ToT 13K Race Report(Pics Added-Brief for Now)

[ultramickeymouse]

Brief Report(much longer and detailed with LOTS of pics coming):

Afternoon started with 15 of us putting around at Fantasia Gardens. Some showers but the last 2 holes we had about a 10 min rain delay. Anyone with a hole in won got a free pair of socks! Linda would run and track them down. We than headed over to Pikabo for a nice late lunch/early dinner. We took over a section and had some good food and company. Linda was Master of Ceremonies and dealed out Fuel Belt Fanny packs to the winners. She also was in charge of Disney Trivia which gave everyone a chance to win fanny packs as well. After that you had to watch out for those flying socks!

We headed back to the room to rest and get ready for the race. At 8:30 we all met at the bridge between the Swan and Boardwalk to head down to the start. We wandered around a bit as there was no directions or signs to the start. We saw some tents and headed away. We met more WISHer’s and we gathered and waited and waited, and waited for the start. It was delayed 20 minutes due to traffic issues.

Linda and I walked the whole race with Kim and Mike. Great conversation as we wandered the World. The race actually had us go on a dirt and gravel road where the escapees awaited. They were looking for their friend Dave. We told them he was behind us. We weaved through WWoS back to MGM. Dave and Erica caught up with us at about mile 6.5. Dave said he took so long because he had the reunion with all his white shirted friends. We than weaved through MGM into Lights, Motors, Action where we were displayed on a big screen (ala DL ½).

We continued to about mile 7.5 where than band started playing its tribute to Dave and we all sang and danced to YMCA.

We cruised down the stretch hand in hand with our wives. We finished according to clock at 2:09:42. After some water and ice on my knee, we headed back to our room to get the beverages that Dave and Erica brought for our post race meeting at the Boardwalk pool. Jeanne and John joined in as we talked until about 3:00am.

Great day with great friends! I took lots of pics which I will post some real soon.

The reward:

BTW: Forgot to add that this is the first time it took me 2 days to finish a 13K With the late start, we did finish until 12:03 am Sunday

 

[lenshanem]

Glad you had a nice time. Can't wait to see the pics! Thanks!

 

[Sandy321]

LOVE that medal !!

2 days to finish a race!!

thanks for sharing! It sounds like so much fun!

 

[princessmomma]

The reward:

WOW!

That medal is AWESOME!

Congratulations to all the ToT WISHers!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Hello. I came over to this board to see if anyone had posted about the ToT event.
I showed DH your post. He says he even reads your web page.
DH ran the 13k. He has been a runner for YEARS, and has even be a race director, and course planner, including Race for the Cure in one town.
DH Disney races. That is what brought us to WDW in the first place. We use to travel all over and plan our vacations around his marathon runs. I finally got him to a Disney marathon where we both became Disneyholics. DH even volunteers at what Disney races he does not enter.
That being said, I think this race needed a lot of improvement, from a participant and spectator point of view.
I can't believe I paid $25 just to be able to ride 4 rides and see 2 gift shops after hours. (Where is an emoticon where I am kicking myself on the backside? )
MNSSHP would cost around $35 and guests get characters, candy, special fireworks, parade, entertainment, special decor, etc.
$25 and not even the bare minmum. Not even running trams at closing
Next time I need to know up front what I get for the jack. Once bitten, twice shy.
Luckily we did not have the lack of transportation that many had.
This could have been a great race.
I did take a lot of good ToT pictures as no one else was around when the ride first opened.

I am sure DH enjoyed the race. If they have it next year it would need to be vastly improved for us to participate again.

(DH's opinion, and only his opinion, was the late start was due to bad instructions for where race start was. The map was not very good and did not help matters either. He does not buy it was traffic issues. But certainly have no proof one way or another. He said the crowd was booing before race start.)

 

[ultramickeymouse]

First 29 pics:

http://www.disneyrunning.com/07tot13kphotorm1.html

More to come...

