Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[tlmadden73]

If you look at the runDisney website, all of their races start this early or earlier (with the occasional 6:30AM start or something like that). They used to have night races but stopped doing them.

As you said in your post, heat is a factor, but the #1 priority is getting the parks ready to open. Every single person needs to be cleared, mile markers need to come down, water/Powerade cups and throwaway clothes need to be cleaned up, roads that were closed need to open back up, etc. In addition to whatever routine maintenance Cast Members need to do before the parks open.

And as @PrincessV pointed out, you'd actually need to arrive by probably 5AM at the latest for the race. These are HUGE events - if you're looking to run the 10K I think there will be about 12,000 total runners in that race. So Disney wants to make sure all 12,000 get there on time and all 12,000 are cleared from the parks to open. The 10K looks to be going through Epcot toward the end of the race, and while the first runners start at 6AM, the runners in the later corrals won't start until probably 7AM...so that's 2 hours from the last runners starting until Epcot opens at 9. And with the 16:00/mile pace requirement, the very last runner that starts the race at 7 has about 1:40 to finish...so that's 8:40ish when the last runner goes through Epcot. They really cannot start it much later.

As for whether it's light out or not - as someone who has done a few of these races, it is SO fun and special to run through the parks in the dark. They have everything lit up like they do in the evenings...it's really a treat.

Thanks for the explanation. I figured it was based on getting the parks open.

I'll admit, I am not a running fanatic. I was looking as doing this as a fun, casual thing to do and a neat way to combine a few of my loves (Disney, Star Wars and running).

I haven't run in ages and thought this would give me the motivation and frankly an excuse to visit WDW again.

I don't think I have the "devoted" level of running fanaticism to justify the cost and crazy early time especially since my family (very young kids) couldn't join (or watch me) (Momma is not going to get up in the middle of the night while on a vacation). Maybe someday ... just not yet. I'll just take a vacation to WDW without having to worry about getting up super early for a 30 minute run in the dark.

Nothing against those who are running fanatics, but I think starting in a local race or two is the better way to get restarted on this running thing. Heh

Looks like I'll be passing on this one.

Thank you all for the info in this thread.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

I'll admit, I am not a running fanatic. I was looking as doing this as a fun, casual thing to do and a neat way to combine a few of my loves (Disney, Star Wars and running).

I haven't run in ages and thought this would give me the motivation and frankly an excuse to visit WDW again.

While it can be a lot to bite off, you've certainly got the right idea! Hopefully you'll make it one day. It's worth it.

And you know.... that IS how it begins.....

 

[Tasmen]

I'll admit, I am not a running fanatic. I was looking as doing this as a fun, casual thing to do and a neat way to combine a few of my loves (Disney, Star Wars and running).

I haven't run in ages and thought this would give me the motivation and frankly an excuse to visit WDW again.

It's putting peanut butter in my chocolate for me. Two great loves that go great together. I'm also not a running fanatic, but the idea of doing Disney + Star Wars has compelled me to the running side of the force.

 

[ejcraft]

if anyone fly's southwest and is just going down for the weekend, they just opened till April24th.
got my fly down, as soon as my son comes home I'll get his also, then maybe I'll go check out hotels, and the tuesday we"ll get our 1/2 marathon registration done, this will be my first half, as I will have done 2 10K's before this. Tinkerbell, and wine and dine. Third rundisney race, third child running with, one more left.

 

[Disneymoon09]

Might have just accidentally bought a ticket to Orlando on Thursday 4/20....yea..it was an accident...

 

[BDK33]

Do you all think/know if this will this be the same course as last year?

 

[MyFavEeyore]

Do you all think/know if this will this be the same course as last year?

Some are saying that they've noticed the start has changed from last year's on the runDisney page. So it's probably safe to assume the course(s) are changing. Tie this in with comments that others feel runDisney looks and listens to threads, comments, and other feedback combined with observations of last year's run(s) i.e. congestion and crowding at areas and decided to change things.

 

[cavepig]

Do you all think/know if this will this be the same course as last year?

