Wine and Dine 2015

[BuckeyeBama]

I have no problem with walkers. I guess I don't know how the run/walk method can result in a time below roughly 2:15, which was corral E and forward, but could be mistaken. I also passed a lot of bib numbers way higher than 4000, so it was more a comment on corral hopping. If you are walking though, please don't do it in the middle.

For WDW races I run 1 mile then walk 1 minute. I start this at the race outset. It allows me to make character stops without leg problems. My half marathon pace is a 9 minute mile. My average half marathon finish time over the last 5 years is 1:58.

So, especially at Disney, you will see runners of many paces walking early and often.

 

[Jjphilli]

That's helpful and good to know, thank you.

 

[GreatLakes]

Since someone took the time to look up upcoming races for me, I'll throw this out there too- I found one that I might be able to do on nov 22 in Cleveland. But now I have no idea what to do about training or if that would even be possible. I did 12 miles or more two weeks before wine and dine. Then 7(?) at wine and dine. I'd have this weekend and then the following weekend would be the race. The only thing I can possibly figure is if I somehow get 10 in on Thursday (how on earth that would be possible for me when I can't do morning this week as I'm solo with DS and it gets dark so early) and then taper for 9 days. But is 10 even enough at this point? I don't think I could manage time for more than that. The 12 just seems like it was so long ago.

And I would really have to be on top of my game as this race has 3hour limit unless I want to start early with the walkers and people who think they won't finish in 3 hours (which I have to admit is an interesting concept and I feel like I have to call and verify).

So now I have to figure out if I should just move on as planned, or try to figure out how to squeeze this in (and it is NOT going to be easy since I have new carpet being installed on nov 20 and various appointments on the 21st).

My other thought is that I might go out and run 13.1 miles on my own this weekend on my favorite trail.

The Cleveland Fall Classic? It is a really nice race and very flat. It is a two loop race through a park and put on 100% by a local running group and local volunteers.

I think in your case I'd do a string of 4 - 8 miles runs at this point. You have the long runs in you from training so I think stringing together more frequent short runs to just keep your fitness would be enough to stay in race pace but every runner is different.

 

[jeanigor]

My two cents on the race:
•I was meditating with my ear buds in when I felt the wind change direction and pick up. Then the DJ calmly asked that we proceed with caution to the Stadium or HP Field House. I felt the walk was very ominous and somber.
•Since it was a severe weather issue, why would anyone want/be allowed to go to the stadium? That made zero sense to me. Haven't you all seen the Tower of Terror movie in the library of the Hollywood Hills Hotel?
•Finding the entrance to the corrals was weird for me this year. Both before and after the evacuation. And there was such an onslaught of people rushing the corral gates the two volunteers checking bib, that many people just pushed their way into my corral. I knew at least I belonged there.
•From corral E, I could clearly hear the DJ say the race was shortened, which was fine by me. The alternative would have been canceling it. Which would mean absolutely no Coast to Coast for some folks and loss of Perfect status for others. And it would have meant that all the rearranging we did of our Saturday would have been wasted. If you weren't happy about the shortened course, nobody was holding a gun to your head and forcing you into the corral to start. You could have chosen to get on a spectator bus and be taken to Epcot that way.
•Having taken part in all the Wine & Dine Halfs, I found the lines at the food booths to be extremely manageable this year. I still think the bag check line is a ridiculous mess though.

I have read that many of you want better communication from runDisney about last minute, unexpected changes. I can understand wanting the information, but how do you propose that they get the info out to 14,000 people?

