Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[DisSconnie]

We took our youngest at 19 months old. I don't want to sound negative, but be prepared for this to be a challenging trip. We went at 7 months, 19 months, almost 3, and a few older trips and the 19 month trip was the hardest. That said, I don't regret it at all and am not trying to discourage you! If you expect the challenges, it should be a better trip. I went in expecting him to love all sorts of things and he didn't. What I figured out, and every child is different, is that my little guy needed lots of time to move. The play areas were a God send! I also have beautiful memories of playing with him with a ball outside of Space Mountain one morning while we waited for the big kids to ride. We didn't do afternoon naps because it didn't work well with our family and other kids. Instead, we let him nap in the stroller or longer rides and shows. He was not as impressed with the rides as I hoped he would be, but it was still a wonderful trip.

If yours is at all noise sensitive (mine still is), hearing protection makes a massive difference. These are what we still use https://www.amazon.com/Snug-Sound-Earmuffs-Hearing-Protectors/dp/B00F3YNE1A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1491320162&sr=8-2&keywords=child+ear+muffs&th=1 The volume in many of the dark rides really bothered him, and these fixed the problem!

My intent is not to discourage you (I really hope I didn't) but to help you prepare. It was a hard trip, but a wonderful one!!

Oh no, I know what we're getting ourselves into . We went a couple of years ago with my nieces and nephew who were 4, 2, and 1 at the time, so we definitely understand what kind of disaster it can be with cranky littles. (EPIC meltdown by the 2 year old bolting down Sunset Blvd at HS and kicking and screaming when we ran to catch him). Luckily, we're going with grandparents, and we only have the 1 so 4 adults and 1 kid, we should be able to make things work. We're also incredibly lucky to have pretty much the most laidback kid in the world who has never thrown a temper tantrum that couldn't be solved with food, hahaha. I've done all of our fast-passes (and planned rider swaps) to allow at least a 3 hour break to go back to the hotel and nap, so I'm hoping for the best, but if things implode we'll just go with the flow.

 

[PrincessV]

Thinking of how I want to handle that circle overpass in the 10k, it's slanted I'm assuming, so do people find the top or bottom of those curves better? I tend to go bottom on those hoping for shortest route up and flatest. I'm not worried about wrecking my leg from the slant in the half on it and it looks like it won't be as long, just don't want kill it in the 10k.

In your case, either will be good: both the top and bottom are less cambered than the middle. I alwyas go for the bottom,, but I live and run here in FL, so I'm very used to the steep camber on all of our roads (and paths, and sidewalks...) for storm water runoff. The advantage of running at the bottom, in the shoulder, is a tighter circle = less distance. You pay for it with gravel, overgrown grass clumps, and the occasional roadkill, but it's fun to pass a gazillion people higher up the slope! But if you don't mind adding a little distance, the very top tends to be flatter.

 

[Goofy2015]

Two Very Random Questions:

1) For the two course challenges aka The Dark Side Challenge. I have noticed that people are wearing a Dark Side Challenge bib. Do they give you two separate bibs for each race or do you wear the same bib for both races?

2) This is a running costume question. I am thinking of being Imperial Director Orson Krennic for the Star Wars 10K aka the main bad guy from Rogue One. He wears a cape. As an adult, are you allowed to wear a cape during the run? If so, I am guessing there is a limit to its length.

Thanks!

 

[PrincessV]

Re: passing slower runners from back corrals... that's pretty much every race for me, though never my plan. I'm a slower starter, faster finisher, and I'm always in the mid to back of the corrals. The majority of folks in my corrals start out fast and burn out a few miles in, so I wind up doing a lot of passing for much of the rest of the race. It's actually very easy to do safely and politely! I run like I drive: I pay close attention to where people are around me, speed up or slow down as needed to maintain safe distance, always look in front/behind/to the side before changing lanes to pass, and offer a friendly "Excuse me!" or "May I please squeeze through?" if blocked entirely in tight spaces, then wait to proceed until the people ahead of me can get into single file. And if we're all stuck in a tight section where it's obvious no one can make adjustments, I just adjust my pace to match traffic and deal. Have I never made a mistake and wound up in someone's way? Of course not! But a simple, heartfelt "I'm sorry!" has always been accepted with a smile.

 

[PrincessV]

Two Very Random Questions:

1) For the two course challenges aka The Dark Side Challenge. I have noticed that people are wearing a Dark Side Challenge bib. Do they give you two separate bibs for each race or do you wear the same bib for both races?

