Official 2017 Star Wars - Light Side Half Marathon Weekend (Jan 12th - 15th, 2017)

[94bruin]

I saw a preview of the medals on my FB feed this morning! I can't figure out how to link to them. It actually was posted by "Star Wars" not runDisney.

The themes are as follows:
Kids:R2-D2
5k:Yoda
10k:BB8
1/2:Han & Leia

DH & I are only running the 10k. We (okay, I) considered dressing up as Leia (and hopefully Han) . Now may have to reconsider.

Upon further inspection, I realize the kids race medal is not of R2-D2. My 11yo daughter tells me it's Chopper from the Rebels series.

 

[rteetz]

Oh man I wish I was doing this race weekend. I want that BB-8 medal!

 

[Runner5]

The medals look great!
I did a 15 mile run yesterday. Much slower than my usual pace. I've got a half marathon in 2 weeks, then I can focus on revel challenge training.

 

[dis_or_dat]

@Ariel484 thanks for the pics!!! They're very different from last year's. I wonder what the Rebel Challenge one looks like?

 

[Dis_Yoda]

My foot better be better by January - I want to earn my BB8 rather than doing the sweep thing I'm probably going to end up doing at Wine & Dine

 

[rteetz]

Well my hint to my mom to see if I could run this race didn't work. I just love that BB-8 medal.

 

[r2d2_runner]

@Ariel484 thanks for the pics!!! They're very different from last year's. I wonder what the Rebel Challenge one looks like?

The Rebel Challenge medal is also posted on the RunDisney Facebook page (not sure how to insert an actual picture here).

So exciting to see the medals already! I think the BB8 one looks great - makes me wish I was running the 10k as well.

I have also seen two different pictures of the half marathon medal - one on the RunDisney Facebook page, and a different one on the Star Wars Twitter. The first one looks like the Han and Leia and pictures are "drawn" with shiny gold metal ... and the other one looks like a darker surface. Do you think that is a trick of the light reflecting off the medal or could it be two different sides of the same medal (a light side and a dark side)?

 

[Ariel484]

The Rebel Challenge medal is also posted on the RunDisney Facebook page (not sure how to insert an actual picture here).

So exciting to see the medals already! I think the BB8 one looks great - makes me wish I was running the 10k as well.

I have also seen two different pictures of the half marathon medal - one on the RunDisney Facebook page, and a different one on the Star Wars Twitter. The first one looks like the Han and Leia and pictures are "drawn" with shiny gold metal ... and the other one looks like a darker surface. Do you think that is a trick of the light reflecting off the medal or could it be two different sides of the same medal (a light side and a dark side)?

Added it to my previous post.

 

[courtneybeth]

We already signed up for the 10K and are now contemplating adding the half. As the Rebel Challenge medal doesn't appeal to us, we feel no sadness on missing out on that.

Love BB8 and Han/Leia - so it's a perfect race.

 

[dis_or_dat]

Hmmmmm, not sure how I feel about the rebel challenge medal. I guess I don't run "for" medals, but I like last years better (and it spinned!). I think there were a lot of complaints that the designs hadn't changed much over the previous races so maybe that's why there's such a drastic overhaul. This one looks kind of like a bookmark to me.

I have also seen two different pictures of the half marathon medal - one on the RunDisney Facebook page, and a different one on the Star Wars Twitter. The first one looks like the Han and Leia and pictures are "drawn" with shiny gold metal ... and the other one looks like a darker surface. Do you think that is a trick of the light reflecting off the medal or could it be two different sides of the same medal (a light side and a dark side)?

Looks like it's just reflecting a darker surface. I think it's shiny gold on both sides.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I'm beginning to believe that it's always worth signing up for the 10K. The BB-8 medal, like last year's X-Wing is awesome. It's easily the best medal in the 2017 race. Which is disappointing since 2017 is the 40th anniversary of Star Wars.

