RunDisneyDad
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2015
- Messages
- 337
I think @RunDisneyDad and I posted at the same time. I think he got to the same point (with many fewer words I might add).
Haha...I think its because I know fewer words.
I think @RunDisneyDad and I posted at the same time. I think he got to the same point (with many fewer words I might add).
Thanks to all the compression gear talk I bought some tights and more Zensah bras.
Tomorrow is my last Couch 2 5K run. Still struggling with cardio a bit, but today was better. I'm usually around a 14:30 pace; hoping to get into the 13s by the time the race rolls around in January. Hopefully that's realistic. I know slow runners are still running but I'd like to get faster, eventually.
Does anyone know what the Marathon Weekend dates will be in 2018??? All this Dopey talk has me in planning mode...![]()
Since MLK weekend is the 13th-15th I expect it to be the earlier weekend, as you suggested.My guess would be the 4th through 7th but I could see it being the 11th through 14th.
If RunDisney is siloed off from the rest of the parks and resorts division someone isn't very good at their job.
QOTD: I was just looking at the runDisney site and noticed that the marathon, Dopey, and Goofy are still open for registration. Assuming that is current, what do you think the reason is for the race not being sold out yet?
ATTQOTD: I believe that a different type of runner is interested in WDW races. I know a few "serious" runners who scoff at the idea of running in a rD event. The events are really not set up in such a way as to allow serious runners with a long background in the sport of even having a chance at a PR. The only serious runners who run at Disney are also fans of Disney and see it as a chance to combine 2 passions.
I also don't think that the rD marathon has sold out in quite a while. They used to post it as sold out when they hit the last day of availability, but it often went from 90-92% full to sold out on that day, so not really "sold out". If I had to guess, I would say that most rD runners really are not interested in the distance, and most will never run another marathon elsewhere.
Finally, I believe that most rD runners really are not consistent runners. This is a cool box to check off, then they move on with their lives.
QOTD: I was just looking at the runDisney site and noticed that the marathon, Dopey, and Goofy are still open for registration. Assuming that is current, what do you think the reason is for the race not being sold out yet?
ATTQOTD: If I remember correctly, last year the marathon took some time to reach full registration (Really late I believe), but the challenges filled up fast. I think we are on the back side of a running boom, and perhaps a lot of folks did Disney as a one and done type event. To add to that, its one of the most expensive marathons (Registration and hotel accommodations + if you spend time at the parks) you can travel to in the lower 48. One other factor could be the economy is a bit down and people are holding onto their money... Maybe I am off on all points, and registration normally takes this long to fill up.
Maybe all the running boom people from 2013 & 2014 have injured themselves? (I'm not joking, it's bound to happen with all distance runners at some point right...and if you get a boom of new distance runners...you probably get a boom of people with minor to major things nagging at them that decide to take a while off?) Just a theory that's probably totally wrong![]()
ATTQOTD: I believe that a different type of runner is interested in WDW races. I know a few "serious" runners who scoff at the idea of running in a rD event. The events are really not set up in such a way as to allow serious runners with a long background in the sport of even having a chance at a PR. The only serious runners who run at Disney are also fans of Disney and see it as a chance to combine 2 passions.
I also don't think that the rD marathon has sold out in quite a while. They used to post it as sold out when they hit the last day of availability, but it often went from 90-92% full to sold out on that day, so not really "sold out". If I had to guess, I would say that most rD runners really are not interested in the distance, and most will never run another marathon elsewhere.
Finally, I believe that most rD runners really are not consistent runners. This is a cool box to check off, then they move on with their lives.
There is a good chance you will find some additional pace come race day. I have been racing a little over 11 years and I always can race faster than I can train. I'm sure it is part mental, part that I am just willing to suffer more during a race, and part I am being pushed by the runner right behind or in front of me but no matter how much I try I can't get in a training run as fast as I can race.
QOTD: Lets talk about compression. Do you use compression gear? If so, do you run with it, for recovery, or both? Do you find that it helps any?
QOTD: I was just looking at the runDisney site and noticed that the marathon, Dopey, and Goofy are still open for registration. Assuming that is current, what do you think the reason is for the race not being sold out yet?
I just read an article where there is a rumor that Disneyland will not be having fireworks once the 60th celebration ends.
I guess my main point of skepticism was about whether decreasing prices would ever be a serious consideration.
I'd like to think most rD runners take the challenge of the race a bit more seriously than just a cool box to check off, but I did run Princess Weekend ... and, well ... that weekend is eye-opening.
