Editor’s Note: I’ve completed many runDisney events dating back to before the Disney Endurance Series was “re-branded” runDisney. My first full marathon was motivated by the mouse in 2007, and running in the Disney Parks inspired my daughter to run two races. However, after the January 2014 runDisney Half Marathon, something felt lacking. Sure, I had a wonderful time due to running for the Give Kids The World Village Charity Team, but runDisney’s promised “Magic Every Mile” had diminished. I planned on signing up for the Disneyland Half Marathon to get my Coast-to-Coast Medal, but intentionally passed when registration opened. I posted on Facebook that runDisney had lost some luster for me, and was surprised to find I wasn’t alone. I invited Tim Kirchner to share his thoughts on the current state of runDisney races. This is Tim’s first post for Adventures by Daddy, and hopefully not the last.
Post by Tim Kirchner
I happened across an interesting Facebook post several days ago; it ended up turning into an enlightening, and surprising conversation. The source offered later in the thread he initially hesitated making the post, but was glad to hear how much understanding and agreement came his way. So, what touchy subject was this all about? The assertion that perhaps runDisney events have been losing their magic. Some might consider such a statement heresy, yet many of us actually found plenty to agree on.
Let’s look at a few of the specific complaints, including a few of my own that I’ll add here. Then we can talk about some of the causes. To illustrate a few points, I will even offer some of my suggestions on how to fix the issues, though I doubt they will ever actually come to pass.
For the issues themselves, most center around increased prices, increased crowds, earlier starting times, and in general too much focus on profits, in ways that decrease the overall runner experience. To put another way, I would argue that over time, runDisney has become much less run, and much more Disney. In the latter, the higher prices and crowding are kind of assumed as par for the course. But with all the hype about medals, merchandise, characters, and photographs, I can’t help but feel that the “run” part of it is slowly fading away.
I saw another Facebook post on one of the fan pages for a runDisney event that summed up my feelings, but in a very positive way. Regrettably I failed to copy the link, so I am left to paraphrase without giving proper credit, but it went something like this:
I don’t run the races for the medals, although they are nice.
I don’t run the races for the characters and entertainment, though they are nice.
I don’t go just for the merchandise, although it is nice.
I participate because it’s an activity I love, at a place I love, doing it with other people.
runDisney Encourages Unprepared Participants
Let me take a moment to point out specifically that I am not an elite runner, and don’t wish to be branded an elitist in any way shape or form. I don’t care whether you’re the first one finished or you’re finishing just under the required pace… anyone who does the work and gives it their all deserves my full recognition and congratulations, whatever their level of ability. With that said, what does give me pause is the frequency of participants showing up grossly unprepared, undertrained (or even outright untrained), or otherwise unable to meet the basic requirements of the event. What I will happily go on record saying is that these events are not for everyone, and I don’t believe they necessarily should be. I am not looking to call anyone out, and certainly don’t want to discourage people from adopting an active and healthy lifestyle. I just want people to respect the races and the distance, train properly, and register for those races they are best suited towards.
While they are billed as “fun” events more than competitive (and with which I agree), it should not be taken to imply that traveling 13.1 miles on foot doesn’t need to be taken seriously, because it absolutely does. I fear this reality is largely lost in much of the runDisney promotions and marketing. A blog published by runDisney featured a giant celebration for the person who finished dead last in the 2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon. She was featured on stage a month later at the Princess half, and was given a special starting position at the front of the first corral… she finished that race also near the back of the pack with a time of 4:43, the extra hour while avoiding being swept all thanks to the unnatural corral placement. There was anecdotal speculation online that she intentionally all but stopped on the course to let others pass and assure another dead last finish. Sure, it’s warm and fuzzy to celebrate the “success” of even the last finisher, but such a publicity stunt is downright disingenuous.
I’m sure it was great for registrations to promote a message that anyone can do it… even those who don’t meet the basic requirements. Unfortunately many of the registrations are from those who cannot do it, or at least are not ready to yet. At the most recent Tink half, approximately 11% of those who started were unable to finish, either being swept or dropping out on their own accord. Among those who did make it to the finish, 16% were in excess of the 3:30 pacing requirement. In other words, of all those who started the race, nearly 1 in 4 did not finish it within the required time limit. Nearly all runDisney half marathons in the past two years have similar statistics. Some participants even look to see if they can get away with being under pace, while knowing they aren’t likely to be able to meet the pacing requirement.
Photo by Ali Nasser, courtesy runDisney © Disney. All Rights Reserved
Multi-Day Multi-Medal Race Challenges
The newest sensation by runDisney seems to be multi-day challenges, and special medals to go with them. Now, I’ll admit, when it was limited to the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge, and was kind of a neat little event of its own during WDW Marathon Weekend. I thought this was awesome, and participated in “the Goofy” back in 2010. Now, the multi-race challenges have gone way beyond the Goofy Challenge, and nearly every race weekend includes at least one multi-day challenge. Sadly, I suspect this only exacerbates the issue of participants being unprepared, or simply biting off more than they can chew. This January 2014 runDisney offered the Inaugural Dopey Challenge, requiring competitors to finish a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon in four consecutive days; 6136 individuals are listed as finishers for all four races. Of those, 22% failed to make the minimum pace on at least one of the four events. It is unclear exactly how many starters were swept, or otherwise failed to finish one of the events, though I would wager there were at least a few.
Another issue with multi-day challenges, and the addition of 10K races, is that race “weekends” now have their first event – typically billed as some flavor of “family 5k” – on a Thursday or Friday, with packet pickup a day earlier still. In other words, bringing kids for the family event means missing more school days. A weekend event now spans four or five days in total, and keeps people on properly longer, which I am sure is part of the business motivation.
Back to the issue of finish times, I do realize that many participants stop along the course much more often than they might in a race without photo opportunities and the like, and I certainly understand why that is the case. However, one also needs to account for this time when planning their pace, and in considering his or her own abilities. This also affects crowding in at least one other way that might not be obvious: corral placement. Race registration requires listing an “estimated finish time.” Typically one lists a reasonable, possibly a little optimistic, race time here. A 2:30 half marathon runner who plans to stop for a half dozen pictures may actually be looking at a 3 hour or longer time, depending on the lines for pictures with some of the characters. I don’t claim that there is an easy fix for this, but merely seek to illustrate a fundamental flaw with the corral process, even with the requirement of proof of time.
