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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 431 to 441]
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L. B. from USA
(1/12/2007)
"Hot but worth it" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What can I say? "It's Disney!" As a marathon runner, this is a must-do at least once in your life. Early start, but worth it. I think I would have enjoyed the course a little more if I hadn't been so miserable due to the heat and humidity. I missed my BQ by 10 minutes because of it. You never know what kind of temps you will get in Florida. The Mickey medal and shirt are one of a kind. It was worth the misery just for that alone. Course was mostly flat with a few overpasses. Would I do it again? Yes, IF I COULD AFFORD IT!! | |
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J. H. from Philadelphia
(1/12/2007)
"Had an absolute blast!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just got back from the best marathon experience. Got in on Thursday and made it to the expo via the Disney bus service with no problem. The only drawback at the expo was this one volunteer who wouldn't stop asking Jeff ("the volunteer with the green shirt") questions about traffic on marathon Sunday. How many times could he tell her that she wouldn't be able to travel by the roads that she was used to? (What was she, buying a house?!!!)). I did the 3 races that were offered: 5K, half-marathon, and marathon. Used the 5K as a warmup jog and had fun with the Pirates/Princess crew before the race. Corny jokes were running amok. I loved every minute of it. Met Captain Bill from Staten Island when we boarded the bus from All-Star Sports. Captain Bill, in his full pirate regalia, was giving every passenger the full treatment ("ARRRRRGH!"). Even got to catch up with friends from the NJ Roadrunners, the Liberty Ladies (Diana and Maricar, who did 6 marathons in '06, and are on their way to doing 7 marathons in '07. You go, girls!!!). Before the start of the 1/2 marathon, we were subjected to some guy who (tired of being happy) proposed to his girlfriend via the scoreboard (Sucker!... just kidding!). Fortunately for him, she said, "Yes." The course was an out-and-back from/to EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom. Running through the Magic Kingdom was excellent, even though it was quite humid (but nothing compared to what us Goofy runners were in for on Sunday). Finishing early enough in the morning before the heat kicked in was a benefit for Sunday's race. Having the characters available for photos during and after the race just added to the excitement. For the marathon, it was cooler at first ("This is good."). But then, the fog rolled in. Holy mackerel! It was foggy! However, when the sun came up, Oh! did it get warm! My hat's off to all the volunteers who manned the water and food stations ("Bless you all!"). I've read from this site that it's a boring run between Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. However, given the choice of looking at Disney golf courses or some really lousy neighborhoods of some other, big-city marathons, I prefer the golf courses. In the parks and some parts outside, there were so many photo opportunities with the characters that I consider this the most festive of all marathons that I've been involved in (including NYC). Kudos to the Disney organization for the volunteers and spectators who came our en masse to support us runners, the coordination of Disney transportation and the awesome medals. I trained heavily for 7 months for these events, and it was worth every minute. Thanks! I'll be back. | |
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J. T. from Canton, OH
(1/11/2007)
"Too early, too hot, no water" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Getting up at three a.m. stinks. I know everyone else had to as well, but good grief, it was hard to get enough sleep having to get up so early. I won't hold the temperature against them, but it was a cooker out there. My main gripe is that miles 15, 18 and 19 had NOOOO WATER!! That is 3 out of 5 miles. At that point everyone was walking. It was pretty disappointing. Sorry to slam it. My 2nd marathon. Cleveland was better. Yup, I said it. | |
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J. S. from Boston, MA
(1/11/2007)
"Ran out of water!!!!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and though I am excited to do another one, I certainly won't do Disney again. My biggest complaint was that there were several stops with no water. I had my own bottle I ran with, but others were asking passing motorists if they had any water in their cars. It was a very bad scene. The volunteers, employees, and characters were great and very enthusiastic. | |
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W. M. from Chicago, IL
(1/11/2007)
"This one's for fun, mostly" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 If you plan to run this one, here's my suggestion for the winning ticket - bring a camera, take your time on the course, and enjoy the experience. I gave up on a PR early here, given the high temperatures, which was a good thing, given that there are way too many sections of this course that are far too narrow for the number of runners trying to squeeze their way through. My only other complaint has nothing to do with the race itself, but with the Purple People (you know who you are). This goes regardless of the marathon... we love what you're doing for your cause, but please remember that there are other runners on the course, and when you run/walk five or six across, with your coaches dodging in and out of traffic, it's a bit dangerous and an impediment to the rest of us who are sharing the course. | |