I think I've seen you mention this in passing previously ... what's wrong with Princess weekend?![]()
You didn't ask me, but I have done Princess weekend for the last 3 years, and I'm in a lot of Facebook groups for it. I think the issues are they there are a lot of people who are new runners or aren't runners at all participating. This means there can be some people with little or no etiquette whatsoever. In addition, the official merch can be a madhouse, because that's the focus for a lot of people. All of that being said, I have never had a bad experience and will keep dong it as long as I can afford it. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe it's because I try not to let other people's issues affect me, maybe it's a little of both.
I had a great time at Princess half too! I was happy that I didn't have to go to Expo on the first day, so I didn't see the bad behavoir/craziness that was reported.You didn't ask me, but I have done Princess weekend for the last 3 years, and I'm in a lot of Facebook groups for it. I think the issues are they there are a lot of people who are new runners or aren't runners at all participating. This means there can be some people with little or no etiquette whatsoever. In addition, the official merch can be a madhouse, because that's the focus for a lot of people. All of that being said, I have never had a bad experience and will keep dong it as long as I can afford it. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe it's because I try not to let other people's issues affect me, maybe it's a little of both.
You didn't ask me, but I have done Princess weekend for the last 3 years, and I'm in a lot of Facebook groups for it. I think the issues are they there are a lot of people who are new runners or aren't runners at all participating. This means there can be some people with little or no etiquette whatsoever. In addition, the official merch can be a madhouse, because that's the focus for a lot of people. All of that being said, I have never had a bad experience and will keep dong it as long as I can afford it. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe it's because I try not to let other people's issues affect me, maybe it's a little of both.
QOTD: I was just looking at the runDisney site and noticed that the marathon, Dopey, and Goofy are still open for registration. Assuming that is current, what do you think the reason is for the race not being sold out yet?
ATTQOTD: If I remember correctly, last year the marathon took some time to reach full registration (Really late I believe), but the challenges filled up fast. I think we are on the back side of a running boom, and perhaps a lot of folks did Disney as a one and done type event. To add to that, its one of the most expensive marathons (Registration and hotel accommodations + if you spend time at the parks) you can travel to in the lower 48. One other factor could be the economy is a bit down and people are holding onto their money... Maybe I am off on all points, and registration normally takes this long to fill up.
The marathon and goofy always take a while to sell out. Dopey on the other hand usually sells out fairly quickly. I'm guessing they either added some more spots to dopey which is less likely or we have a slow down in the dopey craze before the big 2018 5th anniversary and 25th anniversary of the full.
This week we have the following folks with races. Since Monday is a holiday, I am including races on that day as part of the weekends races.
03 - @bellrae - Gold Coast (Australia) Half Marathon (2:30:00 / N/A)
03 - @Waiting2goback - Finish at the 50 (NG / N/A)
03 - @SueInBoston - Finish at the 50 - 10k (NG / N/A)
04 - @Disney at Heart - Peachtree Road Race (1:15:00 / N/A)
04 - LSUlakes - Run Wild 5k (21:00 / N/A)
04 - Dis5150 - Freedom 5k (NG / N/A)
If you would like to revise you goal time or are no longer running the race let me know so I can made the adjustment. Good luck to everyone and have a great race!
I was suprised how slow goofy sold out last year given that it was an anniversary year. I think a lot of goofy runners opted for Dopey last year. I wonder if Disney increased the number of Dopey slots this year? I think the Novelty of Dopey wears of quickly. I love Marathon weekend and had fun doing Dopey but in talking with my running buds we looked at what we spent and switching from Goofy to Dopey wound up costing us each between $500 and $700 when you factored in the additional hotel, meals and race entry fees. That's a lot of money for a 5k and 10k.
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With U.S. marathon finishers decreasing by 8% from 2014-2015, it's no wonder why the Disney marathon didn't fill-up quickly last year. Assuming the decreasing trend continues in 2016, it's possible that the marathon never really fills up for 2017. I mean, given a total of 509k marathon finishers in the U.S. in 2015, Disney needs to get roughly 4% of all U.S. marathon finishers to register for their marathon in order to fill 20k spots. You need to have a pretty special event in order to get that much interest.
In fact, there are only seven U.S. marathons that get 20k+ registrations (see chart below), and after that, all other U.S. marathons are below 10,000 finishers. Now, the Disney marathon does have some pretty unique features: mainly, you get to run through four theme parks, you can stop for character photo ops, you can possibly ride a ride or two during the marathon, they have multi-race challenges, plus they provide pretty good entertainment along the way. That being said, there are some downsides compared to the other top 7 marathons: not many spectators, you likely won't PR especially if you want to enjoy some of the unique opportunities (photo ops, rides, challenges), can be quite humid, no big names because of prize money, fairly boring route when outside of the theme parks.
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Does anyone know what the Marathon Weekend dates will be in 2018??? All this Dopey talk has me in planning mode...![]()
Thanks to all the compression gear talk I bought some tights and more Zensah bras.
