Marathon Weekend 2022

[DopeyBadger]

Random Q about buses since it's been a topic of conversation for runners: how are spectators on-site supposed to get to Magic Kingdom for the half and full? Is that covered by the bus route taking runners to Epcot? Mostly just want to make sure I'm covered, because if not, I might have to come up with an alternative solution to get my family over there.

To get to MK, spectators take a resort bus to EPCOT, then ride the monorail to TTC, then transfer to another monorail to MK.

From the guide, "spectators" section.


-The monorail to the TTC from EPCOT takes 15 min of ride time.
-The monorail to MK from TTC takes 15 min (and is a bit of a transfer).
Then a few minute walk to inside Main Street.

I'd say in total the whole process is probably on the order of 40-55 minutes if I'm leaving room for error. There's also the time it takes to ride the runDisney bus, and then get to the monorail at EPCOT itself (which should be estimated at 30-60 min).

Apologies if this has been asked before, but currently I’m landing at MCO on Wednesday at 1:08. I was planning to Uber/Lyft to Coronado springs and drop my bags at bell services and then Uber to the expo, hopefully w the same driver to be quick. Based on peoples past experiences will I still have a good chance of getting Dopey merch in the afternoon?

It's an incredibly difficult question to answer, but I would look at it this way. If you see the merch preview and see something highly desirable, I would bet other people are going to see it as highly desirable as well. So it's unlikely to be there a few hours after the merch area opens. Things tend to sell pretty quick. My Dopey 2015 soft Champion track jacket was sold out in less than an hr based on memory. It was highly desirable because the back said, "Eat, Run, Sleep, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat". Your absolute best bet is to see if a kind soul here will offer to buy you something sight unseen in person (but you see in merch preview) if they're headed to the expo early. I've done that for several different people on some of my trips, but I'm not at MW 2022.

 

[GollyGadget]

Random Q about buses since it's been a topic of conversation for runners: how are spectators on-site supposed to get to Magic Kingdom for the half and full? Is that covered by the bus route taking runners to Epcot? Mostly just want to make sure I'm covered, because if not, I might have to come up with an alternative solution to get my family over there.

The spectators take the race transportation bus to Epcot and then the monorail to MK. Once ready they can take the monorail back to Epcot for the finish.

 

[fatmanatee]

Thanks @DopeyBadger @GollyGadget! All this makes sense.

 

[avondale]

RACE - Full
NAME - Melissa
DIS'er name - avondale
Costume/Clothing - orange tank, black shorts, blue hydration vest
Bib# - TBD
Estimated Pace/POT from Registration - 5:01-5:30
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) Yes
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - middle
Early Bird or Late Arriver - early
Expected Race Pace - Goof Troop Pace, if I can keep up!

 

[GreatLakes]

I tested positive for COVID Monday so had to take a few days off but got back out on the roads for training today. Next week is my last high mileage week then the taper. I'm looking at:

30 (this week due to the missed runs), 61, 48, 42, 27

 

[Z-Knight]

Charity Bibs Available..... Dragon Master Foundation

i hope you're getting excited for Marathon Weekend 2022 and that your training is going well! I have some important updates on deadlines with Disney.

We still have a few spots open for the 10k, Half, Full, and Dopey if you know anyone that would like to register. Filling those spots makes our fundraising efforts more successful, so please share with runners you know who might be interested in running!

Amanda Haddock, President
Our Contact Information
Dragon Master Foundation
4120 E 61st N
Kechi, KS 67067
‭(316) 361-6698‬
http://www.dragonmaster.org

 

[anneeb]

Has anyone heard or have any news on if Disney may offer to mail out the 2022 medals due to the new strain of covid & what its doing for travel restraints. My wife & I live in Canada , got the 2021 medals & did that virtually. She was going for her 9th straight Dopey in 2022 , but with everything going on with travel it looks like we probably won't make it down. The run disney site is down & I can't find anything on it. My wife thought that she saw , when we registered that they were offering the virtual run , wondering if there is a way we can do that. Any help would be great , Thank you.

I had a similar issue for wine and dine weekend, signed up for the in person race but was unable to travel and wanted to transfer to virtual. My initial email was met with a standardized reply that they are unable to transfer in person registration to virtual. I emailed back explaining the extenuating circumstances and was given somewhat of a work around "as a gesture of good will". They refunded the race fees to a gift card and I used the gift card to register for the virtual challenge. I was originally signed up for the 5K and half but those were sold out by that time for the virtual race, but the challenge was still an option and I was happy to register for that. I don't know if that would be an option if the virtual is completely sold out?

