Wine and Dine 2015

[flatlandcycle]

I'd have either melted into a puddle, spontaneously combusted, or not be able to walk today. Lol.

I did smell smoke. I thought it was the smoking sections...cough, cough, wheeze, inhaler.

 

[margitmouse]

Thank's for the race reports. I don't have much to add. I think the shortened course protected me from myself. That little ole 6.7 miles really hurt. If I had gone 13.1, I would have gone down in flames. The new older self can't dissipate heat. The weather delay and shortening is what it is. I just couldn't go out and run a simple 10k+ to my potential. That's the real head scratcher.

I'm glad you and others have said this, I totally agree. Between the moving off the field and back- that break in focus or whatever you want to call it- and the humidity.... And probably the time of day too, going down in flames is the the perfect analogy for why would have happened!
As it was, yesterday was tough!
Lol!

 

[flvy]

Yeah I like the excitement of the threads. Once it's over I have no one to talk run stuff except the SO who just smiles and nods.

That's where I'm at. At the end of the month I start a new training cycle and anyone I have to chat with about it just nods politely at me and pretends they don't think I'm crazy.

 

[Z-Knight]

I think all of you should still be proud of what you did, even if the race was shortened. I know it sucks for those who were running a half marathon for the first time, but look on the bright side: EVERY race from now on, has to be better!!!! You got the worst one out of the way, had a memorable experience and still got a medal for it. #allaboutthebling

 

[Ariel484]

Sorry to hear about all the trouble with the race this year. I wasn't there but from reading everyone's reports it sounds like the right decision was made but the communication was terrible. I can't really blame RunDisney for the course change but they should have had a system in place to keep everyone informed and updated without the need to check the Internet. My phone is with my checked bags for a race, I can't just hop on Twitter for an update once the bags are checked.

I so agree with this. I feel like I knew what was going on pretty well...sitting on my couch at home in Ohio (via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram). Not acceptable that I was better-informed on the changes than you guys, the runners, were. It bugs me when businesses rely so heavily on Social Media for stuff like this - any announcements made on Twitter should have been made out loud to you guys as well.

Overall I think (as an outsider) it sounds like runDisney handled things as well as they could, but the communication thing is a real head scratcher.

 

[preciouspups]

I think y'all have handled this really well. You should wear your shirt and your medal because you trained and you showed up prepared. You may not have run 13.1 on Saturday but you put in way more than that with training. Maybe instead of "I Did It" meaning 13 miles, it can mean "I kept a good attitude when everyone else was whining." In reading this thread and some on FB, I have only seen one or two people having an absolute tantrum *cough*grownmen*cough* You guys are the spirit of Disney, IMO.

 

[margitmouse]

Someone had posted this on another thread a while back, it seems appropriate.
Hugs to all

 

[Figment1990]

I just wanted to jump on here and say thank you to all of you guys. I agree with the poster who said they feel like we "went thru something together." Even tho in the grand scheme of life, it is only running (not disease or war or anything so serious), it is still an emotional challenge to deal with. It's true that after a big goal race people feel post-race letdown because something you've been working towards for months is now not there for you to work towards. And couple that with the fact that we didnt get to do the actual race as we prepared for physically and mentally, it makes it twice as hard. I'm trying to focus on my next endeavors and create my new plan but the fact remains that wine and dine still feel unfinished to me. Which means that eventually I'm going to have to go back. I'm pretty sure I too would have been a mess after 13.1 - I could barely walk after 6.whatever bc of all the standing and the delay and the fact that I ran much harder than I would have run a half distance. But I think I could have done it even if not pretty.

Someone mentioned finding another half. Not so easy up north here right now. At least in my corner of PA. But I'll look. In the meantime, I'm going to try to focus on my cross training and general maintenance until its time to ramp back up for the Star Wars 10k I signed up for (January).

 

[flvy]

I'm getting my AK miles in today and while I love this park to pieces and was upset not to run through it I can completely understand why they chose to cut it out. The high winds plus the chance of rain. It would have been kind of dangerous if that storm turned.

 

[DVCFan1994]

You guys all brought up good points that I hadn't considered before- about the walking back and forth from the field and the standing plus the humidity. I'm really feeling those 6-7 miles this AM. I had a spa day as a treat to myself yesterday and had an amazing sports massage so I'm wondering what I'd feel like if I hadn't had that

I don't think there's any halves left up in New England so for me it's back to training runs for Princess in February.

I looked for a lot of you guys on the course but didn't find anyone

Never saw the cliff bar group, but did encounter a group of walkers who stayed abreast during the (I think) last water stop. I feared they'd get knocked over because I think people expect for the person ahead of them to either merge or keep moving. It was super narrow through there but thankfully no injuries.

Based on the way the old body feels this morning, I'm going to second @flatlandcycle , had I tried to do the full 13 with all other things being the same? I'd have either melted into a puddle, spontaneously combusted, or not be able to walk today. Lol.

Just an FYI. Not sure which part of NE you are in, but there are a couple left. I was looking for a December one. I usually look in NH and MA. I found some in November and December on www.nerunner.com and www.runningintheusa.com.

 

[GreatLakes]

Someone mentioned finding another half. Not so easy up north here right now. At least in my corner of PA. But I'll look. In the meantime, I'm going to try to focus on my cross training and general maintenance until its time to ramp back up for the Star Wars 10k I signed up for (January).