2) This is a running costume question. I am thinking of being Imperial Director Orson Krennic for the Star Wars 10K aka the main bad guy from Rogue One. He wears a cape. As an adult, are you allowed to wear a cape during the run? If so, I am guessing there is a limit to its length.

Thanks!

One bib for both races.
Capes are allowed, but must be short - full costume rules are on rundisney.com, under Star Wars Dark Side, Runner Info. Safety:

• Capes may be worn if the length does not go below the waist.

 

[cavepig]

In your case, either will be good: both the top and bottom are less cambered than the middle. I alwyas go for the bottom,, but I live and run here in FL, so I'm very used to the steep camber on all of our roads (and paths, and sidewalks...) for storm water runoff. The advantage of running at the bottom, in the shoulder, is a tighter circle = less distance. You pay for it with gravel, overgrown grass clumps, and the occasional roadkill, but it's fun to pass a gazillion people higher up the slope! But if you don't mind adding a little distance, the very top tends to be flatter.

Thanks for this! The roads I run are sloped but just a little, nothing at all like those there so it's hard to get ready for but I remember them sucking. Road Kill sadly I am used to, hopefully there won't be any.

 

[PrincessV]

Road Kill sadly I am used to, hopefully there won't be any.

Road kill was a new one to me recently - I mean, I'm used to it locally, but those are usually in the actual road. I missed landing on a very dead, stinky something (possum? rat? who knows?!) in the shoulder of one of the ramps during the WDW marathon this year and that was a first for me at WDW!

 

[cavepig]

Road kill was a new one to me recently - I mean, I'm used to it locally, but those are usually in the actual road. I missed landing on a very dead, stinky something (possum? rat? who knows?!) in the shoulder of one of the ramps during the WDW marathon this year and that was a first for me at WDW!

As gross as it is, off the road/ditch surprises are normal here, I have stepped on all sorts of what was that, but yeah I wouldn't think about it at Disney happening at all! That Disney bubble ya know, hahaha! I know my brother said he ran over some already dead frogs on the road by ESPN that you go on during the marathon at one point.

 

[Nugent]

I wrote to RunDisney to ask about walking from the Polynesian to the TTC for the start of the race, and they said no:

"For safety reasons, participants will not be allowed to walk from their resort to the Start
Line. Any participants who do so risk being disqualified from the race."

 

[Chasing Dopey]

I wrote to RunDisney to ask about walking from the Polynesian to the TTC for the start of the race, and they said no:

"For safety reasons, participants will not be allowed to walk from their resort to the Start
Line. Any participants who do so risk being disqualified from the race."

Did you ask if you can walk to the start or to the staging area? I ask because that's a different question.

 

[Nugent]

"We are staying at the Polynesian while my son runs the Dark Side Half
Marathon. Will he be allowed to walk over to the start
area from the Polynesian?"

I also asked when in the day the monorail would start running again, and they didn't answer that.

 

[DISRNR1000]

I asked about walking from the Polynesian to the race start as well and received the same canned answer. The answer seems like it was right out of the event guide.

Maybe it is not possible to walk to the TTC anymore with the new security policies. I guess I will check into it when I arrive. I don't want to break any rules and walk to the "start". I just want to walk to the TTC where the runner drop off area is and join the other runners as they walk to the staging area.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

"We are staying at the Polynesian while my son runs the Dark Side Half
Marathon. Will he be allowed to walk over to the start
area from the Polynesian?"

I also asked when in the day the monorail would start running again, and they didn't answer that.

I asked about walking from the Polynesian to the race start as well and received the same canned answer. The answer seems like it was right out of the event guide.

Maybe it is not possible to walk to the TTC anymore with the new security policies. I guess I will check into it when I arrive. I don't want to break any rules and walk to the "start". I just want to walk to the TTC where the runner drop off area is and join the other runners as they walk to the staging area.

Yeah, it's a canned response, and there is a very good chance the people you've communicated with don't actually know what you're asking.

