Official 2016 Star Wars Half Marthon - The Dark Side Weekend

[bcarey2k]

I agree with what others above have said. A higher corral placement would help with cushion, and it might mean no photos, but all Disney requires is that 16 min mile. Maybe worth trying to see what pace you guys can walk at together at this point, and work from there??

If ya rock a 10K for corral placement, just stay to the right as ya go. I learned that folks aren't angry, but fast(er) goes to your left.

I run a 10:30/11 min mile and I always try to leave my left open for the folks who are at a higher pace .... And during my first Disney run I averaged a 17/mile .... I was stressed and in the way of others. I didn't get swept (and I was in the last corral) ...

Bottom line - have fun and enjoy!!

 

[MomtoGKC]

Here, I can make the newer runners feel good:

Miles run in Jan: 32.1
Average Pace: 10:56

That does include a 10K where I walked a bunch with a friend, but I was happy just to run more than 30 miles! I figured this week I will start to train a little bit more seriously, but I admit I am terrible at training and never get near what they tell me to do on the plans. I do try to stick to the long runs but my weekday runs are very sporadic! By the time of the race I'll usually be closer to a 10min pace. This year I'm going with a first timer so who knows what will happen!

 

[BriarRose59]

Ok. Here's mine for the really beginning runners:

Miles run/walked in Jan: 45.1
Average pace: 15.42

Get out there!

 

[durantigger]

Pokie puppy here to help others feel faster! I've been doing run walk 1:2 ratio.

Total miles: 48.24
Total time: 12:35:13
Average pace: 15:40

And that includes the Star Wars Half. I am slow, but I did it! No one should feel discouraged, just proud of you doing the best you can. I will never be a birdlike runner, but I am soooooo proud of me and how far I've come!!!

 

[acbshada]

Valuable and awesome advice and words from everyone here. Thank you for that!

I think we'll take that idea of seeing what our walking pace is and working from that point on. I can always snap photos along the way and not stand in line or anything. Figured I'd be too slow to spend much time in line anyway, honestly.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Valuable and awesome advice and words from everyone here. Thank you for that!

I think we'll take that idea of seeing what our walking pace is and working from that point on. I can always snap photos along the way and not stand in line or anything. Figured I'd be too slow to spend much time in line anyway, honestly.

Excellent!! Glad to hear you'll give that a shot -- keep us posted!

My sister and I have done (I think) 4 rD half's so far, and we don't stop for pics with characters. We are NOT fast, and just don't want to worry about cutting things too close with long lines. That said, we DO stop and take selfies here and there, or for the few photographers stationed strategically (in front of the castle, in front of Mickey's Fun Wheel, etc.). I stopped to take a short video of BB-8 as he was in between meeting other runners -- too cute!

We always end up with plenty of pics between that and MarathonPhoto, and really just focus on spending the time together and having fun.

 

[EpcotIsMyFave]

Can I just say how amazing you all are? I'm just starting this running thing (since September) and am really inspired by all of you!

Wondering about the Kids Races (the 1 mile in particular): I really can't find much information about them, such as are there characters around, how are the kids grouped, where do we watch, etc? My two kiddos will be running the 1 miler and I'm just trying to get a feel for the day!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Valuable and awesome advice and words from everyone here. Thank you for that!

I think we'll take that idea of seeing what our walking pace is and working from that point on. I can always snap photos along the way and not stand in line or anything. Figured I'd be too slow to spend much time in line anyway, honestly.

My husband is a 'walking is as good as its gonna get' 5Ker- on the 5Ks we've done the agreement that works for us is if I want to take any pics (never been one to wait in a character line) but I like taking pics when they are between runners, or something that looks cool etc that he keeps moving forward and I catch up- it works well as it gives me my 'run' time and yet we 'stay together' the whole race-

 

[Nole95]

Can I just say how amazing you all are? I'm just starting this running thing (since September) and am really inspired by all of you!

