Originally Posted By gaston lives I signed up for the WDW half marathon, and I'm wondering what to expect along the course? I live in and train in Colorado at 6200+ feet above sea level. I am not worried about making the distance in my time goal (less than 1:50:00), but I'm curious as to what to expect as far as course entertainment and things of that matter. Anybody run this thing?
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I'm not sure exactly which half marathon we are talking about there are so many these days at WDW. Here is the website of the WDW marathon and half marathon. <a href="http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/wdw-marathon" target="_blank">http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/...marathon</a> I'm sure it will answer many of your questions.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper It isn't the heat at that hour...it is the humidity. There are long stretches of "nothingness" in between parks but they do break that up a lot by bringing in local bands and other entertainment to keep your mind busy along the route. My wife did the reverse. She trained in South Florida for the Nike Women's in San Fran and wasn't prepared for the cold and the hills.
Originally Posted By gaston lives I'm doing the half in january of 2012. not the wine and dine. I usually run the bolder boulder and other mountainous courses. I saw a relief map of the WDW course and it said it only changes 117 feet overall on the course. My normal traning courses change between 400-600 feet within a few shorter miles (4-6)...it will truly be a first running in that type of environment for me. when I used to come down to WDW and play golf, the toughest thing was the humidity making your clothes feel about 10lbs heavier than normal, that took it's toll.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Well, it can get downright cold in Orlando in January. I was in town the weekend of the event this year and I remember wearing a jacket and then hearing from friends who ran how cold they were. (Friends from Florida...so "cold" is a bit subjective in our case.)
Originally Posted By gaston lives great...don't feel like running wearing a coat...I have and will if needed, but dang, 13.1 miles in layers sucks.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom The only other advise I would give is that it looks like the half marathon begins in the Magic Kingdom. What many people choose to do is to stay at one of the nearby hotels. Many people choose to stay at the Wilderness Lodge since it's a boat ride away. Disney will be shutting down roads while the marathons are going on. The half marathon is ( I believe ) Saturday and the full marathon is ( I believe Sunday ). roads will be shut down. During the full marathon all the roads will be shut down. That means the only transportation running ( till afternoon ) will be the boats and monorails. Hense why wise people stay with boat access or monorail access or with walking access to one of the parks. You will NOT be able to access DAK.
Originally Posted By gaston lives The route says it starts and ends at Epcot...unless they've changed it, which they could easily do.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I realize that the site says the half marathon begins and ends at Epcot. But, if you read the description of the race it says the half marathon begins at the MK and ends at Epcot. I'm trying to find the distance between MK and Epcot. Could be the half marathon begins at Epcot goes up to MK and back to Epcot.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm signed up for the Goofy (half on Saturday and full on Sunday), and it looks like in the past, the half has been from Epcot to MK and back. I'm not sure, but it may also take a trip through the Studios. The full makes its way through all four parks, with only one part that's just out and back on the same road, though there are several laps through Epcot at the beginning and end of the race.
Originally Posted By Kevin Flynn It's an easy half. You will do fine. There is LOTS of entertainment along the route. Usually for the half, you park at Epcot, ride a bus to MK, and then run thru Studios back to Epcot. The Wine and Dine route is different. In it, you start at Epcot, run to Animal Kingdom, then back thru Studios, along the Boardwalk (Beach Club side) and into Epcot's back gate. As for running in FLorida during Jan. It will be a DREAM for you. Training at high altitude, as you already know, is super. The only thing better is to train at high altitude and live at low altitude, which is pretty hard to do. Anyway, I digress. You will have a blast and if you are going sub 2 hours, look for lots of people who have no business trying a half to get in your way. They don't bother me, as I don't take the Disney Half seriously. It's a "just for fun" race, but it is SUPER organized, incredibly entertaining, and at MUST DO for any runner. Good luck and enjoy. You will be very happy you did this one.
Originally Posted By Kevin Flynn Put it this way: Lots of water and sports drinks Lots of bathrooms Lots of entertainment Lots of open flat road Lots of support and at the end... LOTS OF FOOD, AND HARDWARE MAN (MEDALS)! What more do you want?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I ran the Key West Fantasy Fest Mile a few years ago and they had free beer at the end of the run. THAT is what more you could want.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt I'm going to Key West next winter, not to run just to party & I CANT WAIT!! Good Luck Gastonlives!!
Originally Posted By wahooskipper You need the beer because some of the things you see at Fantasy Fest make you want to dull your senses.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I ran the Key West Fantasy Fest Mile a few years ago and they had free beer at the end of the run. THAT is what more you could want. << I'm going outside, and start my training now!
