Official 2016 Star Wars Half Marthon - The Dark Side Weekend

[WhereInFlorida]

What is not shown here is the 45 minute long wait it would have taken to see him (thus why I took a run by photo)

Do robots have to take breaks every 15 minutes and slow down the line?

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Do robots have to take breaks every 15 minutes and slow down the line?

Didn't seem like it any of the three times I ran by him.

C3P0 has to take breaks though

 

[acbshada]

I do wonder who they'll have out for character stops. I've been reading the Princess Half Marathon thread now and then (just trying to get a better idea of how these events work), and I saw quite a few folks who were kind of disappointed with the characters that were out for some of the races - 5K and 10K, especially. Based on their descriptions, I have to admit I was a little disappointed, too.

I know I'm going to have fun regardless of who or what is on the course, but I'm kind of keeping my fingers crossed for some good characters to see.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I imagine for the Dark Side - they will have the following out: Stormtroopers (a lot of them), Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Seventh Sister, Boba Fett, Jawas and Greedo out at a minimum.

I'm not sure if they are going to have a lot of the Light Side characters out as Disneyland had only Boba Fett & Stormtroopers out at those races there.

I heard they have asked the 501st to be out along the course for the Half. They will have all types of characters out there! (I have photos of the 501st out in my trip report for Jan 2016 Disneyland)

 

[hauntedcity]

I do wonder who they'll have out for character stops. I've been reading the Princess Half Marathon thread now and then (just trying to get a better idea of how these events work), and I saw quite a few folks who were kind of disappointed with the characters that were out for some of the races - 5K and 10K, especially. Based on their descriptions, I have to admit I was a little disappointed, too.

I know I'm going to have fun regardless of who or what is on the course, but I'm kind of keeping my fingers crossed for some good characters to see.

The problem with Princess was the lack of princesses on the course! Now that I'm signed up for the Dark Side Challenge (woo hoo!) I've been looking at who was out at the Light Side race in January. It looks like Chewbacca, BB-8, and R2/3PO were the big draws, and lines for those characters were capped. In the reports I've read, you pretty much have to pick one per race, unless you're in an early corral and can stay ahead of the crowds.

Anyone here have any reports or suggestions based on the Light Side races? I've had my pictures with lots of Star Wars characters thanks to Star Wars Weekends (RIP), so I think my main focus will have to be BB-8, Chopper (if he's available), and Kylo Ren.

 

[opusone]

I heard they have asked the 501st to be out along the course for the Half. They will have all types of characters out there! (I have photos of the 501st out in my trip report for Jan 2016 Disneyland)

That would be awesome if they come!

 

[acbshada]

I would love to see the 501st involved in the Dark Side race weekend. That would be awesome.

I really have no plan to stop for any characters - probably just "run by" photos. But I know that they'll fuel me on to the finish line when I see them, so that's got me excited like a 5 year old kid.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Some 501st Photos - This is what you can expect at some point on the course - probably towards the end or in a 'lull' area

Luckily, shortly after that, you reach main street Garden Grove along with getting to the 501st! It was a nice pick me up.

R2D2!

Yoda

Another R2D2!

Steampunk Star Wars

Stormtroopers

Sandtrooper

 

[BDK33]

I agree,they promised a unique course ending at WWoS so I doubt they would but you never know,the Epcot to MK course is fine but unique courses for different races is what appeals to me,that's why I feel Wine and Dine is so popular.Looking at the RunDisney site it appears like there's no mention or hint of what the course will be,I'm almost certain they had mentioned the course would be unique so not seeing anything worries me.The 10K does say what the course will be and that looks like it will be the final 10K of the full finishing outside WWoS where mile marker 20 is during the full,I'm pretty excited about this course as that's my favorite part of the full,just in reverse.Please RunDisney,no Epcot to MK and back!!!

The rundisney site still says:
Star Wars Half Marathon

Start: Epcot®
Finish: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
5:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2016

 

[pinklmaonade]

Hey everyone, I need some advice...

So I booked our bibs and hotel at Pop through Once Upon a Time travel, and we still haven't gotten confirmation numbers for the hotel yet. They had me register through Active for my bib, but they keep saying that they're waiting on runDisney to give them confirmation numbers for the resort/hotel package still. Has anyone else experienced a delay when going through a travel partner? Any advice on what I should do? I emailed runDisney through the form on their contact page, but other than that I dont really know what to do. Seems like a long time to wait to get a confirmation number (bought them in January)!

 

[Dave70364]

I used a travel agent that rundisney had listed for the F/W 1/2 last year. It took awhile to get confirmation information, but it all worked out. As soon as they had it, they passed it on to me.

