I am still in WDW posting from a net book so I have not had a chance to really look at pictures or the data out of may garmin. This weekend is when I will do that, and will look at the course map and compare it to what my GPS track says.
I think RunDisney had some logistical probelms. I parked at EPCOT and took the shuttle over, but that was a mess. I don't think they planned on all the traffic comming into EPCOT. Then entrance plaza was backed up for a mile. There was also a problem with exiting traffic having to cross the path of the incomming traffic. Once we got in an parked there were plenty of busses though.
The start was not bad- packed, but not bad. I was in corral C. My friends who had come to watch the start then took the shuttle back to the finish line. Their shuttle driver got lost and ended up getting to the finish line AFTER the top finishers had already crosses.
As an aside, My brother and sister-in-law were staying in Animal Kingdom Lodge. They were not at the race (small children) and were trying to get back to the resort from DTD. They were at the stop (with 20 or so other people) and were told that there were no busses running to AKL because of the race. They said they knew it was going to be congested and traffic a problem, but how can you just shut down transportation to an entire resort from 9:30 PM to 2:00 AM? They then put a bus on that route and drove the people over (through horticulture as it were)
The race itself was 80% good. Some parts were insanely narrow. That on-ramp after the double-back heading into DHS was a killer. Not because of the hill, but because you are running across a fall line. That is a pretty serious side slope on that section.
Running up the highway was horrible. Headlights in my eyes, no lighting, and cop cars with their lights on. I just ran blind and hoped I did not fall into a hole. I did see quite a few people in that section with lights.
Yes, The areas in and about DHS seemed LONG, but thats just how they have to be. Got to get the miles in somewhere
Finish was pretty confusing. But there were a LOT of people in that race, and I finished with the bulk of them (two hour 28 minutes). They could not find my bag at the bag check, and I had to back after about an hour when they had thinned out the pile, and they could locate it. So I walked around in cold, wet, sweaty clothes (with my free drink and eat tickets in the bag) for about an hour.
We rode Malestrom and Gran Fiesta and were the only people on the rides. Gran Fiesta is tad bit cold when you are drenched in sweat.
I thought the party was pretty lame, as did my friends. There really was nothing to do except go to the food kiosks. Sure there were some bands. Mulch, Sweat, and Shears did a really good job. But it was amazingly crowded and with nothing to do except eat (even shops were closed) the lines for the food stalls were huge. It was not even as if you could say you were paying extra for the ability to visit food&wine and get faster, easier, access to the food. You paid extra to get in, in order to fight through crowds, see less entertainment, and wait in longer lines to pay the same for food.
So, in summary. I was happy with the race, aside from some logistial problems, which I think they will iron out (it was an inaugral race after all) but I don't think I would go to the after party again.
Oh, I noticed a LOT of what looked like new shoes at the start. I also noticed a lot of people eating the Clif shots. They were really pushing them. "Have a Clif shot, you need the energy for the last 5 miles". I do use/carry Clif Bars when hiking, but only used Shot Blox once but did not like them. I'll stick with what I know works. GU Chomps - Apple Cranberry w/caffene
There seemed to be a lot of people pushing the end in DHS. There were times I could not run because of walkers spread across the path. I found that section of the run deoralizing for some reason.
Lots of people taking poweraide too, not as many down by the water at the stops. I grabbed poweraide once by accident. Luckly it does not bother my stomach (not much does
). Toward the end of the race they were really announcing "Poweraide first, water at the end".
-dave
