Wine/Dine race (5k and half marathon) thoughts

[rutgers1]

Just got back home after a very nice weekend in Florida. I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never gone down for such a short time. We arrived after midnight on Friday and left today. However, despite the limited time frame, we had a blast.

Here are my quick thoughts about the races:

5K: We fell asleep around 1:30AM and were up at 5AM to start heading over to the start. Despite being half asleep, my two sons and my wife ran the race while I waited. They said that it was fun, but everyone agreed that there wasn't enough time spent in the park. According to their report, the 5K participants spent less time in Animal Kingdom than the half marathon participants. If that is the case, that stinks. My wife said that a chunk of the race took them a bit "behind the scenes" to areas that she didn't want to see because they kind of broke the magic a wee bit (the not so nice storage areas...garbage dumpsters...etc.). Yet despite that, everyone crossed the finish line with a smile, and my youngest son (age 11) immediately asked if we could come back for the Everest race.

Half Marathon: I arrived to the bust stop when I was told, 7PM, and I think we were at the field by 7:30.....or was it 6:00 and arriving at 6:30. Either way, it seemed like I was on the field for hours. Luckily, the weather was nice, music was playing, and everyone was in a great mood. I just chilled and "people watched" until the start.

Disney put on a great half marathon. There was something to see every mile, and when we were running down a stretch with nothing "official" to see, there were always runners nearby wearing costumes. This was my second half marathon, and time seemed to go by MUCH faster thanks to the things to see along the way (characters, DJ, band, parade floats). A significant amount of time was spent in both Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and the after party in Epcot was excellent.

If you are considering going down to Disney for a race, I highly recommend it. It is pricey, but worth it.

Here is a photo of me crossing the finish line.

 

[Tabetha]

Thanks for the review - how great that your whole family got involved!
I'd love to do this race next year.

Which parts of Disney Studios and AK did you go through?

 

[stasijane]

Cute picture!! Glad your family had good race weekend. I did the half last year and loved it. I decided to do the TOT this year so I had to skip the Wine and Dine, but have already decided that I wont miss it next year!

 

[Mac4life30]

I took part in the half and had a blast. This was my first half ever and I am glad I chose Disney. I finished in 2:27 and didnt walk once. I did stop briefly to get a few pictures here and there. I also "ran" into the bathroom at the Studios. I guess these races you either do them for time or you dont. I was somewhere in between. The only character pic I took was with the Hippo from SpectroMagic (Fantasia Scene), because they did not have a line. My one issue which I already mentioned was with "walkers" I dont mind people walking heck I am surprised I was not. I am proud of everyone who participated!! I just wish people who walked could stay on one side and let runners run on the other side. I also wish people did not walk in "groups" making it hard to get around them. Other then that I cant wait to run another Disney Run.

 

[wiigirl]

Thanks for the review!

 

[Nole95]

I took part in the half and had a blast. This was my first half ever and I am glad I chose Disney. I finished in 2:27 and didnt walk once. I did stop briefly to get a few pictures here and there. I also "ran" into the bathroom at the Studios. I guess these races you either do them for time or you dont. I was somewhere in between. The only character pic I took was with the Hippo from SpectroMagic (Fantasia Scene), because they did not have a line. My one issue which I already mentioned was with "walkers" I dont mind people walking heck I am surprised I was not. I am proud of everyone who participated!! I just wish people who walked could stay on one side and let runners run on the other side. I also wish people did not walk in "groups" making it hard to get around them. Other then that I cant wait to run another Disney Run.

Agree about the walkers. No problem with them, but walkers are supposed to stay to the right and not walk more than a couple abreast. That was not happening in certain areas. I think a simple announcement prior to the start of each corral reminding people of this might go a long way.

Other than that, the race was a fun time. I did not run as good a time as I wanted to for my first half, so I might just have to come back next year and do it again.

 

[cewait]

Nice reports…

Though, I just want to say no, there is no rule saying walkers should stay right. Actually, in the old school days, slower runners were encouraged to run course center – keeping the tangents open to a faster runner who may be moving through. Today, I would suggest that slower runners and walkers should keep their line and stay no more than 2 abreast and even think about going single file in tight areas. Also, walkers are not the only folks moving along the course in packs. Runners are just as oblivious to the no pack rule and in many ways, worse. In fact, Disney actually allows the largest rolling roadblocks through the pace group program.

