Wine and Dine Half-Marathon

[Main Street USA]

Hi, everyone!

My wife and I will be doing the 5k in the morning, and then my father and I will be doing the Half Marathon Relay that night. We just decided a couple days ago to go ahead with this trip, and I can't wait. We'll probably take a nap or just relax on one of the MK beaches in the afternoon, as we're likely staying at either the Poly or the CR. That race price on the Poly is hard to pass up! Maybe we'll even hit Ohana right before the halfer! :lookaroun

I was disappointed to see the 13k and the 10k go, but I think these new races will make up for them in a small way. Plus, they DID keep a night race around, which is rare...and even though you're definitely paying for it, the idea of the 5k including a Halloween party ticket is pretty cool.

I'm also very excited at the prospect of the 5k being solely in the MK area. I absolutely LOVE the MK in the early morning hours, so that will be an extra magical 3 miles.

 

[fyn]

Not to hijack the thread away from the half marathon, but does anyone know what happened to the co-ed triathlon Disney used to do in September? I'm finally getting back in shape, but it looks like they don't run that race anymore.

Edit: It looks like they've added a 70.3 ironman in May, but the normal September race is still not on the schedule. Is anyone here doing the 70.3?

 

[joel_maxwell]

Hi, everyone!

My wife and I will be doing the 5k in the morning, and then my father and I will be doing the Half Marathon Relay that night. We just decided a couple days ago to go ahead with this trip, and I can't wait. We'll probably take a nap or just relax on one of the MK beaches in the afternoon, as we're likely staying at either the Poly or the CR. That race price on the Poly is hard to pass up! Maybe we'll even hit Ohana right before the halfer! :lookaroun

I was disappointed to see the 13k and the 10k go, but I think these new races will make up for them in a small way. Plus, they DID keep a night race around, which is rare...and even though you're definitely paying for it, the idea of the 5k including a Halloween party ticket is pretty cool.

I'm also very excited at the prospect of the 5k being solely in the MK area. I absolutely LOVE the MK in the early morning hours, so that will be an extra magical 3 miles.

LOL, I wont be doing a 5K in the morning then the half, but I will be spending the day in Epcot, which might be comparable. :lol:

Like I said before, I think that since this is on the tail end of a 4 days vacation, Im not going to worry about making my best time. I think this race will be about having fun with the atmosphere.

 

[dreamfinder]

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.

I haven't had this experience in any of the races I have done at WDW. Granted, the first mile or two may be a little congested, but no worse than some of the local races I have run. Especially if you can find the pace group you need beforehand. After that initial clog of runners, it does thin out nicely. But yet, it is still crowded enough to not have to worry about losing sight of the runner in front of you and getting lost. Admittedly, this all depends on where in the pack you run, but I have found that the path is usually more than suitable size wise.

I do agree completely that running races elsewhere do get boring. Many have bands and stuff, but its not the same as seeing backstage at Disney, and having characters all over the place.

 

[dreamfinder]

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.

We have typically gone down before the race, and I haven't had a real problem. I think it really comes down to conditioning and training. I went Goofy in Jan, was within 2 minutes of my PR for the 1/2, and took 45 minutes off my PR for a full. And somehow, I was still walking around fine the next day. Comparing this to other races, I had definitely ramped up my training simply due to it being Goofy, but I felt pretty gosh darn good afterwards. Now, and earlier full marathon, yeah. Wasn't in the shape I should have been, and I was hurting for the next 2 days.

Most people probably won't hit a PR at these races, just from the nature of the beast. I agree that between being a tourist, and having large number of people on the course, plus on course distractions, it's hard to keep the pace you want. But the races are a great motivator. Alot of people get their butt in shape just to have the experience of finishing a race at WDW. I'm trying to decide if I should try to convince my wife to do the 5k in October, and I do both. Wouldn't be the first time I have done 2 races within 12 hours of each other.

