Marathon Weekend 2025

[Boiler37]

What do you want them to do about it? I'm not saying they shouldn't do something, but it's not like they can go back in time to fix the issue.

Once you decide what you want, send them an email and ask for it.

Agreed, it sounds like @Kelkee you have specific concerns about how it was handled. At the end of the day, it was unfortunate but it does happen.

Maybe this is a moment to grow in terms of reframing your disappointment from "I'm upset and crushed I wasn't tracked accurately" to "I DID IT! Regardless of there being accurate tracking of time (out of my control) I did a rather large accomplishment for myself". Also plan for the unexpected!, such as habit of always tracking your runs personally.

Yeah, I’m not sure what they can do for things that happened in the past, but maybe TrackShack and runDisney can outline a plan on how this will not happen again.
-runners walk over a mat at bib pickup
-a larger quantity spot checked after bibs printed/tags placed
-???

Logistics are already tough and people get upset about long lines. Add the take your bib out, walk across the scanner, check with the person(s) all sitting at computers, confirm, then keep moving, will already increase backup time and I don't see them doing that unless this becomes a systemic and repeated issue. They may say more will be checked but lets all be real here, they'll chalk it up to an unfortunate event and move on.

 

[fatmanatee]

Yeah, I’m not sure what they can do for things that happened in the past, but maybe TrackShack and runDisney can outline a plan on how this will not happen again.
-runners walk over a mat at bib pickup
-a larger quantity spot checked after bibs printed/tags placed
-???

Wondering if they should just scan the bibs individually (maybe they used to do something like this and stopped for efficiency reasons?). I've never really paid much attention to this process but now that it's gone badly I'm like... hm.

 

[Kelkee]

My concern is their lack of concern. In the moment its upsetting, and defeating. Now we are over it. Apparently most people are over it so why do any better?

My wife and I have ran several races locally, in other states, and of course other rD races.

Never seen where before a race they ask runners to verify a bib is "working".

 

[fatmanatee]

My concern is their lack of concern. In the moment its upsetting, and defeating. Now we are over it. Apparently most people are over it so why do any better?

My wife and I have ran several races locally, in other states, and of course other rD races.

Never seen where before a race they ask runners to verify a bib is "working".

They were very concerned and had to do a lot of scrambling to get things right for a lot of people. Expo was a disaster with getting bibs fixed the following few days. They had a table set up at the race to get impacted bibs activated for the 10k. Then of course they discovered too late that half/full bibs were *also* impacted and I ended up getting waved down at the finish so they could let me know and tell me how make sure I could be tracked for the full (my half is now blank, I could get it fixed by submitting my Strava record to Trackshack but I haven't bothered).

That doesn't exactly excuse the mess created by one or both of RD/Trackshack (I give RD a lot of crap for random carelessness on the admin side) but it's not like they just punted on this after finding out all these bibs weren't working.

 

[camaker]

My concern is their lack of concern. In the moment its upsetting, and defeating. Now we are over it. Apparently most people are over it so why do any better?

My wife and I have ran several races locally, in other states, and of course other rD races.

Never seen where before a race they ask runners to verify a bib is "working".

It was definitely a frustrating situation, but I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for here. Just because there were aspects of the problem that couldn't be fixed in the moment, I don't think you can say there was a lack of concern on their part.

It was a complex issue that kept showing new shoots throughout the weekend. They provided solutions where they could, either through bib/chip swaps back at the expo or at the information tent prior to races. They were letting people know to wear both bibs for the marathon both at the end of the half and through email. Did some folks slip through the cracks and not get notified inadvertently? Perhaps, but not through a lack of trying. In addition, they've told people that they can submit their self-tracking info to get added to the official results.

To your last point, some races do have a "chip check" at packet pickup. It's been much more the exception than the rule in the races that I've run and has always been voluntary, not a mandated part of the process. The reason is that these chips are extremely reliable and failures are rare. To be faced with a mass of multiple bad chips across multiple race distances is an incredibly unlikely occurrence and I think RunDisney tried in good faith to adjust on the fly in a massive event the best they could. Personally, I'm going to grant them some grace as a one-time event. That could change if this becomes a commonplace occurrence, though.

Ultimately, only you can choose how to feel about your race experience. I would suggest, though, that you got to run all four races on the courses you signed up for, with the expected on course entertainment. You got all your medals. You achieved your Dopey and marathon goals. Are you going to let the fact that a time for that isn't captured in the RunDisney website (which you can request they add) spoil the event for you?

 

[PrincessV]

My concern is their lack of concern. In the moment its upsetting, and defeating. Now we are over it. Apparently most people are over it so why do any better?

