Marathon Weekend 2020

[Oswald0827]

UPDATED (time/costume)

RACE - 10K
NAME - Heather
DIS'er Name - Oswald0827
Costume/Clothing - Tinkerbell
Corral - C
Pre-Race Meet Up - Yes
Early/Late - Early
Front/Middle/Back - Middle
Expected Pace - 9-10 min/mile pace pending on photo stops

RACE - Marathon
NAME - Heather
DIS'er Name - Oswald0827
Costume/Clothing - Black tank with Castle/Marathon 2020
Corral - D
Pre Race Meet Up - Yes
Early/Late - Early
Front/Middle/Back - Front
Expected Pace - 12 min/mile with photo stops and possibly rides and an adult beverage

 

[goingthedistance]

this may have been asked already, but is it worth getting an uber to the Expo Wednesday morning instead of taking the provided transportation? Looks like the buses don't start until 930. How early should one get to the Expo prior to opening?

Depends on your goals. If all you want is your race bib pickup then no real reason to fight the early crowds. If you want merchandise before it sells out (pins, jackets, etc.) then an uber is not bad strategy.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: I will stop for:
1) any unusual/rare characters (like the Fantasia ostrich last year!)
2) the main characters in special outfits (I would also put Elvis Stitch in this category) - I especially love it when they are in "international" costumes
3) Villians!
4) Guardians of the Galaxy (or any other Marvel characters that Disney is "allowed" to have - don't understand that deal with Universal!!)
5) UP characters
6) Remy - bucket list character I have never met!

Trying not to worry about the weather - we all know that it can and will change on a dime - but yikes that will be a warm marathon if that holds up!

I am planning on the pre-race meet up but running the races with my non-DIS buddy so I won't be able to join the Goof Troop this year.

 

[huskies90]

12/31/19 AccuWeather

Wed 1/8 - 71°/49° More clouds than sun
Thu 1/9 - 68°/53° Mostly sunny
Fri 1/10 - 73°/62° Some sun, a shower possible
Sat 1/11 - 79°/62° Times of clouds and sun
Sun 1/12 - 79°/61° Mostly cloudy

12/31/19 Weather.com

Wed 1/8 - 70°/53° Partly cloudy
Thu 1/9 - 66°/59° Partly cloudy
Fri 1/10 - 77°/65° Scattered Thunderstorms
Sat 1/11 - 77°/65° Scattered Thunderstorms
Sun 1/12 - 78°/66° Isolated Thunderstorms

AccuWeather 12/30/19

Wed 1/8 - 68°/52° Sunny
Thu 1/9 - 72°/58° Plenty of sunshine
Fri 1/10 - 78°/60° Cloudy
Sat 1/11 - 79°/62° Mostly cloudy
Sun 1/12 - 79° / 61° Mostly cloudy

12/30/19 Weather.com

Wed 1/8 - 62°/55° Partly cloudy
Thu 1/9 - 72°/61° Partly cloudy
Fri 1/10 - 76°/64° Partly cloudy
Sat 1/11 - 77°/64° Partly cloudy
Sun 1/12 - 78°/64° Partly cloudy

 

[StarGirl11]

Soon, the crowds will start to thin out...then, the tour groups arrive where 7 can feel like 70.

Oh some of them are already there. I saw a group when I was in Epcot on the 15th. I about did a double take and then had to explain to my friend the entire thing about the tour groups.

Honestly they’ve never bothered me a giant amount. My best and worst experience was with the same group. Had a brief pleasant half mimed exchange in the line for Kilimanjaro Safaris. But then they weren’t listening to the CMs during the ride...which probably was contributed to by the fact I don’t think they really spoke English (again previous conversation was half mimed)

this may have been asked already, but is it worth getting an uber to the Expo Wednesday morning instead of taking the provided transportation? Looks like the buses don't start until 930. How early should one get to the Expo prior to opening?

If you want to get in and get what you want quickly from the merchandise it’s best not to wait for the first bus. People do show up early to the expo. Heck I’m planning to call an Uber somewhere between 8:30-9:00.

