Official 2016 5th Anniversary Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend!

[Ariel484]

I choose to think of the Dopey medal as understated and classic.

#positivepoly

 

[Wink25]

Just keep training and keeping up your maintenance runs during the week with maybe an 8 to 10 miler the weekend after Dark side, then taper. Back to backs are easier than you'd think. Just have to train for it or just don't stop training. The month of December I have a half every weekend except the day after Christmas. Then have a Double Double. New Years Eve and New Years Day. A double is 2 halves or fulls in a single weekend. A double double is 2 races both days one of the races being a half or full. Since I did Dopey 2015, this is my new challenge. New Years Eve is a 5K, finish, 10 minute break, start a Half. Repeat the next day. Awesome bling.

.

Wow! Good luck with all your races! And thanks for the advice.

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

I choose to think of the Dopey medal as understated and classic.

#positivepoly

When a local 5K has a better participant medal than Dopey it really irks me. How can it be "classic" this is only the 3rd year. lol.

 

[Ariel484]

When a local 5K has a better participant medal than Dopey it really irks me. How can it be "classic" this is only the 3rd year. lol.

I mean the design is classic...

...basically trying to see the glass half-full.

 

[flvy]

I can't think about Dopey I'm already having anxiety about registering for the 2018 challenge. I'm considering an AP just for two shots at it if needed.

Though with the medal talk we should be getting a look at our medals soonish right?

 

[Ariel484]

I can't think about Dopey I'm already having anxiety about registering for the 2018 challenge. I'm considering an AP just for two shots at it if needed.

Though with the medal talk we should be getting a look at our medals soonish right?

Maybe they'll release them early like they did the Dark side medals...I definitely think they did that to try to boost registrations for the half marathon, and the Tink half is still open...

 

[Keels]

I can't think about Dopey I'm already having anxiety about registering for the 2018 challenge. I'm considering an AP just for two shots at it if needed.

Though with the medal talk we should be getting a look at our medals soonish right?

TAs are STILL trying to sell Dopey bibs right now, so I wouldn't stress ... wait until March or so of 2017!

 

[flvy]

TAs are STILL trying to sell Dopey bibs right now, so I wouldn't stress ... wait until March or so of 2017!

The 2018 is the anniversary for two of the races and the challenge. I like some kind of anxiety about things it keeps me going hahaha

Maybe they'll release them early like they did the Dark side medals...I definitely think they did that to try to boost registrations for the half marathon, and the Tink half is still open...

That's what I'm hoping for!

The challenges sell out so quickly. I wish, and I'm sure they do too (for the $$) that there was a way to add more slots. Though I'm fairy sure there are still some open through TAs because I just stopped obsessing about them last week.

 

[Ariel484]

That's what I'm hoping for!

The challenges sell out so quickly. I wish, and I'm sure they do too (for the $$) that there was a way to add more slots. Though I'm fairy sure there are still some open through TAs because I just stopped obsessing about them last week.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I am okay with them keeping the challenge numbers down. That way there are more 10K-only spots (since the 10K distance seems to be very popular for runDisney), and it makes the challenges a little more special.

^^this may come back to bite me in the butt if I can't get into Dopey in 2018...

 

[SarahDisney]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I am okay with them keeping the challenge numbers down. That way there are more 10K-only spots (since the 10K distance seems to be very popular for runDisney), and it makes the challenges a little more special.

So ... I have to agree with this just because I can't do the challenges. It frustrates me to no end that I'm at disadvantage at registration because more than half of the bibs for this race are given to people doing a challenge that I can't do. To me, adding challenge bibs at the expense of individual race bibs feels like they're saying that if you can't do all the races, you shouldn't do any of them, and that's not cool.

 

[Ariel484]

So ... I have to agree with this just because I can't do the challenges. It frustrates me to no end that I'm at disadvantage at registration because more than half of the bibs for this race are given to people doing a challenge that I can't do. To me, adding challenge bibs at the expense of individual race bibs feels like they're saying that if you can't do all the races, you shouldn't do any of them, and that's not cool.

I sort of agree with you, and I think it's crappy. I thought it was so great when they added the 10K distance (because the jump from 5K to half marathon is pretty big...even the jump from 5K to 10 milers - when ToT was still going on - is big), but it doesn't do people who want to make that transition any good if there aren't any bibs available because so many of the spots went to challenge runners.

