Wine and Dine Half-Marathon

[joel_maxwell]

As you can all tell I am kind of new to the site, but wanted to start some threads anyways.

So I am planning on running in the Inaugural Wine and Dine Half-Marathon at Disney World this October. I was just wondering how many of you are thinking of doing as well. What do think of the concept of this new race?

P.S. Even if your not planning on participating in this, your thoughts will be a valued part of the discussion.

I am planning on running it. I plan on registering in about 2 weeks (certain reasons are forcing that).

I think it will be interesting. I have run 1 half a few weeks ago here i Birmingham (The Mercedes) and I am running another in April at the Talladega Super Speedway. I think the race at night will be intriguing.

I think the way it will work with my family is that it will be on the tail end of a vacation. Im not sure how fresh my legs will be after chasing a 22 month old around WDW, but I have already decided that this half will be for the fun of it and not stress about time.

Like I said above, I plan on registering for it

I think a running section would be great as well.

I still haven't pulled the trigger on this race. I really want to do it, I just have not had the time to see what sort of availability for DVC I can get, what the airfare is like, and what work is like.

-dave

I am excited about the running section. I cant make it back down for the regular half in January since I would have to book seperate airfare and lodging. This is it, my best shot at participating in WDW Half while already down there.

Bring on the Mickey Bling medal.

 

[wdwmagic]

Hi guys,

I would have no problem in making a running section if I can see enough interest on the boards. If a couple of running threads can show interest in General Discussion that would be great.

 

[dreamfinder]

Bring on the Mickey Bling medal.

Planning on doing the Full in January at some point? Thats the only way to get the Mickey ears medal. And gosh do they look awesome....

Hi HollyBelle,

I was also surprised that there were no characters in any of the fall endurance series races. From what I understand there are always characters in half and full marathons.

Didn't do the fall races last year, but the first ToT race had no characters, which was a complaint from many runners. The second ToT race they had a spot out after you left the WWoS complex, where there were 4 or 5 villains. Completely unexpected, unannounced, and over way to fast. But that was it. Nothing at all like the characters on course for the regular half and full in January.

 

[stainofmind]

A running section would be great. That other board charges now.

Running a half (or full) at WDW is an experience every runner should have at some point, but my wife and I learned from our experiences (her in the Princess Half, me in the WDW Marathon) that you don't come down here to run a fast time. With the touristy stuff, the walking, the jet-lag, sharing a room with the kids, the food, the other temptations, and the early start times, and early, early, early rise time required to utilize Disney transportation (expect to wake up 2:30-3:00 AM), it's just not conducive to a breakthrough performance, or even a performance that is up to most expectations. Also, if you're like me, the next day or two will be miserable trying to get around the parks. So it's kind of a lose-lose whether you arrive well before your race, or spend most time at the parks after your race.

That said, I can't think of a single place on Earth I would rather be after a marathon than at the WS, eating and drinking until someone needs to scrape me out of my seat, or off the pavement.

 

[TowerOfTerror]

I just ran my first Disney race a few weeks ago which was the ESPN 5K. It was pretty cool running backstage and running through the park. Now I am thinking about doing the Wine and Dine as long as my knees hold up. Everest challenge would be cool to do but is way too expensive for me!

A runners section would be awesome! :king:

 

[MKCP 1985]

I'm not sure how many of the thousands of Disney race runners are active in the discussion forums. There have been other threads like this that just seem to wither on the vine. It would be great to get a runners' thread or forum going. :king:

I am on the fence about the Wine and Dine - it is only 3 months before the Disney marathon which I will be doing for the third year, and we live too far away to easily make it down and back just for the race. Still, there is only one chance to participate in the inaugural event! If it looks like it is going to sell out, I will have to make the decision at that time. Otherwise, it may be a last minute decision.

 

[frank2271]

A running section would be great. That other board charges now.

Running a half (or full) at WDW is an experience every runner should have at some point, but my wife and I learned from our experiences (her in the Princess Half, me in the WDW Marathon) that you don't come down here to run a fast time. With the touristy stuff, the walking, the jet-lag, sharing a room with the kids, the food, the other temptations, and the early start times, and early, early, early rise time required to utilize Disney transportation (expect to wake up 2:30-3:00 AM), it's just not conducive to a breakthrough performance, or even a performance that is up to most expectations. Also, if you're like me, the next day or two will be miserable trying to get around the parks. So it's kind of a lose-lose whether you arrive well before your race, or spend most time at the parks after your race.

That said, I can't think of a single place on Earth I would rather be after a marathon than at the WS, eating and drinking until someone needs to scrape me out of my seat, or off the pavement.

This is SO true, we stayed at a Disney resort for all the races we have done and it is very tough getting to sleep early when others are just getting back from the parks and going back out to eat or swim. As far as the Disney transportation, we had to wake up at 2:40 am to be on the bus before 4:00am, man that was early. But the system they have going is fantastic, one thing Disney knows how to do well is move large amounts of people.

My family and I run at Disney for fun. It is too difficult to be in peak performance for the day of the race, atleast I'm not willing to sacrafice my fun time at the parks for a personal best.

Keep up the thread and maybe we can get our own thread!!!! :sohappy:

 

[joel_maxwell]

I'm not sure how many of the thousands of Disney race runners are active in the discussion forums. There have been other threads like this that just seem to wither on the vine. It would be great to get a runners' thread or forum going. :king:

I am on the fence about the Wine and Dine - it is only 3 months before the Disney marathon which I will be doing for the third year, and we live too far away to easily make it down and back just for the race. Still, there is only one chance to participate in the inaugural event! If it looks like it is going to sell out, I will have to make the decision at that time. Otherwise, it may be a last minute decision.

