Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[Bephus]

Hey all!
I am coming in super late to the game it appears! I decided to run the full again this year. Excited about the new course, although I will really miss running through Epcot in the dark. Should be so fun to run through more of the complexes around the campus. I am most looking forward to running on the speedway as a speedway is on my bucket list and now I won't have to do Charlotte if I don't want to.
Can't wait to see all of you in January!!!

 

[KrazyPete]

Gosh, I can't imagine that running through Epcot with the lights on would be any better than running through the Magic Kingdom under the lights.

 

[KrazyPete]

I am most looking forward to running on the speedway as a speedway is on my bucket list and now I won't have to do Charlotte if I don't want to.

Is there a marathon that goes through the Charlotte Motor Speedway? I know there's a half that does. The Charlotte "Thunder Road" marathon is all downtown I think.

 

[Bephus]

Is there a marathon that goes through the Charlotte Motor Speedway? I know there's a half that does. The Charlotte "Thunder Road" marathon is all downtown I think.

Was thinking of the half

 

[disney_runner]

It's hard to tell, but I'm not entirely sure that we'll actually be running ON the race track? It appears as though the red course line is going all around the track, not necessarily on the inside..... we shall see!

 

[Ariel484]

Gosh, I can't imagine that running through Epcot with the lights on would be any better than running through the Magic Kingdom under the lights.

Great point!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

So I have a question for the back of the pack party people. If you need the whole 7 hours, or close to it, Epcot in full on open by the time you get there right? How does that work? I would safely assume that things will be roped off, but how do you dodge and weave people? Or is it all behind the scenes running?

 

[Ariel484]

So I have a question for the back of the pack party people. If you need the whole 7 hours, or close to it, Epcot in full on open by the time you get there right? How does that work? I would safely assume that things will be roped off, but how do you dodge and weave people? Or is it all behind the scenes running?

See picture below (12:06 PM on 6/8/2012)...runners to the left, Panchito and park guests to the right:

The course is marked off with cones. When guests need to cross over the course, a Cast Member will hold them up so that runners can pass. When it's safe to cross, the Cast Members let the guests cross over the course. Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios were also open and operational when I ran through.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks for the info and the picture!
It's basically like that on DS15's cross country course, just on a much grander scale.
Has anyone had issues with impatient guests or is everyone pretty cool with the runners?

I almost have DH convinced to do the full, but after seeing the course, I'm kinda scared!!! It makes it seem like it will take forever. DH is all it's like 8 times the length of a 5K (most I've ever done), but I'm trying to tell myself it's more like 4 parks-1 day, commando style!

 

[kimmiepcft]

DH is all it's like 8 times the length of a 5K (most I've ever done), but I'm trying to tell myself it's more like 4 parks-1 day, commando style!

LOVE this!
I am still trying to watch the video, the buffering is killing me, and the kids keep interrupting!
I have already done my first Half, not *really* worried about the Full. Some of the long strecthes look killer, glad they are in the first half of the race! I need scenery!

 

[SAHDad]

Thanks for the info and the picture!
It's basically like that on DS15's cross country course, just on a much grander scale.
Has anyone had issues with impatient guests or is everyone pretty cool with the runners?

I almost have DH convinced to do the full, but after seeing the course, I'm kinda scared!!! It makes it seem like it will take forever. DH is all it's like 8 times the length of a 5K (most I've ever done), but I'm trying to tell myself it's more like 4 parks-1 day, commando style!

I would expect there to be at least a few impatient people - it seems like almost every race I have run, some spectator darts out in front of me in the last mile or two. I can't speak for other runners, but by mile 25 or so, I really am not too good at dodging them, either!

My concern would be that I would stop off at a couple of places along the world showcase, and forget that I still had to finish the race before I started celebrating.

 

[disney_runner]

Most guests are pretty cool with the runners and I love when random strangers cheer us on too. That's the best!

SAHDad - I know of one couple who stopped to ride Expedition Everest during the Full 2 years ago! And during the last mile through Epcot, I caught up with a gentleman who did just that - he stopped at the UK and bought a beer for his last mile! We chatted for a bit. Turns out, he trained this way! During all of his long runs, he swung by his house for a beer and then did a cool-down 1 mile walk with his beer in hand. Love it!!!

 

[wvjules]

My biggest concern with the full is, well besides the 26.2 miles, is touring the parks in the days before the race. Unfortunately I will have to do the parks before and not after due to scheduling. Maybe Saturday will have to be a pool/hotel/DTD day and not a park day.


