Navigating the crowd

[lindybug]

Any tips on navigating through the THOUSANDS of other runners/walkers during marathon weekend? I remember this being frustrating when I ran back in 2008.

 

[FireDancer]

Are you fast enough to move up to a faster corral? I found that if you start in the corral that is appropriate for you pace you are going more with the crowd than through the crowd.

 

[BrianD]

That, and try to be patient. Unfortunately, you will still come up on a group of walkers four across, but at least you go in expecting some of that.

 

[cewait]

I find that even if I am in with my pace I am still doing a lot of zigging and zagging around slower folks.

Patience is crucial. Don't burn too much energy trying to pass everyone.

Adjust pace down a bit for a couple miles

Understand that regardless of where you start there is a high likelihood of slow downs at mile 3.4 and between miles 5 and 6.

Shhhh! I find that if you run about 2 people width inside the edge of the roadway you are in a fast lane. I cannot explain it. At the outter edge are the folks who are really slow either due to a walk break or figering how to sneak up a bit a the start. Just inside if the strip are folks trying to zig and zag. Do the Disney thing and stay left side.

Also, it can be a bit risky but I have not had an issue since I started this in 06, there is a smooth lane to run in just off the pavement. You do not want to be # 1 in the pace line as you want to watch the hips of the runner just in front of you. If their hips fall, you know you do not want to step into the same spot they just did. You can pass lots of folks quickly without having to zoom, zig and zag.

Brian I am not slamming you - but really it's groups of runners and/or walkers 4 across. Doesn't matter if they are a group of runners at a 12 min pace and you are at a 10, they are still a road block. Stay two abreast please!

 

[solotraveler]

Great advice so far but I would add one other thing:

-- Just like in driving, when you change lanes, check your blind spot. In other words, when you pass someone, make sure to look behind you to insure there isn't faster "traffic" moving up behind you.

 

[Duanerice]

Heck, I just tuck in behind Charles. He creates a gap and I go through. Kind of like a blocker in football but he stays in front

Last year I was frustrated in the half but the full was fine. Yes there are thousands of people but that is what makes it such a fun race.

Try to start in the right corral and like others said do not spend too much energy passing people. It is so easy to take that burst of speed to get around a few folks. You'll pay for it in the end though.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[scoolover]

Ride the wave for the first 25 miles. You will have plenty of room to maneuver when you get to Epcot.

Seriously though, if you can submit a good proof of time and move up to a closer corral, you will be in good shape. Unfortunately, running with 20,000 people does not usually make for fast times for normal people.

 

[cewait]

Heck, I just tuck in behind Charles. He creates a gap and I go through. Kind of like a blocker in football but he stays in front

Last year I was frustrated in the half but the full was fine. Yes there are thousands of people but that is what makes it such a fun race.

Try to start in the right corral and like others said do not spend too much energy passing people. It is so easy to take that burst of speed to get around a few folks. You'll pay for it in the end though.

enjoy,
Duane

Could the full satisfaction have come from being 20 seconds behind the line? Dang that was a sweet run. Sorry we both issued out on what turned out to be a great day.

I thought the half start was decent, well given the small little hill at the start and the wall of walkers who managed to sneak into A-1 that we had to bob and weave through. Well, then there is the pit stop in the trees at mile one forcing us to head back through that wall of walkers; sorry my bad. But I thought once on World Dr things smoothed out. Thinking I now seem to recall a moving wall of folks we had to zig around as we approached the toll booths at MK Parking – they were stopping to pay tolls – what was up with that. Then in the parking I seem to recall you wanted country and I wanted rock and roll. Oh wait, then there was Barney Fife’s third cousin’s nephew’s brother’s sister’s dad reaching for the bullet in his shirt pocket as he forced us off the sidewalk under Seven Seas Lagoon into the stalling crowd– hmmm didn’t see us hop back up.

Oh wait maybe it was the effort you use to pull me away from the crowd on Main as I attempted to wake the living dead-----why be out there if you are not going to cheer??? I get it that I am not wearing purple but please. Then just as we started to rationalize that the camera hogs would not be in front of the castle last year we had to stop as everyone brushed their teeth and combed their hair for a photo. Then I had to keep you away from Jack Sparrow as we left the MK. Other than that I don’t recall many issues…. oh wait the stretch after mile six where we had to bob and weave folks starting to save energy for the strong finish.

I really don’t remember much of a crowd last year on the half.