Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon (and DL Half)

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

Yep, that's an accurate list. Right now I'm in Corral B, but I might see if I can get moved up at the Expo. A friend of mine who is also running is in Corral A, and since registration I've gotten a time that's about the same as what he used (1:57ish), so I might see what they can do. It's not every day that I have the chance to wind up in the first corral of a really big race like this!

Then again, I also have a friend who is a first timer, and she'll be walking the whole thing, starting from one of the back corrals. Depending how things go, I may start back there. I'd like to try to push for a PR, but I don't know if I can do it from the back of the pack, with the windy course through the parks early on; at least I wouldn't go too fast at the beginning and burn out early!

 

Originally Posted By sunNrainfall

Yeah, the disney courses are hard to PR on All my fastest times have been in a proper road race. I know you're familiar with the course, but my opinion is take it easy through the parks, do just under your goal pace, and then pick it up when you get out of the parks and you should be fine. I want to break 1:50, but I think it will have to wait for LARNR in October. I'm not feeling as fit as I should be right now for a race. My training has been sporadic and I'm only running at about a 8:40-8:45 pace right now. I think this will be a training run for me. I'll shoot for sub-2 and I'll be happy.

One good thing for your friend - she will PR no matter what! hehe.

 

Originally Posted By VickiHD

We're heading down tomorrow so I wanted to wish everyone a great race on Sunday.

 

Originally Posted By -em

We head out Friday Morning

Pulled some muscle in my back that I pray gets feeling better by Sunday or itll be an interesting race...

Have fun everyone

-em

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

Heading out today after work, and going to the Jeff Galloway meet-up early tomorrow morning! I'm pretty excited to be back at DL and have a chance to check out all the new stuff

 

Originally Posted By sunNrainfall

Safe travels everyone! Have fun! I'm local so I won't be traveling, but still getting excited for the race!

Ferret-Have you gone to the Galloway meet-up before? I haven't been, but I'm curious about it. If you don't mind, would you report back? I've spoken to him several times at expos and I think he's an amazing running resource.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

This was my first meet-up, and it was a lot of fun! We met at the Disneyland hotel, where we were given runDisney shirts, and then Jeff led us on a run through DTD and the parks, which we did at a :30/:30 run/walk pace, and it ended in the Backlot at DCA.

We got there a little sooner than expected, so we waited around for a few minutes, and were then let into the Animation Academy, where there were several speakers. One of the runDisney heads talked for a few minutes about what defines a Disney race, and then answered questions from the audience (no plans to make Dopey official, looking for more races at ALL Disney parks worldwide). Jeff Galloway then spoke, talking about recovering from breaking his hip in March, and answering a lot of training questions from the group. Then there were two women who wrote a couple popular books and keep a blog about running as a mother, with Q&A to follow. We were running short on time, so Olympian Suzy Favor-Hamilton told her story quickly (she's gone through some really incredible stuff, and is a great person all around!), followed by leading the audience in the most hysterical dancing I've ever been a part of.

After that, we headed over to Flo's for breakfast, and got there just before the hotel guests were let into the park. While we were waiting in line to order, we saw them get escorted in, which was kind of fun. By the time we were eating out on the back deck, they were already on RSR. We then posed for a group picture under the big stone arch by the Pacific Wharf.

We then walked over to Soarin' and were split into two groups. One group got on the ride, and the other walked down a set of stairs, and went behind the screen. We got to watch the ride operate from back there (you can see through the perforated aluminum screen), and listen to the huge speakers up close. It was an awesome experience as a Disney nerd, and really cool to get a chance to see some of the inner workings. After that, the two groups switched places, so everybody got a chance to ride and see the backstage stuff.

We were then led out to the Esplanade around 9:30, and were let out on our own for the rest of the day. It was an awesome experience, and definitely a really fun way to get to see all the changes to the resort in the last few months. I really enjoyed getting to hear the speakers, since several of them brought up things that I'd never even considered before. The speakers were also at the Expo, so people had the chance to talk with them there.

Here's a link to the photos from the official photographer. I took some too, but they aren't nearly as good (or comprehensive), and I probably won't have a chance to put them up for a couple more weeks. I'm the one in the maroon shorts.
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/bv28c7z" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/bv28c7z</a>

I hope everybody did well this weekend, and isn't too sore! I managed to get a PR (by 12 seconds, but I'll take it!), and really enjoyed seeing the tweaks to the course this year. I'm not sure if I'll be back out there next year, but it was a fun weekend!

 

Originally Posted By sunNrainfall

Wow! That sounds really cool! I didn't realize you got to do all that other stuff - breakfast, ride, behind the scenes stuff, too. Very cool. Maybe I'll try to get entered for that for tink. I heard Suzy Faver-Hamilton during the expo - I agree, very interesting woman. I got to speak with Galloway briefly at the expo. I always try to chat with him, since he's so knowledgeable. Very approachable and sincere. Such an inspiration and great motivator/coach.

Did they mention any more west coast races?

This year's race seemed to run more smoothly to me for some reason. I can't figure out why. It wasn't my fastest race, but something just seemed better to me-and I've done all of them. I didn't like the silly box at the end. I would rather have the old set up with bagels, etc. I finished just over 2 hours flat. A little slow, was hoping to be closer to 1:55. oh well! When I finished, I turned back and headed to mile 10 to walk my mom the rest of the way in. I wasn't thinking, because I ended up logging a little over 20 miles. Oops.

I'm ready for year 8 next year!!!!

