Marathon Weekend 2023

[mmm_texas]

I've given it a day and I'm still not a fan of the medals. I don't know if it's just glare, but it looks like the purple paint already rubbed off on the Dopey medal in the photo. I think they totally screwed up the marathon medal. The design is awful. It's a giant number 30 and if I didn't know better I'd think it was for a 30 mile race at first glance. I'm trying to figure out if the half is a guitar with a guitar pick in the back....a bowtie....????

I assume the bowtie is a tie-in to Donald Duck....

 

[runningDisneygirl]

I've given it a day and I'm still not a fan of the medals. I don't know if it's just glare, but it looks like the purple paint already rubbed off on the Dopey medal in the photo. I think they totally screwed up the marathon medal. The design is awful. It's a giant number 30 and if I didn't know better I'd think it was for a 30 mile race at first glance. I'm trying to figure out if the half is a guitar with a guitar pick in the back....a bowtie....????

I feel you! I am so so disappointed. Feels like a huge budget cut item. Hopefully the shirts will be cuter

 

[Herding_Cats]

I feel you! I am so so disappointed. Feels like a huge budget cut item. Hopefully the shirts will be cuter

It’s 90s themed. Is cute even a possibility?

 

[MissLiss279]

I’m okay with the medals. I agree with whoever said it that I’m not a big fan of the full color medals. They do fit the theme!

I actually like the marathon medal. It reminds me of the 10 year Goofy medal - that was my first runDisney year. I ran the half, but seeing that medal on others afterwards, I really liked it!

 

[matt and beth]

I’m okay with the medals. I agree with whoever said it that I’m not a big fan of the full color medals. They do fit the theme!

I actually like the marathon medal. It reminds me of the 10 year Goofy medal - that was my first runDisney year. I ran the half, but seeing that medal on others afterwards, I really liked it!

I don’t mind the marathon medal either. If they could just round the 3 to look like a Mickey head they’d be pretty sweet

 

[luv2cheer92]

I’m okay with the medals. I agree with whoever said it that I’m not a big fan of the full color medals. They do fit the theme!

I actually like the marathon medal. It reminds me of the 10 year Goofy medal - that was my first runDisney year. I ran the half, but seeing that medal on others afterwards, I really liked it!

2015 Goofy was my first rD experience! Most people seemed to love the giant 10 on that medal.

 

[Jason Bryer]

Right now I'm registered for the 5k, half, and marathon separately, so I will only get half the medals. I'm trying to stay positive though I am still very bitter about registration day (I was there and had everything in my car before being closed out plus multiple terse responses from runDisney). However, my 8 year old say the Pluto medal and was super excited (he is running that race too). My older son (who will turn 16 on the day of the half) is also excited for that medal. So I think I am back to being excited.

 

[jrsharp21]

Not a big fan of the medals either. The Pluto 5k is my favorite, followed by the Dopey. Hoping the shirts are much better. Least favorite is the Goofy. That design in trying to mimic those shutter glasses takes away from the medal. Hopefully the swag at the expo will be a little better. But after the great medal designs from last year and the swag at the expo not so exciting, don't have a ton of hope for the 2023 runs. But oh well. More money to spend in the parks.

 

[Garthas]

I'm not such a fan of the medals either, but couldn't quite figured out why. Then I showed my wife the marathon medal and the first thing she said was "It looks like you ran 30 miles". And then it clicked. The marathon medal, for example, is all about DISNEY'S 30th--so much so that it overshadows the RUNNER'S achievement of running a marathon that day. I think medals should celebrate that particular event first and foremost and then the theming should add a little variety secondarily to that. I loved the 2022 medals for example. Anyway, its not a big deal and in no way should detract from the excitement of the event itself.

 

[kps7795]

I'm not such a fan of the medals either, but couldn't quite figured out why. Then I showed my wife the marathon medal and the first thing she said was "It looks like you ran 30 miles". And then it clicked. The marathon medal, for example, is all about DISNEY'S 30th--so much so that it overshadows the RUNNER'S achievement of running a marathon that day. I think medals should celebrate that particular event first and foremost and then the theming should add a little variety secondarily to that. I loved the 2022 medals for example. Anyway, its not a big deal and in no way should detract from the excitement of the event itself.

Your wife is right. Nowhere on the medal does it read "30 Years."

 

[Ariel484]

It often takes a long time to get used to them not being around anymore. The tough part of having pets.

That is definitely something I am continuing to struggle with. I guess it has only been a week though. The house still feels weird without him, which makes sense since he was with us for 12 years.

