Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread-Part 2

[cewait]

Mainly a lurker here, but have been reading along alot more lately as the big weekend approaches.
So sorry to hear about your loss, Amanda. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

My bib # is 53421 for the half. I think its the second to last corral. This is my first half, I pace about 10 mins mile for my long runs of 10-12 miles. Will I be able to comfortably get in front of the sweepers where I will have a chance to stop for a couple pictures? My dear sweet hubby signed me up as a Mother's Day gift last Year and submitted an estimated finish of 3:15, so I know I will have a bit of ducking and weaving to do and that's ok, I just wonder if I should plan to skip the first few character stops and build up a little cushion?

Heavens no. You have no issue at all with even thinking sweep. Your biggest issue will be zigging and zagging in the first two miles. If you hve a 10k race somewhere in the last couple years you should bring it to the expo for a better assignment. Once onto World Drive the course will open and you can make time. This will also be a prime area for a few photo ops, though not many characters. Also, the parking lot is open and there are a few things to grab a photo of... The first real character spot is Tomorrowland at about mile 5.6

 

[Fruto76]

My walking PR is 2:11:12 for a half marathon and this year I started with the Balloon Ladies for the Half and Full. Maintaining your running pace will give you plenty of time for tons of pictures, so don't worry, be happy and have fun!

Heavens no. You have no issue at all with even thinking sweep. Your biggest issue will be zigging and zagging in the first two miles. If you hve a 10k race somewhere in the last couple years you should bring it to the expo for a better assignment. Once onto World Drive the course will open and you can make time. This will also be a prime area for a few photo ops, though not many characters. Also, the parking lot is open and there are a few things to grab a photo of... The first real character spot is Tomorrowland at about mile 5.6

Happy New Year!
Thanks so much, guys! Exactly what I wanted to hear. I am not concerned with my finishing time for this race and really want to soak in all the fun atmosphere I can!
Headed out for my first run of the year...See you all at the race!

 

[MightyDuck001]

your ode to the sparkletech has me *this* close to maybe putting on a skirt to run the princess 1/2. i have yet to be able to bring myself to put a skirt on to run but i have to admit these are cute.

I wear it all the time because it's comfortable and I can fit my phone, keys, wallet, etc. but I've always gotten compliments on it when I wear it out to run (I train in what is essentially a Minnie Mouse costume) and the deal was sealed when even a male runner yelled out, "love the skirt!"

 

[lerxst]

Just to get Accuweather's nomenclature correct, the low for Sunday morning is the low listed for Saturday. It's confusing, and in this case only a 2F delta.

59F is just a little warm for many runners. Happy for the predicted cloudiness

59 okay... It's the high of 79 that worries me. By finish time it could easily be 75+. That could present some obstacles.

Added old fuel belt to packing list. Old one has four "slots" for water cannisters. Just in case....

 

[Sabeking]

My bib# is 42732 for the 1/2.

Any other 1/2 marathoners staying at CBR?

Whatever the weather, it will be better than the 1 degree temp I ran in this morning!

We are in POR. Wow 1 degree....yikes; I would run fast to get it over with!

 

[liznboys]

I'm sorry for your loss, Amanda.

 

[cobbler]

I just don't want rain!!! I only have one pair of shoes and really really don't want to buy another. I'm pretty cash strapped right now!! grrr.

NO RAIN!!!

 

[mickeysgal]

I wear it all the time because it's comfortable and I can fit my phone, keys, wallet, etc. but I've always gotten compliments on it when I wear it out to run (I train in what is essentially a Minnie Mouse costume) and the deal was sealed when even a male runner yelled out, "love the skirt!"

In a local 5K recently, a woman pulled up to me during the race and started asking about my skirt. Even gave her the website while we were running, lol.

 

[liznboys]

9 DAYS until Marathon Weekend! Single Digits!!!

Time to start thinking about packing and making sure we have everything we need for the trip.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Yeah, I'm starting to freak out about what to pack. My kids wear uniforms to school so they don't have many cool weather clothes. I guess I should just be thankful we're flying Southwest so we can overpack.

 

[Freight Train]

I have 5 yo and 6 mo daughters and I'm doing the Goofy. My wife wants to make sure my 5 yo gets to see me on course but she's worried because she's seen advice that basically says you have to be camped out at 5:00 am or you're toast. That's way too early for my girls, so I'm asking if there's any advice you all have to make it as nice as possible for them. Where should they go? What time should they be there.

By the way I'm a walker in both events and my average is a consistent 13:30 min/mile.

Also, my 5 yo LOVES all the characters. I've seen a few tidbits here and there but can anyone give me an idea of when to expect characters and how many are lumped together (or are they spread out)?

Thanks everyone!

 

[McDuck]

Road etiquette question---we are doing Galloway 2:00 run / 1:00 walk intervals. Where should we be? Right side? Is raising a hand prior to changing interval sufficient alert to those behind us? I want to be as least disruptive to those around me as I can. Thanks!!!

