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

[WriteDisney]

I did the half in both 2009 and 2010. The 2009 event was my favorite half to date, including Disney. The 2010 was a disaster. I don't know if 2009 was a good fluke or 2010 was a bad fluke but I'd do it again. I'm not sure what my spring schedule looks like but I would do it again and hope for another 2009-like experience.

I didn't even notice the lack of mile markers because I went by my watch and I think the shuttle issue would be the hotel's fault, not the races. The biggest problem for me was the Metro not opening early enough. We stayed with a friend's brother who is in the secret service. Had he been working or with the President out of town getting to the start would have been a much bigger problem.

Agreed...didn't love the organization of the race, but it wasn't that bad for me. Can't beat running through DC - mile markers or not. I am sure Rock n Roll will work out the kinks with little problem. Me? I'm already registered to give the race another try! I was the first to register in the state of DE, so they refunded my entry fee. Call me Miss Delaware!

Thanks for the input on the race! I'm hoping to try a half sometime late March-May after the full in January. I usually stick to the Maryland/Bmore Area but it'd be great to head into the District. We'll have to see. I did get a coupon for 10 bucks off after my last Rock n Roll so it would be nice to use that towards another race for next year.

 

[cobbler]

Just signed up for the half and will be signing up for the relay in the next couple of weeks. Just went on an almost 6 mile run today after returning home from CO a week ago and holy cow did I kick butt!! I think I need to go to CO about a week before the Marathon Weekend

Looking forward to getting the very cool Donald & Chip 'n Dale medal

 

[Ronda93]

Where has he been?

I don't know. I am starting to get worried. He has had some run ins with vehicles when he goes out for runs.

Wow, it has been a while. No more RoadID testimonials, okay? Hope all's well Coach.

Ronda

 

[marathonmommy]

I have a question...........time doesn't start until your chip crosses the start line right? Because if it starts when everybody else starts & you are in the last corral then that would mean the slower people would have even less time to finish on time?

Oh, how I wish this was true for my upcoming Marine Corps Marathon. Alas, it is not. I hope I BEAT THE BRIDGE!

 

[FFigawi]

Oh, how I wish this was true for my upcoming Marine Corps Marathon. Alas, it is not. I hope I BEAT THE BRIDGE!

Oh, but it is true. The 14 min/mile pace required to Beat the Bridge is based on the last corral. Says so right here.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Hey - another first timer question. I've been running pretty well - up to 6 miles. I have the stamina and breathing seems good - but I'm SLOW. any recommendations on how to be speedier? I'm doing the 1/2 and really worried about getting it done in time.

 

[jmasgat]

Hey - another first timer question. I've been running pretty well - up to 6 miles. I have the stamina and breathing seems good - but I'm SLOW. any recommendations on how to be speedier? I'm doing the 1/2 and really worried about getting it done in time.

One word: Speedwork. I incorporate speedwork as one of my 3 runs/week. This means I will spend a workout doing short intervals at fast speeds followed by a recovery interval. My plan ranges the intervals from 200-1600 m. If you google "running speedwork" or something like that you can find some ideas.

I use running plans from a book called "Run Less, Run Faster". So I get the intervals I need to run each week along with the appropriate paces. For example, yesterday my speedwork was doing 5x800 m at a pace of ~7:15 (about 1 minute faster than my 1/2 marathon pace)

Not sure about other plans/styles (e.g. Galloway, Higdon, Bingham)

Maura

AFTERWARD: So Higdon Intermediate 1/2 plan says "The program begins with 5 x 400 meters in the first week and adds one more 400 every other week to reach 10 x 400 meters the week before your half marathon. Walk or jog between each repeat. The best place to run 400-meter repeats is on a track, although you can also use an accurately-measured road course. Run the 400s at about your pace for 5-K, or 10-K"

 

[smom1976]

Hubby and I are signing up for the half .. first marathon ever for both of us..

question..

spectators are allowed into the parks prior to opening.. how do the get everyone out? how can they tell if they have a ticket or not?


and the Cheer package? worth it anyone done it?

 

[FireDancer]

Hubby and I are signing up for the half .. first marathon ever for both of us..

question..

spectators are allowed into the parks prior to opening.. how do the get everyone out? how can they tell if they have a ticket or not?


and the Cheer package? worth it anyone done it?

You are only allowed into MK and can only go as far as the end of Mainstreet. Everyone who wants to stay in the park after that will have to exit and re-enter. They kind of herd everyone out and since no one is anywhere else it isn't that hard. No other parks allow guests in before opening so it is a non-issue everywhere else.

I can't answer the Cheer package question though.

 

[CoasterAddict]

and the Cheer package? worth it anyone done it?

We've signed my mother up for the cheer package. She loves it.

 

[marathonmommy]

Oh, but it is true. The 14 min/mile pace required to Beat the Bridge is based on the last corral. Says so right here.

That would be wonderful! Do you read that in this?

MCM Gauntlet: Runners must maintain 14 minute per mile pace to pass the MCM Gauntlet at mile 17.5 at the intersection of 14th Street and Madison Drive NW. A tail-end vehicle will be in place to easily identify the necessary pace. Runners slower than the required pace will be detoured for safety reasons but will quickly rejoin the marathon course. These participants may continue to run the course but will not complete an official marathon. It is requested any runners rerouted at the Gauntlet not accept a finisher medal.

