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

[Hockeychic]

Officially decided it will be the 1/2 on Sat, need the special Donald Medal and first leg of the relay cause of course I need the inagural medal

 

[WriteDisney]

writedisney--where do you train? I live downtown, and I run a lot on the waterfront promenade, which is normally okay unless we get a LOT of snow. if you're in the suburbs, you should be okay running in the road if you get some good reflective gear. I've also had people in more northern climes recommend yaktracks. my cousin in VT uses those to run outside year round.

I'm in the suburbs (Howard County). I trained alot more outside this past year. I even made it out after some of the storms came in. BUT my real worry was that this year was such a mild year for us. If a snowstorm hits us really bad I'll just go to the gym. But that wouldn't really be an option with the very, very long runs a marathon would take. I think I'd be okay running on the roads though. Memories of Snowmagedden (last years February storm) still haunt me. I'll have to check it out Yaktracks! I know I was sliding around alot on my runs on ice this year.

I was running in Bmore today. I did the Shamrock 5k. It was my first time doing it and I had a great time. Really shut down the city though between the race and the parade after. Finished in about 28 minutes which is a personal best for me. A beautiful day for a race!

 

[cloudnut220]

I'm in the suburbs (Howard County). I trained alot more outside this past year. I even made it out after some of the storms came in. BUT my real worry was that this year was such a mild year for us. If a snowstorm hits us really bad I'll just go to the gym. But that wouldn't really be an option with the very, very long runs a marathon would take. I think I'd be okay running on the roads though. Memories of Snowmagedden (last years February storm) still haunt me. I'll have to check it out Yaktracks! I know I was sliding around alot on my runs on ice this year.

I was running in Bmore today. I did the Shamrock 5k. It was my first time doing it and I had a great time. Really shut down the city though between the race and the parade after. Finished in about 28 minutes which is a personal best for me. A beautiful day for a race!

Ah, HoCo, my once and future home (lived there as a kid, will move back there some day). The only comfort for weather worries is to know that statistically, our snowiest month in the midatlantic is February. Last year's storms were a probably once in a lifetime anomaly (as much as it kills me to say that as a snowlover). And shoveling is great cross training!

I did the Shamrock Race today too! I finished in about 27 minutes, which was a full minute PR for me! My birthday is St. Patty's Day, so it's an early birthday present to myself!

 

[fashionista311]

That is true!! I'm more worried about snow then cold.



That's good to know! Can you register for the marathon and then add VIP later? Or do you have to get both at once?

fyi, i was poking around on the site, and caught this under the race retreat page...

"Race Retreat packages will be available for purchase March 15, 2011"

so i guess this year they are letting you register for the retreat while you do your race registration

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

What is a race retreat? Sounds like something I could get on board for!

 

[fashionista311]

What is a race retreat? Sounds like something I could get on board for!

here's the info
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/wdw-marathon/

it's basically a heated tent with extra bathrooms and food before the start, and then you can get back into it post-race

 

[slapwhitey]

This will be my very first 1/2 marathon and I'm wondering if the race retreat is something that would be quite beneficial or is it not really necessary. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Sign up!!! Meet you in Epcot that Sunday afternoon!!

hi betsy!!! i'm going to sign up for the full!!! you gonna be there? we will HAVE to have our celebratory margaritas together again. well, i'll be doing the full so does that mean i can have TWO margaritas???

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

hi betsy!!! i'm going to sign up for the full!!! you gonna be there? we will HAVE to have our celebratory margaritas together again. well, i'll be doing the full so does that mean i can have TWO margaritas???

Duh.

If I do the Goofy can I have three?

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Duh.

If I do the Goofy can I have three?

amy when you FINISH goofy i will BUY YOU ALL THREE!!!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

i was just looking at the spectator tool that rundisney's site has. looks like the viewing locations are really in the first half and then at the end. um, yeah, so....is there anyone in AK and DHS cheering for you? the tool doesn't really offer how to get to AK and DHS except to say that if you want to see runner's there you should do that park.

i am actually going to have people cheering for me at the full and i feel like the second half is where i'm really gonna need it. you know, at the "wall"!

 

[mla1977]

They can take the bus to AK and cheer you on there. I actually recommend taking the bus to the studios and cheering you on in there instead. Or they can be at the YC/BC and then run into Epcot through the Int'l Gateway then meet you after you circle around the World Showcase.

 

[stitchfan18]

i was just looking at the spectator tool that rundisney's site has. looks like the viewing locations are really in the first half and then at the end. um, yeah, so....is there anyone in AK and DHS cheering for you? the tool doesn't really offer how to get to AK and DHS except to say that if you want to see runner's there you should do that park.

i am actually going to have people cheering for me at the full and i feel like the second half is where i'm really gonna need it. you know, at the "wall"!

