Marathon Weekend 2025

[smileyanna]

Thanks for all the responses. Really great info and vibes here.

I have also ducked out the back of the start chute to run to the porta potties one last time. (Volunteers standing there will usually open up one section of the fences to let people out.

Well, this will definitely be me! Although I am happy to wait in the general staging area for a while.

There are no announcements for when corrals are closing.

Ok, this is what I needed to know. I will check the info in the guide and keep an eye on time myself.

1. Quit lurking and join the fun. Please come to the pre-race meetup.

Will do, especially for the earlier races! I am usually a nervous wreck on marathon morning...

I don't think they have a set time.

I've heard lots of different things about the Everest availability and speed of the line in different trip reports, so this makes sense

Here's an unofficial pacing chart to help with Everest decisions based on corral assignment.

Wow wow. Thanks for sharing this (and again, apologies if this has already been posted earlier in the thread). I like to do mid-race math, so this is definitely getting a screen shot.

 

[Lemon Head]

What do you think your pace will be? And your corral placement?

Probably one of the last corals as I didnt know about the PoT thing until it was too late.

Pace, probably... 11 or 12 minute miles.. (I say probably as I'm carrying a knock at the moment).

I dont understand how one tracks pacers. In other Marathons if theres none around theres no way of knowing where they are.

 

[The Expert]

I dont understand how one tracks pacers.

The Galloway booth at the expo will have a list of pacers. I take a pic of that, go to the tracking page (when it comes out), look up the pacer(s) by name (from my photo) and track them.

 

[fatmanatee]

Probably one of the last corals as I didnt understand the PoT thing until it was too late.

Pace, probably... 11 or 12 minute miles..

I dont understand how one tracks pacers. In other Marathons if theres none around theres no way of knowing where they are.

When you registered, did you put in that you were going to submit a POT and just didn't? Or did you give yourself the first non-POT estimate? Which in this case would be 5:00-5:30 (and likely put you in corral D). I mention because I saw you said that you average a 1:45 half, which would put you in corral A if you had a POT for that pace and submitted it. If you said you were going to put in a POT and didn't put in the results, you could go to runner relations, show it to them, and see if they would move you up. Given it's your first event and your POT would be way faster than the last corral, they might move you. It would be safer for you (not having to weave around other racers to make up ground) and safer for everyone else in the last corral too.

 

[Tall Todd]

@DopeyBadger Now do getting a beer at Epcot. I fear an A corral at ~10 min/mile is sol.

 

[nancipants]

Probably one of the last corals as I didnt know about the PoT thing until it was too late.

Pace, probably... 11 or 12 minute miles.. (I say probably as I'm carrying a knock at the moment).

I dont understand how one tracks pacers. In other Marathons if theres none around theres no way of knowing where they are.

In addition to what @The Expert said, they usually announce the Galloway pacers on social media prior to the race, as well. The list will probably be posted on this thread. There used to be a Twitter bot that tracked the balloon ladies, but sadly that is no longer active.

 

[GollyGadget]

@DopeyBadger Now do getting a beer at Epcot. I fear an A corral at ~10 min/mile is sol.

Based on the new start time of 4:30 and a pace of 10 min/mile, you should get to Epcot around 8:30-8:45. Early entry isn’t until 9:30 based on the current hours. Always possible those change, but assuming they don’t, you’d need to average a 12 min mile. The on course beverage stands usually open a bit earlier than normal but I would not expect an hour early.

Last year I finished just before 9:30 am and I distinctly remember the beer stand in the USA pavilion being open when I passed which makes me wonder if Epcot opened prior to 9:30.

 

[Tall Todd]

Based on the new start time of 4:30 and a pace of 10 min/mile, you should get to Epcot around 8:30-8:45. Early entry isn’t until 9:30 based on the current hours. Always possible those change, but assuming they don’t, you’d need to average a 12 min mile. The on course beverage stands usually open a bit earlier than normal but I would not expect an hour early.

Last year I finished just before 9:30 am and I distinctly remember the beer stand in the USA pavilion being open when I passed which makes me wonder if Epcot opened prior to 9:30.

Yeah. The later opening feels strange, but it's probably always been that way.

 

[marty3d]

@DopeyBadger Now do getting a beer at Epcot. I fear an A corral at ~10 min/mile is sol.

Lots of character stops!

 

[Naomeri]

Based on the new start time of 4:30 and a pace of 10 min/mile, you should get to Epcot around 8:30-8:45. Early entry isn’t until 9:30 based on the current hours. Always possible those change, but assuming they don’t, you’d need to average a 12 min mile. The on course beverage stands usually open a bit earlier than normal but I would not expect an hour early.

Last year I finished just before 9:30 am and I distinctly remember the beer stand in the USA pavilion being open when I passed which makes me wonder if Epcot opened prior to 9:30.

At Wine & Dine Half, the beer and popcorn cart right before we got to Creations Shop was open and selling before 9:30, and we pass right by it with the new marathon route. My purchase was time stamped 9:16am and I was far from first in line. So faster people wanting refreshments probably don't have to wait all the way until early entry starts.

 

[FFigawi]

@DopeyBadger Now do getting a beer at Epcot. I fear an A corral at ~10 min/mile is sol.