Of course, it is impossible to accurately gauge just how many of these participants legitimately suffered unexpected troubles along the course, or made some honest mistakes with pacing when waiting in line for pictures, versus knowingly towing the start line unprepared. However, comments that go something like “Wow, I never really trained further than 3 miles, hope this half goes well!” or “I fell behind on my training, but it’s Disney and I paid a lot of money for it so I’m definitely still doing it!” are too common.
One blogger outright admitted it: “Who sits out a runDisney event just because they’re slightly under trained? Certainly not this girl!” Now, to be fair, this particular individual is not a stranger to running longer races, and seems to have been okay, but it nonetheless shows the mentality that can come along with some of these events. Another participant, by self-admission a slower runner, admits to being totally untrained, and even talks about some pretty severe cramping at around the 9 mile mark.
I will be clear again that I am no elite, and the examples I call out are just that… examples, and they are still in the relative minority of participants. But there are still way too many. Though marketing the event to non-runners, and under trained participants have been the bulk of my discussion, there are a few other things also worth at least a mention, in my mind.
photo courtesy runDisney, all rights reserved
runDisney Shoes and Merchandise
This is something of a sticky point for a few different reasons. Merchandise at a pre-race expo is fairly typical of many race of sufficient size, and can be a great way to learn about new products or pick up a few last minute items that are needed for the race… perhaps you need a few extra Gu packets, or a small tube of vaseline for instance. In the case of runDisney events, this extends to various jackets, t-shirts, and other memorabilia, which is often hard to come by.
That latest craze in the past year or two, however, are the Official New Balance Shoes, many purchased simply for re-sell on eBay with a massive markup. As a runner, I am left wondering why anyone would purchase shoes on the basis of the look and design alone, but yet the sales figures speak for themselves. Sometimes participants will even don their new kicks for a race the following day. I guess if one is going to wear shoes that may or may not be the right fit, then breaking them in probably is probably not a primary concern either.
Along with the merchandise, Disney seems to have done a good job finding new opportunities to add paid special events, like pasta parties, post race events, and race “retreat” areas on the morning of the run. One particular tradition, once cherished by many, was the informal (and free) runDisney meetup that would often include a fun run with some of the running personalities at the event, like Jeff Galloway. It was typically announced on twitter, and very small in nature. Prior to the 2014 WDW Marathon Weekend, runDisney announced through bloggers there would be no meetup, citing all of the work required for the inaugural 10K and Dopey Challenge. Understandable, runDisney never said these free meetups would happen for every race weekend. Interestingly, when registration opened for the 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, a new “Welcome Event” had been added to the schedule – sounding a great deal like the spontaneous, free runDisney meetups. For a $200 $89 fee runners would get an:
- Official Welcome from runDisney
- Question and Answer Session and Dynamic Warm-up with Runner’s World Experts
- Official Welcome to California with a ride on Soarin’ Over California
- One (1) hour early entry into “Official runDisney Merchandise area” on Thursday, August 28, 2014
- runDisney bag which includes a runDisney tech shirt and a Runner’s World Magazine
For those who hoped to one day experience a free runDisney Meetup, this news was as “welcome” as a left hook to the gut.
(edited: the article incorrectly listed the price of the Welcome Event at $200, it is listed at $89. We have changed the price accordingly.)
runDisney Bib Buying/Selling
Some people don’t have a registration, and hope they can get one from someone else. Offers to sell bibs abound, and some even seek a moral high road by making the offer for charity. Some participants are blissfully unaware that bib selling isn’t even allowed. Nonetheless, it happens often enough for even a casual observer to notice. It is basically impossible to come up with exactly how often it takes place.
I will respond ahead of time to the rather obvious rebuttal that it shouldn’t matter if someone else races in place of the original registrant. From the perspective of the sport, running under a purchased bib means the final results recorded for the event will be inaccurate. Someone’s name will be listed next to a time they did not earn for an event in which they did not compete. I am not trying to say that this hurts the results in an obvious way, but in some small way it does take away from the integrity of the event.
A larger concern, however, might arise in the case of a serious – and otherwise legitimate – injuries or medical issues. If an individual running under a purchased bib were to get hurt on the course, I would hate to be on the legal team for that person, for the race organizers, or even for Disney itself. When you buy a bib, you haven’t signed a waiver of your own regarding issues just like that. I hate to think of the mess that would result.
runDisney’s Goals and My Goal
A fair question might be to ask why Disney puts on these events. Reasonable answers might include their commitment to improving people’s health, utilization of the ESPN Wide World of Sports facility, or trying to reach a wider audience of individuals to visit Disney Parks. Moreover, though, it is about making money, as is the case for any good business. Part of their successful formula for that has always been around people having a good time, with a healthy dose of those less tangible things like wishes, dreams, and magic.
Many devout Disney fans – a title I would bestow upon myself as well – recognize this and fully accept that they are still a business with the goal of making money. What we all like to see however, is a high quality product that is successful, which naturally brings in business, rather than focusing only on the business and hoping to keep things just magical enough to avoid losing too many customers. It is with that same spirit that I voice my own concern for runDisney events.
I should also add that in spite of my criticisms here, there are plenty of things to like about the events; in that sense, my goal is only to evaluate the issues with the intent of hoping they can be remedied. Let us now look at some possible solutions. I will start with what I’d call the “knee jerk” ideas, and explain some of the flaws. Then, I will offer some ideas of my own–some quite radical – despite that I do not think they will ever happen.
Mickey Mouse Hot Air Balloon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports during the Walt Disney World Marathon. Photo by Todd Anderson, courtesy of runDisney
Ways runDisney Should NOT Attempt to Fix Things
1) Loosen the pacing requirements to accommodate slower participants.
I will say straight out that the pacing requirement of races currently is already very much a recreational pace. Although there are a few (non-Disney) races with slightly looser requirements, many have finish lines that close much sooner. A 20 minute pace would match an average human walking pace; a relatively leisurely one at that. Part of the point of such events is that it is an extra effort, and takes some training.
Another thing to consider is that a race course open for longer is more expensive to operate. It means more time aid stations need to remain open, and increased costs for entertainers. It also increases the long-tail of slower participants more likely to need medical attention for issues like dehydration or hyponatremia.
2) Add (still) more events to each of the existing weekends.
If the sell-out rates of most weekend events are any indication, then the addition of more 5K and 10K events do not seem to be helping to ease the demand by much. Why not? Multi-day challenge events. A non-trivial portion of the registrations that are sold are to combined entries like Dumbo, Glass Slipper, and Dopey. The additional event does not substantially increase the number of total participants, rather it results in many of the same people participating in multiple events, often with a hefty price premium. If anything, events seem to sell out quicker.
3) Allow peer-to-peer transfer of bibs.
