Disney Marathon Weekend Survival Guide-Part 5: The Races-10 Things You Need to Know

What could be better than going for a little run with 26,000 of your closest friends? Doing it at Walt Disney World, the Happiest Place on Earth, that’s what. Marathon Weekend at Disney is the culmination of months of training, countless early mornings, blisters, and probably a few pairs of shoes too. After registration, travel, and the expo, all that’s left is the race. Here we go.

Combined, Chad and I (Cindy) have completed 73 runDisney races and 30 runDisney challenges! We look forward to this weekend every year! We’ve put together a complete survival guide covering all aspects of the race. This six-part series will get you prepared and ready to run!

• Part 1 covers the 6 things you need to know before you leave for Marathon Weekend.
• Part 2 covers the Health and Fitness Expo, something many first-timers totally underestimate and do not properly prepare for
• Part 3 covers pre-race tips
• Part 4 covers the race morning
• Part 5 covers the races themselves
• Part 6 wraps up the series with information for spectators

The time has finally come, and you are going to be running a fantastic Disney race. Here are 10 things you need to know to have a fantastic race experience!

1 – Wave Starts

The Start Groups will start in waves. The time between the waves changes every year, but generally, they are about 5-7 minutes apart for the 5k and 10k and 2-3 minutes apart for the half and the full marathons. For the half and full marathons, there are six very large corrals. Be sure to let your spectators know that the time you actually start will be delayed by however far back you are in the waves. Give them an estimated race start so they can properly estimate where you will be on the course. (Be sure to read Part 6 in this series for spectator tips).

2 – Expect a Busy Course

We’ll say it again: these races are huge. In years past, the 5k and 10k had over 12,700 runners. The half has had 26,000 runners registered, and the full marathon has had 22,000. Many people are shocked to run in such a crowded race. Having the right expectations of how you will move through the course is one of the best ways to set up a fun and satisfying day. It will be crazy busy in some sections, so busy that you will have no choice but to walk. There will be spots that you will be stuck and cannot pass. There will be people who do silly things that annoy you (see #3, so you are not one of them). If you let these instances frustrate you, you will have a miserable race. This isn’t the course or crowd to qualify for Boston, so relax and have fun. You need to expect all these little annoyances, deal with them when they happen, and then move on. Just keep running, as Dory would say.

Corral placement will play a large part in how busy your race experience will be. For the 5k and 10k, there will be fewer people but many more walkers, especially in the 5k. Generally, those in corrals A and B will have the widest open space. For the half and full, runners in corrals A and B will have the advantage of fewer people. Fewer is relative, though, as thousands of runners are in each corral.

If you are going for a personal record (PR), you’ll want to get in your corral as early as possible so you are up in front in your designated Start Group. While possible to PR (at least for first-timers :) ), it’s a difficult course to do so. You can’t control a lot as far as the crowded course goes. Again, be mentally prepared that you may not PR because it’s too busy. You can still have a great day even if you don’t make your time goal.

3 – Don’t Be That Runner

Proper running etiquette will go a long way to making everyone’s race experience better. runDisney events are very first-time racer-friendly. Many runners are running their first race and may not know certain “rules” of running etiquette. Proper expectations go a long way here. You can’t control other people, but you can set a great example of what you should do. You don’t want to be “that” runner who annoys everyone.

Here are a few etiquette tips:

• Run or walk no more than two abreast. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get past a group of people who are taking up the entire path, making it nearly impossible to pass. We get that you want to stick with your friends or pacing group, but please leave enough room by staying to the right and running/walking no more than two abreast.
• If passing, let the person know by saying, “Excuse me,” “On your left,” or “Coming through.” If someone is passing you, move to the side and let them pass.
• If you are running and want to start walking, raise one of your hands and move to the right to alert the runners behind you that you will be slowing down to walk.
• Feel free to shout words of encouragement to other runners.
• When stopping for water stops, raise your hand to alert others that you are stopping.
• Snot happens. It’s a part of running. Since few people run with a box of Puffs Plus, the second-best option is the time-honored technique of the “farmer’s blow.” If you find you need to clear your schnoz, by all means, do so. It’s socially acceptable during a race. But for the love of everything decent and holy, check to make sure the area is clear before you unload. There is nothing worse than being baptized by a fellow runner.
• When the big moment comes to run through Cinderella’s castle, enjoy it. Take it all in. But keep moving. This is a very narrow area of the course, and there are thousands of people behind you. DO NOT STOP before the castle, in the castle, or on the ramp coming out of the castle. Besides being very inconsiderate to other runners, there is a high risk of collisions and injuries in this spot (we see it every year). If you’d like a great picture in front of the castle, stay left and peel off at the bottom of the ramp. There is plenty of room in front of the castle stage for selfies and several Disney PhotoPass photographers as well.
• It’s great to be prepared, but go ahead and leave the 50-gallon Camelback hydration system at home for the 5k and 10k. There is more than enough water if needed for these relatively short races.

