Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[mickeysgal]

So I just called wdwirun and they were not able to give me a standard view at the animal kingdom,however I am able to get a standard view on the WDW website. The operator was telling me that she cannot guarantee that I will have marathon transportation if I do not book through Irun. Is this true???? Everything on the marathon website just says as long as you stay at a Disney resort you have transportation. The operator stated that the only way they can track how many buses disney needs for marathon is if you book through Irun. Please share your thoughts as I would like to book a room today. Thank you!

Pure sales ploy. They make money off the rooms that are booked through them. This irritates the heck out of me. I hate when misinformation is given and people make decisions based on trusting that the info they've been given is valid.

No, you don't have to book through IRun. You could book straight through Disney if you so choose and you will just get in the marathon busing line in the wee hours of the morning that we'll all be in. No one will know how you booked.

We're DVC members...booked our room via DVC. They have no idea that the reason we booked was because we're running the 1/2.

 

[John VN]

Question for John VN or other veteran walkers: Should I taper near the marathon as I would with running? If so, what do you suggest? (I'm doing the Goofy.)

I taper mainly because I'm 62yo and the body is wearing out. Seriously, follow what you have done in the past. You have to judge for yourself by determining how your are attacking the Goofy. Both days hard or selecting one to go hard and enjoying the other. 2013 is my 3rd. Dopey in a row.

I'm sure you can all do the math, but that is 3 foot steps per second. You can watch your seconds on your watch and count 1-2-3, 1-2-3 . . .

If you haven't worked with this before you will be surprised how much this dictates the speed at which you run. For my long races is is my single focus in the second half of the race. If my turnover (cadence) is on track, then my speed usually is too.

I count by 2s, right foot plants, for 10 seconds and times by 6. Typical 30/31 for 10 seconds yields 180 and when I am booking closer to 40+/- for 10 seconds.

 

[mickeysgal]

I taper mainly because I'm 62yo and the body is wearing out. Seriously, follow what you have done in the past. You have to judge for yourself by determining how your are attacking the Goofy. Both days hard or selecting one to go hard and enjoying the other. 2013 is my 3rd. Dopey in a row.

Good lord...if your body is wearing out and you race walk at the pace that you've posted in the past ...I'm in serious trouble.

 

[Reep]

I count by 2s, right foot plants, for 10 seconds and times by 6. Typical 30/31 for 10 seconds yields 180 and when I am booking closer to 40+/- for 10 seconds.

You don't do this in races though do you? I'm lucky if I can count to 3 in the last miles of a race. No way I can do any significant math.

 

[Freight Train]

Thanks John VN! I won't come close to touching your times but I'm still hanging around the 13 min/mile mark at a 13 mile distance, so I think my pace is at least serviceable. My plan was to not press the 1/2 (within reason) and save up for the full. My biggest concern is injury during training, so hopefully it'll all work out!

 

[Ariel484]

So I just called wdwirun and they were not able to give me a standard view at the animal kingdom,however I am able to get a standard view on the WDW website. The operator was telling me that she cannot guarantee that I will have marathon transportation if I do not book through Irun. Is this true???? Everything on the marathon website just says as long as you stay at a Disney resort you have transportation. The operator stated that the only way they can track how many buses disney needs for marathon is if you book through Irun. Please share your thoughts as I would like to book a room today. Thank you!

You do not need to book through Irun. You can just book through the regular Disney site. And you will have transportation. I've never booked through the special site - oh wait, I did once for the Wine and Dine Half because they actually had a better room rate. I can't begin to imagine how many DVCer's are there for marathon weekend using their points - tons!! No worries, you can book that standard AKL room on the regular WDW website!!

Not true. I can guarantee you that.

I booked using my DVC. If I cant get on the bus because of that, that bus is NOT moving. LOL

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards. Please excuse the typos.

Pure sales ploy. They make money off the rooms that are booked through them. This irritates the heck out of me. I hate when misinformation is given and people make decisions based on trusting that the info they've been given is valid.

No, you don't have to book through IRun. You could book straight through Disney if you so choose and you will just get in the marathon busing line in the wee hours of the morning that we'll all be in. No one will know how you booked.

We're DVC members...booked our room via DVC. They have no idea that the reason we booked was because we're running the 1/2.

This is so weird to me...stories of vouchers for marathon buses, only IRUN can guarantee transportation...so much incorrect information!

Just wanted to echo everyone else that you DO NOT need to book through IRUN, and they DO NOT take counts or anything for marathon weekend busing.

For the 2011 Princess Half, we booked through IRUN and got a small discount. No one took our names down, we didn't get vouchers to present to the bus drivers, nothing. We just got on the bus (to and from the expo and race) and everything was fine.

For the 2012 marathon, I booked 2 rooms - mine (renting points through a 3rd party website) and one through regular Disney reservations for my mom and brother with a room discount. SO much cheaper this way, and again - we took the buses to and from the race and expo with no problems.

They want people to be able to use this transportation, especially at the expo. It is open to EVERYONE, not just runners - they want to make sure everyone can come in and spend their money!

Book whichever way will save you the most money and don't sweat the buses. Every hotel is a host hotel that weekend.

 

[SPAM]

Both races (1/2 and full) officially sold out. Goofy is at 99%.

 

[SPAM]

I take that back Goofy is now also officially sold out.

 

[Lindsey2065]

Thank you everyone for the great info!!! I figured that but just wanted to make sure after my phone call with Irun this morning!! I think the CM knew I was a little upset. The only reason I called them was to see if they were cheaper than Disney website but they were not. looking forward to my first marathon at Disney!!!