My wife and I have ran several races locally, in other states, and of course other rD races.

Never seen where before a race they ask runners to verify a bib is "working".

It didn’t even impact me, and I’m still unhappy with how it’s been handled. You’re not alone, and I absolutely expect rD to do better than telling the 10Kers “Oops, sorry - no time for you!”

I have done big races where they check to see if the chip is working, including rD races. It added no time to my bib pickup at all - literally just walked over a timing mat like they have in the races as I walked away with my bib. I assume if it didn’t work, it would have added a few minutes to go get it fixed, but there were no additional lines or inconvenience… only more staffing required. Which is an issue these days.

 

[Barca33Runner]

My concern is their lack of concern. In the moment its upsetting, and defeating. Now we are over it. Apparently most people are over it so why do any better?

My wife and I have ran several races locally, in other states, and of course other rD races.

Never seen where before a race they ask runners to verify a bib is "working".

They shortened the Half Marathon to a little over 7 miles in 2024 because of a weather scare and didn’t provide any type of compensation. They also completely cut MK out of the course (the only good thing about the HM course to begin with). It was pretty much just run your 7 miles on the highways and pretend you ran a Half Marathon at Disney.

When they didn’t provide any compensation for that I pretty much gave up the idea that they’d ever provide refunds/compensation for anything outside of a completely cancelled race. On the day, I gave them credit for attempting to turn lemons into lemonade; but looking back I’m sure that their motives were much more tilted towards “what’s the bare minimum we can do and not give refunds?” over “what’s the best we can do for these runners tomorrow?”

ETA: As for the chip situation directly, I think it speaks more to an unsettling creep of incompetence into the rD setup rather than the those involved not caring. I thought they did a decent job of trying to correct the chip situation for those who cared enough about it to take time out of their trip because they needed it fixed. It is, of course, unfortunate and frustrating (at minimum) that such an inconvenience was required. I’m more worried that the business aspect of rD may mean their operation is spread too thin in a way that could make mistakes like this more commonplace moving forward.

 

[camaker]

They shortened the Half Marathon to a little over 7 miles in 2024 because of a weather scare and didn’t provide any type of compensation. They also completely cut MK out of the course (the only good thing about the HM course to begin with). It was pretty much just run your 7 miles on the highways and pretend you ran a Half Marathon at Disney.

When they didn’t provide any compensation for that I pretty much gave up the idea that they’d ever provide refunds/compensation for anything outside of a completely cancelled race. On the day, I gave them credit for attempting to turn lemons into lemonade; but looking back I’m sure that their motives were much more tilted towards “what’s the bare minimum we can do and not give refunds?” over “what’s the best we can do for these runners tomorrow?”

ETA: As for the chip situation directly, I think it speaks more to an unsettling creep of incompetence into the rD setup rather than the those involved not caring. I thought they did a decent job of trying to correct the chip situation for those who cared enough about it to take time out of their trip because they needed it fixed. It is, of course, unfortunate and frustrating (at minimum) that such an inconvenience was required. I’m more worried that the business aspect of rD may mean their operation is spread too thin in a way that could make mistakes like this more commonplace moving forward.

I ask this in all seriousness. What compensation do you feel is due for a situation like the bib chip malfunction? Runners got to run the course promised, received their medals whether their bib tracked or not, had the on-course entertainment experience that the vast majority of runners run a Disney race for and have the option of having their results added if they submit their own tracking. Where exactly have runners suffered a tangible loss in this situation?

 

[jmasgat]

hey had a table set up at the race to get impacted bibs activated for the 10k.

Only for challenge people--not for 10k only people.

In addition, they've told people that they can submit their self-tracking info to get added to the official results.

But how? "You can now visit the finisher website to submit your self-recorded finish time"--there was no place to do this.

RD's real-time response was as expected--piecemeal and incomplete. What I expect (here's the former engineer in me talking)--and will never see--is a reasoned "after action" message to all runners with: an apology, an explanation/description of what they'll do in the future, detailed instructions on how to submit a useable time for future PoT. Why is is too much to expect them to contact people now that the dust has settled? It isn't, but they apparently feel like they've done all that they need.

I say this as someone who is not broken up about not getting my time, who isn't looking for compensation, and who knows what major race logistics look like. But I expect respect and more than a cursory acknowledgement that they dropped the ball.

ETA: I'll shut up now. I don't need to grind my teeth over any of this anymore)

 

[Zutroy]

Maybe this is a moment to grow in terms of reframing your disappointment from "I'm upset and crushed I wasn't tracked accurately" to "I DID IT! Regardless of there being accurate tracking of time (out of my control) I did a rather large accomplishment for myself". Also plan for the unexpected!, such as habit of always tracking your runs personally.