 

[whaler8]

Just back from Disney as well. Congrats to all the runners who finished no matter what the distance was. This was supposed to be my first 1/2 marathon, I was well trained and ready so the delay/shortened course was a disappointment but I understand why and at least it wasn't completely cancelled. With it being shortened I ran a good fast pace and enjoyed it for what it was. I was in corral C and as a result of being up close to the front finished in the top 1400 runners and top 900 men. One of the things I was really disappointed in was that I had ordered at the expo on Friday a nice Wine and Dine shadowbox from Lasting Commemoratives to celebrate my first 1/2. It wasn't inexpensive and so I couldn't help feel a little twinge of buyers remorse when I realized it wasn't going to be a true 1/2 marathon. That being said it was still going to be a memory with quite a story to tell. Well yesterday I got an e-mail from the company that they are giving you the option to customize the shadowbox now so instead of saying the Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon it can say things like Half of a Half Finisher, 10K+ Finisher, Lightning Storm Runner or just plain old Wine and Dine Finisher. I actually thought that was a good move by the company to try to make it a memory of the race you actually ran. So, now the question is what saying would you all choose…???
I'll miss reading this forum now that the race is over, I'm mostly a lurker but read it every day. I am running the Dark Side 1/2 in April so that will now will probably be my first 1/2 marathon unless I run a local one first. I hope to "see" you guys on that forum as well.

whaler8

 

[Belle Ella]

I have read that many of you want better communication from runDisney about last minute, unexpected changes. I can understand wanting the information, but how do you propose that they get the info out to 14,000 people?

I'm definitely in the camp that they did a pretty good job of keeping us informed as they could. Back in G we had to really rely on the word of mouth from people who had access to Facebook and Twitter because the speakers to our corral went out at the first announcement they made.

 

[Ariel484]

Since someone took the time to look up upcoming races for me, I'll throw this out there too- I found one that I might be able to do on nov 22 in Cleveland. But now I have no idea what to do about training or if that would even be possible. I did 12 miles or more two weeks before wine and dine. Then 7(?) at wine and dine. I'd have this weekend and then the following weekend would be the race. The only thing I can possibly figure is if I somehow get 10 in on Thursday (how on earth that would be possible for me when I can't do morning this week as I'm solo with DS and it gets dark so early) and then taper for 9 days. But is 10 even enough at this point? I don't think I could manage time for more than that. The 12 just seems like it was so long ago.

And I would really have to be on top of my game as this race has 3hour limit unless I want to start early with the walkers and people who think they won't finish in 3 hours (which I have to admit is an interesting concept and I feel like I have to call and verify).

So now I have to figure out if I should just move on as planned, or try to figure out how to squeeze this in (and it is NOT going to be easy since I have new carpet being installed on nov 20 and various appointments on the 21st).

My other thought is that I might go out and run 13.1 miles on my own this weekend on my favorite trail.

I'm nosy and looked up the race you're talking about - I've done that one twice. Piece of advice, pay attention to the slopes on the roads that you will be running on (if you do decide to do that race). The first year I didn't and got crazy IT Band pain. The second year I paid better attention and had no pain and a PR. It's a really pretty course, it goes through the park system. Lots of fall foliage and whatnot.

I agree with @GreatLakes suggestion. I also think you ARE correctly understanding how they start the race (walkers going first). I remember that from past years.

I started following this thread about 3 wks ago after returning from this years Int'l F&W fest for my 40th bday. I convinced myself to take my 5k'ing to a new level next year and run the WD 1/2 (it is my excuse to go back again next year). But now I'm scared after reading about this year and also the weather last year sounded almost as bad. I guess i have until....what.....March to decide??? How quickly did this race fill up? When you all registered was it a classic case of Disney register THE MINUTE registration opens?? I don't wanna psych myself up and then totally forget to register in time. I'm glad you all got on here and posted your after race thoughts....it is helpful for those of us that have never done a Disney race before to decide if we should give it a try or not!!

It sold out crazy fast...I wanna say it was full in 30 minutes or less.

 

[Miranda]

Got home super late last night and finally had a chance to look at the official results. So many high numbers in the top few pages of finishers... the female winner was in the 9000's! There is no way those people ran those times from the corral they were supposed to be in.

 

[SunDial]

I did snap the radar pic from 8:39 and knew we were going to be in a little trouble. Living in Florida we know how our storms can quickly pop up and disappear just as fast. The storm below was not on the radar at 7pm when I left POP Century. This was moving north northeast at a decent clip.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Got home super late last night and finally had a chance to look at the official results. So many high numbers in the top few pages of finishers... the female winner was in the 9000's! There is no way those people ran those times from the corral they were supposed to be in.

