Marathon Weekend 2027

[fatmanatee]

For those not looking at the W&D thread, we likely have a change coming to the 5k, now starting at 4:30 am with a listed 4:30-7:30 start window to accommodate however many extra participants they plan on having. 10k and half still start at 5:00.

 

[The Expert]

For those not looking at the W&D thread, we likely have a change coming to the 5k, now starting at 4:30 am with a listed 4:30-7:30 start window to accommodate however many extra participants they plan on having. 10k and half still start at 5:00.

This is really going to complicate my spreadsheet!

 

[smrt1]

Had the best time running the marathon yesterday, like best rD race I’ve ever done! The heat got to me though and when you couple that with the winter training involved, I’ve definitely decided to switch to the half next year. I have a B POT for the HM, vs C for Marathon, so exited about that! Even got DH excited to return to rD. Can’t wait!!!

How do you know what corral your proof of time will put you in? Does rD make this info available?

 

[fatmanatee]

How do you know what corral your proof of time will put you in? Does rD make this info available?

They don't. Our best available information is here:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/pot-proof-of-time-race-equivalency-cutoff-confirmed-times.3699036/

 

[Psymonds]

Does anyone have an assumption on when the POT submission will be? I won't have a qualifying marathon time but I am threshold on my 10k times and am considering registering for 1 or 2 10k's to try to get a qualifying time.

 

[camaker]

For those not looking at the W&D thread, we likely have a change coming to the 5k, now starting at 4:30 am with a listed 4:30-7:30 start window to accommodate however many extra participants they plan on having. 10k and half still start at 5:00.

I really hope they plan to move the resort return bus location, then. If you're in an earlier corral you can already end up waiting an extended time for the course to clear of starters before you can head back. This year, I don't think the buses started back up until ~6:45-6:50 with a normal, continuous release starting at 5:00. Move the start earlier and extend the release time and you could have finishers waiting for 3+ hours in the parking lot!

 

[fatmanatee]

Does anyone have an assumption on when the POT submission will be? I won't have a qualifying marathon time but I am threshold on my 10k times and am considering registering for 1 or 2 10k's to try to get a qualifying time.

If they roll it forward it’ll be 1/1/2024-7/1/2026. Wouldn’t be surprised if they extend the deadline a month or two.

 

[nancipants]

I really hope they plan to move the resort return bus location, then. If you're in an earlier corral you can already end up waiting an extended time for the course to clear of starters before you can head back. This year, I don't think the buses started back up until ~6:45-6:50 with a normal, continuous release starting at 5:00. Move the start earlier and extend the release time and you could have finishers waiting for 3+ hours in the parking lot!

I wonder if they will really STAGGER the start times - as in, stop releasing runners between "start group" so the busses can get out from the usual spot.

I like the idea of having a longer start period, but there are so many issues with runDisney that make this a disaster waiting to happen. How do they stop people from arriving later? From arriving earlier? Not all dropping back so they can sleep later? Not taking too long on the course and gumming up all the character wait times for the later starts?

A solution would be to ADD characters, but, hahaha.

 

[Psymonds]

If they roll it forward it’ll be 1/1/2024-7/1/2026. Wouldn’t be surprised if they extend the deadline a month or two.

if they did that, I'm training for a sub 5 marathon time in late July.

Does anyone have an assumption on when the POT submission will be? I won't have a qualifying marathon time but I am threshold on my 10k times and am considering registering for 1 or 2 10k's to try to get a qualifying time.

I realized I said 10k when I meant 10 miler for the Marathon.

ETA, I realized that my training plan calls for a Half Marathon race in May, so... I'll just do that. My halloween half Time misses POT by 30 seconds, I can definitely do better by may.

 

[camaker]

I wonder if they will really STAGGER the start times - as in, stop releasing runners between "start group" so the busses can get out from the usual spot.

The way the field thins out quickly between the runners, walkers and run/walkers, I don’t think this could be done feasibly and safely. I think that road will need to either be closed for runners or open for buses continually, not flipping back and forth.

 

[accm]

I posted in the Wine and Dine thread, but my guess is that they'll use the Epcot bus loop to get athletes back to their resort. But I also think it's going to be a complete disaster, like anything else runDisney does for the first time.

I'm really curious how many more bibs they're making available for the 5k. The start is going to take almost 3x as long. Hopefully it's not that many extra athletes...

 

[The Expert]

I posted in the Wine and Dine thread, but my guess is that they'll use the Epcot bus loop to get athletes back to their resort. But I also think it's going to be a complete disaster, like anything else runDisney does for the first time.

They did this for a race in the last few years and the extra walk was not popular. I can't recall which race or why, though.

 

[accm]

They did this for a race in the last few years and the extra walk was not popular. I can't recall which race or why, though.

Oh, the extra walk will definitely not be popular. But if the choices are waiting until 8am or walking, I'm guessing most people are walking...

I had to walk to the monorail after the half of a half in 2024 since I was told the buses weren't starting to run for another half an hour. It was not super fun.

 

[The Expert]

Oh, the extra walk will definitely not be popular. But if the choices are waiting until 8am or walking, I'm guessing most people are walking...

I had to walk to the monorail after the half of a half in 2024 since I was told the buses weren't starting to run for another half an hour. It was not super fun.

I waited almost an hour for a bus after the 5K at MW and was annoyed. I'm not even that fast, though I do start out of B thanks to the club. I'd definitely take the walk over the wait.

 

[StarGirl11]

Yeah I don’t like either option to be honest. But would prefer the wait just so I don’t have to drag my handcycle all the way back. This is part of the reason I stay on property so I don’t have to do extra lugging after the races. But I know our preferences are like the lowest bars of what Disney considers so I’ll get stuck with whatever it is.

 

[MissLiss279]

It does say arrival times will vary based on start times.

Just a crazy thought…
Do you think that they would have a set of runners with normal corrals released from 4:30 to 5:30, have an hour break to clear the course somewhat, and then release a new set of corrals from 6:30 to 7:30 ???

 

[StarGirl11]

It does say arrival times will vary based on start times.

Just a crazy thought…
Do you think that they would have a set of runners with normal corrals released from 4:30 to 5:30, have an hour break to clear the course somewhat, and then release a new set of corrals from 6:30 to 7:30 ???

Saw someone suggest that don’t think it’s an impossibility. Just because they technically don’t sweep doesn’t mean they won’t do other things to encourage people to get through the course. Closing character lines and redirecting runners are tactics I’ve seen both during the 5k. Since not timed doesn’t mean unlimited.

 

[StarGirl11]

Also they really should be considering a day to the expo. Since Wednesday is already a mess as it is. If they’re going to add a lot of registrations but we will see if that happens.

 

[MissLiss279]

Also they really should be considering a day to the expo. Since Wednesday is already a mess as it is. If they’re going to add a lot of registrations but we will see if that happens.

You’re right, the expo could get even crazier.

 

[Psymonds]

Oh, the extra walk will definitely not be popular. But if the choices are waiting until 8am or walking, I'm guessing most people are walking...

I had to walk to the monorail after the half of a half in 2024 since I was told the buses weren't starting to run for another half an hour. It was not super fun.

since the start only crosses woodpecker in one spot, right after the start I presume they could put a start wave gap of 5-10 minutes every so often and just run busses across there.

or they could switch the start and reunion areas, which would also not mean more walking.