If this were ever officially sanctioned, I fear it would be the kiss of death of runDisney events, and much like concert tickets, most sales would take place on secondary markets. Apart from the issues already mentioned with transferring bibs, I suspect we would see individuals buying out bibs very quickly with the sole purpose of reselling for profit. Although I don’t think the practice would last too long, as we would quickly find out exactly how much people were willing to pay for runDisney events, the chaos it would create is something I cannot even imagine.
4) More gender-specific events.
When runDisney first announced the Tink Half, they cited the need for new events based on how quickly the Disneyland half always sells out. For many male runners however (myself included), this felt like something of an empty surprise. I will temper how much I express about my feelings on this, since it is not productive, and I do not wish to ruin the excitement of those (mostly females of course) who are enthusiastic about this event.
What I will reiterate, however, is that adding events which are really only intended for half of the population will only go so far in helping excess demand.
Things runDisney Should Do, And Why They Won’t
1) Make proof of finish time a requirement to register.
I know, the obvious concern against this is that people won’t be able to register without having done a previous race, thus raising the bar for entry in a sense. With that said, a great many people, even those doing their very first race, often do find themselves participating in another event before race day, just to have that proof of time for better corral placement.
What I would love to see happen as a result of something like this is to help weed out some of the participants who do not take the training seriously, or who do not realistically have the ability to finish in time. With the allure of the special medals for multi-day events and the like, I think it only raises the importance of proof of time. An interesting side benefit is that nobody would be toeing the line for their first ever race. Basic race etiquette, how to run in a crowd of people with a mass start, how to deal with water/aid stations, and various other skills are something really only learned through experience. If it were the case that everyone was already at least a bit familiar with these things, I suspect it could only improve the overall experience for everyone.
So, why won’t this happen? It would weed out those who sign up only because it sounds like fun, or they like the idea of a shiny medal. For better or worse, that sense of excitement makes money for Disney, especially in additional purchases at the race expo. From a business standpoint, I would estimate it is very unlikely they would want to put up any barriers that make it harder for these enthusiastic individuals to sign up.
2) Consider adding more race weekends throughout the year.
Simple economics of supply and demand suggests only two ways to fix the issue… and decreasing demand seems unlikely without continuing to alienate participants. I recognize that race organization does require a fair amount of effort and planning. Knowing that, it is probably easier to add events in Florida rather than California; coordinating with the city of Anaheim does add complexity.
I can imagine a scenario where there are runDisney events every six weeks, or even every month. Some fans will try to attend nearly every event, and others will benefit from being able to pick those that are most convenient with their schedule, or that match a theme of their liking.
Sadly, I suspect it would also dilute the merchandise purchases, which means I don’t hold my breath that it will ever happen. [Editor’s Note: After Tim submitted this article, runDisney added a new race weekend in November at Disneyland.]
3) Make finisher medals just that, maybe even enforce time requirements on them.
There are plenty of debates online already, which I do not necessarily care to rehash here, but the fact is, many participants end up getting finisher medals in circumstances where it might be questionable whether or not they truly finished. Some may finish outside of the time limit, others are swept and driven by bus to the finish line, others may leave the race entirely due to injury, yet in almost all of these cases, the participant still goes home with a medal. I am not here to shame or judge anyone, but instead leave it up to each individual’s own recognizance to determine whether they feel they have earned the medal, given their best effort, or even simply feel it was part of the fee they paid.
What I am here to do is imagine a world where participants only got medals if they actually cross the finish line of the race, having gone the full distance on their own power. In a more draconian scenario, perhaps even confirm that chip time meets the pacing requirements. Though I realize this might sound harsh, my hope is that it might be one way to encourage people to truly be prepared for the event.
For the same reasons as my first point, I don’t think this will actually happen. Not only does Disney not want to dissuade anyone from registering, they would not want to deal with the inevitable complaints that followed. To be fair though, plenty of people already complain…
4) Require all participants to pick up their own packet/bib, or consider checking ID when people arrive at the pre-race area.
I know there are a few people who legitimately cannot make packet pickup, and find themselves in a position to greatly benefit from having someone else pickup for them. Though there are no hard numbers on this readily available, I suspect this is the overwhelming minority, however. More importantly though, on race morning, in the staging area, I am hard pressed to find a reason against a quick ID confirmation here. Given the large entourage of security folk already present to check for bibs, timing tags, and accept bag checks, I don’t feel like this would be a huge burden.
As for Disney disallowing a friend or designee at packet pickup, I doubt this will ever happen. Once again, it all comes down to business and money. At least from the standpoint of the race expo, they have little reason to care who actually does the pickup, as long as it gets another warm body in front of the merchandise. Ignoring the potential legal issues mentioned earlier, and at risk of sounding like a conspiracy theory, I would also bet at least a few interested individuals are not even bothered by bib sales at all, for the same reason. In the simplest sense, it still benefits runDisney to have someone travel down for the event, and likely spend money while there.
5) Offer a special prize (maybe a pin) to those who finish under their estimated time.
Of all ideas I suggest here, this is one of my favorite. After each race, or perhaps even sent by mail in weeks following, provide participants with a special reward for those who meet or beat their estimated finish time. Maybe a special bonus medal, or maybe a runDisney “I met my goal” pin. It doesn’t have to be too extravagant, but where many participants seem to thrive on the special bling anyway, why not give them more of what they like while improving the system?
Part of the issue with crowding results from runners completing the race at a different pace than estimated, and uneven corral placements. With a simple reward in place, runners are incentivized to either push themselves along just a bit faster, or to be more realistic about their actual finish time.
The only real drawback I can see is trying to deal with complaints by those who did not make their pace. That in mind, I suspect Disney might hesitate at this type of system.
In Conclusion
Admittedly, this has been a bit long winded, but hopefully has at least been a thought-provoking read. I know plenty of people greatly enjoy runDisney events, and I am not looking to rain on anyone’s parade. My hope is merely that some of these issues can be worked through. Are there any other issues I missed, or better solutions available?
Some reports from the recent Princess Half Marathon have suggested to me that they are now working with a system of more corrals with less people in each. Apparently, this seems to aid in some of the early crowding issues. This came as welcome news to me.
runDisney also dropped a nice surprise with the announcement of a new Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon, to take place in fall on the west coast. This also came as welcome news. Not only does it add a sorely-needed second [non gender specific] half marathon on that coast, but it is also being presented without a 10k event or corresponding double-up challenge. I look forward to hearing how the event itself goes, but from a bigger picture, am hopeful this might be a sign that some things are moving back in the right direction.