Beat the Bridge:Runners must maintain the 14 minute per mile pace to reach the 14th Street Bridge and successfully "Beat the Bridge" just after mile marker 20. The 14th Street Bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic making it unavailable to runners after 1:15 p.m. Any runners unable to "Beat the Bridge" will be required to board the straggler buses and be driven to the event finish area.

I know they mention the 14 min. mile, but I was under the impression the Bridge closes at 1:15 no matter what. So, I will have to hope they start on time and there are no organizational glitches? Since it's run by Marines, I probably shouldn't stress about glitches! I'm trying not to worry about that - but you know how that goes. I have completed a successful 16 miler, so I'm not so worried about The Gauntlet. However, I seemed to have crashed at that point - and doing 10 more seems very rough. I know this will change as I build up my mileage, but it still stresses me out! I MUST BEAT THE BRIDGE!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Have a great weekend everybody, and get those miles in

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Electronic Tracking. The mere sound of it usually incites fear and paranoia. But in the context of Disney - it is all good! As race weekend approaches Disney will put a link on their website were you can sign up and input either the cell phone or email of you and several other people you think might want to keep track of during the race. As you press over the sensors at the different locations on the course it sends out a text message or email to those on your list! Wa-la you and your lived ones can look on in amazement (or horror - just kidding) as you race toward the finish line. The system in the post has been erratic, but last year I successfully tracked several family and friends and had their finish times shortly after they were wearing their race medals!

 

[Saylan]

Electronic Tracking. The mere sound of it usually incites fear and paranoia. But in the context of Disney - it is all good! As race weekend approaches Disney will put a link on their website were you can sign up and input either the cell phone or email of you and several other people you think might want to keep track of during the race. As you press over the sensors at the different locations on the course it sends out a text message or email to those on your list! Wa-la you and your lived ones can look on in amazement (or horror - just kidding) as you race toward the finish line. The system in the post has been erratic, but last year I successfully tracked several family and friends and had their finish times shortly after they were wearing their race medals!

Hopefully handled better than the Disneyland one where the runner tracking went up the day before the expo (not helpful for people travelling) with rather vague explanations on how one register and confirms runner tracking on the various mediums.

I did like the Facebook tracking they made available though. If only it had been sooner and clearer in the process.

 

[jeanigor]

Hopefully handled better than the Disneyland one where the runner tracking went up the day before the expo (not helpful for people travelling) with rather vague explanations on how one register and confirms runner tracking on the various mediums.

I did like the Facebook tracking they made available though. If only it had been sooner and clearer in the process.

I agree 1000% with the run tracker. I'm still not sold on the Facebook results though. It said I finished with a time ~50 minutes faster than I actually did.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

That would be wonderful! Do you read that in this?

MCM Gauntlet: Runners must maintain 14 minute per mile pace to pass the MCM Gauntlet at mile 17.5 at the intersection of 14th Street and Madison Drive NW. A tail-end vehicle will be in place to easily identify the necessary pace. Runners slower than the required pace will be detoured for safety reasons but will quickly rejoin the marathon course. These participants may continue to run the course but will not complete an official marathon. It is requested any runners rerouted at the Gauntlet not accept a finisher medal.

Beat the Bridge:Runners must maintain the 14 minute per mile pace to reach the 14th Street Bridge and successfully "Beat the Bridge" just after mile marker 20. The 14th Street Bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic making it unavailable to runners after 1:15 p.m. Any runners unable to "Beat the Bridge" will be required to board the straggler buses and be driven to the event finish area.

I know they mention the 14 min. mile, but I was under the impression the Bridge closes at 1:15 no matter what. So, I will have to hope they start on time and there are no organizational glitches? Since it's run by Marines, I probably shouldn't stress about glitches! I'm trying not to worry about that - but you know how that goes. I have completed a successful 16 miler, so I'm not so worried about The Gauntlet. However, I seemed to have crashed at that point - and doing 10 more seems very rough. I know this will change as I build up my mileage, but it still stresses me out! I MUST BEAT THE BRIDGE!

Thanks for this!! All good to know since the MCM will be our first. We usually hover around 10-10:30 mile but have not run more than a Half yet, so I dont know if we will be slower with more mileage to cover. But I seriously doubt we fall all the back to a 14 minute mile!

 

[Saylan]

I agree 1000% with the run tracker. I'm still not sold on the Facebook results though. It said I finished with a time ~50 minutes faster than I actually did.

I like the premise of updating it to Facebook, but the execution was sloppy. My final time wasn't recorded and it wasn't me who was posting, it was a friend, so people thought it was her times. I'd also like to control who posts my results as with DL, I didn't want my family knowing before I posted it myself because I didn't know if I'd be terribly slow or not.

 

[jeanigor]

I signed up at the DL Expo for the Donald and received my email confirmation of registration today.

 

[marathonmommy]

Thanks for this!! All good to know since the MCM will be our first. We usually hover around 10-10:30 mile but have not run more than a Half yet, so I dont know if we will be slower with more mileage to cover. But I seriously doubt we fall all the back to a 14 minute mile!

Me neither....unless I have a really bad day, lots of bathroom stops, upset stomach . . . etc. LOL!

 

[Saylan]

I signed up at the DL Expo for the Donald and received my email confirmation of registration today.

I went to check mine and it says I'm not regsitered (I did it back in April online). Spent the whole afternoon e-mailing/phoning Active and runDisney. Apparently signing up with special promos makes it impossible to request confirmations or show up on confirmation lists online...