Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[captaindavidhook]

Will it get sold out fast to sign up for it just thought I would ask thanks in advance

 

[camaker]

Will it get sold out fast to sign up for it just thought I would ask thanks in advance

Hard to tell from year to year, but registration for this year's races has been open for months and only the 10k and kids' races are sold out so far. There has been a significant slowdown in registrations and sell outs for RunDisney races in general over the last couple of years.

 

[captaindavidhook]

Hard to tell from year to year, but registration for this year's races has been open for months and only the 10k and kids' races are sold out so far. There has been a significant slowdown in registrations and sell outs for RunDisney races in general over the last couple of years.

I plan on running in the 10K myself. If I ran and a half marathon that would be a bit much and I would still rather enjoy vacation. 10K would be much easier.

 

[mbwhitti]

Hey everyone! DH and I signed up for Dark Side Half last night on a whim. After marathon weekend cancelled half, this has been lingering in our mind. So, we used the virtual goodie bag discount and signed up! Already booked a passholder rate at Pop (not my favorite but it'll do for a quick weekend). I'm excited about a new half route at Disney!!

 

[cavepig]

Hey everyone! DH and I signed up for Dark Side Half last night on a whim. After marathon weekend cancelled half, this has been lingering in our mind. So, we used the virtual goodie bag discount and signed up! Already booked a passholder rate at Pop (not my favorite but it'll do for a quick weekend). I'm excited about a new half route at Disney!!

Welcome to the Darkside!

 

[Dopey Devon]

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?

Might be a bit late answering this but when I did Dopey 2016 we went to the parks or Disney Springs after all the races (for after the half it was just for a few miles walk to keep the legs from seizing up) and I wore my medals everyday, along with a lot of other people! After the marathon we went to Disney Springs for dinner and drinks and everyone was wearing their medals from the whole weekend and congratulating everyone. It was such a nice atmosphere and we're planning on going there again after the half at Dark Side.

I will admit I did very little in terms of ice baths/stretching - I had a hot bath after every race (I always make sure to soak my whole body including shoulders for a few mins to relieve tension) and made sure I ate throughout the weekend (including plenty of treats!). I also made sure I got sugar straight to the muscles after every race in the form of sports drink/sweet tea/coke. It may not be the most nutritional but I had 0 problems all weekend. I should add I wasn't going to any PBs that weekend but I did run all the races.

 

[mbwhitti]

Welcome to the Darkside!

Thanks! We are super excited. DH is a huge Star Wars fan and we've never done a Star Wars race. It's hard for us to get to the West Coast so Dark Side it is. DH is not thrilled with the Kylo Ren medal but he will get over it.

 

[FFigawi]

Thanks! We are super excited. DH is a huge Star Wars fan and we've never done a Star Wars race. It's hard for us to get to the West Coast so Dark Side it is. DH is not thrilled with the Kylo Ren medal but he will get over it.

And he might actually get to run this time

 

[croach]

Hey everyone! DH and I signed up for Dark Side Half last night on a whim. After marathon weekend cancelled half, this has been lingering in our mind. So, we used the virtual goodie bag discount and signed up! Already booked a passholder rate at Pop (not my favorite but it'll do for a quick weekend). I'm excited about a new half route at Disney!!

Was the discount code just a generic code anyone can use? I'm sure I don't have my email with the virtual gift bag link for marathon weekend but maybe I could track it down on the runDisney site. A discount might get me interested. Thanks!

 

[mbwhitti]

Was the discount code just a generic code anyone can use? I'm sure I don't have my email with the virtual gift bag link for marathon weekend but maybe I could track it down on the runDisney site. A discount might get me interested. Thanks!

You have to go through the link in the virtual event bag but you can still access the virtual event bag in the post event guide. http://rodale-usa.instantmagazine.com/rundisney/dwmar17post#!/walt-disney-world-5k

It's under the "read more" tab. It's a $25 discount. Not much but it's better than nothing. This morning I woke up thinking we might transfer into the challenge... I like that death star medal....

 

[mbwhitti]

And he might actually get to run this time

I mean, if he can get a medal and still be able to drink all the beer....I don't think he would mind

 

[disney minnie]

I bought the runner bundle. Anyone know what includes? It's been so long that I have forgotten

 

[Barca33Runner]

Considering resorts for the weekend and have it narrowed to POFQ and CBR. Anyone have any insight on how they work for race weekends, in general, or specifically for Dark Side Weekend? Never stayed at either. Only resort I've ever stayed at is POR. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide!

