Marathon Weekend 2023

[nekonekoneko]

Does anyone recall if you can access the castle hub photo pass stations on the way into MK? I've always done that photo after coming through the castle, so I'm not sure if it's blocked from the front right side of the hub. I think I want those castle pics to be in the Joy costume, so if I can jump over and get a hub photo as Disgust, I could make the costume switch in Tomorrowland and get the castle running photos as Joy and then stop again for hub photos as Joy.

Unfortunately, there's no way to come up Main Street and then jump into The Hub. There's plenty of spotters making you turn right into Tomorrowland. They're going to look at you very strange if you ignore them and try to go straight through.

 

[Cabius]

the whole "being right back at the starting line after 4 miles" thing is going to mess with my head.

It's dark enough that it doesn't feel like that, really. Plus you run across the other side of the road rather than literally running through the Start gate again, if I recall correctly. It'll be great!!

 

[marty3d]

It's dark enough that it doesn't feel like that, really. Plus you run across the other side of the road rather than literally running through the Start gate again, if I recall correctly. It'll be great!!

Yes, that's what it was this year - other side of the road. But it still felt strange - looking back at pictures I took I sometimes think they are in the wrong order!

 

[kristenabelle]

I honestly wouldn't worry too much about the early 4 mile loop through Epcot. It's 1) so dark so it's not really like "man I was just right here" and 2) as much as I enjoy WWoS - it's REALLY REALLY REALLY nice to be almost halfway through the race by the time you exit the Magic Kingdom. The 2018 course didn't hit half way until Animal Kingdom but now you hit 13.1, and you still have DAK, Studios, & Epcot to go. That was a huge mental relief for me this past year.

It's tough to have this current "birds eye view" of the course and try to relate it to what the actual miles are but when you're actually running it you are moving through each spot so quickly you don't really have much time to think about the in's & outs of the course if that makes sense

Such a great point! I've been kind of obsessing about the maps since I'm so excited! A little nervous about all the parts where we'll see runners ahead, but I keep telling myself "my race, my pace."

 

[huskies90]

I had computer glitches at registration which shut me out of Dopey, but I was able to register for the marathon and was also able to get a charity bib for the 10K. My wife wanted to do the 5K and 10K but also was shut out. She is also doing the 10K with the same charity.

RACE - 10K
NAME - Jim and Heather
DIS'er name - huskies90
Costume/Clothing - We have talked about talking about costumes but have yet to do so. At this point I’m leaning towards running in the charity race shirts
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 8min/mile
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) No
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Middle
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Expected Race Pace - Running at Heather’s pace probably 12min/mile with many picture stops.


RACE Marathon
NAME - Jim
DIS'er name - huskies90
Costume/Clothing - One of my UA Marvel shirts. Either Spider-Man or Captain America
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 1:35:04 half
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) Maybe
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Middle
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Expected Race Pace - 8min/mile - my 4th marathon but first time running one without doing 13.1 the day before. Assuming I feel OK at the starting line and it’s not another 85° scorcher, I am actually going to try to run this one to get a real time. BQ’ing this race is an outside longshot stretch goal.

 

[stiebermom]

I appreciate the info from all of the responders. I did receive an email this morning with a link to the digital information.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Does anyone recall if you can access the castle hub photo pass stations on the way into MK? I've always done that photo after coming through the castle, so I'm not sure if it's blocked from the front right side of the hub. I think I want those castle pics to be in the Joy costume, so if I can jump over and get a hub photo as Disgust, I could make the costume switch in Tomorrowland and get the castle running photos as Joy and then stop again for hub photos as Joy.

The bridge to Tomorrowland can have the castle in the background if the photographer on the right side of the bridge gets your picture with the right angle.

 

[fatmanatee]

I have to admit that the 2018 marathon course looks so much better than what we are going to do next month. But, I've never run the WDW Marathon so I guess I can't definitively say this will be true after I run it. It just seems to me that running through the WWOS would be so much more entertaining than looping through a parking lot, and the whole "being right back at the starting line after 4 miles" thing is going to mess with my head. I also love how the 2023 map doesn't zoom in on the BB portion because showing a loop through a parking lot probably doesn't give the wow factor that most people are looking for.

I def wasn’t paying attention to the early loop. Once you start your mind will hopefully be on getting to the castle.

 

[sandam1]

Does anyone recall if you can access the castle hub photo pass stations on the way into MK? I've always done that photo after coming through the castle, so I'm not sure if it's blocked from the front right side of the hub. I think I want those castle pics to be in the Joy costume, so if I can jump over and get a hub photo as Disgust, I could make the costume switch in Tomorrowland and get the castle running photos as Joy and then stop again for hub photos as Joy.

You can get a photo with the castle in the background similar to this one as you are making the turn into Tomorrowland. Would this work?