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N. C. from Evansville, IN
(1/11/2007)
"A great first-time or veteran run" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Disney World Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is my 4th Disney and each year it gets better. A bit warm this year, but with the characters and fans cheering you forward, it didn't matter. Good organization and execution. My first Goofy Challenge and it was great. Expo is a bit light but they had great speakers. Highly recommend this one for first-timers and runners who want to enjoy a marathon course. | |
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A. F. from Orlando, FL
(1/11/2007)
"Fun race but VERY hot!" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am from Orlando and should have expected the weather to be warm since I decided to run it this year... as that is how my luck goes. I was looking to qualify for Boston with this race, but the heat took it out of me around mile 19 when the sun came out with a vengeance. Needless to say, I was thrilled to finish when I did. The course was fun. Spent more time in the parks than I had heard from other runners. I do believe the race should have ended in the Magic Kingdom and not outside of Epcot. I thought there was more than enough water and PowerAde throughout the race. Plus, they did hand out gels and fruit. My only complaint is that the finish line was so far from the family reunion area. I did not want to walk another step to reach my husband. I would do this race again since I live here. Maybe next time it will be cool like the other 13 years have been. | |
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H. O. from Southern California
(1/11/2007)
"Just too "Goofy" for words!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I did the Goofy Challenge at the 2007 DW Marathon - 1/2 on Saturday, full on Sunday. Seemed like Groundhog Day on Sunday at 4 a.m., hearing the same music from the band in the staging area, and seeing some of the same faces as the day before. The 1/2 was pleasurable, but Sunday was hot! Unless you were swift enough to finish in under four hours, you were doing the death march on blacktop from about mile 18-22 with no shade, no cloud cover, and temps and humidity both in the 80's. And yes, they ran out of water on this stretch of the course. Once we got into the MGM Studios, there was more water and they had some spritzers and a little shade. I can say this because I'm a back-of-the-packer - anyone who thinks they will be taking longer than 5 hours to run a marathon should take their own water and/or replacement fluid. That is how our running club trained us and I always take my own just in case something like this happens. I was surprised at the number of 6-hour marathoners out there with no fluids - it was very hot and people were taking two cups (one for the head one for the lips), so it is not surprising that some stations ran out. There are more stations on this course than on many others and the majority of them were well stocked - I was embarrassed that runners were yelling at volunteers. The positive is that I did it - 39.3 miles in two days - and am none the worse for wear. Some constructive criticism: for the 3,000 of us who ran both days, could the DJs do different music videos at the start? We heard the same ones over and over, or so it seemed. As another runner stated, the expo was a little disappointing - the pickup was well organized, but I would have liked to see more creative race merchandise, and the Goofy Challenge stuff was pretty weak. I am lucky I packed my Clif Shots and honey gels in my checked baggage because there wasn't much for sale. However there did seem to be several stations with Clif Shots on the course - usually they are out of them by the time I go by. Also plenty of porta-potties (and a lot of bushes!). Would've been nice to have a "free" Goofy Challenge t-shirt waiting for us at the finish. However, the Mickey, Donald, and Goofy medals are the best ever! If it is 20 degrees cooler next year, then I would recommend this race - the course and the Disney characters make for great photo ops and a fun time. Just don't expect a PR. | |
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c. m. from Davie, Florida
(1/11/2007)
"Grab your wallet for this one" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 The comments below regarding the absence of gels at the expo... same thing happened to me. The expo had nothing but high-end, overpriced merchandise, and it was very small in general. Disney also insists that spectators pay entrance into the parks to see their family/friends run by. Forget that!! Also, while running through the parks was really neat, most of the race was on private Disney service roads where specatators were not allowed. I thought the spectators that were there were good and excited and the volunteers were very organized. As for Disney Corp., I paid my $100, drove 5 hours, paid for the hotel, etc.; it's disappointing that my family couldn't see me finish because you have to pay park entry to sit in the finish line bleachers. My first and LAST Disney! | |
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M. G. from Ann Arbor Michigan
(1/11/2007)
"This was not worth it." (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Disney World Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon, having run Chicago last year. This marathon was no match for the Chicago experience. The Disney Marathon was HOT and HUMID. Also, running most of the time through parking lots and on the road was no fun when I was expecting more time spent in the parks. The spectators were quiet and limited to only a few areas, leaving most of the run uneventful. I would not run this marathon again. |
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