Official Avengers Half Marathon Weekend 2015 Thread

[tparty10]

So excited!! Anyone have any tips for spectators?? With no car -- are there any options to see racers other than super close to the parks?? thanks

 

[tparty10]

Yes, it was in that email we just got with waiver reminders. I do wonder if it's because of the Dumbo issues.

What were the problems with Dumbo?? This is our first race on the West Coast.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Does anyone know if they are adding some extra security check point from prior Disneyland races? I don't remember seeing a recommendation to get to the corrals by 4am for either of the previous Disneyland Half weekends, but I could have glossed over it.

Yes, it was in that email we just got with waiver reminders. I do wonder if it's because of the Dumbo issues.

I am not sure what to make of this. At WDW they "recommend" getting on a bus or monorail by a certain time, and I have missed those times before and had no issues. And I've seen people walking in from the buses far later than me many times. For myself it wasn't necessarily purposeful, meaning I was in line or just waiting for a monorail at that time. But I have always had too much time, waiting around. I hate the concept of "hurry and wait".

I am staying onsite at DVC @ GC. I was planning to leave my hotel at 4:30, but now, I am confused what to .

Were the issues with Dumbo specific to the corrals? Do they close entry to the corrals at a certain time?

 

[ten6mom]

Important Arrival Time Update

​

It is recommended that all half marathon, 10K and 5K runners arrive at 4:00 a.m. to allow adequate time for traffic, guest screenings at all entry points, bag check, warm up and getting to the correct starting corral on time. Runners late to the start area may be disqualified from participating. Please review the event guide for event transportation details, driving directions, parking information and road closures.

 

[ten6mom]

error

 

[tiffjoy]

Important Arrival Time Update

​

It is recommended that all half marathon, 10K and 5K runners arrive at 4:00 a.m. to allow adequate time for traffic, guest screenings at all entry points, bag check, warm up and getting to the correct starting corral on time. Runners late to the start area may be disqualified from participating. Please review the event guide for event transportation details, driving directions, parking information and road closures.

This really confused me too. I'm in corral F, and I'm by myself. I really don't understand why I have to stand around waiting so long for the race to start. I'm quite bummed by this as I'm going to be dreading standing around tired and cold for all that time before I even start running all those miles.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Important Arrival Time Update

​

It is recommended that all half marathon, 10K and 5K runners arrive at 4:00 a.m. to allow adequate time for traffic, guest screenings at all entry points, bag check, warm up and getting to the correct starting corral on time. Runners late to the start area may be disqualified from participating. Please review the event guide for event transportation details, driving directions, parking information and road closures.

This seems way too early IMO. The fact that they include traffic as a reason, makes me think this applies more to people driving in that day and you should aim to arrive by car at 4am to allow enough time to park, etc.

 

[RnbwSktles]

I just looked through the Event Guide and it says 4:30 there, so something made them change their mind.

 

[leholcomb]

I am not sure what to make of this. At WDW they "recommend" getting on a bus or monorail by a certain time, and I have missed those times before and had no issues. And I've seen people walking in from the buses far later than me many times. For myself it wasn't necessarily purposeful, meaning I was in line or just waiting for a monorail at that time. But I have always had too much time, waiting around. I hate the concept of "hurry and wait".

I am staying onsite at DVC @ GC. I was planning to leave my hotel at 4:30, but now, I am confused what to .

Were the issues with Dumbo specific to the corrals? Do they close entry to the corrals at a certain time?

I'm with you. I am always on the first bus at WDW but was planning on leaving DLH at 4:30. Can anyone inform us of Dumbo problems?

 

[emzben25]

I'm with you. I am always on the first bus at WDW but was planning on leaving DLH at 4:30. Can anyone inform us of Dumbo problems?

I believe the Dumbo problems people are referring to was the overcrowding of corral D. People arrived late and corral D was full so people were being moved back to the back of corral E. Others jumped to the back of corral C because they didn't want to be at the back of E. The corrals were a complete mess. I was in D saw it all happen. People were showing up way past 5:30 AM and were trying to get into their corrals but couldn't because they were full. But if they set up the corrals the same way and don't leave enough space or be better at enforcing correct corral placements, I foresee the overcrowded corrals being an issue again. I can't imagine how arriving earlier would fix that for everyone -- that's more of a logistical issue that rD needs to work out. If people show up earlier, I would think the corrals would fill up faster. But some people will always show up late regardless of what you tell them... Hopefully, things will got a lot smoother than in Sept.

 

[RnbwSktles]

I'm with you. I am always on the first bus at WDW but was planning on leaving DLH at 4:30. Can anyone inform us of Dumbo problems?

I wasn't at Dumbo this year, but in 2014 they had some issues so I wonder if it was a similar deal. There were 2 main issues that I saw:

1) The corrals in the back were overfilled and people couldn't get in. They ended up just hovering in a semi-line next to the corrals in front of them. They were still there when the race started and corrals started moving, so they just jumped into the nearest corral instead of their own.

