OFFICIAL January 2012 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Goofy or Dopey Challenge Thread

[halvnorsk]

Quick, but very important question - how does the sizing of the shirts run? I ordered a medium, but now I'm wondering if it will fit. I usually wear a women's medium. I guess I'd rather have it too big rather than too small though. Any experience with shirt sizing?

Thanks!!

I found the 2011 Marathon shirts to be bigger than expected. I ordered a small which is what I usually get in a unisex size. It was too big. My husband who usually wears a large (sometimes med.) tried it on and it was just a tad snug. So, this year I ordered extra small. If I remember right, the size chart confirmed my decision.

 

[hotblooded]

Race Capacities as of Today:

Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge – 80% Full
Walt Disney World® Marathon – 55% Full
Walt Disney World® Half Marathon – 53% Full


I'm really surprised the Full is filling faster than the Half. Maybe it has something do to with designated spots for the relay?

 

[cewait]

Race Capacities as of Today:

Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge – 80% Full
Walt Disney World® Marathon – 55% Full
Walt Disney World® Half Marathon – 53% Full


I'm really surprised the Full is filling faster than the Half. Maybe it has something do to with designated spots for the relay?

That is a little unusual. Though the half is larger again this year so that could be some of the issue. The half is also a little pricey for a half since it costs the same as he full, that could have something to do with it. I would have thought the half would be sold out before now since it is the 15th year

The full count is not from the relay. That was the marathon growth mechanism for this year. It adds 3000 runners (1500 teams) to the mix and is not included in the full count.

 

[stitchfan18]

I'm really surprised the Full is filling faster than the Half. Maybe it has something do to with designated spots for the relay?

I wonder if the discount code for the marathon and goofy has anything to do with the marathon being slightly fuller. It was emailed out to pretty much everyone who has participated in run disney events recently. Maybe enough of those people enjoyed the race they ran enough to consider doing the full at a discount...

 

[FireDancer]

That is a little unusual. Though the half is larger again this year so that could be some of the issue. The half is also a little pricey for a half since it costs the same as he full, that could have something to do with it. I would have thought the half would be sold out before now since it is the 15th year

The full count is not from the relay. That was the marathon growth mechanism for this year. It adds 3000 runners (1500 teams) to the mix and is not included in the full count.

I think the price is starting to sway people away from the half. I also wonder how many new people are signing up as opposed to runners doing their nth WDW race. I know now that I've done a couple of halves and a full I'm looking at other races to do instead of the same one over again.

I also imagine there are people who have decided to do the inaugural relay instead of the 15th year half.

 

[cewait]

I think the price is starting to sway people away from the half. I also wonder how many new people are signing up as opposed to runners doing their nth WDW race. I know now that I've done a couple of halves and a full I'm looking at other races to do instead of the same one over again.

I also imagine there are people who have decided to do the inaugural relay instead of the 15th year half.

It's hard to say. I do think that both races being equally priced will eventually hurt the half event. This may be the year. I am not sure that the relay is the reason since at best it has taken less than 1500 runners away or less than 6%.

I am wondering if the 7500 Goofy runners may be the issue. The draw for Disney used to be a destination run in the parks. There was little competition over the weekend in the early years. There is a huge contingent of folks who are in the been there done it camp and really hate running back roads (I am still amazed at all the negative posts whining about not enough park miles - guess they were expecting to be magically transported between parks). So more early January competition and now the Goofy phenomena may be slowly killing the race. Every one I speak to about the weekend really wants to know about Goofy. There seems to be little desire for Mickey or Donald in a casual conversation.

But then is the above really killing the race? There are approximately 50,000 runners over the marathon weekend. That to me seems like it is not really a dying event. It was not all that long ago that the race would have sold out with approx 25-28,000 entries in hand (50% of 50k). So maybe we are not really comparing apples with apples here.

I think that the race weekend is alive and well and has experienced growth even when disposable incomes are closely guarded by families. In 2005-6 the race would be sold out at this point and we would be hoping for a great and injury free training season. I am sure that the bean counters are looking at the numbers and rate of fill of the January and other races.

I would like to understand the ratio of newbies, multi-year runners and streakers. I would bet that half the runners are here for the first time as this is a great first half or full course. The streakers (the 'Perfect 19' and 'Perfectly Goofies') amount to less than 1% of all runners. There is a contingent of runners who are the Disney lovers who look for a reason to come to MCO for a long weekend, or are locals and just run in the local half or full. This is not a statistic that seems to be discussed publicly. I would bet that someone would have this tidbit in their pocket.

 

[FFigawi]

It would definitely be interesting to see the split between the various types of runners (first timers, done it a few times, streakers, etc.). One theory I have is that the half is losing entries in the middle, the people who have run it a few times but aren't streakers. It's a great course to run for your first half, but after a few of them, it really does get kind of dull. You're not in MK very long and you don't get to see all that much of Epcot coming back to the finish either. For the same price, the marathon is much more attractive since you get to see more of the parks.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Competition Begins In
169 days 07hrs 12 mins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[QTrunninglady]

Did the half in 2010 and 2011. I'm going for it all and going Goofy in 2012. Plus gonna go for the Coast to Coast in 2012.

Then, I'm sad to say, I'm probably going to scale back and only participate every 3 to 4 years. Planning to branch out to other vacation destination races.