I guess Im going to have to hound you here too Doug. Come on and do it. :lol:

 

[GoofyRacer11]

This is SO true, we stayed at a Disney resort for all the races we have done and it is very tough getting to sleep early when others are just getting back from the parks and going back out to eat or swim. As far as the Disney transportation, we had to wake up at 2:40 am to be on the bus before 4:00am, man that was early.

At least for this race you would not have to worry about waking up so early in the morning.

 

[joel_maxwell]

At least for this race you would not have to worry about waking up so early in the morning.

Yes, but knowing Disney and what I have heard, they will require runners to be at DWWoS at probably 6pm for a 10PM race.

 

[MKCP 1985]

Well, you know you will have to walk a mile to get into your proper corral for the start of the race, so you've got to allow time for that, plus bag check, so my guess would be a suggested arrival time of 8 pm.

But that's just a guess. :shrug:

 

[joel_maxwell]

Well, you know you will have to walk a mile to get into your proper corral for the start of the race, so you've got to allow time for that, plus bag check, so my guess would be a suggested arrival time of 8 pm.

But that's just a guess. :shrug:

8 is doable. Im gald they will enforce the corral times.

Im wondering if we start at DWWoS and end at Epcot, if you have a bag that was checked, do you think they will transport them to Epcot for pickup? The main point of finishing at Epcot is to enjoy the festival.

If you finished and wanted you bag, that would stink to have to return to the start and then back to Epcot. If that is the case, Ill probably rent a locker at Epcot, leave all my change of clothes there etc, go over to WWoS for the start.

Im sure they will have some sort of accommodations. Thoughts?

 

[MKCP 1985]

They would probably bus the bags over to the finish line.

 

[frank2271]

At least for this race you would not have to worry about waking up so early in the morning.

That was a good thing about the ToT race. It started late also and it was nice to relax at the pool and get a small nap in the afternoon. I really enjoyed that race.

 

[frank2271]

8 is doable. Im gald they will enforce the corral times.

Im wondering if we start at DWWoS and end at Epcot, if you have a bag that was checked, do you think they will transport them to Epcot for pickup? The main point of finishing at Epcot is to enjoy the festival.

If you finished and wanted you bag, that would stink to have to return to the start and then back to Epcot. If that is the case, Ill probably rent a locker at Epcot, leave all my change of clothes there etc, go over to WWoS for the start.

Im sure they will have some sort of accommodations. Thoughts?

Again, at the ToT race it started at WWoS and ended at DHS and they did bus the bags over. No worries.

 

[joel_maxwell]

They would probably bus the bags over to the finish line.

I guess our question is answered

Again, at the ToT race it started at WWoS and ended at DHS and they did bus the bags over. No worries.

Thanks, That will be nice.

Now all i have to do is remember to pack some toiletries to take a bird bath in the bathroom at Epcot so I dont completely stink too bad.

 

[frank2271]

I guess our question is answered

Thanks, That will be nice.

Now all i have to do is remember to pack some toiletries to take a bird bath in the bathroom at Epcot so I dont completely stink too bad.

You won't be alone...

 

[GoofyRacer11]

Yes, but knowing Disney and what I have heard, they will require runners to be at DWWoS at probably 6pm for a 10PM race.

I would rather do that than wake up at 2:30 in the morning to go run. That's just my personal opinion. I'm sure others prefer to wake up early. Besides I usually do not go to the parks until after I run a race at Disney.

 

[fmingo36]

A running section would be great. That other board charges now.

Running a half (or full) at WDW is an experience every runner should have at some point, but my wife and I learned from our experiences (her in the Princess Half, me in the WDW Marathon) that you don't come down here to run a fast time. With the touristy stuff, the walking, the jet-lag, sharing a room with the kids, the food, the other temptations, and the early start times, and early, early, early rise time required to utilize Disney transportation (expect to wake up 2:30-3:00 AM), it's just not conducive to a breakthrough performance, or even a performance that is up to most expectations. Also, if you're like me, the next day or two will be miserable trying to get around the parks. So it's kind of a lose-lose whether you arrive well before your race, or spend most time at the parks after your race.

That said, I can't think of a single place on Earth I would rather be after a marathon than at the WS, eating and drinking until someone needs to scrape me out of my seat, or off the pavement.

Since the Princess 1/2 was my first run ever, I really didn't have any expectation for time. But the amount of actual runners surprised me. Getting through the mobs made it almost impossible to really "run" at all. There were some very small path areas (around mile 7/GrandFloridian) that we ran on the grass instead of of the pavement.
You run the marathon for the Disney experience(the characters, the music, the castle) and can't imagine any other race being anything like it. My BFF wants to run a 1/2 at Cape Cod in May, and honestly I think I'll have a better run time but I'll probably be bored out of my mind.

 

[joel_maxwell]

I would rather do that than wake up at 2:30 in the morning to go run. That's just my personal opinion. I'm sure others prefer to wake up early. Besides I usually do not go to the parks until after I run a race at Disney.

The earliest I have gotten up is 4am... and that was personal preference. I wanted my bagel, grits and cup of coffee before my half at 7am.

That is going to be an interesting training schedule to try and figure out when I should eat that day etc.