Marathon Weekend 2017!

[rteetz]

Does anyone know SPECIFICALLY why rD doesn't up the 5K and 10K participant numbers? Each races holds approximately 12,000 spots and with these two distances probably the most popular, how come rD doesn't add another corral for another 2,000 spots?

I was thinking safety purposes but the half and full both have 20,000+ for each race. I'm thinking maybe it has to do with such the short distances and congestion at the finish. Thoughts?

I would say that yes it does have to do with congestion. You start those two races in the Epcot parking lot while you start the half and full on the road outside Epcot. They also want the 5K and 10K to be done before the parks open.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Does anyone know SPECIFICALLY why rD doesn't up the 5K and 10K participant numbers? Each races holds approximately 12,000 spots and with these two distances probably the most popular, how come rD doesn't add another corral for another 2,000 spots?

I was thinking safety purposes but the half and full both have 20,000+ for each race. I'm thinking maybe it has to do with such the short distances and congestion at the finish. Thoughts?

Yeah, nothing specific here but those races are both realistically at their participant cap because of course congestion. Spreading 20,000 over 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles is easier than spreading 12,000 over 3.1 or 6.2. I've tried to think of different ways that they could add participants to those races, but have yet to come up with anything viable. They could do a much bigger time spread between corrals and run the race in waves, but their primary concern with those two races is making sure that race cleanup and preparation for park opening can be achieved. Even the Half is designed with the intention of having minimal park impact; MK is cleared before opening and you only enter the very front portion of Epcot. The Full is the only race where they really impact park-goers, but even for that race they make sure MK is clear.

I've tried to think, specifically, of ways they could return the 5K to actually being a Family Fun Run while still accommodating Dopey Challenge participants but it would require 2 courses and a lot of extra infrastructure and registration hassles or would require the race to take a lot longer and interfere with Epcot opening.

ETA: To get much bigger than 12,000 in a 5K or 10K you really would run the risk of the race no longer feeling like one big experience and I think that could take something special away from those races.

 

[FFigawi]

Does anyone know SPECIFICALLY why rD doesn't up the 5K and 10K participant numbers? Each races holds approximately 12,000 spots and with these two distances probably the most popular, how come rD doesn't add another corral for another 2,000 spots?

I was thinking safety purposes but the half and full both have 20,000+ for each race. I'm thinking maybe it has to do with such the short distances and congestion at the finish. Thoughts?

As others have said, congestion on the course is probably the biggest driver. The 10k would be very dangerous, or very dull and boring while shuffling in a horde of thousands, if you had another 5,000 or 10,000 people trying to make their way around Boardwalk and past BC/YC. There's simply not enough room for the people to spread out along the course, especially since it's fairly narrow for a good part of it.

 

[derekleigh]

I would say that yes it does have to do with congestion. You start those two races in the Epcot parking lot while you start the half and full on the road outside Epcot. They also want the 5K and 10K to be done before the parks open.

I guess the plus side of it, both races only utilize Epcot and the World Show case, which doesn't open until 11(?) so clean up would be done before the time pacing. But I guess it would boil down to congestion. Even with an added corral, towards the end of the race it would start to become chaotic!

Yeah, nothing specific here but those races are both realistically at their participant cap because of course congestion. Spreading 20,000 over 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles is easier than spreading 12,000 over 3.1 or 6.2. I've tried to think of different ways that they could add participants to those races, but have yet to come up with anything viable. They could do a much bigger time spread between corrals and run the race in waves, but their primary concern with those two races is making sure that race cleanup and preparation for park opening can be achieved. Even the Half is designed with the intention of having minimal park impact; MK is cleared before opening and you only enter the very front portion of Epcot. The Full is the only race where they really impact park-goers, but even for that race they make sure MK is clear.

I've tried to think, specifically, of ways they could return the 5K to actually being a Family Fun Run while still accommodating Dopey Challenge participants but it would require 2 courses and a lot of extra infrastructure and registration hassles or would require the race to take a lot longer and interfere with Epcot opening.

Unless they gave all Dopey runners a 5:30 start divided into 3 corrals and then had the Family 5K runners start at 6:30. They could maybe add another corral to the 5K or so. 10K wouldn't work with that plan however.

 

[Ariel484]

Decided last night to run on princess marathon weekend instead... hope it's ok if I still post in here

As the 10k is on a Saturday, it's easier with my work schedule (I'm a first grade teacher, so I hate abandoning my kiddos with a substitute too much). I'm hoping the expo is open until at least like 8 every night so that I could get an friday afternoon flight and still make it in time for packet pick up!

I plan to join up on the running thread too.

I have officially caught the running bug!

There's a dedicated Princess Half Marathon Weekend thread, if you want to join us there.

Does anyone know SPECIFICALLY why rD doesn't up the 5K and 10K participant numbers? Each races holds approximately 12,000 spots and with these two distances probably the most popular, how come rD doesn't add another corral for another 2,000 spots?

I was thinking safety purposes but the half and full both have 20,000+ for each race. I'm thinking maybe it has to do with such the short distances and congestion at the finish. Thoughts?

I would say...safety, congestion due to it being the shorter course (especially since sweeping for the 5K is either non-existent or more lenient), and above all, getting everything cleaned up and ready for the park to open. That is Disney's biggest priority. The only way I could see them adding more runners is to start the races earlier.

 

[Ariel484]

@doctorintheTARDIS http://disboards.com/threads/2017-disney-princess-half-marathon-weekend.3474152/

 

[Barca33Runner]

Unless they gave all Dopey runners a 5:30 start divided into 3 corrals and then had the Family 5K runners start at 6:30. They could maybe add another corral to the 5K or so. 10K wouldn't work with that plan however.