You need to make some stops for rides, characters, and beers along the way in order to waste enough time for the Epcot beverage carts to be open.

Last year I finished just before 9:30 am and I distinctly remember the beer stand in the USA pavilion being open when I passed which makes me wonder if Epcot opened prior to 9:30.

If memory serves me correctly, Kat, the woman who used to open Thirsty River very early, is now working at the US pavilion and opened the beer stand as early as she can the past few years. Not sure what she’ll do this year since the end of course does not go through World Showcase. Doubt she’ll open at 430 to let us stop in the first few miles.

 

[GollyGadget]

At Wine & Dine Half, the beer and popcorn cart right before we got to Creations Shop was open and selling before 9:30, and we pass right by it with the new marathon route. My purchase was time stamped 9:16am and I was far from first in line. So faster people wanting refreshments probably don't have to wait all the way until early entry starts.

It looks like Epcot opened at 9a on Nov 3 so you were after park opening.

It also appears that Epcot opened at 10a on Marathon day 2024 which based on past experience means that there is a chance something is open prior to early entry. But it also means you’re at the mercy of a cast member knowing and wanting to start work early for you.

If all else fails, there’s plenty of parking lot refreshments.

 

[kps7795]

You need to make some stops for rides, characters, and beers along the way in order to waste enough time for the Epcot beverage carts to be open.

Fine...twist my arm with fun!

 

[The Expert]

Between the odd park hours, course change and earlier marathon start, it definitely points to a massive compromise for less "inconvenience" to day guests. As one of those day guests who visited for decades before I started racing, coming at a race time was actually cool and unique, even before I had any interest in joining. I loved cheering folks on from my room at the Boardwalk (now a quiet zone ) or while coming into Epcot for the day. It's really too bad they felt the need to make so many changes at the expense of the rD experience. These "small" things they are taking away are part of what makes rD unique, and it is really disappointing.

 

[Lemon Head]

When you registered, did you put in that you were going to submit a POT and just didn't? Or did you give yourself the first non-POT estimate? Which in this case would be 5:00-5:30 (and likely put you in corral D). I mention because I saw you said that you average a 1:45 half, which would put you in corral A if you had a POT for that pace and submitted it. If you said you were going to put in a POT and didn't put in the results, you could go to runner relations, show it to them, and see if they would move you up. Given it's your first event and your POT would be way faster than the last corral, they might move you. It would be safer for you (not having to weave around other racers to make up ground) and safer for everyone else in the last corral too.

Amazing memory about my Half time!

I think I put that I'd run the marathon in under 5 hours but then didnt upload any proof (didnt realise I had to).

I didn't realize I could go to Runner Relations with my PoT and ask them to reassess. Will definitely do that - thanks for the tip!

 

[PrincessV]

Between the odd park hours, course change and earlier marathon start, it definitely points to a massive compromise for less "inconvenience" to day guests. As one of those day guests who visited for decades before I started racing, coming at a race time was actually cool and unique, even before I had any interest in joining. I loved cheering folks on from my room at the Boardwalk (now a quiet zone ) or while coming into Epcot for the day. It's really too bad they felt the need to make so many changes at the expense of the rD experience. These "small" things they are taking away are part of what makes rD unique, and it is really disappointing.

Quoting for emphasis because I could not agree more! “Regular” Guests seeing the marathon in person can be a real good way to encourage more to participate… it’s exactly what introduced me to runDisney. It also wasn’t at all inconvenient as a park guest; I think I had to wait maybe 30 seconds to cross the running route once.

 

[PrincessV]

I took a good look at the path from GF to MK yesterday… yeah, that’s about the same as the BW to DHS path. IOW, narrow. It’s a bold choice - excited to see how it plays out!

 

[camaker]

Amazing memory about my Half time!

I think I put that I'd run the marathon in under 5 hours but then didnt upload any proof (didnt realise I had to).

I didn't realize I could go to Runner Relations with my PoT and ask them to reassess. Will definitely do that - thanks for the tip!

Make sure you take proof of time from a race run in the PoT window to Runner Relations. If you take them one too old or run after the submission deadline, they'll likely turn you away.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Quoting for emphasis because I could not agree more! “Regular” Guests seeing the marathon in person can be a real good way to encourage more to participate… it’s exactly what introduced me to runDisney. It also wasn’t at all inconvenient as a park guest; I think I had to wait maybe 30 seconds to cross the running route once.

This. For all the times I went with the ex, somehow we were never there on a race weekend, but if we had been, I'd have started running races there sooner.
Personally, I gain a lot of energy from all the "regular" guests who are in the parks and cheering us on. It really adds to the atmosphere and the race experience. IMHO, rD is missing a good opportunity for "outreach", but I get that they are probably running afoul of the park people....

 

[DopeyBadger]

@DopeyBadger Now do getting a beer at Epcot. I fear an A corral at ~10 min/mile is sol.

Looks like your question was answered, but in case anyone else wanted the info in the same table format.



Additionally, here is the dark MK Castle sky projections.






And for those unaware, once @Herding_Cats collects all the info for the DIS List, then the sheet will calculate all of your individual timing questions based on your presumed corral and expected pace. I've attached the 2023 MW DIS List as a PDF as an example. It is obviously outdated, so don't use the information from it for the 2025 race.