Marathon Weekend 2023

[DopeyBadger]

Just want To make sure I understand this. I am going to the start with my wife (half marathon). To see her on Main St I take the monorail to TTC then to MK like you would normally. Since she runs 8:30ish miles I probably need to just head to MK when we separate - right?

Not sure I'm 100% clear on the question, so let me double check.

You are a spectator, and you want to view your wife who is running the HM. You'd like to see her at the start line physically cross, and then potentially at either TTC or Main Street. She runs an 8:30 min/mile.

If I laid out the scenario correctly, then you would not be able to see your wife at both the start line and TTC/Main Street if she runs an 8:30 min/mile.

•To see a HM runner at start and TTC, runner needs to be going slower than 16 min/mile.
•To see a HM runner at start and Main Street, runner needs to be going slower than 20 min/mile.

But let me know if I'm misunderstanding your question/clarification.

However, if you don't see your wife at the start line, then you could see her at either TTC or Main Street. You could take the runDisney resort bus transportation from your hotel to EPCOT with her. You could walk with her through security, and through the reunion area to the gear check. Once she enters gear check and heads towards the start line, then you could double back and head to the EPCOT monorail station. You would not see her actually start the race, but you could spend time with her as she heads to the start. My personal view is that the spectator viewing location at the start line is not great. It's across a double highway. You're unlikely to see each other. So you're better off not seeing her actually start the race, and instead head to TTC or Main Street. If she starts at 5:00am (likely the earliest start time) and runs an 8:30 min/mile, then she's likely to hit TTC at 5:33, Main Street at 5:42, and Poly at 6:01. Given her pace you have two options:

A) Drop her off at gear check head to and take EPCOT monorail to TTC, see her at TTC around 5:33am, head to Finish line via monorail.
B) Drop her off at gear check head to and take EPCOT monorail to TTC, take monorail to MK, head to Main Street and see her around 5:42, head to Finish line via monorail.

You don't have enough time for you to do EPCOT to TTC (view) to Poly (view) to Finish. You will take longer to do Poly to Finish, then she will take.

If you enter the info for the DIS List sheet, then it'll have all the calculated data personalized towards you given all the information I need to make the estimates.

 

[DopeyBadger]

@DopeyBadger , I was wondering if you have the rest of the MK map, the area inside Main Street. This year, it was blocked off right around Casey's Corner.

@kidmd video is really good here:

And the contrast with 2020 here:

I went and watched the Princess 2022 HM, and there were no spectators past Casey's in that either. I don't have any official or unofficial knowledge to say what the 2023 spectating areas will be inside MK.

 

[Ariel484]

I left at 3am for each race last year. Once parked, I would take a short nap until 4am. Then walk over to the starting area.

I used to leave at the same time buses started running, but that was when that was 3am. I’m not doing 2:30. I think I left my Bonnet Creek resort (so a close, quick drive) at 3 for the half and marathon this year, 3:30 for the 5K and 10K. No issues getting parked with plenty of time for the long walk through security, to corrals, or for potty stops.

I don't like to risk traffic backups or any sort of issue, so I leave when the first few busses would leave. You can always hang out in your car if you don't want to be outside standing around for a long time. Plus, since they use the park entrance for security, it's a pretty long walk from the parking lot, through security, and into the pre-start area.

However.

Last year they expediated the start on Sunday because of the expected high temps, and according to some reading elsewhere it seems like Disney may have closed the corrals a bit earlier than usual that morning, which packed the back corrals. If that's something you'd be concerned about, getting there sooner than later is the easiest solution.

Thanks everyone! I’m nervous to drive to the races for the first time.

 

[jrsharp21]

Thanks everyone! I’m nervous to drive to the races for the first time.

I think having a car and driving to the race is less stressful than relying on the buses. With a car, I feel like I am in control of my arrival and my environment while waiting for the run. I don't have to depart a bus and then wait around in the starting area for an extended amount of time. I give myself enough time to get to the parking lot with a decent amount of time to spare, and then just relax, eat a snack, and listen to music (stay warm if it is cold outside). Then when done, a quick walk over to the car and change into the extra clothes I have stashed in the car, and off to my resort.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Just an FYI, there was a cart open towards the end of the half this year that had beer. It was right by Connections. I grabbed one and crossed the finish with it. A potential option (if they open it again) for those doing the half!

I'm gonna try and have my mom grab me a margarita this year during the full since she will be waiting for us in Epcot, that way I don't have to wait in line.

