Disney Marathon

Well, I've done it twice, and had a bad experience both times, both due to the weather. The high the first time was 88*, the second was 85*. I think this year will probably be cold, or so says the Farmer's Almanac .

Negatives: Bring your own water for pre-race. They don't provide any. It is going to be packed. Lots of walkers will be lined up too close to the front, so make sure you seed yourself properly. Disney is a big property, and to get from park to park you gotta run on access roads, through parking lots, and through the back stages. Yes, this includes the animal waste facility near Animal Kingdom. The worst stretch around 19-22 is going to have low numbers of spectators, and also has the big hill - an overpass.

Positives: There are tons of people when you get to the park entrances. Once in the parks, you have lots of photo opportunities (if you care to bring a cam) with characters and stuff. There is music on the course. Its kinda cool running being the scenes. Aid stations were well stocked. Nice medals.

Thanks for the feedback. Wow those are warm temps for Florida in January. Of course it is hit or miss that time of the year could be 50 could be 80.

I have run the Disney Marathon twice before and I will be there with you in January for my third. I really enjoy the Disney Marathon. It is true you spend much time out of the parks and on the roads with few or no crowd support. That tends to be the biggest complaint people make. But there is just not that much you can run in the parks. It does not bother me. It is just like training. The first year I ran Disney it was very warm but they must have added aid stations. It seemed like there was an aid station every ½ mile. It is a large marathon and most of the runners are not fast. It is a very walker friendly marathon. So seeding is important. Disney does have corrals but they are very large corrals. If you used a half marathon time for corral placement, then make sure the runners around you have similar race numbers to yours. It is a slow start and many people do not seed well within the corrals. Also it is very crowed getting to the start. If you can stay on the Monorail route it is a big advantage getting to the start. Once you get off the bus or monorail you still have a good walk. Check your bag and start walking to the start. Once you start running enjoy it and run until you hear the hallelujah singers and then sprint for the finish!

Please let me know if you have other questions and good luck.

Disney is a great first marathon if you are not looking to go really fast. Actually the truly fast probably have the front to themselves. Us mid pack runners and slower have plenty of company. It is a fun race and it is cool to see the back stage of Disney. The majority of it is just typical back country roads. Another cool feature is that your family can jump on the monorail and see you in several spots on the course including in the Magic Kingdom just before you go in the castle. If it is ok to plug another site disneyrunning.com has all the info you could ever want on there site. Good luck. I hope to do the Goofy one year. Oh yeah it is worth the money to stay on site. Being able to walk out of your room and onto a bus is worth it.

I ran the Disney full in 2003.

1. It is NOT as flat as advertised.  Seriously.
2. It is very boring when you are not in a park...which is 75% of the race.
3. They make you get there stupid early and I didn't want to bring a throw away so I froze my arse off.  Bring something to keep you warm that you don't mind tossing.
4. Maybe they have fixed this, but there was a looooong walk to the start from where the buses drop you off.
5. The dudes with the beer around mile 19 saved my butt.

I ran it last year, and I am doing the Goofy this year.  I was just getting over being sick, so the run was terrible, but the race was cool.   People talked about the hear, but I think I was so out of it by that time I didn't notice.  I do remember freezing at the beginning. 

* You wait for the start in a big parking lot, with music. Kinda cool.
* You can check a bag at their tents for pick up after the race.  It's good for dry clothes post race.
* It's not a short walk to the start, but it's exciting so it's not bad.
* They have donation bins on the way to the start, so you can ditch you throw-away clothes there. (if I remember correctly)
* I loved running through the parks, around the epcot ball, and through the castle.  It was also cool seeing all the back lots. 
* If you just want to do this for fun, I agree with all the PP, take your camera.  The have tons of Disney characters, and live animals in the animal park.
* Lots of great shirts, hats...ect. at the expo.  And the finish medal is the best.
* DON'T pin a sign on the back of you shirt.  I saw a guy with four blood streaks running down the back of his shirt from the chafing of the pins.