Run/Walk - Is it actually frowned upon in races?

[jerivera]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their replies!!!

I've learned that:

1) I should signal in some way when I'm about to go into my walk interval. I did not know that! Suddenly I want a (very lightweight) electronic sign on my back that counts down or flashes for the walk intervals.

2) And that it should be fine one way or the other. Just to try not to slow down too much if I'm in a "sardine can" type of situation, as it may cause an unintended accident.

Thanks again!

 

[goofeygirl]

I joined a pace group for the full this past year and I LOVED it.

We would all raise our hands in the air when it was time to walk.
The leader had a watch on that will alarm when the run was over...then she would count down and all our hands would go up in the air and we would all walk.
It worked well because there was a large group of us.

I think pace groups are the best! When you get an idea of your time then you can locate a pace leader in your coral perhaps. During the full...I didn't join the pace group until about mile 9. I stayed with them until almost the end , in Epcot. I then had to divert to the nearest bar to get my hands on a frozen strawberry margarita and then walk the rest of the way.

 

[bellrae]

I am planning on walk/run for the Rebel Challenge in January, but I was also pretty honest when I signed up to make sure I got a back corral so I didn't have an impact on others. I guess at the end of the day it comes down to what others said and being aware of who is around you when you slow down.

 

[Woth2982]

The ONLY time I have issues with walkers in a race is when they are walking 3-4 abreast in the middle of the road. If I can't get around them I will scream behind you and run through when they part (usually barely enough for me to squeeze by). Walkers that have runners etiquette I have zero issue with. When I do have to take a walk break I always look behind me to make sure there is no one behind me and I am not obstructing anyone trying to pass.

 

[goofeygirl]

The ONLY time I have issues with walkers in a race is when they are walking 3-4 abreast in the middle of the road. If I can't get around them I will scream behind you and run through when they part (usually barely enough for me to squeeze by). Walkers that have runners etiquette I have zero issue with. When I do have to take a walk break I always look behind me to make sure there is no one behind me and I am not obstructing anyone trying to pass.

That is not just annoying but rude. I realize groups of people want to talk while walking but not at the expense of not allow others to pass.

 

[Castle2Castle]

I joined a pace group for the full this past year and I LOVED it. . .

. . .I think pace groups are the best!

I think pace groups are great for those people utilizing them - whether they start with the group or latch on later in a race to help carry them through to teh finish.

That being said, if you are doing run/walk and not trying to be part of a pace group, you might want to consider extending either your walk or your run to put some distance (ahead of or behind you) between you and them. Some of the runDisney pace groups can be quite large, and depending on where you are on the course, it can get extremely difficult to get back around them when they switch to a walk.

It's not that they're doing anything wrong; it's just that everyone tries to huddle around the pacing leader and it ends up being a very deep and very wide swath of people that eat up the running lanes. So if you're one to get frustrated when you can't get around a group of people and you see a pace group coming, prepare yourself!

 

[mouseketeerwannabe]

I joined a pace group for the full this past year and I LOVED it.

We would all raise our hands in the air when it was time to walk.
The leader had a watch on that will alarm when the run was over...then she would count down and all our hands would go up in the air and we would all walk.
It worked well because there was a large group of us.

I think pace groups are the best! When you get an idea of your time then you can locate a pace leader in your coral perhaps. During the full...I didn't join the pace group until about mile 9. I stayed with them until almost the end , in Epcot. I then had to divert to the nearest bar to get my hands on a frozen strawberry margarita and then walk the rest of the way.

I'm very new to all this, and the PHM will be my first half marathon. Does it cost money to join a pace group? Does Disney have pace groups for their half marathons or just the full marathons?

 

[ANIM8R]

I'm very new to all this, and the PHM will be my first half marathon. Does it cost money to join a pace group? Does Disney have pace groups for their half marathons or just the full marathons?

Yes. It costs serious money. What you need to do is go to a CVS and buy a prepaid Visa and IM me the scratch code.

Sorry...I had just read a news story about some scammers.

No, no money and, yes, they're for the half and full distances.

If you're at the expo, you can go to the Clif booth and there are pace team leaders there to meet and answer questions. They give out printed wristbands based on your time/pace so you can glance at your wristband and monitor your pace based on your distance. If you're lucky, the pace leader of your desired pace will be there so you can see them in-person. If not, they usually have pictures.

If you miss the expo, you can still spot them pretty easily that race morning in the corrals. They'll have signs, balloons, banners, stuffed animals...all sorts of stuff since part of their function is to make themselves known.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm very new to all this, and the PHM will be my first half marathon. Does it cost money to join a pace group? Does Disney have pace groups for their half marathons or just the full marathons?

There is a great group on Facebook you can join that usually paces each Disney event.
Pacebook is the groups name.
If they aren't doing group pacing they usually have people who will pace others especially first timers.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Yes. It costs serious money. What you need to do is go to a CVS and buy a prepaid Visa and IM me the scratch code.

Sorry...I had just read a news story about some scammers.

No, no money and, yes, they're for the half and full distances.

If you're at the expo, you can go to the Clif booth and there are pace team leaders there to meet and answer questions. They give out printed wristbands based on your time/pace so you can glance at your wristband and monitor your pace based on your distance. If you're lucky, the pace leader of your desired pace will be there so you can see them in-person. If not, they usually have pictures.

