Marathon Weekend 2017!

[StarGirl11]

I just started poking around in the Event Guide and couldn't help but notice this line:

This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Walt Disney World® Half Marathon taking place on Saturday, with runners starting at Epcot® and traveling around Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom® Park.

Will we not being running through the castle as part of the HM now? That would be a bit of a bummer.

Others have noted that the route does not head through the Castle on the map. I have no knowledge of whether running through the Castle has been cut, but this is starting to look intentional. I'm guessing they may have realized that the bottleneck is just too much for that many people in such a short time frame. It won't remove anything from the race for me, I've always thought it was a huge hazard, but I can see how it would be disappointing for others.

Here's the confusing part about the diversion, they kept the castle run for the Marathon. I know it was crazy when I did the half getting through the castle. I mean this is what it looked like when trying to go through:

But I am slightly surprised they didn't change both routes. I mean I know the marathon pass was a lot less crazy but still.

What did you put down as POT and what did you choose for expected finish time during registration? I'm wondering whether you chose a slower "expected finish time" than your POT would suggest and thus they slotted you back to what you put down as expected finish time. Just a guess though.

I think they maybe went with my expected finish time? I know I submitted a PoT because I was worried about being placed in the last corral assuming they would go with that. But maybe not.

 

[rteetz]

Running through the castle is a huge part of the half and full. Not running through the castle during the half is disappointing, many people look forward to that moment even if it is a bottleneck.

 

[JohnFilipoff]

RACE - Half
NAME - John
DIS'er name - JohnFilipoff
Costume/Clothing - Homes For Our Troops (Charity)
Corral - M
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Front, Middle, or Back of corral - Middle
Expected Pace - 11-12mm

RACE - Half
NAME - Amy
DIS'er name - MinnieMouse100
Costume/Clothing - Minnie Mouse
Corral - M
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Front, Middle, or Back of corral - Middle
Expected Pace - 11-12mm

RACE - Full
NAME - John
DIS'er name - JohnFilipoff
Costume/Clothing - Homes For Our Troops (Charity)
Corral - D
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Front, Middle, or Back of corral - Front
Expected Pace - 8 - 8:30

*Running with my wife for the half, and alone for the full.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Hi everyone! Replying a little late to this party. Some background about me - I ran my first ever half marathon last January after training religiously while I lived in Boston and following the 2016 thread like a hawk. I kept up my running through the spring and early summer, and in July moved to Florida to work for Disney. I'll admit I have not been keeping up with my running as I did back in Boston, and I'm getting nervous to run Goofy in less than a month. With my diligent training last year I was able to run the half at 2:00. I'm certainly doubting I will be able to run the half that fast, let alone the marathon the next day. I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to keep up my diligence and I don't think finishing this year will be as much of an accomplishment as it felt last year. I have been trying to convince myself that my job is very physically demanding, which is why my running motivation is lacking, but I don't like making excuses. Any advice for me from the pros out there? Thanks for listening to my rant, hope everyone has had a successful training season this year!

Sorry to hear training hasn't been the easiest this year. I'd say that running your first marathon (assuming since HM first was Jan 2016) in Goofy is definitely an accomplishment no matter how you cross the line. Whether it be first or last. (But the feeling of accomplishment is individual so by no means do I want to tell you how to feel about it.) But I guess I see it that way regardless of the distance. If this were your first 5k, I'd say congrats on the accomplishment. I can understand being frustrated with a training cycle that didn't go your way, but chin up. Try to remain positive and find some reason or goal as to why this will be the best Goofy run ever!!!

Motivation is truly a personal thing. For me, I know that I won't reach the lofty goals I set for myself some years ago unless I get out there and do it. That's why my running motto is "If you want it, PROVE IT, by doing what is necessary to get it." I'm motivated by goals. Others are by food, or alcohol, or weight loss, or competitive siblings, or because a friend/parent told them they couldn't do it. Ask yourself, "Why did I sign up for Goofy?" That's the reason I would use to getting out there and crushing it. I hope you can reinvigorate those fires that got you going the first time around. There isn't much time left until race day so don't treat these last few days as a cramming session. Just do the best you can on race day and be happy and proud about it. And if I see you cross the finish line, I'll make sure to call you a "Goof"!