 

[Luv2Roam]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[hoosmi]

Hey Robert- sorry we missed you. We had a great time! The medal is pretty sweet- did you see the words on the lanyard glow in the dark?!

Luv2Roam- trust me, there were traffic issues. My DD (7) and I were walking the 6.5k. We left our hotel (CBR) at about 7:15 because I was nervous about the whole shutting down the parking lot at 8:30 thing. CBR is so close to MGM that I thought we were set! It took until over 9:00 to get there. The serious looking runners were FREAKING OUT! People were hopping out of their cars and running down the median to see what was happening. It was horrible. I already decided if they closed the parking lot at 8:30 after I'd been driving maybe one mile in over an hour, I'd take my big ol' SUV over their barricade and anyone who got in my way. I'm guessing a lot of people had the same look in their eyes since there was no sign of closing.

Luckily, the race itself was fun. I had a wonderful time with my DD. We got to chat with Becky (Lexxifern) and her sister Jen before the race. They're a lot of fun. I'll write more in a race report later, but wanted to comment on the traffic since people who walked over had no idea how horrible it was!

Jen in GA

 

[Calcio]

I PLACED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not in the top 5 in my age group, but right now #12 in the group sounds good enough to me. I was aiming for sub-73 and finished in 72:04, finishing 12th in the 50-54 males. Woo-Hoo.


My report is short. I had a terrible time working through the crowds in the first 2 miles, hitting #2 in 19 minutes. I was hoping for 9 minutes per mile for the distance, so already I was 1 minute behind. Once I broke out I was able to make up a little time on each mile, until mile 5 when I was back on 9 min per mile pace. The last 2 miles I was pushing it as hard as I could, and thankfully the finish came about 10 meters before my body was finished.

The 20 minute hold was a bunch of crap. Typical Disney garbage at a race. Get some police out on the entrance to the studios and in the lots and move the people in. For god's sake, how about a 2 lane turn in and quick movement into the parking lot, kind of like first thing in the AM when the tourists come in. The worse part was the cutesy guy and gal up there being totally stupid. Let me amend that, the worst part was the "music" videos while we waited, nothing but T&A shaking to a pseudo-beat.

The course, I enjoyed a lot. The cross country part was a blast, and I loved running all around the World of Sports complex. Returning along the Race for the Taste course was fun. Entering the Disney Studios with 2 miles to go was puzzling, as I wondered where 2 miles were going to be found in the park. We ran all around paths and roads, in the front and backstage which I never knew existed. I especially smiled when I ran by Muppet Vision.

The best part by far was being out in the starting corrals, and after the finish, with so many good friends.

Thanks to all of you, I had a wonderful time with the gang. January 12-13 here I come.

Craig

 

[andromedaslove]

I just got back about an hour ago. I loved the race and had a blast!! I was a little disappointed in the delay at the start and the lack of things to do at the party afterwards!! Michael got to go on Rock'n'Roller Coaster for the first time and had a blast, and then we pretty much headed out. My time was NOT great!! I attribute that to spending the day in Universal, and the fact that it was so hard to get moving for the first 2 miles, then as soon as you thought it was clearing up you got to go through the gravel/dirt/mud road where everyone was running each other over to avoid the puddles. I swear I spent more time on the sides of the road than the road itself just trying to get back on pace. I never quite made it!! I finished in 1:16:59 (avg 9:30ish mpm). I better get my behind back in gear before January if I plan on keeping that pace for all 26 miles!! I have some pictures (I hope), DH was in charge of the camera, but I am supposed to have pictures. I hope to post them later.

Dana

 

[Duanerice]

Hey Craig, I was right behind you, 72:38 in the male 50 - 54 group. I was spent at the end. I missed the 7 mile marker so I thought I had another mile or so to go. I never would have made it!

The race was awesome! The other stuff, well let's just say they screwed up pretty much from when they first mentioned it (remember it was supposed to start at 9:00 originally). No excuse for the traffic.

