Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[wehrengrizz]

The liquid cheese will start a fight in my house, it was a good thing I got 3 of them this weekend.

I was going to ask if you got the same snack 3 times! ("4 times")

 

[LSLS]

Question for everyone out there...so once medals are earned is it just ice baths and nutrition <or> do some hit the parks? Then is it with or without hardware?

For me personally, I had to run straight to the expo to see my daughter in the kids race, then it was back to the hotel for lunch and much-earned drinks, then rest a bit, then off to Epcot (we were at beach club) for dinner and then to walk around a bit. All with the medal on. We left the next day. This year, we are starting with the race and staying the following week, so it will be a lot more medal wearing (I trained 18+ weeks for this, I'm sporting it proud). I personally didn't run the course all that hard (much more concerned with enjoying the experience), so I had a lot more energy then I suspect a lot of people might. Also, it was my first half (this was 2016 marathon weekend).

 

[cavepig]

Well, just signed up for the Dark Side Challenge. First rD races outside of Marathon Weekend. I guess I'll be paying a little more attention to this thread.

Welcome to the Dark Side!

The California races have a different vibe and while I love Disney World, IMHO the Disneyland races are a better experience overall despite the limited park time for the half. The 10ks in Disneyland are park concentrated and I feel are the best courses in Disney!

Enjoy.

Darkside is at Disney World though. Light side (the other thread) is Disneyland.

Question for everyone out there...so once medals are earned is it just ice baths and nutrition <or> do some hit the parks? Then is it with or without hardware?

No ice baths here, but we hit the parks after with medals & the race shirt of the day on.

 

[Mulan2]

Welcome to the Dark Side!

Darkside is at Disney World though. Light side (the other thread) is Disneyland.

No ice baths here, but we hit the parks after with medals & the race shirt of the day on.

Hi Everyone
I was thinking of deferring my Half from this past weekend's race to the Dark Side Challenge. I haven't heard back yet from runDisney but I am pretty excited about coming back to run!
I will be checking this thread to keep up with you all!!

 

[MyFavEeyore]

Another random question for you Disney experts out there...I have a myDisneyexperience account where in the past I have made trip plans for DH, DS, and his buddy as they didn't care. This upcoming trip DS and DGF will be staying in the room with us, but I don't want to seem like a control freak and setting up their plans. Especially when its her first visit back in a very long time. I feel that's my DS's special moment with her and I want it to be as much their own trip as it is with us every now and again. (Did I mention DS and I are doing the Challenge together). So, back to the myDisneyexperience account. DS is already on my Family and Friends list. But can he create his/their own account and make plans and link to the room reservation number that's under my name as that's where they will be staying. Or do I have to add her to my list and give them access to my account to make their plans?

 

[kathleen27]

Another random question for you Disney experts out there...I have a myDisneyexperience account where in the past I have made trip plans for DH, DS, and his buddy as they didn't care. This upcoming trip DS and DGF will be staying in the room with us, but I don't want to seem like a control freak and setting up their plans. Especially when its her first visit back in a very long time. I feel that's my DS's special moment with her and I want it to be as much their own trip as it is with us every now and again. (Did I mention DS and I are doing the Challenge together). So, back to the myDisneyexperience account. DS is already on my Family and Friends list. But can he create his/their own account and make plans and link to the room reservation number that's under my name as that's where they will be staying. Or do I have to add her to my list and give them access to my account to make their plans?

Log into your family / friend list and click on his profile, their is an option to "invite to connect". That will send him an invitation from Disney to create his own log in for the existing profile. That's what I did as my kids got older. His girlfriend can create an account and become "friends" with each of you, or you can create an account for her and also "invite to connect". Your son and his girlfriend may also need to add each other to their friend list. Its much easier to make FP together if you are linked, kind of a pain to line up overlapping times otherwise. My family all have our own accounts with our own passwords, but we can make FP for each other. I'd ask them what they want to do together or on their own. If they don't show much interest, I'd probably make some FP and then let them know they are there, but they can change theirs if they want to do something different.

I think for memory maker only the purchaser's log in can download the photos. But any of you can see them all.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Question for everyone out there...so once medals are earned is it just ice baths and nutrition <or> do some hit the parks? Then is it with or without hardware?

For me it's ice bath, hot shower, change, and get into the parks as soon as possible.

I do this because I have learned that my post race recovery goes substantially better if I keep moving after the race or even my long runs. Now as much as I want to get to the parks as soon as possible, once I'm in the park, I take it very easy. Sitting on a bench for 20 minutes is just fine. I choose rides with short lines/fastpass or watch shows, movies, et all. This allows me to continue to move yet take it easy.

I always wear my medal(s) and race shirt of some kind. Honestly, I would never have taken up running if not for runners wearing their medals around the park and the nice couple that told me how fun the races were and reassured me that I could actually walk the entire race successfully.

 

[fiveminutes]

Question for everyone out there...so once medals are earned is it just ice baths and nutrition <or> do some hit the parks? Then is it with or without hardware?

For me, I do an epsom salt soak the night before and then right after the race. Once the soak is done, it's out and about at the parks, constantly walking. I may be a little slow getting in and out of rides , but it helps keep the muscles loose and not cramp. I will typically take a post race nap 4-6 hours after the race, then it's back on my feet again!

 

[captaindavidhook]

I am thinking about doing this next year. My question is if the race starts at 530, what time will the buses from the resorts pick you up. I plan on running in the 10k.

