Official 2016 Star Wars Half Marthon - The Dark Side Weekend

[Z-Knight]

Is this possible? I have never done a morning race at Disney.

So, I am doing the half. It starts at 5:00. At W&D my corral went off about 15 minutes after official start. So, I give worse case scenario, 5:30 I go off. ?

BTW, the actual race starts at 5:30 am, so if you want to pad that then you'd be starting at 6:00 am

 

[opusone]

BTW, the actual race starts at 5:30 am, so if you want to pad that then you'd be starting at 6:00 am

According to the website, the half marathon starts at 5:00am, not 5:30am. For the 10k the day before, there is a 5:30am start.

 

[Z-Knight]

hmm...that's different then all other races, I think. So that's a surprise - maybe that's the way it is for Disney World.

 

[kmchisholm]

It could be the half will be larger and they need to get people moved along. Even though we'll finish at WWOS, they'll still want to have roads opened by parks opening at 9am.

 

[pxefig]

Maybe since it's April they are getting the race started earlier so it won't be so warm.

 

[PrincessV]

hmm...that's different then all other races, I think. So that's a surprise - maybe that's the way it is for Disney World.

Mid-April is basically summer down here: the sun is intense and it will be HOT very quickly. A 5am start will help with that some. Winter races start later at WDW, typically 5:30am.

 

[ExportedMolson]

Mid-April is basically summer down here: the sun is intense and it will be HOT very quickly. A 5am start will help with that some. Winter races start later at WDW, typically 5:30am.

Gotcha, so what I hear form you is we should try and finish the race before the sun rises.

 

[opusone]

Gotcha, so what I hear form you is we should try and finish the race before the sun rises.

Sunrise in Orlando on 4/17/16 will be at 6:58am, so I guess I now have my time goal... hmmm, if I only knew which corral I was going to be in, this would be an easier calculation.

 

[AThrillingChase]

Mid-April is basically summer down here: the sun is intense and it will be HOT very quickly. A 5am start will help with that some. Winter races start later at WDW, typically 5:30am.

Gotcha, so what I hear form you is we should try and finish the race before the sun rises.

@PrincessV do you have an idea of when the sun rises in FL that time of year? I honestly can't remember - but I haven't been for a race weekend around then either! I got drilled by sun around mile 8 at PHM this year and it was horrible. By the end of the race I think it was already 75+ out and that was only at 8am!

I have marathon weekend half and the wine and dine half - thinking my marathon weekend half will be the best race for POT for the challenge!

 

[opusone]

do you have an idea of when the sun rises in FL that time of year?

Sunrise in Orlando on 4/17/16 will be at 6:58am

 

[bcarey2k]

Sunrise in Orlando on 4/17/16 will be at 6:58am

With a couple of degree 'feels like' drop, followed by the heat/humidity motivation!

-Brian

 

[PrincessV]

Gotcha, so what I hear form you is we should try and finish the race before the sun rises.

I'm nowhere near that fast, but if you can - sure, lol!

By the end of the race I think it was already 75+ out and that was only at 8am!

I ran a local half in late March last year that started at 7am-ish: the first hour or so was okay by my Floridian standards, but once the sun was really up it was uncomfortably hot - 80ish for sure. I'd have been fine at an easy pace, but I was pushing for a time goal. I didn't make it; I started overheating badly by about mile 10. I'm still surprised rD chose to make this a morning race at that time of year, and even more surprised it'll be even later in April in 2017. But figuring a 5am start, it might not be so bad.[/user]

 

[Keels]

Mid-April is basically summer down here: the sun is intense and it will be HOT very quickly. A 5am start will help with that some. Winter races start later at WDW, typically 5:30am.

Yeah, growing up here in Orlando I can tell you that "summer" pretty much exists from Spring Break/Easter until Thanksgiving. We have three seasons - Spring, Summer and Hurricane.

 

[AThrillingChase]

I'm still surprised rD chose to make this a morning race at that time of year, and even more surprised it'll be even later in April in 2017.

Not to bring this up again, but yes. It should have been a night race!!! I am thinking I will do either the 10k or half at a leisurely pace and race the other. I just haven't decided which one yet. I have never run a disney 10k before so maybe you guys can help me here. I really want to take my time and take photos and have fun on one of them, which one will have the best entertainment do you think?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Am I the only one who thinks that Disney is leaving money on the table by not having a line of REAL SW RUNNING CLOTHES/GEAR?? Wick away shirts, real running shorts, etc? I don't want to run in a costume or uncomfortable stuff, but would love SW themed gear. Grrr...

Or is it out there and I'm just missing it??

 

[DarkSideRunner]

Am I the only one who thinks that Disney is leaving money on the table by not having a line of REAL SW RUNNING CLOTHES/GEAR?? Wick away shirts, real running shorts, etc? I don't want to run in a costume or uncomfortable stuff, but would love SW themed gear. Grrr...

Or is it out there and I'm just missing it??

I haven't seen anything but I'd be on board. While I applaud the effort of those who show up in costume, I just can't do it - running a half marathon is hard enough as it is, can't imagine doing it in a full-on Chewbacca costume.

Which, by the way, someone did at the Star Wars Half in Anaheim back in January:

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I haven't seen anything but I'd be on board. While I applaud the effort of those who show up in costume, I just can't do it - running a half marathon is hard enough as it is, can't imagine doing it in a full-on Chewbacca costume.

Which, by the way, someone did at the Star Wars Half in Anaheim back in January:

That's exactly how I feel -- I just can't do it in costume, but I'd love something themed that I had a chance to do at least some of my training in. Fingers crossed, I guess!!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Raw Threads had some decent options that are good running clothes. Sparkle Skirts has some embellishments that work too.

 

[ruley3]

Cannot sleep so been having fun planning. I have two different ressies held ... One at POR and other at Swan...... Not sure which one I want yet and will keep fingers crossed for AP rates but I didn't wanna not have options..... SW opens up this week for our flight dates!!!! I am only doing the 5k and I will be running it solo....

 

[acbshada]

SW opens up this week for our flight dates!!!! I am only doing the 5k and I will be running it solo....

I've been waiting for SW to open up the dates, too. I'm excited about that! It's been on the calendar for a while for us, too. Good luck getting the flight times you'd like, and good luck with the 5k!

I'd be up for SW themed running gear, too. I cannot even begin to imagine how that person managed to run a 1/2 marathon in a Chewie costume. That's just...insane. Awesome. But insane.

I've been trying to come up with creative "inspired by" costume ideas - so not full-blown costuming, but something that just makes me feel SW-geeky. Having a hard time coming up with stuff. Anyone else brainstorming an inspired-by outfit?