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

[rubato]

Did my 1st full this weekend, I think it went well- mentally and physically. This week is a very easy/light week and then pick it up again next week. 12 weeks away, I can't wait!!

Non-race related question for the Marathon Weekend regulars. How busy are the parks that weekend and the couple of days afterwards? I know January is a slow month, but I wasn't sure w/ all the runners if the parks get busy and crowded.

Congrats on your full. As for your question, I was wondering that myself. This year, I showed up at disney a few days after marathon weekend, and it was pretty empty. But, this coming year there is the free Monday. So, I would imagine that day will be busy. I'm probably barely going to be able to walk, so I don't think I'll care that much.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Congrats on your full. As for your question, I was wondering that myself. This year, I showed up at disney a few days after marathon weekend, and it was pretty empty. But, this coming year there is the free Monday. So, I would imagine that day will be busy. I'm probably barely going to be able to walk, so I don't think I'll care that much.

Even with the free Monday, that day is only a 3 out of 10 on the crowd calendar. Not that bad.

 

[Dolce27]

Monday this past year was pretty busy at the MK even w/o it being free for marathon runners. I don't know if it was only that day or not - I left the next morning.

 

[rubato]

My thought is that most will be over in MK so I'm heading to Epcot that Monday. Of course, I'll move from there if it gets too crowded also.

 

[FireDancer]

Non-race related question for the Marathon Weekend regulars. How busy are the parks that weekend and the couple of days afterwards? I know January is a slow month, but I wasn't sure w/ all the runners if the parks get busy and crowded.

Not too bad. The reason the marathon is held when it is held is because there is nothing else really going on. The holidays are over, most kids are back in school, and the parks would otherwise have pretty low attendance. I'm sure both MK and Epcot will be effected by the Marathon Monday tickets but since the ticket is only good for one park I imagine DHS and AK won't be effected much. Those are not full day parks for many and if I am stuck in only one park I want one I can spend the day in if I choose (and the legs hold up).

My thought is that most will be over in MK so I'm heading to Epcot that Monday. Of course, I'll move from there if it gets too crowded also.

I'll be spending the day at Epcot. If you are using the Marathon Monday ticket it is only good for one park so you will have to use another ticket if you go from Epcot to MK.

 

[FFigawi]

We're probably heading to Epcot too, and aren't too worried about it getting crowded. If it does, we'll just head to the bar and eat and drink our way around the world.

 

[rubato]

Thanks Frank. I know, that's why I'm not using my freebie. My hubby doesn't want to be stuck in one park, so I added another hopper day to our tickets.

Let's hope Epcot is empty, since a lot of us will be over there!

 

[dsnyfan21]

MANY Wishers stay at POP during Marathon weekend. Oh, and also that is where the big WISHer meet and greet is held on Friday. Usually around 4:30 at the food court - so, you may want to keep that in mind.

Lots of people head to EPCOT on Monday to drink around the world to celebrate their accomplishments, so you will be among lots of people there! It's fun!
Also on Monday morning some wishers get together at the bakery boardwalk to have some breakfast.

(both meets also include getting together for a group photo)

Tracy

 

[verticalchaos]

MANY Wishers stay at POP during Marathon weekend. Oh, and also that is where the big WISHer meet and greet is held on Friday. Usually around 4:30 at the food court - so, you may want to keep that in mind.

Lots of people head to EPCOT on Monday to drink around the world to celebrate their accomplishments, so you will be among lots of people there! It's fun!
Also on Monday morning some wishers get together at the bakery boardwalk to have some breakfast.

(both meets also include getting together for a group photo)

Tracy

Sorry. Got other plans with people I know on Friday and leaving on Sunday.

 

[jeanigor]

MANY Wishers stay at POP during Marathon weekend. Oh, and also that is where the big WISHer meet and greet is held on Friday. Usually around 4:30 at the food court - so, you may want to keep that in mind.

Lots of people head to EPCOT on Monday to drink around the world to celebrate their accomplishments, so you will be among lots of people there! It's fun!
Also on Monday morning some wishers get together at the bakery boardwalk to have some breakfast.

(both meets also include getting together for a group photo)

Tracy

I'm all about the photo ops.

 

[rubato]

I'm definately in for the meet on Friday, and I'll be drinking around the world for sure on Monday! Gotta reload those carbs, right? Okay, I can't actually drink all the way around because I'm a lightweight, but I'll try.

 

[cruisin'Mike]

I tried out my new intervals today- run for a mile, walk a minute, then run to the next mile, etc. It was fine for the first 4 miles, then it got really challenging. But I made it! And hopefully with over two months to keep training, it'll get better and I can make it the whole 13.1 miles. Plus I know I'll want to stop for some character pics and water, so hopefully that'll help me too.