She won the women's race; she belonged in the first corral. World class and near-world-class athletes can, for the most part, just show up. It's good publicity, and yes there is an elite class and the rest of the herd. It's fairly common practice in all races.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

There were people with high bib numbers and stickers to give them a higher corral. She very well could have been one of those.

 

[Miranda]

She won the women's race; she belonged in the first corral. World class and near-world-class athletes can, for the most part, just show up. It's good publicity, and yes there is an elite class and the rest of the herd. It's fairly common practice in all races.

Yeah, I mean, obviously the people with the high numbers that came in near the beginning (like the 5th person was in the 14,000's) deserved to be in the front corral based on their speed. By the corral they were supposed to be in, I meant, the one they were assigned to. But...

There were people with high bib numbers and stickers to give them a higher corral. She very well could have been one of those.

... I didn't realize they did this, which makes sense. I was thinking that it was corral jumpers who went up there.

 

[flvy]

Peoplw can run faster than their corrals... I was in the back and there were PLENTY of people who should have been up near C/D complaining they had forgot their pof to get higher

 

[PrincessV]

I don't have time to read 20+ pages to catch up, so I don't know if the rampant online drama from the weekend is here, too - and TBH I'd rather not know, anyway.

Speaking as a Floridian of 20+ years, rD made the right call. And I was beyond impressed with how well they managed to move so many of us to safety. FWIW, I was getting text alerts on my phone to "take shelter" within 5 minutes of the wind picking up - this wasn't just an abundance of caution on Disney's part, but proper protocol for what could have been a nasty weather event. I wound up in the Field House and felt we got plenty of communication, given the fluidity of the situation and the need for last-minute changes.

In the end, I ran with great friends and we had a ton of fun! I feel for those who are disappointed; I think that's an entirely valid feeling, even if the circumstances were out of our control.

 

[Pleglech]

There were a few people in A with high bib #s that were legit and were stickered up. They belonged there.
That said, there were no true elites at W&D and RunDisney doesn't comp sub elites -- especially not on the spot (from what I've seen, it seems like they do set aside some Corral A spots for New Balance and possibly Track Shack ... I tried to keep up with the New Balance women two years ago and got absolutely burnt).

 

[Figment1990]

I don't have time to read 20+ pages to catch up, so I don't know if the rampant online drama from the weekend is here, too - and TBH I'd rather not know, anyway.

Speaking as a Floridian of 20+ years, rD made the right call. And I was beyond impressed with how well they managed to move so many of us to safety. FWIW, I was getting text alerts on my phone to "take shelter" within 5 minutes of the wind picking up - this wasn't just an abundance of caution on Disney's part, but proper protocol for what could have been a nasty weather event. I wound up in the Field House and felt we got plenty of communication, given the fluidity of the situation and the need for last-minute changes.

In the end, I ran with great friends and we had a ton of fun! I feel for those who are disappointed; I think that's an entirely valid feeling, even if the circumstances were out of our control.

Hi V! I think if you ever get a chance to read the last 20 pages, you will be pleasantly surprised. Generally the feeling is "Disappointed but Disney can't control the weather" acceptance. The biggest criticism I've seen is about the communication and probably corrals. I'm not sure how you were getting text alerts from Disney, but would love to know for the future. My communication issues were more about when they announced that it was going to be a "modified course." For a bit, they just left it at that - not how it was modified (either specifically by street or by mileage). they did come back and explain, but it was kinda like, "Okay....." For those of us who didn't have our phones with us, have old phones that were trying to conserve battery, or just simply aren't on FB or Twitter, we didn't get the message electronically and only hear the announcement.

I do have to say that I thought they did a good job with the loud speaker outside the stadium on the way in. More of that on the way out would have been nice. I would have appreciated some sort of timing of when they would be letting us into the corrals and aiming to start the race or anything to avoid people panicking and rushing through the trees at the corrals. That was nuts! Plus there was the holding at the corral entrance to begin with. I was confused - wondering if they were contemplating us being able to run it after all. I think that was what most people were talking about, at least that's what I was talking about with the communication. That and the general feeling that they really thought we were all there just to get to the after-party. Obviously they can't control the weather and for something so fluid and such a huge number of moving parts (14000 runners, plus spectators, plus volunteers, busses, characters, photographers, timing mats, etc) - I do think they did a good job.