(P.S. IIRC This was taken by a volunteer or CM who was happy to snap a quick photo for me)

 

[GollyGadget]

Is there anywhere that has a list of the miles as descriptors in the marathon rather than the visual map version? Similar to how someone listed out all of the character stops? I'm THAT person who chooses to "see route" in a word list on my maps GPS instead of having the visual. I have stared at this map so many times and I'm just struggling to get my bearings about me. I know WDW inside and out so I don't know why this is such a struggle.

For example, Miles 1-4 outside of Epcot parking lot, make a loop, pass the starting line hear the finishers, come through the really dark backside of Epcot, under Spaceship, etc. Miles 23- entering Boardwalk after leaving HW.

I don’t see this year’s course yet, but it should show up on the usatf certified site shortly. It might not be exactly what you’re looking for but will include minute details like mile x is 3 ft from this specific light pole. https://www.certifiedroadraces.com/search/

 

[Dom497]

Is anyone else getting no emails for the race? I know I’m 100% registered but other than getting the confirmation email, I’ve never gotten any other emails…

 

[BigEeyore]

This thread blew up! It's amazing how one email can increase my excitement and motivation so much! I needed this heading into my last big Dopey sim this weekend! I think I like the shirts from what I can see - although I really wish they wouldn't make the Goofy shirt orange every year (In 2020 it was light blue and that is one of my favorites!

I am on team "no ESPN" so very happy with the marathon course! Running thru Adventureland will be a new experience. Really wish we didn't get so cheated with time in HS.

Do we know what the on-course nutrition will be? I saw that Honey Stingers is sponsoring, but will it be chews, gels, waffles, or all of the above? I can only do the chews.

 

[GollyGadget]

Do we know what the on-course nutrition will be? I saw that Honey Stingers is sponsoring, but will it be chews, gels, waffles, or all of the above? I can only do the chews.

Unless it’s different from W&D, it will be jelly belly sports beans. Honey stinger was at that expo and a big sponsor as well but was not the on course nutrition. We did get waffles in our post race snack boxes at least.

Last year it was the honey stinger gummies. I don’t remember rD ever using a gel for fuel.

 

[jpeterson]

Is anyone else getting no emails for the race? I know I’m 100% registered but other than getting the confirmation email, I’ve never gotten any other emails…

That happened to me for Wine & Dine. I got no emails at all.

This time I seem to be getting them.

 

[FFigawi]

Unless it’s different from W&D, it will be jelly belly sports beans. Honey stinger was at that expo and a big sponsor as well but was not the on course nutrition. We did get waffles in our post race snack boxes at least.

Last year it was the honey stinger gummies. I don’t remember rD ever using a gel for fuel.

They used to hand out Clif gels many years ago. When Clif dropped their sponsorship, the gels went away just like the Clif pace teams.

 

[jpeterson]

Unless it’s different from W&D, it will be jelly belly sports beans. Honey stinger was at that expo and a big sponsor as well but was not the on course nutrition. We did get waffles in our post race snack boxes at least.

Last year it was the honey stinger gummies. I don’t remember rD ever using a gel for fuel.

I hope it's not sport beans, but it probably is. I'll just have to carry my own.

 

[Disney at Heart]

Is anyone else getting no emails for the race? I know I’m 100% registered but other than getting the confirmation email, I’ve never gotten any other emails…

Check your spam folder just in case.

 

[softballpooh]

Is it a costume switch or just fresh running clothes?

My hope was for a fresh change of running clothes and just like you- was considering grabbing from my people inside MK. I am deciding between finding a way to get them the clothes back or disposing them and calling it done.

Would I be able to get to the bathrooms at the end of main street behind Casey’s Corner- meaning jump off course, change and come back on? Or the ones at Tomorrowland Terrace? If so, I could station them there and also have a change in shoes.

Another possibility is AK. When I ran in 2018 people were in the parking lot and that’s where I saw this idea initially but now with the course change I don’t think we’ll be going through that open parking lot.

 

[softballpooh]

Is anyone else getting no emails for the race? I know I’m 100% registered but other than getting the confirmation email, I’ve never gotten any other emails…

Nothing for me either.

 

[Herding_Cats]

My hope was for a fresh change of running clothes and just like you- was considering grabbing from my people inside MK. I am deciding between finding a way to get them the clothes back or disposing them and calling it done.

Would I be able to get to the bathrooms at the end of main street behind Casey’s Corner- meaning jump off course, change and come back on? Or the ones at Tomorrowland Terrace? If so, I could station them there and also have a change in shoes.

Another possibility is AK. When I ran in 2018 people were in the parking lot and that’s where I saw this idea initially but now with the course change I don’t think we’ll be going through that open parking lot.

The bathrooms at the TTC might be a good option as well, but might be sooner than you want.