If anyone is looking for another race the site RunningInTheUSA has a good search tool. You can select a state, chose upcoming, choose half marathon, and get any races scheduled. For you I found three in PA but if you are close to another state you may want to check those out as well.

 

[Miranda]

I know there are still a couple halfs left in NH and ME... Wolf Hollow in Nashua is the one I was going to do for Half Fanatics (11/22), and there is a Santa one in Portland in December. Might be a second one in Portland, not sure.

 

[ExportedMolson]

What's everyone's feelings about wearing the "I did it" shirt or putting the wine and dine 13.1 magnet on your car? I feel like I didn't fully earn the right to use them since I didn't run the full mileage

I'm a number of pages behind, but my feelings on this were noted at the finish line. I ran a 10k with a half mile cool down. I could not and did not accept a medal which stated half marathon, since I did not run one. Poor volunteer chased me all the way to the photographers to give me the medal he thought I had missed. I thanked him and politely declined.

Yes I could have taken it and donated it like I have in the past, but even Medals for Mettle want them earned and only accept half and full medals. Still would not have been earned in my eyes.

On the plus side, I was so annoyed at the course being shortened I decided to switch up my pace and just go for it. Set a new old man, sorry masters, PR for 10K.

 

[ExportedMolson]

My corral booed that announcement!

I was close to the front.... OK I was at the back of Corral A and it was booed by pretty much everyone up front in A & B.

I didn't hear much complaining at the after party. However, I did hear lots of complaints (and - my two cents - justified) in the finishers area. That was a disorganized mess.

I had a blast at the after party, but am curious about the finishers area. It seemed a lot more organized than last year, but since I ran solo I was not in it for very long and it was not crowded when I was there. I did loudly boo the only beer choice being Mich Ultra and then not being able to switch to grab a pop.

 

[flatlandcycle]

With all the changes in EPCOT Norway I was glad to see the Grete Waitz statue is still standing tall. Does anyone else pay tribute?

 

[wilkeliza]

I was close to the front.... OK I was at the back of Corral A and it was booed by pretty much everyone up front in A & B.
I had a blast at the after party, but am curious about the finishers area. It seemed a lot more organized than last year, but since I ran solo I was not in it for very long and it was not crowded when I was there. I did loudly boo the only beer choice being Mich Ultra and then not being able to switch to grab a pop.

It was much more organized than last year. The only real issue was bag check at Epcot for runners and the beer/wine line as more people finished. I exited the beer/wine line when it was a stand still as I didn't care for the offerings and was very happy to not have a bag.

The only complaint i have is the darn cross over. They really need to work on that. The placement of it is so unsafe as more people come in and cause a massice crowd. I never even made it to World Showcase and just told my party to meet me at Spaceship Earth as I couldn't do the cross over.

 

[Warm Hugs]

I do understand many of your frustrations whether it was supposed to be your first half and you did not a chance to run it, the delay in the race, shortening of the course, or whatever reason.

But please note that a man passed away during the Rock N Roll Savanah. They do not know if the heat or humidity had anything to do with it, but rundisney could have cancelled it all together after hearing this even it if their run was at night.

just please keep things in perspective

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/runner-dies-during-rock-n-roll-marathon-in-georgia/

 

[Miranda]

I thought the finish area was kind of chaotic. I got in the line for what I thought was the changing tents, it was a huge mass of people, and it turns out it was the backed up line for the drinks. I still have no idea where the entrance to the tents were. I just ended up walking around Epcot all night dripping wet because the lines for all the bathrooms were so crowded.

The party was ok... the lines were terrible, and I didn't have it in me to walk over to Soarin', which is all I really wanted to do. I also wanted to take a lap around the countries because we only had walked through Canada/England on the way out the back gate earlier in the day, and I knew that's about all I could do.

I'm bummed, I put my purple cooling towel down somewhere and forgot to pick it back up.

 

[wilkeliza]

I thought the finish area was kind of chaotic. I got in the line for what I thought was the changing tents, it was a huge mass of people, and it turns out it was the backed up line for the drinks. I still have no idea where the entrance to the tents were. I just ended up walking around Epcot all night dripping wet because the lines for all the bathrooms were so crowded.

The party was ok... the lines were terrible, and I didn't have it in me to walk over to Soarin', which is all I really wanted to do. I also wanted to take a lap around the countries because we only had walked through Canada/England on the way out the back gate earlier in the day, and I knew that's about all I could do.

I'm bummed, I put my purple cooling towel down somewhere and forgot to pick it back up.

It was the same line. Once you got to the front men went to the left and women the right. Anyone who wanted the beer line had to go around their gender tent.

 

[Sophie_2003]

I thought the finish area was kind of chaotic. I got in the line for what I thought was the changing tents, it was a huge mass of people, and it turns out it was the backed up line for the drinks. I still have no idea where the entrance to the tents were. I just ended up walking around Epcot all night dripping wet because the lines for all the bathrooms were so crowded.

The party was ok... the lines were terrible, and I didn't have it in me to walk over to Soarin', which is all I really wanted to do. I also wanted to take a lap around the countries because we only had walked through Canada/England on the way out the back gate earlier in the day, and I knew that's about all I could do.

I'm bummed, I put my purple cooling towel down somewhere and forgot to pick it back up.

FYI...for next year, Soarin had short lines (walk on and rode twice in a row at about 1:00 am, I think). And that's where we changed. I can't imagine how you spent the party in your running clothes. But world showcase was a madhouse, I agree there...