 

[jeremy1002]

It is not just the finish line at 7:59 you have to beat, it is the sweep points along the boardwalk/beach club/Epcot re-entry loop. So if we assume back on the course by the time the balloon ladies get to the Boardwalk Ferry terminal, ROTR people would have to be back on the course by 7:30 Call it 7:25 for a buffer just in case balloon ladies start earlier than 6:20. Doable for faster runners because it is only a mile from DHS after 7am back to the course. Faster runners could be back on the course by 7:15 after getting a boarding group. I'm not going to try this personally.

There is some added protection too: You don't have to stay in HS once you tap in. You can get your Boarding Group from anywhere. I wonder if they will set up a barrier specifically to prevent this at the BW to HS exit course point, though.

 

[disneygpa]

Another newbie question. From the Expo info it looks like you have to get your bib at one location and your shirt at another for the 5k. First, am I looking at this correctly and second does it matter what order you go pick it up in? Thanks!!

 

[rteetz]

Another newbie question. From the Expo info it looks like you have to get your bib at one location and your shirt at another for the 5k. First, am I looking at this correctly and second does it matter what order you go pick it up in? Thanks!!

Correct you must go for bib first because the bib has a tag on it for the shirt.

 

[SheHulk]

Sorry I took my time

RACE - Half/Full
NAME - Cindy
DIS'er Name - SheHulk
Costume/Clothing - Pixar's Inside Out Rainbow Unicorn/Mandalorian's Cara Dune
Corral - D
Pre Race Meet Up - Yes
Early/Late - Early
Front/Middle/Back - Front
Expected Pace: 13:00 min/mi +

 

[gtitan21]

So just out of curiosity and my own peace of mind... For the Half, F starts at 5:50 and the last person starts at 6:30. Does the last person represent the balloon ladies? and does it factor in a manor that if the Balloon Ladies average 16min, someone who starts 30 min ahead of them could average 18min. Or does each corral have their own set?

 

[Baloo in MI]

@gtitan21 The Balloon ladies will be at theback of the last corral and will hold that 16 minute pace from start to finish. If you are in an earlier corral this will create more of a buffer and you could go slower than their pace and remain ahead (based on how far ahead of them you start of course). Have a great race!

 

[mr incredibleS1]

I figured that was the plan for the Goof Troop Roving Road Party(™)



I was pre-Med for a semester in college (true story), so I think I'm qualified to weigh in here: have a beer and don't stress over it, man. It's just a race and fortunately, it's a race at Disney so no matter what you're going to have a great time down there.

Adjust your expectations, do what your body allows you to do and have as much fun as humanely possible. Being hurt sucks, but you'll be surrounded by friends (family?) and people rooting for you. You've got this.

I was just going to do a 5 mile run on Saturday, and one mile in, I felt my hamstring knot up one mile in. I have been taking it easy, went to the Chiropractor, rolling it and it is feeling better. Since you were pre-med, can you prescribe me a beer as well?

 

[gtitan21]

@gtitan21 The Balloon ladies will be at theback of the last corral and will hold that 16 minute pace from start to finish. If you are in an earlier corral this will create more of a buffer and you could go slower than their pace and remain ahead (based on how far ahead of them you start of course). Have a great race!

That's what i thought. Makes me that much more confident. Thank you. Hardest part now is going to be forcing myself to get up and move at 3am (2am central) on raceday.

 

[disneygpa]

I'm just full of questions... Thanks for answering them. Spectator question. I purchased CHear squad package for the wife. Is there any realistic chance she can see me anywhere else on the course aside from MK and Epcot, only relying on Disney transportation?

I was thinking AK, but my predicted pace puts me in there at 8:20 or so and I don't want to give up any gained timed on the balloon ladies just in case I need to start walking at some point. Any suggestions?

 

[rteetz]

I'm just full of questions... Thanks for answering them. Spectator question. I purchased CHear squad package for the wife. Is there any realistic chance she can see me anywhere else on the course aside from MK and Epcot, only relying on Disney transportation?

I was thinking AK, but my predicted pace puts me in there at 8:20 or so and I don't want to give up any gained timed on the balloon ladies just in case I need to start walking at some point. Any suggestions?