They did that to me. That's why I put in the slower time, so I wouldn't clog up the faster corral.

Like I thought and it makes sense. You could essentially self-seed yourself at that point saying I "could" run faster, but I don't plan to so put me further back.

Interestingly, my mom's POT was a 5.5 hr marathon estimate (because she's stubborn and wouldn't do a new POT race with her current fitness (4:30 marathon), ugh story for another day). Anyways, I put in her POT that justified a 5.5 hr, but put her estimated time as 5 hours (because in April, 5 hours was appropriate). She was put in H for an estimated 5 hours. Not sure on the rhyme or reason on it, but I'm sure she'll take it.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Here's the confusing part about the diversion, they kept the castle run for the Marathon. I know it was crazy when I did the half getting through the castle. I mean this is what it looked like when trying to go through:

But I am slightly surprised they didn't change both routes. I mean I know the marathon pass was a lot less crazy but still.

OMG, that is a lot of people in a choke point for sure. I've never seen pictures from then, but now I can see how crazy it is.

I think they maybe went with my expected finish time? I know I submitted a PoT because I was worried about being placed in the last corral assuming they would go with that. But maybe not.

It's possible.

 

[mollybloom]

Sorry to hear training hasn't been the easiest this year. I'd say that running your first marathon (assuming since HM first was Jan 2016) in Goofy is definitely an accomplishment no matter how you cross the line. Whether it be first or last. (But the feeling of accomplishment is individual so by no means do I want to tell you how to feel about it.) But I guess I see it that way regardless of the distance. If this were your first 5k, I'd say congrats on the accomplishment. I can understand being frustrated with a training cycle that didn't go your way, but chin up. Try to remain positive and find some reason or goal as to why this will be the best Goofy run ever!!!

Motivation is truly a personal thing. For me, I know that I won't reach the lofty goals I set for myself some years ago unless I get out there and do it. That's why my running motto is "If you want it, PROVE IT, by doing what is necessary to get it." I'm motivated by goals. Others are by food, or alcohol, or weight loss, or competitive siblings, or because a friend/parent told them they couldn't do it. Ask yourself, "Why did I sign up for Goofy?" That's the reason I would use to getting out there and crushing it. I hope you can reinvigorate those fires that got you going the first time around. There isn't much time left until race day so don't treat these last few days as a cramming session. Just do the best you can on race day and be happy and proud about it. And if I see you cross the finish line, I'll make sure to call you a "Goof"!



Like I thought and it makes sense. You could essentially self-seed yourself at that point saying I "could" run faster, but I don't plan to so put me further back.

Interestingly, my mom's POT was a 5.5 hr marathon estimate (because she's stubborn and wouldn't do a new POT race with her current fitness (4:30 marathon), ugh story for another day). Anyways, I put in her POT that justified a 5.5 hr, but put her estimated time as 5 hours (because in April, 5 hours was appropriate). She was put in H for an estimated 5 hours. Not sure on the rhyme or reason on it, but I'm sure she'll take it.

Interesting, do you know what her POT was? I'm curious about the cutoff between H and I. I also put my estimated time as 5, but I'm in I!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I'm seeing no mention of the Clif Bar pace team (nor do they have a booth at the expo?) Anyone seeing anything different? Disney is still not listed on the clif bar pace team website. My mom was really hoping to use them.

 

[roxymama]

Name: roxy
Corral: none
Costume: my couch
Arrival: late...really late...like not this year
I'm SO sad I came over here to lurk because I wish I was going again this year. But congrats to everyone for surviving the waiver-wait!

