Marathon Weekend 2019

[rteetz]

I see that all races are available for purchase for the 2019 WDW Marathon weekend again. Is it common for run Disney to make extra bibs available throughout the year for previously sold out events?

If challenges aren't selling they will split up bibs to make more available so that's likely why all the races are back open.

 

[Pxchar]

If challenges aren't selling they will split up bibs to make more available so that's likely why all the races are back open.

That makes sense. Thank you

 

[Simba's Girl]

As I get ready to head out for my 3hr LR this morning I'm, of course, thinking about food. Specifically if the QS location at Contemporary will have boxes or be open to grab something before we head to the buses.

 

[wdvak]

Hi all, After a couple of months of being busy I’ve caught up on everything.

I’m planning on a Capri Sun if Keels is still around when I get there.

Training was going great until about 2 months ago when I fell during a long run. Then I was coming back when I got ill, then before I was over that I had an allergic reaction that got my asthma going. Sigh, I had about decided this journey to walk Dopey was not going to happen. But my wonderful family reminded me that I had gotten up to a 16 mile long run and if I am slow and steady on the race I can do it! DH is wonderful! He also mentioned that if I get swept during the marathon then I will now have that experience to add to my race weekend

So, got my flu shot and am going to stay healthy and injury free from here on out.

Now I have to decide on costumes

 

[lhermiston]

Good morning, runDisney all-stars!

I picked up my Incredibles compression shirt yesterday, so I guess there's no backing out now. I hope everyone had a good week of training.

For this week's Sundays are for Disney, I want you to put on your runDisney race director hat and design your ultimate runDisney event. When will it be held? What time of day (no more waking up at 3 a.m.??)? What distances? What theme? I hope you can all have a little fun with this one.

I came up with two possible race weekends while mulling this over during my 8-mile run yesterday:

Option 1: A race weekend during the holidays. 5K, 10K, and half. All run late afternoon/evening with the start times getting earlier with the longer races. 5K would start at 8 p.m. though and go through the Magic Kindgom. Spectators would be allowed like during the marathon and there would be periodic fireworks. The other two races would incorporate the other parks, but only if HS brings back the Osborn lights or something similar. Medals would either be Toy Story themed or assorted characters outside of the Fab Five such as Hercules, Tarzan, Peter Pan, Merida, Aladdin, Genie, etc.

Option 2: similar to what I described above, but during the fall and corresponding with MNSHP. Night races again. At least one through MK and one involving HS with an emphasis on the Tower of Terror. Medals would be villains like Jafar, Capt. Hook, Dr. Facilier.

Have a good week, everyone.

 

[roxymama]

Attqotd: I think it already existed, but a 10 miler at night!!! Or wine n dine at night again. I never experienced these but I'd like to one day.

 

[roxymama]

I'd also love a 5k within the magic kingdom as a change of pace. Like they did in DL but I never got the chance to run one.
(I still love Epcot 5k too)

 

[camaker]

SAFD: OK. I’ll take a shot. I’ll make my race weekend a “standard” 5k, 10k & 1/2 combos, but I’ll make them night races with start times of 10:00-11:00.

Jack Sparrow presents the Pirates of the Caribbean, featuring the
Cursed Pirate 5k under the moonlight with a spinner medal (pirates on one side and ghost skeletal pirates on the other)
Black Pearl 10k run on the MW 10k course with pirate ships staged in the Epcot and resort lakes playing PoTC music with fireworks and cannon fire ambience. Black Pearl medal
Jack Sparrow 1/2 Marathon
Cursed Coin Challenge, but you have to run all 3 races to get it. Another spinner medal with the Cursed Coin on one side and Jack’s compass on the other.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Sundays are for Disney:

All of my ideas exist purely in the realm of fantasy because Disney clearly has no time for or interest in runDisney events that occur outside of the cookie cutter event window they apply for all of their race weekends. There was a time, I believe, that making rD events unique experiences was important to them and it was about more than filling rooms, restaurants, and parks. Unfortunately, I don't believe that is the case anymore. I believe it has even turned the corner to the point that the events are a bit of a nuisance to them since they actually seem more interested in depressing attendance than increasing it during much of the year. Don't get me wrong, I still love Marathon Weekend and when I ran Dark Side in 2017 I had a fantastic time as well; the CMs and volunteers are still amazing and rD still does a good job with hydration and their course setup and entertainment. It's just, especially for the price, I'd love to see them trying new things, exploring different race windows, and considering different ways to make things surprising even for people who have done multiple races. Oh well, I'll get off the soapbox, they're still getting my money and that's the ultimate contributor to their complacency.

There are any number of themes that would be awesome for an rD event. There are very few prospective events that wouldn't interest me in the off chance my money tree grove ever establishes itself. Personally, I'd love to see a Sugar Rush 5K or 10K with the Wreck-It Ralph crew, K-Pop blaring through the speakers, and some colorful/crazy decorations.

On a more general level, Disney has been doing a lot of special ticketed events that either give guests early access (Toy Story Land ride/breakfast thing, etc.) or late access to the parks (Disney After Hours, etc.). I think it would be a really cool if they offered events like these exclusive to runners over race weekends. Obviously, with the price of their races, including such perks in the price of registration wouldn't be out of line (although I can't imagine they would't monetize such offerings).

Ultimately, I'd just like them to try new things, put races in different time windows, and differentiate the experiences again.

 

[Keels]

Bring back the Chip & Dale marathon relay.

 

[FFigawi]

I'd like them to offer another triathlon at WDW. A 70.3 like they put on before might be too much given the park crowding these days, but a sprint/Olympic should be fairly easy to do.

 

[John VN]

I'd like them to offer another triathlon at WDW. A 70.3 like they put on before might be too much given the park crowding these days, but a sprint/Olympic should be fairly easy to do.

