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

[katerkat]

I agree with most of the above with the disorganization - I've run a race with 50,000 people and this one with 5,000 people and the bigger one was definitely better organized!! Luckily we were driving our own car and turning right at the light, so I think we missed a lot of the traffic hassles. (Mind you, it still took a good while to get in and parked!!)

I enjoyed the race and did really well for me, however, I'm kind of disappointed that we paid $80 for my parents and sister to get into the park and they only rode one ride while I was running and one ride after I finished. There was no way we were going to wait 30 minutes for the RNRC after running!! When we walked out at 12:15, the awards ceremony must have finished and the band was packing up!! Party didn't end for another 45 minutes but the band was leaving. Nice.

And I, too, would have liked to see "inauguaral" and 13K/6.5K on the medal - something to differentiate it!

Also, changing the packet pick-up on us. We arrived in Florida on Monday, expecting to pick up the stuff at WWoS. Didn't have internet access. Luckily met a friend at PI the night before and she told us about the change - otherwise we'd be driving around WWoS on Saturday!

Oh and Florida needs to work on their humidity problem.

 

[wtpclc]

HI all!

Just back yesterday. Still exhausted from ToT then MNSSHP teh next night.

SO bummed that I did not meet more WIShers. I always miss out on teh early meets and then feel dumb asking everyone who they are. It was great to see/meet the ones I did.

My favorite meeting:
I am wandering near teh entrance to MGM lost adn this nice woman in a cool shirt tells me where to go. As I am about to compliment her on her shirt, she says, "I'm getting thinner BTW."

Here's me thinking that's great, very happy for you, now why did she tell me that???

Duh......

She was gettinthinr! lol. A little too much stress for me, I think.

Random thoughts:

I loved the lights and the way people could cheer at MGM.

The sharp turns were very scary.

I don't do humid, so I ran for crud, but loved the medal. ;-)

They need real corrals.

RnR after a race where I may have dehydrated slightly is a BAD idea. I was ok, but not as fun as usual.

LInes were a little long for me after running 13K.

WIll I do it again? Probably not, just because I have to tame my number of trips. If I were to go, it would only be so I could do MNSSHP again!! And to get a WISH fix.

 

[cobbler]

Carrie-
Ha, you were down for the race too and we have yet to cross paths. That makes me laugh.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I missed Carrie again too. I think she is the invisible

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I'm enjoying reading everyone's take on this event.

Robert, Carrie had the invisibility cloak on I think. Sorry I didn't know you had not met her. She was standing very close to you as we waited in line for the race to begin.

 

[DianeL]

I saw Carrie & Scott!!! I saw them!!! Honest! I yelled at them twice as we passed on the course. Speedy little devils! Poor Carrie she kept having this funny look like 'why is this strange woman (not wearing a wish shirt) yelling our names?'

I 'ran' (walked really) into Wendy (getnthnr) towards the start of the 13K. I don't know how I recognized her since she wasn't in WISH nor her Chesire Cat visor. She was sneaky blending into the darkness with her black shirt. She pulled up next to me and then away as expected. She can move like the wind

I met Susie and I'm soooo sorry but I can't remember your friends name. Saw their amazing NIKE Race 'medals' It was really kewl spending time with them waiting for the merchandise (our little travel parties 2nd visit to the Expo).

Who were the 2 ladies wearing the witches hats? Cathy and I came across you on the way to WWoS just before we all came up to Robert's group.

QUESTION : When Susan went thru the WWoS it sounds like the 'patients' were getting in her way and causing her to slow down and move around them??? I haven't had a chance since to ask her more but I know she was really upset about it. Did anyone else have issues like that? For me they kept away from Cath and me but maybe interacted verbally (do you like my hair?) sort. Nothing troublesome. Course I'm easily freaked out had i been back with Susan but by myself I would have freaked out.

73 days!!!!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

The 2 women were jeanneg(Jeanne) and PaDisneyFan(Nancy) who took mini golf to the next level").

It was funny hanging with them. Great people!

 

[DianeL]

Thanks Robert!!! They were very nice it was great fun seeing everyone on the course.

