Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
No, you are confusing a world class marathon like the Boston Marathon with Disney. I feel that even if someone is to win the marathon at Disney it has some real value both in pride and accomplishment. However, the medals I am talking about are the ones that are passed out as participants. Those have not much more then momento value. That is the medal that the big winners are complaining about and it is like comparing donuts to bagels, they may outwardly look the same from a distance, but, they are not even close to being the same thing. They offer no threat to the serious runner, they offer no recognition other then participating and are usually only impressive to the holder and no one else. At Disney it may signify a tremendous accomplishment for that individual person, but, holds no impressive nature to anyone else except a handful of relatives.
It did manage to possibly do a world of good and instill a modicum of happiness to a person whose self image is in dire need of lifting. This isn't a kiddie accomplishment it is a beat up adult accomplishment and there is no better place on the planet to get that then at the "fun" runs (or walks) that Disney provides. It really escapes me how anyone would want to deprive people of that chance for rebirth when it does nothing to lesson the accomplishments of those that ran the full or half and accomplished something way out of reach of those that got their rubber medal saying that, at least they tried.
You seem to think that I am belittling they accomplishment of your Father. Nothing could be further from the truth. What he did at his age is phenomenal and worthy of all the accolades that can be found. That said, if someone at the end of the line walked across the finish line a number of hours after he did that wouldn't take anything away from his accomplishments would it? Can you name anyone other then him that you can even remember their name even if they came in second? Of course not. That is why I feel it is a non-issue, it does no one any harm and helps many. That to me is the purpose of Disney and the reason that they can continue to get away with high prices and money making schemes they are in the business of making people happy.
Like I said we will have to agree to disagree the WDW Run Disney. We just look at the sport differently when held at this venue. I've seen athletes poke fun at baseball spring training at WDW too as Mickey Mouse spring training. It is just an individual perspective
Other than my niece that has been named by one running organization as the female runner of the year and has won in her age group, no I can't name the people who have won. But on the same token, I rarely remember who wins the World Series or SuperBowl or who the MVP was. It isn't just running, I just don't seem to retain the names of the winners in any sport, let alone retaining their names. Some are good at that, me not so much. My BlackHawks did win the Stanley Cup but I couldn't tell ya who the MVP was.