Once Disney said it was a participation medal then there really is no discussion. If you start, you get the medal. Now if you are in a race that has a finishers medal than that is a different story. Remember, Disney is a FUN race, do not take it too seriously. Any race with over 25,000 people is a FUN race just do to the sheer size of the field.
And, I really do not care who gets a medal or who runs unprepared. Yea, in the perfect world everyone would be trained and the only people that dont finish are those that didnt get hurt. But this is Disney and that is not how they hold their races. With that being said, those that get swept have a choice in accepting the medal. I treat them like finishers medals so I wouldnt take one, but thats just me. Not everyone feels that way. Remember, Disney wants EVERYONE to go away happy. This does not diminish the medal, not at all. In Disneys eyes all they care is if you started the race. You know the difference as does the person that didnt finish. Imagine walking around the park with a medal and everyone congratulating you and you know you only finished say 6 miles. That would feel crappy.
Very few people get hurt in a Disney race, unprepared or not. If they havent run then they just usually peter out before they get hurt. The chance of real injury is slim. I do full Ironman races and if you are not prepared you could drown. A little different that at Disney where if you get tiered you just stop. Disney is a FUN race, dont take it too seriously.
I read the blog that was linked about the woman that only finished 2 miles. Nowhere did I read she was proud she only did that and got the medal. She shouldnt have taken it but that is just me. I saw the blog of someone struggling with life issues and trying go overcome a bit at a time. She had paid for the race so she was at least going to start. Again, not me but we are all different.
My thought is, if it will get you out exercising then go for it. And yea, dont sign up for a marathon if you can only walk 2 miles. Not a good idea as you will only make yourself miserable.
Duane