Marathon Weekend 2017!

[AThrillingChase]

Good luck!!

I didn't transfer down but I did do a transfer - she'll need to just enter in a new Proof of Time. She does an entire new registration for the half. What I'm not sure about is how that will work since they look like they are ready to populate the database with bib numbers...that makes me think they have already been assigned. So if that is the case she'll want to be ready with a printout to take to Runner Relations at the expo. Not sure what they'll do for her if she needs to see them.

I used the Registration ID thing I got in my confirmation email. And yes, the refund goes to the original card used, minus the transfer fee. Based on what is going on with @MommaoffherRocker, be prepared for this to be a slooow process.

This is helpful since I registered late! And FYI for everyone- my TA says the last day to register is Dec 13!

True story: when I first moved to FL 20+ years ago, I got rid of all my winter jackets/coats. The following winter was one of the coldest on record, lol! I now own 2 down jackets, 2 wool jackets, a wool dress coat, and a whole pile of fleece pullovers/jackets. And I wear each one at least once, usually multiple times, each winter. Live and learn, right?!

I want to move to FL too and be your friend the cold weather is slowly draining my happiness!

 

[mawatcha]

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

 

[rteetz]

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

There are really no spots around hourglass lake where you would really be close enough for a gator to jump out and attack. Alligators don't attack unless something scares/provokes them or the most part. If you stay on the path you should be fine. Are you thinking after sun rises or before? Obviously visibiliaty could be an issue but this years incident Disney is even on more alert than ever before trying to remove larger gators. From what I've learned on the issue alligators are more afraid of adults than we are afraid of them. Hope that helps.

 

[DOOM1001]

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

This is Shark Valley located west of Miami.I've ridden bikes there several times on the 15 mile loop where you'll see at least 20-30 gators just sitting along the path and sometimes dozens if not hundreds in some of the deeper areas of water on the path.November 19th they held the first ever Everglades half marathon there,15 mile loop almost a perfect distance for a half.I happened to be in Miami that same day but for my brothers wedding,really thought about signing up but between the wedding,the race not being cheap or very scenic unless you like looking at swampy areas for 2-3 hours and that I heard limited parking areas would be an issue with the race needing a shuttle from a nearby parking area,I passed.Gators are pretty much not going to come out and attack anything bigger than a small kid or a dog,Shark Valleys been open for almost 70 years and I believe the only attack was on a 9-10 year old who fell in the water but did survive.I also hear your chances of a gator attacking you also decrease with colder temps as they slow their metabolic activity,did you see that report of Anderson Cooper diving with gators,it was in winter.Once the temps heat up and mating season comes the chances for attacks are more likely,but like I said if you're an adult just stay out of its way and you'll be fine.Don't get near the water if you have no reason to be there,adults are not likely to get attacked but better safe than sorry,kids and pets definitely avoid the water.

 

[FFigawi]

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

You'll be fine as long as you don't hide out in or near the water.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

I spent a lot of time in grad school hunting down gators and venomous snakes in central Florida (for research, not killing, called it my Crocodile Hunter phase) and I agree with the above responses. December mornings will be cold and all reptiles will be sluggish when temperatures drop (there are some funny stories of iguanas falling out of trees during cold snaps in Miami), I wouldn't even expect to see a gator until the sun has been up for a while. They'll also stick close to the water this time of year. Mating season in summer is when they get a bit more aggressive and adventurous, and even then not typically towards adult humans.

TL;DR You'll be fine.

 

[lhermiston]

One month until the marathon!!

 

[Wendy98]

I spent a lot of time in grad school hunting down gators and venomous snakes in central Florida (for research, not killing, called it my Crocodile Hunter phase) and I agree with the above responses. December mornings will be cold and all reptiles will be sluggish when temperatures drop (there are some funny stories of iguanas falling out of trees during cold snaps in Miami), I wouldn't even expect to see a gator until the sun has been up for a while. They'll also stick close to the water this time of year. Mating season in summer is when they get a bit more aggressive and adventurous, and even then not typically towards adult humans.

TL;DR You'll be fine.

A few reptile sightings would be good for me--it would certainly make me go faster!

 

[croach]

Luggage tags have arrived! Got an email last week that MagicBands have shipped. Its getting real people!

Any idea if we are getting the new Magicbands?

And on alligators and such - part of the Miami to the Keys Ragnar Relay they used to have went through the Everglades. I had a night leg through that part and while I wasn't to worried about it, I also didn't waste any time getting done.

