Walking to Marathon from POFQ

[Sassagoula]

I searched through this forum and found some answers to my questions, but I just wanted to clarify a few things. I'm running the marathon and will be staying a POFQ. I understand that you can walk to the start from there. How long does it take to walk from there and what time do you recommend leaving? Is it easy and safe to do? I'm just picturing myself getting lost in the dark somewhere along the way! Thanks for any info on this.

 

[Calcio]

From the lobby at POFQ to the starting corrals of the marathon is a 10 minute walk at the most.

I've done this the last 2 years and highly recommend it. I leave the lobby about 5:30 and am in my corral by 5:40. You cannot miss it, because when you walk out the front of the lobby you will see the searchlights and hear the music and dj. Go out the front, and veer to the left, walking to the guard booth. Go past the booth and you'll come the the access road to the resorts. Watch for traffic, there is some, not a lot, and turn left. Walk perhaps 200 meters and you'll see a bridge over the canal to the right, which the last 2 years has had a police car on it. Turn right, go over the bridge and you are there. There are 2 starting corrals. If you're lucky you are in the close corral and can just step into your letter. If you are in the other corral you'll need to go around the front of the start to the right and work your way back to your letter.

In the words of Archimedes, "easy as pi."

Craig

 

[Sassagoula]

Thanks for the great info! I'm not too familiar with POFQ, but I will have a few days before the marathon to check out the area.

 

[goofyguy1958]

Can I hi-jack the tread for a moment, please? I will be staying at Old Key West for marathon weekend, anyone stay there last year and how was the walk to the start (if doen)? I will be going Goofy and wonder if I could walk to both the half and the full.

 

[Calcio]

GG

The walk from OKW to the marathon start is a bit shorter. Just walk out the front of the resort and the starting corrals are literally right in front of you. I cannot be 5 minutes from the resort.

Yes, you can also walk to the start of the half, and my wife and I did it last year. The start of the half is at about mile 1 of the marathon course, so come out of OKW, cross the bridge over the canal, get on the 3 lane road (blocked off, no traffic) and turn right. I think this year it took us about 20 minutes. They hold the runners in the EPCOT parking lot staging area anyway, so when you are walking toward the start you'll see a mass of humanity coming in from the left.

Good luck

Craig

 

[im4disney]

It looks like the "Blue" Start for the Full Marathon is REALLY close to OKW. Does anyone know if the Blue start is the faster/first corrals? I believe it is.

Thanks.

 

[wfloyd]

Last year they alternated between the starts. The Red had the elites and 2002-4000, 6001-8000, and 10,000-12,000. The Blue had 101-2000, 4001-6000, 8001-10,000, and 12,001-15,000. We had a number in the 7000's and put down a finish time of around 5:15.

 

[goofyguy1958]

Thanks for the info Craig. I guess I can use the walk to the half as my warmup and the extra sleep is really going to be needed for the full. Are you going Goofy again this year?

 

[Calcio]

GG

I agree with you. I'd do almost anything to sleep longer the day of a race. By spending the night before at POFQ I figure I get at least 1 more hour of sleep, plus I'm only waiting in the pre-dawn for 30 minutes or so before the start. You work so hard to get to the start, anything to make you more fresh is gold.

I am not doing the Goofy this year, so good luck to you. I must admit I'm still amazed that I did it last year. The half was easy, the first half of the full was easy, but miles 13 to 26 were pretty ugly. My goal this year is to run the full comfortably, and torch my time from last year. There is no doubt, however (in the words of my wife) the Goofy finishers are the "stud muffins" of the weekend. Finishing either race is really cool, something to be proud of, but that Goofy medal is also a sign of insanity.

I've got the medals hanging in my office and occasionally a student will ask me about them. When I tell them the details of earning them it is fun to see a kid 30 years younger than me react.

Good luck, but I don't think you will need it. From your training posts you will blow through Goofy. Just be sure to leave something in the tank Saturday. No matter your training, when you get out of bed Sunday you'll question your intelligence.

Craig

 

[goofyguy1958]

Craig, Of course you are assuming I have some intelligence before the half. Seriously, I have questioned why I talked myself into this many times. However, I keep reliving my last experience at the 2006 version of the WDW marathon and remember just how disappointed I was not to have enjoyed my race and all doubt goes away. I have one request though, if anyone sees a nasty looking guy trying to join the race simply say "Mr Montazuma, you are not welcome here this year." I did not like running with him before and hope no one else has the displeasure.