Jen I was looking back and have to say your daughter is adorable! Love her posing for the photos LOL The one with her hand out is too cute! 'And this is Disney World' says the young WISH Tour Guide Looks like she had a blast

 

[hoosmi]

Thanks Diane! I guarantee she will be perfectly posed in the official pictures and I'll look like a lumbering clod! Some people are just born knowing how to pose; unfortunately, I'm not one of them.

Here's something funny- we saw Robert and Erica in the group, but the 13k people were moving forward so we didn't say anything. I pointed them out to Emma who knows them from the millions of times I've shown her pictures from Robert's site, and she was speechless. Seriously, speechless, eyes wide.

Before I forget, I think I saw Wendy in a tour at MK on Saturday. If it was her, she was over by Pirates. They all had on little earpiece things and looked very official. I walked by and did a doubletake, but I didn't want to wander up to a stranger and start asking if she was "getting thinner!" I really think it was though...

Oh, and Carrie wasn't invisible! I saw her! I didn't speak because I was having one of those "I can write to these people daily, wear a shirt that glows, but can't possible speak in person" moments. Maybe January!

Jen in GA

 

[TnTsParty]

Got back earlier today. Stayed an extra day and we had a great time.

There were things that dissapointed me in the race planning but not really in the race. We had no issues with the packet pick up on Saturday around 11 AM except we were almost all the way out to the parking lot and I realized the pin was not in the packet. I turned around and went back and realized that it was off to the side, would have been nice if they would have mentioned that or had a bigger sign noting that it was over there. We also had no issues with traffic thankfully but that was because I told my DH we needed to leave All Star Sports around 6:30PM. I also think it was no problem for us since we came in from the west and turned right into the park. We drove past an empty toll both and really wasn't sure where to park. I looked for the Stage lot or whatever they said in the final instructions but we couldn't find it. We did go toward the lights and white tents set up. Since we were so early we were able to find a spot close to the packet pick up that was set up at the race (thought the final instructions said that there was not going to be packet pick up at the race???) My DH was a little frustrated by being there so early but we passed time by sitting in the truck and then finally moved to the starting line. The delay in starting time was dissapointing especially since they did not bother to anounce that it would start 20 minutes later after the race was already supposed to have started. Instead of blaming it soley on racers trying to still get there they should have noted that it was due to traffic issues and that way it wouldn't have seemed like people were irresponsible and didn't leave their hotels in enough time. I am not speedy by any means but I had to go off into the grass a few times in the beginning (I started the race on the left hand side as I knew I didn't want to be crunched in the middle) I was not at all impressed with the so called "entertainment" on the course. I would have been really upset if one of those "crazies" would have messed up my pace.

I didn't really end up meeting any WISHer's except Cam's DH and his friend that I saw at almost mile 1. That was seriously the first and only chance I had to say hi to any WISHer.

I was also dissapointed that I paid $25 for my DH to get into the "party" - he at least was able to ride RNR 7 times - but that was the only ride he rode (we ended up doing it 5 more times in the next 2 days) I was only able to ride RNR one time and then his foot was bothering him (you would have thought he just ran the 13k!! LOL - but he has problems with it as he broke it REAL bad years ago at work) I hadn't planned on going back to MGM so it was kind of dissapointing that I was only able to ride RNR and didn't even get on TOT that night - I did make my DH go with me to the TOT store to get the merchandise as I was NOT going to stand in line at packet pick up. I ended up going back to MGM Sunday night for EMH and after getting off the TOT saw the race merchandise still up for sale. It was not there yesterday when we got off the TOT. I also was dissapointed that they did not accept the room key charges at the park - my DH only brought $12 with him in cash to the race since we assumed they would accept the room key - since it WAS in the park.

Luckly we were staying at BCV and it made it easy to go back and forth to MGM. Another high point of the trip was that when we checked into BCV we got a $100 gift card for dining (it was the AP rate) I actually had to ask because the CM didn't mention it at check in. The manager had to get it from the "manager's vault" in the back. It came in very handy for Food and Wine festival - and we tried lots of things I wouldn't have tried if it wasn't for that "free" money.

I know I will be doing this one again next year. Really enjoyed the night running as I don't get to do that in training since I don't run at night for safety reasons. It will work out perfect next year with DH's annual pass valid until Oct 27, 2008. I hope by next year they can get the kinks worked out and put on an AWESOME event next year. I also would like to see different medal for each race - would have been nice to know who was running what race. Oh well all in all it was a good experience for my longest race yet and my first Disney race. Looking forward to the Minnie Marathon weekend.