The 10k & half will be different as rundisney.com says they both start on Floridian way & end at EPCOT, so no Wide World of Sports finish like last year. So, as said above they must have listened about the congestion last year and bus issues at the finish. So, it's good they are changing it, it sounds like.

The 5k says EPCOT just like last year, so probably the same.

 

[camaker]

Do you all think/know if this will this be the same course as last year?

Go back a few pages in this thread and there's a pretty extensive speculation discussion on what this year's course will be. Definitely different than last...

 

[wehrengrizz]

While it can be a lot to bite off, you've certainly got the right idea! Hopefully you'll make it one day. It's worth it.

And you know.... that IS how it begins.....

haha I second this!! The first runDisney 5K I did was pretty amazing. A few months ago I did the Tink 10K and it was a big accomplishment, but for lots of reasons (one of them being an injury I didn't know I got until later), I said that I couldn't see myself doing another race at all, Disney or not.
Thanks a lot @MommaoffherRocker , now here I go again, edge of my seat waiting for Tuesday at 12 EST to register for SWDS I mean, we all know the Force is pulling us to runDisney and stuff, but the struggle is REAL to resist!!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

haha I second this!! The first runDisney 5K I did was pretty amazing. A few months ago I did the Tink 10K and it was a big accomplishment, but for lots of reasons (one of them being an injury I didn't know I got until later), I said that I couldn't see myself doing another race at all, Disney or not.
Thanks a lot @MommaoffherRocker , now here I go again, edge of my seat waiting for Tuesday at 12 EST to register for SWDS I mean, we all know the Force is pulling us to runDisney and stuff, but the struggle is REAL to resist!!

Who me?

 

[MyFavEeyore]

haha I second this!! The first runDisney 5K I did was pretty amazing. A few months ago I did the Tink 10K and it was a big accomplishment, but for lots of reasons (one of them being an injury I didn't know I got until later), I said that I couldn't see myself doing another race at all, Disney or not.
Thanks a lot @MommaoffherRocker , now here I go again, edge of my seat waiting for Tuesday at 12 EST to register for SWDS I mean, we all know the Force is pulling us to runDisney and stuff, but the struggle is REAL to resist!!

Right there with ya'! Did my first Disney run (also a 5k-at the last Expedition Everest), and that was it...I was hooked. Now add my DS always saying, "Hey you should try this or that" (challenge thrown) and my refusal to grow up (so challenge accepted) I've increased distances. Last PHM thought I got smart and said he should try keeping up with me. He's 23, I'm 4?. No sooner did we finish the 10k he uttered the words, "WE should try a longer race next time." Soooo, 8/9/16 can't come soon enough. Just crossing fingers me/both get in.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

After my first 1/2, I believed it would be my last. I started way too fast and nearly injured myself because of that. Consequently, I was extremely sore less than a half mile into the race and that lingered with me. While I persevered and happily finished, I paid a soreness price because I started too fast. The race was not a very fun experience, although I certainly enjoyed elements of it such as seeing the parade floats at Disneyland close up and running through Angels Stadium.

But the lure of the Coast to Coast the following year got me and I had a lot more fun the second race than my first. After taking a couple years off, I was starting to get the bug again. I considered signing up for Avengers 2014, but the rumors of a race strong in the Force were more than enough to make me wait.

And boy am I glad I did. I've run both Rebel Challenge events and am now training for the Kessel Run next year. At the same time, I've never done an event outside of runDisney. I don't enjoy running enough to do it for the sake of running a local race, although there are some destinations that could persuade me for other reasons. The runDisney experience, especially the Star Wars aspect of it now, is really enjoyable to me. Star Wars music throughout the parks?!?! All the random cool Star Wars fans and their incredible costumes and car overhauls?! More please.

And yes, I teared up a little when I crossed the finish line in 2015 and received the 1/2 marathon medal clearly inspired by the Medal of Bravery from Yavin IV. For a brief moment, I could really pretend that I was actually in Star Wars.

