Official Avengers Half Marathon Weekend 2015 Thread

[SeaPic]

This thread is awesome! I was able to impress my DH by getting our bib numbers and corrals. Questions from Run Disney first timers - be kind.
Probably obvious but, he is doing the IGC and in corral A. Is that both races?
Also what is the lighting like before the sun comes up? Do we need to bring anything? Im assuming we don't need anything safety related. A head lamp to see where you are running seems really obnoxious.

 

[Ariel484]

This thread is awesome! I was able to impress my DH by getting our bib numbers and corrals. Questions from Run Disney first timers - be kind.
Probably obvious but, he is doing the IGC and in corral A. Is that both races?
Also what is the lighting like before the sun comes up? Do we need to bring anything? Im assuming we don't need anything safety related. A head lamp to see where you are running seems really obnoxious.

That's his half marathon corral. He's most likely A for the 10K too.

I'd bring sunglasses for the half...I was really happy to have them at Disneyland in September! No head lamp needed.

 

[Wink25]

This thread is awesome! I was able to impress my DH by getting our bib numbers and corrals. Questions from Run Disney first timers - be kind.
Probably obvious but, he is doing the IGC and in corral A. Is that both races?
Also what is the lighting like before the sun comes up? Do we need to bring anything? Im assuming we don't need anything safety related. A head lamp to see where you are running seems really obnoxious.

As Ariel484 mentioned, bring sunglasses...they saved me last year at Avengers with all the wind we had. All of the walkways are well lit and you'll be in the park for a few miles as well. As for the bib, most of the time a challenge big will have 2 letters on it. The first one if for th 10k and the second the half. The one listed on the website is for the half. Only once did I have 2 different corrals and I've run every challenge Disneyland has offered so I agree that it's safe to assume he'll be in A for the 10k

 

[Richard Mouse]

Hello everyone! This is my first half marathon ever. I'm glad I picked a Disney race to be the first. After this race, we're getting on a plane and flying to DWD for our vacation. Can't wait!

 

[Castle2Castle]

Also what is the lighting like before the sun comes up? Do we need to bring anything? Im assuming we don't need anything safety related. A head lamp to see where you are running seems really obnoxious.

As others have said, they'll have it fairly well lit at the start before the sun comes up, and then the bulk of the race will be with the sun when you won't want to be carrying any more than necessary. I will suggest you and others be mindful of the reflective markers down the center of the road. They're bigger than what we're accustomed to here, and we saw a few people take spills when their feet didn't clear them during our lone Disneyland race in 2013.

Hello everyone! This is my first half marathon ever. I'm glad I picked a Disney race to be the first. After this race, we're getting on a plane and flying to DWD for our vacation. Can't wait!

Congrats on the upcoming first!

 

[Jkpark]

Thanks for the help with the bibs/corrals. We are 31610 and 31612 so we will just see what happens. We did 4.5 miles on Sunday at 13 min/mile. We are trying Galloway method so we purposefully do slower intervals for anything over a 5K. Our 5K runs are closer to 10 1/2 or 11 right now. We are doing both the 5K and 10K so we will probably not rush the 5K so we don't end up tired for the 10K. I will be happy if we are around 12 for the actual 10K. Honestly - I'll be happy to finish. Interested in seeing how we do as we have the same 5K/10K lined up for Star Wars in January.

Question on sunglasses - that is a good call with the wind even if the sun isn't bad. Do you get special sport sunglasses that stay on better? Should I get them for both of us? You can tell this is all very new to me.

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks for the help with the bibs/corrals. We are 31610 and 31612 so we will just see what happens. We did 4.5 miles on Sunday at 13 min/mile. We are trying Galloway method so we purposefully do slower intervals for anything over a 5K. Our 5K runs are closer to 10 1/2 or 11 right now. We are doing both the 5K and 10K so we will probably not rush the 5K so we don't end up tired for the 10K. I will be happy if we are around 12 for the actual 10K. Honestly - I'll be happy to finish. Interested in seeing how we do as we have the same 5K/10K lined up for Star Wars in January.

Question on sunglasses - that is a good call with the wind even if the sun isn't bad. Do you get special sport sunglasses that stay on better? Should I get them for both of us? You can tell this is all very new to me.

I'd say whatever feels comfortable for you guys to run in - whether that's a sport model or not. Definitely make sure to try a run or two in whatever you think you want to bring before you leave for CA.

 

[Kathymford]

Question on sunglasses - that is a good call with the wind even if the sun isn't bad. Do you get special sport sunglasses that stay on better? Should I get them for both of us? You can tell this is all very new to me.

I ran my first 10k in regular sunglasses and I was miserable; they kept sliding. I bought some "cheap" running ones at the booth at the RunDisney Expo and love them. I think they were about $20 (don't remember exactly) and I only use them for running. They are great. But definitely try out what you have and see how it goes for you.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thanks for the help with the bibs/corrals. We are 31610 and 31612 so we will just see what happens. We did 4.5 miles on Sunday at 13 min/mile. We are trying Galloway method so we purposefully do slower intervals for anything over a 5K. Our 5K runs are closer to 10 1/2 or 11 right now. We are doing both the 5K and 10K so we will probably not rush the 5K so we don't end up tired for the 10K. I will be happy if we are around 12 for the actual 10K. Honestly - I'll be happy to finish. Interested in seeing how we do as we have the same 5K/10K lined up for Star Wars in January.

Question on sunglasses - that is a good call with the wind even if the sun isn't bad. Do you get special sport sunglasses that stay on better? Should I get them for both of us? You can tell this is all very new to me.