 

[cewait]

I have 5 yo and 6 mo daughters and I'm doing the Goofy. My wife wants to make sure my 5 yo gets to see me on course but she's worried because she's seen advice that basically says you have to be camped out at 5:00 am or you're toast. That's way too early for my girls, so I'm asking if there's any advice you all have to make it as nice as possible for them. Where should they go? What time should they be there.

By the way I'm a walker in both events and my average is a consistent 13:30 min/mile.

Also, my 5 yo LOVES all the characters. I've seen a few tidbits here and there but can anyone give me an idea of when to expect characters and how many are lumped together (or are they spread out)?

Thanks everyone!

PM me with your email address and I can send you a spreadsheet that will help her with when to expect you are various points on the course.

At a 13:30 pace, they may be able to catch the finish. Assuming a D corral start, you should complete the half just before 0900. EIther Marathon or Regular Disney buses should get them to the finish.

WIth regard to the full, I would suggest the AK Gate, or WWoS then the finish. Getting up to the MK area will more than likely require early hours. Again the AK route should be available on regular Disney busing and the WWoS vis Marathon busing.

Hope this helps

 

[cewait]

Road etiquette question---we are doing Galloway 2:00 run / 1:00 walk intervals. Where should we be? Right side? Is raising a hand prior to changing interval sufficient alert to those behind us? I want to be as least disruptive to those around me as I can. Thanks!!!

In the first mile, from the necking down after TTC as we rejoin World Dr and just after leaving the MK Backstage area, move towards a side IF you can safely. However, leave at least a one person width slot between you and the edge of the road. That lane is a heavily used lane for folks passing. I am not sure where the move right has surfaced but that is SILLY. Do look ahead as your timer beeps and move to the outer edge of an upcoming corner if you can. But, even as moving to the edge is preferred, if not in the areas mentioned, just raise a hand. A more important thing that you can do is raise your hand and have your group hop into a single person line... or no more than 2 wide while on your walk section. Rolling roadblocks is much worse than a run/walker's walk.

 

[Ariel484]

I have 5 yo and 6 mo daughters and I'm doing the Goofy. My wife wants to make sure my 5 yo gets to see me on course but she's worried because she's seen advice that basically says you have to be camped out at 5:00 am or you're toast. That's way too early for my girls, so I'm asking if there's any advice you all have to make it as nice as possible for them. Where should they go? What time should they be there.

By the way I'm a walker in both events and my average is a consistent 13:30 min/mile.

Also, my 5 yo LOVES all the characters. I've seen a few tidbits here and there but can anyone give me an idea of when to expect characters and how many are lumped together (or are they spread out)?

Thanks everyone!

I can't give you any advice on spectator stuff, but I can give you my best guesses on where characters will be. Again, these are GUESSES based off of what I saw in previous races.

STAGING AREA

There should be a character or two doing meet-ups near the DJ stage in the staging area before the races.

HALF (note that this is based off of what I remember from the Princess Half, which is the same course as the WDW Half):

Expect a character(s) just after Mile Marker (MM) 1 on the left.
Except a character(s) just after MM2 on the left.
*Cross under MK entrance gates, pass MM3*
Another character after MM3
Enter MK, take a right into Tomorrowland. Should be a character out in Tomorrowland (Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, Chip and Dale or Pluto in space gear, etc.)
Go into Fantasyland - should be Alice in Wonderland characters out in front of the Mad Tea Party
Should be characters in front of the castle (Cinderella characters?)
Princess and the Frog characters in Liberty Square
Should be characters in Frontierland (Woody or Jessie, etc.)
Characters backstage as you exit the Magic Kingdom with parade floats
More characters in between MM7 and MM8, including characters in golf gear on the golf course
Once you get to MM9 you're heading back toward Epcot, so you'll pass the characters you saw in the first couple of miles, this time on your right
Sarge after MM10
Character after MM11
Character after MM12
*Into Epcot*
Should be a couple of characters in Epcot
Should be a couple of characters at the finish line

FULL (based off of what I saw in the 2012 WDW Full):

I think the portion above through the Magic Kingdom will be similar since the courses are the same through that point...so a few characters in the beginning with LOTS in the Magic Kingdom and characters at the golf course.
Not sure who will be in or around the WDW Speedway...Cars characters? No one?
Another meet on the backroads as you head to Animal Kingdom.
Characters backstage as you enter the Animal Kingdom
Jammin Jungle Minnie and Mickey after you exit Animal Kingdom
Not sure what to expect in WWoS, but this is where the mile 20 surprise is...and I am expecting/hoping for lots of rare characters.
Some characters backstage as you enter Hollywood Studios and a character before you leave the studios.
Characters around World Showcase (normal ones that are out everyday - Aurora and Marie in France, Mulan in China, etc.)
A character or two at the finish


...

Perhaps it was unnecessary for me to type all that out and just say that the characters are spread out through the course...but there you go!

Obviously you can see that there are a LOT in Magic Kingdom, so if the meet-ups are important to you (obviously they are to me) plan on that being one of your longest miles of the race.