Actually, in general, aside from the weather/delayed start - I was confused as to the corral entrance (for A-F) compared to 2012 & 2013. Perhaps they had plans for more volunteers that would have made things more visible had we not all been in such a hurry. But I prefer the staging area set up from prior years.

 

[Miranda]

Peoplw can run faster than their corrals... I was in the back and there were PLENTY of people who should have been up near C/D complaining they had forgot their pof to get higher

Well next time they hopefully won't forget. I didn't realize they did stickers, so I have no complaints about the people who were in the front corrals with legit stickers, only the ones who thought they could go up there on their own because they deserved to be there even though they didn't follow the rules/instructions.

I am also a little sour on the people who like to loudly complain about others in their corrals who are slower than them. I heard several sets of them on Saturday night, and some at Tinker Bell earlier this year, too. It seems like the ones that I see/hear are always pairs of 20-something women, dressed in tutus and tiaras, who are loudly snarking about other people around them in the corral and their fitness levels or the fact that the other people were walking and how they deserve to be in front of THOSE people.

It was just another thing that reduced the fun of the night, listening to those women snark. I submitted my 2:53 proof of time just like every one else and was given a spot in that corral, and I don't deserve to be made to feel bad because I am not as fast or because I do run/walk.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Ok so in all of this I totally forgot to use my gift card. When does it expire, thinking of running up to Disney Store here at home to just use it.

 

[flvy]

@Miranda I said it a few times now. But honestly all the complaining by other runners is what ruined this for me. I'm talking the obnoxious level not the mostly normal and rational feelings that we've expressed here.

The woman I wanted to slap on the bus on the way back (and ended up verbally doing so) had such a sense of crazy entitlement and was complaining loudly about people who are not fit running the race and that if it was a real half they all would have gotten swept. Naturally even though my pace was over 16 that made me feel like dirt so when she started to harass the bus driver I put an end to it. This was an obviously older women too who should have known better.

I suppose there will always be people like that. As for me Disney races will always be fun races. I'm not going to focus on a PR I'll just be enjoying myself and getting amazing Disney medals.

 

[roxymama]

Well next time they hopefully won't forget. I didn't realize they did stickers, so I have no complaints about the people who were in the front corrals with legit stickers, only the ones who thought they could go up there on their own because they deserved to be there even though they didn't follow the rules/instructions.

I am also a little sour on the people who like to loudly complain about others in their corrals who are slower than them. I heard several sets of them on Saturday night, and some at Tinker Bell earlier this year, too. It seems like the ones that I see/hear are always pairs of 20-something women, dressed in tutus and tiaras, who are loudly snarking about other people around them in the corral and their fitness levels or the fact that the other people were walking and how they deserve to be in front of THOSE people.

It was just another thing that reduced the fun of the night, listening to those women snark. I submitted my 2:53 proof of time just like every one else and was given a spot in that corral, and I don't deserve to be made to feel bad because I am not as fast or because I do run/walk.

Total thread lurker popping in because I like hearing about races after they happen. I can't help but chime in on why I dislike people who complain about someone being slower or faster in that single moment when you cross paths on a race course and this is why...unless you run the entire race next to those people you really don't know how fast they will be on average over time.
I used to go out waaaay too fast and then bonk and run slower in my end miles. Does that make me faster on mile 1 than someone who keeps a very consistent pace the entire time and finishes at the same time as me? Maybe in that one single moment in time I was faster and they were "in my way" but I bet some of them passed me at mile 3 or something when I settled down. Same thing as when I tried to teach myself to start out slow and ease back up. I bet I pissed some people off and then we all finished around the same average pace. That's why I've tried to not be impatient with people. I've spent a lot of time thinking about these things since I'm still such a newbie to running this year. Now, if you are in a corral that you shouldn't be in and you are getting in the way...that is not helpful to anyone. The above is mostly to say that you may think someone is slow but based on their average pace they are where they should be.