 

[flvy]

So ... I have to agree with this just because I can't do the challenges. It frustrates me to no end that I'm at disadvantage at registration because more than half of the bibs for this race are given to people doing a challenge that I can't do. To me, adding challenge bibs at the expense of individual race bibs feels like they're saying that if you can't do all the races, you shouldn't do any of them, and that's not cool.

I never actually saw it from that point of view before. There seems to be a huge feeling of challenge or bust with rD. I feel that way only doing the half for this race. Granted it's because I signed up late, but I already had a few people in my life that know about Disney races bug me and ask why I wasn't doing the challenge.

I know there is so much red tape and weather issues (as in summer being a no go) but I'd love to see runDisney try to expand to a few more 10k races and even some 10milers (rip ToT 10 miler). This is something they should be realizing when a lot of their half marathons are failing to sell out. Disney is lucky that they have hardcore runners come out, but they also have Disney fans who want to get healthy enough to run a race through the parks and enjoy themselves. A lot of the latter crowd wants that 10 miles or less race with the real hardware that comes with the 10k race. It's something they're going to have to look into when they're done with AK and HS. There is so much that goes into all of that planning though.

 

[Ariel484]

I never actually saw it from that point of view before. There seems to be a huge feeling of challenge or bust with rD. I feel that way only doing the half for this race. Granted it's because I signed up late, but I already had a few people in my life that know about Disney races bug me and ask why I wasn't doing the challenge.

Only in the runDisney community do you see people referring to doing "only" the half marathon, or "only" the marathon. That's just proof right there that runDiseny is all about the challenges!

I know there is so much red tape and weather issues (as in summer being a no go) but I'd love to see runDisney try to expand to a few more 10k races and even some 10milers (rip ToT 10 miler). This is something they should be realizing when a lot of their half marathons are failing to sell out. Disney is lucky that they have hardcore runners come out, but they also have Disney fans who want to get healthy enough to run a race through the parks and enjoy themselves. A lot of the latter crowd wants that 10 miles or less race with the real hardware that comes with the 10k race. It's something they're going to have to look into when they're done with AK and HS. There is so much that goes into all of that planning though.

I definitely think you are onto something with people wanting shorter races with medals made out of...metal at the end. The half marathons not selling out is strange to me - Tink less so (I've thought in the past that maybe they are reaching a saturation point with races in California), but I was sure the Dark Side HM would sell out on the first day...and nope. Still open.

 

[SarahDisney]

I know there is so much red tape and weather issues (as in summer being a no go) but I'd love to see runDisney try to expand to a few more 10k races and even some 10milers (rip ToT 10 miler). This is something they should be realizing when a lot of their half marathons are failing to sell out. Disney is lucky that they have hardcore runners come out, but they also have Disney fans who want to get healthy enough to run a race through the parks and enjoy themselves. A lot of the latter crowd wants that 10 miles or less race with the real hardware that comes with the 10k race. It's something they're going to have to look into when they're done with AK and HS. There is so much that goes into all of that planning though.

I really hope that once all of the HS construction is done, they bring back ToT. I think that a 10K or 10-mile centered weekend would be great. Half marathons are a lot for some people. Maybe they could even do a challenge with a 5K & 10K so that people don't feel left out of the challenge mentality - I know rD doesn't want to give up the challenges and I think that's a challenge that's a lot more achievable for people. But don't make the challenge bibs more than 50% of the bibs - for some people any 2 races in a row is a lot, and even 5K/10K is too much for some people.
And yeah, I kinda wish the 5Ks had metal medals. I know it's more expensive, but ... the Turkey Trot I ran (5 miles) had a metal medal, and it only cost $25!

 

[Ariel484]

Here's an example of challenge bibs taking over a race...

WDW 10K has 13,547 registered runners...and of these 13,547 bibs, 8,127 of them (almost 60%) are Dopey Challenge runners.

 

[SarahDisney]

Here's an example of challenge bibs taking over a race...

WDW 10K has 13,547 registered runners...and of these 13,547 bibs, 8,127 of them (almost 60%) are Dopey Challenge runners.

Yeah ... I'm waiting for the day when runDisney announces that the WDW 10K is a Dopey-only event and doesn't allow separate registration. I'm really nervous that they're heading in that direction, and I'm not happy about it.

