Marathon Weekend 2022

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Fo the curious…
According to my bathroom scale, the Dopey results in 3.6 lbs of medals.

 

[GollyGadget]

Just as a comment on getting a PoT...

If you're like me who lives in Florida, it's actually really difficult. There are almost zero running events in the summer due to the heat, and 10k's are not very common from what I've seen in the relative area, and often times, they're not until the fall, or early winter. In fact, most of the half marathons are held then as well. So really, if you don't have a valid race from the previous year already under your belt, you don't have much, if any chance, of finding a race to run that will be accepted. I ran a half marathon in Iceland this year (my best half ever mind you), and I couldn't submit it because it wasn't a US accredited race. Registration for Dopey wasn't until July of this year, and PoT I think was required by October or so, so it was nearly impossible (for me at least) to find a reasonably close race to run to get one. In the end it didn't affect me, but still. It's an issue for us.

I'm fairly certain you could use the Iceland race. I know the runDisney site says USATF certified but if they really stuck to that it would unfairly impact international runners.

 

[LEN375]

Was there a list of bib/pot corral placements?

 

[SheHulk]

Fo the curious…
According to my bathroom scale, the Dopey results in 3.6 lbs of medals.

I seem to remember a billboard Disney had up on the racecourse one year, it had a picture of the marathon medal and said, "Run 26.2 miles, gain XXX oz" referring to the weight of the medal. It was cute!

 

[1lilspark]

Was there a list of bib/pot corral placements?

Idk I did just the 10k with a 1201-14 projected pace and was in S5

 

[DopeyBadger]

If you're like me who lives in Florida, it's actually really difficult. There are almost zero running events in the summer due to the heat, and 10k's are not very common from what I've seen in the relative area, and often times, they're not until the fall, or early winter. In fact, most of the half marathons are held then as well. So really, if you don't have a valid race from the previous year already under your belt, you don't have much, if any chance, of finding a race to run that will be accepted.

Yes, I acknowledged that is the case in the post you quoted and agree with you. Most runners will be able to find a race between registration date and POT cutoff, but not all runners will. And under what I proposed, I'm looking for a 3:15 HM or around a 1:28:45 10k. Using runningintheusa.com, there are only 9 HMs in all of FL from 4/1/22 (traditional registration month for Marathon Weekend) and 9/30/22 (presumed cutoff for 2023 MW). They all occur in either April or May. There are 55 10k options in FL during that same time period. So I would agree that HM options are very limited in FL during that time period making it very difficult for new runners to have a POT HM race. As a comparison, in WI during that same time period we have 51 HMs and 52 10ks currently listed.

To piggyback off what @GollyGadget said, based on the email responses that DIS members have gotten over the last several years, the POT race does not have to be USATF certified. It just needs to be an official race with online results. So that goes for races in the US or internationally. Here's a 2021 post from a DIS member with correspondence with TrackShack (link) and one from 2019 as well (link).

 

[DopeyBadger]

Was there a list of bib/pot corral placements?

Not officially.

For the M/Goofy/Dopey runners, it appeared to be (although I did see some anecdotal counter evidence on Facebook that I didn't dig into):
s1 = POT of 3:40 M or less
s2 = POT of 3:40 M to 4:00 M, and Platinum Club rD
s3 = 4:00-4:30 estimate
s4 = 4:30-5:00 estimate
s5 = 5:00-5:30 estimate
s6 = 5:30-6:00, 6:00-6:30, and 6:30-7:00 estimate

For the HM, it appeared to be (although I did see some anecdotal counter evidence on Facebook that I didn't dig into):
s1 = POT of 2:00 HM or less
s2 = 2:00-2:15 estimate
s3 = 2:15-2:30 estimate
s4 = 2:30-2:45 estimate
s5 = 2:45-3:00 estimate
s6 = 3:00-3:15 and 3:15-3:30 estimate

The 5k/10k seemed a bit more mixed and I don't have a good read on the system they used.

 

[LEN375]

Not officially.

For the M/Goofy/Dopey runners, it appeared to be (although I did see some anecdotal counter evidence on Facebook that I didn't dig into):
s1 = POT of 3:40 M or less
s2 = POT of 3:40 M to 4:00 M, and Platinum Club rD
s3 = 4:00-4:30 estimate
s4 = 4:30-5:00 estimate
s5 = 5:00-5:30 estimate
s6 = 5:30-6:00, 6:00-6:30, and 6:30-7:00 estimate

For the HM, it appeared to be (although I did see some anecdotal counter evidence on Facebook that I didn't dig into):
s1 = POT of 2:00 HM or less
s2 = 2:00-2:15 estimate
s3 = 2:15-2:30 estimate
s4 = 2:30-2:45 estimate
s5 = 2:45-3:00 estimate
s6 = 3:00-3:15 and 3:15-3:30 estimate

The 5k/10k seemed a bit more mixed and I don't have a good read on the system they used.