 

[Herding_Cats]

Is team Not-So-Fast gonna be a thing? I know we joked about it a lot. I would like it have someone to run with for at least part of the full. And maybe the half?

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Is team Not-So-Fast gonna be a thing? I know we joked about it a lot. I would like it have someone to run with for at least part of the full. And maybe the half?

I will be walking most of the full.

 

[The Expert]

Is team Not-So-Fast gonna be a thing? I know we joked about it a lot. I would like it have someone to run with for at least part of the full. And maybe the half?

I will be walking most of the full.

I'm still up for it! My stepdad is planning to do the 10K, so I'll walk that with him (not that we can't be part of the group), but for the other three races I'm on my own and would welcome some company. My plan was to walk the 5K, and walk as much of the half and full as I can without being swept.

 

[Kerry1957]

Is team Not-So-Fast gonna be a thing? I know we joked about it a lot. I would like it have someone to run with for at least part of the full. And maybe the half?

I think as we get closer to the race, and @DopeyBadger puts together the spreadsheet, we can see which group(s) naturally form. We can then be deliberate in meeting up.

I'm "only running the Marathon" and am planning on running a +/- 13:30 pace for the first 15-17 miles and then reassessing. I'm sure that will be too fast for some of the not-so-fasters and too slow for some of the not-so-fasters. I hope a few disers are planning about the same pace.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

I think as we get closer to the race, and @DopeyBadger puts together the spreadsheet, we can see which group(s) naturally form. We can then be deliberate in meeting up.

I'm "only running the Marathon" and am planning on running a +/- 13:30 pace for the first 15-17 miles and then reassessing. I'm sure that will be too fast for some of the not-so-fasters and too slow for some of the not-so-fasters. I hope a few disers are planning about the same pace.

do you do intervals?

 

[brent02139]

Question, what’s the latest you can show up at the marathon race start? I know it says 3:30am, but I assume they don’t tell runners to turn around at 3:31am. Anyone who showed up late or very late, but still made it to the start line? TYIA.

 

[StarGirl11]

Question, what’s the latest you can show up at the marathon race start? I know it says 3:30am, but I assume they don’t tell runners to turn around at 3:31am. Anyone who showed up late or very late, but still made it to the start line? TYIA.

No they won’t turn you around. That being said they have to shut down part of the road due to the route. So if you go to late your going to have problems.

I recommend going back a few pages and checking the discussion of what happened in 2020. While hopefully they’ve fixed the issue and will have 2 lanes open. They had to delay the start in 2020 because they were trying to get everyone through one lane. And a lot of people had to walk an extra probably half a mile to get to the start.

It’s always better to be early. Because even if you don’t hit traffic security can also back up. And you might miss your corral start.

that was an issue at the half marathon at 2020. I got their early but heard friends talking about it talking them over 30 minutes to get through security

 

[lhermiston]

Good morning, runDisney all-stars! We are just 23 days from the start of Marathon Weekend 2022!

I hope everyone's final weeks of training are going well and that you're feeling good heading into the final stretch and your last long runs. Enjoy the experience, friends.

It's widely accepted that Disney is overpriced, but some things must surely be worth paying extra for, right? For this week's Sundays are for Disney, what do you think is a totally justifiable expense at WDW? Inversely, what's something that you can't see yourself spending the money on (or spending on again)?

Justified: I have never felt bad about the money spent at race-celebration meals. Those have included Ohana and Boma. Not exactly the priciest meals by Disney standards, but more than I spend going out at home. But I love the menu, love the atmosphere and after a long training period and strenuous races, I don't mind treating myself.

Not Justified: Park Hopper. I'm sure some (most?) people love it, but I can't justify the cost. I plan my days out to the point where I can happily and easily spend one day at a park and not feel like I'm missing out on something. Admittedly, I looked into getting a park hopper for Friday since I really wanted to do rides at DHS and shoot Harmonious at Epcot, but it was too rich for my blood.

Have a great week, everyone!

