Granted it wasn't at the beginning of the race, but the 2015 Marathon used the same turns and I don't remember it being that much of an issue. I guess it'll just have to depend on how well the mini-waves for each of the last two corrals do at spreading out that many people.
I don't think it'll be all that bad - it's not a choke point the way the path from BW to DHS is. Nowhere near that narrow! Will folks need to slow down some? Maybe. But I can't see it being a huge problem.
Question on race protocol/politeness - I do run/walk intervals (as it seem lots do). What's the general rule with slowing to a walk? I've seen people mentioning sticking a hand out - like to the side? Or up? Or what? I'm probably over thinking this, but I got stepped on during a race once (while I was running, not walking) and it was annoying as hell. Do slower runners usually stick to the right, faster to the left?
You will hear a gazillion people say "walkers on the right, runners on the left" but that is NOT what's requested at rD races, per the race guide. They do ask that slower walkers/runners stay to the sides, faster runners/walkers toward the center. But the reality is that constantly swooping back and forth isn't safe, either. So I approach it like I drive: I pick a "lane" that's more or less moving at my speed. When I come up on someone ahead of me moving at a slower pace, I look in all 4 directions and if I'm clear, I move over a "lane" to pass. If I'm not clear, I slow down and wait until I do have a safe opening. When I want to slow down, I again look in all directions first, then change "lanes" to merge in behind other people moving slower - sometimes that works seamlessly and I can move right away, and other times I have to keep running until an opening appears so that I don't block people behind me. In crowded areas, putting a hand up (not out - up, so as not to hit anyone running past!) while looking around me is helpful, but not everyone out there knows what that means. In stretches where there's tons of open space, no need to bother with hand alerts or even moving over, but always, always look around before speeding up or slowing down.
2.) Last year I just did the Half Marathon and this year I'm running the Dark Side Challenge. Has anyone here done a back-to-back challenge before, and if so... what do you do in between the two races to minimize the wear and tear? I've got a 50-min massage scheduled for a few hours after the 10K but I'm wondering if there are other recovery tips and tricks you guys use.
My only "trick" is that I handle races weekends the same as I do training: nothing new! So if you've been on your feet all day between your back-to-back training runs, you'll probably be fine doing that on race weekend, too. For me, I need to minimize that, so I do very little between races. After the 10K, I'll go straight to my resort to eat, foam roll & stretch, shower, and rest a bit. I'll head to a park in the early afternoon for a couple rides and lunch, but that's it: I'll be back at my resort relaxing before a very early dinner and bedtime.
Thank you all for the assistance... I swore I read that guide to cover to cover but I guess I missed the line about MK being a no-park zone.
Honestly last year the guide had a lot of information that turned out to be dead wrong. They did everything possible to dissuade people driving to EPCOT because of the "massive amounts of traffic" and we drove right there no issue.
Let's just hope the buses from EPCOT to MK aren't t-h-a-t insane. I hear the buses from the resorts to the staging area are generally a big cluster.
They always suggest that people staying onsite use the buses so as to ensure parking for those staying offsite or who live locally. Last year was a fiasco because of the WWOS finish; that area was ill-equipped to handle the volume of drivers needing to get back to EP, plus they had to vacate by a certain time the are they were using for those buses. It was an epic disaster that I've never seen at any other WDW race! We're back to an EP finish this year, which rD/WDW has successfully managed well for previous Wine & Dine races, so I expect this to go more smoothly.
I had pre-ordered pins, so I had those. I was able to get a shirt I liked, though. I'm hoping this year will be better, and I will be there Thursday afternoon this time, as well.