 

[goingthedistance]

When they first announced the Princess Half Marathon, the course did not include running through the castle. There were enough complaints that RunDisney abandoned that course (which would eventually morph into parts of the Wine and Dine/Dark Side course) so Princess would go through the castle.

This makes me think the bypass could be the "official" course with an unofficial "detour" for those who want to go through the bottleneck and get their castle photo. Disney will sell a lot more photos from the half marathon if they include the castle photo. Past experience is the bottleneck is much worse for the half than the full and much, much worse the later your start corral.

In any case we will find out for sure about 5.4-5.5 miles into the half on January 7.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Interesting, do you know what her POT was? I'm curious about the cutoff between H and I. I also put my estimated time as 5, but I'm in I!

Sure do. She had a HM POT of 2:20:44 with an estimated finish time of "5 hours". I did her registration for her (you know, technology and all).

 

[camaker]

Here's the confusing part about the diversion, they kept the castle run for the Marathon. I know it was crazy when I did the half getting through the castle. I mean this is what it looked like when trying to go through: View attachment 210518View attachment 210519

But I am slightly surprised they didn't change both routes. I mean I know the marathon pass was a lot less crazy but still.



I think they maybe went with my expected finish time? I know I submitted a PoT because I was worried about being placed in the last corral assuming they would go with that. But maybe not.

What was your starting corral in that race? I've never seen anything like that. It's nuts and I would hate conditions like that!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Running through the castle is a huge part of the half and full. Not running through the castle during the half is disappointing, many people look forward to that moment even if it is a bottleneck.

It was the main reason that my wife agreed to run the half in 2014. I was hoping to convince her to run the half again in 2018 (she is running the 5k & 10k this time), but this might kill that.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Name: roxy
Corral: none
Costume: my couch
Arrival: late...really late...like not this year
I'm SO sad I came over here to lurk because I wish I was going again this year. But congrats to everyone for surviving the waiver-wait!

#Dopey2018.... just saying..... Might be a few others to join in on the chant... @FFigawi and @CheapRunnerMike

But in all seriousness. Wish you were joining us. We've got to figure out a Chicago/Milwaukee race we can both fit in our schedules so we can go crush it together!

 

[mollybloom]

Sure do. She had a HM POT of 2:20:44 with an estimated finish time of "5 hours". I did her registration for her (you know, technology and all).

Nice! Mine was 2:24. Guess the cutoff was somewhere in those 4 minutes!

 

[DerTobi75]

Where do I get my BIB? There is no number it just says ELITE!




















Ok, just kidding I am in Corral I.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

I'm seeing no mention of the Clif Bar pace team (nor do they have a booth at the expo?) Anyone seeing anything different? Disney is still not listed on the clif bar pace team website. My mom was really hoping to use them.

I heard on the Mickey Miles and More podcast that Jeff Galloway was providing the pacers for Marathon and Princess this year.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I heard on the Mickey Miles and More podcast that Jeff Galloway was providing the pacers for Marathon and Princess this year.

Ahh good call. I remember @rteetz mentioning that a while back now. It will be interesting to see the details about that at the expo. Thanks!

 

[rteetz]

I'm seeing no mention of the Clif Bar pace team (nor do they have a booth at the expo?) Anyone seeing anything different? Disney is still not listed on the clif bar pace team website. My mom was really hoping to use them.

They've moved onto only Galloway I think.

 

[SheHulk]

RACE - Full
NAME - Cindy
DIS'er name - SheHulk
Costume/Clothing - Giselle from Enchanted (curtain dress)
Corral - I
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Front, Middle, or Back of corral - ??
Expected Pace - 11 - 12

 

[surfde22]

Ahh good call. I remember @rteetz mentioning that a while back now. It will be interesting to see the details about that at the expo. Thanks!

Jeff Galloway also said all pacers will be using run/walk/run. I don't know if your mom is planning on doing that or straight running.