But after looking it up, the drop off is at the Charter Lot? Dang. That's still a trek to the staging area. Good warm up, though. (Or maybe they're running trams!) BUT, having said that, I would be very surprised if they went out of their way to block the half dozen or so ways you can walk from Polynesian to the TTC, or into the lot itself.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Oh, man... I was checking out the Polynesian/TTC thing over satellite, so I took a glimpse at the route. Bad idea. There will be a big bottleneck at about .65 miles. (And maybe a slight one at 1.25 after that.) I would hope they wouldn't start the sweep timing until after everyone gets onto Bear Island Drive. It won't be as bad as last year, but not a smooth as we thought near the start. Oh, well.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Oh, man... I was checking out the Polynesian/TTC thing over satellite, so I took a glimpse at the route. Bad idea. There will be a big bottleneck at about .65 miles. (And maybe a slight one at 1.25 after that.) I would hope they wouldn't start the sweep timing until after everyone gets onto Bear Island Drive. It won't be as bad as last year, but not a smooth as we thought near the start. Oh, well.

While I'm still excited to do this race, it's waning fast. First the placing of the last corral (all runners under 3 hours) and now another bottleneck to start the race has me questioning runDisney more and more.

 

[Ndusmama]

While I'm still excited to do this race, it's waning fast. First the placing of the last corral (all runners under 3 hours) and now another bottleneck to start the race has me questioning runDisney more and more.

I told my sister that I want to be on the first bus to be as close to the front as possible. She said I was crazy. But if I can get closer to the front, and I can and do run at that pace hopefully all the "no proof but lowest time I can put" people will be behind me.

 

[Plaid Princess]

It will not change the folks walking 4 abreast on the boardwalk or people simply randomly stopping.

I can almost understand walking abreast in a group in wide areas, if you're off to the far side or something. What I really cannot understand is the random stopping, frequently for people to check their cell phone. Honestly, it takes 2 seconds to put a hand up and move to the side.

This is a running costume question. I am thinking of being Imperial Director Orson Krennic for the Star Wars 10K aka the main bad guy from Rogue One. He wears a cape. As an adult, are you allowed to wear a cape during the run? If so, I am guessing there is a limit to its length.

You can, and it can go to your waist, although I've found it easier to run in a shorter cape (like just above my elbows). If you do run as Orson, I want a picture with you.

 

[GrandMum]

I had these great plans of adding days/distance every week and it hasn't worked. Started with new shoes (fitted at running store) that didn't work, shin splints, foot pain and am now in PT 2-3 times a week. I'm a little discouraged since I can't get past 2 miles now without pain. I'm pretty sure I can get through the 5K but not sure about the 10K. I'm planning to start but know I will only be walking and possibly slower then I had anticipated. I need some suggestions so I can try but still not interfere with other runners.

 

[bcarey2k]

I had these great plans of adding days/distance every week and it hasn't worked. Started with new shoes (fitted at running store) that didn't work, shin splints, foot pain and am now in PT 2-3 times a week. I'm a little discouraged since I can't get past 2 miles now without pain. I'm pretty sure I can get through the 5K but not sure about the 10K. I'm planning to start but know I will only be walking and possibly slower then I had anticipated. I need some suggestions so I can try but still not interfere with other runners.

This will prob not be what you want to hear, but ... first - find shoes with a different heel drop. I had shin splints when using a high drop and again with super low (I pretty much made every mistake shoe-wise I could) ... I settled in on a 6mm drop. This will vary by person, but can significantly help/reduce shin splint pain.

Second - rest.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

I had these great plans of adding days/distance every week and it hasn't worked. Started with new shoes (fitted at running store) that didn't work, shin splints, foot pain and am now in PT 2-3 times a week. I'm a little discouraged since I can't get past 2 miles now without pain. I'm pretty sure I can get through the 5K but not sure about the 10K. I'm planning to start but know I will only be walking and possibly slower then I had anticipated. I need some suggestions so I can try but still not interfere with other runners.

Ditto on the shoes. I hate to say it, but getting shoes 'fitted' isn't all it's cracked up to be. The best option, I have found, is to find an online running store that will allow test period and still let you return/exchange the shoes. (roadrunnersports and I think fit2run, for example). That way, you can order and test to your heart's content. Everyone is so different physiologically, 'conventional wisdom' on running shoes appears (to me) to be bunk.

Other than that, keep up the PT and possibly enhance that to every other day. (Are you doing that at home? What kind of foot pain?) If you can walk without pain, get as much time out there as you can, as that is still beneficial! Wrap your shin. Even an ace bandage may help if you get it on their snug (but not pulsating tight) and provide some compression. Last time I had shin splints threatening me, I think that made a difference keeping it from getting worse. And it felt good. (Wore it all day and night for a few days.)

Good luck! I know it seems time is closing in, but stay positive, fight!fight!fight!