 

[flvy]

I definitely think you are onto something with people wanting shorter races with medals made out of...metal at the end. The half marathons not selling out is strange to me - Tink less so (I've thought in the past that maybe they are reaching a saturation point with races in California), but I was sure the Dark Side HM would sell out on the first day...and nope. Still open.

Dark Side is also Boston Marathon weekend. Which will have some impact. The marathon happens that Monday but the 5k race for their medley is that weekend. I don't know how huge of an impact that is, but it will cause one.

I really hope that once all of the HS construction is done, they bring back ToT. I think that a 10K or 10-mile centered weekend would be great. Half marathons are a lot for some people. Maybe they could even do a challenge with a 5K & 10K so that people don't feel left out of the challenge mentality - I know rD doesn't want to give up the challenges and I think that's a challenge that's a lot more achievable for people. But don't make the challenge bibs more than 50% of the bibs - for some people any 2 races in a row is a lot, and even 5K/10K is too much for some people.
And yeah, I kinda wish the 5Ks had metal medals. I know it's more expensive, but ... the Turkey Trot I ran (5 miles) had a metal medal, and it only cost $25!

Their 5k races will cost a lot more with a metal medal. I kinda think the ones they give now are fun.

They'd be really stupid not to bring back ToT 10 miler. But they can do a Halloween themed weekend around that. The ideas are endless. Even expanding on Wine and Dine which would be hard for a night race but it could happen.

Not that I want them taking all my money but they're missing really golden opportunities. They just need to put some work into it, and get the logistics sorted out.

 

[Ariel484]

Dark Side is also Boston Marathon weekend. Which will have some impact. The marathon happens that Monday but the 5k race for their medley is that weekend. I don't know how huge of an impact that is, but it will cause one.

Ah, that's true. Gotta say, if I qualified for Boston* and got into the race, I would go to Boston.


*Will never happen

Their 5k races will cost a lot more with a metal medal. I kinda think the ones they give now are fun.

They'd be really stupid not to bring back ToT 10 miler. But they can do a Halloween themed weekend around that. The ideas are endless. Even expanding on Wine and Dine which would be hard for a night race but it could happen.

Not that I want them taking all my money but they're missing really golden opportunities. They just need to put some work into it, and get the logistics sorted out.

I was pretty disappointed when they announced a second Star Wars race. Like you said, they have so many other things they could choose from to do another race weekend, and they go and repeat a theme that they already have in Disneyland? I was really hoping for a Pixar race weekend for WDW (Monster's Inc 5K, Up! 10K, Toy Store Half Marathon, Incredibles Challenge...something like that). I would have signed up for that.

EDIT: I wasn't surprised that they announced the WDW Star Wars weekend, because it was heavily rumored (with reliable info), but still...I was hoping for something different.

 

[SarahDisney]

EDIT: I wasn't surprised that they announced the WDW Star Wars weekend, because it was heavily rumored (with reliable info), but still...I was hoping for something different.

Yeah, this. Everyone knew it was going to happen, but I was still disappointed that they didn't go for a new theme.

 

[flvy]

Ah, that's true. Gotta say, if I qualified for Boston* and got into the race, I would go to Boston.


*Will never happen

I was pretty disappointed when they announced a second Star Wars race. Like you said, they have so many other things they could choose from to do another race weekend, and they go and repeat a theme that they already have in Disneyland? I was really hoping for a Pixar race weekend for WDW (Monster's Inc 5K, Up! 10K, Toy Store Half Marathon, Incredibles Challenge...something like that). I would have signed up for that.

EDIT: I wasn't surprised that they announced the WDW Star Wars weekend, because it was heavily rumored (with reliable info), but still...I was hoping for something different.

Hahaha I have the same * but I'm in the camp of I'd have to qualify for it to run it.

Star wars was sooooo rumored it was almost a given. I thought they'd do a special c2c for it to which they did. And that's nice. I just feel like there is soooooooo much star wars now. I don't see both races standing the test of time.

I'd love Pixar themed, and the mentioned Halloween, and Christmas but mostly Halloween. An Up! Or Toy Story medal would be amazing. Maybe with Toy Story Land opening they'll give Pixar more love.