I'm not a fan of human faces on medals to begin with and putting both Han and Leia on the 1/2 medal further weakens it. I much prefer the previous 2 medals with character themed ribbons. Now, it looks like the 1/2 medal is a spinner, so that may salvage it if I like the other side. For now, I'm assuming it's the Medal of Bravery design used in 2015 and 2016. If so, I'm okay with it.

But the new challenge medal is a huge disappointment. It's just an outline of C-3PO?!?!?!? They really could do a lot better. I don't object to changing designs, but when you go cheap on the most expensive medal of the bunch, that's a major disappointment. A full picture of C-3PO would be fine. But this outline alone is really underwhelming. These medals should scream Star Wars. And the new Rebel Challenge one fails spectacularly in that respect.

I'm now officially concerned about what they have planned (or don't at all) for the Dark Side events.

 

[Wink25]

How I always feel when medals are released for a race I haven't signed up for...

 

[dis_or_dat]

I'm not a fan of human faces on medals to begin with and putting both Han and Leia on the 1/2 medal further weakens it. I much prefer the previous 2 medals with character themed ribbons. Now, it looks like the 1/2 medal is a spinner, so that may salvage it if I like the other side. For now, I'm assuming it's the Medal of Bravery design used in 2015 and 2016. If so, I'm okay with it.

You're right, someone posted the other side of the half and it's the Medal of Bravery design as used previously. Phew!

Here's my guess: the halfs are taking longer to sell out (if at all) and the challenges typically always sell out, so they're trying to make the half medals more desirable (spinner). I wonder if it's too late for the challenge medal if there's enough uproar about it. Eh a girl can dream.

Anyways, now I want to see the shirts!

 

[Wink25]

I wonder if it's too late for the challenge medal if there's enough uproar about it. Eh a girl can dream.

runDisney did listen when we caused an uproar about the lack of Kessel merchandise at the expo and put some on the website so maybe there's hope! I love that c3po is on the medal but I agree it could look much better.

 

[kirstie101]

Anyone know of any agencies that might have kids bibs?

I know magical miles has challenge bibs but no 10k only bibs. Thats the only one I've looked into recently. You could try Acclaim travel also. They're not listing them as sold out on their website at least.

 

[kirstie101]

I'm loving the medals! Especially the 10k! Just like last year, its the best of the bunch I think! Glad DS is running the kids race cause I like that one too. The only one not coming home with us is the 5k. The challenge one isn't as good as the last two years but I will say I'm glad its at least different than the last 2 years. It gets boring getting the same challenge medal over and over (with small changes made to it). I'll happily take this new one and hope for a better update in a couple of years.

I ran Rock n Roll San Jose on Sunday. Good race experience but terrible race for me. My IT band got angry (the streets were pretty sloped) and I walked it in from mile 8.5. Went to the chiro for some ART yesterday. Going again on Monday. Ice is my best friend. Trying to get it better quick as I have another half on the 23rd!

 

[courtneybeth]

Okay runDisney, you win!

I was a winner of an instagram promotion to join RawThreads club and managed to score a free one-year membership and a $100 gift card towards a race. Combining that with the $20 gift card you get by signing up for the initial membership, the grand total for the Half Marathon registration was.... $75. So now it's 10K and Half Marathon, doing the "challenge" without the challenge medal. Which is fine, because I'd rather have two bibs than an ugly challenge medal

Looks like I can do buddy passes as part of the program, up to two bibs per race. I don't know if I have to sign up to be part of the race or if you can be my "buddy" and sign up without me participating - but they do have challenge, half, and 10K bibs still available. May be a good option for someone who doesn't want to do charity or travel agent as a local or already has a bib purchased.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

You're right, someone posted the other side of the half and it's the Medal of Bravery design as used previously. Phew!

Here's my guess: the halfs are taking longer to sell out (if at all) and the challenges typically always sell out, so they're trying to make the half medals more desirable (spinner). I wonder if it's too late for the challenge medal if there's enough uproar about it. Eh a girl can dream.

Anyways, now I want to see the shirts!