AK or DHS would be the two options. DHS you could then Skyliner from DHS to Epcot

 

[princessbride6205]

So just out of curiosity and my own peace of mind... For the Half, F starts at 5:50 and the last person starts at 6:30. Does the last person represent the balloon ladies? and does it factor in a manor that if the Balloon Ladies average 16min, someone who starts 30 min ahead of them could average 18min. Or does each corral have their own set?

This was the exact position my sister and I were in for the 2016 Marathon. She had a foot injury so we very slowly kept going, one foot in front of the other, and finished just under 7hr45min. The balloon ladies were maybe 5-10 minutes behind us.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Does the last person represent the balloon ladies? and does it factor in a manor that if the Balloon Ladies average 16min, someone who starts 30 min ahead of them could average 18min. Or does each corral have their own set?

Your pace can be slower than the balloon ladies 16 minutes per mile so long as you are not swept. For Dopey 2019, my 10K time was over 2 hours, but I was never even warned about being swept because I started in an earlier corral, and my pace when not stopped for characters was sufficient to never be in danger. I finished the marathon in just under 7 hours and never once heard any warning that I could be swept including some of the lengthier photo ops I took such as Mickey and Minnie in vacation apparel.

In my experience, if you are at risk of being swept, they will tell you. You will know where the sweep point is and where you need to be in relation to it. During the 2017 Dark Side 10K and Half, I was told exactly how many minutes ahead of the balloon ladies I was when I was in line for a photo. They told me that if the balloon ladies came when I was still in line, I either needed to leave the line to keep up with them or stay in the line and be swept. Between knowing that I had trained at around a 14:30 mile, I knew I could maintain pace with them if necessary. In both instances, a quick mental calculation told me I should be fine so I remained in line and continued on my way. I have had multiple runDisney races where my chip time was behind 16 minutes per mile, but because I stayed ahead of the balloon ladies, I was never in real danger of being swept. During the 2017 Dark Side 10K, I saw the sweep occur around mile 3, but never heard any warning again so I was ahead of pace enough for my purposes.

 

[StarGirl11]

So just out of curiosity and my own peace of mind... For the Half, F starts at 5:50 and the last person starts at 6:30. Does the last person represent the balloon ladies? and does it factor in a manor that if the Balloon Ladies average 16min, someone who starts 30 min ahead of them could average 18min. Or does each corral have their own set?

Okay so a reminder to everyone here: there is a division of adaptive athletes who are NOT wheelchair atheletes. We start early to allow for extra time. I bring this up because it’s not uncommon for us to be logging in paces well above the 16 min requirement but ahead of the balloons (due to the early start). My entire point here is it’s 16 minutes from the last starter because they have to accommodate their adaptive atheletes who they give the early start to. If they tried to enforce the 16 minute mile for everyone they would have a group of very angry disabled runners on their hands.

Two it’s not the balloons that sweep it’s the bikes. You can fall behind the balloons and finish. But if you do so you need to be paying very, very close attention to what the bikes are doing if you do fall behind where there’s still a point they can drag the giant buses in (once the buses can no longer get on the course period your safe from a sweep for the half that is when you are physically into Epcot and not a moment before). If you hear the words ‘sag wagon’ being uttered and your behind the balloons pick up the pace immediately because that’s the other term for the parade bus. If they are mentioning it that means they are about to sweep. I made the final marathon cutoff in 2019 by probably a minute or so turning into Epcot. Partly because I was paying attention and overheard one of the bikes positioned near the last aid station utter the words and having been around runDisney enough I knew what that was the other name for.

 

[disneygpa]

AK or DHS would be the two options. DHS you could then Skyliner from DHS to Epcot

Thank Ryan, If I keep my current pace, I would be about 35 min from DHS to finish. Would that be enough time for them to get from DHS to the finish line using the skyliner? I haven't been to the parks since the skyliner opened. I have no idea how long the lines or the ride is.

 

[rteetz]

Thank Ryan, If I keep my current pace, I would be about 35 min from DHS to finish. Would that be enough time for them to get from DHS to the finish line using the skyliner? I haven't been to the parks since the skyliner opened. I have no idea how long the lines or the ride is.

Yes as long as the Skyliner is operating as normal.