OFFICIAL Jan 2011 Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Dopey or Goofy Challenge Thread

[Karenj2]

Am I allowed to join in? I'm not going to be racing (I'll have DD who will be under a year old), but I think I just convinced hubby to do the 1/2 marathon!! (He's done the Broad Street run before in Philly - 10miles, and needs some incentive to get back in shape...)

Some questions - is it possible to cheer on DH at the MK, then take the monorail to Epcot to meet him at the finish line? I've read all 22 pages so far - and most recommendations are for PoP. Since I'll have DD on my own, would it make more sense to stay at a monorail resort? (If we can afford it...)

Is the free dining being offered for that timeframe?

I'm so excited! (I've been trying to finagle a way back to WDW, since we missed it this year...) I'm evil!

 

[FireDancer]

Some questions - is it possible to cheer on DH at the MK, then take the monorail to Epcot to meet him at the finish line? I've read all 22 pages so far - and most recommendations are for PoP. Since I'll have DD on my own, would it make more sense to stay at a monorail resort? (If we can afford it...)

They do let people into Main Street to cheer on the runners. The monorail is also running to get back to Epcot.

If I were going to watch someone run the half though I would neither go into MK or the Epcot finish line. In the MK there are a lot of people and it will be pretty hard for your husband to see you. I would head over to the roadway next to the Grand Floridian or Poly and see him there. It is a boring part for the runners and there are not a lot of people so he can find you easier. If you are quick you can see him twice. Once over along the road next to the TTC as he is entering MK and then again in the area I mentioned above.

As for the finish line, it is almost impossible to see anything there and you won't be allowed anywhere near the finish area, it is separated and for finishers only. I would head to Epcot after seeing him by the GF/Poly and wait over in the bus stop area just before the runners re-enter the parks.

Is the free dining being offered for that timeframe?

I hope not but am not sure. I am not a fan of being in WDW during free dining, it just increases the crowd level.

 

[crashbb]

Is the free dining being offered for that timeframe?

Ummm...sort of? You'd have to check-in by 5-January (Wednesday) though. If you check-in on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday then you cannot get free dining. If you are planning on staying after the races, you can do two reservations and you could get free dining on the stay starting Sunday 9-January. Free dining is based on the day you check-in, so as long as that is a valid day, you keep it even over the black out days.

However, if you do go for a monorail resort, it seems save you more money to get the 40% off (though I think Grand Floridian is less) and just pay for the dining plan. The Values work out better (financially) with free dining. The Mods are not quite as clear.

 

[rubato]

I had no idea there was free dining in January. I'm checking in on the 5th, so I just got my ressie changed. Thanks for the info!

 

[cewait]

They do let people into Main Street to cheer on the runners. The monorail is also running to get back to Epcot.

If I were going to watch someone run the half though I would neither go into MK or the Epcot finish line. In the MK there are a lot of people and it will be pretty hard for your husband to see you. I would head over to the roadway next to the Grand Floridian or Poly and see him there. It is a boring part for the runners and there are not a lot of people so he can find you easier. If you are quick you can see him twice. Once over along the road next to the TTC as he is entering MK and then again in the area I mentioned above.

As for the finish line, it is almost impossible to see anything there and you won't be allowed anywhere near the finish area, it is separated and for finishers only. I would head to Epcot after seeing him by the GF/Poly and wait over in the bus stop area just before the runners re-enter the parks.



I hope not but am not sure. I am not a fan of being in WDW during free dining, it just increases the crowd level.

AGREE – TTC & Poly then wither Mile 12 and/or the exit from Epcot coming to the finish line. Getting into Main would not be an issue but I would say go to the MK hub just in front of the castle if you want to have a better chance of seeing one another…. The issue with that is getting out of MK, shuttling to the TTC and then to Epcot can take as long as many runners take to finish.

 

[LadyDi13]

Since discounts were recently mentioned I was wondering if anyone knew what the discount was (or if there is one) when booking the "marathon package." Currently I have a room-only ressie (30% off) at POR, but I noticed when I registered for the 1/2 that the website mentions a "marathon package". Does this offer a discount off everything, room, tickets, etc? 30%off the room is a pretty good discount but we will be paying full price tickets and cannot add the dining plan.
Thanks for any help!

 

[crashbb]

Since discounts were recently mentioned I was wondering if anyone knew what the discount was (or if there is one) when booking the "marathon package." Currently I have a room-only ressie (30% off) at POR, but I noticed when I registered for the 1/2 that the website mentions a "marathon package". Does this offer a discount off everything, room, tickets, etc? 30%off the room is a pretty good discount but we will be paying full price tickets and cannot add the dining plan.
Thanks for any help!

