Marathon Weekend 2017!

[DOOM1001]

I agree with Ariel on the last 6.2 miles also being my favorite.I think its a combination of things on the reason why,for one you're running through two parks and the Boardwalk area which all have great crowd support,second I love doing the World Showcase loop so close to the finish line,also as Ariel stated the stretch from AK through WWoS is a bit boring at times,although I dont dislike WWoS as much as some on here,I kinda like it,especially the baseball stadium,finally yes you're close to the end and that brings excitement.I did like the extra time inside MK last year with the removal of the speedway.

 

[FFigawi]

I'm going to be the curmudgeon today and say that my favorite part of the marathon doesn't exist anymore. I loved running around World Showcase in the dark right after the start. The fire torches, the music, the sound of footsteps on the pavement - it was very peaceful & serene, and with the two different starts, not very crowded either.

On the current course, my favorite part is running along the golf course and then over to AK. With a dearth of spectators and not many character stops, it's the perfect place to chat up the people around me, take in the nature as the sun comes up, and be happy to be out running.

 

[jhorstma]

I'm going to be the curmudgeon today and say that my favorite part of the marathon doesn't exist anymore. I loved running around World Showcase in the dark right after the start. The fire torches, the music, the sound of footsteps on the pavement - it was very peaceful & serene, and with the two different starts, not very crowded either.

On the current course, my favorite part is running along the golf course and then over to AK. With a dearth of spectators and not many character stops, it's the perfect place to chat up the people around me, take in the nature as the sun comes up, and be happy to be out running.

So... do you run around the bonus cone?

 

[MissLiss279]

Running through all of the parks is pretty exciting. It's hard for me to pick a favorite. The whole thing, the atmosphere makes it so fun. Another plus, compared to other marathons, is the amount of "real" restrooms that you have access to during the race.

 

[cavepig]

I have many favorites, the Studios to Boardwalk area to EPCOT is awesome because of the visuals, crowds & well the finish is so close. I love the TTC (crowds are great) to MK & seeing character stops start to pop up & MK of course, going around Mine Train stood out as really cool this year. I love seeing the animals out as you enter AK too. WWOS isn't all bad to me, this year really flew by in there, maybe because I was sick, I don't know but the stadium is great with the crowd cheering. Oh & love the green army men and other things like the RVs setup with DJ comedian people.

Oh & starting in the dark and heading out on the quiet road with just the sound of running is cool to me after seeing your firework sendoff(well this year was really weird because every corral after mine, F, passed me in giant waves, then it would get eerily quiet till the next wave) I'm sad I'm not doing it next year because there is so much amazingness during it.

 

[Nole95]

To me, there is nothing like turning down Main Street and having all those people cheering you on. That is my favorite part. The only downside to that is it is still early in the race, and there is a long way to go.

The last couple mile from DHS to the finish are a very close second. There are people all along the way cheering you on. When I did Goofy in 2015, my wife and kids were waiting for me right as I entered WS in Epcot. Knowing I would see them there was one of the things that kept me moving those last few miles.

Between Main Street and the last couple miles, the atmosphere really can't be beat.

 

[Ariel484]

@FFigawi same. Bring back the old course!!

 

[Barca33Runner]

I think I need to apologize for being a bit of a contrarian this time but, cowers in fear for life and hangs head in shame, Main Street is one of my least favorite portions of the race. Well, least favorite may be a bit strong; it lasts only about ten seconds so how bad can it really be? But it is too crowded. They have, in my opinion, way too much space roped off for spectators and since it is too early in the race for the field to have spread out it creates a big bottleneck. I realize that the race must be clear of MK for it to open on time, so they can't move it further along in the race. I also realize it is one of the prime spots for runners to see their family members, so I understand having some area roped off for spectators; but it seems like they have more area for spectators than they have for runners. I always end up running up the sidewalk to try and avoid the crowd.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

Mine might sound a bit odd, but I really enjoy miles 4 and 5. Mile 4 is where you hit the Transportation Center and its the first spot there is a large number of spectators and you can just feel the energy. Mile 5 is entering MK and as an average dude, I've never felt anything like coming up Main Street with all those people and looking up at the Castle thinking I'm doing my favorite thing at my favorite place. Finally, coming out of Fantasy Land, going through the Castle and popping out to all those people is just an amazing thing.

I think I like the early portion because I'm still fresh both physically and mentally. I think by the end I'm just too tired to fully appreciate DHS, The Boardwalk and World Showcase.