 

[FFigawi]

Considering resorts for the weekend and have it narrowed to POFQ and CBR. Anyone have any insight on how they work for race weekends, in general, or specifically for Dark Side Weekend? Never stayed at either. Only resort I've ever stayed at is POR. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide!

We stayed at CBR for marathon weekend in 2011. The buses, at that time anyway, stopped at the stops all around the loop, making it a very short walk to get one in the morning.

 

[cavepig]

Considering resorts for the weekend and have it narrowed to POFQ and CBR. Anyone have any insight on how they work for race weekends, in general, or specifically for Dark Side Weekend? Never stayed at either. Only resort I've ever stayed at is POR. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide!

I don't personally know, but buses operate just like during marathon weekend. For POFQ you just have one stop so just go to it, but CBR I've heard you are best off going to the main bus stop as sometimes the others don't get picked up if buses are full, which would be similar to POR & the multiple stops. Just seems for race weekends I always read stories of people at any stop but the main one waiting forever for a bus.

 

[fiveminutes]

For the Darkside last year, I stayed at POR and I think there was only one stop. I would assume that would be the same for POFQ. I don't know about CBR, but I would say based on how big it is, I would defer to the main bus stop

Finished my rebel challenge the other day, so I'm only 6 parsecs away from my Kessel run!

 

[Chasing Dopey]

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?

We've found that walking around the parks is a great way to recover. And definitely wear the medals. You can't do that outside the house once you get home.

Okay, regarding darksidechallenger.com, they've got a link to a map on the USATF website, but keep in mind that no only is that not official (user submitted on USATF), but I'm almost certain it's incorrect. That route would have us running through sections of Hollywood Studios that are still under construction, and I just don't see that happening. I'd love to be wrong! It would be a great course, and one of the best 13.1 courses at WDW, but not for a year or two.

The blogger claims there isn't enough space to run down to ESPN and back to Epcot, but he's wrong. The marathon course is about 8.5 miles from the entrance to Victory Way to the finish, so that's probably how they'll do it. Not bad, actually. There can be a lot of on course stuff in ESPN.

 

[mbwhitti]

The blogger claims there isn't enough space to run down to ESPN and back to Epcot, but he's wrong. The marathon course is about 8.5 miles from the entrance to Victory Way to the finish, so that's probably how they'll do it. Not bad, actually. There can be a lot of on course stuff in ESPN.

ESPN had some of THE BEST character stops during Marathon.. every member of the Fab 5 plus Chip n Dale and Joy and Sadness.

Couple of questions for Dark Side pros and rD in general. Has anyone ever upgraded from one race to a challenge? Does rD simply charge the difference or is there also a "change" fee?

If we up to the challenge, we will most likely spend at least one if not all 3 nights off property with a rental car. (Friday night Disney prices are a bit pricey, even for values.) I've only ever ridden with uber @Keels to the start of a race at Epcot parking. With the potential start change to the TTC area, how do you think driving will be? DH loves the idea of the rental car and leaving a bit later for the races if we are doing both.

 

[bryana]

Happy Monday everyone!

If you are following the rD Galloway training plan, this past weekend was the end of week 4. How is everyone's training going?

I started at week 2 and am feeling good. I haven't run consistently since the end of 2014; I ran like 200 miles total last year and less in 2015. I burned myself out with too many races (there is such a thing! LOL) in 2014. I have been pleasantly surprised at how quickly I am getting back up to speed (literally), and am feeling really hopeful about spring PRs!

Okay, regarding darksidechallenger.com, they've got a link to a map on the USATF website, but keep in mind that no only is that not official (user submitted on USATF), but I'm almost certain it's incorrect. That route would have us running through sections of Hollywood Studios that are still under construction, and I just don't see that happening. I'd love to be wrong! It would be a great course, and one of the best 13.1 courses at WDW, but not for a year or two.

The blogger claims there isn't enough space to run down to ESPN and back to Epcot, but he's wrong. The marathon course is about 8.5 miles from the entrance to Victory Way to the finish, so that's probably how they'll do it. Not bad, actually. There can be a lot of on course stuff in ESPN.

PLEASE NOOOOOOO. I hate WWOS, lol.

 

[bryana]

Couple of questions for Dark Side pros and rD in general. Has anyone ever upgraded from one race to a challenge? Does rD simply charge the difference or is there also a "change" fee?

You have to register for the challenge and then there is a form on the website you fill out and email in to them. They then refund the price of the race you were originally signed up for, minus a $45 change fee.

I wish there was an option to just pay the difference because I would have done that months ago. I hate the idea of having to put out that much money right now for the challenge and then have to wait for the refund, which I have heard of people getting it back within the hour or it taking 2 weeks.