If you miss the expo, you can still spot them pretty easily that race morning in the corrals. They'll have signs, balloons, banners, stuffed animals...all sorts of stuff since part of their function is to make themselves known.

I will admit that I was definitely out of it during the 2014 marathon, but I don't remember seeing any of these guys? Maybe it was just a coincidence? Maybe I was behind the slowest pace group? I started in K, but I was slower than usual and ended up running with people in the M/N groups

 

[derekleigh]

Anyone the "looks down" upon walking during a race is just plain full of themselves. You're at a race/running event, finish how you wish in a way that makes you enjoy the experience.

Since really picking up running in the last two and a half years, I've done over a half dozen HM, countless 5Ks, and various other distance in between. Currently I am training for my first full in January at the WDW Marathon Weekend. There are things people do that annoy/irritate/anger me where pace is a non-factor.

The biggest plan of attack I use (mainly at Disney Races) is to simply be aware of your surroundings. I try to always have some opening accessible because the rule of thumb is thrown out the window (slower runners should stay to the right while the left is reserved for passing much like driving).

But unless its a new distance for me, a runDisney race probably isn't going to get me a PR. Too many people running at all different paces plus some narrow course sections can make things a headache for those really gunning for time.

I am actually looking forward to my first full at WDW. It will be a race that I am not gunning for time, but more just to soak in the experience and have fun. I just want to finish (upright) so I'll worry about time at my 2nd marathon.

 

[goofeygirl]

There was another forum I had joined a few years ago before I even knew about this one.
I was inquiring about training for a full...and that my experience had been a walk/jog scenario.
Some of the answers I received from some of the runners was dismal. I cannot recall the exact words but some where telling me if walking was part of the plan than I was wasting my time and the organizations because I would be holding up the event longer than it should. Walkers should never do any race with the word marathon in it because it minimalizes their efforts. I should not consider a marathon at all.

I was disgusted. I am a fairly active person who engages in various sports. I am not out of shape (well maybe for a marathon right now I would be). I was asking for different opinions on the marathon experience and what I mostly got back was a pompous elitist p.o.v.

I told them that perhaps this was not the forum I should belong to. I am not too sure what the purpose of this particular forum is other than insult. Enjoy your racing and I hope you never meet anyone like yourself.

So I ended up coming here.

In the end, I have done the walk/jog marathon twice. Did the Goofy and then the Dopey the following year. I didn't effect the race, nor injure anyone. The roads were closed for everyone not just me.

Okay so that brought up crap memories!

 

[mouseketeerwannabe]

Yes. It costs serious money. What you need to do is go to a CVS and buy a prepaid Visa and IM me the scratch code.

Sorry...I had just read a news story about some scammers.

No, no money and, yes, they're for the half and full distances.

If you're at the expo, you can go to the Clif booth and there are pace team leaders there to meet and answer questions. They give out printed wristbands based on your time/pace so you can glance at your wristband and monitor your pace based on your distance. If you're lucky, the pace leader of your desired pace will be there so you can see them in-person. If not, they usually have pictures.

If you miss the expo, you can still spot them pretty easily that race morning in the corrals. They'll have signs, balloons, banners, stuffed animals...all sorts of stuff since part of their function is to make themselves known.

Thanks for this info. I'm always learning something new on this forum! I may just give this a try.

 

[Woth2982]

That is not just annoying but rude. I realize groups of people want to talk while walking but not at the expense of not allow others to pass.

It is also kind of dangerous. I have turned an ankle trying to run around groups. I have 3 bulging discs in my lower back so i have to be very careful while running. As I said I am fine with people talking while the race is going on, but they should not be blocking the road. I ran an extra .7 miles in the PHM trying to get around people.

 

[jerivera]

Is it considered rude to go through walking groups who form a wall in the middle of the road during a race to talk/support each other?

What about those groups I've heard about that link arms and sing songs/other while walking in the middle of the road during a race?

Regardless, if it's just 5-6 folk walking and talking, with about an inch in between them, would you go around if it meant going off the road, or through? What is the appropriate running etiquette for both the "wall" group and the runner behind them? Is going into Grumpy mode ok when the other folk obviously don't care that they're bottle-necking the entire course?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Is it considered rude to go through walking groups who form a wall in the middle of the road during a race to talk/support each other?

No. It is rude to be a part of that wall. If you cannot obey proper race etiquette, I have very little sympathy if people knock you over.

 

[ANIM8R]

What about those groups I've heard about that link arms and sing songs/other while walking in the middle of the road during a race?

I'm certainly not a veteran of hundreds of races but I have run my fair share and have never seen that occur. I hope that's one of those "I know a guy who knows a guy who heard" myths. Otherwise, that's just asking for trouble and I would hope a race marshall/security would address that quickly.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm certainly not a veteran of hundreds of races but I have run my fair share and have never seen that occur. I hope that's one of those "I know a guy who knows a guy who heard" myths. Otherwise, that's just asking for trouble and I would hope a race marshall/security would address that quickly.

I saw it happen in January at the half.

 

[ANIM8R]

I saw it happen in January at the half.

Wow. I'm floored.

Do you remember where on the course?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Wow. I'm floored.

Do you remember where on the course?

I think it was coming out of MK