Anyway, if you are going to get something right, make it the race. And they did. I'll write a short report later, but they did a nice job one they got going.

Loved running at night. Why don't more places do this? I mean running through the park with all those people cheering you on. If you couldn't get a rush out of that, I don't know what would do it.

Oh yea, the elevator on the medal moves up and down - way too cool!

Great meeting everyone. More to come.
Duane

 

[Calcio]

Hello Duane

Congratulations and good work. I just looked at the results and saw 7 of our group finished in 72+. I see you from Ft. Myers.

Yes the mile 7 marker was in the back and in a very dark area. I saw it but could not get enough light on my watch to get the 7 split. It would have been nice to have a clock at each split. I mean, at the Boulder Road Runners track meets, which cost $1 per race, they had a clock working.

Craig

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I enjoyed the event. It was terrific to be able to meet up with everyone. I sure do WISH it were just a wee bit less humid. Whew! I was thrilled that DH was able to participate in the 6.5 and he even had a good time too! The WISH Team support made the event well worth it for us. WISH Team is fantastic! Thanks to everyone.

Congratulations on the time Craig.

 

[EWR2AUS]

I thought the race was great! Kinks are inevitable in any "first ever" event. I'm sure that clearing people out of a park and dealing with traffic as parks were closing for the night posed some unique challenges that they will improve on next year.

That being said, thought the course was fantastic. I also enjoyed the after party. I think that comparing it to events like the Halloween events at MK really isn'y a fair comparison. I didn't really try to ride anything until the end of the night and was able to get in a ToT and RaRC ride in no prob. But by far the highlight of the night was the course!

Way to go Disney - looking forward to next year!

 

[Lan]

I made it back today. I had so much fun. This was my first night race and 2nd Disney race. I finished in 2 hr 6 min. I jogged/walked with a friend (her 1st race ever). My sister finished 1 hr 49 min. I was a little upset that the start time was pushed back, but the closing time stayed the same.

Now I did see some of you, but was just too shy to say anything. Around 12:30am -12:45am I saw a WISH group eating while I was getting my food. Next time I will approach someone to introduce myself.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I posted another dozen pics at http://www.disneyrunning.com/07tot13kphotorm1.html

 

[princessrunner]

I got back late last evening. Soooo sorry I missed everyone but we had an illness happen in my party that kind of put the brakes to all fun and games but we did make the race. I saw everyone walk past us to the start but was not able to find you before. We had to leave nearly immediately post party back to the room for the same issue. Needless to say, I had a trying time. I did the 6.5K due to it being my DF first race and he is a hockey player....not a runner. We finished around 50 minutes (not timed of course ) as he had to keep walking. On the other hand DH and DFs wife had a GREAT time walking and they both finished in under an hour which was their goal. The pics are great, makes me really sorry I missed all the fun but there is always next year.

 

[CarolA]

OK, I came to read what people thought... I appear to be in the minority!

This was my first Disney race and quite possibly my last....

The 20 minute start delay was not acceptable IMHO. Sorry, but you wanted us to arrive an hour in advance and then you can't get your act together?

The "corralling" of those of us doing the 6.5K.... WHAT corralling? We were basically in the way of those doing the 13K!!! Come on Disney, you know how to do this and "stand to the right" is NOT it!!! There were lots of 6.5K folks I saw just standing near the middle of the 13K folks when it started.

The "blending" of the 13K and the 6.5K was way to early and was dangerous for the 13K runners. I was a 6.5K runner and knew to stay far to the side as I was overtaken by much faster runners. I saw lots of folks who apparently had never been on a race course and did not have a clue to do that and who had no guidance from the Disney folks on the race course. (telling us slow folks to stay right or left would not have been a criminal sin, nor would have putting in some lanes!) My boyfriend who was a fast 13K runner was VERY frustrated with this arrangement and felt that it was dangerous and his split times certainly showed that the impact of the strollers slowed him WAY down on the last mile (8 min miles until the last mile and then 10 and it's not like he was winded or exhausted!)