When we were at DHS during the marathon in 2010, there were a ton of people in the park cheering runners on. I'm sure it'll be the same in AK. I doubt it'll be as easy to get to multiple viewing points in the second 1/2 of the race though.

 

[cewait]

Duh.

If I do the Goofy can I have three?

Just make sure they are on Sunday or Monday....... It's an experience thing - ugh

 

[orlandothebeagle]

FOr you guys that have done the full before, how long does it take from finish to getting out the car park(plan to finish around 5 hour mark) weve booked a cruise post race and now Im starting to worry.
Nearer the time I will be asking about tips re car parking!

 

[cewait]

i was just looking at the spectator tool that rundisney's site has. looks like the viewing locations are really in the first half and then at the end. um, yeah, so....is there anyone in AK and DHS cheering for you? the tool doesn't really offer how to get to AK and DHS except to say that if you want to see runner's there you should do that park.

i am actually going to have people cheering for me at the full and i feel like the second half is where i'm really gonna need it. you know, at the "wall"!

They can take the bus to AK and cheer you on there. I actually recommend taking the bus to the studios and cheering you on in there instead. Or they can be at the YC/BC and then run into Epcot through the Int'l Gateway then meet you after you circle around the World Showcase.

When we were at DHS during the marathon in 2010, there were a ton of people in the park cheering runners on. I'm sure it'll be the same in AK. I doubt it'll be as easy to get to multiple viewing points in the second 1/2 of the race though.

t's not easy for a spectator to get from the MK area to the AK. There are several folks at AK; more at DHS and even more at Epcot. If important to you to have them on the back of the course then I would suggest TTC (mile 9 only), then hopping a bus to AK from there. From there grabbing a YC/BC bus and heading to the I-Gate of Epcot for a mile 25 sighting . The other option would be going from the TTC area (this time with the Poly added) to DHS (either by way of bus or monorail then walking through Epcot and boat to DHS). Note they should NOT plan on walking to or from the Epcot resort area to DHS. The sidewalk is just too crowded with the race and any extra creates an issue. There is no real way for them to get to the AK, DHS and Epcot Finish in time to meet you post race.

 

[fashionista311]

t's not easy for a spectator to get from the MK area to the AK. There are several folks at AK; more at DHS and even more at Epcot. If important to you to have them on the back of the course then I would suggest TTC (mile 9 only), then hopping a bus to AK from there. From there grabbing a YC/BC bus and heading to the I-Gate of Epcot for a mile 25 sighting . The other option would be going from the TTC area (this time with the Poly added) to DHS (either by way of bus or monorail then walking through Epcot and boat to DHS). Note they should NOT plan on walking to or from the Epcot resort area to DHS. The sidewalk is just too crowded with the race and any extra creates an issue. There is no real way for them to get to the AK, DHS and Epcot Finish in time to meet you post race.

would spectators be able to make it from ak right over to the finish in epcot? hoping to be in the 4:15-4:30 range, but could be later than that who knows..strange things can happen in those last 6 miles

 

[FireDancer]

I don't remember anyone other than cast members in AK when I went through. In DHS it was mostly cast members other than one table handing out candy I think. By that time I was pretty much just concentrating on finishing so I wasn't paying that close of attention. I was through all the parks pre-opening I think too which I'm sure makes a difference.

 

[cewait]

FOr you guys that have done the full before, how long does it take from finish to getting out the car park(plan to finish around 5 hour mark) weve booked a cruise post race and now Im starting to worry.
Nearer the time I will be asking about tips re car parking!

We decided last year that a 5 hour marathoner could make it ------- BARELY. When I say barely it meant everything had to work perfectly. There is little or no clean up time, late check out is not an option so you have to be out of the room pre-race or have a non-running mate take care of that. You cannot take longer than your planned 5 hours and the parking lot had to work perfectly (i.e. no back up issues). Note it has taken the better part of an hour to get out of the parking lot in bad years - or those years where the weather was a little iffy so more people drove. Driving makes things a little better than taking the bus over..

Hopefully that person will let us know if they made it, or not.

 

[cewait]

would spectators be able to make it from ak right over to the finish in epcot? hoping to be in the 4:15-4:30 range, but could be later than that who knows..strange things can happen in those last 6 miles

They would have roughly 1:15-1:30 to make it. In normal years, yes. Note the issue for AK is that we, the runners have most of the roadway returning from the AK. So traffic is limited to one lane from AK up to Buena Vista Dr (aka the All Star Exit from AK). All vehicles must take that exit. From there I am not sure what happens but think all would be OK --- it's just getting to the bottom of that exit and through the traffic light. Your spectators would have the advantage of returning during a period of lighter traffic loads so they have a higher likelihood of being OK.

As a note for all spectators looking to see folks at AK and DHS - plan on seeing them outside the gate. It is easier to get to and you have more area to see your runner from.


Hope this helps.