Marathon Weekend 2023

[The Expert]

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.

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.

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?

View attachment 725756

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

Yeah, I was definitely thinking of a "proper" PP pic from the spots in front of the castle, but these options would work in a pinch. I'll have to think about what's priority here. I'm really thinking I want to be in the Joy costume coming through the castle.

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.

I don't think you can get to the Casey's bathrooms because the spectators are along that side of the street and it is usually pretty crowded. You CAN get to the bathrooms over by Tomorrowland Terrace, though. (That's likely where I will end up changing if I feel I need cover.) Your people could be on Main Street and hand you your stuff, then you could pop over to the TT bathroom and hand off what you don't need when you come back to the course. If it can happen a few miles later and you don't need a bathroom to fully change in, they could meet you at the back of Grand Floridian or Poly, which might be a little easier for them to get to. But if you're full stripping down you'd definitely be right out in the open there.

 

[Livelovedance]

Marathon Weekend 2023 DIS LIST

Alright everyone, as promised I will put together a spreadsheet that has everyone that wishes to participate in the spreadsheet's information on it. We do this as a means to help people find each other on race day at either the pre-race/post-race meet-ups, in the starting groups, or just by chance on the course. I will ask for information and you can choose to provide or not provide any information as you desire (or not participate at all). The only key parts are Dis name, estimated pace/POT from registration, and expected pace. All others are optional. This will also be helpful to your family and spectators because it provides "time of day" markers for when you should reach different milestones based on your estimated pace and starting time (starting group).

So for every race that you (or friend/family member) plan to participate in (so Goofy and Dopey people I need each race separately, 5k, 10k, HM, M...) please provide me the following:

RACE -
NAME -
DIS'er name -
Costume/Clothing -
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration -
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No)
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No)
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group -
Early Bird or Late Arriver -
Expected Race Pace -

I will compile everyone's response into a single spreadsheet and then distribute this when we get closer to race day. As for the optional items, the following reasons have been given for why someone may choose not to provide:

NAME - Because I want internet anonymity. Just first name or initials are fine. Or nothing at all is fine too.
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration: If you know now that you will be starting in a different group than assigned, then give me the group you plan to start in. The estimate for the M/HM should be the estimated finish time you selected (for instance 4:30-5:00 for a M or Dopey). I will assume one starting group on a single HM/M bib for Dopey runners. So whatever your M assignment will be the same as your HM assignment.
Pre-Race Meet-up? - Not required to attend or not attend the meet up. Just gives us an idea of who to look out for morning of.
Early Bird or Late arriver just means whether you think you'll arrive to the meet-up/starting group early in the race morning or late in the race morning.
Front, Middle, Back of corral just means where you plan on lining up when the race starts. This helps people find you easier in a crowd if say two people are in s3, that are early birds, and front people. Then I'd look for your costume on race day. As well it helps with timing to know whether you're closer to the front of your group or back.

Once I "like" your post with the above information in it I have added you to the compiled list.

I will include timing information about the races based on past history but no guarantee they follow the same system as before.

The DIS List also contains:

-Timing information for each race (like what time the corrals open, or the walkout to the HM/M start line)
-Pre-Race Meetup location and timing (FYI we changed to the light post for Princess 2022 so ignore the meetup locale in this PDF)
-When you individually will hit milestones on course based on your estimated pace and start time estimate.
-A suggestion as to whether your spectating friends will need to take a pre-race bus or a post-race start bus to see you at the finish line.
-HH meetup information
-Riding rides estimates based on your pace and start time
-Alcohol locations on course
-Real bathroom locations on course
-Magic Kingdom dark sky estimates based on your pace and start
-Pacer information (if available)
-DATW information

Attached is an example of the 2022 version.

I don’t post here often enough (and REALLY need to make time to update my training journal this weekend) but I can’t believe race weekend is almost here! Adding myself to the spreadsheet for the first time, and hoping my social anxiety doesn’t get the best of me . One thing I’ve learned about myself is that if I don’t have a POT, I never remember to go back and fix whatever I randomly clicked during registration. Since POT requirements have been faster, and I’m a proud member of Team Not So Fast, I haven‘t gotten it right yet. I should learn my lesson and just enter it correctly the first time but I’m always a ball of nerves on registration day…

RACE - 5K
DIS'er name - Livelovedance
Costume/Clothing - Pluto inspired
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 10:01 - 12:00
Club runDisney Platinum? - No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - Yes
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Middle
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Expected Race Pace - 14:30

RACE - 10K
DIS'er name - Livelovedance
Costume/Clothing - Chip & Dale inspired
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 10:01 - 12:00
Club runDisney Platinum? - No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - Yes
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Middle
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Expected Race Pace - 14:30

RACE - Half
DIS'er name - Livelovedance
Costume/Clothing - Donald Duck inspired
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 4:31 - 5:00 full (not even close…)
Club runDisney Platinum? - No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - Yes
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Back
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Expected Race Pace - 14:30

RACE - Full
DIS'er name - Livelovedance
Costume/Clothing - Sorcerer Mickey inspired
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 4:31 - 5:00 full (not even close…)
Club runDisney Platinum? - No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - Yes
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Back
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Early
Expected Race Pace - 14:30

 

[kidmd]

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.

If you want to see a view from the back of the pack, I filmed the entire course, mostly as a hyperlapse. I apologize as this a very rough cut. I plan to fix the exposure, add music, add photos, cool transitions, etc. when I get a chance. I filmed the rest of Dopey as well but haven't had time to even make a rough edit of those videos.

 

[cburnett11]

RACE - Half Marathon
NAME - Craig with adult DD Sarah
DIS'er name - cburnett11
Costume/Clothing - Dr. Seeker (DD) and Dinosaur
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 2:16-2:30 half estimated POT for DD
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) - No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) - Maybe
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Front
Early Bird or Late Arriver -Early bird
Expected Race Pace - 12 minute/mile?

RACE - Marathon
NAME - Craig
DIS'er name - cburnett11
Costume/Clothing - regular running clothes depending on weather
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 3:25 POT
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) - No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) - Maybe
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Front
Early Bird or Late Arriver -Early bird
Expected Race Pace - 9 minute/mile maybe

 

[garneska]

RACE - Marathon
NAME - Kris
DIS'er name - garneska
Costume/Clothing - regular running clothes
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - first one not requiring POT
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) - No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) - yes
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - middle
Early Bird or Late Arriver -not sure
Expected Race Pace - 9:50 minute/mile

I finished peak week this morning. I survived my 15 miles plus walking Whisky. Things are sore but nothing exceptional. Now to begin taper madness. My heat training is usually fine here in atlanta but it is going to be cold next week. Plus a week up in Ohio. hoping for moderate temps for marathon weekend.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

DD and I are running the 5K, then DD is running the half. To watch her on Main Street, would I go to Epcot first, then monorail over? Then monorail back to Epcot to see her at the finish line? I see that transportation runs 2:30-4:30 then starts again at 6. We are staying at AoA but I will have a car - should I plan to drive to Epcot since the transportation doesn't start again until 6 am? She did not submit POT and I think she will run at 11-12 min/mile - I don't know if I would have enough time to take Disney transportation with the gap from 4:30-6. Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Novatrix]

You know the event guide was released when you come back to the boards after a couple days away and there are 10 additional pages...

Adding to the riding ToT discussion, I did it for the first time last year and was on the first elevator car! Unfortunately, Rock 'n Rollercoaster was closed that day.

One thing to bear in mind is that it doesn't open right when the early theme park entry for the Disney resort guests open, but whenever the first guests are escorted over by Disney management. The cast members told me I couldn't wait right where the line began, so I backtracked on the course a bit and hid myself behind a brick column until I saw management leading the group of first guests toward the ride. I then merged into the throng. I think that was at about 6 minutes after the park opened. The cast members at the lightning lane entrance said once the park was open to all guests they'd be letting runners enter in the lightning lane. All in all, that mile was only 13 minutes slower than the ones before and after.

I'm in the Olaf costume on the right. The guy in the UCF shirt swore he didn't give me an extra seat because I smelled, but because he wanted me to have extra space.

 

[Novatrix]

Marathon Weekend 2023 DIS LIST
Thanks @DopeyBadger for organizing this!

RACE - 5k
NAME - Alex
DIS'er name - Novatrix
Costume/Clothing - AK Tree of Life Dress
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - sub 8:00
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) Probably Not (might be doing MK extra magic hours the night before)
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Back
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Late Arriver
Expected Race Pace - Depends on temp and character lines, probably targeting 9:00/mile pace

RACE - 10k
NAME - Alex
DIS'er name - Novatrix
Costume/Clothing - MK Haunted Mansion Castmember Costume
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - sub 8:00
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No) No
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No) Maybe
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Back
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Late Arriver
Expected Race Pace - targeting 9:00/mile (again, temp and characters dependent)

RACE - Half
NAME - Alex
DIS'er name - Novatrix
Costume/Clothing - DHS ToT Castmember Costume
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 3:36 marathon POT
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 - Late
Expected Race Pace - 9:30/mile

RACE - Full
NAME - Alex
DIS'er name - Novatrix
Costume/Clothing - EPCOT Figment Costume
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 3:36 marathon POT
Club runDisney Platinum? - (Yes or No)
Pre-Race Meet-up? - (Yes or No)
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - Back
Early Bird or Late Arriver - Late
Expected Race Pace - 10:00/mile

 

[Herding_Cats]

DD and I are running the 5K, then DD is running the half. To watch her on Main Street, would I go to Epcot first, then monorail over? Then monorail back to Epcot to see her at the finish line? I see that transportation runs 2:30-4:30 then starts again at 6. We are staying at AoA but I will have a car - should I plan to drive to Epcot since the transportation doesn't start again until 6 am? She did not submit POT and I think she will run at 11-12 min/mile - I don't know if I would have enough time to take Disney transportation with the gap from 4:30-6. Thoughts? Thank you!

If you want to watch your DD on Main St your best bet would be to take the monorail over to MK, watch her run through, and then you'd have just over an hour to make it back to Epcot (again, via the monorail) for the finish. The busses don't run between 430 and 6am because they have to close the roads for the runners to get through. And guests who don't drive themselves from the MK-area resorts are *required* to use the monorail for the half and full; there are no busses at those resorts for those days.

I know there are others here that have more personal experience with this. I feel like if anything is going to be tight, it's the getting back to the finish part of things.

 

[azrivest]

@Novatrix those are some really cool costume themes

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

If you want to watch your DD on Main St your best bet would be to take the monorail over to MK, watch her run through, and then you'd have just over an hour to make it back to Epcot (again, via the monorail) for the finish. The busses don't run between 430 and 6am because they have to close the roads for the runners to get through. And guests who don't drive themselves from the MK-area resorts are *required* to use the monorail for the half and full; there are no busses at those resorts for those days.

I know there are others here that have more personal experience with this. I feel like if anything is going to be tight, it's the getting back to the finish part of things.

Thank you! How is the best way to get to Epcot initially if I don't want to go with her at 3:30? Can I drive over myself at 5:30 or doesn't that work because of the road closures? Or should I drive to the TTC?

 

[jmasgat]

Thank you! How is the best way to get to Epcot initially if I don't want to go with her at 3:30? Can I drive over myself at 5:30 or doesn't that work because of the road closures? Or should I drive to the TTC?

You can't get to TTC due to all the road closures. As for Epcot, you should be able to drive. Here's the road closure map. You can see that you will need to come from World Drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1-s5mDiwMv7lqW4nFRDEAFDtBVrd2QpY&usp=sharing

Also, if you drive, you won't be able to leave til 7 am. From the guide.....
"Guests who wish to use a personal vehicle will need to park in the EPCOT Parking Lot, with parking free for participants and spectators prior to 6:00am. For those utilizing Ride Share please follow the signs to the designated Ride Share Drop Off area. Athletes and spectators should plan on arriving at EPCOT by 4:00am for all races. Please be advised EPCOT Toll Plaza via World Drive North is open all four race days, however on Saturday (01/07) and Sunday (01/08), the EPCOT Parking Lot Exits will be closed from 4:30am-7:00am due to Race Course related road closures. Traffic will not be able to exit EPCOT during this timeframe until roadways have reopened. Please plan any and all transportation accordingly."

 

[steph0808]

Taper time!

Did a mini-Dopey simulation with 6 on Thursday, 10 yesterday, and 16 today.

I ran in the afternoon today, which I do not like, because of other stuff going on. Stomach revolted around mile 7.5, so I skipped my second pack of sport Beans and subsequently faded a bit the last few miles. But I definitely knew my legs could go another 10 miles. So that put my mind at ease a bit! Now to just add another 10k steps (at least) each day in park time

 

[jennysdcc]

Wrapped up Day 3 of my last Dopey sim today! 45 minutes Thurs, 5 miles Friday, and 12 this morning. Per DopeyBadger’s advice I’m going to keep tomorrow to 16-18 miles and focus on being steady and finishing strong. I’ve been running outside this last week but unfortunately with the big freeze that hit Chicago yesterday and my need to go out early this AM my trail wasn’t salted so I had to rely on the treadmill for my 12. Going to try again and see if I can’t do my big run tomorrow and just bundle up tight to fight those below 30 temps!

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by the amount of laundry that comes with marathon training.

 

[Cabius]

Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by the amount of laundry that comes with marathon training.

I’m definitely in laundry-every-day mode. I could go a second day (or more, if the weather were warmer), but have a pretty limited set of cold-weather gear.

 

[RunWI1265]

Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by the amount of laundry that comes with marathon training.

I have a handful of “cold” weather leggings and only one pair of “really cold” leggings. So when the temps are below 20 I’m washing that one pair of “really cold” leggings every night.

 

[Naomeri]

Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by the amount of laundry that comes with marathon training.

This is why I have overflowing drawers of running gear—I can make it at least a few days without laundry

 

[jpeterson]

This is why I have overflowing drawers of running gear—I can make it at least a few days without laundry

Same. I also have to have enough that I can't use laundry as an excuse to not go run.

 

[softballpooh]

If it can happen a few miles later and you don't need a bathroom to fully change in, they could meet you at the back of Grand Floridian or Poly, which might be a little easier for them to get to.

Now, this is a thought and one that is likely much more manageable for them! Thank you!

If you want to see a view from the back of the pack, I filmed the entire course,

Another quite helpful visual! Thank you! It also helped me see where I could station my people outside of MK after coming through there rather than inside if they do not want to navigate those crowds.

Will the Dopey character stop be in MK or does he move around the course?