I love how you turned a massive screw up by RD into somehow the runner’s responsibility to “reframe” this. I think all anyone wants is for RD to actually acknowledge and address this problem so that we have confidence that it will not occur again. We as consumers bought a product that was not delivered as represented. The worst part is that nobody knows what actually happened because RD moved on without a single mea culpa. I don’t think anyone wants a refund over this, but if someone got a POT during the 10k that they worked very hard for, what would it cost RD to recognize it?They’re apparently handing out corral placements to influencers, so why not the people who otherwise would have earned it except for RD’s incompetence?

 

[MissLiss279]

Agreed, it sounds like @Kelkee you have specific concerns about how it was handled. At the end of the day, it was unfortunate but it does happen.

Maybe this is a moment to grow in terms of reframing your disappointment from "I'm upset and crushed I wasn't tracked accurately" to "I DID IT! Regardless of there being accurate tracking of time (out of my control) I did a rather large accomplishment for myself". Also plan for the unexpected!, such as habit of always tracking your runs personally.



Logistics are already tough and people get upset about long lines. Add the take your bib out, walk across the scanner, check with the person(s) all sitting at computers, confirm, then keep moving, will already increase backup time and I don't see them doing that unless this becomes a systemic and repeated issue. They may say more will be checked but lets all be real here, they'll chalk it up to an unfortunate event and move on.

I’m not sure it would cause much of a backup, and it shouldn’t require any extra personnel except for setup, and maybe an occasional check to make sure the system is working.

For example at REVEL races (significantly smaller runner field), after you pickup your bib, there is a spot where you walk across a timing mat, and then there is a large TV displaying names. RD could use multiple monitors. It would be up to each individual to check and make sure their bib works. If it doesn’t, then they could go to runner relations.

 

[Boiler37]

I love how you turned a massive screw up by RD into somehow the runner’s responsibility to “reframe” this. I think all anyone wants is for RD to actually acknowledge and address this problem so that we have confidence that it will not occur again. We as consumers bought a product that was not delivered as represented. The worst part is that nobody knows what actually happened because RD moved on without a single mea culpa. I don’t think anyone wants a refund over this, but if someone got a POT during the 10k that they worked very hard for, what would it cost RD to recognize it?They’re apparently handing out corral placements to influencers, so why not the people who otherwise would have earned it except for RD’s incompetence?

My point is how long do you want to be mad about it? What is your timeframe? How many days? Do you plan to wake up on 3/1/2025 and the disappointment to have washed away?

We all worked hard and made healthy choices to accomplish a goal so why not try and look to the positives in an equally mentally healthy way? We all got to run in one of our special places and be in the atmosphere that makes us all happy, isn't that enough to try and change the outlook to look to the positives? I'm not saying for you to drop your concerns but control the things you can.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Only for challenge people--not for 10k only people.

But how? "You can now visit the finisher website to submit your self-recorded finish time"--there was no place to do this.

RD's real-time response was as expected--piecemeal and incomplete. What I expect (here's the former engineer in me talking)--and will never see--is a reasoned "after action" message to all runners with: an apology, an explanation/description of what they'll do in the future, detailed instructions on how to submit a useable time for future PoT. Why is is too much to expect them to contact people now that the dust has settled? It isn't, but they apparently feel like they've done all that they need.

I say this as someone who is not broken up about not getting my time, who isn't looking for compensation, and who knows what major race logistics look like. But I expect respect and more than a cursory acknowledgement that they dropped the ball.

ETA: I'll shut up now. I don't need to grind my teeth over any of this anymore)

They had the tables set up next to gear check on Saturday and Sunday too for any runner. I only ran the half and got a new tag before the race. It literally took 20 seconds. But still, that is RD dropping the communication ball - they could have had the CM on the portable microphone that directs runners into the reunion area telling runners about it, they could have had the DJ make announcements every few minutes, they could have sent out emails multiple times. They could have had Carissa and John make announcements. But they did none of it. I'm pretty sure that it was Track Shack the screwed up the bib tags - but regardless, it was handled poorly.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I love how you turned a massive screw up by RD into somehow the runner’s responsibility to “reframe” this. I think all anyone wants is for RD to actually acknowledge and address this problem so that we have confidence that it will not occur again. We as consumers bought a product that was not delivered as represented. The worst part is that nobody knows what actually happened because RD moved on without a single mea culpa. I don’t think anyone wants a refund over this, but if someone got a POT during the 10k that they worked very hard for, what would it cost RD to recognize it?They’re apparently handing out corral placements to influencers, so why not the people who otherwise would have earned it except for RD’s incompetence?

