What would motivate you to run/run more Disney races?

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I think anyone who has participated in a Disney race comes away from it really loving the experience and usually comes back for more! So, what are the top reasons that keep you coming back? What about the ones that keep you away?

I think the top reason that keeps me coming back are all the people and the race environment - sure there are probably some jerks, but I would say that the majority of people all help each other out, and make it a team effort and share in each others accomplishments. (okay, maybe the medals too)

The two top reasons that keep me away of course is the cost - it isn't just the cost of the race, but traveling (mainly the DL race is the high cost for me) costs can add up. If I stayed on property and got those vacation packages each and every time, I would never retire!

Lastly, The races can be fairly close together...I would love to run every Half and the Full but I think that would be asking for a serious injury to happen. It is not worth the time or effort to choose one of their shorter races that don't give me an official time. I need proof that I ran those races!

 

[airman]

Last years Wine & Dine was my motivation to start running and now I'm hooked. Having the opportunity to run through the Disney parks and meeting the friends I've made here on the WISH pages.
Right now I'm planning on doing the ESPN the Weekend 5k and want to do the Expedition Everest Challenge.
WDW Marathon weekend was an awesome experience and I want to keep doing it. If I can swing it, I would like to do the Disneyland Half (I'm a sucker for the medals). And don't get started on thinking about the Wine and Dine for this year.
The things I'll endure for an excuse to get my Disney fix.

 

[Duanerice]

I love Disney races. Never ran one that I regretted. OK, last year the Goofy was a bit cold but that's OK.

I guess my issues are that my activities have changed. I am not focusing on just running as much as participating in triathlons. Easier on the knees. Have a couple of half Ironmans and 1 full Ironman race on the schedule this year.

Also after 1 full and 2 Goofy's it is kind of "been there, done that". And yea, cost has something to do with it but they are still a lot cheaper than triathlons. We also have just a short drive so it's not a travel issue.

I might do the Wine and Dine this year. Wanted to do it last year but the timing wasn't right.

So, what would get me to run Disney more, unique races like the night time Wine and Dine.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[Maddykins06]

The people most definitely. I've met the nicest, most interesting people.
Had so much fun & support before, during, & after the race too.

And like Joe, I love the medals!
My four year old kept asking where "her" Donald & Goofy medals were.

Keeping me away - need more DVC points & need to finish school.
I WANT to do the Goofy & the Princess next year.
Wine & Dine starts too late for me....Yaaawwwnnnn.

 

[BACON]

the free admission, or marathon Monday, should be extended to half marathon runners. If they let marathoners in for free, they could have let us half-marathoners in a park for half price.

 

[verticalchaos]

the free admission, or marathon Monday, should be extended to half marathon runners. If they let marathoners in for free, they could have let us half-marathoners in a park for half price.

THIS!

I would also suggest dropping the price of the half by a little. I do find it a bit ridiculous that they charge the same amount for a half as they do for the full.

(I clearly paid it this year...and for Disneyland...and likely will for the Wine and Dine. But I do find it absurd.)

 

[IamTrike]

The half this January was my first major race. It was great because my DW who was coming to support me had other things to look forward to beyond just the race. I am really excited to go back to do the goofy next year, but after that I am not sure how often I'll get to Disney Races. I think the biggest draw, the fact that its at disney, is also one of the things that makes it harder to do. Because its at Disney I don't just do the race, I want to do the parks to for a couple of days. That drives the cost for the trip up and it means I have to take off work. As much as a like Disney I don't want to spend all m vacation time there.

Oh and I second either reducing the cost for the half or extending marathon mondays to half runners.

 

[stampingoddess]

The thing that keeps me coming back year after year (11 January races) all of the Princesses and several others over the years are:

1.The friends we only get to see at the Disney races. Catching up with these long distance/internet friends is priceless

2. The medals. The Disney medals are definately my favorite.

3. Having an excuse to fly to Disney- it is the Happiest Place on Earth!

 

[FireDancer]

More unique races. I have done all the ones I intend to now (DL half, WDW half and full, W&D) and am ready to more onto new races. Since they added a running event to the Food & Wine festival I think adding a race to events like Star Wars Weekend or even the Flower and Garden festival would be something. I probably would still be taking the rest of this year off of Disney but when I start looking for races in 2012 a new race might bring me down. All those Rock N Roll races are calling my name at this point.