Thank you so much.

 

[Jason Bryer]

Just as a comment on getting a PoT...

If you're like me who lives in Florida, it's actually really difficult. There are almost zero running events in the summer due to the heat, and 10k's are not very common from what I've seen in the relative area, and often times, they're not until the fall, or early winter. In fact, most of the half marathons are held then as well. So really, if you don't have a valid race from the previous year already under your belt, you don't have much, if any chance, of finding a race to run that will be accepted. I ran a half marathon in Iceland this year (my best half ever mind you), and I couldn't submit it because it wasn't a US accredited race. Registration for Dopey wasn't until July of this year, and PoT I think was required by October or so, so it was nearly impossible (for me at least) to find a reasonably close race to run to get one. In the end it didn't affect me, but still. It's an issue for us.

Except you could submit a POT from anytime after January 1, 2019. They typically give a 18 month window, but allows a full 30 months this year.

 

[Goofed98]

Just as a comment on getting a PoT...

If you're like me who lives in Florida, it's actually really difficult. There are almost zero running events in the summer due to the heat, and 10k's are not very common from what I've seen in the relative area, and often times, they're not until the fall, or early winter. In fact, most of the half marathons are held then as well. So really, if you don't have a valid race from the previous year already under your belt, you don't have much, if any chance, of finding a race to run that will be accepted. I ran a half marathon in Iceland this year (my best half ever mind you), and I couldn't submit it because it wasn't a US accredited race. Registration for Dopey wasn't until July of this year, and PoT I think was required by October or so, so it was nearly impossible (for me at least) to find a reasonably close race to run to get one. In the end it didn't affect me, but still. It's an issue for us.

I'm in the same boat, here in AZ. I have a chance next month, but then any distance race takes place up in the mountains over the summer. So yes, cooler, but fat kids need oxygen, so I struggle.

 

[PrincessV]

For @DopeyBadger and any others who like data...

I started in the very back (literally, one of the last people in the group to cross the start line) of S3 for all four races, and started at:
5K - 5:12am
10K - 5:19am
Half - 5:24am
Marathon - 5:08am

That marathon start really threw me - only 8 minutes from the first starters to the back of S3?! I knew it felt like they were sending waves out quickly, but I hadn't realized it was THAT quick.

 

[sandam1]

I realized that finishing the races this year wasn’t going to help me achieve those goals, particularly if I injured myself badly in the attempt.

I’m still torn. I know I made the best choice for the future but those pesky thoughts in the back of my mind still pop up and make me think myself a quitter.

Now that I'm home, I've been struggling a bit more with trying to explain what happened to my marathon. I knew at the time and still know deep down that it was the right thing to do, but with adding time and distance from the event, that mental "gremlin" is popping up more frequently. But I also know that I spent many years and wasted a lot of time and energy trying to put round pegs in square holes. "Giving up" on the marathon was an act of courage and long-term growth on my part and I need to keep telling my gremlin to go sit in the corner.

 

[sandam1]

Good grief. All of that exercise over the weekend, and I get home to find that I actually gained a pound. Maybe too much celebratory dinner…

I always give myself at least two days after getting home before I believe any number on the scale. I need to get the extra salt from the restaurant food out of my system. For instance, I dropped two pounds between yesterday and today.

 

[BigEeyore]

Random reflections:
1) Race merch was really bad -it was mostly all gone when I got there on Thursday but the variety and quality of stuff has really gone downhill. I miss the shoe ornaments, the race-specific headbands, pint glasses and tervis. Saved me a ton of $$ though
2) I have really come to appreciate how well organized rD events are - they really do an amazing job and the volunteers are fantastic and medical staff people were doing a great job - saw several on bikes just making sure runners were ok between med tent stops.
3) Entertainment on course was great this year (I did Goofy so can't say for the 5k/10k) - loved the live music, the japanese drummers, the choir was back, the Epcot ball glowing bright in the early hours, tons of characters and big screens showing clips and playing music.
4) I love the marathon course so much more than the old ESPN one - leaving MK and almost being halfway done is a big mental boost, and not having to do that long slog on Osceola or that awful out and back on Western Way is fantastic. But they need to let you run through more of HS - that was a joke
5) Kudos to rD for releasing corrals early Sunday morning - by the time the sun was fully overhead I was leaving AK and in the homestretch.
6) rD needs to go back to their old PoT rules - using 1:53 half time as a cutoff for what you can submit is just unreasonable and lead to inproper corral placement for many runners.
6) Genie plus sucks - that is all.
7) @lhermiston - thank you for all the fun SAFD that kept this thread going, you will be missed! Hope to still see you around now and then on the boards!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Not officially.

