runDisney Elite Wave

[Drewferin]

Based on what I can find online it appears that the elite wave for each race is the top 25 male and top 25 female racers? Can somebody confirm this for me?

 

[Nightriders19]

The 2020 Marathon was my only runDisney race experience, but there didn't appear to be a separate elite wave. I started near the front of corral A, and as far as I could tell, we went out with the elites. I finished 12th OA for females.

 

[Drewferin]

Dang grats on being such a strong finisher/runner! I was hoping the elite wave was a get out of jail free card so the crowds didnt influence my 10k in Feb. Told my wife we could race the 10k and mess around on the half the next day

 

[DopeyBadger]

I can confirm @Nighriders19's experience from 6 runDisney Marathon weekends. There are a very small handful of runners (past champion and such) that are allowed to start ahead of Corral A in the marathon (and maybe half marathon?). But for the 10k, I'm not sure if I've ever seen anyone lead out in front of Corral A other than the time Paula Radcliffe ran. While the top 25 bibs male and female are typically reserved for the Elite designation, not all of those bibs are even assigned. @Wendy98 has had an Elite bib in the past, and can give her experience from it. I know Jaime D. had an Elite bib at this year's marathon and we started next to each other.

If you want to be at the front of Corral A for the 10k, then just head to the corrals when they open. That's usually 60-65 min before the race start.

 

[ANIM8R]

If you want to be at the front of Corral A for the 10k, then just head to the corrals when they open. That's usually 60-65 min before the race start.

Or Plan B is what I've seen too many times - show up 10 minutes before the race is supposed to start just bull rush through the crowd to the front anyway.

 

[Wendy98]

Yes, elite wave technically is supposed to be in front of corral A, but in my 2 WDW marathon experiences, there was no real separation. In 2017, I think I was about 5 rows from the line--I knew what kind of time would win it, so no need to push up to the very front--that wasn't going to be me! I looked at those results and I crossed over the start in 1 second (finished 9th OA, 3:07). In 2019 I had an elite bib again. I decided to run this easy and make character stops (I think I hit 12 of them). I didn't care where I started and think I was in the mid-back of corral A. Looking at results, it took me about 16 seconds to get across the start line (finished 22nd OA, 3:22).

Really, if you are in A, crowds aren't going to be an issue. I am not sure what time gets you an elite bib--both times I submitted a sub 3 hour marathon. Any other marathon, it would not be elite.

 

[GreatLakes]

I am not sure if anything has changed or if it was different in DL but I was in the elite wave for the inaugural Disneyland Half. We had a separate area in the front but the A coral started with us. Not sure if they had wave starts then or just the separate corrals.

 

[runjaymes]

If you have an Elite bib (usually saved for the top entrants based on proof of time or athletes that were invited by Track Shack and RunDisney), you're supposed to find a volunteer at the entrance of Corral A and they will walk you around to the front of the line. If you do not have an elite bib and are still trying to compete at the front of the race, the only option is to walk through the mob a few minutes before the start. If you consider this to be rude, apologies, but there is no other option. As someone who's been both an elite bib and a non elite competing with the elites, standing completely still for an hour before the race is not an option. The intensity that is marathon down to 5k pace requires a good warm up to be able to run and not risk injury. I know RunDisney is meant to be "inclusive for everyone". Remember, elites and those who want to compete for top positions is included in "everyone". I have placed top 10 several times and only once had an elite bib. Every other time I've had to walk through the crowds and every time I'm met by a few rude individuals about 10 to 20 rows back that decide I shouldn't be allowed to pass them. Now who's not being inclusive?

 

[R_Kearns]

Hey there! I’ve done 3 different Disney race weekends and have had an elite bib each time. As far as I can tell, there seems to be closer to 10-15 elite bibs for each gender. Those with elite bibs start at the front of wave A. Based on my experience, I’ve had a volunteer walk me to the front of wave A one time (I won that half marathon so I definitely appreciated the each help to get to the front that race!) but most recently was told to make my way to the front of the corral. Not a fan of this approach but most people understand if you show them your elite bib best of luck!

 

[PGDisney]

More recently, the top 15 bibs are designated as elite, some of them just walk to A corral like normal and start a few rows back and some of them get inserted at the front. Not entirely sure why some are treated differently but that’s been my observation.

runjaymes, I’ve been top 20 a few times and have beaten elites as an A corral runner and I completely agree with you. This could probably be another thread and I apologize for length but imo RunDisney should overhaul the elite start and A corral to something like this to solve what you’re talking about:

Make the elite corral line up with a little bit of space in front of A, and give them a small warmup area and direct path to the front wire like how almost every other race does. Plus this makes being elite more worth it instead of having a different letter on a bib

Then make A corral the top 100-150 or whatever amount of people are in a singular wave start. Now as an A corral runner you can simply get to Epcot, warmup, and jump into the corral at any time before 5 am and know you’re going out with athletes at similar speed and you don’t need to camp out in the front of the corral 2 hours before so you can start decently close to the front and you don’t have to argue with people when you try to get to the front.

Unfortunately I think a lot of A corral runners would complain about changes like this so I don’t see it happening but I can only wish… despite this being how 99% of other races operate lol. I guess I’ll have to shove my way to the front of the corral for next year, small price to pay for a better warmup. Although funny enough if they had this system I would have been in B corral for this years marathon weekend and I wouldn’t have minded, my POT was pretty weak and I set a way better half marathon time after the cutoff that I get to use now