4 – Smile for the Pictures

Professional photographers from Disney’s PhotoPass will be positioned at multiple race locations before the event, on the course, and at the finish and post-finish areas. On the course, there are multiple spots with characters. Please note that these are Disney photographers and are now included in Disney PhotoPass or Memory Maker packages–an even better reason to purchase that Memory Maker package. Annual Passholders will also have free access to the race pictures since Memory Maker is included in their pass benefits if they purchase the Memory Maker Add-on. After the event, you must manually add these pictures to your MyDisney Account using your Bib number. Clear instructions are included in the Event Guide and on the back of your bib. You may add up to five bibs per account per race. If you are running with a group, only one person needs to purchase the package. Runners are welcomed and encouraged to take pictures during the race. However, remember that runners and spectators prohibit selfie sticks on Walt Disney World property. There are some photo spots without Disney photographers, but usually, runners are happy to take turns taking pictures for each other. There will be character stops along the course, but they are never announced beforehand. You never know who you’ll see on the course!

5 – Expect Great Course Entertainment

Disney does a fantastic job of making its courses exciting. Besides characters to pose with for pictures, you’ll find marching bands, DJs, puppeteers, and other fun things to push you through your race. For those running the half-and-full, you’ll also have the excitement of running through Magic Kingdom and through Cinderella’s castle! It’s hard to top that! Not every inch of the course has entertainment, particularly in the marathon. Certain sections of the course are just roads that can be pretty boring. Disney discourages headphones, but they are certainly allowed, and many people run with their own music or an audiobook. If you do, just ensure the volume is low enough to hear the people around you.

6 – Fueling Properly

Before the race, plan how often you will hydrate and fuel. Disney offers water and other products during the races and bananas on the full marathon. If you prefer a certain race fuel, you will need to bring your own. Many runners carry a hydration belt with pockets for these items.

Make sure you hydrate often. Many underestimate the impact of heat and humidity on their bodies, even on a relatively cool day. It’s not uncommon to start the day in the 40s or 50s and end the marathon in the 80s. Please read pages of the Event Guide for more information on how to hydrate properly and other medical considerations.

Here are the fuel stops offered on the race course:

5k and 10k

There will be one water stop along the 5k course and three water stops along the 10k course. Plenty of water out there, and you won’t need to fuel for the 5k. You probably won’t need more than one gel (if that) for the 10k. Personally, these races are over so quickly we never bother to carry anything for these two events.

Half-Marathon

Nine beverage stations will be set up along the course, offering water and POWERADE^®. Stops are placed approximately every 1.5 miles along the course, and both water and POWERADE^® will be available at all nine stops. There will be one food stop available around Mile 8.5.

Marathon

A total of 19 water and POWERADE^® stops will be located along the course. All stops offer water and POWERADE^®. There will be five food stops located along the course.

7 – Be Aware of the Sweep Bus

All runners must be able to maintain a 16-minute per mile pace throughout the race (except for the 5k, which is not timed). Anyone unable to maintain a 16-minute per-mile pace may be picked up and transported back to the Epcot finish area. This is known as the “sweep bus.” You may be picked up at any point along the course. Unfortunately, runners do, in fact, get swept. If this happens to you, be proud that you started the race. You had the courage to try, and you started, which is more than most people will ever be able to say.

We suggest you aim for at least a 15-minute per-mile pace. Even if you are a much faster runner, be aware that many things may slow you down. Bathroom stops along the course often have 5-10 minute waits. If you stop to take a picture with the characters, that will also slow you down. We’ve seen lines as long as 30-40 minutes for popular characters along the course. I’ve heard that many people like to take pictures with every character. If you do this, you must know how long those picture stops are taking you. You don’t want to get swept because you took too many pictures!

8 – Big Finish

There is nothing more exciting than finishing your race! When you enter the finish chute, smile and celebrate your awesome finish. Characters may be there to high-five you on your way in! The cheers from the crowd and the announcer will bring you in. Olympian Jeff Galloway advises against a sprint finish. “Sprinting when tired is a major cause of injury and is likely to leave you sore and “wobbly” during your trip through the parks.” You will receive your medal as you exit the finisher shoot. You will also be directed to water and PowerAde. You’ll be given a box with some snacks for the Half and Full marathon. A medical tent is also there if you need medical attention, including ice.

9 – Challenge Participants Need to Check-in at the Finish

All Dopey and Goofy challenge runners need to check-in to their respective tents on Sunday to receive their medals. These are located after the finish line. Make sure you check in BEFORE leaving the finish area. Runners will not be allowed to re-enter the finish area once they leave it. You need to check in to verify that you have completed each leg of the respective challenge. On Sunday, once race officials have verified you have completed the necessary races, you will receive your Goofy and/or Dopey medals.

10 – Show Off Your Medal(s)

Congratulations! You did it! When enjoying Disney World after your race, be sure to walk around wearing your medal(s). You’ll see a lot of people doing it, so join in and be proud of your accomplishment. You’ll even see people wearing them in the days following Marathon Weekend. Cast members and guests will give their congratulations. One tradition we have enjoyed is getting our picture taken with characters with our medals. The characters are great and always give us a thumbs up for our accomplishments. Disney magic once again makes the entire race experience wonderful!

Bonus – Past Races Reviews

To better understand Marathon Weekend races, read up on our past race reviews by clicking on the links below.

2018 Marathon Weekend Review – Part 1

2018 Marathon Weekend Review – Part 2

2017 Marathon Weekend Review