Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[MyFavEeyore]

Last year there were a good number of Light Side costumes, so I think you'll be OK there. The Dark Side costumed runners and the 501st Legion need someone to gang up on, anyway, right?

Well hopefully others feel the same way about light/dark side costuming ideas. Though if I were the only one and being ganged up on, it certainly would make me run faster!

 

[Tasmen]

Well hopefully others feel the same way about light/dark side costuming ideas. Though if I were the only one and being ganged up on, it certainly would make me run faster!

A Star Wars version of Zombies Run!

 

[disneyland addict13]

If the Light Side Marathon gets the Rebel Challenge, why doesn't the Dark Side Marathon get the Sith Challenge or the Empire Challenge? It really bothers me that it's called the Dark Side Challenge when its Light Side counterpart has its own special name!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Thanks! I'm just linked in to this thread. I took a peek though and think they are all pretty cool. Now hoping the Dark Side does something with BB-8 as well. I love that little guy!

Honestly, I think most of the disappointment is over the near complete lack of detail on the challenge medal. While I don't think the images of Han and Leia on the 1/2 medal look great, since it's a spinner and the other side is the Medal of Bravery design from Yavin IV, it's not that big a deal. But compared to the previous two years Rebel Challenge medal, this new one is sorely lacking. I think most people, myself included, love the BB-8 medal for the 10K. In my opinion, the BB-8 10K medal is substantially more detailed than the Rebel Challenge medal.

If Dark Side does a Force Awakens character for the 10K medal, it's highly likely to either be Kylo Ren or Captain Phasma. I really like the Darth Vader-Emperor Palpatine spinner, so I hope that stays. Or at least the Darth Vader part.

Last year there were a good number of Light Side costumes, so I think you'll be OK there. The Dark Side costumed runners and the 501st Legion need someone to gang up on, anyway, right?

I saw a lot of dark side costumes at the 2016 Light Side. Including my Kylo Ren costume for the 10K. They announced me as Kylo Ren crossing the finish line and even played his theme from The Force Awakens when I crossed.

 

[MyFavEeyore]

Does anyone know how many water stops there are during the half marathon, and how they are spread apart?

 

[DOOM1001]

Does anyone know how many water stops there are during the half marathon, and how they are spread apart?

Looking at the program guide I see 9 water stops,the distance between them seems like they range from under a mile to around a mile and a half,most seem to be around a mile.The longest span is from the first water stop past mile one to the second one past mile three.With the course changing there will be some changes but Disney races will typically have the same amount and reasonably spaced water stops.

 

[camaker]

Does anyone know how many water stops there are during the half marathon, and how they are spread apart?

@DOOM1001 summarized it pretty well. I'd just reiterate that last year's course distribution is only an estimate since they are changing the course for next year's race. Here are the estimate locations of this year's 9 water stations:

Mile 1.25, 3.5, 5, 5.75, 7, 8.25, 9.5, 11 and 12.5

 

[preciouspups]

The room discount is available. I was able to book one. (Well put it on hold as I'm still undecided.) The tickets are blocked out though during most of the Dark Side period.

Values have double beds whereas the mods and deluxes have queens. You can request a king room at values, but there aren't that many so the changes aren't great if the resort is crowded.

We need two beds or at least a king and pull out sofa since the hellion will be with us.

I thought the SoG beds were significantly lacking in comfort, but it's been about five years since we stayed there, so this may have changed.

They are not horrible, but probably not the best either. Keep in mind, it is a military hotel! But when you have been up since 3:00, you don't really notice the bed. LOL! Last year it was the hubby and I and I conked out early ad he didn't want to move me around so he slept in the other bed. LOL! The next night we were each on a bed with books and laptops and just fell asleep there. Such a romantic anniversary weekend! This year the kiddo wil be with us so he will get the pull out sofa and there will still be tons of space.

 

[preciouspups]

My husband is still not buying into my disney bounding idea of going as Raggedy Ann and Raggedy C3PO.

 

[Tasmen]

My husband is still not buying into my disney bounding idea of going as Raggedy Ann and Raggedy C3PO.

I love that idea!

 

[WhereInFlorida]

My husband is still not buying into my disney bounding idea of going as Raggedy Ann and Raggedy C3PO.

It might be running in C3PO costume for 13.1 miles that makes for second thoughts.

