Spectator questions...

[Karenj2]

My MIL, baby and I will be cheering on my DH during the half marathon. We're staying at the poly, so we'll probaby just hang out along that stretch.

What kind of things can we do to cheer him (and you) on?

I think I read that I could write a note on the road in chalk? If I were to bring posterboard, can you actually read what's on it? Any other ideas?

DH will be running on his birthday, so I'm hoping to make the race special.

 

[deleckidesign]

I'm going to add a quick question I have...

my mom wants to watch by the Grand Floridian...is there a specific area she should be/stand in order to see me? Also, how busy is it in this area?

 

[skfulkers]

From our experiences running the race and spectating, here's what I can say about the Poly/TTC area. It is a great area for the runners as the crowds are huge and the energy is outstanding. However, it is VERY hard for a runner to actually find their "cheer squad" in the area because the crowds are so deep. If you really want your DH to see all of you during the race, I would recommend going a little upstream or downstream of the actual Poly/TTC area. Spectators can walk up the course through the MK parking lot - almost all the way to the Richard Petty racetrack if you'd like. The crowds tend to thin out a few hundred yards into the MK parking lot (the further you go away from the TTC). If you make a sign or write anything in chalk, you DH would have a much better chance of seeing it if it were in this area.

Regarding the Grand Floridian area - this is also one area of the course that is crowded, not just from spectators, but due to the fact that the course gets very narrow on Floridian Way. If I were spectating in this area, this would be my plan: take the monorail (or walk) from the Grand Floridian to the TTC and watch from that area. Then when your runner passes that area, you can walk across the Poly parking lot to the intersection of Seven Seas Dr and Floridian Way. The crowds tend to thin out in this area - and the course widens once again, so you'd have a good chance to see your runner.

However, even if your mom decides to watch from right in front of the Grand Floridian, she won't be disappointed. She'll still be able to see you pass - just very quickly.

Hope that helps!

Steve

 

[cewait]

Echoing some of the above….

Either resort is a great place to spectate. I agree that you get a great two-fer by walking over to the TTC. You can walk from the GF to the TTC or monorail. Just make sure you stay on the lake side of the course and do not cross over to the kennel side by mistake. A great thing for the TTC is to come forward along to course towards the roadway. My DW has a knack of finding a corner in the course and she camps out there. Then it’s a short quarter mile walk back to the Poly. The intersection of Floridian (the road in front of the resorts) and Seven Seas is where the course opens up.

Just be aware that the marathon has started to orange fence the spectators from the course from the GF through the above intersection. There is a stretch between the resorts that is not fenced, but it is also heavily landscaped. Security has on occasion prevented folks from going too far past (south) of Seven Seas and along the MK parking lot.

As far as chalking, there is very little of that. Frankly, I am surprised there is as much as there is. The roadway is open to heavy traffic pre-race and then once closed off, security tends to not let guests play in the street.

Sharpie, an official sponsor of the event has a sign booth. With a little creativity you can knock out signs that are very bold and easily spotted. I would bring along my own supply of material to be able to work on your sign in the room.

DW has a way of enlisting folks into a huge cheer squad. Seems like spectators are looking for someone they know to yell for. So by creating these temporary squads, it seems to enable these new found friends to yell for each other’s runners.

 

[deleckidesign]

Echoing some of the above….

Either resort is a great place to spectate. I agree that you get a great two-fer by walking over to the TTC. You can walk from the GF to the TTC or monorail. Just make sure you stay on the lake side of the course and do not cross over to the kennel side by mistake. A great thing for the TTC is to come forward along to course towards the roadway. My DW has a knack of finding a corner in the course and she camps out there. Then it’s a short quarter mile walk back to the Poly. The intersection of Floridian (the road in front of the resorts) and Seven Seas is where the course opens up.

Just be aware that the marathon has started to orange fence the spectators from the course from the GF through the above intersection. There is a stretch between the resorts that is not fenced, but it is also heavily landscaped. Security has on occasion prevented folks from going too far past (south) of Seven Seas and along the MK parking lot.

As far as chalking, there is very little of that. Frankly, I am surprised there is as much as there is. The roadway is open to heavy traffic pre-race and then once closed off, security tends to not let guests play in the street.

Sharpie, an official sponsor of the event has a sign booth. With a little creativity you can knock out signs that are very bold and easily spotted. I would bring along my own supply of material to be able to work on your sign in the room.

DW has a way of enlisting folks into a huge cheer squad. Seems like spectators are looking for someone they know to yell for. So by creating these temporary squads, it seems to enable these new found friends to yell for each other’s runners.

What are the mile markers at the TTC and then Seven Seas Dr/Floridian Way?

 

[cewait]

For the half - 8.1; Full 12.7