Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[Dis_Yoda]

And now I'm sucked into reading all about the course cutters.

There goes getting anything accomplished for the day!

 

[FFigawi]

And now I'm sucked into reading all about the course cutters.

There goes getting anything accomplished for the day!

The lengths people will go to in order to plan and cut a course are quite impressive. From the people he's caught multiple times to the guy who thought his US record attempt wouldn't be scrutinized, there's some serious thought put into the cheating. One of my favorites is the guy who cut a marathon, denied it, and then was forced to fess up when his Strava playback showed him leaving out a loop of the course.

 

[cavepig]

It's very easy to see if someone cheated to get into a corral. If you know who they are, you can look up the races they've done and see if they cut the course or used a bib mule in any or all of them. In the post on the marathon investigation site, he provides fairly clear evidence of that Brian guy using a bib mule and implies he has evidence of course cutting.

Right, that's how I know of the few that use fake/cheated times to get higher than they can run corral placement, but I'm not going to look up everybody, there's just been a few people that I looked around on cause their talk didn't add up.

I'm pretty sure Darkside will include AK, I can't really see them including WWOS at all, maybe an out and back/small section, but they'll use good ol' Western Way for any out & back mileage they need to add on probably. Hopefully in 2 months we'll have the event guide to answer all our force sensitive questions

 

[lovingeire]

I really enjoyed running through AK during Wine & Dine so I would love for it to be included, but I'm selfish and would love some more park time as well. That route with three parks is ideal to me.

 

[croach]

And now I'm sucked into reading all about the course cutters.

There goes getting anything accomplished for the day!

If you're wasting your day, here's a really long but I think fascinating article about someone who seemed to have made a career out of cheating.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/08/06/marathon-man

 

[Dis_Yoda]

If your wasting your day, here's a really long but I think fascinating article about someone who seemed to have made a career out of cheating.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/08/06/marathon-man

Its a good break from the work stuff! Yay!

 

[opusone]

I may be a maybe if you still have a spot. Give me a week or two though to figure out my schedule since I just decided last week to run. At least the easy part is over signed up for challenge, told sister. It going to Europe and booked flight and hotel, just did t tell her I was running darkside instead. Think I can avoid telling her and just show her medals!

We definitely have spots left. Please let me know once you are confirmed for the Saturday dinner.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

If you're wasting your day, here's a really long but I think fascinating article about someone who seemed to have made a career out of cheating.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/08/06/marathon-man

Now that I read the whole thing...

that man needs mental help! Talk about psychotic to cheat and lie about that many marathons including making up a website for one!

 

[croach]

Now that I read the whole thing...

that man needs mental help! Talk about psychotic to cheat and lie about that many marathons including making up a website for one!

Yeah it's a pretty crazy story. And no one could ever figure out how he was doing it. I love that he had wardrobe changes in the middle of races. Who does that?

 

[DreamRunner1]

Husband and I are excited to be back for the Dark Side Weekend. First one was awesome! Kessel Run Challenge this year plus Coast to Coast! Plus some Flower/Garden time

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I really enjoyed running through AK during Wine & Dine so I would love for it to be included, but I'm selfish and would love some more park time as well. That route with three parks is ideal to me.

Same here for sure. Even though I got redemption, I'm still bummed I missed the old 3-park Wine and Dine course in 2015. Between the shortened race and the AK part from 2016's race, I basically got the whole thing, but having it all in one race would have been awesome. If the 3-park course for Dark Side turns out to be valid, it will be as close to the old Wine and Dine as we could get with all the construction at DHS.

 

[lovingeire]

Same here for sure. Even though I got redemption, I'm still bummed I missed the old 3-park Wine and Dine course in 2015. Between the shortened race and the AK part from 2016's race, I basically got the whole thing, but having it all in one race would have been awesome. If the 3-park course for Dark Side turns out to be valid, it will be as close to the old Wine and Dine as we could get with all the construction at DHS.

I completely agree! The only reason 2015 was saved for me is that at least I got to run through the Osbourne Lights, which was bucket list for me. Sitting in the field house I remember telling my husband I'll be ok as long as we still get to do that. Having that 3 park course for Dark Side would truly magical!

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I completely agree! The only reason 2015 was saved for me is that at least I got to run through the Osbourne Lights, which was bucket list for me. Sitting in the field house I remember telling my husband I'll be ok as long as we still get to do that. Having that 3 park course for Dark Side would truly magical!