Thanks to Tim Kirchner for his thoughtful piece. Now it’s your turn. I know we have a lot of runDisney race fans in our audience. What do you think? Are runDisney races just as magical and covered in pixie-dust as ever, or have you been finding some tarnish and wear on your finisher medals. Please leave your thoughts and comments below and continue the conversation. For more running adventures, family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.
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This is a really terrific and thoughtful piece. I admit, I had an eyebrow raised when I started, since people kvetching about “missing MAGIC” is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
But this wasn’t the “but it’s maaaaaaagical” that drives me so bonkers.
It was good old logic and critical thinking.
I couldn’t agree more with the points raised.
Can you imagine how much SLOWER and crowded the race would be if the did lower the cutoff pace? Bleah.
I found the new corralling at the WDW Marathon Weekend and Princess Half this year to be much improved – it could be because I’d earned a spot in a higher corral, but I felt like I was in exactly in the right place. (I even found myself among runners from the earlier corrals as I carried on).
Again, great job.
I have to agree with you regarding all the “magic & pixie dust” references I see being like nails on a chalkboard. I’m glad you liked Tim’s piece.
So many thoughts, so little time. I remember the days when you waited until early December to get your book and waiver in the mail for marathon weekend. Now, you can barely get that stuff online 3 weeks before the race. I loved Princess. Now, it’s yet another race with 25k of good friends and this year some evil people that were pushing. So many people make character lines forever. After waiting, they push their way through to get back where they think they should be when we are where we should be doing the pace we should. Never seen so much meanness and this is supposed to be woman’s race. Yup, losing it’s magic, but suckers like me will do it because that’s where my friends are. Plus, I got a plastic tiara and a sash for being “perfect” last year. 😕
Wow, there were people pushing Carrie? That’s the first I’ve heard that – really not good! I hear you about running where your friends are though! Congrats on being a Perfect Princess!
I agree on so many of these points. My main beef with the races themselves are the January half and Princess course can’t handle the crowds anymore. There were so many bottle necks because of the number of people going through narrow spaces.
Most of the magic, I feel, is lost in the expo. The merchandise, shoes and D&B bags create a frenzy I’ve only seen once in my lifetime, and that was for Beanie Babies. I don’t participate but so much of that is not what is promoted.
I still think Disney is great in getting all kinds of people out and active for their races. But with the above, and the rising park prices, I’ll be looking elsewhere for races.
I don’t get the frenzy for the merchandise either, the shoes, D&B bags, etc., it’s just crazy.
They have lost much of the magic for me for the same reasons Tim mentioned in the article. They cost way too much and I really don’t like how little focus there is on the running aspect. I get that many people do the event more for the course and characters and like that they get lots of people active but they are still, at their core, an endurance event first and everything else second.
They have grown far too big and have added far too many side events for lack of a better term. I like multi-race challenges but I think Disney puts too much focus on them at the expense of the individual events.
I do think way more people show up at the Disney events unprepared for the distance. That goes back to the lack of focus on the event being an endurance event. Some of that is in how Disney promotes it but some of that is on the shoulders of the participants. If I wasn’t certain that I’d finish an event (baring an injury that occurs during it of course) I wouldn’t start it. It seems like finishing is almost an afterthought for many.
I plan on doing RunDisney events in the future but way less of them. I just returned from Florida and Disney, I ran two races and visited the parks but I didn’t do a RunDisney event. Instead I did another Florida event I wanted to do and then added on a few park days. That is how the vast majority of my future Florida running will be done. Race somewhere else and then head to Disney to get my fix.
I totally agree that there’s way too much emphasis put on the multi-race challenges Frank. Goofy seemed unique, but now it’s just overkill.
I think I’m the same as you, I won’t say I’ll never do another runDisney race, but I don’t plan my racing around them anymore. If it fits into my schedule, fine. If I get shut out because it sells out, no big deal. I actually enjoyed the Pittsburgh Marathon much more than my recent runDisney events. It seems like they appreciated their participants much more.
That’s a really good idea about doing another event in Florida and then going to the Disney parks. There’s some interesting races down there I’ve been wanting to try, like Space Coast.
Thanks for reading.
Dave
OUTSTANDING article! I’m signing up for one final event and I am through with Disney races. Tim, no need to apologize as some individuals MUST hear what you are saying. I competed in H.S. & on a college track (partial) scholarship. I do understand these events are for FUN; however what fun is it when someone looking like a competitor on the Biggest Loser is in Corral A and starts walking the half right away. On a side note, walking 13.1 miles would kill my back and I run my half marathon’s under 1:50. My biggest issue is have the walkers in the back. If they CHEAT (time verification) one year, runDisney should look at past results of 4 hour + half marathon time and move them back in the corrals. 3:30 half marathon is enough time. My gentle side is YES, I also want to encourage physical activity, but not at my expense of having someone walking in front of me and I run 8:30 mile pace for 13.1 miles. Does this make sense? Yes, the magic is DONE! They should rename the events to WALK-Disney. Tim, I heard multiple people say they don’t train. Most people “fib” on their time so they can get in the front corrals, getting to the characters before the other walkers. If I had to guess, I would say most of the runners in Corral A, do NOT stop to take pictures. I’ve been to Disney a ton of times and how many pics of the characters does one need? @Carrie, I know you mentioned how pushy the ladies were in the Princess. I was speaking with several ladies who actually want to run a race and believe me, they are tired of the slow walkers lying about their times just to get in the first corral. These ladies told me they’re sharpening their elbows for future Disney races; showing the non-runners what cross-country runners do. Finally, I was reading a blog about a bimbo who was bragging about her medals, etc.. blah blah blah… She started in corral A in EVERY race at the Dopey and here 5K time was 1:13; her 10K time was 2:32, her 1/2 marathon was 4:35 and there was not a time for the FULL marathon (assumed she got swept, but Disney will still give her medals; found this out as well). My ISSUE is that she started in Corral A for everyone of these races (not counting the elite corrals). I enjoy the Rock n Roll events; but usually it’s the local races that still have the “magic” in them. Finally, I acknowledge EVERYONE pays the same price, but I do NOT pay that price to walk behind you and your herd that won’t move to the right or off the road.
The people being described are, for the most part, the minority, but as you note, they can hurt the experience for everyone in some very real ways (in the case of slow people up front, also potentially dangerous ways too). Though I didn’t call it out explicitly in the article, they also take up registrations, increasing demand and allowing Disney to command higher price points and quicker sell out times… which also affects us all.
Another part of my view is that I’m even more bothered that Disney seems less than bothered by these practices, and in some ways almost tends to encourage it. In that sense, it’s almost a disservice to the sport.
