Thanks, @Swissmiss!
I'm just glad it's the last morning I have to wake up early at WDW. And it's my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
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Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side
- Thread starter HolleBolleGijs
- Start date
Thanks, @Swissmiss!
I'm just glad it's the last morning I have to wake up early at WDW. And it's my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
Swissmiss
Premium Member
@LAKid53 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! I ran the DLP half the day before my birthday last year and on the day of we went to have breakfast at Cafe Mickey (DLP's very poor imitation of Chef Mickey) so i could get a birthday photo with Mickey and friends before taking the train home. Hope you've got a fun reservation somewhere later today to celebrate the birthday in style with ALL your medals. (If I make it over for the marathon weekend, I think I want to do Hoop-Dee-Doo as my after the half reward dinner because it's the type of food I can't get over here unless I make it myself).
LizaMarie89
Active Member
Waiting to go to our corral! Love to everyone running and cheering (even from afar!)
I'm doing the new restaurant near Jungle Boat for a late lunch/early dinner so I can finally have a brew!
Back at you! Good luck on your first runDisney Half!
LizaMarie89
Active Member
I finished and will have stories to tell when I get home
Figment82
Well-Known Member
But Sunday's my birthday and I was planning on celebrating (if my feet hold up) in the Magic Kingdom in the afternoon.
The Weather Channel app also has rain in the afternoon and evening - mostly cloudy during the day before the rain comes.
This morning's 5k at Epcot was nice - not too warm (around 60 at race time). Once we got through the International Gateway, it was nice and cool, with a bit of a breeze. Like someone had turned on the A/C in that part of the park.
I ran into to these guys:
Aw bummer! Happy birthday though! I don't think it will be a complete wash out this afternoon/evening, and at least it'll keep the crowds low!
As for the race this morning, ugh what a beast! Not my best by a long shot. You'd think after training for years in central Florida humidity, I'd be used to it. Far from it! The crazy winds that have been around for weeks (even up until last night) seemed to completely vanish. The stagnant, humid air, coupled with a course that never thinned out, equaled one of my worst race experiences. Once I saw my 15K time, I knew I wasn't going to hit the time goal I wanted, and I certainly didn't want to make myself sick and push too much.
I was in F (F3 I think), and I'm used to being in the backish part of the pack, but I feel I spent a lot of wasted effort weaving around others. At most of the water stops, people would crowd the first person handing out PowerAde, coming to a complete stop.
I liked the course being different, but it never seemed to give people a chance to spread out. My running app recorded me at 13.8, which i believe is the highest distance I've recorded on a runDisney course.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. I hope everyone had a better experience than me! Wasn't my race this time, but there's always another one. And since I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm sure I'll be signing up for next year's Dark Side Half as well...
Aw bummer! Happy birthday though! I don't think it will be a complete wash out this afternoon/evening, and at least it'll keep the crowds low!
As for the race this morning, ugh what a beast! Not my best by a long shot. You'd think after training for years in central Florida humidity, I'd be used to it. Far from it! The crazy winds that have been around for weeks (even up until last night) seemed to completely vanish. The stagnant, humid air, coupled with a course that never thinned out, equaled one of my worst race experiences. Once I saw my 15K time, I knew I wasn't going to hit the time goal I wanted, and I certainly didn't want to make myself sick and push too much.
I was in F (F3 I think), and I'm used to being in the backish part of the pack, but I feel I spent a lot of wasted effort weaving around others. At most of the water stops, people would crowd the first person handing out PowerAde, coming to a complete stop.
I liked the course being different, but it never seemed to give people a chance to spread out. My running app recorded me at 13.8, which i believe is the highest distance I've recorded on a runDisney course.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. I hope everyone had a better experience than me! Wasn't my race this time, but there's always another one. And since I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm sure I'll be signing up for next year's Dark Side Half as well...
Thanks!
I agree about the packed course. I was in G2. No matter how many times the announcers talk about proper course etiquette, people still bunch up, walk more than two abreast, don't announce when they are passing you or switch to walking. I actually had some jerk push me out of her way around mile 12 - not tap me on the shoulder or say coming through, but actually push me.
If I hadn't been so pooped by that time, I would have said something. Or smacked her....My Fitbit showed 13.45 miles before the Disney 13 mile marker. And like a fool, I forgot to stop it when I crossed the finish line.
Figment82
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
I agree about the packed course. I was in G2. No matter how many times the announcers talk about proper course etiquette, people still bunch up, walk more than two abreast, don't announce when they are passing you or switch to walking. I actually had some jerk push me out of her way around mile 12 - not tap me on the shoulder or say coming through, but actually push me.
My Fitbit showed 13.45 miles before the Disney 13 mile marker. And like a fool, I forgot to stop it when I crossed the finish line.