Yes, I am so glad we at least got to run the second half of that course. The Osborne Lights were one of the main reasons I chose to register for Wine and Dine as my first runDisney event over any of the others.
Last year's Dark Side course had the 3 parks as well, so I'm really hoping they keep it that way. The DHS part was understandably brief, but I'll take it.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Honestly, I think all WDW Half Marathons should go through 3 parks just because they can. I understand why they would want to keep all four parks exclusively for the full, but they have the parks, so give runners a chance to see them in different lights. I really enjoyed being in Animal Kingdom at night for the 2012 Wine & Dine 1/2. That was great. The Osbourne Lights were tremendous.

One of the reasons I still choose to visit WDW is because of its' unique differences from Disneyland. I enjoy both resorts for different reasons. But if I'm going to run future races at WDW, those races need to offer something different beyond the theme such as running through 3 parks instead of 2.

 

[croach]

So looks like Rivers of Light at AK is going to be up and running(hopefully) in February. Have to figure out to how to fit that in the schedule now. Lot of good things to do for Dark Side weekend.

 

[lovingeire]

So looks like Rivers of Light at AK is going to be up and running(hopefully) in February. Have to figure out to how to fit that in the schedule now. Lot of good things to do for Dark Side weekend.

All the Disney announcements are throwing off my schedule for the weekend! I switched my arrival night to a ROL dinner package when they announced it. Then they dropped Wishes was being replaced so this trip will be my last viewing of Wishes so now I have to work that in. It'll have to be the night after the half since I leave on Monday so the celebratory dinner is out the window! Going to have to stake out a spot on the lawn to view Wishes! So much rearranging to do!

 

[croach]

All the Disney announcements are throwing off my schedule for the weekend! I switched my arrival night to a ROL dinner package when they announced it. Then they dropped Wishes was being replaced so this trip will be my last viewing of Wishes so now I have to work that in. It'll have to be the night after the half since I leave on Monday so the celebratory dinner is out the window! Going to have to stake out a spot on the lawn to view Wishes! So much rearranging to do!

I know what you mean about rearranging. I made a ROL dining ADR at Tiffins but I could only get an early one and it's messing with my "plan". Thank goodness for MDE and not having to call to change ADR's though. I do that alot.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Add me to the list of those trying to adjust plans based on the new announcements! I didn't have anything too set in stone yet, so it won't be a big hassle, but I had planned to try to see all the night shows but wasn't including Rivers of Light in there. Looks like I'm going to have to sacrifice IllumiNations, since Wishes is now priority #1 as this will be the last chance to see it (It'll be cool to have a new show but I'll miss Wishes!). I think I'm going to head to MK on my arrival day to try to get that in as early in the trip as possible. Don't want to risk saving it for later and end up missing it due to weather issues or something. The Star Wars fireworks at DHS will also be necessary to see if they're showing that week. I'm going to try to get a FP for Rivers of Light on one of the nights, but if I can't I'll just save it for another trip. I know I'll be back. I really only have 3 nights to do all these things since 2 of the nights will be before the races.

 

[croach]

Add me to the list of those trying to adjust plans based on the new announcements! I didn't have anything too set in stone yet, so it won't be a big hassle, but I had planned to try to see all the night shows but wasn't including Rivers of Light in there. Looks like I'm going to have to sacrifice IllumiNations, since Wishes is now priority #1 as this will be the last chance to see it (It'll be cool to have a new show but I'll miss Wishes!). I think I'm going to head to MK on my arrival day to try to get that in as early in the trip as possible. Don't want to risk saving it for later and end up missing it due to weather issues or something. The Star Wars fireworks at DHS will also be necessary to see if they're showing that week. I'm going to try to get a FP for Rivers of Light on one of the nights, but if I can't I'll just save it for another trip. I know I'll be back. I really only have 3 nights to do all these things since 2 of the nights will be before the races.

I really want to fit in the Star Wars fireworks too since I haven't been able to see them yet.

 

[lovingeire]

I know what you mean about rearranging. I made a ROL dining ADR at Tiffins but I could only get an early one and it's messing with my "plan". Thank goodness for MDE and not having to call to change ADR's though. I do that alot.

We did Tusker House so we were able to get a decent time, but I might have preferred Tiffins. I was nervous about flights and what time I'll get in. I was going to try to leave after my kids were on the bus for school, but might aim to get in a few hours earlier so maybe we could do a Tiffins reservation.

I had planned to try to see all the night shows but wasn't including Rivers of Light in there. Looks like I'm going to have to sacrifice IllumiNations, since Wishes is now priority #1 as this will be the last chance to see it (It'll be cool to have a new show but I'll miss Wishes!).

I know, runcations make seeing nighttime entertainment difficult! We are running all three races so that means I only have 2 nights for it. Wishes is a must and since ROL is new it gets the other night. I'll be back in the fall and staying at BWI for W&D so I am sure I'll catch Iluminations then.