Tips for My First Disney Run?!

[iheartmickey1111]

Hey everyone! I just signed up for my first run Disney event! The Happy Haunted 5k! I've never done any races before, much less a Disney run because...well...I don't run! I workout HARD 5-6 days a week, but no running! So besides the obvious "you should probably start running", what are some tips you could lend towards Disney running events??

 

[cobbler]

HAVE FUN!! Seriously! Disney races are meant to be fun and thoroughly enjoy all that there is along the course. Don't worry about time (except the minimum pace requirements if any) and just enjoy the experience.

They are addicting and pretty soon you'll be signing up for more.

 

[Ariel484]

Don't forget your camera!

 

[JCH]

Hey everyone! I just signed up for my first run Disney event! The Happy Haunted 5k! I've never done any races before, much less a Disney run because...well...I don't run! I workout HARD 5-6 days a week, but no running! So besides the obvious "you should probably start running", what are some tips you could lend towards Disney running events??

Enjoy it! The dreaded sweepers are no where to be found at 5ks. If you want a picture, stop for it! I still regret not pictures with the Hyenas from Lion King at my first Disney 5k since I was so scared of being swept.

 

[iheartmickey1111]

I have a little running pack that goes on my waist that my camera could fit in- is that the best way to carry my camera with me? I definitely want to stop for pics! Half the things I do in life are for the pics,lol, I am addicted to photography as it is!

 

[guardwife66]

Enjoy it! The dreaded sweepers are no where to be found at 5ks. If you want a picture, stop for it! I still regret not pictures with the Hyenas from Lion King at my first Disney 5k since I was so scared of being swept.

So no sweepers for the 5K? I am also signed up for my first Disney runs. I signed for the 5K and for the 1/2. My daughter wants to run with me on the 5K and someone else mentioned there were lots of photo ops. But I didn't want to worry about getting taken out for not keeping the minimum pace.

After the run, I plan to head back to the hotel and rest for the 1/2 the next day.

 

[iheartmickey1111]

So no sweepers for the 5K? I am also signed up for my first Disney runs. I signed for the 5K and for the 1/2. My daughter wants to run with me on the 5K and someone else mentioned there were lots of photo ops. But I didn't want to worry about getting taken out for not keeping the minimum pace.

After the run, I plan to head back to the hotel and rest for the 1/2 the next day.

I've never run before, but on their website it does say that if you can't keep the 16-min mile pace, that you'll be transported. As far if they are actually there, I have no clue! lol! Have fun on your run!!

 

[guardwife66]

I have a little running pack that goes on my waist that my camera could fit in- is that the best way to carry my camera with me? I definitely want to stop for pics! Half the things I do in life are for the pics,lol, I am addicted to photography as it is!

I hear you on that photography addiction. Between Disney and camera equipment wants, I am driving my DH nuts. I have a small camera that is pretty good for taking pictures on the "run".

 

[JCH]

So no sweepers for the 5K? I am also signed up for my first Disney runs. I signed for the 5K and for the 1/2. My daughter wants to run with me on the 5K and someone else mentioned there were lots of photo ops. But I didn't want to worry about getting taken out for not keeping the minimum pace.

After the run, I plan to head back to the hotel and rest for the 1/2 the next day.

I've done a few 5ks at Disney and never seen a sweeper. The majority of the race is either in a park for most 5ks or WWOS for the Happy Haunted 5k, so there is really no where that a bus could stop to pick people up. Even in the half marathons, they don't sweep people inside the parks due to logistics. Sure, if you are at a 30 minute pace, they may bring in a golf cart and pick you up, but you don't need to worry if you are at a 16:10 pace that they will pick you up after two miles.

 

[iheartmickey1111]

I've done a few 5ks at Disney and never seen a sweeper. The majority of the race is either in a park for most 5ks or WWOS for the Happy Haunted 5k, so there is really no where that a bus could stop to pick people up. Even in the half marathons, they don't sweep people inside the parks due to logistics. Sure, if you are at a 30 minute pace, they may bring in a golf cart and pick you up, but you don't need to worry if you are at a 16:10 pace that they will pick you up after two miles.