I will say: I think these medals have inspired me in settling on a running outfit for the marathon. I may just need to hem these shorts a little shorter...

View attachment 698231View attachment 698232View attachment 698233

Don’t forget your Body Glide for those shorts!

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD (Very Late): Training was going great and I am another convert to DopeyBadger. Unfortunately after my long run last week it seems I tweaked/strained my adductor, but up until that point my running had been much more consistent than it has in a long time. Hoping a bit of rest keeps it from turning into something more serious.

On the medals, I'm not a fan. I'm of the generation who watched these shows and I loved them then, but wasn't excited when the theme came out and the medals certainly haven't improved my opinion. At this point I feel like they are just trying too hard and wish they would go back to the days of a little more conservative medals. Like others have said, the 20th medal was great and I would be happy if they went back in that direction. All that being said, I really don't run for the bling anymore and try and donate my medals. This design will make that decision a no brainer!

 

[Bree]

Your wife is right. Nowhere on the medal does it read "30 Years."

I did not notice that and now I like it even less

 

[kps7795]

I did not notice that and now I like it even less

I just don't get how they could have screwed up this aspect of the design. I checked and both the 20th and 25th Anniversary medals read "20 Years" and "25 Years" respectively.

 

[nekonekoneko]

Some of you guys were talking about the 20th anniversary medal, so I had to go find it.

You guys were right, that one is beautiful!

 

[marty3d]

I just don't get how they could have screwed up this aspect of the design. I checked and both the 20th and 25th Anniversary medals read "20 Years" and "25 Years" respectively.

What's strange is the Dopey says 10 years. The medal would be much better if they did nothing more than replace "I did it" with "years" or "30 years" like on Dopey.

 

[kps7795]

What's strange is the Dopey says 10 years. The medal would be much better if they did nothing more than replace "I did it" with "years" or "30 years" like on Dopey.

I sent them a message via runDisney.com. Anyone who is disappointed should do the same. Who knows...if enough people express displeasure and disappointment, they might actually change the medal. I don't believe that it's too late at this point in time.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Some of you guys were talking about the 20th anniversary medal, so I had to go find it.

You guys were right, that one is beautiful!

It’s hard for me to see this video (and remember seeing it for the first time when I was training for my first marathon) without getting a little wistful about the way the company at large has moved in the intervening years. There was such thought and intentionality behind that design and the way it was introduced. It was meant to be something special, they understood that, and it was treated as such.

The medal rollout this year just felt like information scheduled to fill a morning post on their blog. Something to take up time before the next bit of new merchandise everyone needs to buy or new sugary drink that will only be around for a limited time.

I’m not as down on the medals as many people seem to be; I like that they kept them to the same theme and the 90’s colors and nostalgic whimsy are not de facto off-putting to me. I still love Marathon Weekend, but I’d be lying if I said I believed there was anywhere near the thought and care put into the event and these medals as there used to be.

 

[Cabius]

It’s hard for me to see this video (and remember seeing it for the first time when I was training for my first marathon) without getting a little wistful about the way the company at large has moved in the intervening years. There was such thought and intentionality behind that design and the way it was introduced. It was meant to be something special, they understood that, and it was treated as such.

The medal rollout this year just felt like information scheduled to fill a morning post on their blog. Something to take up time before the next bit of new merchandise everyone needs to buy or new sugary drink that will only be around for a limited time.

I’m not as down on the medals as many people seem to be; I like that they kept them to the same theme and the 90’s colors and nostalgic whimsy are not de facto off-putting to me. I still love Marathon Weekend, but I’d be lying if I said I believed there was anywhere near the thought and care put into the event and these medals as there used to be.

It's a shift from "how do we provide the best possible experience for our customers, knowing that will make money" to just "how do we... make money".

Of course it's always been a business, and it's easy to forget the cost-cutting or profit-driven decisions of yesteryear.

But... I feel you.

 

[Barca33Runner]

It's a shift from "how do we provide the best possible experience for our customers, knowing that will make money" to just "how do we... make money".

Of course it's always been a business, and it's easy to forget the cost-cutting or profit-driven decisions of yesteryear.

But... I feel you.

I get it. I’m not naive (even if my post made it seem that way). I know the bottom-line has always been the primary concern and see the dangers of misplaced nostalgia and rosy retrospection enough that I try to be cognizant to avoid falling into their traps.

That said, it used to be much easier not to look at Disney and WDW cynically. Now it’s kind of my default.