2) There is a walkway between the first half of the corrals and the last. You have to go through there to get from the staging area to the later corrals. The late runners were still trying to cross this when the corrals started moving up and "closing" the walkway. Those runners just jumped into the moving corral since there was no way to police it at that point. A lot of people in H, I, and J ended up starting in G with me!

 

[StarGirl11]

This seems way too early IMO. The fact that they include traffic as a reason, makes me think this applies more to people driving in that day and you should aim to arrive by car at 4am to allow enough time to park, etc.

I think that's part of it. Also I think they are trying to avoid a repeat of this year's Dumbo with the last minute crowding at the corrals. How they can pull that off since that off I'm not sure they can pull off since that happens every single Disneyland race when we go south on the drive (it's the nature of so many runners thinking they can show up at last minute and still get in, it happens every time without fail).

 

[Kathymford]

I was supposed to be in corral D also. I walked from Best Western Stovalls which is usually a quick walk. This year at DLH, they routed us all the way around the back so the walk took an easy 30 minutes. And yes, as @emzben25 mentioned, there was no space for us. I was walking in a chute that was supposed to lead you to corrals D and E. But we got stopped as they stopped letting people in the corrals. They didn't let our chute into the corrals until the END of corral E. I was pissed. I get it though, I left late and it was my fault and there was no way they were going to let us in between D and E when we were all obviously late. I was still pissed though.

I assumed this one wouldn't be as crazy since it never sold out and has less runners anyway. But I was going to leave earlier anyhow. But not 4 a.m. ... not sure about that.

 

[monsterkitty]

I was supposed to be in corral D also. I walked from Best Western Stovalls which is usually a quick walk. This year at DLH, they routed us all the way around the back so the walk took an easy 30 minutes. And yes, as @emzben25 mentioned, there was no space for us. I was walking in a chute that was supposed to lead you to corrals D and E. But we got stopped as they stopped letting people in the corrals. They didn't let our chute into the corrals until the END of corral E. I was pissed. I get it though, I left late and it was my fault and there was no way they were going to let us in between D and E when we were all obviously late. I was still pissed though.

I assumed this one wouldn't be as crazy since it never sold out and has less runners anyway. But I was going to leave earlier anyhow. But not 4 a.m. ... not sure about that.

We're staying at the Fairfield on Harbor. I was just planning on walking through the two parks and Downtown Disney to the start line. Is this going to be possible or do they block that off as well? It seems strange that they wouldn't provide transportation from that area because it's so close to the start line, but then not let us through the area.

Should I be making a new plan?

 

[RnbwSktles]

We're staying at the Fairfield on Harbor. I was just planning on walking through the two parks and Downtown Disney to the start line. Is this going to be possible or do they block that off as well? It seems strange that they wouldn't provide transportation from that area because it's so close to the start line, but then not let us through the area.

Should I be making a new plan?

You should be fine. I will also be coming from Harbor. The hotel @Kathymford came from is on the other side of the park so that was a different situation.

 

[monsterkitty]

You should be fine. I will also be coming from Harbor. The hotel @Kathymford came from is on the other side of the park so that was a different situation.

thanks! I planned on leaving our hotel at 4:30 for the 20 minute walk. We won't have a bag to check so that cuts down on the time. We may leave earlier now, but DH won't be happy! 4 am is even earlier than what I needed to be in the transition area for my Ironman!

 

[Kathymford]

According to someone posting on the FB run group, is that the earlier time warning is for something new they are doing: security/bag check before you enter the corrals. Similar to the FL races and the ones you encounter at the esplanade to get into the parks.

"The lines will be mandatory and will be setup supposedly before the corrals, near the finish line, and before entering the family reunion area." Again, I don't know this person, but she seems to have the information, so I thought I would share it.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Were the official race shirts short sleeved last year? I plan to wear them each day (I will be getting 3), but if they are long sleeve I guess I will have to pack other clothes!

 

[emzben25]

Were the official race shirts short sleeved last year? I plan to wear them each day (I will be getting 3), but if they are long sleeve I guess I will have to pack other clothes!

They were long sleeved.

 

[StarGirl11]

According to someone posting on the FB run group, is that the earlier time warning is for something new they are doing: security/bag check before you enter the corrals. Similar to the FL races and the ones you encounter at the esplanade to get into the parks.

"The lines will be mandatory and will be setup supposedly before the corrals, near the finish line, and before entering the family reunion area." Again, I don't know this person, but she seems to have the information, so I thought I would share it.

I'm just trying to figure out how that would work. The only way to have a mandatory bag check as it is currently laid out is to have it right in front of where everyone enters the corrals. Because if you put it right before going into the Family Reunion area then there are people who are going to miss it entirely (I know I skip the Reunion area pre-race, head to the corner across from the corrals and wait for them to open since I'm traditionally there before they open). So the question is where are they planning to put it?