 

[GreatLakes]

SAFD:

I think the park admission is totally justifiable. It has gone up higher than inflation but I think the feeling of being in those parks is 100% worth it. I also think a lot of the sit down restaurants are still justifiable and all of the booths at F&G and F&W. Those two festivals are my favorites non-running things on property. So much so that other than race weekends we try to only go during one of them which, due to them expanding like a fish to fill the tank, is most of the year now.

Not worth it? Their resort pricing. I understand a premium for being on property and I stay on property more often then I don't but the resorts are getting ridiculous. The values and moderates are motels for all intents and purposes and while I'd pay more to stay in them than a Quality Inn the prices are getting out of hand. We felt we were overpaying for our POFQ trip this January but did anyway. When MW became a solo long weekend and we moved our family trip to Spring we just couldn't justify the ridiculous costs for Easter week. I'm staying off propery in January and we are booked at the Swan Reserve in April. Unless the prices correct a bit going forward more of our trips will be at the Swan/Dolphin/Reserve plus then we get our Marriott points.

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD:

Justified: I am predisposed to buying into the magic the moment I enter the Disney bubble so basically everything I’ve done I’ve enjoyed.

One larger expenditure that was absolutely worth it was staying at AKL with a savannah view. Admittedly, we didn’t reserve a savannah view and got an extraordinary free upgrade from an awesome CM during a low attendance period (September a couple days after a hurricane scare); but it was the best resort experience I’ve had and would say the price increase was justifiable (even at the higher normal price) vs. the other (still good) resort experiences I’ve had.

We also did a Fireworks Dessert Party for HEA a couple years back. It was cheaper then (I paid $60-ish for each person), but the desserts/snacks were all you care to enjoy, it eliminated the stress of staking out a position and we were able to sit for the whole show and see everything. All things considered it was by far the best fireworks viewing I’ve experienced. Definitely justifiable at the time.

Unjustified: It’s harder to fill this section because it partially feels like shaming the people who choose to do the things that I find somewhat outrageous. I’ll name a couple things and give my reasons with the caveat that I’m sure I would probably enjoy them if I did them.

Building a lightsaber at Savi’s. I’m sure it would be fun but there are companies that build better quality, better proportioned, hardier, more customizable, etc. “lightsabers”. You can get better for the same price elsewhere and you can get much better if willing to pay more. I guess you could say the same for most Disney merchandise though.

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. Even as a big Star Wars fan I never understood the appeal from the moment it was announced. After the pricing came out I understood even less. After the preview vids, well, if I don’t have anything nice to say I won’t say anything. I’m sure I would have a great time if I went (or would at least find the fun in it); but it’s nowhere near a price range that I’d consider for the experience they’re advertising.

 

[Kerry1957]

do you do intervals?

Yes, I usually do about 90 seconds run/ 30 seconds walk, but for the M I will probably do more like 75 seconds run / 30 seconds walk. The official Disney pacers do around 30/30 but I found that their run was a bit fast for me, and the cycles were too frequent. I can adjust my times to a group compromise if there are some like minded disers.

 

[Kerry1957]

Justified: My wife and I buy annual passes and use them for at least three 5-day trips a year so I do not have a problem with the admission cost per day.

Not Justified: Before retiring I traveled internationally for business and it was not unusual to spend 150 nights a year in "top end" hotels. Given that, I cannot justify staying on property anymore at current rates. We have stayed at one of the Marriotts at Flamingo Crossing the last 6 or 7 trips. Booking ahead the per night cost has been between $100 - $130 with free parking, free breakfast, and no resort fee. Since we always rent a car, getting to the parks is a simple and easy 5-10 minute drive. I have lifetime Platinum status at Marriott so they always treat me well (early check-in, late check-out, etc.)

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD:

Justifiable expense: an Annual Pass. Now that I’ve gotten into rD and want to do multiple event weekends, this was a no-brainer. I already saved 1/3 of the cost of my Incredipass because of the AP discount I got for my Princess Weekend room, plus another $50 or so on merch and dining discounts last week.

Not justifiable expense: the studio room I just stayed in at Beach Club Villas. Other than having a microwave in the room, it wasn’t much different than staying in a value room, but it was more than double the cost Since I didn’t end up making use of SAB, it was basically pointless for me to stay there. I thought having a couch to sit on in the room, instead of the bed, would be great, but that couch was horribly uncomfortable. Also, there was hardly any usable drawer space, so the packing cubes with my clothes were scattered around on every flat surface.