 

[joan4mickey]

Not that you will be able calculate statistic on just one person, but...

This is my first full and since I began my running journey 3 1/2 years ago with the last Minnie Marathon 15K and then doing the first Princess Half, I wanted to make this my first full. I may never run a full again so I figured I'd do a fun one. I feel my streak will be the Princess Half, although for some reason I wasn't that impressed last year and I hate all the "empowerment" crap. Sorry if you don't like that last statement, but it is how I feel.

My son and daughter are running the marathon relay. They could have done the half on Saturday, but why get up early two mornings in a row when we can all get up early and run Sunday...just a good option for us.

I have done the Princess Half with my daughters, and it makes for a nice weekend together, but this year one will be student teaching and not sure about training and timing and the other hopes (in this poor job market,ugh) to find employment, Cum Luade Math major with a minor in econ. so she isn't sure about her plans, but may be able to run the Princess.

I'm sure the reasons for run/or not running are all vastly different.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

How is everybodys running going this week?

I finally got under the 11 minute mile this week on my 5 mile run

 

[Maddykins06]

Congrats on your time!!!

This week has been rough. Only got through 2.21 miles on Tuesday. Wednesday did 4, but bailed on my 5 this morning.
Feeling a "twinge" on my shin just standing & don't want to chance it, plus temps are heading up to 102+ until Monday.

 

[John VN]

How is everybodys running going this week?.....

Just had my 61st birthday on the 10th and celebrated it with a WDW-FW stay this past weekend. Got out Sat. morning at 4:00AM for a 13.12 mile walk in 2:10:00. Had some deer leading me down the road a couple of times. On schedule to walk my Goofy Marathon in January in 4:30:00 when hopefully the temps. will be much cooler.

Stay hydrated and healthy everybody.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

How is everybodys running going this week?

I finally got under the 11 minute mile this week on my 5 mile run

Great job on your run!

I am pretty happy with how I am doing. I am still not anywhere near where I was the last time I ran a long race (Flying Pig Half Marathon in May, 2010), but I figure that since six months ago I was told to give up running, I'm going to be happy with whatever I can do. I did a tempo run for the first time yesterday. It was HARD, but I'm proud to say I kept my pace (snail's pace, that is, lol) through the whole thing.

Thanks for asking!

 

[paxsarah]

I've pared my miles back a bit this week, in preparation for a 5K this weekend. I know it's too hot to PR in it, but I want to do well since this was my first race last year after I started back to running last spring and it'll be fun to see my year-over-year progress. Then, on Sunday I plan to go out on the trail and try out my new gaiters that came in the mail this week.

 

[FFigawi]

I finally got under the 11 minute mile this week on my 5 mile run

Good work!

 

[stitchfan18]

Just had my 61st birthday on the 10th and celebrated it with a WDW-FW stay this past weekend. Got out Sat. morning at 4:00AM for a 13.12 mile walk in 2:10:00. Had some deer leading me down the road a couple of times. On schedule to walk my Goofy Marathon in January in 4:30:00 when hopefully the temps. will be much cooler.

Stay hydrated and healthy everybody.

Happy belated birthday! I'm super impressed at your walking speed. My 1/2 marathon PR is a 2:10 and I was beat afterward!

 

[hauntedcity]

Well, thanks to my knee, I haven't run in almost 2 weeks. The doctor said to take it easy for a while, but the running moratorium ends this weekend. I can bounce on my toes without pain (finally!), so I'll probably do an easy run on Monday or Tuesday. Wish me luck!

Doug

 

[cewait]

Well, thanks to my knee, I haven't run in almost 2 weeks. The doctor said to take it easy for a while, but the running moratorium ends this weekend. I can bounce on my toes without pain (finally!), so I'll probably do an easy run on Monday or Tuesday. Wish me luck!

Doug

Good luck - but still, take it easy on that first run. What was the issue?

 

[hauntedcity]

Good luck - but still, take it easy on that first run. What was the issue?

Stupidity. Stupidity was the issue. MY stupidity, to be precise.

Here's the story with all the sordid details...
I had gone camping with my family over 4th of July, and had to pack up our pop-up camper in the rain, so when we got home, I set the camper up in the driveway to dry out. It was nice and dry by Thursday. We store the camper in our garage, and it just seemed like WAY too much effort to move the cars around, hitch up the camper, back it up, move the cars around again, and so on. "Hey!" thought I, "I can just push it up the driveway into the garage!"
Note: FIRST MISTAKE.

Well, it's a bit harder to push a camper up an incline than I thought. Plus, there was a little lip into the garage. "I can do this," thought I. "No camper will get the best of me."
Note: Never push around a large trailer wearing flip-flops, especially if you rarely wear them. SECOND MISTAKE.
I DID IT, though, but it took every bit of strength I had to get it in the garage.

The next day was my long run day (can you see where this is going?). I headed out nice and early and noticed a little pain in my left knee. Still, it was nothing too bad, so I just powered through it.
Note: THIRD AND FINAL MISTAKE. Seriously, don't I have ANY common sense? I must have been sick the day God was passing it out.

The next day, it didn't feel too bad, but the next running day I couldn't even run for 10 seconds, let alone 30 minutes.

SO! To make a long story longer, the doctor didn't feel anything amiss, so she prescribed rest and an end to stupidity.

And there you go!

Doug