 

[GoofyRacer11]

Congratulations dreamfinder, in completing the Goofy Challenge. I did the half this past year but wanted to do the Goofy, but I was only 17 at the time.

Now that you mention it I think I will do both races as well. I forgot there was a 5k.

 

[HollyBelle]

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. As you know there were many on the Princess Half. Check out my video here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OhQGM36a-k .

I bet there will be just as much entertainment as the Princess, it'll be interesting to see how they do it at night. Are you thinking of doing the 5k too? That race sounds Awesome. My wife and son are going to do it and I think I might too.

Love the video, Frank. Congrats to both you and your wife!! :sohappy: I kept pausing it at each of the mile markers to check your time with ours... I was hoping to see Brett and I make a cameo appearance. :lol: Didn't happen though. It looks like you started in an earlier corral and we never caught up. For the whole second half we were approximately 5 minutes behind you at every mile marker. Our chip finish was 3:07. I just started my report over on the Trip Report board if you're interested (http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=562358)


I'm hoping to get some confirmation from Disney, during one of their online chats, regarding characters on the course for the Wine and Dine. As for the 5K... I would LOVE to do it, especially because you know it'll be packed with characters all Halloween'd up. Although I do wonder how ridiculously long the lines will be to meet them, seeing that signing up for a 5K just to meet characters isn't as extreme as doing one of the longer races. And at least in this case the "extra ticket" is for a special ticket event (something our APs wouldn't get us into anyway). I'm with you on the issues with the Everest challenge. We experienced the same thing during the inaugural event.

 

[Phonedave]

I'm hoping to get some confirmation from Disney, during one of their online chats, regarding characters on the course for the Wine and Dine.

When you register and look at what is included, one of the items is "on course entertainment"

I assume that means characters. I can't see them putting out some other type of entertainment and not a character.

Oh, and yea, that means I went ahead and registered for this one as well.


-dave

 

[Main Street USA]

Does anyone have a link to where I can buy extra tickets to the after-party? I can't find it anywhere, and it wasn't listed as an option during registration.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Does anyone have a link to where I can buy extra tickets to the after-party? I can't find it anywhere, and it wasn't listed as an option during registration.

Good question. Ill stay tuned to see a link if anyone can provide one.

 

[Figment82]

I'll be taking part in the Wine & Dine as well, just waiting to sign up so I can save some money (I also registered for the 2011 Half, so it's a lot of money to plunk down at once).

I participated in the last 2 Race for the Taste and Tower races, and had a wonderful time. I will miss them both greatly, and wish there was still a semi-shorter race (10-13K). But I am looking forward to my very first half marathon. I'm strictly a walker, but I love taking part in the Disney races.

Last year before the Tower 13K I spent the whole day at DAK, and I was completely fine during the race itself. I had a friend in town who had never been, so we did a bit of a commando-style of touring the park. The worst part for me is just simply staying awake until 1am. I was considering doing the morning 5K as well, but after getting up at 4am I don't think I'd be able to stay awake for the Half!

 

[frank2271]

I was considering doing the morning 5K as well, but after getting up at 4am I don't think I'd be able to stay awake for the Half!

That's what naps are for...

It's going to be a Great 5k, I can't wait. The medal for the inaurural event it should be equally as GREAT!

I'll run the 5k and then head back to the hotel, dip in the pool, and power nap. (can't forget to hydrate too....)

 

[frank2271]

Love the video, Frank. Congrats to both you and your wife!! :sohappy: I kept pausing it at each of the mile markers to check your time with ours... I was hoping to see Brett and I make a cameo appearance. :lol: Didn't happen though. It looks like you started in an earlier corral and we never caught up. For the whole second half we were approximately 5 minutes behind you at every mile marker. Our chip finish was 3:07. I just started my report over on the Trip Report board if you're interested (http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=562358)


I'm hoping to get some confirmation from Disney, during one of their online chats, regarding characters on the course for the Wine and Dine. As for the 5K... I would LOVE to do it, especially because you know it'll be packed with characters all Halloween'd up. Although I do wonder how ridiculously long the lines will be to meet them, seeing that signing up for a 5K just to meet characters isn't as extreme as doing one of the longer races. And at least in this case the "extra ticket" is for a special ticket event (something our APs wouldn't get us into anyway). I'm with you on the issues with the Everest challenge. We experienced the same thing during the inaugural event.

