The Running Thread - 2016

[DVCFan1994]

Bedlam and pandemonium. I don't buy merchandise, so I had no issue there. And I was super happy to NOT see a bunch of Disney characters in a Star Wars race, so no issue there, either, for me. The issues I experienced were epically insane crowding in the 10K - I mean, worse than anything I've ever seen, shy of July 4th at the MK - and the buses from WWOS to EP for those who drove. P{er GPS we walked an extra 4+ miles in the bus queue after the half; we were in line well over an hour. The day before, they simply stopped running buses to EP and told us to take a bus to a resort, then one form the resort to EP, which of course dropped us off at the EP bus depot, not at the race, so more walking. Took 3 hours to get to our resort Sat, 2+ Sunday. Crazy!

I am curious, could spectators park at WWOS either day? They would have needed to be there early, I assume but if I drove and left my car at EPCOT to start, and DH drove to WWOS for the finish, could we avoid the buses all together? Sounds like a nightmare, so I hope they rethink their transportation plans for next year, but I am just brainstorming ahead. I despise waiting for buses on a good day, never mind after a race. I always drive or monorail. Or walk in the case of DL races. The more I think about it, the more doing Lightside sounds better than Darkside...Even though Darkside is easier from a vacation standpoint for me.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

I've been battling a cold for nearly a week since getting back from Boston but think I'm just about over it and finally got out for my first post-marathon run...hit the trail and just had a great time! Amazing how good the legs feel after taking a week and a half off.

Now for my reward...heading to Disney tomorrow morning! Looking forward to running at Wilderness Lodge

 

[Dis5150]

http://www.rundisney.com/blog/artic...28-16/?CMP=SOC-ESPNWWOSFY16Q3DisneySports0013

So this is a thing now???

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

I am curious, could spectators park at WWOS either day? They would have needed to be there early, I assume but if I drove and left my car at EPCOT to start, and DH drove to WWOS for the finish, could we avoid the buses all together? Sounds like a nightmare, so I hope they rethink their transportation plans for next year, but I am just brainstorming ahead. I despise waiting for buses on a good day, never mind after a race. I always drive or monorail. Or walk in the case of DL races. The more I think about it, the more doing Lightside sounds better than Darkside...Even though Darkside is easier from a vacation standpoint for me.

They weren't letting spectators park at WWoS, they made them take a bus over. That's probably why the busses going back to Epcot were so bad. We stayed at AKL drove to the start so we could make sure we got all the pictures we wanted and then at the finish we hopped on the bus to AKL with no wait. After a shower and a nap we took a bus to Epcot and got our car.

 

[Slogger]

[QUOTE="michigandergirl, post: 55658184, member: 468090. I'll need to exercise a lot of patience because I will have to wait until 2018 to go back. BUT, my friend and I have officially decided we are doing Dopey in 2018 so I am super excited for that!



Yay! Another recruit for the Dopey 2018 team. The awesomeness will be epic.

 

[rteetz]

http://www.rundisney.com/blog/artic...28-16/?CMP=SOC-ESPNWWOSFY16Q3DisneySports0013

So this is a thing now???

Yep!

 

[roxymama]

http://www.rundisney.com/blog/artic...28-16/?CMP=SOC-ESPNWWOSFY16Q3DisneySports0013

So this is a thing now???

Wait...I ran the 5k at actual disney and I got a plastic medallion. But if I run a 5k in my backyard (or just say I did) I get a big metal medal? And if I run three virtual 5k's I get a challenge medal like if I were running Pixie Dust or Dumbo or Goofy? I'm confused why the virtual is nicer than the actual 5k??? I get that its for charity so I am ok it exists...I'm not bashing the virtual idea...just give me a metal medal next time I spend $70+ on a disney 5k please. Am I silly for thinking this?

 

[roxymama]

Here's the pricing if anyone is curious.
The three 5k choices are each $39
The challenge (all three 5ks) is $142

This is before fees since I didn't click that far.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

I totally missed it, what happened at Dark Side weekend?

In addition, some people have had trouble with the PhotoPass changeover, and I think that's mostly growing pains since it's the first time they've used it. I would add that the post-race area could have been better. They were pretty aggressive about moving people along, so if you weren't with your significant other or a friend, you couldn't get a backdrop photo with them. It's a minor thing, just an oversight by somebody.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Wait...I ran the 5k at actual disney and I got a plastic medallion. But if I run a 5k in my backyard (or just say I did) I get a big metal medal? And if I run three virtual 5k's I get a challenge medal like if I were running Pixie Dust or Dumbo or Goofy? I'm confused why the virtual is nicer than the actual 5k??? I get that its for charity so I am ok it exists...I'm not bashing the virtual idea...just give me a metal medal next time I spend $70+ on a disney 5k please. Am I silly for thinking this?

Oh, you're right. And I think a lot of people will be really ticked off about that part of it. (DW is, and she's never even done a 5k!)

 

[rteetz]

Here's the pricing if anyone is curious.
The three 5k choices are each $39
The challenge (all three 5ks) is $142

This is before fees since I didn't click that far.

About $156 after fees I think someone said.

 

[rteetz]

Oh, you're right. And I think a lot of people will be really ticked off about that part of it. (DW is, and she's never even done a 5k!)

Yeah if I pay $70 for a 5K I want a real medal now.