 

[22crusher]

Howdy!
So how do the WISHers know who they are in the group? Is there a secret handshake I need to learn before I get down there?

Also, does anyone know how often the characters appear for photos? Will it mess up a pace at all to stop, and will there be giant crowds around them, causing me to wait like 10 min to have a photo before I continue running?

I'd imagine a slow runner like me (thinking about a 2:50 end time) will be pretty much alone along the route

Thanks!
Carolyn

 

[jeanigor]

Howdy!
So how do the WISHers know who they are in the group? Is there a secret handshake I need to learn before I get down there?

I found them by them wearing WISH shirts. Or they came up and said hi to me first, since I was wearing mine.

Also, does anyone know how often the characters appear for photos? Will it mess up a pace at all to stop, and will there be giant crowds around them, causing me to wait like 10 min to have a photo before I continue running?

I'd imagine a slow runner like me (thinking about a 2:50 end time) will be pretty much alone along the route

I'm not sure about January's race, but 7-9 actual character spots along the Wine and Dine course. I stopped at all of them. The longest wait I had was at the entrance to AK. I was second in line and the handler couldn't take a photo with the phone of the woman in front of me. All of the stops plus the other photo ops I stopped for (from the sidelines) the mile markers and other entertainment, overpass shot from Osceola Parkway, crowd shots, etc. and two potty stops added about 15-17 minutes to my overall time. For me it was worth it. It was part of why I was doing a Disney race.

(And I'll be right there with you, you won't be alone!!!!)

 

[FireDancer]

Howdy!
So how do the WISHers know who they are in the group? Is there a secret handshake I need to learn before I get down there?

You'll know. A lot will be wearing WISH stuff as Todd said but runners also kind of stand out. When I am in any city with a marathon going on I can spot who is most likely there for the event by how they dress, often in shirts from other races and athletic shoes, and how they carry themselves.

If all else fails some of us have our pictures in our signature, just look for one of them and the large group they are amongst is probably a WISH group.

 

[FFigawi]

Also, does anyone know how often the characters appear for photos? Will it mess up a pace at all to stop, and will there be giant crowds around them, causing me to wait like 10 min to have a photo before I continue running?

I'd imagine a slow runner like me (thinking about a 2:50 end time) will be pretty much alone along the route

You won't be alone at all. There are a lot of people entered who plan on taking 3 or 3.5 hours to finish the half. One of the nice things about Disney is that they have a generous time limit compared to many other races and thus allow many more people to enter and complete the race.

As for characters, there are random characters scattered throughout the course. The lines to get pictures taken with them vary from none to a line of 20 people or so. During Goofy this past winter, the line for the princesses at the castle was 10-15 people long, too long for me to wait, but at Disneyland last month, there was no line. Go figure.

 

[Amy Fran]

I just found the DISboards and am so excited that there's a thread for the Half-Marathon! I am a very new runner (and I use that term loosely) and have set my goal to FINISH the race, so I'll be right there with those of you planning a 3, 3.5 hour finish time. My husband, daughter, and daughter's boyfriend are running, too. I look forward to getting to know you all better and seeing you there! --Amy

 

[crashbb]

Asking for a non-running friend.

How bad is transportation to the parks on race day? If my friend (at POP or YC, not sure yet) wants to get to MK in the morning, how bad would it be? And yes, I have pointed out that if he is at YC, he should hit EPCOT or DHS. And yes, I've also pointed out that coming out to cheer for me would also be nice!!

 

[KAA1972]

I just found the DISboards and am so excited that there's a thread for the Half-Marathon! I am a very new runner (and I use that term loosely) and have set my goal to FINISH the race, so I'll be right there with those of you planning a 3, 3.5 hour finish time. My husband, daughter, and daughter's boyfriend are running, too. I look forward to getting to know you all better and seeing you there! --Amy

Welcome, Welcome!!! The Princess Half last March was my first half and I finished at 3:20. I'm hoping for a sub 2:45 for the half -- but we will see how it goes between now and then This is a great board for asking questions!! Everyone here is very helpful!!! Best of luck with your training!!!

 

[KAA1972]

Also, does anyone know how often the characters appear for photos? Will it mess up a pace at all to stop, and will there be giant crowds around them, causing me to wait like 10 min to have a photo before I continue running?

I'd imagine a slow runner like me (thinking about a 2:50 end time) will be pretty much alone along the route

Thanks!
Carolyn

I finished the Princess Half at 3:20 and there were still tons of people -- I'll have to look and see if I can find the picture that I took of the runners behind me from the top of the overpass on the way back to Epcot -- about mile 10ish. Needless to say, you won't even be close to being alone with a 2:50 finish.

The wait for characters was very reasonable. I race for the experience -- not for a certain time -- so I stop for a lot of pictures. I don't think I ever waited more than 1-2 minutes.