 

[Tasmen]

And yes, I teared up a little when I crossed the finish line in 2015 and received the 1/2 marathon medal clearly inspired by the Medal of Bravery from Yavin IV. For a brief moment, I could really pretend that I was actually in Star Wars.

You made me tear up a little just reading about your experience

 

[Sleepless Knight]

It probably also contributed that I set my iPod to play The Throne Room from Star Wars in 2015. What can I say? I'm a Star Wars geek. For 2016 I decided to go with The Jedi Steps from the end of The Force Awakens. That was also emotional in a different way. The last couple of months of my training did not go the way I would have hoped, and my last long training run was brutal. So it felt good to cross that finish line, even moreso after I learned that I had done so 10 minutes faster than last year.

 

[ejcraft]

While it can be a lot to bite off, you've certainly got the right idea! Hopefully you'll make it one day. It's worth it.

And you know.... that IS how it begins.....

haha, isn't that the truth. I've been watching friends do these races for a few years, then last year my older sister started running, my daugther just happens to live in California, so i got to thinking hey want to volunteer at the rundisney race ? we did in Sept last year, then we decided to run the 10 K Tinkerbell, all 3 of us and my friends. then the next thing I know I'm signing up for the Wine and Dine 10K with one of my other daughters, along with my sister and friends . And now I wait patiently for Tuesday to sign up for Starwars 1/2 with my son. It's addicting, and I still don't really like to run, but now have several goals relating to RunDisney races. 1st is to run a race with each of my children, After April I will have 1 child left, so well on my way. 2nd goal was to move up to 1/2Marathons so I can get a coast to coast, should be able to accomplish that next year doing the Star Wars then Disneyland 1/2 in Sept. 3rd and 4th goal, runn the castle to chateau , and possibly a challenge. these won't happen at least the Paris one for another 5yrs, as the Job wont allowed it, but in 5 I will be retird from that job and will be able to take the time. I'm 51 and my sister is 59, so no small feat as we've only been running for a year, and she does it much better than I.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

It is fascinating how many of us still don't really "like" to run yet we continue to sign up for these events. And then proceed to enjoy them immensely and try to get others to join in on the madness.

I have noticed a couple of things however. For me, it's easier to run after work than wake up early and get the run in before work. So I always face a few more excuses as to why I shouldn't run on a given day. I have found though that when I ignore the voice that says go home and be lazy, I always feel a lot better after I finish that run. Almost as if in giving myself a reason to feel tired, I actually feel better.

 

[MyFavEeyore]

Do any of the AP/DVC holders know if and/or when any of the other SWDS runs have sold out? I know the 10k did on registration day, but that took a while. I'm just wondering (more like hoping and praying) that it is a predictor of general public registration on Tuesday.

 

[AThrillingChase]

It's putting peanut butter in my chocolate for me. Two great loves that go great together. I'm also not a running fanatic, but the idea of doing Disney + Star Wars has compelled me to the running side of the force.

And boy am I glad I did. I've run both Rebel Challenge events and am now training for the Kessel Run next year. At the same time, I've never done an event outside of runDisney. I don't enjoy running enough to do it for the sake of running a local race, although there are some destinations that could persuade me for other reasons. The runDisney experience, especially the Star Wars aspect of it now, is really enjoyable to me. Star Wars music throughout the parks?!?! All the random cool Star Wars fans and their incredible costumes and car overhauls?! More please.

I haaaate getting up early for anything but a flight. But these races are so addicting. So much so that I always try to get to the pre-race early to enjoy the party. I just have not found any local races with the same excitement level. Plus they do not have the on course entertainment that keeps me sane for the whole race! I am not a natural runner and admitedly often miss my last long run from getting behind. The bribe of a vacation is the only way I get myself to stay in shape!

 

[opusone]

Do any of the AP/DVC holders know if and/or when any of the other SWDS runs have sold out? I know the 10k did on registration day, but that took a while. I'm just wondering (more like hoping and praying) that it is a predictor of general public registration on Tuesday.

Although I'm not AP/DVC, I just checked the link, and all races except the 10k are still available for the AP/DVC folks.