I'm glad you liked the video, it was my first time doing anything like that. "Window's Movie Maker" is really easy to use. (Who Kneew?)

We were in corral "C". Our chip time was 3:16. Fourteen minutes under our goal. It was our first Half and we just wanted to have fun and finish healthy.

I'll be following your trip report. I read your Full report and you have a real talent. You did a fantastic job.

Keep up the training, stay healthy and see you in October...

Frank

 

[Main Street USA]

Nice vid, Frank! Looks like it was a blast.

Also, I found the info for the extra after-party tickets, and they won't be on sale until later this spring. If you go to the main site for the race and then click event overview, there is now a drop down for "after party tickets."

 

[GoofyRacer11]

Of course I want to do the Goofy challenge this year as well. So I have decide if that will be possible.

 

[HollyBelle]

When you register and look at what is included, one of the items is "on course entertainment"

I assume that means characters. I can't see them putting out some other type of entertainment and not a character.

Oh, and yea, that means I went ahead and registered for this one as well.


-dave

Hmmm... my fear is that "on course entertainment" could really mean anything... from the characters, to the music they play at the mile markers, to the local high school bands that play, etc. I think all those things are lumped into one category: entertainment. I fully expected characters during the inaugural Everest challenge and yet there were none. But I'm still thinking they wouldn't do a half without them. I guess we'll see.

That's what naps are for...

It's going to be a Great 5k, I can't wait. The medal for the inaurural event it should be equally as GREAT!

I'll run the 5k and then head back to the hotel, dip in the pool, and power nap. (can't forget to hydrate too....)

I am seriously itching to do both these races!! Your plan of attack sounds just about right to me. I can't wait to see the course map for the 5K, considering a good bit of it will end up being outside the MK. I wonder where the start/finish will be.

 

[Main Street USA]

Ugh, October seems so far away! Two races in one day will be such a great experience, and the relaxation in between will be just as nice.

 

[GoofyRacer11]

Ugh, October seems so far away!

Yea, but at least that will gives us time to train.

 

[frank2271]

I am seriously itching to do both these races!! Your plan of attack sounds just about right to me. I can't wait to see the course map for the 5K, considering a good bit of it will end up being outside the MK. I wonder where the start/finish will be.

Here is the description of the course from the web site,

Mickey's Halloween 5K Course Description
Race from the Happy Parking Lot toward Magic Kingdom® Park. Run past Tony's Town Square Restaurant onto Main Street, U.S.A.® toward Tomorrowland® where you will run past the Space Mountain® Attraction, under Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress and past Indy Car Motor Speedway. The course will then turn before the Mad Tea Party to run past the Rose Garden and in front of Cinderella Castle. Follow the ghostly lights toward the Haunted Mansion as you race through Liberty Square, past The Hall of Presidents, and then onto Frontierland® and Adventureland®. After you pass the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction you will run backstage to the finish line on West Beach overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom® Resort Area.

Finish Line on the Beach, sounds cool. I can't wait, but I do need the time to train.

 

[Figment82]

That's what naps are for...

It's going to be a Great 5k, I can't wait. The medal for the inaurural event it should be equally as GREAT!

I'll run the 5k and then head back to the hotel, dip in the pool, and power nap. (can't forget to hydrate too....)

Ah, if only I was the type of person that benefitted from taking a nap. I usually end up feeling dizzy or nauseous for hours afterwards if I do. I'd have to force myself to stay up instead. It's still very tempting though, even if you get a crummy rubber medallion at the end.