First timer questions?

shortcake6679

shortcake6679

New Member
Original Poster
This will be the first time for me to run a marathon(well actually trying the half marathon) Any tips on what to do? Like the chEAR squad, pasta in the park, did anyone buy and do this before? Submitting times- do I need to run another race to submit my time? Any other tips would be appreciated, Thanks!
 
imagination30

imagination30

Well-Known Member
submitting times yes ! , that is key ... a the half has to be a 10k or longer.
marathon has to be 10miler or longer .. and has be in by nov. I think that what it was last year!

as far as tips .: just train properly .. listen to your body and have fun!
 
lukacseven

lukacseven

Well-Known Member
Are you planning in running the entire race, run/walking or just walking? Definitely get a 10k or longer in, especially if you're running. If you don't have proof of time by registration, you can print out results and bring them to the Disney Expo when you pick-up your race packet (they even have stations to look up and print results there). With this proof of time, they will allow you to change corrals. If you're running the whole race, you want to be in one of the forward corrals, as there are a lot of walkers (who should be seeded near the back, if Disney does it right).

Never did the ChEAR Squad or pasta party or any of the other extras. Book your dining as far in advance as you can. The restaurants serving pasta tend to fill up quickly the nights before the races.
 
-em

-em

Well-Known Member
IMO Cheer Squad and Pasta Party are both overrated- I think the pasta at Port Orleans Riverside was 10x better than the pasta party food- the characters had super long lines and was not worth the $$ (and I didnt even PAY to go..)

If you can get a 10K run before the deadline thatd be VERY recommended esp if you tend to be a slower runner (I tend to run 13-14 min miles and my proof of time still gets me to corral I out of P)

which race will you be running? each tends to be unique so knowing will be able to give very specific details (as DLR races are totally different than WDW fall races (Tower/Wine) then WDW 'winter' races (Marathon weekend/Princess)

-em
 
Kristia

Kristia

Well-Known Member
@shortcake6679 - Definitely run a race to get a qualifier time to submit. Even if it isn't a spectacular time, it should help you move up in the corrals and be ahead of people who didn't submit a time. I have never done the pasta in the park or ChEAR squad. As for the Pasta in the Park, I always found the price to be too high and would rather eat at a restaurant for a cheaper price. There are plenty of places for your family to cheer you on without paying extra for it. The RunDisney web site will have a list of good places for people to see you or you can ask for advice here.

@lukacseven - Unfortunately they don't allow you to bring proof of time to the expo anymore. It must be submitted a few months in advance. I think it got to be too many people trying to change corrals last minute.
 
shortcake6679

shortcake6679

New Member
Original Poster
Thank you so much for the advice. I just started training for the half at wdw in Jan 2015. I hope to run all of it , but right now not so sure. @-em thank you, I was hoping for some opinions on all the extras. I'm real excited, and even the kids are excited, may even do the family run. does anyone know if you can get the race packet mailed to you, we would like to do the family run, but will not be able to arrive till the night before, probably too late to get the packet. Thanks to everyone again!:)
 
Kristia

Kristia

Well-Known Member
You have to pick up the packets at the expo and apparently there is a new rule that you have to pick them up in person and can't have anyone pick them up for you.
 
-em

-em

Well-Known Member
The Donald half is one of my favs (will be running it also!)

Ive seen the new packet pickup rules (doesnt affect me at all as I always pick up my own stuff) but ALSO heard that they will offer race day pickup which I think will be a *HUGE* benefit that I see myself taking advantage off (instead of having to use a whole vaca day for a 30 min ordeal since i often work though 'expo hours')

-em
 
dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Definitely try to do a race in advance to get better corral seeding. It's not the end of the world, but being properly placed will make your life easier.

chEAR squad is really only useful if you have people who absolutely must see you finish, and who can't/don't want to fight for space on the fence and stand for a few hours. Otherwise you are really just buying the merchandise.
Pasta in the park - I wouldn't bother. As pointed out you can get equal or better food elsewhere for much less.

I would suggest planning on arriving a day or two in advance of your race. It may take a shift on your end, but giving yourself that leeway in January can be crucial when planes can easily be delayed/canceled through storms somewhere in the country. Having that padding can alleviate alot of stress leading up to the event.
 
JillC LI

JillC LI

Well-Known Member
shortcake6679 said:
This will be the first time for me to run a marathon(well actually trying the half marathon) Any tips on what to do? Like the chEAR squad, pasta in the park, did anyone buy and do this before? Submitting times- do I need to run another race to submit my time? Any other tips would be appreciated, Thanks!
Click to expand...

