Running at AKL in September

[cloudnut220]

So, DH and I were going through some major WDW withdraw so we booked a sort of last mintue trip to the world for Labor Day weekend. We're staying at AKL Kidani, which is a fantastic hotel, but not very good for running.

So I'm looking for ideas on running at AKL. When I was there last December, I ran 8 miles in the parking lot, which while weird, worked. My concern with running in the lot this time is that it will likely be hotter than the face of the sun while we're there, meaning that to beat the heat I'll be running in the early AM dark, and that just doesn't feel safe.

The other complicating factor here is that this will be my first time running relatively closely spaced halfs (I have one August 28 and one September 18) so I know I have to do a long-ish run while I'm at WDW (maybe 6 or 7 miles) but I'm not sure exactly how long.

So any ideas on where to run and suggested mileage? Should I just suck it up and rock out on the TM?

 

[cewait]

You really do not have much of a safe option for AKL except the parking lot. I would actually feel safer in the lot earlier rather than once delivery vehicles and guest start to move. If you have a car you may want to try BWV. Or catch the first DTD bus (6:30-7AM) and loop there. There is no shade on most WDW runs, except Fort Wilderness. As far as distance you will could get away with 3-4 miles and call it good. It’s one week after a half. Then you could bump up to a 9-10 miler the next week and taper the following week. Based on that 60-75 minutes on a TM may be your better option. At least it’s cooler.

 

[John VN]

I can't comment about AKL but can give a for FW and WL area. We stay at the Campground and use the sidewalks and roads all the time. One can do the loops where the RVs and Cabins are in addition to the main roads and the path to WL.

When we get out at 3:00/4:00AM we only have a few vehicles to contend with so the roads work great and many times there will be deer and other critters out.

Another plus for staying at FW is that I can get a 14 miler in, shower, eat breakfast and then chill or hit the parks. We will be there next week doing exactly that.

 

[SAHDad]

At AKL, I would probably just do the hamster pad and call it good. As Coach Charles said, 3-4 miles is fine.

It is a pity that AKL doesn't have a really nice running trail. Seems like it would be one of the most natural places to have one.

 

[fashionista311]

I second (or third) the votes for the treadmill. Between the awful heat and lack of places to run...it seems like your best bet.

I know it's mostly highways, but I really wish Disney would figure out a way to put a decent running trail on property that is easily accessible to everyone...obviously running is a popular sport with guests with the amount of ppl that flock to all their races

 

[cloudnut220]

As an aside, I think I ran 5 the weekend after my last half. But 3-5 should be good, and I can survive that amount of time on a TM.

I agree with fashionista, WDW needs some kind of a trail, even if it's just putting in more sidewalks outside of the resorts. Or even roads with shoulders. I would happily run on the roads if they had shoulders where I could run out of the way of those huge buses!