Questions about the 1/2...

[klh-or]

Could somebody(s) walk me through what to expect the morning of the 12th? I'm staying at Pop. I catch a shuttle out front somewhere at 0-dark-thirty, right? Like 4 a.m.? That takes me kinda close to the start area. Then what? Masses of people are just kinda hanging around until 6 am and the first wave takes off? I'm guessing it might be chilly so something warmer over my actual walking capris/WISH shirt would be smart? I should bring my breakfast (bagel, PB, banana) to eat around an hour before race time? I find standing around way more tiring than actually walking so should I think about bringing some sort of throw-away camp stool or something? Even though I don't have my packet, since I put down 3:30 for finish time, I assume I'm in the last corral and won't start until 6:30-ish. Do they announce that it's time to start getting into place or what? How many people might we be talking in that last corral? Try to scoot my way to the front or just relax and go with the flow? Okay, now it must be about time to start. I'm guessing for a fair distance it's like sardines in a can before people hit their pace and the crowd spreads out some? Now, when do those danged sweepers start breathing down my neck? Immediately? Or will they give me a few miles so that I can at least say I started the race??!! If I get swept, do they throw a net over me and drag me into the van or do they allow me some dignity? Let's say I'm doing okay...walking, walking...grab some Powerade here and there, etc....people cheering, characters, etc. If we are a smidge ahead, we can stop for a picture and the handler (?) takes a picture of us with the character with our camera?? What happens at the finish line...you just stop walking and collapse or ?? If I do get swept (not being a pessimist...being very realistic), I get hauled to the finish line and wait for my buds?? Then what? Either way, we make our way back to Pop for an ice bath and a nap, and then we'll feel SO good we can take on the parks??

As you might have figured, I'm a detail person. I like to have at least SOME idea of what to expect, especially since not only is this my first 1/2 but also my first trip to DW.

Humor me, would ya? Give me some details? Those little tidbits/suggestions that I might never think of that could really make a difference the morning of the 1/2?

Thanks!!!

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Karla, I'm curious to see what the seasoned vets say in response to your post, but according to the race program busses from the resorts run from 3:00 - 4:00 am. Seems like a pretty short window to me...

 

[scoolover]

Last year, I did bring a stool. I was the only one that I saw. The last bus supposedly leaves at 4:00 and apparantly it is usually pertty full. I took a 3:30 bus last year with about 10 people. You start at the staging area before you go to the starting area about 5:00. You wait about an hour at each area.

Most of all, Disney has this all down so just follow the flow. Once you exit your hotel room in the morning just start following people. You could get through the entire thing without looking up as long as you follow the running shoes.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Could somebody(s) walk me through what to expect the morning of the 12th? I'm staying at Pop. I catch a shuttle out front somewhere at 0-dark-thirty, right? Like 4 a.m.? That takes me kinda close to the start area. Then what? Masses of people are just kinda hanging around until 6 am and the first wave takes off? I'm guessing it might be chilly so something warmer over my actual walking capris/WISH shirt would be smart? I should bring my breakfast (bagel, PB, banana) to eat around an hour before race time? I find standing around way more tiring than actually walking so should I think about bringing some sort of throw-away camp stool or something? Even though I don't have my packet, since I put down 3:30 for finish time, I assume I'm in the last corral and won't start until 6:30-ish. Do they announce that it's time to start getting into place or what? How many people might we be talking in that last corral? Try to scoot my way to the front or just relax and go with the flow? Okay, now it must be about time to start. I'm guessing for a fair distance it's like sardines in a can before people hit their pace and the crowd spreads out some? Now, when do those danged sweepers start breathing down my neck? Immediately? Or will they give me a few miles so that I can at least say I started the race??!! If I get swept, do they throw a net over me and drag me into the van or do they allow me some dignity? Let's say I'm doing okay...walking, walking...grab some Powerade here and there, etc....people cheering, characters, etc. If we are a smidge ahead, we can stop for a picture and the handler (?) takes a picture of us with the character with our camera?? What happens at the finish line...you just stop walking and collapse or ?? If I do get swept (not being a pessimist...being very realistic), I get hauled to the finish line and wait for my buds?? Then what? Either way, we make our way back to Pop for an ice bath and a nap, and then we'll feel SO good we can take on the parks??

