New to the half--how long before you're back at hotel?

[jennypenny]

I'm traveling down by myself, and I plan on flying home Sunday afternoon. If I run the princess in 2 1/2-3 hours, how long will it take me to get back to my hotel? I want to make sure I have time to shower before checkout at 11am. My flight's not until 3, it's just the check out time that has me concerned.

This will be my first half marathon. (I've run the distance twice so far in training, but never in a race) I apologize now for all of the stupid questions I'll ask over the next six weeks.

 

[jmasgat]

I would ask for late checkout. The race starts at 5:45, but if you are in a later corral--which based on your expected time, you probably would be), then you wouldn't start til maybe 6 or a little after. Assuming you finished the race by 9, then you would need to make it through the finish area, recover for a bit (with food/drink), claim your bag from bag check and then find your transportation back to your hotel. This could take 30 minutes or so. If you are staying onsite at one of the designated resorts, this would be a bus. It could take anywhere from 30-60 min from the time you go find the right bus, wait for it, travel back to the hotel (and others depending on how they run them). If you're not at a host hotel, then you would drive or taxi.

It would be close time-wise. Even an extra hour checkout would be good.

Maura

 

[Disfan11]

Jenny,
No question is stupid!
I'm asking a lot now that we are getting closer.
See you at the race!
Disfan11

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I agree with others...no matter if you are driving to/from the parks or taking the bus, you will need late check-out. But, if possible, I would really recommend that you not leave the same day. That you wait until the following day to recuperate. I made that mistake when I did the Princess Half last year and it was painful. But, I waited a couple days before we departed from the DL half and it was so much better!

 

[joan4mickey]

I would say the big time variable is if you have a rental car or are using disney transportation. The first year I had a rental and ran the race in 2:28 from corral B and the start was around 7 as it was also the first day of day-light saving time. I made it back to shower and check out by 11am maybe a few minutes over. I also flew out that day. I think my girls (they ran too) flew out around 2pm and I went out around 3. We had a rental car, but if You are using Disney transportation it will take longer.

 

[deleckidesign]

I agree with others...no matter if you are driving to/from the parks or taking the bus, you will need late check-out. But, if possible, I would really recommend that you not leave the same day. That you wait until the following day to recuperate. I made that mistake when I did the Princess Half last year and it was painful. But, I waited a couple days before we departed from the DL half and it was so much better!

I agree with Rupert here. If you can wait a day to leave, I would. I made the 5-hour car trip back to Michigan from a race in Indiana last year RIGHT after the race. The pain that night and the next day from just sitting the rest of the day was not conducive to a fast recovery!

 

[KristinU]

If you do leave the same day, don't feel stupid standing up and stretching whenever possible. My friends and I did the Philly RnR in September and two of us drove back home to CT right after the race (well, a few hours...after we had our real-deal cheesesteak sandwiches from Pat's!) Anyway, we stopped at a rest stop and found a grassy area there to do some stretching mid way on our drive, and I stretched again when I got home. It helped SO much. We were back in the office the next day with no residual pain or tightness. Who cares what the other passengers think - wear your medal and let them know!

FWIW, I'm leaving the same day as the princess to drive back home to CT and plan to do the stop and stretch every few hours routine. We'll also stay overnight somewhere so I'll probably bring my foam roller and yoga mat along.

 

[jennypenny]

I have to come back on Sunday--my DH needs to leave early Monday for work. I'm not looking forward to flying right back. I do fine during my long runs, but my GI track works overtime the whole rest of the day. Should make for a fun flight.