 

[Rose&Mike]

Road etiquette question---we are doing Galloway 2:00 run / 1:00 walk intervals. Where should we be? Right side? Is raising a hand prior to changing interval sufficient alert to those behind us? I want to be as least disruptive to those around me as I can. Thanks!!!

I would also add, depending on which corral you are in, consider hanging towards the back of your corral at the start unless you are willing to skip the first couple of intervals because of crowding.

I run a 2:1. During the W&D we were toward the front of the B corral and it was really hard to get in the first couple of intervals without getting way off the road or worrying about getting run over. After about the first mile it was a little better. We always raise a hand and try to stay to the right. Eventually lots of people were walking (whether they planned to or not ) and moving to the right was not as big a deal, though we tried really hard to make sure we did not start walking right in front of a runner.

Good luck!

 

[MightyDuck001]

Packing Question:

I've got two pairs of the same sneakers, one that I've been wearing from June for 90% of my runs and another I bought in November with lower mileage on them... Should I bring the newer ones? The older ones?

 

[cewait]

I would also add, depending on which corral you are in, consider hanging towards the back of your corral at the start unless you are willing to skip the first couple of intervals because of crowding.

I run a 2:1. During the W&D we were toward the front of the B corral and it was really hard to get in the first couple of intervals without getting way off the road or worrying about getting run over. After about the first mile it was a little better. We always raise a hand and try to stay to the right. Eventually lots of people were walking (whether they planned to or not ) and moving to the right was not as big a deal, though we tried really hard to make sure we did not start walking right in front of a runner.

Good luck!

Not meaning to throw stones....

I guess I am a little less concerned about where I start and would not worry about my spot in the corral as long as I am in the proper corral. I just make sure folks can see I am about to whoa up, that is all that is required. I would NOT leave the pavement and would leave the person width space to the side. Why risk your ankle? Again, I would move to the side but not necessarily to the right. I would head to the side easiest to reach or try to keep to the outer radius of any upcoming corner. If I am in the proper corral, then while I get passed on the walk, I pass others on the run.

I did not mention earlier that one should also swivel their head around, also. That way you know you do not have a tail gated on your heals.

 

[cewait]

Packing Question:

I've got two pairs of the same sneakers, one that I've been wearing from June for 90% of my runs and another I bought in November with lower mileage on them... Should I bring the newer ones? The older ones?

I would wear the ones I felt most comfortable running the race in. If the newer ones feel good, then those would be my goto shoes. If you have any questions or fears about using the newer shoes, then the older ones may be the ones you want to bring. Thinking about it, I would think the newer ones would be the ones you would naturally grab for a run today do to better cushioning and ride.

If there is a question, bring both.

 

[cewait]

I can't give you any advice on spectator stuff, but I can give you my best guesses on where characters will be. Again, these are GUESSES based off of what I saw in previous races.

STAGING AREA

There should be a character or two doing meet-ups near the DJ stage in the staging area before the races.

HALF (note that this is based off of what I remember from the Princess Half, which is the same course as the WDW Half):

Expect a character(s) just after Mile Marker (MM) 1 on the left.
Except a character(s) just after MM2 on the left.
*Cross under MK entrance gates, pass MM3*
Another character after MM3
Enter MK, take a right into Tomorrowland. Should be a character out in Tomorrowland (Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, Chip and Dale or Pluto in space gear, etc.)
Go into Fantasyland - should be Alice in Wonderland characters out in front of the Mad Tea Party
Should be characters in front of the castle (Cinderella characters?)
Princess and the Frog characters in Liberty Square
Should be characters in Frontierland (Woody or Jessie, etc.)
Characters backstage as you exit the Magic Kingdom with parade floats
More characters in between MM7 and MM8, including characters in golf gear on the golf course
Once you get to MM9 you're heading back toward Epcot, so you'll pass the characters you saw in the first couple of miles, this time on your right
Sarge after MM10
Character after MM11
Character after MM12
*Into Epcot*
Should be a couple of characters in Epcot
Should be a couple of characters at the finish line

FULL (based off of what I saw in the 2012 WDW Full):

I think the portion above through the Magic Kingdom will be similar since the courses are the same through that point...so a few characters in the beginning with LOTS in the Magic Kingdom and characters at the golf course.
Not sure who will be in or around the WDW Speedway...Cars characters? No one?
Another meet on the backroads as you head to Animal Kingdom.
Characters backstage as you enter the Animal Kingdom
Jammin Jungle Minnie and Mickey after you exit Animal Kingdom
Not sure what to expect in WWoS, but this is where the mile 20 surprise is...and I am expecting/hoping for lots of rare characters.
Some characters backstage as you enter Hollywood Studios and a character before you leave the studios.
Characters around World Showcase (normal ones that are out everyday - Aurora and Marie in France, Mulan in China, etc.)
A character or two at the finish


...

Perhaps it was unnecessary for me to type all that out and just say that the characters are spread out through the course...but there you go!

Obviously you can see that there are a LOT in Magic Kingdom, so if the meet-ups are important to you (obviously they are to me) plan on that being one of your longest miles of the race.

I am betting some sort of Cars Character in the speedway.