Others are doing a good job of answering your questions, but I just wanted to tell you that the cake in your photo icon is amazing. Did you make that yourself?
 
JillC LI

JillC LI

Well-Known Member
shortcake6679 said:
@JillC LI - Thanks! Yes I make cakes, as my second job. Thought it was fitting to use this one here.
Click to expand...

I just forwarded a picture of your cake to my daughter because I knew she'd love it too, and she wrote back "Make this for me." LOL, yeah right, not in this lifetime. You're not located on Long Island by any chance, are you?!
 
LWB

LWB

Active Member
Will someone offer their thoughts about the Expo for first-time runners? I know we'll have to pick up packets in person but how long should we expect to be at the Expo? Is there transportation offered to the Expo or do we take our own car? Trying to figure out how much time it will take out of the day and any times better than others to go.

One other thing - merchandise at the Expo - is a lot of it generic runDisney stuff you would see the same at each race, or is most of it specific to that particular race?
 
dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
LWB said:
Will someone offer their thoughts about the Expo for first-time runners? I know we'll have to pick up packets in person but how long should we expect to be at the Expo? Is there transportation offered to the Expo or do we take our own car? Trying to figure out how much time it will take out of the day and any times better than others to go.

One other thing - merchandise at the Expo - is a lot of it generic runDisney stuff you would see the same at each race, or is most of it specific to that particular race?
Click to expand...

The time at the Expo will be completely up to you. Packet & shirt pickup can take 10-20 mins, depending on lines. Outside of that you can leave immediately, or spend hours checking out the booths, and attending presentations. If you have no need for sparkly skirts, and brought all the gels/goos/sneakers you need, the Expo can be really quick. But if you have a habit of buying all sorts of new things to run in, and find some of the speakers interesting, you can spend a chunk of time there. If you are staying at a WDW host resort (IE one that has transportation to the race start) there will also be transportation to the Expo. I believe that the normal WWoS bus runs as well, but the runDisney expo buses are usually a more direct route.

The merch is a mix of both. And even the generic runDisney stuff isn't always the same from event to event. Maybe 25% runDisney stuff, to 75% event specific. But of that 75%, keep in mind that they often have the same thing for each event in the weekend. So in January they will have maybe 10 things, that are done in Dopey, Goofy, Mickey and Donald. Same exact stuff, just different colors with a different logo on it. Expect a short sleeve tech shirt, long sleeve tech shirt, track jacket of some sort, hoody, pint glass, wine glass, sweatyband/bondiband, sticker, magnet, running hat, pin. Throw in a "I Did It" shirt and a "In Training for..." shirt, and you pretty much have the standard runDisney merchandise.
 
lukacseven

lukacseven

Well-Known Member
LWB said:
Will someone offer their thoughts about the Expo for first-time runners? I know we'll have to pick up packets in person but how long should we expect to be at the Expo? Is there transportation offered to the Expo or do we take our own car? Trying to figure out how much time it will take out of the day and any times better than others to go.

One other thing - merchandise at the Expo - is a lot of it generic runDisney stuff you would see the same at each race, or is most of it specific to that particular race?
Click to expand...

The Expo can take as long as you want, depending on if you choose to browse the vendors or check out the complex. If you are just picking up your bib and shirt, I would say from your resort and back it's at least a good hour, but that could be more or less depending on the day and time you go, as well. There is transportation from every WDW resort to/from the WWOS Complex. The Expo is in 2 main buildings - packet pick-up is in the Milkhouse building on 2 levels, depending on what race(s) you're doing. I believe the upper level was reserved for Goofy/Dopey and the other races were on the lower level (floor). You'll get your bib here and there are stations and monitors to confirm. There's also an official merchandise area & they have speaking seminars here. In the past official race gear was by Champion and they offered generic branded RunDisney merch. as well as race specific items (usually 2 t-shirts plus a hat/visor & a long sleeve shirt/jacket for the half, full, goofy, dopey are available & other items like pins, glasses, etc.). Then they filter you over to the Jostens Center to pick-up your race shirt(s). This is where all the vendors are & a second official merch. area (The one in the first building is usually less crowded, but they sell the same items). They will publish a list of vendors & a map in the official race program which is typically released a few weeks before the race.
 
Fievel

Fievel

RunDisney Addict
Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog in the few weeks prior to the race. They usually feature a lot of the race merchandise, so you can have a plan of attack before you go. Specialty items will sell out quickly, and if you want something specific, get there the first day.
 

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