My next question is, where does the 10k race start. I know I read that it finishes in Epcot but I'm curious where does it start?

 

[MyFavEeyore]

I am thinking about doing this next year. My question is if the race starts at 530, what time will the buses from the resorts pick you up. I plan on running in the 10k.

My next question is, where does the 10k race start. I know I read that it finishes in Epcot but I'm curious where does it start?

Rumor has it the 10k and 1/2 start somewhere along Floridian Way. Last year DS and I caught the bus around 3:30am for the Princess 10K.

 

[captaindavidhook]

Rumor has it the 10k and 1/2 start somewhere along Floridian Way. Last year DS and I caught the bus around 3:30am for the Princess 10K.

Thank you. Where us floridan way? And will the buses take me to the start line? And also bring me back to my Resort after the race. Just trying to have some questions so I have a good idea of going there thank you in advance.

 

[Ariel484]

I am thinking about doing this next year. My question is if the race starts at 530, what time will the buses from the resorts pick you up. I plan on running in the 10k.

My next question is, where does the 10k race start. I know I read that it finishes in Epcot but I'm curious where does it start?

Buses will likely run from 3AM - 4AM

 

[MyFavEeyore]

Thank you. Where us floridan way? And will the buses take me to the start line? And also bring me back to my Resort after the race. Just trying to have some questions so I have a good idea of going there thank you in advance.

Floridian Way is by the Magic Kingdom. The host buses will pick you up at your resort and take you to the start area. The host buses will also take you back, just look for signage for your resort after the finish area. Closer to April (around 2 weeks before event or so) runDisney sends out a digital event guide which explains more about buses, stops, times, race courses, and maps for getting around.

 

[regul8ter18]

The California races have a different vibe and while I love Disney World, IMHO the Disneyland races are a better experience overall despite the limited park time for the half. The 10ks in Disneyland are park concentrated and I feel are the best courses in Disney!

Enjoy.

I wasn't a huge Fan of the Tink Races out there. But I haven't lost hope, I plan of doing the Disneyland Half at some point.

 

[ryanj36]

Getting excited, only 97 days till dark side half

 

[DOOM1001]

I did the challenge last year and I wasn't planning on doing it this year but I'm having second thoughts.My reasons for not wanting to do it were that Run Disney races start early enough and to have this one start even earlier is just wrong,but now I see the start time at 5:30 instead of 5 so that's a positive to give it a go.Another reason is that although I know last years course with the hour long buses at the end were not ideal but I really liked the course,I liked running through Epcot and the Boardwalk before sunrise so when I heard the course was getting changed that automatically made me steer in the way of not doing the race.I would say the same thing about the W&D course which I also skipped this past race and glad I did as that is the worst half course of all Run Disney races.What worries me about darkside is the course,so the half starts in the MK parking lot and ends at Epcot,why is the full description of the course not layed out in the website,its the only thing holding me back from registering.Does the course take Bear Island rd to AK then to Osceola Pkwy to DHS and then Epcot?If that's it and I get in 3 parks and reminds me a bit of the full marathon course I'm good with that,whatever it is at least give us some more detail about the course,its probably a big reason why the thing just won't sell out,if it ever does.

 

[PrincessV]

Is anyone else staying off property? We're staying at Bonnet Creek since it saved us a ton of money and my parents are coming too. I'm worried about driving to the race start and any issues that might come up since we won't have access to race day busses.

I almost alwyas stay off property for races, usually at Wyndham Bonnet Creek... driving/parking is a breeze, so long as you leave early! I try to be walking out my door within 15 minutes of when buses start running. So if buses start at 3am, I'm out the door by 3:15. I've never run into traffic.

That's good to know. Do you park at the finish (EPCOT) and then take a bus to the start?

We don't know yet, but my guess is yes, only because EP is the largest lot at WDW and they have race parking there down to a science.

I'm running my first half next month for the Princess Half, and I'm debating registering for the Dark Side half too. My biggest concern is the heat in April, so I was wondering if anyone could comment on that if they've run it before? I live here in Central Florida, so I'm used to running in the heat and humidity, but I'm a bit nervous it might be too much for only my second race of this distance.

I live in the Tampa Bay area and run outside year-round. So long as you've been training in it, you should be fine. It more than likely WILL be hot: late April usually is. But nothing like June-Sept, at least!

Question for everyone out there...so once medals are earned is it just ice baths and nutrition <or> do some hit the parks? Then is it with or without hardware?

I don't do ice baths, but my post-race routine is: drive back to resort, eat a snack, shower, foam roll, stretch, eat another breakfast, rest a bit, go out to a park wearing my race short and medal/s.

Does the course take Bear Island rd to AK then to Osceola Pkwy to DHS and then Epcot?If that's it and I get in 3 parks and reminds me a bit of the full marathon course I'm good with that,whatever it is at least give us some more detail about the course,its probably a big reason why the thing just won't sell out,if it ever does.

They don't put out the courses ahead of time at all anymore, so you really only have the general description until the official race guide comes out with the course maps, usually about a week before the race. So we just don't know and won't know until then, sorry.

 

[captaindavidhook]

When would 2018 marathons be announced for this event. Also the day it's becomes available should I sign up asap.

 

[fiveminutes]

I am at the light side expo and saw the dark side medals. Not really a fan of them this year. I loved last years!

 

[bryana]

When would 2018 marathons be announced for this event. Also the day it's becomes available should I sign up asap.