 

[accm]

I'd go with Germany with the souvenir mug...
View attachment 726285

View attachment 726286

How did you manage to run without spilling? That’s seriously impressive!

 

[fatmanatee]

Where is the last place on the course for the full that a person might purchase an adult beverage? What about those enormous donuts? I feel like I need to cross the finish line with something in my hand.

I was very close to heading into La Cava for an avocado margarita this year, ran by 15 min before the official opening time so unfortunately I decided against checking* to see if they might have opened early. It’s a very good option though.

*also my legs were barely functioning at that point so I was not feeling confident about being able to continue if I stopped for a min

 

[Kerry1957]

How did you manage to run without spilling? That’s seriously impressive!

Answer I'm going with: Training, training, and training.
Alternative answer: By mile 25 I'm moving so slowly that spilling wasn't an issue.

 

[accm]

Answer I'm going with: Training, training, and training.
Alternative answer: By mile 25 I'm moving so slowly that spilling wasn't an issue.

I can barely walk without spilling, nevermind run, regardless of how slow!

 

[Dom497]

Super odd question. Is the finish area covered with Wifi or is it only limited to the parks and resorts? I'm coming from Canada so trying to figure out if I need to buy an eSim or I'll be fine with Wifi. Mainly wondering since my group would need some sort of connection to find each other at the end.

 

[Ariel484]

@jrsharp21 very true! I am a control freak so that aspect of driving to the races is very appealing to me. I’ve just never done it before!

————

Well, my last long workout (combination of running/walking/biking due to recovery from hip soreness) was a bust. My kid brought home some mystery virus from daycare late last week and I found myself feeling *off* just as I was starting my last long workout on Saturday morning. I decided to call it early (about 4 miles in) and by nighttime it was clear that I’d caught the daycare crud. I think I’m starting to feel better now, which is good as it seems it’s my husband’s turn to be sick. So at least we’ve had one functioning adult in the house. Not the way I wanted training to end, but nothing’s really gone the way I’d hoped anyway with this hip soreness, so… it is what it is.

I did want to share something that came up elsewhere. Last time I did the marathon, I came into it really unsure that I’d finish, again due to an injury (perhaps 26.2 just doesn’t agree with me anymore??!). During the race itself, it helped me a lot to break the course up into a series of smaller milestones/goals I needed to hit. It made the whole thing seem less scary. This is how I’d think of the marathon in smaller (though not even) chunks…hope it helps someone!

• ⁠Start - Epcot
• ⁠Epcot - Magic Kingdom
• ⁠Hit double digits (i.e. mile 10)
• ⁠Hit the halfway point (i.e. 13.1, they have had a flag marking this in the past)
• ⁠Animal Kingdom
• ⁠Hit 17 miles —> remaining mileage in the single digits (approximately)
• ⁠Hit the 20 mile mark, just a 10K left and you’ve done thousands (hyperbole??) of 10Ks in your training
• ⁠Hollywood Studios/mile 23, just a 5K(ish) left and you’ve done thousands (hyperbole??) of 5Ks in your training
• ⁠Epcot
• ⁠Finish!

And for the half:

• ⁠Start to 3.1, first 5K done
• ⁠Mile 4, remaining mileage in the single digits (approximately)
• ⁠Magic Kingdom
• ⁠Between miles 6 and 7 is halfway
• ⁠Mile 10, just a 5K left and you’ve done thousands (exaggerating much? Or maybe not for some of you??) of 5Ks during your training
• ⁠Epcot
• ⁠Finish!

10K is easy, it’s the boring first half and the fun second half. 5K - parking lot and then Epcot and then finish.

 

[fatmanatee]

Super odd question. Is the finish area covered with Wifi or is it only limited to the parks and resorts? I'm coming from Canada so trying to figure out if I need to buy an eSim or I'll be fine with Wifi. Mainly wondering since my group would need some sort of connection to find each other at the end.

An interesting question! I’m curious if anyone else has tried to pick up a signal but according to a couple of sites I just looked at the parking lots are not covered by the free wifi network.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Super odd question. Is the finish area covered with Wifi or is it only limited to the parks and resorts? I'm coming from Canada so trying to figure out if I need to buy an eSim or I'll be fine with Wifi. Mainly wondering since my group would need some sort of connection to find each other at the end.

An interesting question! I’m curious if anyone else has tried to pick up a signal but according to a couple of sites I just looked at the parking lots are not covered by the free wifi network.