 

[mickeysgal]

Both races (1/2 and full) officially sold out. Goofy is at 99%.

I take that back Goofy is now also officially sold out.

Is it my imagination or does it seem rather early compared to last year for a total sell out?

 

[RunRookie]

So I just called wdwirun and they were not able to give me a standard view at the animal kingdom,however I am able to get a standard view on the WDW website. The operator was telling me that she cannot guarantee that I will have marathon transportation if I do not book through Irun. Is this true???? Everything on the marathon website just says as long as you stay at a Disney resort you have transportation. The operator stated that the only way they can track how many buses disney needs for marathon is if you book through Irun. Please share your thoughts as I would like to book a room today. Thank you!

All the buses care about in the early morning hours is if you are wearing a race bib. The buses in the morning are just for the runners. Later, the buses will bring spectators to where they can meet up with their runners.

 

[RunRookie]

Is it my imagination or does it seem rather early compared to last year for a total sell out?

I believe you are right. My memory from last year was that the races didn't sell out until October....

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Last year was mid-November.

 

[RunRookie]

Last year was mid-November.

I thought November was when the 5K finally sold out...

 

[lvvacation]

What's you current base, what are your goals, how old are you and what is you injury history? Why not amp up intensity on the two shorter runs rather than add junk miles? I find that Hal's plans have worked well for most folks with 2-5 marathons under their belts and who are not looking for the pointy end of their age group. I would caution about just adding miles without understanding the previous questions.

I guess the reason why I was thinking of adding miles is because I would be dropping in weekly mileage when I start the program. I'm 44, have been running for 3 years, and since Jan I've averaged about 35 mpw. I have had a history with PF (not for a couple years though) so maybe it isn't such a good idea? I had only planned on adding an additional 6 miles a week (2 to each weekday run). My goals aren't really true goals, I would like to finish feeling good, and hopefully around 4:30.

 

[halvnorsk]

All the buses care about in the early morning hours is if you are wearing a race bib. The buses in the morning are just for the runners. Later, the buses will bring spectators to where they can meet up with their runners.

They actually don't even care about the bibs. My friend boarded the bus with me in 2011 dressed in jeans and a long coat. That's the mark of a true friend (and Disney freak) - someone who is willing to drive to Disney World with you for the weekend and get up at 2:30 in the morning to see you run your first marathon! Then in 2012, my husband rode with me on the early bus - also in street clothes.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I saw a dad who was racing and he had his wife and kids with him at the PHM.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards. Please excuse the typos.

 

[cewait]

Thank you everyone for the great info!!! I figured that but just wanted to make sure after my phone call with Irun this morning!! I think the CM knew I was a little upset. The only reason I called them was to see if they were cheaper than Disney website but they were not. looking forward to my first marathon at Disney!!!

My first couple events I booked through Sports Reservations.. The predecessor to the current group.

Sounds just like it did back then. You felt obligated to book through DS then they pinned the fact that one must book through DS to get into the old big tent pasta feed. It became clear for the 02 race that DS was a money loser for those who reserved through them. First, they do offer a better than rack rate since they are a consolidator for Central Reservations. But after 9/11, CRO was offering very deep discounts and DS would not budge. They basically said no way one could get into the pasta feed nor could one ride busing to the start.

Male Cow Excrement

After a little research in late 2001 I found that going through DS ties one up in many ways. Higher deposits, earlier cancellation dates (then 30 days earlier than CRO) and a lack of ability to re-reserve at the published discounts. All this in trade for a free round of minigolf at the Fantasia Gardens Course. Whoop!

I have always tolks folks to head to CRO and reserve there. The mouse is too concerned about pennies to allow guests to not be served through either means of reservations

 

[cewait]

All the buses care about in the early morning hours is if you are wearing a race bib. The buses in the morning are just for the runners. Later, the buses will bring spectators to where they can meet up with their runners.

They actually don't even care about the bibs. My friend boarded the bus with me in 2011 dressed in jeans and a long coat. That's the mark of a true friend (and Disney freak) - someone who is willing to drive to Disney World with you for the weekend and get up at 2:30 in the morning to see you run your first marathon! Then in 2012, my husband rode with me on the early bus - also in street clothes.

The only places where bibs are of concern are as one passes into the runner's only area at the checked gear tents OR if one walks from the OKW area to the start. Folks are too bundled up most years to show a bib. Yes, instructions say one should show, but the drivers are more concerned about loading quickly (mobile managers are watching), safely, and getting to the drop off point whithout hitting something bad. If they were required to check ID's the process would crawl to a stop.

Now, as a common courtesy to RUNNERS, spectators should be aware of the lines and number of busses coming by. If the line is long and the number of buses few, then they should give up a spot to the runner. I would hate to think that a runner misses their start because they could not board due to spectators volume. BUT, as a runner, I am responsible for me and I will get in line closer to the start of the bussing window rather than the very end. Folks who do not get into line until 4 -410 for a bus kind of deserve missing the start.

 

[cewait]

I guess the reason why I was thinking of adding miles is because I would be dropping in weekly mileage when I start the program. I'm 44, have been running for 3 years, and since Jan I've averaged about 35 mpw. I have had a history with PF (not for a couple years though) so maybe it isn't such a good idea? I had only planned on adding an additional 6 miles a week (2 to each weekday run). My goals aren't really true goals, I would like to finish feeling good, and hopefully around 4:30.

Play it by ear and add the miles up front. Take them back out if you feel the the PF coming back