I had a toxic manager do this type of thing to me. He wouldn’t give me complete instructions on projects and then said I needed to get better at anticipating what he wanted me to do even if he didn’t communicate it. Say what? I don’t have a crystal ball sir!

 

[Psymonds]

They shortened the Half Marathon to a little over 7 miles in 2024 because of a weather scare and didn’t provide any type of compensation. They also completely cut MK out of the course (the only good thing about the HM course to begin with). It was pretty much just run your 7 miles on the highways and pretend you ran a Half Marathon at Disney.

When they didn’t provide any compensation for that I pretty much gave up the idea that they’d ever provide refunds/compensation for anything outside of a completely cancelled race. On the day, I gave them credit for attempting to turn lemons into lemonade; but looking back I’m sure that their motives were much more tilted towards “what’s the bare minimum we can do and not give refunds?” over “what’s the best we can do for these runners tomorrow?”

ETA: As for the chip situation directly, I think it speaks more to an unsettling creep of incompetence into the rD setup rather than the those involved not caring. I thought they did a decent job of trying to correct the chip situation for those who cared enough about it to take time out of their trip because they needed it fixed. It is, of course, unfortunate and frustrating (at minimum) that such an inconvenience was required. I’m more worried that the business aspect of rD may mean their operation is spread too thin in a way that could make mistakes like this more commonplace moving forward.

I've had a similar experience with a non-disney race.

Course was shortened (because a drunk driver hit a light pole and closed one of the streets overnight) and race director basically said (over the loudspeaker) we can't refund anybody, the money's all spent, your choice is to run 10 miles and get your half medal or go home.

I talked to someone I knew at the city later and they said we were luck to have a race at all, it took waking up the city traffic engineer at 2 am to get a new permit with different traffic closures to re-run the race shorter.

edit to say: This removal took about 90% of the hill out of the course, but also took all the views away, and 10 years later the race no longer exists, (lasted about 12 years from first to last run, only ran a half 6 of the 12 times)

 

[Barca33Runner]

I ask this in all seriousness. What compensation do you feel is due for a situation like the bib chip malfunction? Runners got to run the course promised, received their medals whether their bib tracked or not, had the on-course entertainment experience that the vast majority of runners run a Disney race for and have the option of having their results added if they submit their own tracking. Where exactly have runners suffered a tangible loss in this situation?

Didn’t feel there was compensation necessary in this situation. As I explained in my edit, I thought they did about as well as they could in the aftermath to remedy the situation. It was unfortunate that it happened. My primary concern is that the business considerations of rD, in this case no longer checking timing chips at bib pickup (or, seemingly, having anyone check them at any point at all), could be a negative moving forward.

I was using the example to illustrate that rD has had past situations where, in my opinion, the product delivered differed from the product promised in a much more meaningful way and still did not feel compensation was merited. It was an acknowledgment that rD appear to have adopted a very “move along, nothing to see here” policy about anything that goes wrong during their race weekends.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I've had a similar experience with a non-disney race.

Course was shortened (because a drunk driver hit a light pole and closed one of the streets overnight) and race director basically said (over the loudspeaker) we can't refund anybody, the money's all spent, your choice is to run 10 miles and get your half medal or go home.

I talked to someone I knew at the city later and they said we were luck to have a race at all, it took waking up the city traffic engineer at 2 am to get a new permit with different traffic closures to re-run the race shorter.

I would hope the money’s not all spent with Disney. Early 2024 was right in the zone where they’d had several quarters of catastrophic losses from Disney+ though, so maybe every penny counted?

In all seriousness, I can imagine that happening and, probably, being much more willing to forgive it at a local level. Although I’m really not mad at rD with the way they handled the 2024 MW Half, I think it would have been quite magnanimous, with little drawback, to refund something in the range of $50-$75 (about half the registration) in the form of a Disney gift card. Money would still have been spent on property and could even spur further purchases. I’m actually guessing it didn’t happen more because of the work it would have required over the actual expenditure.

 

[Kelkee]

Not really looking for compensation. We weren't denied anything of actual value. We completed all the challenges and rewarded with medals and the comradery of being around all the other racers during the week at WDW.

I do agree with @jmasgat . I'm expecting transparency about what actually happened and pro-active communication to consumers of their product about what steps were taken and how this is going to be avoided going forward.

 

[Zutroy]

My point is how long do you want to be mad about it? What is your timeframe? How many days? Do you plan to wake up on 3/1/2025 and the disappointment to have washed away?

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

“What we have here is a failure to communicate.”