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

They didn't specifically mention any new DLR races, but they heavily implied that they were working on something. Between talking about how they're developing new races for all Disney Parks, how quickly Tink and DL sell out, and that DL was the speaker's personal favorite race, I think we'll likely see another race in the next year or two.

I also agree about the food box. While I really appreciated how much quicker and easier it was to just have a volunteer hand me a box and go, I was really disappointed with the contents of the box. The crackers were really all that I wanted (would have preferred a bagel), but the portion size was pretty small, so they didn't do much. The other items were nice, but didn't really compare to getting an orange or Clif bar. I'm kind of worried, since the Marine Corps Marathon website says they're using boxes from the same company, and I know I'm going to want a whole lot more food after running a full!

My other big complaint about the weekend was the ART shuttle. While I know that they claim to run every 20 minutes, my line ran about every 30 minutes, which just isn't practical to get to and from a hotel. After the race, we made the long walk over to Harbor Blvd and waited nearly 45 minutes for a bus with our number to come. By that time, there were over 60 other people waiting for the same bus, and the one that showed up was one of the mini-buses, like a rental car shuttle. One of the drivers finally decided to switch routes (which we all saw him get yelled at for by his boss) and take us to our hotel. Since we had waited for our friend to finish, and walked all the way over there, it would have been faster to simply drive back from M&F, but I had such a bad experience last year with the road closures that I thought the shuttle would be faster.

Needless to say, I was pretty grumpy by the time the bus finally showed up, and most of the others were in similar moods. If Disney wants to advertise the ART shuttles as part of the weekend's features, they need to make sure that they're running consistently. In the time we waited Sunday morning, routes 1, 4, and 5 each came by 3 times, and most other routes came by at least twice. Compared to the fantastic bus service for WDW Marathon Weekend, I couldn't belive how abysmal this was. It was bad enough that I'm having serious questions about returning to run DL1/2 next year

 

Originally Posted By sunNrainfall

Awesome! I really hope a new race is on its way. While the price tag for Disney races are ridiculous. I still get suckered into running them. haha

What is the name of the company who put together the boxes? I was trying to find out more info. All i ate was the crackers, too! Oh and those jelly bean things. I needed a bagel to fill up my stomach and absorb all the fluids I had been taking in.

The transportation issues sound horrible, especially after a race when you are tired. I wonder if enough people complain (and I know a lot of people were), Disney will have more say in how Anaheim runs those shuttles.

When is the MCM? I don't know anyone who's run that race?

 

Originally Posted By VickiHD

Glad everyone had a good race. It was more organized than past years. I actually ran it sick...no fever but head and chest cold, overall feeling miserable. It was not much fun at all but I don't hold it against RunDisney. Personally, I'm glad I finished and considering how I was feeling. I guess you never know when your going to get sick. But I really believe my consistent training got me through.

 

Originally Posted By sunNrainfall

Vicki-you're right! training always gets you through and you still did it! hope you're feeling better now! that really stinks you got sick. In 07, I had the cold, and for tink - broke my toe a few days before the race. ya just never know. :/

At least I'm not the only one who thought it was more organized. I couldn't figure out why, it just felt like everything ran more smoothly.

 

Originally Posted By Kidz-n-k9s

<< I couldn't figure out why, it just felt like everything ran more smoothly.>>

For the price, I would hope so!

 

Originally Posted By VickiHD

sunNrainfall--You are so right about race day. I guess I always took it for granted that nothing bad or unexpected would happen before a race.
Well-that's not the case anymore. I am going to do my best avoid any winter illnesses before Tink and Princess. I'm also going to step up my training and hope for PR's for both.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

Just a head's up: runDisney has announced the prices for DL1/2 in 2013...the lowest price is $175! That's a $25 jump from last year. I really don't know if I can justify the experience at that price point (and I'm one of the ones who has shelled out over $300 for Goofy without batting an eye...twice, and with the intention to do it again!). It's a nice race, but I can't think of any half marathon that is worth $175, unless they give you a handful of diamonds at the finish line.

 

Originally Posted By Kidz-n-k9s

Wow!! I skipped 2012 because of the $150, but then felt left out and considered adding it back in for 2013. But not for $175 for a half marathon!! And without diamonds!! Boo!!! Hiss!!

Sadly, it will sell out and 2014 will be $200....

 

Originally Posted By sunNrainfall

$175!!!! :O I can't understand that. The LA Marathon isn't even that expensive. The worst part is, I'm going to pay that, as a legacy runner (and my longest legacy race), I'm suckered in. That's insane. Maybe we can request diamonds be included in the (not-so) goodie bag

Almost a month until Tink! Yay! Leaving for an 8 mile run, weather is great!

 

Originally Posted By sunNrainfall

Just checked out the page, it's ONLY $175 for less than a month, then it goes up to $190. I don't know who thought that was a good idea

 

Originally Posted By -em

I saw the price increase for Everest (which is insane!) but didn't think to check DLR..

Wow. That's crazy..

I haven't decided if I want to do DLR this year but as much as I like the race I'm finding some local races just as fun (and half the cost!)that I may sit this one out..

Finished a 17 mile run yesterday so countdown is on!

-em

 

Originally Posted By VickiHD

I just can't let another $25 more stop me for doing it, so DH and I will sign up as soon as reg. opens. I just might not spend as much $$ at the expo.
I sort of feel I'm in a "disfunctional relationship" with RunDisney and Disney, the more they charge I pay. I guess I'm just used to it due to the $$$$ increase in AP's.

Can't wait for Tink !!!!! Doing my best to keep my training up during this busy holiday time. Hope everyone avoids getting sick during these last few weeks of training.