TEK224 said:
Also, where exactly is the fininsh line area? I know it's in the Epcot parking area, but how far from, say, the front entrance where the buses would normally drop you off if going into Epcot?
Trying to plan where friends will be able to catch a glimpse of me.
Terri
Lisa - I am curious about how to tell my group to find me at the finish as well. We are at the Beach Club. Is there a bus that will take them to the area? I also am wondering how I can get to WWOS to pick up my packet on Friday. We won't have a car. Worse comes to worst we can cab it.
The finish....if you were to exit the park through the turnstiles....instead of exiting..you run to the right...behind the building that houses the kennel (and I think the wheelchairs...you come out in a backstage area that crosses right into the parking lot.
Arriving by bus....guests will be on the OPPOSITE end of the parking lot...and will proceed walking by the turnstiles and by the kennel...into the parking lot area. They may have to cross the tram area to get into the actual parking area. The finish is located adjacent to wear guests dropping off pets for the kennel would park. (Very easy to walk to BTW as cabs will still have to drop you off in designated areas)
Busses all over WDW will be running...but they will take a long time. However--by the "finish time"...the roads that the busses would use from beach club....shouldn't have any trouble driving around. But lots of buffer is wise in the travel time.
Basically knowing your pace--and where you are at is very important. You can use your phone call to report if you are ahead of or behind pace.
My hubby was supposed to see me at MK...and I didn't see him at all. I didn't have a phone, but used my sisters phone at a water stop. She had told me that they were still en route (stuck on a bus for well over an hour...probably close to 2)....basically gave the "abort mission" command...and they just hopped onto the monorail at wherever he ended up (TTC or MK, don't recall) to get to EPCOT.
Your pace will be the paramount--how you finishe your longest training run is your baseline to figure out when you expect to finish. The race starts at 6am. You expect a 5 hour finish....(11am), you want your group at the finish line by about 10:45am.
The cell phone contacts should be minimum...and used only if you find yourself way behind..or somehow way ahead of your anticipated pacing.
just my opinion..take it for what it is worth
My family ended up waiting a long time b/c I just basically crashed and burned due to the flu. I was almost 2 hours after my anticipated finish

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plutosmyfav said:
Lisa, if my family is at Epcot, can they exit the main gate and walk to the finish (or near finish as you described) easily?
They should. They would probalby walk to the LEFT upon entered World Showcase (going by way of Britain and Canada---b/c the runners go to the right and the travel paths are a bit tight)....upon exiting the main gate..they walk past the kennel (to the right)....and then over into the parking lot. They should be able to see grandstands and then walk just towards that.
Very easy.