 

[preciouspups]

It might be running in C3PO costume for 13.1 miles that makes for second thoughts.

I was just going to have him do gold shorts and gold shirt and then face paint.

 

[ejcraft]

for those of you who said they booked the military discount for this weekend, are you sure you actually got a discount? I ask because I just tried to book the weekend at Music, and the gentleman siad yes ok, 1 room 3 A military discount and he quoted me the exact amount that I was looking at online. and when I question him he tried it again and then so wait that is blocked out till the 23rd? So was curious are people just being told they have the discount, and aren't or did you actually get a quote that was 30, 35 or 40% off?

 

[Dopey Devon]

Question for anyone who ran last year - could you get dark side weekend phone covers at D tech in the Marketplace at Disney Springs? I got a dopey challenge one this year and my boyfriend (who's doing dark side) was hoping they did them for dark side but we saw nothing online for them! We know you can get star wars ones, but was hoping for dark side specifically. If yes, anyone got a photo of the cases (long shot I know!) thanks guys!

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Depending on how the Lumiere Challenge goes in a few weeks, I'd be seriously tempted to register for the Dark Side Challenge since it's still open and is over Spring Break. My hesitation though would be weather since it's likely to be hotter. So I don't know if I actually will.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Question for anyone who ran last year - could you get dark side weekend phone covers at D tech in the Marketplace at Disney Springs? I got a dopey challenge one this year and my boyfriend (who's doing dark side) was hoping they did them for dark side but we saw nothing online for them! We know you can get star wars ones, but was hoping for dark side specifically. If yes, anyone got a photo of the cases (long shot I know!) thanks guys!

I don't remember seeing one. However, Dark Side was thrown together a bit last minute, so they may have more offerings next time.

Depending on how the Lumiere Challenge goes in a few weeks, I'd be seriously tempted to register for the Dark Side Challenge since it's still open and is over Spring Break. My hesitation though would be weather since it's likely to be hotter. So I don't know if I actually will.

Yeah... I say go for it, but in the in the interest of full disclosure, it falls at a time of year that could be cool, or could be a scorcher. It wasn't bad this year, and Half day was much dryer than 10k day which made a big difference. On average, expect it to be hotter than W&D, though.

 

[PrincessV]

Yeah... I say go for it, but in the in the interest of full disclosure, it falls at a time of year that could be cool, or could be a scorcher. It wasn't bad this year, and Half day was much dryer than 10k day which made a big difference. On average, expect it to be hotter than W&D, though.

Bolding is mine... yep. The odds of a cold front that late into spring are very, very slim. And our spring is most places' summer - the overall temps aren't as bad as June-Sept., and humidity is generally lower, but the sun is very strong by late April, so once it's up, it can feel mighty toasty out on the asphalt roads!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

For those that have run both, how does the April heat at WDW compare to the heat during the Disneyland 1/2 during Labor Day weekend?

I'm not expecting January temps in Anaheim for an April race in Orlando, but I'm trying to get an idea of what I'm in for by basing it off of heat I have ran in.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

For those that have run both, how does the April heat at WDW compare to the heat during the Disneyland 1/2 during Labor Day weekend?

I'm not expecting January temps in Anaheim for an April race in Orlando, but I'm trying to get an idea of what I'm in for by basing it off of heat I have ran in.

I thought it was hotter and definetly more humid at Darkside. I didn't think it was too bad until the last hour (I started in H and am a slower runner) But I'm also a Floridian so I'm use to running in the heat.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Thanks for your thoughts. Short sleeve running shirts and maybe no more costume than a lightsaber it is then. I'm also definitely a slower runner. My corral "dream" if you will is to be placed in a corral higher than the last one. Ever since my first race I understand why corral placement matters to runners. At this year's Light Side 10K, I was in the second to last corral and the start of the race was brutal. Way too slow, even for me. My family and friends were surprised at my negative split, but I knew it was because once the crowds dispersed, I was able to go faster. During the 1/2 the next day, I ran what I consider to be my PR and started in corral C. I should note that I define PR differently than others. Technically, my first ever 1/2 is my PR. But that race had zero stops whatsoever. Every race since then has had multiple photo stops and have all been within 11 minutes of my first time of 3:05. This year I ran the 1/2 in 3:06 including quite a few character stops.