I've considered the idea of a Dopey and 5K/10K only split but so many Dopey runners have family or friends running the 5K or 10K individually rather than running a challenge that it would create angry runners and/or logistical nightmares trying to accommodate getting family/friend units into the same race. It would both require rD to do more work and runners to be satisfied with possibly having a much different 5K and 10K experience than their family members. Theoretically, I think there are things they could do to add some extra runners; but like I said in the edit to my earlier post I think it is hard to find a way to do that without detracting from the experience.

 

[PrincessV]

Does anyone know SPECIFICALLY why rD doesn't up the 5K and 10K participant numbers? Each races holds approximately 12,000 spots and with these two distances probably the most popular, how come rD doesn't add another corral for another 2,000 spots?

I was thinking safety purposes but the half and full both have 20,000+ for each race. I'm thinking maybe it has to do with such the short distances and congestion at the finish. Thoughts?

I'll add another vote for congestion and wanting to get parks open. For some perspective, the 5Ks used to be capped at 5,000. The bump up to 10,000 or more has made for a HUGE uptick in congestion and a rather large decrease in enjoyment for me. I'd be very happy to see them decrease the cap

 

[derekleigh]

I'll add another vote for congestion and wanting to get parks open. For some perspective, the 5Ks used to be capped at 5,000. The bump up to 10,000 or more has made for a HUGE uptick in congestion and a rather large decrease in enjoyment for me. I'd be very happy to see them decrease the cap

Interesting, do you know when the 5K cap was bumped up? I didn't really start paying attention to sell out times until 2 years ago, but I've been running rD races since 2012. I do recall (correctly hopefully ) the 2013 Marathon weekend registration and the 5K was still open well into September. But Dopey wasn't added until 2014.

 

[PrincessV]

Interesting, do you know when the 5K cap was bumped up? I didn't really start paying attention to sell out times until 2 years ago, but I've been running rD races since 2012. I do recall (correctly hopefully ) the 2013 Marathon weekend registration and the 5K was still open well into September. But Dopey wasn't added until 2014.

Just going by my bibs, I'm thinking it maybe started to creep up in 2013 or 2014. Definitely more than 5,000 for Princess 5K in 2014, but I'm not sure it got as high as 10,000+ at that point. I had a 6000's bib and was in the last corral.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Interesting, do you know when the 5K cap was bumped up? I didn't really start paying attention to sell out times until 2 years ago, but I've been running rD races since 2012. I do recall (correctly hopefully ) the 2013 Marathon weekend registration and the 5K was still open well into September. But Dopey wasn't added until 2014.

I believe they bumped the 5K cap to accommodate Dopey, so your recollection is probably correct. I believe there are approximately 7000 Dopey entrants each year. So the 5000 old cap + 7000 Dopey= 12,000 new approximate cap math works out.

The 5K has gained a lot of popularity since the introduction of the Dopey and 10K. I believe this is mainly because 7000 Dopey runners know they have to be there Thursday morning to run and they all have family and friends who, while they may not be keen on running 48.6 miles, would like to participate in the Race Weekend. The 10K and Dopey additions changed the way people traveled for the weekend and brought a much higher demand for the 5K.

 

[Keels]

I would say...safety, congestion due to it being the shorter course (especially since sweeping for the 5K is either non-existent or more lenient), and above all, getting everything cleaned up and ready for the park to open. That is Disney's biggest priority. The only way I could see them adding more runners is to start the races earlier.

After having to be up even earlier for a 5 a.m. start for the Neverland 5K, I vote no to this.
Hard no.

 

[FFigawi]

After having to be up even earlier for a 5 a.m. start for the Neverland 5K, I vote no to this.
Hard no.

This is more proof of why we're pals.

 

[Ariel484]

After having to be up even earlier for a 5 a.m. start for the Neverland 5K, I vote no to this.
Hard no.

Oh, I'm with you. But I'd rather they do that than add more runners to the 5K course as it is right now!

 

[Keels]

This is more proof of why we're pals.

Of course, I posted that and then was unable to fall asleep until 5:30 this morning. #facepalm

 

[regul8ter18]

Just out of curiosity where are the sweep points on the 10k course. I know where they are on other course but not the 10k. I ran the course at princess and wasn't sure where they would sweep or if they do on that course since most of it is on the boardwalk or in Epcot its self?

 

[Keels]

Just out of curiosity where are the sweep points on the 10k course. I know where they are on other course but not the 10k. I ran the course at princess and wasn't sure where they would sweep or if they do on that course since most of it is on the boardwalk or in Epcot its self?

I can't remember from Marathon Weekend exactly, but since the course is the same for Princess, I assume that the sweep locations are the same - there are two along World Drive heading towards the backstage area of EPCOT (the first is right after the hairpin turn on the other side of the overpass incline and the second one is just passed the Mile 2 marker), one right past the 5K mat right in the backstage area before Test Track at EPCOT and then the final one is right when you head backstage after running around the Boardwalk in the backstage area by the UK at EPCOT. After that you're pretty much home free for the last mile or so of the race once you leave the backstage area and go through Future World for the last part of the race.

 

[lhermiston]

Happy Father's Day to my fellow Disney dads and happy 29 weeks to all of you.

Let's pound some miles before firing up the grills!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Getting used to summer - got in my 10 miles this morning and barely felt the heat.

 

[lhermiston]

Getting used to summer - got in my 10 miles this morning and barely felt the heat.

Nice. Still building up strength post-injury. 3 miles this morning.