And none of this has to do with the specific pace of any runner… there is fun to be had by runners (who are legitimately) in the last start corral as much as the first. It’s hard to estimate how many people discover running as a result of rD events, or otherwise adopt a healthy lifestyle because of it, though I do know of a few. On the other hand, I have also heard of several who basically only do Disney events, often only with half-hearted preparation.
My clarifications and apologies were mainly meant to make crystal clear that I was not looking to pick on the slower–but dedicated–folks who perhaps barely make pace, but nonetheless give their all in doing so. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them.
I have to say I don’t condone pushing, elbowing or saying someone looks like a competitor on the “Biggest Loser.” But I agree the walkers need to learn more race etiquette. That being said, being rude or pushy to those that don’t know proper race techniques isn’t right either. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
MParnell- WOW!!! Although some of your comments were valid some are just beyond words. It’s not ok to elbow walkers. I highly doubt that there’s a large number of walker in your 8:30 pace corral. Your post is offensive on several levels. But I’m for once in my life speechless. I look like a “Biggest Loser Competitor” I am always in the last corral and I finish 15 min past the 3:30 limit. However, despite my disabilities I DO train. I train a lot. I’m not out there strolling, taking pics or socializing. I’m out there challenging myself and so are so many other people.
I agree about the challenge of self. That was exactly my plan.
Very good and thought out article. I enjoyed reading your perspective. While there are some points I agree with, there are definitely some that I don’t necessarily agree with.
Unprepared Runners- There are probably more first timers at Disney races than there are at any other race or series of races. Disney draws because it is Disney. The good thing is that exposes others to a healthy environment. Some people may have never run before signing up for a Disney race. I was one that did Wine & Dine without ever running before. Now I trained on the elliptical to death, but was convinced that bad knees would not allow me to run outside. It was a one and done race for me. There are others that are struggling to lose weight and using this a springboard. The fact is, that if they go the distance, they will either pay for it or they will quit. That experience will either motivate them to do the right things or they may never do it again. Sure, you are going to get some that show up with no training every time knowing they will get swept and potentially get the medal anyways. I like to believe that fraction is a small percentage compared to all those others. I know that if it had not been for Disney races, that I would never have discovered running and a passion I now have for it. And I also know that you are not trying to be judging, but you are calling out those that run slow. Here is the thing. Disney seeds you by your start time. If you are in it for speed and want fast times, you have no issues in running fast at Disney. I’ve run a 1:30 Half to over a 4 hour half. I’ve seen it from all perspectives. If you are placed in the front corrals, which assuming you would be if you wanted to run fast, trained and were looking for fast times, then you should have no issues running the way you want a Disney race.
To me the issue regarding crowding is fair, especially on the MK Half Marathons route where you are taken down to one lane. It gets tight, but it flows much better with the new corral system. Just remember, Disney means fun and enjoyment to many. I will take my time in a race and hit a lot of the characters along with other created stops with my camera. It is something that I chose to do, and if I start up front and I’m respectful of others by showing proper etiquette, then I have earned that right to finish in whatever finish time I want as long as I’m not being swept.
Bib Transfers- The black-market on bibs exist for every race from a local 5K to a major marathon. It happens. Disney has no control over that like many others. I think it would be terrible to require the person to pick up the bib in person if they are not going to offer race day pickup or mailing option. I show up to several of the World races the night before and cannot make it to packet pickup.
Proof of Time to Register- That discriminates against first timers. Go back to me. That would mean I would have to run a race first. I never ran outside, trained on the elliptical and finished the W&D in under 2 hours. Should I have not had that opportunity? Did I not belong?
And while mentioning bibs, the pre-checking of the bibs wouldn’t work. RunDisney screws up. It is a fact. My friend registered herself for Dopey and her Husband for the Half. Both the Bibs came back in his name, even though she had proof of registration. She was able to get the electronic timing corrected to her name, but the bib name had her husband’s name on it. This checking is just not practical and Disney isn’t 100% correct with what gets printed on those bibs. And there is no way you can have a volunteer verify a finish time as within a pace of start. Most of these issues are issues a lot of races face around the country. If they can’t be solved by others, is it fair to hold RD to a different standard?
I did enjoy the piece, but I just don’t see eye to eye on your opinion on several of the issues. I think Disney races, for the most part, can be taken the way you want them. It is hard for a middle packer to PR. No doubt about that, but are you really coming to Disney to PR? And even though some show up unprepared, I hope that it motivates them to do better and help motivate them to live a healthier life and make better choices going forward. As a person who used to way over 300lbs, I’m not going to knock anyone who tries, whether they give it zero effort or 100%. It all takes some courage to a degree to toe up to that starting line.
If I do have one complaint, Disney over sales some of the races. With that said, people are already complaining about how fast races sell out, so if they lower it numbers, they lose either way. The other is that they are testing supply & demand. It sucks they keep raising the price, but we keep buying. It is capitalism. It will find the point of less return, then we will see it come the other way.
I apologize if I came off negative. I just really wanted to give some other view points. Disney races will always be special. Whether they involve me winning an age group award one day and running the slowest half the next day, I do it with friends in a place that I love. Those memories are priceless to me.
Eddie, let me say I’m amazed that you went from training on the elliptical for Wine & Dine to qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Incredible! Your story is an inspiration.
I also agree with your supply and demand point. I have no fault with runDisney continuing to raise the prices when the races continue to sell out faster and faster.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply and different opinion Eddie.
Great article and I agree with all of it! I am not a runner but the mother of a runner who is thinking of giving up runDisney races after this last Princess Half Marathon. She ran for a charity who never submitted her time to runDisney. Based on her time she should have been in corral D but runDisney placed her in P and refused to allow her to change because she found out the charity didn’t submit her time after the 12/1 corral change deadline. But we have the last person to finish a raise in a higher corral! The crowds are overwhelming. The costs continue to rise and added to the cost of resort stay and food, each race is a large investment. As a non-runner who loves to visit WDW regularly they continue to add races to what used to be slow periods which now allow very few low attendance times at WDW.
Last year when my daughter and I traveled to DL for the Dumbo Double Dare the expo was a nightmare.
Janice, did you see our report on last year’s Dumbo Double Dare challenge? George Gensler submitted a race report, and talked about the crowds and lines extensively.
“2013 Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare Challenge and runDisney’s Stumble”
http://www.adventuresbydaddy.com/2013/09/07/2013-disneyland-dumbo-double-dare-rundisney-stumble/
Sounds like you had a similar experience.