We were at FW twice when they had a tri. Never in a million years did I ever think that years later as a 63yo geezer would I be doing my first Ironman Florida.

AND YES, it would be GREAT if they returned!!!!

 

[wdvak]

I agree with roxymama that they should do a night 10 miler. I may be biased as that was my first race (well after the 5K that morning). Plus for me starting at 10:00 pm was much better with my 4 hour time difference. I also liked having the party in the park afterwards.

 

[rteetz]

For this week's Sundays are for Disney, I want you to put on your runDisney race director hat and design your ultimate runDisney event. When will it be held? What time of day (no more waking up at 3 a.m.??)? What distances? What theme? I hope you can all have a little fun with this one.

I’d love to see more unique events. Whether it’s the return of the Everest Challenge or Tower 10-miler. I don’t think everything needs to be a standard half-10K-5K weekend. With the 10-miler they did a 5K too so they can do that again. Doesn’t have to be Tower of Terror either. Maybe a Villains themed weekend. People would love that.

The challenge could even change and be themed with Pandora or something.

In terms of a race weekend theme I’d like to see. I’d love a Pixar weekend. I know Disneyland has done that but I’d love to see that at WDW.

 

[Keels]

I'd like them to offer another triathlon at WDW. A 70.3 like they put on before might be too much given the park crowding these days, but a sprint/Olympic should be fairly easy to do.

I’m in.

 

[lhermiston]

Attqotd: I think it already existed, but a 10 miler at night!!! Or wine n dine at night again. I never experienced these but I'd like to one day.

Stories I've heard about the night races definitely inspired my race choices. Those sound like so much fun.

SAFD: OK. I’ll take a shot. I’ll make my race weekend a “standard” 5k, 10k & 1/2 combos, but I’ll make them night races with start times of 10:00-11:00.

Jack Sparrow presents the Pirates of the Caribbean, featuring the
Cursed Pirate 5k under the moonlight with a spinner medal (pirates on one side and ghost skeletal pirates on the other)
Black Pearl 10k run on the MW 10k course with pirate ships staged in the Epcot and resort lakes playing PoTC music with fireworks and cannon fire ambience. Black Pearl medal
Jack Sparrow 1/2 Marathon
Cursed Coin Challenge, but you have to run all 3 races to get it. Another spinner medal with the Cursed Coin on one side and Jack’s compass on the other.

Awesome idea.

I'd like them to offer another triathlon at WDW. A 70.3 like they put on before might be too much given the park crowding these days, but a sprint/Olympic should be fairly easy to do.

I had no idea they ever did a triathlon at WDW, but when I was planning this SAFD, I figured that'd be something you'd throw out there. Where did they do the swim portion?

 

[Disneyslowrunner]

Stories I've heard about the night races definitely inspired my race choices. Those sound like so much fun.



Awesome idea.



I had no idea they ever did a triathlon at WDW, but when I was planning this SAFD, I figured that'd be something you'd throw out there. Where did they do the swim portion?

I did the first one back around 2004 or 5, and I would love to see the half Ironman move back to Disney. The swim was in bay lake by fort wilderness. I think with all of the fear of alligators since the death of the child at GF, that it will never come back. If there is water in Florida, there are probably gators and snakes in it, but make enough noise with a big enough crowd and they don’t want anything to do with you. There is no reason for Disney to allow Ironman to bring it back, too few people that will have a negligible bump in hotels and then creates a big mess with traffic. Plus, both IM and Disney are corporations that are built on brand and profit, I’m not sure there is enough money to make it worth the effort. That said, one of my most memorable moments ever at Disney was during the swim and at every breath catching a glimpse of Cinderella castle as the sun began to rise.

 

[jfinke]

Hmmm....

My wife and I were going to register for the Full. Then I saw this:

If proof of time is not provided at least 13 weeks before the first race of the race weekend, or if the data provided is incomplete or cannot be verified, you will be placed in the last start corral. No corral changes will be made after such date.

I am assuming that means we are pretty much screwed at this point since we are 10 weeks away.

Thoughts?

 

[FFigawi]

I had no idea they ever did a triathlon at WDW, but when I was planning this SAFD, I figured that'd be something you'd throw out there. Where did they do the swim portion?

Bay Lake. Transition was set up at Fort Wilderness. Not sure where the bike course went - I assume it was out of the WDW property - but the run was several loops around the golf course and resort. With a tri attracting maybe 2000 people compared with 20000+ for most of the running events, I certainly understand why they don’t have one anymore. Sure would be a fun way to spend a weekend, though. If we want to get way out into the depths of fantasy events, you could set up a tri as a stage race leading up to one of the half marathons. Swim in a lake nearby on Thursday. Bike from 56 miles away back to Disney on Friday, and run the half during marathon weekend.

Hmmm....

My wife and I were going to register for the Full. Then I saw this:

If proof of time is not provided at least 13 weeks before the first race of the race weekend, or if the data provided is incomplete or cannot be verified, you will be placed in the last start corral. No corral changes will be made after such date.

I am assuming that means we are pretty much screwed at this point since we are 10 weeks away.

Thoughts?

You can enter a proof of time when you register. As long as the date of the race you’re using for your PoT is before the deadline (Oct 9th i think), you’ll be fine, though you can’t change it once you submit it.

 

[Keels]

Hmmm....

My wife and I were going to register for the Full. Then I saw this:

If proof of time is not provided at least 13 weeks before the first race of the race weekend, or if the data provided is incomplete or cannot be verified, you will be placed in the last start corral. No corral changes will be made after such date.

I am assuming that means we are pretty much screwed at this point since we are 10 weeks away.

Thoughts?

You have one chance to provide PoT and it’s just when your register.

I just did a dummy registration and it still allows for PoT submission: