Is it too early to talk about the WDW marathon 2011?

[stan4d_steph]

So, anyone else notice that the races start at 5:35 AM this year?

[stan4d_steph]

10 miles in the snow, wind and cold on Saturday. That sucked.

[Drince88]

10 miles in the snow, wind and cold on Saturday. That sucked.

You go, girl!!!!

Hopefully that's your 'sucky weather for this round' event - and it means actual race day will be more pleasant weather than last year!

[Mommy2NicknMax]

So, anyone else notice that the races start at 5:35 AM this year?

The earlier the better. Just means more time in the parks afterwords. :)

[stan4d_steph]

One month to race day! Waivers are up, although the link isn't on the official page yet.

[stan4d_steph]

Here's the link to download your waivers (http://www.trackshack.com/disneysports/wdw11waiver/verify.php). The tracking links (http://live.activeresult.com/msg/MSG-signup.tcl?event_id=3)are active too, so you can sign up to track your runner(s).

What's your bib number? I'm 29452 for the half marathon.

[flatlandcycle]

Hi gang!

I've come down with the half marathon fever...
My bib is 26348; anyone know starting chute assignments?

Other than earlier start time (5:35 am) what else is different this year?

Here are a few of my observations:
It seems that being in your start chute by 5:00 am or not being allowed to start is new. The waves are designated by numbers not letters. The rules specifically forbid walking from Port Orleans to the start.

I went to the the Goodwill last weekend and purchased my throwaway warm-ups. As a bonus, I scored an Everest Challenge tech shirt that looked like it had never been worn.

Kevin

[flatlandcycle]

The waves are designated by numbers not letters.

oops: The corrals are designated by letters but the wave starts are numerical.

Kevin

[stan4d_steph]

They never release the corral assignments ahead, but you can probably approximate it based on the 27000 entrant cap, dividing into even groups and starting at 20000. With that number you're probably in B or C.

I did notice that warning about the corrals. I know they warn about that every year, but I don't recall them specifically prohibiting late starters.

The other big change is that the marathon will not have a split start this year. There will be waves, but all runners will go through the same area of Epcot instead of converging after a few miles.

[Andrew]

Is it too early to talk about the WDW (half) marathon 2012?

Just sayin'.

[Mommy2NicknMax]

HM: 35624
Full: 16628

Another change for us Goofy runners, no wristbands this year. They are just going to verify you completed both races after the full.

Andrew, is that your Warrior Dash pic in your avatar?

[flatlandcycle]

Another change for us Goofy runners, no wristbands this year. They are just going to verify you completed both races after the full.


Unless this is automated, something like, Goofy participants cross a D-chip mat and receive a pass or fail, confirmation lines here could be very long.

Since the races are starting earlier it means less time sitting around. I didn't have much sitting around before. I may leave Pop Century 15-20 minutes earlier than in the past.

One year our bus driver turned wrong into the EPCOT parking lot and we drove around from one barricade to another until he finally let us out as close as he could get.

[stan4d_steph]

Unless this is automated, something like, Goofy participants cross a D-chip mat and receive a pass or fail, confirmation lines here could be very long.But you won't have to wait in line after the half marathon, so maybe you'll come out ahead?

16 days until I leave! Did 12 on Saturday in the cold and felt pretty good about it. Since I'm not running this race for time, I'm not stressing too much about it. However, I did want to run with some sort of costume element, and I don't think I'm going to come up with any testable ideas in time. Bummer.

[flatlandcycle]

Nice job on the 12 miler.

I have another 13-14 miler before the big day. I'm not really going for time. The longer it takes the longer the pain lasts...

We got our volunteer letter for the Marathon today. We are at the #22 water station. This will be the hard part of the weekend.

"Keep going, one mile to the candy station!" There is really nothing nice to say at mile 22. "You're almost there...I mean, you're almost to the Candy Station."

[Andrew]

Andrew, is that your Warrior Dash pic in your avatar?
Yes it is! Well it's just after completing the Dash, standing in line for the firehose "shower".

Here's an action shot:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sVjAZeQlB7I/TRFbyzDeipI/AAAAAAAAeZs/VBSay7lDI8U/s288/63855-2448-015f.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9AHnRmfIf4bcaQUp69vWFg?feat=directlink)

I'm registered for the 2011 Dash. I completed the 2010 Jingle Bell Rock Toys for Tots 5K in Santa Cruz and I'm one week into a ten week 10K training plan with an eye towards the Embarcadero 10K at the end of February.

No, I don't know who I am either. Sheesh.

[Drince88]

"You're almost there...I mean, you're almost to the Candy Station."
I was told that you should never say 'you're almost there' even if you can see the finish line. I just did lots of "woo", "way to go", "looking strong", "you can do it", and to the TNT people from New Orleans (as designated by the fleur de lis on their shirts - EASILY confused at a distance after 11 pm with a maple leaf) - "Who Dat say Dey Gonna Finish Dis Race". For the half that ended before they got to the international gateway, I was right near Jelly Rolls (they went in front of Beach/Yacht) - over 12.5 miles - but even there I wouldn't say "almost there".

I was also told that 'the longer it takes, the cheaper your cost per hour for the entry fee'!


NICE action shot, Andrew!

[Mommy2NicknMax]

Great action shot, Andrew! I'm thinking about doing the one in Lake Elsinore in 2011. Looks like fun! Good luck on the 10K training!

To those volunteering - THANK YOU!!!!!

[stan4d_steph]

One week until departure day! Looking forward to possibly getting to the expo before all the merchandise is wiped out.

[Drince88]

For anyone using DME for the weekend - be prepared for lines like you have never seen before. When I was there a couple of years ago, it was before they let people with correct vouchers bypass the initial line - and it was REALLY long! I had carry-on only, got in line, and wasn't yet at the front (I was in the actual 'roped' area, though) when the rest of my group had gotten back from retreiving their checked bags.

HOPEFULLY, the lines won't be so bad this year since they made a change with the vouchers - just don't forget yours!


And I don't think it's too early to say "good luck" to everyone racing!!!

[stan4d_steph]

Weather forecast is looking good!

Accuweather says overnight low of 48, high on Sat. 63, mostly sunny

[Drince88]

So I think these are the only bib numbers that have been posted:
Half:
stan4d_steph - 29452
flatlandcycle - 26348
Mommy2NicknMax - 35624

Full:
Mommy2NicknMax - 16628


Good luck to all!

[RunninDisney]

Hope y'all have a safe trip and an awsome run. I really wanted to make it this year but some other stuff came up and I don't have enough vacation days. Stupid work gets in the way of my marathoning!

[stan4d_steph]

Hope y'all have a safe trip and an awsome run. I really wanted to make it this year but some other stuff came up and I don't have enough vacation days. Stupid work gets in the way of my marathoning!I hate when that happens! Sorry you won't be down there, but hopefully we can provide some vicarious thrills from our reports. I will probably be tweeting some with my @MPStephanie account.

[rashiz]

I'll be there running for the first time in the half with some friends.
My bib number is 39772!

[Drince88]

I'll be there running for the first time in the half with some friends.
My bib number is 39772!

Is this your first half - or your first Disney half?