@Eddie. I sincerely appreciate your comments and first & foremost I congratulate you on your weight loss. 100% proud of you and if the runDisney events encouraged this; I have no problems with that. I read your entire posting, but what I appreciate the MOST is you recognize your ability and start in the later corrals; letting us runners have A & B. My problem is too many others choose to ignore the fact that they are NOT runners and join us in Corral A. This is my biggest problem I have. Eddie, I agree that other races have corral problems; but believe me, it’s not as bad as RD races (walks) are.
@Janice. I was at the DL Expo and it was horrible. DL lets non-runners/participants enter the EXPO. One lady told the cashier that she would buy ALL the remaining purses. The next day they’re on eBay for up to twice the price.
I realize that it’s a few that spoil it, but RD is horrible. I say DOUBLE the prices of the races. (I own Disney stock). Raise the park admission again. It helps my investment in this company. Eddie, I did NOT take your comments as negative. Even though we may NOT agree on everything about these races; I respect & honor your opinion. They were not negative; just your heart-felt passion.
I just find it comforting that I am not alone in finding that these races are horribly ran. Like I mentioned in my first post; Corral F is for FUN. Actually any corral behind that.
@Janice. It’s a total sin that the charity placed your daughter in corral P
Wow, someone said they would buy all the remaining purses at the DL Half Expo? That’s ridiculous. That’s the type of thing that runDisney shouldn’t allow. There should be limits, and registered runners should have some sort of priority.
I appreciate this piece very much. As a first time half participant at WDW Marathon Weekend I had no idea what to expect. And I tried to postpone my event due to illness. But, like you said, it’s already paid. And I was running for a charity, also GKTW Village, and couldn’t rearrange my room. So I went down having not trained in a month fully anticipating the sweep. And when I completed the course i could not feel like a finisher being over pace. I finished in 3:50 with no character stops. But when I got my medal I was ecstatically thankful.
Also, who considers a super hero themed race to be gender neutral. Just sayin’.
And for any interested in reading my RD story you can find it here. https://www.facebook.com/RunDr.Run/posts/772807509414150
To clarify re “gender neutral”, I do agree that the theme is likely more appealing to males, of course. That said, the race itself does not include billing that targets males only, or a tagline like “join us for a celebration of Mens’ Health”, for instance.
On the contrary, both the Princess and Tink absolutely are gender specific, both in their billing, and in terms of many elements of the race itself.
It isn’t the theme that makes a race gender neutral or not. It is having corral penalties (someone running a 90 minute race should start in the same corral at the same time no matter what your gender) and not giving away the same amount of awards to each gender that makes a race either gender neutral or not.
There are other things too… like the shirts (only sized for women for PHM, though I believe Tink offered both), and how results are listed.
As I was saying above, it’s not the theme, it’s the billing of the event and details of the implementation.
Thanks for the clarification. I had no idea about this as I have never participated in either of these races.
Crystal, as someone who was there when you finished the WDW Half and saw your reaction and that of your family you definitely EARNED your medal. I’m very proud to be your teammate.
Thanks Dave
I’ve only run RD races since 2010, so my experiences are limited. However, in the span of those 4 years, I agree the races are not what they once were. In 2014 WDW marathon weekend, I was not fully prepared for the congestion on the course. It’s always been ‘busy’, but this year it was ridiculous. My times for the 5K, 10K, and half were slower than the previous years and I am a much stronger runner. It was not a lot of fun being ‘locked’ into a crowd of wall to wall walkers for a lot of the course, and there seemed to be a huge lack of race etiquette which drove me a little nuts. I like to have fun at these races. Yes, I take pics and enjoy myself, and yes I expect my times to be of a slower pace, but the frustration of the congestion was phenomenal. I’m not sure how RD can cure the disease of people registering for races they are not prepared for. I ‘get’ that RD races attract a field of less experienced runners, but I’m starting to see that many of these people aren’t ‘runners’ at all. They are more caught up in the ‘magic of Disney’. I do agree that medals should not be given out to people who do not finish. Perhaps that alone may curb some big ideals by some who take on Dopey, when maybe they should just be concentrating on one race, and train accordingly. While running is fun and good for everyone, it’s also dangerous if one is not trained. I fail to see a real emphasis on that amongst many runners as more and more I read about how someone is worried about being ‘swept’. I agree RD does a poor job at educating people how to train. They say, train at a ’15 minute per mile’ to keep in line with the 16 minute pace. I think this is inappropriate. Given the conditions on race day from a weather perspective, 2014 was particularly humid. Given the congestion on the course, and the weather, if one trained for a 15 minute mile, I doubt very much that was accomplished. As far as the shoes go, I did by a pair, only after researching the model and type of shoe it was and whether it would suit my needs. I wasn’t about to blow $100+ on looks alone. I was happy with my purchase, and yes, I am running in these shoes. Will I go back? The answer is yes. I do really enjoy the races. I just hope in time, more people treat it as a race first and foremost….enjoy the shoes, dressing up and the related merch, etc second!
What a great article! You hit the proverbial nail(s) on the head. I also used to really enjoy the Disney races, for the chance to run through the parks and take advantage of a flat, fast course. I ran my first Disney race at the marathon in 1999 and followed with the marathon in 2000 and the half in 2001. Great fun all around – plenty of room to run, well organized, festive atmosphere. Fast forward through years of having kids and assorted other time-consuming activities (but still running races, just not expensive ones)and I found myself at the Princess in 2012. I started in corral B, but I had to run in the grass most of the time to keep up my pace and was still constantly dodging people who were walking 6 across, stopping suddenly in the middle of the course to walk, adjust their costumes, etc. I’ve done a few of their races since then, but I think I’m finished. I belong to a few of the Disney-related forums on Facebook and I think what I find most appalling is the folks who boast about not training, and then explore various ways to cheat themselves into higher corrals to get a “cushion.” And people are positively boastful about not training. Once I saw a person ask what kind of underwear she should wear in the Princess and then said she had not trained at all. When I suggested that her underwear was the least of her concerns, she told me that I was being unsupportive and another person told me that I was jealous of people who don’t train at all and still finish, while I had “wasted” all that time training. So I think I’ll leave these particular events to the untrained for now on. But it shouldn’t have to be like this. I think the number one thing on my list – Disney should do a better job with the corrals, placing people according to their actual abilities, based on past race times. If you don’t have a past race time, you should be in the last corral, or last couple of corrals. As someone mentioned, those can be the “fun” corrals and if you don’t want to train, you can be in the fun corral and allow others to enjoy the race.