Wondering about the Kids Races (the 1 mile in particular): I really can't find much information about them, such as are there characters around, how are the kids grouped, where do we watch, etc? My two kiddos will be running the 1 miler and I'm just trying to get a feel for the day!

Pretty easy to watch the mile race. At marathon weekend in 2015, all the kids were in one big corral, and all started at the same time. They finished on the track. In looking at the mile map for marathon weekend from this past year, it looks like they changed up the course so that they finished closer to the start line. It would certainly make things easier to see them at both locations.

I do not recall there being any characters, but they did have backdrops to take pictures of the kids after the race.

If you do not run with them, the kids are kept in a central area after the race until you pick them up. I think the kids had a wristband that had to match up with one the parents had.

 

[camaker]

Good news! My wife has been trying to get motivated to be healthier and decided having a 5k to work towards might get her motivated a bit more. So we found a couple of SWDS 5k bibs with a TA so I can walk it with her before ramping up for the DSC.

 

[BDK33]

My wife and I have done a few Run Disney races (Frozen 5k, Jingle Jungle 5k, and WDWMW 10k). We only really stopped to take our own pictures and selfies. How long does the waiting in line with the characters take? It always looks like 30 plus people are in line which I feel would take forever! Like everyone else I'm sure, id love to wait for BB8 but don't know if that's realistic... Thoughts?

 

[acbshada]

How long does the waiting in line with the characters take?

Actually, I've been wondering this myself. So if someone has insight, I'd be curious to hear it.

Btw - the walking went well. Slow, but well. But the 19:30 min/mile pace we had doesn't really match up to the 16:00 min requirement. Some days are good and some days are bad for the DH and running. So I'll cross my fingers for a good day because if we do walk/run intervals, we'll definitely be okay with the requirement pace.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Just one report, but someone I met briefly at SW Light Side said they waited almost 45min for BB-8. My sense is that this is longer than for characters generally. I mean, it's BB-8!! During one of the races, I also heard a CM working at the BB-8 line tell someone who stopped to try to get in line that they were cutting off the line for now because it was anticipated to be too long. Not sure how common an experience that is.

 

[flvy]

I was listening to a podcast where they had people reporting on this race and the wait for BB-8 was very very long, and to a slightly lesser extent the same went for R2-D2 and C3PO. Basically if you're a slower runner you're going to have some issues getting a pic with a droid and keeping pace. Which means no Droids for me.

 

[acbshada]

Those wait times are just...wow. I think I'm in the same camp as @flvy. Even if we were run/walking according to plan, I couldn't accomodate that.

Just have to save those droid pictures for the next Star Wars Celebration convention.

 

[BDK33]

It's too bad for high demand characters like BB8 that they dont put them at the finish line somewhere... That way you can get a picture with him and still run the race w/o worrying about time. I mean we pay so much money for the race you would think an accommodation like that would be so minor...

 

[faneuil]

I'm just gonna go over to the Studios after the race and get my pic with Kylo.

Really wish they'd do a party for us, or have meet and greets at WWoS post-race, but I don't see it happening.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It's too bad for high demand characters like BB8 that they dont put them at the finish line somewhere... That way you can get a picture with him and still run the race w/o worrying about time. I mean we pay so much money for the race you would think an accommodation like that would be so minor...

As much as I'd like that pic, I think the lines for that would be INSANE with so many people running!

 

[faneuil]

Those wait times are just...wow. I think I'm in the same camp as @flvy. Even if we were run/walking according to plan, I couldn't accomodate that.

Just have to save those droid pictures for the next Star Wars Celebration convention.

No one laugh at me for having high hopes, but maybe they learned from the Light Side race and they'll change things up for the Dark Side to help ease those waits during the race?

Yeah. Go ahead. Laugh. I am.

 

[acbshada]

Really wish they'd do a party for us, or have meet and greets at WWoS post-race, but I don't see it happening.

I totally agree with you on this. I'd love to at least have a party on the schedule, but so far, nothing. :\