For the 5K, you may not need sunglasses during the race with a 5:30 start time and sunrise at 6:21. -- Suzanne

 

[RnbwSktles]

For the Disneyland Half in 2014, I begrudgingly brought my regular sunglasses with me because I had heard so many warnings of the sun. I hate running in sun glasses so I wasn't going to buy a new part just for that. It ended up being overcast all morning and they stayed on top of my head. I know I'll regret not having them if needed, but that was so annoying!

 

[Jkpark]

I'd say whatever feels comfortable for you guys to run in - whether that's a sport model or not. Definitely make sure to try a run or two in whatever you think you want to bring before you leave for CA.

I ran my first 10k in regular sunglasses and I was miserable; they kept sliding. I bought some "cheap" running ones at the booth at the RunDisney Expo and love them. I think they were about $20 (don't remember exactly) and I only use them for running. They are great. But definitely try out what you have and see how it goes for you.

For the 5K, you may not need sunglasses during the race with a 5:30 start time and sunrise at 6:21. -- Suzanne

For the Disneyland Half in 2014, I begrudgingly brought my regular sunglasses with me because I had heard so many warnings of the sun. I hate running in sun glasses so I wasn't going to buy a new part just for that. It ended up being overcast all morning and they stayed on top of my head. I know I'll regret not having them if needed, but that was so annoying!

Thanks - my existing sunglasses are so stretched out from spending too much time on top of me head. I'll see if I can find a cheap pair to try out for the 10K. Hoping to spend some time at the Expo this year so maybe that would be a fun purchase. Anxious to start seeing weather forecasts, too!

 

[Castle2Castle]

Anxious to start seeing weather forecasts, too!

Here's your totally unreliable 2.5 week forecast (Accuweather)!

 

[tiffjoy]

Feeling very nervous as I have been so sick the past three weeks, and training has fallen way off. Headed out for a run tonight for the first in a week and a half, and this Saturday, I'm going to try for my first over 10 mi run. I'm hoping I will still do ok...

According to my bib, I'm in corral F because I didn't have a POT. It could be worse, I suppose!

 

[SnowMonkey]

Here's your totally unreliable 2.5 week forecast (Accuweather)!

Ah, but that misses the most important part... what about the wind?

Are we going to be running into a dust storm again?

 

[Castle2Castle]

Ah, but that misses the most important part... what about the wind?

Are we going to be running into a dust storm again?

We missed the wind and dust last year by sticking to our plan not to revisit Disneyland until 2015... really hoping we don't have to experience first hand what we read about last year!

Looking at Wunderground's historical info from last year, they reported 5 mph winds with max wind speed of 22 mph and max gust speed of 27 mph. So we have a reference point for the wind as we start looking at "better" forecasts closer to race day. Accuweather does somehow attempt to forecast wind this far out, currently showing 4 mph winds with gusts up to 17 mph.

SoCal people probably have a better idea than I do in Kentucky on when to expect hearing anything from meteorologists about the Santa Ana winds, but for now at least there isn't anything on Google news to suggest they're causing any issues today. Just need that to hold out another 18 days...

 

[Kathymford]

We had a Santa Ana spell a few weeks ago; not those high winds, but lots of heat. I'm hoping that counts for our Santa Ana spell for now!

 

[ImDMous]

Santa Anas are a 2-3 day event, just like a rain storm or a cold front. The weather today will have absolutely no bearing on whether there will be a Santa Ana on race weekend. October and November are historically the most prone to Santa Ana winds, usually on Thanksgiving it's either raining or a Santa Ana. While my DH really enjoyed running in the wind last year, that was a pretty strong one, usually they are not that severe. This far out, there's probably not much of a reliable way to tell. The wind forecast on Accuweather has it coming from completely different directions for every day that weekend, which probably means they have no idea. Santa Ana winds are always from the desert, coming over the mountains, hot and dry!

 

[SnowMonkey]

Santa Anas are a 2-3 day event, just like a rain storm or a cold front. The weather today will have absolutely no bearing on whether there will be a Santa Ana on race weekend. October and November are historically the most prone to Santa Ana winds, usually on Thanksgiving it's either raining or a Santa Ana. While my DH really enjoyed running in the wind last year, that was a pretty strong one, usually they are not that severe. This far out, there's probably not much of a reliable way to tell. The wind forecast on Accuweather has it coming from completely different directions for every day that weekend, which probably means they have no idea. Santa Ana winds are always from the desert, coming over the mountains, hot and dry!

Heh, I didn't mind the wind too much, it was rather funny how obviously unprepared for it Disney was though. Starting in the second last corral I think there were only about 4-5 mile markers left standing by the time I was going past.

Also, as I'd apparently been smiling for most of the run, when I got back to the hotel I had a thick layer of dust on my teeth, so that was pretty gross (I look so terrible in my post finish-line shots).

 

[Castle2Castle]

Also, as I'd apparently been smiling for most of the run, when I got back to the hotel I had a thick layer of dust on my teeth, so that was pretty gross (I look so terrible in my post finish-line shots).

Hmmm... maybe they were going for a villain's experience for the course...

 

[ImDMous]

Heh, I didn't mind the wind too much, it was rather funny how obviously unprepared for it Disney was though. Starting in the second last corral I think there were only about 4-5 mile markers left standing by the time I was going past.

Also, as I'd apparently been smiling for most of the run, when I got back to the hotel I had a thick layer of dust on my teeth, so that was pretty gross (I look so terrible in my post finish-line shots).

Haha, I thought it was pretty cool, but I was just waiting for DH to finish. I was in the Chear Squad area at the finish line and tents and tables were blowing down everywhere. Watching people try to hold on to cups and plates and eat at the same time was kind of funny. From what I remember, the local weather never said anything about a Santa Ana until the day before. Maybe this year they will have extra sandbags or something for the mile markers.