Awesome! -

I'm trying to tell myself it's more like 4 parks-1 day, commando style!

 

[wvjules]

My biggest concern with the full is, well besides the 26.2 miles, is touring the parks in the days before the race. Unfortunately I will have to do the parks before and not after due to scheduling. Maybe Saturday will have to be a pool/hotel/DTD day and not a park day.


Awesome! -

I'm trying to tell myself it's more like 4 parks-1 day, commando style!

 

[kimmiepcft]

My daughter and i are doing the parks before the race, we will be at the park until 1-2 pm and then by the pool for the rest of the day each day.

Impatient people at races....I ran a 5K in a nearby beach town (NJ) and a woman in heels, carrying shopping bags, stepped in front of me during the race. I literally had to wheel my arms for balance, she cut me off so quick. No one durectly behind me, she just didn't feel the need to wait.

 

[PrincessRhi]

Some of the long strecthes look killer, glad they are in the first half of the race! I need scenery!

Some of the long stretches are killer, but they have characters/bands/cheerleaders out there to pump you up. My only complaint about the course at Disney is that it would be SO NICE to have spectators along some of those stretches instead of piling everyone into the parks. I get it though.

My concern would be that I would stop off at a couple of places along the world showcase, and forget that I still had to finish the race before I started celebrating.

After watching people cross the finish line with beers and margaritas, getting a finisher photo while double-fisting beers from Germany became the reason I wanted to run the full instead of the half (which then morphed into running Goofy). I can't tell if this is a problem or a solution. I guess I'll find out in January.

 

[maganda]

After watching people cross the finish line with beers and margaritas, getting a finisher photo while double-fisting beers from Germany became the reason I wanted to run the full instead of the half (which then morphed into running Goofy). I can't tell if this is a problem or a solution. I guess I'll find out in January. [/QUOTE]

I think you just convinced me to upgrade to the full.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

LOVE this!

I swiped it from one of our other marathon members!

Most guests are pretty cool with the runners and I love when random strangers cheer us on too. That's the best!

SAHDad - I know of one couple who stopped to ride Expedition Everest during the Full 2 years ago! And during the last mile through Epcot, I caught up with a gentleman who did just that - he stopped at the UK and bought a beer for his last mile! We chatted for a bit. Turns out, he trained this way! During all of his long runs, he swung by his house for a beer and then did a cool-down 1 mile walk with his beer in hand. Love it!!!

See I would love to sneak a ride in or see a character but I am so deathly afraid of getting swept, I'm scared to take potty breaks!

 

[slp1650]

Just watched the course video and now I cannot wait for the marathon! I guess I have a motivator now for those days I just don't want to get my runs in... The course looks like it's going to be a ton of fun.

So I have a question for the back of the pack party people. If you need the whole 7 hours, or close to it, Epcot in full on open by the time you get there right? How does that work? I would safely assume that things will be roped off, but how do you dodge and weave people? Or is it all behind the scenes running?

During the Princess Half this year they did a thing where they had crossing lanes. It actually worked well because they could shift runners into 1 of 2 lanes and have pedestrians crossing in the empty lane. That probably doesn't explain it correctly, but it worked really well (better than people crossing at will).

After watching people cross the finish line with beers and margaritas, getting a finisher photo while double-fisting beers from Germany became the reason I wanted to run the full instead of the half (which then morphed into running Goofy). I can't tell if this is a problem or a solution. I guess I'll find out in January.

Ok... now I want stop and get a margaritas as I head to the finish line. I might just have to. Although it will give my coach a new point to joke around with me about...

 

[MightyDuck001]

I almost have DH convinced to do the full, but after seeing the course, I'm kinda scared!!! It makes it seem like it will take forever. DH is all it's like 8 times the length of a 5K (most I've ever done), but I'm trying to tell myself it's more like 4 parks-1 day, commando style!

I looked at the video and map and immediately thought, "how can this be?! I always feel like I walked 20 miles just getting around the Magic Kingdom, surely there's a mistake in measuring the distance!"

It's not that I want to pass through the Magic Kingdom in the dark or dawn's early light, but it's more like the carrot on the end of a stick that will keep me going so I don't know if I'm happy it's earlier. I currently run and pretend to see the castle in the distance as a motivational tool. Also, if anyone who has already run wanted to compile a list of ideal places to use a regular bathroom along the route like the pace bands, that'd be awesome...