Phew is exactly right! With 2017 being the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, I'm okay with Han and Leia on the 1/2 medal only because it's a spinner. My disappointment in the challenge medal is not so much the change as it is the apparent major step back in level of detail. When the 10K medal pays attention to detail and tries to actually depict what BB-8 looks like and the challenge medal settles for a dark outline of C-3PO filled in with gold and no details whatsoever, runners should voice their opinion. In the event runDisney is reading this, if this trend keeps up, I'll discontinue my trend of signing up for challenge events and just run the 10K. Cheaper for me and requires less sacrifice of time for training in already very busy times of year.

I think the 10K shirt will look great. Unless they flub the challenge shirt as badly as they flubbed the medal, it should be fine as well. But I'm not sure about the 1/2 shirts. If they try to fit both Han and Leia on the shirt, it might be too crowded. They may go for Han on the mens/unisex shirts and Leia on the women's shirts, but that's a can of worms they may not want to open up at all.

 

[dis_or_dat]

I'm loving the medals! Especially the 10k! Just like last year, its the best of the bunch I think! Glad DS is running the kids race cause I like that one too. The only one not coming home with us is the 5k. The challenge one isn't as good as the last two years but I will say I'm glad its at least different than the last 2 years. It gets boring getting the same challenge medal over and over (with small changes made to it). I'll happily take this new one and hope for a better update in a couple of years.

I ran Rock n Roll San Jose on Sunday. Good race experience but terrible race for me. My IT band got angry (the streets were pretty sloped) and I walked it in from mile 8.5. Went to the chiro for some ART yesterday. Going again on Monday. Ice is my best friend. Trying to get it better quick as I have another half on the 23rd!

Oh, I totally run in the middle of the street when it slopes like that on the sides ... obviously, I do it when it's empty! Those slopes are a recipe for disaster! Also, I understand about wanting a change after 2 years of similar designs. But I didn't get in last year!

Okay runDisney, you win!

I was a winner of an instagram promotion to join RawThreads club and managed to score a free one-year membership and a $100 gift card towards a race. Combining that with the $20 gift card you get by signing up for the initial membership, the grand total for the Half Marathon registration was.... $75. So now it's 10K and Half Marathon, doing the "challenge" without the challenge medal. Which is fine, because I'd rather have two bibs than an ugly challenge medal

Looks like I can do buddy passes as part of the program, up to two bibs per race. I don't know if I have to sign up to be part of the race or if you can be my "buddy" and sign up without me participating - but they do have challenge, half, and 10K bibs still available. May be a good option for someone who doesn't want to do charity or travel agent as a local or already has a bib purchased.

Woah, congratulations!!!!!

Phew is exactly right! With 2017 being the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, I'm okay with Han and Leia on the 1/2 medal only because it's a spinner. My disappointment in the challenge medal is not so much the change as it is the apparent major step back in level of detail. When the 10K medal pays attention to detail and tries to actually depict what BB-8 looks like and the challenge medal settles for a dark outline of C-3PO filled in with gold and no details whatsoever, runners should voice their opinion. In the event runDisney is reading this, if this trend keeps up, I'll discontinue my trend of signing up for challenge events and just run the 10K. Cheaper for me and requires less sacrifice of time for training in already very busy times of year.

I think the 10K shirt will look great. Unless they flub the challenge shirt as badly as they flubbed the medal, it should be fine as well. But I'm not sure about the 1/2 shirts. If they try to fit both Han and Leia on the shirt, it might be too crowded. They may go for Han on the mens/unisex shirts and Leia on the women's shirts, but that's a can of worms they may not want to open up at all.

Yeah, I assume they'll put both of them on the shirts ... I like these silhouettes, because Leia looks so BAMF, but maybe they won't because of the guns?

Also, there's a new "run" shirt up on the disneystore website ... I wish there were some Light Side ones!!

 

[BigEeyore]

Love love love the 10K and half medals!! But the challenge medal is just wah wah waaaaah. Here's hoping they don't change the Kessel run medal! Just getting around to booking airfare (big sale on Southwest!). I'm starting to get excited about this one - I hope they will mix in some Rogue One stuff since that movie comes out in December!