 

[roxymama]

@cavepig over on the thread about the virtual races brought up a brilliant point so I will give her credit. Kids run the 5k and that's probably why the kid races and 5k get plastic medal. For safety purposes. That at least makes sense to me.

 

[DOOM1001]

Yeah if I pay $70 for a 5K I want a real medal now.

I think Disney should step up and give runners real medals for the 5K's,$70 is a lot to be paying for a race to not have a metallic medal.I've only run a handful of 5Ks as I pretty much only do longer races now but of the few I have signed up for I paid like $20-$25 and got a real medal,not the most impressive medals out there but they were metallic.It would be cool if by the time I do Dopey next year they make that change,now don't get me started on the cotton shirt,I live in Miami where its hot like all the time and I've pretty much cut out cotton from my wardrobe.On the topic of race shirts why are there so few races that have white tech shirts,I love white shirts,also has to do with the South Florida heat,white is cooler,the only white RunDisney race shirt I can recall is the final Expedition Everest challenge,before that you have to go back like 5-6 years,maybe for Dopey 2018 I'll get a white one,seems like they're just using the same colors over and over now,I don't love the 2014 baby blue full marathon one but at least its different.Hold on I forgot the first year of Dopey the Dopey shirt was white.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

@cavepig over on the thread about the virtual races brought up a brilliant point so I will give her credit. Kids run the 5k and that's probably why the kid races and 5k get plastic medal. For safety purposes. That at least makes sense to me.

It's a good point, but I wonder. The virtual races are also great for kids, and especially families who want to do a small Disney thing for the kids, but can't afford the expense right now.

I also wonder if it's actually metal or just metallic paint.

 

[rteetz]

It's a good point, but I wonder. The virtual races are also great for kids, and especially families who want to do a small Disney thing for the kids, but can't afford the expense right now.

I also wonder if it's actually metal or just metallic paint.

And if you look at the registration for the virtual it's for anyone 5 and older. I don't think it's because of the kids running the 5K because RunDisney went away from really selling it as a family 5K. I totally understand giving the kids races the medallions but at the price point RunDisney is at for the 5K it should be a metal medal.

 

[keahgirl8]

I would totally run a race on my birthday! The Star Wars Dark Side half was on my birthday this year, and I would have done it in a heartbeat if I was local. I don't have kids, so kids' birthdays are not an issue for me currently.

I haven't done one on my birthday yet, but happy birthday to me! That would be awesome! I have done training runs on my birthday, and I love it.

I'd skip the wedding, not the race! I'm an introvert... events like weddings are nightmares for me.

Agreed! Introverts unite (but separately, and in our own homes)!

Don't you love how with running...you can be surrounded by thousands of people so it appears that you are an extrovert...but you don't technically have to interact with any of them. Unless you are 12 and accidentally run a half marathon...then you should talk to people..see above
Also, make a family member create a medal for you to get at the finish line of the wedding reception.

I actually can be an extrovert at times when I am racing! I will talk to total strangers about running or Disney.

Yep, I would totally run all of the RunDisney races if I could, but family obligations and lack of funds are preventing me from doing so! I'm insanely jealous of everyone registering for Marathon Weekend 2017. I'll need to exercise a lot of patience because I will have to wait until 2018 to go back. BUT, my friend and I have officially decided we are doing Dopey in 2018 so I am super excited for that!

Me too! I'd love to do all (or most) of the races someday!

 

[Waiting2goback]

Wait...I ran the 5k at actual disney and I got a plastic medallion. But if I run a 5k in my backyard (or just say I did) I get a big metal medal? And if I run three virtual 5k's I get a challenge medal like if I were running Pixie Dust or Dumbo or Goofy? I'm confused why the virtual is nicer than the actual 5k??? I get that its for charity so I am ok it exists...I'm not bashing the virtual idea...just give me a metal medal next time I spend $70+ on a disney 5k please. Am I silly for thinking this?

The major difference I think here is, the actual races at Disney cost a lot to run whereas the virtual takes very little overhead so they can give a nicer medal for less money. I wish they would give real medals for the 5k as well, especially at that price. I don't think it's a safety thing, its a money saving thing. If runDisney knew that I wore my ToT medal on Rockin Roller Coaster during the after party and it hit me in the face about 5 times then all the medals would be rubber. That medal has some sharp corners.

Agreed! Introverts unite (but separately, and in our own homes)!

Fellow introvert here as well. But the funny thing is Disney is the only place I don't mind being around a lot of people like that. I have no explanation but whether I am packed into Main Street watching the fireworks or jammed into a corral for a race it doesn't bother me.

 

[SunDial]

These gators are right there with you,they are definitely very used to people,you'll see them many of them in the water next to the path but just as many in the grass right next to the path and the occasional one right on the path where you have to go around them.

It funny that the ones that have said they would do it are Floridians. I hope there is no drag racing event on that day. I would like to do this event. I did watch a few of the videos. It is a little narrow but nice. Would they have vertical alligator mile marker banners?

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

It funny that the ones that have said they would do it are Floridians. I hope there is no drag racing event on that day. I would like to do this event. I did watch a few of the videos. It is a little narrow but nice. Would they have vertical alligator mile marker banners?

Because we know that gators aren't typically a threat if you know what you're doing.