Good to know! I have a feeling this will be a 'gateway' run for me lol

 

[JCH]

Good to know! I have a feeling this will be a 'gateway' run for me lol

I know how that goes! I did the Halloween 5k last year just as a bucket list thing..ended up signing up for the Princess Half the day after I finished that, and now am training for the full marathon. I guess there are worse addictions to have!

 

[cchron]

I love disboards!! I am also running in my first Disney race, the ToT 10 miler, and am starting to stress a bit about it. Seeing responses like 'have fun and bring your camera' really eases my mind. Thanks.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I am transferring this to the Events side of WISH where you may find more suggestions. This is alway a good topic of discussion and I think you may also find tips in previous threads on the Events side of WISH.

 

[Jousey]

HAVE FUN!! Seriously! Disney races are meant to be fun and thoroughly enjoy all that there is along the course. Don't worry about time (except the minimum pace requirements if any) and just enjoy the experience.

They are addicting and pretty soon you'll be signing up for more.

YES

Don't forget your camera!

Yes a must.

You can check and see if Jeff Galloway has a 5K training guide otherwise look at Runnersworld for a couch to 5K to guide you in to running so you dont hurt yourself. 5K normaly are not a lot of running and with RunDisney you dont neccesarly "run" the race anyways, take in the sites and enjoy the time.

 

[iheartmickey1111]

YES



Yes a must.

You can check and see if Jeff Galloway has a 5K training guide otherwise look at Runnersworld for a couch to 5K to guide you in to running so you dont hurt yourself. 5K normaly are not a lot of running and with RunDisney you dont neccesarly "run" the race anyways, take in the sites and enjoy the time.

Thanks! Yes, I've checked out what Jeff Galloway has to offer, but the plan looked wayyyyy to easy for my fitness level, so I thought I would just map out a 5k and run it to see where I was at- just as I thought- WELL within their suggested 15 min mile pace lol. I will have plenty of time to stop for pics!!!

 

[KippWade]

Hey everyone! I just signed up for my first run Disney event! The Happy Haunted 5k! I've never done any races before, much less a Disney run because...well...I don't run! I workout HARD 5-6 days a week, but no running! So besides the obvious "you should probably start running", what are some tips you could lend towards Disney running events??

I highly recommend starting with a Couch to 5K program. I started with this plan in March of 2011 and went to the Disney World 1/2 Marathon this past January. I'm looking forward to another 1/2 this November and then I've signed up again for 5k and 1/2 at Disney World next January!

Take my advice that the plan is not something you have to do as set in stone. I repeated many, many weeks. I have a blog that I've chronicled all of this information and I continue to use it.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

The best advice I can give anyone is to trust their training. If you've trained for the race, don't let the nerves and excitement overwhelm you on race day to the point where you try to do more than you're ready for.

Last year, I trained for the Disneyland 1/2 at a 15 minute per mile race. On race day, I felt the pressure and excitement and decided to start running less than a mile into the race. After maybe a couple of minutes at most, I was experiencing severe pain in my legs unlike anything I'd experienced during training. I knew there was no way I'd be able to sustain this for another 1/2 mile, let alone the roughly 13 or so I still had left. But then I remembered that I had trained at a power walk pace so I was going to trust my training.

And about 3 hours later, I came to that finish line, giving high fives to Mickey, Chip, and Dale as I crossed the finish line. And this year, I'm signed up for the Coast to Coast Challenge.

 

[Jousey]

Thanks! Yes, I've checked out what Jeff Galloway has to offer, but the plan looked wayyyyy to easy for my fitness level, so I thought I would just map out a 5k and run it to see where I was at- just as I thought- WELL within their suggested 15 min mile pace lol. I will have plenty of time to stop for pics!!!

Great to hear and glad you are well with in the time frame. the best advice I can give for the race is to enjoy it and take as many pictures as you can.

As for the run plan, you could look at Runnersworld they may have a 5K intermediate or advance program that will help you fine tune the run.