 

[hauntedcity]

WDW Marathon vets, what is your favorite moment of the marathon? First-timers, what are you looking forward to the most about your first marathon?

There is just something crazy about riding Expedition Everest that makes it my highlight. Taking a break halfway through a marathon to ride a roller coaster is so absurd that no one believes me the first time I tell them.

I do love going down Main Street and through the castle, but I've done that through many half marathons, so I don't consider it "marathon-specific". Honorable mention would be meeting our favorite "streetmosphere" actor on the course. My wife ran up to him and screamed, "I loved you as Emil Bleehal!" (from the Adventurer's Club). (You may recognize him more recently as Gus, our Magical Express driver during the intro video.) He replied, "I love you, too!" and proceeded to run with us for several yards. He was by the RV setup, and I hope he'll be there again the next time I marathon!

 

[whaler8]

I get chills and excitement reading all of these as I can't wait to run this someday. Maybe 2018…...

 

[PrincessV]

WDW Marathon vets, what is your favorite moment of the marathon? First-timers, what are you looking forward to the most about your first marathon?

Strolling through WS with a FREE BEER, FTW! I was feeling physically fine, but was 100% OVER the race at that point. A wonderful woman handed me a beer and I couldn't run, or even walk very fast, without sloshing it all over, and I sure didn't want to ditch a FREE BEER, so I moved off to the side and strolled and sipped through the rest of EP. Aside from the pure deliciousness that was FREE BEER and its immediate anesthetizing effect on my tired body, it allowed me to sort of hit pause and take it all in. I was able after that to finish feeling really great, instead of cranky and sick of it all.

 

[surfde22]

As a first-timer, I am most looking forward to running through the Magic Kingdom at dawn.

The two parts I'm looking forward to the most is being cheered on at the finish by my 7 month old son, with help from his mama of course, and beating my brother in the race.

 

[Keels]

What's up, bursitis! How ya doin'? WHY does it always seem like I have something happen to me in July?!? ARGH.

Anyway.

On the Marathon Route - I really didn't mind WWOS ... for me, who was COMPLETELY stressing over finishing the Marathon and completing Dopey, it gave me a great chance to see where I stood in relation to the Balloon Ladies. Who, for the record, I NEVER saw until I was leaving the Race Retreat tent post-race. We said "Hey!" to them as we passed (they were getting in line to get food) and they were totally sweet.

I think, personally, my favorite portion was the EPCOT Resort Area loop. I knew I was safe and I could relax a little bit. I caught up with my BFFs who ran ahead of me. I saw my husband, my friends who had flown all the way from Texas (and suffered by drinking beer at ESPN while waiting for me) to cheer me on, and then magically, @FFigawi showed up to give me the last burst of energy I needed to finish the whole thing off.

Bursting through the backstage doors in the UK to a HUGE crowd of screaming people, and hearing the triumphant music they play around World Showcase ... well, that was amazing. This was well into the park day, and while I'm sure people were tired of having to dodge us marathon runners impeding on their walkways, I never felt that. The screaming people there and in Future World when you turn towards the exit ... amazing. I just got teary thinking about it and can't wait to do it all again!

We want to talk about worst stretches? I've got three:
1. Cone Alley. Ugh. And in Dopey you have to navigate it twice!! Also, we were going through Cone Alley during the Full and the DJ told us the Marathon Winner had crossed the finish line 10 minutes ago! GTH & DIAF DJ.
2. Villains Row. It felt like Cone Alley, expect there were characters instead of Cones. Or ... for us, there were character meet points, BUT NO CHARACTERS!
3. The "new" out and back by the Water Treatment Facility and the cutesy signs about water usage and waste treatment, and the numbers (MATH!!!) that equaled it to x-number of marathons. I think at one point I said I'd rather be water-boarded with that waste water than run another step in that area. That's also when the sun came out in FULL force and you could really start to feel the heat and humidity.
4. The ramp by McDonald's. Me wanted fries. Me had no time for fries.

 

[croach]

What's up, bursitis! How ya doin'? WHY does it always seem like I have something happen to me in July?!? ARGH.

Anyway.

On the Marathon Route - I really didn't mind WWOS ... for me, who was COMPLETELY stressing over finishing the Marathon and completing Dopey, it gave me a great chance to see where I stood in relation to the Balloon Ladies. Who, for the record, I NEVER saw until I was leaving the Race Retreat tent post-race. We said "Hey!" to them as we passed (they were getting in line to get food) and they were totally sweet.