In any case the Disney wi-fi is not very reliable - it tends to be super slow with so many people trying to use it all the time.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

RACE - half
DIS'er name - princesspirateandrunner
Real name- Tammy
Costume/Clothing - costume, hopefully, but not sure yet. If not, InB
Estimated Pace/Finish/POT from Registration - 2:16-2:30 (registered before major surgery)
Club runDisney Platinum? - no
Pre-Race Meet-up? - yes
Front, Middle, or Back of starting group - middle
Early Bird or Late Arriver - early
Expected Race Pace - 16 mm at least

 

[dwbrewster]

Not sure I'm 100% clear on the question, so let me double check.

You are a spectator, and you want to view your wife who is running the HM. You'd like to see her at the start line physically cross, and then potentially at either TTC or Main Street. She runs an 8:30 min/mile.

If I laid out the scenario correctly, then you would not be able to see your wife at both the start line and TTC/Main Street if she runs an 8:30 min/mile.

•To see a HM runner at start and TTC, runner needs to be going slower than 16 min/mile.
•To see a HM runner at start and Main Street, runner needs to be going slower than 20 min/mile.

But let me know if I'm misunderstanding your question/clarification.

However, if you don't see your wife at the start line, then you could see her at either TTC or Main Street. You could take the runDisney resort bus transportation from your hotel to EPCOT with her. You could walk with her through security, and through the reunion area to the gear check. Once she enters gear check and heads towards the start line, then you could double back and head to the EPCOT monorail station. You would not see her actually start the race, but you could spend time with her as she heads to the start. My personal view is that the spectator viewing location at the start line is not great. It's across a double highway. You're unlikely to see each other. So you're better off not seeing her actually start the race, and instead head to TTC or Main Street. If she starts at 5:00am (likely the earliest start time) and runs an 8:30 min/mile, then she's likely to hit TTC at 5:33, Main Street at 5:42, and Poly at 6:01. Given her pace you have two options:

A) Drop her off at gear check head to and take EPCOT monorail to TTC, see her at TTC around 5:33am, head to Finish line via monorail.
B) Drop her off at gear check head to and take EPCOT monorail to TTC, take monorail to MK, head to Main Street and see her around 5:42, head to Finish line via monorail.

You don't have enough time for you to do EPCOT to TTC (view) to Poly (view) to Finish. You will take longer to do Poly to Finish, then she will take.

If you enter the info for the DIS List sheet, then it'll have all the calculated data personalized towards you given all the information I need to make the estimates.

Perfect, scenario 2 is what I was trying to lay out (just not clearly). Plan will be to say good bye while she’s at the start area and go get a prime viewing spot on Main Street then double back to Epcot and watch her finish.

 

[Jason Bryer]

I am staying at Caribbean Beach Club this year and plan to take the car to the start (running Dopey). If anyone is interested in getting a ride there, send me a private message.

 

[MissLiss279]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1604967999194034177

 

[Naomeri]

Super odd question. Is the finish area covered with Wifi or is it only limited to the parks and resorts? I'm coming from Canada so trying to figure out if I need to buy an eSim or I'll be fine with Wifi. Mainly wondering since my group would need some sort of connection to find each other at the end.

I would not count on wifi in the start/finish area. You might catch a stray signal, but it’s unlikely, since its just a parking lot.

 

[azrivest]

Super odd question. Is the finish area covered with Wifi or is it only limited to the parks and resorts? I'm coming from Canada so trying to figure out if I need to buy an eSim or I'll be fine with Wifi. Mainly wondering since my group would need some sort of connection to find each other at the end.

I'm from Canada too and always purchase roaming to have data. You won't have any WiFi in the parking lot.

Funny anecdote: my 7 yo DD, at home and bored that Sunday morning, called me on Messenger during Mile 12 of the W&D HM. "Mommy can't talk right now Baby Girl, I'm running a half marathon." At least good to know the EPCOT wifi was good enough for that!

 

[Dom497]

I'm from Canada too and always purchase roaming to have data. You won't have any WiFi in the parking lot.

Funny anecdote: my 7 yo DD, at home and bored that Sunday morning, called me on Messenger during Mile 12 of the W&D HM. "Mommy can't talk right now Baby Girl, I'm running a half marathon." At least good to know the EPCOT wifi was good enough for that!

Pro tip. Don’t waste money with roaming. Use the Airalo app to buy an eSim.