 

[ironz]

Hi gang!!

I had a pretty good time at the run on Saturday.

It was a very quick trip for my friend and me...we each left our homes by 6 am on Saturday morning (due to work schedules), and...my friend arrived on time by noon or 1 pm. My plane was delayed, and I was completely freaking out about missing packet pickup and therefore the race!
When I got to MCO, I was on and off the phone with my friend--should I just take a cab to PI, rent a car, or try to do ME?--turns out she was at packet pickup and they allowed her to get my packet and my pin (I reminded her to get my pin...so sorry for the previous poster who didn't get hers). That saved me much stress and the question of getting a rental car.

We met at POP and had a bite to eat and took naps to rest for the race.
We got over to MGM on the bus by 730. We didn't want to wait too long, in case busses weren't running there any longer after park closing. Wish we had been smart enough to bring something like a plastic bag to sit on...the 2+ hours on our feet took its toll. Lots of portapotties...so that was great! We didn't have trouble finding where to go. People were able to tell us. But more signage would be nice.

We were very happy to have our photos taken with several people...if y'all saw two girl bellhops with the striped hats, that was us! We only saw one other set of bellhops, and they didn't have the hats. It was really great fun to have a themed costume on.

The delay was really aggravating...since we had planned ahead and gotten there with plenty of time to spare. I'm sure the traffic situation was compounded by the bus situation--had they bussed more people in from resorts, etc, they probably could have controlled the traffic flow better. And...I didn't realize (from the *lovely* race map) that the race course blocked the main traffic entrance to MGM. Brilliant.

Was happy to start running....I felt pretty good starting out, but the time on our feet and the humidity got to me by mile 3 or 4. Thank goodness, my friend was a little patient, and I had a little incentive to keep running with her, as I wanted us to run through MGM together to show off our outfits. We averaged under 10:30 a mile for the first 6, then slowed down a bit due to my legs not wanting to go more, and the twists and turns through the park once we entered. I just kept willing myself to hold the pace...would have been a little more comfortable at 11/mile, but I'm glad I got pushed.
Had to dodge a few 6.5K walkers....but not too bad...I've seen much worse foot traffic at other races. And, really...good on the people who are just starting to get active to actually sign up and carry through with an event like this. Nice for the ones who are aware to not block people who may have other goals, too. Thanks for that. I liked the course...even though I never got to the part where we went down the slide through the hat like the pic looked. heehee! I agree that having at least a few characters out would have been fun and something to look forward to. And to whoever said they liked our Haunted Mansion outfits....duh! It was the Tower of Terror run! besides, the HM girl CMs wear little doilies on their heads.

Post-race....it was great to have been able to check a bag. I liked the brownie. Was more interested in fluids and was able to get a water and a powerade. (wonder why some didn't get one of each?) Had a banana, too. Didn't feel like eating much else. Glad about that, once I caught a glimpse of the outrageous pricing for beer, etc. !

We rode TOT--of course, we had to, we were freakin' Bellhops!! The CMs were funny when we walked up. After the first time through, we were greeted by 3 CM bellhops and they said they heard about us running. And offered us a second time on TOT....so we got to go up the back elevator and straight back onto the ride! very cool!

We rode RNR once, and that was plenty. I think riding rides so soon after the race effort and continued need for hydration made us both a little queasy. (and I can usually ride anything) We were ready to go find a cab by that time, and were pleasantly surprised that someone in transportation was smart enough to not leave all those participants stranded at MGM or be forced to take taxis. I really hope they learned their lesson with that. I had already sent WDW sports an email about that. (note: EMMI did not produce this race, though they do produce others, like the marathon, I believe. WDW produced the race. EMMI just timed it.)

The next day we went to AK, MK, and Epcot....then had a tiny break before a 9:30 ADR at California Grill, which was quite yummy. But very tiring, as our ME pickup was at 3:45 the next morning. ow!

Love the medal...not worried about no difference between the 13K and 6.5K (truthfully, that there is a medal at all, esp. for the shorter race, is nice, based on my 8 or 9 years of running). Having the word "inaugural" would have been cool, though. But we all know it was. Like the race t-shirt.