 

[ZellyB]

You'll be fine as long as you don't hide out in or near the water.

Talk about karma!

 

[Weluvdisny]

I was checking out the RD website and came across this. I don't think I opted out of communication from WDW but I haven't received anything from them either. Has anyone else? Or has their timeframe narrowed down to less than 30 days out?

Event Communications
Three months prior to the race, event weekend emails will be sent to all participants with information about your event. Event emails will be posted here once they have been sent. Please note, if you are not receiving event communications, it may be due to opting out of any official The Walt Disney Company emails.

 

[cavepig]

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

I've never even seen a gator in hourglass lake. I've ran & walked around there at night and there were lots of bull frog noises but that was about it. Plus, you aren't running on the waters edge, there's grass/plants/etc between the water & sidewalk. It is a really nice running path.

 

[Z-Knight]

Any idea if we are getting the new Magicbands?

No - from what I read DVC might be but not us regular folks. I'll know for sure in a couple of days.

 

[UNCBear24]

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

I love running around Hourglass Lake. You will be fine. Relax and enjoy your run!

 

[rteetz]

Any idea if we are getting the new Magicbands?

And on alligators and such - part of the Miami to the Keys Ragnar Relay they used to have went through the Everglades. I had a night leg through that part and while I wasn't to worried about it, I also didn't waste any time getting done.

I am not sure. I know they are starting to ship to AP holders this month but I am not sure when they will come to resort guests.

 

[MeridaAndAngus]

I was checking out the RD website and came across this. I don't think I opted out of communication from WDW but I haven't received anything from them either. Has anyone else? Or has their timeframe narrowed down to less than 30 days out?

Event Communications
Three months prior to the race, event weekend emails will be sent to all participants with information about your event. Event emails will be posted here once they have been sent. Please note, if you are not receiving event communications, it may be due to opting out of any official The Walt Disney Company emails.

Other than my active receipt when I registered for Goofy, I don't thInk I've received any emails from rD about Marathon weekend. I did receive emails for Avengers weekend and I receive the promotional/rD newsletter emails (one just came out a few days ago talking about the Paris half weekend). Have you received any of these "generic" rD newsletter emails recently? If so, I think we're both in the same boat. I'm not sure if rD has sent any emails about Marathon weekend in the last couple of months, but I haven't received any.

 

[croach]

No - from what I read DVC might be but not us regular folks. I'll know for sure in a couple of days.

I am not sure. I know they are starting to ship to AP holders this month but I am not sure when they will come to resort guests.

Darn I was hoping we might get them. I don't find the current ones very comfortable and read that the new ones are supposed to fit your wrist better.

 

[rteetz]

Darn I was hoping we might get them. I don't find the current ones very comfortable and read that the new ones are supposed to fit your wrist better.

Well the new ones are supposed to have a slider feel. They are starting to sell them in the parks starting December 16th a rogue one band. Its possible we may get them but as of right now probably not.

 

[PrincessV]

I want to move to FL too and be your friend the cold weather is slowly draining my happiness!

There is a hitch... the penance for living in Paradise for 4 months of the year is living in a fiery Hell the other 8 months, lol!

I know this may sound really silly but I do have a bit of an irrational fear of alligators... is it safe to do a solo early morning run around Hourglass Lake? I'm not talking about before the races in the middle of the night (I'm at POP from Dec 15 - 18) but early AM when the sun rises. Thank you to anyone who responds and I don't mean to sound ignorant. I did the Goofy this year but ya know.. safety in numbers!

I live and run here in FL and see gators often on my runs around golf courses, parks, and my own neighborhood: you'll be fine! In my experience, they're aware of you long before you're aware of them and they get out of the way - if they were even in the way in the first place. They want quick, easy meals, not to do battle with big, fast-moving humans. And as others have said, this is their slow, lethargic time of year, too.

 

[singastory]

Hey all, thanks for your positive comments from a few weeks ago after I found out my knee pain was coming from mild edema in my distal femur (pre-stress fracture). My PT cleared me yesterday to do pool running and stationary biking, hooray! At least I'll get my cardio back on track, I think my last workout was 11/15!! I've also been doing butt and hip strengthening exercises. We'll take it slow from there and see how it goes, she's an advocate of "active rest". Hopefully I'll still get to run a little bit of the half.