Marathon Weekend 2017!

[2girlsR2good]

This is brilliant! Love it!

So ready! I don't leave until Friday and I'm 90% packed! Can't wait to run my first marathon!

So not ready! I don't leave until Friday and I'm barely 10% packed! Can't wait to run my first marathon!

 

[rteetz]

You're assuming they knew back then what the course would be. You give rD too much credit. Kind of like the disappearing deferrals, they tend to make this up as they go along.

I understand but people when buying a bib assumed they would be running through the castle. They obviously didn't know the course then but I don't necessarily think it has to do with people reading the event guide. It is what it is.

 

[DerTobi75]

Also, signage has been going in for the water/med/character stops. I imagine supply drop will start tomorrow and Tuesday. This is definitely more last-minute than 2016 - the Finish Area tents were already erected on NYE 2015 when I was at Epcot.

@Keels, have you been in MK on NYE and helping the Castmembers?!

 

[DerTobi75]

Got two questions, I cannot answer right now!

Do chEarsquad Members also get Waivers?!

How can Spectators enter the MK? Do they need anything, like in Paris, where spectators needed a wristband!?

 

[Z-Knight]

Got two questions, I cannot answer right now!

Do chEarsquad Members also get Waivers?!

How can Spectators enter the MK? Do they need anything, like in Paris, where spectators needed a wristband!?

yes, there are waivers for CHEAR squad.

Adult Waiver
Child Waiver

 

[Ariel484]

How can Spectators enter the MK? Do they need anything, like in Paris, where spectators needed a wristband!?

They can just go right in since it's before park hours. Will likely have to get through bag check as usual.

 

[AThrillingChase]

Haha where's the spoiler tag when you need it!!

I just edited my post in case it could be a spoiler! Though I was mostly referring to the opening of A New Hope if anyone was concerned

 

[DOOM1001]

What's the reason the half course isnt running through the castle???

 

[rteetz]

What's the reason the half course isnt running through the castle???

Course congestion.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Thanks for the answer on the castle. Glad they didn't do this when my wife ran the half. She would have bailed on the race. It was her favorite part of the race and the only thing that got her to run it while experiencing IT band pain. At least she will know now that it might not be included if she runs one again. Heck, this might even get her to run a full one day so she can run through the castle again. But I do feel bad for the people who signed up for this race expecting what was a part of the race for 19 years. Changing it for the 20th anniversary race because of a problem that has existed for years is poor form.

 

[FFigawi]

Thanks for the answer on the castle. Glad they didn't do this when my wife ran the half. She would have bailed on the race. It was her favorite part of the race and the only thing that got her to run it while experiencing IT band pain. At least she will know now that it might not be included if she runs one again. Heck, this might even get her to run a full one day so she can run through the castle again. But I do feel bad for the people who signed up for this race expecting what was a part of the race for 19 years. Changing it for the 20th anniversary race because of a problem that has existed for years is poor form.

If rD had any sense, which we all know they don't, they'd 1) announce stuff like this and the ending of deferrals and all the other changes they make, and 2) provide a clear and sensible explanation for why the changes were made. It wouldn't take much to send out an email, post on Twitter and Facebook, and provide an update on their web site saying "Dear race participants, while we know running through the castle in MK is a highlight of the course for many of you, the course during the half will no longer do so. This is being done for safety and logistical reasons, as the large backups and masses of runners trying to get through a narrow opening greatly increased the risk of injury to the runners."

 

[NurseRunner]

If rD had any sense, which we all know they don't, they'd 1) announce stuff like this and the ending of deferrals and all the other changes they make, and 2) provide a clear and sensible explanation for why the changes were made. It wouldn't take much to send out an email, post on Twitter and Facebook, and provide an update on their web site saying "Dear race participants, while we know running through the castle in MK is a highlight of the course for many of you, the course during the half will no longer do so. This is being done for safety and logistical reasons, as the large backups and masses of runners trying to get through a narrow opening greatly increased the risk of injury to the runners."

I mean I get it, the course change. I've only run the WDW half once, last year, and that part was a near standstill. But on the other hand, so was the boardwalk section during the dark side half last year as well. I'm just not sure if changing the course will lessen the congestion though, as it seems there are far more people running this year at least from a corral standpoint(at least from my perspective, having the same POT as last year and being several corrals further back this year). The numbers might prove me wrong though. Either way, if people find out and decide not to run...seems a waste of money to me, we still get a fantastic view most of the course anyway.

 

[cavepig]

Good Luck to everyone running this week! Have a magical time!

 

[IamTrike]

If rD had any sense, which we all know they don't, they'd 1) announce stuff like this and the ending of deferrals and all the other changes they make, and 2) provide a clear and sensible explanation for why the changes were made. It wouldn't take much to send out an email, post on Twitter and Facebook, and provide an update on their web site saying "Dear race participants, while we know running through the castle in MK is a highlight of the course for many of you, the course during the half will no longer do so. This is being done for safety and logistical reasons, as the large backups and masses of runners trying to get through a narrow opening greatly increased the risk of injury to the runners."

Yeah I definitely think a better way to do this would be with a little more communication. I seem to remember that they tried making this change to another race and there was enough backlash that they changed the course back to run through the castle.

I think it's all conjecture but what if they have the official course go on the path to the side of the castle but leave the castle open as something you could still run through. I feel like if they really wanted to relieve congestion they would have the course come down mainstreet go around the hub in front of the castle for with a picture stop and then go into tomorrowland. In fantasy land just have the race continue straight through fantasyland past the tangled bathrooms into liberty square. You'd have another congestion area under the the Columbia Harbor house dining room but I don't know if that would be worse than the castle.

 

[rteetz]

Just landed! Let's get this party started lol.

 

[ZellyB]

Just landed! Let's get this party started lol.

Jealous!!!!

 

[Ariel484]

 

[Rattpack]

Have a great time, runners! Going to be dealing with some FOMO But excited to follow along on your adventures!

 

[Ariel484]

Getting closer!!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Either way, if people find out and decide not to run...seems a waste of money to me, we still get a fantastic view most of the course anyway.

Different people have different priorities, and everyone gets to decide what has value to them. It is all very personal.

I was disappointed every trip for more than a year when the path through the castle was closed because of the construction because I couldn't walk through it on our trips. It is the first thing that we do on every trip, because it just makes WDW feel magical to us.