The 20th Walt Disney World Marathon - Course Reveal!

[cewait]

Does the new course eliminate the overpasses just before getting into Epcot? The old course they were at miles 19-20, I believe. If they are still there, what miles are we hitting them now?

The two hills referred to are now at 15 and 16. The length facing oncoming runners is now about 1.2 miles each way rather than the shortish 0.5 mile out and back. The great news is that we are separated for the entire length of the out and back - making the mental side a lot easier.

 

[cewait]

Spectators.....

Spectators may be the most affected folks. This will really mess up the tried and true guidance that maximized spectator viewing opportunities. Gone are the days when Mary can wait until I clear the villa before stirring. She will need to head to the start with me if she wants a spot at TTC. She has essentially given up on spectating the half due to the timing issues of catching a bus and then mono railing up to the TTC.

For the positive, I expect that we will see many more spectators in the AK area. The average runner will clear AK around 8:15. (last runners 9:45) This is roughly the same time we historically clear the Poly. With the added post AK mileage, spectators should be able to hit AK then Epcot for the finish.

WWoS? I am not sure that spectators will be able to get to the WWoS. Sadly, the course MAY take both sides of the roadway. Hopefully, the back segment from WWoS to Osceola will be same sided so that traffic can flow in and out of WWoS on the other side of the Victory Lane. I believe that is how the course was the last time we ran Victory Lane.

Summarizing... Expect even more folks at the staging area supporting their runners. Plan on getting on the buses even earlier to assure you are in front of the bigger crowds. Hopefully, Disney will see a need to run the regular WDW AK buses earlier for those who want to watch there and to WWoS.

 

[John VN]

.......WWoS? I am not sure that spectators will be able to get to the WWoS. Sadly, the course MAY take both sides of the roadway. Hopefully, the back segment from WWoS to Osceola will be same sided so that traffic can flow in and out of WWoS on the other side of the Victory Lane. I believe that is how the course was the last time we ran Victory Lane......

I'm hoping that we head to WWoS on the right side of O.P. so I can exit to get my M&M McFlurry at McDonald's and then get back onto O.P. with the on ramp. If going into and out of WWoS is on the entrance road then vehicular traffic can still get into WWoS on the exit road, right? This would also allow runners to get back onto O.P. at the light heading back towards HS. Vehicular traffic going to AK would surely be messed up.

 

[honeyrun]

Does anyone know how to find out were the Water/Aid stations will be on the course. How many are there and how far apart are they?

 

[RunRookie]

Does anyone know how to find out were the Water/Aid stations will be on the course. How many are there and how far apart are they?

I am sure they will publish the final map that shows water, aid, and food stations. But it might not come out until the Fall.

 

[sunshine girl]

I do not have the 'official' map, but I did set down with the certification map from the half (same first 8 miles), the intro video, and the web maps. I am fairly close... as close as a Garmin would read after the race. I will be teaking over the next few days to smooth the course and too keep my line close to the tangents.

Here is the link
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/94116399/

This is awesome, thank you! I am very interested in traveling the shortest distance between the start and finish points as possible. (I sincerely do love that so many people want to stop for rides and character photos (and McDonalds treats), as this all provides great on-course entertainment for everyone present, but personally I am making a beeline for the finish line!)

 

[cewait]

Does anyone know how to find out were the Water/Aid stations will be on the course. How many are there and how far apart are they?

Historically, Disney has offered 22 aid stations for the marathon. I would expect that to continue or if it changes, it changes by no more than one up or down. In general, the stops are about 1.5 - 2 miles apart through mile 9 then once a mile thereafter. Following the stops for the half, the stops would be just before mile 2, just after 3 and after 4 then about mile 6.5 and 8. Note the large gap is there for MK. The great unknown is how compelled Disney feels about keeping the existing stops between the turn in onto Bear Island Road and the point where the old u turn was. I would guess that the stops approximate one a mile except for the 1.6 mile spacing as we pass through AK.

This is not exact but given the nature of the event, this should be close.

 

[MightyDuck001]

I hadn't thought about it til someone mentioned it but what do you do when there's no shade? I'm a slower runner, probably end up averaging between 11 and 13 minutes per mile, so it's something I've got to think about.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I hadn't thought about it til someone mentioned it but what do you do when there's no shade? I'm a slower runner, probably end up averaging between 11 and 13 minutes per mile, so it's something I've got to think about.