If I did it again, I would allow more time for the whole trip...took me a bit to recover, and I'm not sure we enjoyed Cali. Grill as much as we would have if more rested.

 

[jeanneg]

Who were the 2 ladies wearing the witches hats? Cathy and I came across you on the way to WWoS just before we all came up to Robert's group.

Hi Diane!
Robert was correct....it was Nancy and I. We are walkers and so do most of our posting on (crazy)Dave's "Walkers Want to Compare Notes" thread. We do pop up on the main thread from time to time and are in awe of all you runners!

 

[CarolA]

I hope all of you are writing Disney and letting them know....

I spoke to a "suit" after the race and he seemed to be amazed that I could possibly have complaints!

 

[Mark214]

I still have to write my email. Has anyone written to Disney and gotten a response?

My basic suggestions are:

1. Provide transportation. I think they learned their lesson on this one.

2. Publish what was in the final instructions document when registration opens. Most of what was in that document should be known well in advance of the event. It is for all of the non-Disney races I do.

3. Put people into corals based on their expected finish time.

4. If you are going to run two different distances in the same race, you need to keep them separate. It was really a nightmare coming back into MGM and merging with the 6.5 folks. There were young children in this group who could easily have gotten hurt by the 13k runners. In addtion, a number of the walkers were taking up the entire running path which is really unfair to those who are running the event.

5. If you are not going to offer complimentary refreshments, open a few of MGM's eating establishments. I would definitely had bought some food/drink at Disney's normal high prices, not the outrageous prices they were charging for soda and beer. It really annoyed me that they would charge so much more than there normal theme park prices.

My nitpics would be:

1. It would have been nice to have a medal and shirt that mentioned it was an inaugural event and different ones for the two races. I do understand that they want to keep things uniform so that when they hold this event in the future, they do not need to change the medal or tee-shirt design.

2. Add some Disney characters. The psychos at the sports complex were fun, but this is a Disney event.

3. I am not a prude, but I think some of the music videos being shown were inappropriate for a Disney event; espeically one that allowed children to participate.

4. That they announced the race would start late after its starting time and than made it sound like it was late arriving runners fault really is galling. That was twenty less minutes to be in the park after the race because of poor planning by Disney.

It was a fun event and I am glad I participated. I hope Disney sees what they did wrong and is big enough to send out an email to the participants acknowleding that they could have done a better job. I won't hold my breath on that one, but it would be the right thing to do.

 

[Mark214]

.

 

[jeanneg]

Mark:
How come your Mickey clippie shows up and for most of us it is just a blank box with an X?

HELP!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Hey everybody! It was so great to meet so many of you!! I really loved this race. I thought it was loads of fun. I ran the 6.5k with my sister (it was only her 2nd race). I agree it was disorganized and I probably could have met more WISHers, but I didn't want to go that far up front because I was running the 6.5k. We stayed back a bit and talked with Jen in GA and her adorable dd, Emma. I also found Vicki and her boys - congrats on the move to Singapore!!!

Jen (my sis) and I ran the whole thing in a little over 46 min. I thought it was a fun course and there were so many people cheering! Carrie, I didn't see you, but your parents were awesome! They kept cheering for us the 2 times we passed them. We got to meet them on the way back to the boardwalk. Your mom was pushing your dad and said they were going to walk back to boardwalk and then try to catch a bus. I felt so bad. Sorry I didn't get to meet you!

A benefit to running the 6.5k was that we were able to ride ToT 4 times in a row with no wait and we got to sit wherever we wanted. That was worth the race fee.

I will definately be back next year! Oh, thanks Kristi for the glow bracelets! My girls were fighting over it the next morning


Becky

 

[princessrunner]

Becky, I think you and your sister were running with DF and I the whole race. Were you both wearing WISH shirts and fanny packs?? All I could hear the whole race was something jingling in one of those packs, that's why I remember it. I was wearing red shirt, red shorts and had a red jacket tied around my waist. Nothing memorable there, blinding but not memorable!!!

 

[Kristi1357]

Becky - I had more bracelets! I could not give them away! I wish I would have known you could have used more. I left some unopened at the curb before the start since no one wanted any. Oh well!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Kristi: Notice I didn't miss my photo of you again You were going to fast as we were on a casual pace so I couldn't get more of you