course that I saw in 2015. Not holding my breathe, but will definitely stop if I see them regardless of the line.

If you are a person with an aversion to lines, it is going to be difficult to not pass a few (or most) characters up. The lines have seemingly gotten longer each of the last few years. Longest lines tend to be at the beginning of each race with the 5K and Half being particularly difficult to find manageable lines. This is all, of course, anecdotal.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I've never run the 5k or 10k at WDW, so I have no idea how many times I will stop on those runs, but since I am running the Dopey I will want to minimize the time spent on my feet those days so will probably stop infrequently. On the Half and Full, I intend to stop for every character that I see, plus take a selfie at every mile marker.

I also run much better without stops or walking, but I have changed my training - incorporated stops and walking in my long runs. It has really helped - it no longer feels weird.

 

[cavepig]

I never really plan how I am going to stop. It's usually when the character resonates with me (late 80's/early 90's characters) and the line isn't particularly intimidating. I am hoping Launchpad and Darkwing Duck are back on the half course this year, they have always been taking a break in the past when I passed by and then they weren't on the course that I saw in 2015. Not holding my breathe, but will definitely stop if I see them regardless of the line.

I'm hoping for Darkwing too! We saw Launchpad the next day after the full so got pics with him and our medal at EPCOT, but Darkwing would be a biggy I would stop for sure (well maybe not for 30 minutes waiting.) The best would be Darkwing and Launchapd together or how about Chip & Dale wit Gadget as Rescue Rangers.

I have no set plans for characters, probably stop for any with short lines and then if they are rare. Play it by ear & how I feel. I take the wait as a time to stretch anything out that may be tight. I practice walking/stopping and getting going again actually as I walk most water stops too so easing into character stops is kind of the same. The trick is not to lock your knees waiting for the characters or stand stiff, but try to stay loose and in motion a little for me at least that is. I know for sure I won't stop to wait in the official marathon foto line for park icon photos though...I always do then hop out of line so just waste time, I would rather have characters.

 

[Ariel484]

The pictures are a BIG reason why I do these things in the first place.

 

[cavepig]

oops double post

 

[Ariel484]

I never really plan how I am going to stop. It's usually when the character resonates with me (late 80's/early 90's characters) and the line isn't particularly intimidating. I am hoping Launchpad and Darkwing Duck are back on the half course this year, they have always been taking a break in the past when I passed by and then they weren't on the course that I saw in 2015. Not holding my breathe, but will definitely stop if I see them regardless of the line.

If you are a person with an aversion to lines, it is going to be difficult to not pass a few (or most) characters up. The lines have seemingly gotten longer each of the last few years. Longest lines tend to be at the beginning of each race with the 5K and Half being particularly difficult to find manageable lines. This is all, of course, anecdotal.

Would love to meet Launchpad. I met Darkwing during the 2013 marathon - he and Launchpad were switching out. 1 down, 1 to go!

I've never run the 5k or 10k at WDW, so I have no idea how many times I will stop on those runs, but since I am running the Dopey I will want to minimize the time spent on my feet those days so will probably stop infrequently. On the Half and Full, I intend to stop for every character that I see, plus take a selfie at every mile marker.

I also run much better without stops or walking, but I have changed my training - incorporated stops and walking in my long runs. It has really helped - it no longer feels weird.

That...is a really good idea. HMMM...

 

[cavepig]

Oh wait I want to see Black Pete on course....

 

[Barca33Runner]

Would love to meet Launchpad. I met Darkwing during the 2013 marathon - he and Launchpad were switching out. 1 down, 1 to go!

I got a picture with Launchpad during the 2014 Half but the CM took a very blurry photo with my phone and there was no MarathonFoto photographer there at the time. Very disappointing discovery after the race.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I'm hoping for Darkwing too! We saw Launchpad the next day after the full so got pics with him and our medal at EPCOT, but Darkwing would be a biggy I would stop for sure (well maybe not for 30 minutes waiting.) The best would be Darkwing and Launchapd together or how about Chip & Dale wit Gadget as Rescue Rangers.

I would wait in long line for a full Rescue Rangers group photo. Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic about the possibility of appearances from Gadget, Monterey Jack, and Zipper.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Oh wait I want to see Black Pete on course....

If Black Pete is this guy,

https://mustbethistalltoride.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/pete-the-cat.jpg

then my daughter would KILL me if I didn't stop. It's her favorite character next to Anna and Elsa. Although from what I've read online, there isn't a Disney costume for him (Please someone tell me if I'm wrong).

 

[cavepig]

If Black Pete is this guy,

https://mustbethistalltoride.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/pete-the-cat.jpg

then my daughter would KILL me if I didn't stop. It's her favorite character next to Anna and Elsa. Although from what I've read online, there isn't a Disney costume for him (Please someone tell me if I'm wrong).

Yeah I don't think I've ever seen him as a character in the parks...but it's wishful thinking

would wait in long line for a full Rescue Rangers group photo. Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic about the possibility of appearances from Gadget, Monterey Jack, and Zipper.

Nope me either but Gadget has been a character in the parks before so she does exist somewhere....

I would stop for Scrooge too for sure, I've never met him!

 

[Keels]

I take selfies, but I don't stop - mostly because I'm afraid that if I DO stop, I'll have a hard time getting goin' again.

Same goes for bathroom breaks.

That said. If George Clooney was on the course, I would stop. I would most definitely stop.

 

[opusone]

I take selfies, but I don't stop... Same goes for bathroom breaks.

So, you just go on the run?

 

[Keels]

So, you just go on the run?

Well, I haven't had to stop for a bathroom break in any race just yet ... which probably means my hydration is completely screwed up.

 

[opusone]

Well, I haven't had to stop for a bathroom break in any race just yet ... which probably means my hydration is completely screwed up.

Actually, that could mean that you hit your hydration perfectly!

 

[Keels]

Actually, that could mean that you hit your hydration perfectly!

I'll take it! I only take electrolyte replacement on runs (Gatorade/Powerade on races, Nuun when I run training runs), and usually do two cups per stop. Powerade only at the end of a race, unless its bottled water that is REALLY cold (I prefer my water ice-cold at all times), and then all the beers. Or mimosas.

The weird thing though is food - Disneyland was the first race I've ever run where I was STARVING immediately after. Like, couldn't shovel food in my face fast enough. We usually go to brunch after races and I just can't even force myself to eat - I'll have a couple drinks and it takes me 2-3 hours to get hungry again.

I'm sure the correlation is because I didn't really take any fuel during the race (I'm a dummy - long story short, I got REALLY frustrated early on in the race because of the serious overcrowding in my corral, the pushing and shoving of fast runners from WAY BACK corrals trying to make moves through tights parts of the course, my running skirt was too big, among other things ... and I took it out on my Spi-Belt, which I ditched with my Mom who was in the ChEAR Squad on Main Street. It had all my chews AND my emergency plug-in headphones.), so really the only things I ate were a couple of orange slices and a handful of pretzels. And a couple of Twizzlers or Red Vines, whatever they were.

Anyway. That omelette I had at Steakhouse 55 was pretty much the most perfect meal I've ever had in my life, judging by how fast I inhaled the whole thing!

 

[RunDisneyDad]

Actually, that could mean that you hit your hydration perfectly!

And she's got an iron stomach or a good diet! Or both.