MParnell- I honestly think you are missing the point. If you toe that line, you are a runner. I don’t care what the pace is. IF you are in A&B Corral’s and “Slow” runners are getting in your way, then I honestly not sure you should be in those corrals to begin with. Other than at the start, those corrals sort themselves out quickly within the first mile. Trust me, I know. And to judge someone not a runner, well I can’t do that and neither should anyone else. You have no idea what battles someone has or has not been through to get to where they are. To insult them and imply they aren’t runners is just down right mean spirited in and of itself. And I say this as someone that will be toeing the Boston Marathon this April as a qualifier. The person that finishes first to last are all runners in my books and most others and that is why the running community is so great for the most part. I love Disney races because so many people start running through these races. You can pick races all over this country to go race and shoot for that PR. When you choose to run a Disney race, you KNOW there are going to be characters and people are going to stop. That is part of it.
I tend to agree with you Eddie, though I think the distinction of runner was meant more to imply those who are doing the work to be there, as opposed to those who just show up for a medal and some pictures.
I should also point out, in response to your earlier comment, that people like yourself are not at all who I was referring to. I somewhat regret that it still came across that I was calling out slower runners, as that isn’t my point at all… I mean only those not prepared or able to meet the requirements of the race. I suppose in some sense that in unavoidably conflated with being slow, however that is why I stress that it’s on each participant’s own recognizance to determine how they participate.
I appreciate your perspective as well, and despite your worry that you came off as overly negative, I actually like that we are able to look at these things from different perspectives, and do so respectfully. I am glad that people see different sides of this.
One point of yours were I have to disagree a bit however, is the assertion that one can earn a start in the front corrals, and then choose to proceed at a leisurely pace, etc, so long as they are following proper race etiquette. This doesn’t completely sit well for me… to start in a corral that is knowingly seeded for a much faster finish time, one is already in breach of proper race etiquette. While I realize that might sound like a nit pick at formality, it doesn’t take that many people all doing the same thing to start to create real congestion issues. And, of course, it also implies that the registrant put down an anticipated finish time that was inconsistent with reality. I’m sure this happens all the time, and probably not much that can be done about it. I do agree, however, that most of those are resolved before too long into the race. In my rD experience, it was more like 2-3 miles into the half, and the full still had the red/blue courses with the merge, which was it’s own issue at the time.
Tim- What was the last Disney race that you ran? Just wondering if you have experience with the new corral system or if you are going by a previous experience in how they used to do corrals? Based on your comments, I’m guessing you were in the old corral system in from C-E. I’ve gone off in several different corrals. While I know I can start at the front and not get in the way if I take my time around the course, I usually drop back to where my friends are and run with them. But every time I started a race in either A or B and run it, I’ve had ZERO issues with the crowding other than at the initial start. Like I’ve said, I’ve seen RD races from multiple positions and times from Top 25 finishes in races to toward the back. I do believe the new corral system is much better.
And I understand you didn’t intend to call out the slow runner, but if you read this, it really comes off that way.
I just caution anyone to judge someone else and whether they are trained or not trained for an event. I understand you will see others brag or comment about that, but hell, that is part of anything, and I think a very tiny fraction of the truth.
It was 2010, and I was in C for the half and D for the full… good guessing 🙂
I haven’t experienced the new system myself, though I have heard it is an improvement. I was registered for this year, but decided against participating as I hadn’t trained properly for it (so, on a somewhat related not, for anyone wondering, yes, I do put my money where my mouth is on that issue).
I still stand by my belief that when dealing with the issue of unpreparedness, it is somewhat unavoidable to look at the back of the pack. We may have to agree to disagree on the subtleties there.
I realize that some of the bragging and the like are only part truths, however I don’t think it can be denied that the level of concern over “How can I not get swept” is indeed quite common. I would love to see a shift in thinking such that real thrust of the question was “how can I improve my training and be better prepared for the event”.
I realize not everyone shares my opinion in this way, I just feel like over time the focus has shifted so much to medals, meet and greets, and all the various magical extras, that the reality of the event being 13.1 miles (for example) on foot is often lost in the shuffle.
@Eddie. I was NOT “mean-spirited” in my response. I agree that when I start near the front of Corral A I “usually” don’t have many issues, but when I run with a friend in Corral B, FORGET IT; the walkers have taken over the last part of Corral A.
I believe that you’re TOTALLY missing the point. You’re calling out the RUNNERS and basically trashing us for wanting to compete. That’s what I would call MEAN-SPIRITED. This is a race. Read both Deborah & Cindy comments above. They get it. They want to run. EVERYONE pays the same price. I’m NOT trying to set a PR on the Disney course, but I want to maintain my 8:30 mile pace. Apparently that’s asking to much from the non-runners.
I never trashed you out in my response like you took the liberty to. I still am not trashing you, but have some respect for runners. You say you’ve ran a 1:30 half; OUTSTANDING and you’ve even went slow with over 4 hours (I noticed it didn’t keep you out of Corral A; 2014 Princess though). This is my point. If I am planning on walking, I would NEVER disrespect my fellow runners and start in Corral A. This type of actions SCREAMS ones character and what type of individual they are.
Like I mentioned earlier, they should change the name from runDisney, to walkDisney.
Finally Eddie, I am proud of your accomplishments. I for one have never come close to a 1:30 half. My PR is 1:39:17 over 12+ years ago. Now I’m lucky with age to break 1:50, but I still try. The point is clear, EVERYONE can have fun! Let the runners have the first 10-15% of the race and the walkers can have the rest.
I am a slow wogger and agree with much of this article. I have completed over 60 half marathons in the last 2-1/2 years but my pace is slow. I have made improvements in my time since my very first half marathon. I will be honest to say I signed up for my first rD in 2012 – and then deferred when I was honest in my training to say I was not sure I could be fast enough to make the time requirement. I deferred to early 2013 and still did not think I could do it so did not even start as I could not live with the real chance of being swept and not earning my medal. It never occurred to me that I could “get” a medal that was not earned. I then signed up for WDW 2014 and earned my right to be there. I hit the time requirement at the Chicago RnR in 07/2013. I knew if I could do it once I could do it again. I did it many more times between July 2013 and January 2014. Then the race day came and it was hot and humid to this northern gal and I was worried about the time. I did not stop for pictures with the characters. i enjoyed the scenery and company of others. I finished in time and earned my medal. Disney is not the only race to have time limits and even some of my local half marathons have time limits of 3 hours or less. Even if I want to do them I have to be honest as to whether or not I can do it. Those that I want to do and I am not quite there time wise just means I have to work a bit harder to get there and take it as I can’t have it all. Just as I respect the Boston Marathon peeps – I would have to be 115 years old to be fast enough to think about qualifying (taking advantage of the slower qualifying times for advanced ages)….I don’t get to do it all. I am still an athlete and deserve to be out there …even at my turtles stampeding in peanut butter pace …. and every medal hanging on my wall was earned
I’m with Cindy- and I think we belong to the same Facebook forums. I saw so much effort going into costume details for the Princess event and not much common sense. Some girls would post cries for help because they had not trained properly; their longest run was 6 miles, school/kids/work got in the way of training, etc. The responses were ridiculously unrealistic; “Don’t worry, it’s Disney! Faith, trust and pixie dust will carry you along!” While encouraging, it certainly wasn’t helpful.
