Questions about Kids' Races

[ladyjayhawk]

Can you tell me all about your experiences with the Kids' Races at the Marathon Weekend in January? My sisters and I are thinking about signing our children up. There would be a total of 7 kids. Some questions I have:

- Do the kids have fun?

- I read one post that said it was pretty chaotic. Is it?

- The website says that the kids get a t-shirt, goody bag, medal, etc. When do they get these?

- Are there any characters there?

- If we do the Friday races (11:00 am) and can not pick up the packets on Thursday, can we pick them up Fri. morning before the races? Should we be there 1-2 hours before the start?

- Is there anything else I should know?

Thank you so much for your help!!

 

[jbucci]

We did a kids race at the Minnie 15K weekend. My daughter age 4 did enjoy it, although it is pretty chaotic. There are lots of people and a bit of milling around before the race, then all of the kids run at once (I somehow thought the different ages would each have their own race, but they are all together on the same course just with different start positions.). The t-shirt came with the packet at pick-up. She earned the medal for finishing the race. I'm not sure how much fun the race itself was but she was really proud of the medal and liked to show it off, especially when my DH and I were wearing our 15k ones. There were characters at the end for photo ops if you wanted. The kids races were run after the grown up one and the tent for packet pick up and registration was open that morning. I'm assuming it will be similar for marathon weekend. I hope this is helpful.

 

[scoolover]

- Do the kids have fun?
I would say that most kids have fun. Mine never does of course. It is usually hot and there isn't much shade. There is also a lot of waiting.

- I read one post that said it was pretty chaotic. Is it?
Yes. Long lines to register. Even if you are pre registered you still have to wait to hand in the waiver.

- The website says that the kids get a t-shirt, goody bag, medal, etc. When do they get these?
I am not sure about the shirt - must be a new thing. The goody bag was given at the registration tent when I handed in the waiver. The medal is given about 50 yards past the finish line and it was a disaster last year. They ran the heats so quickly that there were hundreds of kids stacked up to get medals. That was the most chaotic part of the day. There were kids seperated from parents and lots of crying.


- Are there any characters there?
Mickey was there to start the day but left before the races started. No other characters.

- If we do the Friday races (11:00 am) and can not pick up the packets on Thursday, can we pick them up Fri. morning before the races? Should we be there 1-2 hours before the start?
I might try to get there around 10:00am. That will give you time to get situated.

- Is there anything else I should know?
I will not be there this year! Partly because my son is not that interested. Partly because it is just such a pain in the a** The medals are cool though and the kids seem to love them.

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Thanks for the great info!! Anyone else try the kids races?

 

[Caseydilla]

I have my 5 year old registered for the age 4-6 years group in the kids run at Disneyland in August. This will be our first, so I don't have any experience. It's good to hear the experience others have had with them in the past. It does sound like it will be a bit crazy.

 

[Jen117]

Yes, the last 2 years I did the kids races, they were very chaotic. If it weren't for my kids loving the medal they get (just like mom), I wouldn't do them. We have never gotten a t-shirt, and I don't remember a goody bag either.

I have done other 1/2 marathons that have kids races.... and they were very fun and much less chaotic. I am still on the fence for 2009.