 

[Z-Knight]

Hey everyone, I need some advice...

So I booked our bibs and hotel at Pop through Once Upon a Time travel, and we still haven't gotten confirmation numbers for the hotel yet. They had me register through Active for my bib, but they keep saying that they're waiting on runDisney to give them confirmation numbers for the resort/hotel package still. Has anyone else experienced a delay when going through a travel partner? Any advice on what I should do? I emailed runDisney through the form on their contact page, but other than that I dont really know what to do. Seems like a long time to wait to get a confirmation number (bought them in January)!

I'm going through a TA and just today got asked for my info for the hotels...meaning it will be another week or more before i get confirmations. TA finally got info for their block at port orleans riverside recently so I would not be surprised if that was also the case for POP and other providers.

 

[pinklmaonade]

I'm going through a TA and just today got asked for my info for the hotels...meaning it will be another week or more before i get confirmations. TA finally got info for their block at port orleans riverside recently so I would not be surprised if that was also the case for POP and other providers.

Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better. I thought we were the only ones!

 

[FFigawi]

@Z-Knight you're back! How did Dopey go? Going to do it again?

 

[DOOM1001]

The rundisney site still says:
Star Wars Half Marathon

Start: Epcot®
Finish: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
5:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2016

OK feel better now,its just funny how the 10K has a detailed description of the course and the half doesn't.At least with this info we know it's not the Epcot to MK and back course.

 

[Z-Knight]

@Z-Knight you're back! How did Dopey go? Going to do it again?

I'm not really back, I selectively reply if I think I can help. I'd rather not get involved because I got soured on the Marathon forum, so you'll rarely see me post anything - I just don't want to get annoyed again. As for Dopey, you don't have to worry about me getting to the upper level of the marathon forum people - their little clique is secure. I had 3 different injuries that forced me to walk much of it, so though I finished, but I don't consider it completed. My ankle injury required cortisone two weeks before and cost me immensely due to no training in that time and hence I came in cold. I then managed to do something immensely stupid and against the 10 commandments of racing - I did something new on the day of the race, which was to put KT tape on my quads (incorrectly, mind you because the internet told me to), and so I was in pain half way and forced to walk. So stupid. 11 months of training and I get hurt 1 month before, and then compound it with a stupid move. Even after 20 miles runs in 3 hours, without pain, I ended up barely running the last 10 of a Marathon. I wasn't even really tired afterwards - that's how badly it went. Didn't even have to use any gels because I wasn't able to push it.

Whatever, lesson learned. Yes, I'll try to get a registration for the Dopey for as many years as I can - that's one event that I want to repeat over and over. Now I need to heal in time for this half marathon in 8 weeks - though I'm currently way behind the level I was before the marathon. It is crazy how even a short 1 week or 2 week period off causes you to lose conditioning.

anyway, that's more than you asked for, but there it is. cya.

 

[FFigawi]

Sorry your race didn't go to plan. It's a good warning for others, though, to not try anything new on race day. Good luck in your upcoming half.

 

[hauntedcity]

Okay, time for a costume question!

I have some cool Vader-themed duds and lightsaber. I'm not going to have any kind of helmet, because I'm leery of overheating. (The Mickey ears with Princess Leia buns just about did me in during the Princess 10K. AGAIN -- DON'T TRY ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY! ) I would love to have a small cape, though. Does anyone know of a good, light black cape? I don't want to add much weight or heat, but... the thought of those photos where my cape flutters majestically behind me... Imperial March blaring... ahhhhhh....

 

[maw]

Okay, time for a costume question!

I have some cool Vader-themed duds and lightsaber. I'm not going to have any kind of helmet, because I'm leery of overheating. (The Mickey ears with Princess Leia buns just about did me in during the Princess 10K. AGAIN -- DON'T TRY ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY! ) I would love to have a small cape, though. Does anyone know of a good, light black cape? I don't want to add much weight or heat, but... the thought of those photos where my cape flutters majestically behind me... Imperial March blaring... ahhhhhh....

Sparkle athletic has these - http://sparkleathletic.com/product-category/accessories/ if you like sparkle

 

[acbshada]

Another option is a bit more DIY. You could use a coupon to pick up a yard or so of black performance fabric from JoAnn Fabrics (or your preferred fabric store). You just need to find a way to attach it to yourself. Originally, I thought you could attach some cording and tie it around your neck, but that would irritate me when I ran. I would honestly just hand stitch the thing to the shoulder seams of my shirt and fly away with awesomeness.