As I talk with my folks, I encourage them to keep a constant line, avoid the very edge of a course as there is a single file lane that is heavily used (on both sides of the road), do not crowd into the tangent (inner radius) of a corner and if a run/walker, signal an upcoming walk break and stay no more than 2 wide.

 

[jmasgat]

Love your picture....nice vertical leap!

Maura

 

[rutgers1]

Our family is running a race in each state, and of course we had to do Disney as our Florida race. After running in Pennsylvania this weekend, we will have covered 10 states. Our plan is to hit Alaska and Hawaii (DVC) last.

I didn't see any walkers, as I got into the "A" group. I think the walkers probably knew they were walking and started further back. Yet I have done races (Tunnel to Towers) where walking was an issue, and during that race I really wished that they had a plan for the walkers.

 

[ludari]

I also enjoy participating in RunDisney races. I am happy to report that completing the Wine and Dine Half accomplished my goal of running all the Disney Halfs for 2012. I also completed nearly all the 5Ks with the exception of missing only one. Here's a picture of me at the Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5K in my Wreck-it Ralph costume.

[/IMG]

 

[Qltrgrl2]

My daughter and I ran the Wine and Dine Half Marathon and attended the Jeff Galloway rundisney meetup on Friday morning. We wrote a recap on our blog of the event if you are interested in seeing it: http://www.werundisney.com/2012/11/rundisney-meetup-with-jeff-galloway.html

We thought the half marathon was well run. However, despite being in corral B, there were many slow runners and we were weaving alot in the first few miles to have a clear path. As usual, Disney provided great course support and entertainment. We can't wait to go back in January for race weekend!

 

[sunshinecruise]

Ludari, I am so glad you posted that picture. I was running in the Jingle Jungle 5k with my dh and I saw you run over to Rafiki. I asked my dh if he saw you, but he hadn't been looking that way.

When we got home I told my sons that I saw a man dressed as Wreck-It-Ralph at the race and they wanted to know what you looked like. (We all saw the movie last week and liked it a lot.)

It is nice to be able to show your picture to my dh and my boys. Thanks for posting.

 

[ludari]

Ludari, I am so glad you posted that picture. I was running in the Jingle Jungle 5k with my dh and I saw you run over to Rafiki. I asked my dh if he saw you, but he hadn't been looking that way.

When we got home I told my sons that I saw a man dressed as Wreck-It-Ralph at the race and they wanted to know what you looked like. (We all saw the movie last week and liked it a lot.)

It is nice to be able to show your picture to my dh and my boys. Thanks for posting.

Your welcomed. I had so many people ask to take my picture which I really appreciate and enjoy.

 

[Jousey]

I took part in the half and had a blast. This was my first half ever and I am glad I chose Disney. I finished in 2:27 and didnt walk once. I did stop briefly to get a few pictures here and there. I also "ran" into the bathroom at the Studios. I guess these races you either do them for time or you dont. I was somewhere in between. The only character pic I took was with the Hippo from SpectroMagic (Fantasia Scene), because they did not have a line. My one issue which I already mentioned was with "walkers" I dont mind people walking heck I am surprised I was not. I am proud of everyone who participated!! I just wish people who walked could stay on one side and let runners run on the other side. I also wish people did not walk in "groups" making it hard to get around them. Other then that I cant wait to run another Disney Run.

Congrads on the time and great tha tyou choose a RunDisney Event to do it.
I agree with the walkers being more aware. I think part of it is the walker friendly events Disney puts on and the "newness" of some of the people taking part. I have seen much better coralling of the walkers at other events.

Agree about the walkers. No problem with them, but walkers are supposed to stay to the right and not walk more than a couple abreast. That was not happening in certain areas. I think a simple announcement prior to the start of each corral reminding people of this might go a long way.

Other than that, the race was a fun time. I did not run as good a time as I wanted to for my first half, so I might just have to come back next year and do it again.

I think they could make an anouncement but it may not mean anything since the people in the corral at the start are looking around and taking picture, a note in the final race instructions could help but as a poster put earlier there is no offical ruling as to were walkers should go.