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Disney World Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Disney World Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 4.0
Number of comments: 818 [displaying comments 211 to 221]
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J. W. from Chicago, IL
(10/12/2009)
"Ran Goofy 2009, signed up for Goofy 2010 next day" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 There are very few marathons that will have spectators cheering you on every step of the way. It's just the way it is, and honestly it shouldn't determine how good a race is. Besides, there are hundreds of supporters right around you! I didn't even notice the stretches because I was talking with all sorts of people throughout the entire race. The first time I ran here it was just the full and my first marathon. I wanted a good time and just ran. It was fun but not great. In 2009, I ran the Goofy Challenge. I wanted to run both races at a relatively easy pace, take pictures of everything, and just plain have fun this time, so I brought a camera and took pictures with every character and of all sorts of things. I'm a huge Disney fan and I loved getting the opportunity to take pictures with everyone, like Darkwing Duck, Sulley, Stitch and on and on! I was honestly sad that the half was over and then sad the full was over. These two days were by far the most fun races I've ever had even if I couldn't sleep Sunday night because every time I closed my eyes I kept seeing people running besides me. I signed up for Goofy 2010 from the hotel the next day so I could do it all over again. Cruella Deville and Snow White's step mother, I missed you last year but you'd better be there in 2010! Organization and runner support was like last year, top-notch and extremely beginner-friendly. After all, I can't get a corral in Chicago but I can get Corral A here. As for parking, my first year I thought it would be horrible so I arrived really early. I then realized that these guys park tens of thousands of cars every day all year. Parking for runners is a piece of cake to them and within minutes I pulled into a spot (both years) and left the parking lot within minutes as well. Bring a camera, put aside your aspirations of a PR, and have fun! You will have the best race of your life. Another bit of advice, though: The race has two starting sides, which takes different routes for the first few miles before merging. Run with the slower side and you get to run under the flame throwers as you pass the starting line. Nice. | |
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T. G. from Toronto, Ontario
(6/10/2009)
"Going back to Goofy with some first-timers" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My wife and I did Goofy for the first time this year and loved it. She's run over 10 marathons and 5 full Ironman's. I've done 5 marathons and 1 Ironman, but we were a little nervous on the plane heading there since my wife was in the last stages of a VERY bad cold/cough and, though she wanted to set a good time, wasn't feeling very well. And me... well, I really WAS being a goof. Due to my work schedules and being on-call, I had done ZERO training. And by that I don't mean that I hadn't put in the weekly mileage I should have. I mean that I had done a couple of 5K races a few months before, and didn't run AT ALL during the race lead-up. My entire training literally meant packing my shoes and shorts before the flight. Therefore we both just decided to poke along and enjoy the course and experience. We had a blast! We completed the half in 2:35, and the full on Sunday in 5:45... taking pictures all of the way. It was the most fun at an event we've ever had. Our stories upon our return home have prompted four pals (marathon virgins) to sign up for Goofy 2010, and we are going back with them to be their pace bunnies. | |
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Aaron Nolan from Syracuse, NY
(6/3/2009)
"Well-organized; could be great with some changes." (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first (hopefully of many marathons). I felt it was a very good marathon, but could be great with some modifications. PROS 1) Very well-organized. Everything goes off seamlessly (in typical Disney fashion). Staff/volunteers are all great. 2) Great entertainment within the actual parks. Lots of stuff to see - characters and other things to keep your mind off of the pain. All of the special touches that Disney does (characters, the welcome to Animal Kingdom, the run under Cinderella's castle) are very memorable. 3) Great medal. I know that there are some complaints about repeating the medals each year, but I think it is a beauty. 4) Technical shirt (though I wish it weren't gray). 5) Pretty flat course. CONS 1) It's true that the majority of the race is "between parks," so the amount of time in Epcot and the Kingdoms is probably just 4-5 miles. Running on the highways between parks can be VERY boring. As someone attested earlier, there isn't much Disney can do to avoid this and still hit all of the parks. I DO feel that the worst part of the course (the infamous out-and-back around mile 20) should be cut completely and add more time in the parks! They also could probably add more entertainment in between. 2) There's nothing much Disney can do about it, but it was VERY humid when we ran... even at 6 a.m. Add the sweat and the sunblock together, and I felt like a sticky mess. Northerners like me will get a shock after training in freezing weather. The "pros" were many, but the "cons" were major factors. I'm glad that I ran it once, but probably wouldn't do it again (though I'd definitely do the half, where I can get the same effect with less running on boring highways). | |
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T. M. from Minneapolis, MN
(5/27/2009)