At the start of the Enchanted 10k I was at the back of corral B. Imagine my surprise when people in that corral started walking right out of the gate! They couldn’t even be bothered to run for two minutes to get out of the way. During the half marathon, I saw some of the rudeness that others referred to here. Many of the faster runners spent too much time waiting for character photos and punished the middle-of-the-packers by pushing through us to catch up to their corrals (or the next character stop). Overall, the new corral system is definitely improved but like some of you, I have had enough runDisney fun for now. I will explore more races around Florida and elsewhere. I will still love and visit Walt Disney World often, I just won’t pay a lot of money to run around like a maniac when I get there.
Really interesting article. Thank you for the well thought out analysis of what has been an astounding boom in popularity which has inevitably altered the runDisney culture. I’ll admit I was a little sad reading it, just because my Pollyanna attitude kicked in and I’m so reluctant to admit that I think Disney could be “slipping.” Especially runDisney since it’s my favorite arm of the company. But there have been changes that I’ll admit are not all that appealing. I guess when I started running the Disneyland Half 5 years ago, it still felt a little bit like a well-kept secret. It was this perfect synthesis of my two favorite things! Running and Disney! With each year the secret got out more and more and Disney started making more and more money. And when massive profit gets involved, some of the secret low-key running magic is bound to suffer. I find all of the merchandise absolutely bonkers, but I feel that way about all Disney merch, not just runDisney. People just go crazy for that stuff, and I never understood it. I especially agree with your point about people who buy the NB shoes and run in them the next day. Yikes! Blisters! I really try not to judge though because who knows. Maybe they know their feet and know they can handle it. Or maybe they are buying the shoes based on how cute they think they are, but are going to use them for cross training, or just to wear around. Doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be their running shoes. Like I said, benefit of the doubt, trying not to judge, all that jazz. The shoes are pretty darn cute . Another thought I had is that with the growth of runDisney, the company has no doubt come face to face with a major challenge, and that is the true marrying of your average Disney fan, and your average runner. It used to be, since it wasn’t all that well known, only the people who were runners AND Disney fans partook in the events. And that made it sort of perfect for we running Disney nerds. And then all of the non-running Disney fans were like “What is this awesome thing?” And they wanted to partake too. And mostly I think that’s INCREDIBLY awesome because it has encouraged health and exercise among people who otherwise may not have been that healthy. But on the OTHER hand, the more hard-core runners lose a bit of their race environment that they’re used to. I guess my point is that other races don’t face the same challenge. Almost any other race is going to attract people who are there because they want to run. Disney, just because of what it inherently is, was bound to at some point begin to attract ALL of its fans, runners and non-runners alike, and so there’s this blended culture that is just really hard to reconcile. It’s not enough to deter me. I still love runDisney, but I hope it doesn’t continue to edge out the more advanced runners such as you, as that will surely tip the scales from a blended racing event to a 100% beginner event. And while I don’t believe that’s inherently a bad thing, beginners are runners too, I wouldn’t want to be in that race as I’m not a beginner. I do hope runDisney always makes sure the focus is ultimately on running. So many thoughts! Probably none of them coherent 🙂 Anyway, thank you for sparking this interesting discussion!
I heard in a group on FB, that a male runner, carried the chip of his girlfriend and her friend. They said they reported it to RunDisney, but nothing was done about it. Maybe it takes more than 1 person to complain? I was shocked that this guy literally carried 3 different chips with him! He finished in like 2 hours, but the Marathon Foto pics of the 2 girls…show over 4 hours!
I realize I’m a little over a year late reading this, but I enjoyed your article very much! I love WDW and started running 2 years ago with a WDW half marathon being my goal race. I’ve trained for 2 years and ran 3 halfs last year and have 2 coming up in April and May 2015. I’m anxiously awaiting March 17th for the Wine & Dine Half registration to open. I say “anxiously” because so many different websites, blogs, chat boards, etc. have me worried that, even though I will be sitting at my computer when registration opens, I won’t be quick enough and the race will fill.
Your article pointed out something I hadn’t even thought about. I train so that I can run the entire 13.1. My times have been between 2:12 to 2:19. I can meet the pace requirements and finish. It infuriates me to think that there are people who won’t even finish that may possibly bump me out of registration.
I truly hope that everything I’ve read about how difficult it is to register is exaggerated.
Hey Norma,
Congratulations on great half-marathon times! You will increase your chances of registering right away if you are signed in to your Active account (in another tab or window) on your computer. Just keep refreshing the registration page on runDisney right at noon on your computer and click quickly when you see the link. With your proof of time, you will be placed in an earlier corral with runners who will be just as motivated as you to finish early and get to that great party!
Thanks for replying! I’ve been looking forward to this for so long! I hope I get in!
I’m very late in commenting on this post, but want to put in my 2 cents.
I did my first 1/2 marathon at a Disney event in 2013 and am glad I did as it was much better than my second 1/2 marathon. I even finished in 3 hours 5 minutes – even with the bottle necks on the course. I do understand your concerns about those of us who did our first race at Disney. At least Disney makes them start in the last coral now.
I totally agree with folks unprepared. I can’t tell you how many people told me at the expo that they signed up for the Dopey but have no intention of running all 4 races. Disney should not let them sign up for the Dopey the following year.
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Such an impressive answer! You’ve beaten us all with that!
RunDisney has lost their magic. They along with the rest of Disney have become more known for greed versus service.
RunDisey has basically the most expensive race(s) in the county based on distances (meaning I am not including ultras). They also offer the bare minimum in terms of support. For example, when the weather is hot (which is often in FL), they NEVER include cold drinks. Spending a few hundred on ice is out of their budget apparently.
The attendance is down. Registration is down over the past several years. All of the smaller fun races such as the ESPN 5K and Tower of Terror 10K are all gone.
So is the magic.