Wow - great weekend!!! This was my first half marathon and first runDisney event at WDW. Did the 10K at DL last year. I absolutely loved everything about the WDW runDisney events, except for the weather, which they certainly can't control!
The weekend started earlier than expected due to weather conditions at home. We received a weather advisory from Southwest on Wednesday that our Thursday flight may be cancelled, and four hours later, I was on the plane with my three boys! Fortunately, we had already packed quite a bit, and it was easy to get a room at POR-Riverside with the AP discount for Wednesday night, change Magical Express and make dining reservations and FP+ for our bonus time at DHS Thursday morning.
We transferred to BWI on Thursday morning. We booked standard CL at BWI, and I requested a boardwalk view. No boardwalk view available . . . but BWI upgraded us to a 2-bedroom suite!!! It was perfect - the space was wonderful and based on the earlier reports here regarding the boardwalk view, our garden view definitely worked out for the best. (My husband joined us on the last night, and he said he prefers garden.)
As for the races . . .
Cinderella Family 5K - we dressed as Beast, Belle, Lumiere and Cogsworth - had a ton of fun! What a fun course, great organization and great energy. We couldn't believe how easy it was to get around using Disney transportation and we never felt lost. And everything moved so quickly that we didn't have all that confused down time that we experienced at DL last year. Loved it!
Kids' Races - another great event! Again, well organized and not too crowded. Absolutely loved the entertainment for the kids. Our youngest son was in the 400 meter and he enjoyed all the music, Simon Says games, etc. Always something going on for the kids in the corrals and we had a great time. Again, huge difference from our experience at the DL kids' races, and a definite repeat. He wants to do the 1-mile in January.
PHM - Wow! Really glad I purchased the race retreat because this was my first half marathon, and because I was on my own. I'm not sure I would purchase it again now that I'm more familiar with the WDW runDisney events, but it was perfect for this race. Also think the shirts are perfect - best race shirt I've ever received. Not too flashy and a good fit - something I'll actually wear! The actual race was far more difficult than I expected, due to the humidity - I trained at a 8:20 pace and my race pace was in the high 8's. Still came in at 1:57, but felt like I stayed safe throughout. Loved Corral C!!! I was at the front of Corral C and it was a good spot for me. So much space, never crowded and encountered only polite runners. Apologies for the smallest bumps, and "to your lefts" every time. I couldn't believe how uncrowded it was in that corral. I ran through the castle all by myself - seriously, there aren't any other runners in my photos. As for MK, I'm sort of different because I've always been an Epcot girl and thought running up Main Street and through the castle would be fun, but not amazing. I was wrong - it was amazing!!! I didn't feel the best given the weather conditions and the fact that I've been training on a treadmill at the gym since early January - but I still loved the race.
Next time: I'll try the full marathon, and I'll expect to slow my pace for the weather. I'll also stay one more night after the race so that I don't have to get on the plane the same day. By the time I arrived home, I had been up for a full 24 hours - too much after running 13.1!
P.S. Loved Magic Bands and FP+. We're usually at rope drop, but not this time - too many runDisney events. FP+ made it possible for us to run, get to the park on our own time, ride a few favorites and head back to the resort for break/swim time. Definitely makes it possible to combine park time with run time and down time!