I think, personally, my favorite portion was the EPCOT Resort Area loop. I knew I was safe and I could relax a little bit. I caught up with my BFFs who ran ahead of me. I saw my husband, my friends who had flown all the way from Texas (and suffered by drinking beer at ESPN while waiting for me) to cheer me on, and then magically, @FFigawi showed up to give me the last burst of energy I needed to finish the whole thing off.

Bursting through the backstage doors in the UK to a HUGE crowd of screaming people, and hearing the triumphant music they play around World Showcase ... well, that was amazing. This was well into the park day, and while I'm sure people were tired of having to dodge us marathon runners impeding on their walkways, I never felt that. The screaming people there and in Future World when you turn towards the exit ... amazing. I just got teary thinking about it and can't wait to do it all again!

We want to talk about worst stretches? I've got three:
1. Cone Alley. Ugh. And in Dopey you have to navigate it twice!! Also, we were going through Cone Alley during the Full and the DJ told us the Marathon Winner had crossed the finish line 10 minutes ago! GTH & DIAF DJ.
2. Villains Row. It felt like Cone Alley, expect there were characters instead of Cones. Or ... for us, there were character meet points, BUT NO CHARACTERS!
3. The "new" out and back by the Water Treatment Facility and the cutesy signs about water usage and waste treatment, and the numbers (MATH!!!) that equaled it to x-number of marathons. I think at one point I said I'd rather be water-boarded with that waste water than run another step in that area. That's also when the sun came out in FULL force and you could really start to feel the heat and humidity.
4. The ramp by McDonald's. Me wanted fries. Me had no time for fries.

Cone Alley with the same song on repeat!! Although to be fair you don't really hear it that many times, but still.

 

[ZellyB]

Worst parts - absolutely the waste water treatment portion. BLECH...and no the cute little informational signs do not help. I haven't yet run the new route, so haven't experienced the out and back, but not really looking forward to it. The first year I ran the marathon, I HATED WWoS, but the next two times it wasn't that bad. Not my favorite portion to be sure, but it wasn't as bad as that first year - maybe because I now know to expect all the various twists and turns in there. I also find the portion on Osceola when you are running toward WWoS to be a bit disheartening. You can see all those runners that are MILES ahead of you around mile 21 and it can be a bit discouraging knowing how far you have to go to get to where they are.

 

[sammykster]

Worst parts - absolutely the waste water treatment portion. BLECH...and no the cute little informational signs do not help. I haven't yet run the new route, so haven't experienced the out and back, but not really looking forward to it. The first year I ran the marathon, I HATED WWoS, but the next two times it wasn't that bad. Not my favorite portion to be sure, but it wasn't as bad as that first year - maybe because I now know to expect all the various twists and turns in there. I also find the portion on Osceola when you are running toward WWoS to be a bit disheartening. You can see all those runners that are MILES ahead of you around mile 21 and it can be a bit discouraging knowing how far you have to go to get to where they are.

I agree on the run into WWOS. While it was my first time and I'm still cursing WWOS daily I really hated seeing all those people ahead of me and knowing it would be forever until I got to be at that point!

 

[hauntedcity]

Worst parts - absolutely the waste water treatment portion. BLECH...and no the cute little informational signs do not help.

I totally geek out at any backstage areas, so I was sort of looking forward to the water treatment area. I was forewarned about the smell, but when we arrived, I didn't notice anything. I loudly proclaimed to my companions, "Ha! This is nothing!". Then, about 10 seconds later, the smell hit me! When will I learn not to tempt the Karma Gods???

 

[Nole95]

I absolutely hate the WWoS part of the course. I hate all the winding around, and I hate seeing all the people coming out while I am still on my way in. I really wish they could figure out a way to get those miles in without having to do all the back and forth throughout that place.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I absolutely hate the WWoS part of the course. I hate all the winding around, and I hate seeing all the people coming out while I am still on my way in. I really wish they could figure out a way to get those miles in without having to do all the back and forth throughout that place.

I think passing people who are headed out of WWoS and several miles ahead of you as you are headed in is the toughest mental challenge the course offers. I think that adds to the frustration of all the twists and turns once you are inside. It does feel pretty good to pass people who are headed in when you are on your way out though; I feel a little guilty admitting that. I try to give encouragement as I am headed out to other runners, I know I certainly need it at that portion of the course.