"Great run, just not for a PR" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The Goofy Challenge was incredible - this was my second. My group added the 5K on Friday to make it 3 races, 4 medals!! Please do not expect to get a PR on this one - you will have a lot more fun if you put that expectation out of your mind. Just enjoy the course, stand in line for pictures and appreciate that, with 7 hours to finish, you have no worries. My group stopped and took at least 2-3 pictures every mile and finished the marathon in 5:25. Despite all of the goofing around, we finished very comfortably. | |
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M. W. from Chicago, IL. USA
(5/15/2009)
"Great fun but not the place to run your PR" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have run 5 Disney Marathons, including one Goofy. I enjoy the race, but it's getting bigger every year and the bottlenecks are getting worse. Running through the theme parks is a lot fun but the path is narrow in spots. In the 2009 marathon, it took until the 16-mile marker before I was running my own pace. This is not the race to run if you want to run a PR or qualify for the Boston. Run this race for fun only. | |
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Julie Kenney from United States
(5/9/2009)
"I thought this was the most disorganized marathon." (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 During this marathon, I was put in the last corral. It was a really disorganized marathon. I wasted so much of my energy weaving in and out of people. I was hoping to qualify for Boston on this run, but was unable to. I am so disappointed. I figured that, on this flat course, I would qualify. | |
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M. F. from Sarasota, FL
(4/22/2009)
"Very fun race - especially for Disney lovers" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 8th marathon, and my 3rd fastest. The course was very fun for Disney lovers. Running through the parks was fun, and there was nice crowd support therein. By all means, pay for the "Race Retreat." That was the best $95.00 that I have ever spent! Spending the pre-race in their enclosed tent with private porta-johns was awesome. The post-race was even better - full breakfast! I've never seen so much bacon! I'm doing it again next year. Also, stay at one of the Disney properties. We stayed at Saratoga Springs, and enjoyed great transportation to/from the race. DO NOT DRIVE AND PARK at this race! | |
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S. A. from Cincinnati, OH
(3/31/2009)
"FLAT, great for a "fun" race, well organized!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Flat course, and the best if you're trying to have FUN. If you're out to get a goal time, you may miss the spirit of the run: the Disney Magic! | |
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c. a. from whitman,massachusetts
(3/31/2009)
"narrow course" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I hurt my self in the beginning because the course narrows in several places. Another drawback is it's still dark early, and behind Disney the lighting could be better. I have run Disney several times. | |
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C. B. from Washington DC Metro Area
(3/19/2009)
"Fourth time and will be back in 2010" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 First off, I am a HUGE Disney fan and do all the Disney races (Twilight Zone, Disneyland Half, and Princess Half). I just wanted to add my comments in case they help anyone. The first time I ran Disney (in 2001), the time spent on the highways and the lack of spectators was bothersome to me - I expected more somehow. However, I ran it again, and after I knew what to expect and that you have to get from park to park (which takes time), I came to love it and count it as my annual favorite. And they do something small to improve it each year. One example is: splitting the full and half marathon to different days - which did cut down on crowding - and offering up the Goofy Challenge (did it the inaugural year). Another example: splitting the expo between 2 venues this year. Other reviewers probably have said all this but just to add: 1. There are canted roads (on/off ramps) - run on the grass on the side of the road and you are fine. 2. Nowhere can you find as many porta-potties, water stations, or aid stations. And you have real bathrooms to use in the parks! 3. The run from Hollywood Studios to Epcot and the finish is the best part of the course. The out-and-back by Wide World of Sports at mile 18/19 is the worst part! 4. The race retreat rocks. Yes, you have to pay for it (I have no problem with that), but it is WORTH every penny. The scrambled eggs at the end were FANTASTIC. 5. You don't have to stay on Disney for it to be easy - I've done it both ways and have no problem. Issue with staying on property is getting up very early for the buses - but the race retreat helps. Driving is okay - never been a problem for me - but then I have to drive back to my timeshare, which I don't want to do sometimes. 6. Disney tries very hard to have cast members or something out on the course where there are no spectators - the Sharpie signs they have had recently are great. 7. There still is crowding in the back side of Magic Kingdom on the single lane road passing the Grand Floridian and Wedding Pavilion. The cones used to be spaced apart and you could run on the outside of them but now you can't as the cones are continuous. There are a lot of walkers in this area that don't know that it's common courtesy to walk on the right. This year I just said, "Coming through" because I was tired of going from side to side, and it worked fine. 8. The medal is still the best! The coast to coast challenge medal is awesome (did it last year) and well worth it. 9. The weather usually is wonderful. I hate running in cold weather. 10. You get to wear your medal in the parks (you must do this) and cast members (and other runners) will congratulate you! Where else do you get to wear you medals? 11. It is expensive. Like I said, it's a great race if you know what to expect. I will be back for Goofy again in 2010. |
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