Did you book the current room only deal? You can add dining and tickets (you need to add tickets in order to add dining), you just don't get free dining.

The marathon package deals are not very good - but you could price it out through the marathon site. It really wasn't any less than booking a non-discounted package through the normal WDW site.

 

[cewait]

Did you book the current room only deal? You can add dining and tickets (you need to add tickets in order to add dining), you just don't get free dining.

The marathon package deals are not very good - but you could price it out through the marathon site. It really wasn't any less than booking a non-discounted package through the normal WDW site.

But you forgot the free mini-golf perk for reserving through Sports Travel!

Seriously, i would only reserve through central reservations to get the better deals

 

[heatherlynn444]

marathon pakages usually are not very much! go with the room only % off, they are usually the best way to o unless you are staying in a value and you want dining, free dining is sometims better. GL!

 

[LadyDi13]

Did you book the current room only deal? You can add dining and tickets (you need to add tickets in order to add dining), you just don't get free dining.

The marathon package deals are not very good - but you could price it out through the marathon site. It really wasn't any less than booking a non-discounted package through the normal WDW site.

Yes, I did book the room only deal, which was 30% off for the moderate. I was just wondering if the marathon package discounted everything if we could save more.

I guess I just assumed that with a room only ressie I would not be able to add on tickets (possibly adding on dining) since that would then make it a package, and I would forfeit the room-only discount.

I appreciate all of the help, I will be calling up WDW Travel Company to get this all worked out!

 

[rubato]

Yes another question.

Is it possible to walk from POP over to the sports complex for the expo? I just noticed that, on the map, they are as close together as 2 things can be at Disney. Since I'm staying at POP, this might be possible.

 

[cewait]

Yes another question.

Is it possible to walk from POP over to the sports complex for the expo? I just noticed that, on the map, they are as close together as 2 things can be at Disney. Since I'm staying at POP, this might be possible.

All things are possible. Wise, maybe not. It is a 2 1/4 mile walk from the POP central building to the Milkhouse at WWoS. Thinking about short cutting through the border hedge is not an option with Disney fencing the hedge row.

 

[rubato]

So, if no walking, do I need to take the bus from my resort to a park, and then, WWoS? I've never been there, so I don't know how the transportation works.

 

[crashbb]

So, if no walking, do I need to take the bus from my resort to a park, and then, WWoS? I've never been there, so I don't know how the transportation works.

There is specific marathon weekend transportation to take you from POP (or whichever resort) to the Expo and back again.

 

[verticalchaos]

Ok...I'm all signed up for a 10K next Sunday! It's on the same island my first 5K was on - it's flat, which is nice. I'm averaging around a 12-minute pace doing a walk/run combination in the gym, and hoping I can keep that up for the race. As it turns out I need to be above 13 minutes as there's a section we have to be clear of within an hour - and it's the 4.1 mile mark. I'm trying to be confident, but a little rattled that nowhere on the race site does it specify that you should have a 13-minute mile pace and suddenly we're getting emails letting us know that.

Still...I'm excited! Should give me a good idea going into the meat of my official training program for the Half!

 

[cewait]

So, if no walking, do I need to take the bus from my resort to a park, and then, WWoS? I've never been there, so I don't know how the transportation works.

Best thing is to review this

http://adisneyworldsports.disney.go...urSports/PDF/Endurance/WDWMarathonProgram.pdf

It has a lot of good info

 

[DisneyBoundinDec]

Had my 1st 10K today! It went well.. thanks to coach I think my times are improving with the run 1 mile/ walk 1 minute ratio. I ran the 6.2 in 1:08
around a 10:30 mile.. I am happy with that and most importantly I felt good during and after!!
Have way to the 1/2!

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!!!

 

[daisy2jae]

Had my 1st 10K today! It went well.. thanks to coach I think my times are improving with the run 1 mile/ walk 1 minute ratio. I ran the 6.2 in 1:08
around a 10:30 mile.. I am happy with that and most importantly I felt good during and after!!
Have way to the 1/2!

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!!!

Congrats!

 

[verticalchaos]

Had my 1st 10K today! It went well.. thanks to coach I think my times are improving with the run 1 mile/ walk 1 minute ratio. I ran the 6.2 in 1:08
around a 10:30 mile.. I am happy with that and most importantly I felt good during and after!!
Have way to the 1/2!

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!!!

GREAT time!!!!

 

[Pumbaa80]

Had my 1st 10K today! It went well.. thanks to coach I think my times are improving with the run 1 mile/ walk 1 minute ratio. I ran the 6.2 in 1:08
around a 10:30 mile.. I am happy with that and most importantly I felt good during and after!!
Have way to the 1/2!

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!!!

Congrats!!