I wore a light tech baseball hat. Disney has almost no shade at all.

 

[cewait]

Oh, one other quick thing, I noticed that the current satellite layer for maps.google (the one used by mapmyrun) was filmed the first week of January 2012. Note the finish line in the Epcot parking lot being constructed.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/94116399/

I was pretty jazzed about finding this so I decided to look at Bing Maps and found an even BETTER surprise. I found the marathon in the Birds Eye View layer. Looking at the shadows it appears to be the noon finishers. you can slide from the finish all the way back to the med tent at the Atlantic Dance Hall. Then the DHS also was captured with the marathon running through it.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=nq...=359.1&sty=b&sp=Point.nqwrw8863zkg_Finish____

ADDED - I think it more like the 10:30 - 10:45 AM crowd since I can chase the race all the way back to almost AK.

 

[cewait]

I hadn't thought about it til someone mentioned it but what do you do when there's no shade? I'm a slower runner, probably end up averaging between 11 and 13 minutes per mile, so it's something I've got to think about.

+1 for rm317... But make sure the hat has a dark under bill. You will be running near the concrete jersey barriers on Osceola. Also, sun glasses are critical, in my opinion. Plus sun screen as you dress out in the morning.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

+1 for rm317... But make sure the hat has a dark under bill. You will be running near the concrete jersey barriers on Osceola. Also, sun glasses are critical, in my opinion. Plus sun screen as you dress out in the morning.

Can you explain what you mean about the underbill?

 

[cewait]

Can you explain what you mean about the underbill?

The bottom or underside of the bill should be dark to absorb sunlight reflecting up from the road. Most brands are dark, but some brands are white under the bill.

 

[wdwjoe13]

Charles,
I noticed that on the maps. It made it so much easier to tell the early morning route you take. Even though I have done it a dozen times, it seems like I always get a bit confused. Having the tents there is cool to see. Also interesting to notice the massive line of port of potties. I got a laugh out of that for some reason.

 

[cewait]

What I saw that amazed me was how thin the crowds were. It always feels so much more crowded on course and going through the finish chute...

 

[Qltrgrl2]

Those maps are cool! Thanks for posting Coach. The tips regarding hats and sunglasses are great. This will be my first marathon so I need to prepare for everything.

 

[Disfan11]

Does anyone know if they will be using this course from now on?
Or is it specially designed for the 20th anniversary?
I've never done a marathon because of the time needed to train properly. But I would like to do Goofy sometime.

 

[cewait]

Does anyone know if they will be using this course from now on?
Or is it specially designed for the 20th anniversary?
I've never done a marathon because of the time needed to train properly. But I would like to do Goofy sometime.

Hard to say. I think it depends on feedback received prior to and post race. Just guessing, I think this is the first year of a new course with tweaks over the next couple years. In the 90's the race ran through WWoS and I think the RD has been looking for a way to get back to the venue. The reasons for the revision (in my opinion) was the addition of the half that was run concurrent through 2005. and the opening of AK. The concurrent half required getting enough miles prior to MK so that the half finish could end in the MK parking lot. That added the need for the early loop through Epcot.

On the other hand, if the weather turns off hot, I think the added distance on the wide open nd sunny Osceola Parkway will have the RD looking to pull runners off that road earlier than the 2013 course allows.

Just my rambling thoughts. I am looking forward to the change. It has and hopefully will allow me to amp up my training this year.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

I've never ridden Everest while doing the marathon, man that sounds like such a good idea.

I maybe crazy enough to finish a marathon, but no way am I crazy enough to ride Everest!

 

[dragitoff]

This is awesome, thank you! I am very interested in traveling the shortest distance between the start and finish points as possible. (I sincerely do love that so many people want to stop for rides and character photos (and McDonalds treats), as this all provides great on-course entertainment for everyone present, but personally I am making a beeline for the finish line!)

I had read that from other posters as well, but I kept thinking after logging alot of miles, the last thing my body wants me to do is start taking long breaks where I'm not running or walking. That's when I personally start to cramp up and my body starts saying, "Oh, we're done? Ok, good" and then it's pure heck trying to get going again.