The other thing is cost. I understand that Disney costs more and that is fine but to have half marathons at the same price as fulls is ridiculous. I don't think a half marathon should cost more than $100 unless you sign up extremely late. Oh, speaking of that, scaled pricing so signing up early actually gets you something.

 

[TEK224]

What keeps me coming back?
I love getting to see all the Wishers each year, both those I've known for years and those I meet for the first time. The group shot at Pop is one of the first pics I show when I get back home.

The bling. It's all about the bling.

They are fun races. I love seeing the characters on the course. People are really supportive.

What would keep me away?
Cost could become an issue. I, too, think it's crazy they charge the same for both the half and full and then only the full got the free enttry day. It's kind of insulting to those who did the half.

Only other thing to keep me away would be if I was doing another race around the same time (in different state).

Terri

 

[geaux_half]

Having run my first marathon at Disney back in 2000 and my first half the following year at Disney as well, Disney races will always be special to me.

My running group talked me (not much talking required) to do the 5 medals/3 races Goofy/Coast2Coast challenge in 2010.

Having run the above races, I think it woud take an international event to get me back to a Disney race. I haven't visited any of Disney's international parks yet, but I think being able to run a half marathon in one of them would be the motivation for me to make the trip.

 

[rubato]

Marathon weekend was my first and 2nd Disney race. I had to do it for the bling, but I won't be back for awhile. Why? Cost. It's not just that the races are ridiculously priced, but, then I feel the need for a week at Disney. So, my 2 races cost about three grand!

So, what would keep me coming back? Better prices, I guess. I did love the experience, especially all the people.

 

[fashionista311]

what keeps me coming back is the races are just so FUN. you feel so special the whole weekend (i mean really i can't think any other race that is perfectly acceptable to parade around your medal for an entire weekend). plus you get a whole vacation out of it, and you get come down and run in (usually) nice weather when it's so cold and dark in most of the country.

what is keeping me away is the price - not just the price of race itself - but really the whole weekend. it requires a plane ticket, hotel, park tickets, food, etc. as much as i love disney, i also love to travel, and there are just limited funds and vacation days i can take. plus if i ever want to get my 50 states done, i just can't keep racing in florida all the time!

 

[goofyinohio]

As they say over on ROTE FOMO (Fear of missing out!) I skipped Disneyland in 2009 and it ate me up. The medals are awesome and the different races like the former RFTT, TOT and the new Wine and Dine race also help. It's Disney so that in itself is enough for me. I still wouldn't have been to Disneyland had they not offered that first Coast to Coast medal. Getting to see so many of the ROTE and WISH crew are really a great reason to do these races. Getting to see old friends and meet new one's are just fantastic. Lastly it's getting to wear that medal around the parks. At home I wear a medal for a couple hours while at Disney it lasts for days.

 

[JimB.]

I would like to see a bigger variety of distances. Bring a couple of 10K events back.

I'd also like to see a "Real Disney" Triathlon or 2. I know they have the Danskin & FL 1/2 IM, but they (IMHO) are not "real" Disney races. An Olympic and Sprint Tri would be great.

But, since I am relatively local & own a condo in Celebration, I hit most of them anyway.

 

[johde]

I haven't done any Disney races yet. But, timing of the races is a problem for me. I teach college and can't realistically go while classes are in schedule. This year though, I have labor day weekend off and can do the Disneyland half. We are then switching to semesters and will have early January off, I'm planning on doing the WDW races in 2013. At this point in time I can't justify traveling around the country just to race. Both of these races will be combined with longer vacations. After these two, I don't see Disney races being an annual event. As others have said, I'm currently in the phase of wanting to experience a variety of different races not do the same ones over and over.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

What brings me back are the friends at the races and I make it a vacatio0n. Like you Shelby, going across country is expensive!

The medals are great but the memories are priceless