There were NO mile markers on the 6.5K. I knew I wasn't going to be timed. I didn't realize that the mile markers would only exist for 13K runners!!!! So we got a marker at mile 1 and another basically between what would have been mile 7 & 8 for the 13K folks.

 

[Scott H]

TOT 13K, A JOURNEY TO THE DARK SIDE OF THE STUDIOS

Submitted for your examination is what appears to be a theme park attraction themed on Hollywood of the past, circa 1917. This is where your journey begins.

Imagine if you will, 4000 souls gathered to experience the night ahead, to run blindly into the darkness of the back lots of the studio. Few of the trepid souls wear costumes befitting the night, the costume de jour is that of a runner/walker. Many adorn themselves with pride of their past journeys.

As the time for the journey to begin draws nigh, many visit the pota potties , get the last drink in , check their laces, chips, bibs, etc move forward… then the announcement opf a delayed start, 20 min to wait.

Finally the anticipation is ended with the start of the national anthem,( I really like that people were asked to remove their hats, I am a flag etiquette kinda person) red rockes burst and we are off.

The first few miles were kinda clogged with a mix of runners and walkers vying for space on the road.

Then we headed off the road onto a dirt path, where we were met with some pretty kewl cast members spooking us out. It was very entertaining to me. Then onto the Sports Complex, never been there and it looked great weaving amongst the fields. Back to the roadways and heading back to the studios. Under the entry arch and through the parking Kiosk, Mile six looms. For me, for some reason I got a good bust of energy here, and stepped up my pace. I thought I would start to see a few Disney Characters inside the studio, but I don‘t recall many or any. The cast members and spectators were great. I was amazed at how far 2 miles seemed in the back lot area, I kept thinking there are faster ways to get to the TOT, than the way they took us. The crowds were great.

Crossed the line, with a time and overall pace I was pleased with. A fun course, a fun theme, the night was unique to me.

Well Done:
Nice placement of water stops
Course layout and traffic control
Volunteers and cast members


The start was nice in that you could gather and chat with others, but when we started it was kinda tough for working through the crowds for the first 2-3 miles.


Like to have seen:
Separate 13K- 6K medals
Date on the medal with inaugural
More characters on the route
Tech Shirt

Will do it again if the schedule works out for us.

It was great to meet new folks from Disney Running and DIS Wish boards.

See ya all around, ½ marathon this January.

 

[Scott H]

OK, I came to read what people thought... I appear to be in the minority!

This was my first Disney race and quite possibly my last....

The 20 minute start delay was not acceptable IMHO. Sorry, but you wanted us to arrive an hour in advance and then you can't get your act together?

The "corralling" of those of us doing the 6.5K.... WHAT corralling? We were basically in the way of those doing the 13K!!! Come on Disney, you know how to do this and "stand to the right" is NOT it!!! There were lots of 6.5K folks I saw just standing near the middle of the 13K folks when it started.

The "blending" of the 13K and the 6.5K was way to early and was dangerous for the 13K runners. I was a 6.5K runner and knew to stay far to the side as I was overtaken by much faster runners. I saw lots of folks who apparently had never been on a race course and did not have a clue to do that and who had no guidance from the Disney folks on the race course. (telling us slow folks to stay right or left would not have been a criminal sin, nor would have putting in some lanes!) My boyfriend who was a fast 13K runner was VERY frustrated with this arrangement and felt that it was dangerous and his split times certainly showed that the impact of the strollers slowed him WAY down on the last mile (8 min miles until the last mile and then 10 and it's not like he was winded or exhausted!)

There were NO mile markers on the 6.5K. I knew I wasn't going to be timed. I didn't realize that the mile markers would only exist for 13K runners!!!! So we got a marker at mile 1 and another basically between what would have been mile 7 & 8 for the 13K folks.

Nope not in the minority, spot on. Should I receive a survey it will be duly noted, will also include several of those observations in my post trip letter to Disney.