Tomorrow is my last Couch 2 5K run. Still struggling with cardio a bit, but today was better. I'm usually around a 14:30 pace; hoping to get into the 13s by the time the race rolls around in January. Hopefully that's realistic. I know slow runners are still running but I'd like to get faster, eventually.
I think the financial expenditure is a big reason. Also, it becomes a VERY expensive RunCation for families, which is what one of my close girlfriends is dealing with in relation to Marathon Weekend - she badly wants Disney to be her first Marathon, but between plane tickets and park tickets alone for the three of them (they'd stay at my house in Florida), along with the time out of school for their daughter RIGHT after school starts back up, it's just so many barriers this time around. That's my take on ALL unsold RunDisney events as a whole though, especially for Disneyland. It's no surprise that Disneyland races are having down attendance this year - the parks are missing quite a few attractions because of construction, etc. Also - I feel like more Disney travelers default to WDW over DL, so if a Disney Fan is going to run a race, it's higher probability that it's going to be at WDW.
Now, about the Challenges exclusively ... at first, I was surprised that Dopey didn't sell out right away. But now that I've thought about it more - as well as conversations I've had with my runner friends (most of whom are not RD runners), the thought of a challenge is not appealing, and certainly not the thought of a challenge including a full marathon. I think previous Dopeys are more likely to be taking this year off because of cost in favor of 2018. I also think that Dopey (and Goofy) can very much so be one-and-done for people. On top of that, I know of at least a dozen people that opted to run Dopey in 2017 via charity groups rather than purchasing their bibs from RunDisney because of some of the extra perks that Charities offer, so maybe that's also skewing the sales figures a little bit?
Marathon Weekend and Disneyland Half weekends are easily my favorite of the five weekends I've done so far (Tink takes third place), so I know I'll be committing to those two weekends (and the accompanying challenges) going forward. I may run other weekends if friends want to, but I'll probably just stick with the half unless there is something incredibly compelling for me to do the challenge.
I can see a lot of this as well. I think RD is the best at getting non-runners interested in running these races - that's how I became motivated to make the change in my life.
I also thought that the only Marathon I'd do would be WDW Marathon. But, yeah, I'm a big dummy as I'm here training for Chicago in the heat of summer in Texas.
I'd like to think most rD runners take the challenge of the race a bit more seriously than just a cool box to check off, but I did run Princess Weekend ... and, well ... that weekend is eye-opening.
When I first started running, I used to get shin splints A LOT. So at the expo after my first DL 10k, I bought some calf sleeves that have space for slipping in ice packs. After that run, I hardly needed them (new shoes, more running, etc.). But in the last year or so, as my distances increased, I pull them out now and then and they are definitely life savers for me. Shin splint pain used to last at least a week for me and now, it doesn't. That's all I know. I wouldn't run with them though; less clothes, the better for me.
We have finally hit supply and demand! I don't think it's a bad thing. In fact, I think WDW could use some races that don't have 20k people in them. And as everyone has mentioned, the prices for EVERYTHING has gone up making this RUNCATION not seem like the great prospect it once was. Also, the one thing I don't like about going to WDW for races, is it doesn't feel like a vacation for us. We are not commando park-goers (no kids), but know that we have to take it easy on our legs if we want to run decently at these races. And if you are doing more than one, even worse. That's not fun.
Also, I think the construction at all the parks have people just saying, let's just wait for that WDW trip until there's more to see. That's kind of where we are right now. Although, I keep trying to plan a trip ...
Disneyland will be going to one of their "cheaper" fireworks shows after the celebration ends. I have never heard that they are eliminating them completely. Funny, all the people complaining about that are the same ones that complained when they didn't get to see the special summer one, or the Christmas one this year. Disney fans are the WORST sometimes.
Disneyland races have been coming down in price (slowly) with each release since DLH 2016 didn't sell out; both the half and the challenge.
I think I've seen you mention this in passing previously ... what's wrong with Princess weekend?![]()
You didn't ask me, but I have done Princess weekend for the last 3 years, and I'm in a lot of Facebook groups for it. I think the issues are they there are a lot of people who are new runners or aren't runners at all participating. This means there can be some people with little or no etiquette whatsoever. In addition, the official merch can be a madhouse, because that's the focus for a lot of people. All of that being said, I have never had a bad experience and will keep dong it as long as I can afford it. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe it's because I try not to let other people's issues affect me, maybe it's a little of both.
That is just so disappointing. It's crazy to me that people stay in a "mean girls-middle school" attitude as adults!Also, some of the super b!+chy on-course behavior I witnessed from people was, not only appalling, but completely unacceptable. Like yelling ugliness at an overweight woman struggling to keep moving while her pants were falling down, and that they "were blind" having to watch her - meanwhile these hags were walking with heat sheets wrapped around them, so ...