As you might have figured, I'm a detail person. I like to have at least SOME idea of what to expect, especially since not only is this my first 1/2 but also my first trip to DW.

Humor me, would ya? Give me some details? Those little tidbits/suggestions that I might never think of that could really make a difference the morning of the 1/2?

Thanks!!!

As mentioned, don't wait for the 4:00 am bus. Take the 3:30 which is what I do. I bring a towel to sit on as I don't waste a lot of energy standing as I am doing the Goofy. I bring like a banana to eat while waiting. I eat my breakfast at my room. I bring a throw away bottle of water to drink while waiting also. CM's will take pics of you with characters but watch wasting time if worried about being swept. Also, leave ASAP and move to the very front of Wace C. This will save you a few more minutes.

Once finished, they cut off your chip, give you your medal, and you migrate to get food and your picture taken. Med tent is there as well as massage. I hit the med for ice on my knees and than signup for the massage. It is $10/10 min & $20/20 min. Great to help if doing Goofy.

Here is a great report on my website by Charles(cewait) at http://www.disneyrunning.com/halfreportcw.html

Hope this helps

Think positive and just keep moving forward....

 

[Pungodingy]

Thanks for asking, I am the same way, I want to know what's going to happen, where to go, etc and when I dont I tend to get a bit panicky....

Good to know you'll be with me!

 

[angietuck2]

Well we were lucky enough to stay at a monorail resort last year so I can't speak from experience about the busses. But with the amount of people that do the race and stay on property I would second what everyone else said to take the early bus.

Once you get there there is music and a DJ and they will show you where to line up according to what wave you are in. Then they move each wave to the starting area.

We did bring throw away clothes last year but never even put them on, it was HOT!! I don't know what it's going to be like in 30 days but it is still very hot down here right now, high of 83 a couple of days this week, low 75 so I would watch the weather channel for Orlando before you load up on the clothes.

Hope this helps.

angie

 

[Big Vic]

The 07 1/2 was my very first race at WDW and my very first race ever.

I caught the bus around 0330. From the drop off point I followed the herd to staging area. Milled around for a while and then followed the directions (given over the loud speaker) to the starting area.

So easy a retired GI could do it.

 

[westcliffemom]

Plus once you get over to the crowds, you can spend some time searching for WISH shirts so you can go over & introduce yourself!

 

[escape]

Well, don't listen to me but I'm gonna tell you what we did....

I stayed at Pop last Jan. and we caught the 4:00-4:15 bus. Yep, you read right. The friends that I was with insisted they did this the year before so we did it in 07. There was a huge line behind us too and more busses coming. Like I said, don't listen to me. Better safe than sorry.

The busses drop you off in an area that seemed to be a half mile from the gathering area. Well, ok, not that far away but it sure seemed like it. I looked for some WISHers but didn't see any immediately. I did see about 10,000 other people though.

I had a pass to the VIP tent so I went there first. I dropped off my personal belongings bag and then went outside to find my friend. If you have a bag that you want to check, you will find instructions on how to do so once you pick up your packet of information at the expo. Or, it may already be in the packet we received in the mail. I haven't looked at it closely yet.

We followed John Bingham's advice and lined up at one of the many port-o-potties. I started seeing WISHers about that time. I got in line a few more times and then I could see folks starting to head to the corrals. It seemed like another half mile to that point.

I was in Corral B so we were in kind of a in a holding area for a while, waiting for Corral A to go. Once they took off, we were able to move up to the starting line area. Next, we took off. It was still dark. It was also warm and humid. I wasn't expecting that. I was really worried about my time so I did not take any pictures with characters although I wish I would have.

That's my recap of the morning before the race. Hope to see you there before the race.

 

[Sandy321]

OK, so I guess I should take this as a reality!! I'm so not ready...

I plan on wearing the WISH shirt, and getting there as early as I can, and find other WISH'ers... but during the run, is it ok if I space out and not talk? I'm so very nervous that I may be swept its not funny!! I know its because I havent trained as well as I thought I could..

and I have no idea about clothing - but I like the idea of bringing a towel to sit on... and I'm hooking on a fanny pak to carry a camera, kleenex, etc... I truly am feeling very nervous tonight!