Oh goodness! That's just awful! There's never an excuse for behavior like that. Glad you're okay and didn't take a stumble or anything!
I was walking at the time. These races must bring out the occasional runners - I can't imagine regulars pushing another runner out of their way. It's not like I was preventing her from getting a medal for Top 3 in either age or gender....
Swissmiss
Premium Member
Even an occasional runner should know better - it's unacceptable to push someone in everyday life; this doesn't change just because it's a race.
I had a woman do it to me twice in an unranked walking race a few weeks ago - both times she suddenly decided she needed to get around me in locations where there was no room between me and a left side barrier and both times she lost her balance and shoved into me as she tried to right herself. I just gave her a "Really???" look and continued. Was happy to cross the finish line ahead of her though
I had a woman do it to me twice in an unranked walking race a few weeks ago - both times she suddenly decided she needed to get around me in locations where there was no room between me and a left side barrier and both times she lost her balance and shoved into me as she tried to right herself. I just gave her a "Really???" look and continued. Was happy to cross the finish line ahead of her though
LizaMarie89
Active Member
I got screamed at for walking through a water stop by this woman. Like I had stopped but I didn't stop at all.
I ended up being super slow because I ended up walking with two women - one I was trying to get to a medical tent and the other just had heart surgery and I ended up giving her a gel to hopefully help her.
But I was kinda irritated with those who were so rude.
I ended up being super slow because I ended up walking with two women - one I was trying to get to a medical tent and the other just had heart surgery and I ended up giving her a gel to hopefully help her.
But I was kinda irritated with those who were so rude.
Why would someone who just had heart surgery run a half marathon on a warm day?
The last 2 miles at Epcot are always a congested nightmare - people trying to run through packed people with not much room on either side to get around. I think they should really rethink that last part of the race.
Really liked the course...but the staging at MK parking lot was horrible. Lines for the porta potties made it difficult to get to your corral. If runDisney continues to use the MK parking lot, they really need to rethink how they set it up.
Glad you were able to finish and kudos to helping a runner in distress. Hopefully this particular race experience won't discourage you from participating in other runDisney events.
Edit: I usually walk through a water stop since the road tends to be wet and I don't want to slip and fall.
Figment82
Well-Known Member
Looking good! Hope you're enjoying your birthday at MK! It looks like it turned into a nice evening - at least over where I live, hopefully it's the same on property. We had maybe two seconds of rain.
And guess what came back? That stupid breeze! So irritating!
Looking good! Hope you're enjoying your birthday at MK! It looks like it turned into a nice evening - at least over where I live, hopefully it's the same on property. We had maybe two seconds of rain.
And guess what came back? That stupid breeze! So irritating!
I did, thank you.
The guy at the entry point saw my medal, and noticed I was moving really slowly, so he reminded me I should take the train. He said he's had several other guests earlier in the day who were walking like me. I must admit climbing those stairs was rough, but it would have been worse walking all the way to Thunder Mountain. Rode a couple of other rides before having dinner at Skipper Canteen. The steak was okay, but the mashed potatoes and filafal I ordered as a appetizer were amazing. So was their special punch. I really wanted a brew, but I was so exhausted I would have face planted in my food. My server joked he'd have to call security to escort me out of the park.... He brought me a chocolate volcano cake. It was tasty - a vast improvement over those stale cupcakes they used to give you. I was going to get a Dole Whip for dessert, but who can turn down free chocolate? If only MK would sell those frozen pineapples the Poly does - Aloha Isle would be packed 24/7.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Paris? No, I won't be doing that again. Absolutely loved it but it was a one-time deal for me. Yes, the weather was great and the course was nice. Loved the countryside. And a high school band with cheerleaders? In France?
(Come on Tokyo!)
Texas84
Well-Known Member
So yeah, I took this one slow because of the humidity. Haven't looked at my Garmin yet but think I was pacing well until the sun came up. But it was overcast, thank goodness. Was trying to get in as many miles before sunrise. Yep, luckily heard a volunteer say there were more ports at the corrals. Got in and out real quick. I like the new corral layout, just like the Marathon weekend 5K and 10K.
I still love running through the parks but runDisney isn't even trying anymore. The run through the Ewok Battle of Bear Island was very cool but after that, basically nothing except a few photo ops. Lots of Troopers though.
I still love running through the parks but runDisney isn't even trying anymore. The run through the Ewok Battle of Bear Island was very cool but after that, basically nothing except a few photo ops. Lots of Troopers though.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
Two reasons:
1) Running GPS are not 100% accurate. The courses however are certified.
2) The certified distance is the shortest possible route. So you would have to hit all the corners perfectly.