For the M/Goofy/Dopey runners, it appeared to be (although I did see some anecdotal counter evidence on Facebook that I didn't dig into):
s1 = POT of 3:40 M or less
s2 = POT of 3:40 M to 4:00 M, and Platinum Club rD
s3 = 4:00-4:30 estimate
s4 = 4:30-5:00 estimate
s5 = 5:00-5:30 estimate
s6 = 5:30-6:00, 6:00-6:30, and 6:30-7:00 estimate

For the HM, it appeared to be (although I did see some anecdotal counter evidence on Facebook that I didn't dig into):
s1 = POT of 2:00 HM or less
s2 = 2:00-2:15 estimate
s3 = 2:15-2:30 estimate
s4 = 2:30-2:45 estimate
s5 = 2:45-3:00 estimate
s6 = 3:00-3:15 and 3:15-3:30 estimate

The 5k/10k seemed a bit more mixed and I don't have a good read on the system they used.

Based on those numbers, my S6 corral was based on my much longer marathon time for all races, not my much shorter half marathon time estimate. Just an observation.

 

[SheHulk]

Random reflections:
1) Race merch was really bad -it was mostly all gone when I got there on Thursday but the variety and quality of stuff has really gone downhill. I miss the shoe ornaments, the race-specific headbands, pint glasses and tervis. Saved me a ton of $$ though
2) I have really come to appreciate how well organized rD events are - they really do an amazing job and the volunteers are fantastic and medical staff people were doing a great job - saw several on bikes just making sure runners were ok between med tent stops.
3) Entertainment on course was great this year (I did Goofy so can't say for the 5k/10k) - loved the live music, the japanese drummers, the choir was back, the Epcot ball glowing bright in the early hours, tons of characters and big screens showing clips and playing music.
4) I love the marathon course so much more than the old ESPN one - leaving MK and almost being halfway done is a big mental boost, and not having to do that long slog on Osceola or that awful out and back on Western Way is fantastic. But they need to let you run through more of HS - that was a joke
5) Kudos to rD for releasing corrals early Sunday morning - by the time the sun was fully overhead I was leaving AK and in the homestretch.
6) rD needs to go back to their old PoT rules - using 1:53 half time as a cutoff for what you can submit is just unreasonable and lead to inproper corral placement for many runners.
6) Genie plus sucks - that is all.
7) @lhermiston - thank you for all the fun SAFD that kept this thread going, you will be missed! Hope to still see you around now and then on the boards!

Ditto! all of it!

 

[Herding_Cats]

For @DopeyBadger and any others who like data...

I started in the very back (literally, one of the last people in the group to cross the start line) of S3 for all four races, and started at:
5K - 5:12am
10K - 5:19am
Half - 5:24am
Marathon - 5:08am

That marathon start really threw me - only 8 minutes from the first starters to the back of S3?! I knew it felt like they were sending waves out quickly, but I hadn't realized it was THAT quick.

We signed up for text alerts for the 7:00 pacers and they crossed the start mat at 5:31 for the full and at 5:56 for the half. Not quite the balloon ladies, but almost.

 

[jmasgat]

the choir was back

Ah, but was it? As we approached where the "choir" was standing, it was obvious that the music was all recorded, and a closer look at the "choir" left me with the impression that they gathered up a group of disney interns, put them in robes (and masks) and then told them to play along.

I may be wrong, but it certainly was not the same as old.

 

[SheHulk]

Ah, but was it? As we approached where the "choir" was standing, it was obvious that the music was all recorded, and a closer look at the "choir" left me with the impression that they gathered up a group of disney interns, put them in robes (and masks) and then told them to play along.

I may be wrong, but it certainly was not the same as old.

I've noticed the choir was recorded music for years now. At least that's how it seemed to me at the late hour I always come through. One difference was, this year, coming in at the time I did, the choir was full of energy. They were really into it! I've come through some years and it's just a bunch of teenagers in robes standing around and maybe waving at you if they notice. Much better this year.

 

[MissLiss279]

Marathon - 5:08am

That marathon start really threw me - only 8 minutes from the first starters to the back of S3?! I knew it felt like they were sending waves out quickly, but I hadn't realized it was THAT quick.

The marathon did start early. From near the front of s2, I started at 4:58. I think someone from s1 mentioned earlier they started at 4:56?? Or something close to that. But still 8 vs 12 minutes isn’t much difference (and when you are expecting the race to start at 5). They did get things going quickly.