 

[escape]

OK, so I guess I should take this as a reality!! I'm so not ready...

I plan on wearing the WISH shirt, and getting there as early as I can, and find other WISH'ers... but during the run, is it ok if I space out and not talk? I'm so very nervous that I may be swept its not funny!! I know its because I havent trained as well as I thought I could..

and I have no idea about clothing - but I like the idea of bringing a towel to sit on... and I'm hooking on a fanny pak to carry a camera, kleenex, etc... I truly am feeling very nervous tonight!

Sandy, you're probably more ready than you think you are. During the run, I don't talk much. I'm too busy huffing and puffing. And, don't worry. As others mentioned, the adrenaline will help pull you through.

 

[Sandy321]

Thanks Susie - I know when I'm in Disney I go into full adreneline mode!! I hope working on the treadmill will help increase my stamina - I cant imagine doing anything with all this snow and black ice out there!! I'm just now beginning to believe it will actually happen!!

 

[littlegreydonkey]

Hey there - just my 2c worth.

I get the bus about 3.30ish as I'm panicker. I get on there with a huge bag which causes people to stare at me madly as you're only allowed to put a small bag in the bag check area. In my big bag is...a pillow to sit on, a newspaper to read (I don't like to speak to people before the race either), my breakfast plus spare toilet roll (never visit a pre race bathroom without it!!!), my Powerade for before the race, after the race and during the race, in three different bottles!!! Fuel belt, inhaler, ipod. camera for during the race, and a change of clothes and a pair of flip flops for after race!!! These last items are the only things that actually make it to the bag check, everything else is thrown away before the start.

When I get there I say hello to any wishteamers then apologise for being antisocial and go and find a quiet area to sit and eat breakfast. When that's finished I queue for the bathroom, depending on result (sorry, but runners you know what I mean) and how long the queue is again when I finish, I usually queue again - or go sit nearby so if the queues start to get scary I can get back in easily!!! The newspaper comes in handy as a seat now!!!

When they start telling you to head to the start, I meander my way down, usually stopping again at the bathroom. At the start I move as far to the outside as I can and sit on the kerb. Like Robert, my feet are going to have enough trauma over the next few hours, I don't need to stand!!!

As for what to wear beforehand, it does depend on the weather - both years I've done it have been freezing and I've had on about six thin layers (normally old t-shirts) on my top (all but three came off prior to the start, but I have asthma and a cold chest is a wheezy chest) and shorts and thick track pants on my bottom. Gloves are also a must for me if it's cold.

As for the finish, I get my medal, check how many people are queing for character pics and if it's not too many get a pic, otherwise, I'm out of there as fast as possible to get out of my running kit - particularly my trainers. I don't care how cold it is after the race, I've got those shoes off and some flip flops on. So, that's my race plan!

 

[ironz]

Sandy...you'll be fine!

I just glanced through the other posts and not sure if this needs clarification:

the busses (I wouldn't wait for the latest one) drop you off in the Epcot parking lot. You walk about 1/4 mile? to the what I suppose is called the staging area. This is where they have: bag drop, lots and lots of portapotties (Disney races are so good at having plenty!), some entertainment, I think they have had tables with cups of water, etc. This is a separate area from the actual race start. They want you here by 5 am.

I tend to just chill out and take care of my portapotty business. The idea of bringing something to sit on is a good one (esp. if cold or wet)...I stood around way too much before the TOT run. Even a trash bag would do.

At about 5, they will instruct people to the start area/corrals. This is another walk of 1/2 mile or so. (you'd think they could just include that in the race--haha!) If you are dropping off some clothes for after the race, you do that before you go to the corrals. So if it is cold (and believe me, in 2006 and 2003 (or 2004?), it was COLD!!), bring some extra throwaway clothes that you can wear to the start corral, as you will be there until 6 am (or later--I started in the last corral in 2006, and it took us 25 min. to get to the actual starting line). A trash bag also can help keep you warm/dry, if needed. The clothes they find discarded on the race course are donated to charity.

NOTE: if you are dropping a trash bag or clothes during the run itself...and it is crowded...PLEASE move to the side of the road....esp. with the trash bags... you can cause the other runners to trip if they get caught up in your trash!!

It'll take several miles for the crowds to thin a little, but I hope you have a great time!!

 

[Dennyha]

Last year, we hopped on the WDW bus from OKW about 4:15am. The bus dropped us off in the Epcot parking lot, and like someone else said, it was about a 1/4 mile walk. There are some tents out in the "public" area of the parking lot, but you'll need to find the appropriate bag drop. The "appropriate" bag drop line is based on the first letter of your last name. Going through the bag drop, the volunteer will take the tag off of your shirt number, and secure it to your bag. Once through the bag check, you can't go back. In the non-public area, it is runners only. Here, the lot is divided into Corrals A, B, anc C. The porta-jons were mostly in Corrals A and B last year, so C runners were allowed up into the B corral, but if it looked like you didn't have a "mission", you were directed bacy to your Corral. Coming up on 6am, everyone will start to stand up, and crowd toward the front of their corral. About 6, there will be a slow march, more like a shuffle, forward. This shuffle will last for up to 30 minutes, depending on where you are. As you approach the starting line. you'll hear a chorus of chirps as the championship chips cross the line. Even after you cross, it will take a little while to get enough room to run. The first mile or so is best described as "darting" from gap to gap, until you find your space.

After saying all this, my advise is to not get so worried about the details that you forget to enjoy the event. Soak it all in. Remember that you're in Disney World. How often do you get to run with Mickey, Minnie, cheerleaders, drum and bugle corps, Belle, Beast, Goofy, the three little pigs, Snow White, Prince Charming, Cinderella, Jafar, Jasmine, (you get the idea) cheering you on. How many times do you get to run through a castle, or down Main Street USA with hundreds of fans cheering you on.

Please, please, please, make yourself soak it all in. When you're running, you can't wait to cross the finish line, and when it's over, you'll wish you could re-live it all.

 

[Lexxiefern]

Do we really need to leave so early?? That seems like a lot of standing around to me (and not enough sleep!). At DL half I left my hotel room at the GC at 5 am and followed the other runners to the start. I got in my corral around 5:30am and had to wait around for half an hour. I had plenty of time. Catching a 3:30am bus sounds awful!! And I have to do that 2 days in a row?

Becky

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Unless you are walking distance, I being a person who likes to enjoy "the experience," will recommend the early bus. There is usually a WISH Team meet up in the runners only area. We find our way there and get a pre-race meet. It is fun.

The big reason I am on the early bus is b/c of the bus debacle at the resort I stayed one year and we almost missed the race. I say almost. It was ironed out, but rather than risk that I choose to hang around soaking it all in.

 

[Sandy321]

I appreciate sharing of the past experiences -

we're staying at BCV - and I think I read someone's trip report that the bus didnt leave - and just sat there, and sat there... the busses are contracted and arent the Disney "purple pants experienced ones"

not that I"m obsessing, just enjoying reading...

 

[ironz]

There are some tents out in the "public" area of the parking lot, but you'll need to find the appropriate bag drop. The "appropriate" bag drop line is based on the first letter of your last name. Going through the bag drop, the volunteer will take the tag off of your shirt number, and secure it to your bag. Once through the bag check, you can't go back. In the non-public area, it is runners only. Here, the lot is divided into Corrals A, B, anc C. The porta-jons were mostly in Corrals A and B last year, so C runners were allowed up into the B corral, but if it looked like you didn't have a "mission", you were directed bacy to your Corral.

...

Please, please, please, make yourself soak it all in. When you're running, you can't wait to cross the finish line, and when it's over, you'll wish you could re-live it all.

Unless they changed something last year, you do not go straight from bag check into the corrals...it is a runner-only area, but there is still another walk out to the road where the race actually is. Can someone clarify, please?

and your last paragraph is awesome and so, so true.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

There is a nice 1/2 mile plus walk from the porta potties area to the corrals. You have a good memory

Having a camera with you helps you see what you missed during the race!