Official Wine & Dine 2014

[RookieLady]

This was my first Disney race and my first half. I had a blast. I cannot even imagine how it would have been if it had not been raining. I did not even mind the rain until I was done running (but I am willing to run in the rain). Of course, I would have preferred dry conditions because I really couldn't enjoy the after party. It was just too wet and I was cold.

My DH who ran with me had a pretty sweet run until about 9. He got really tired and slowed the pace. I think the rain got to him, and he had on more clothes than I did. He said he just felt heavy dragging the wet clothes with him.

HS and AK were incredible. I loved running in front of the hotels. I wished I could have seen the finish before I did. I ran about 1/2 mile more than the race distance because of all the weaving we did, and as I got through Epcot I expected the finish line to be right there, but it wasn't.

I am so glad we were able to get a room at beach club. I was able to avoid the busses and the issues I have read about here. I thought about staying at Yacht club, but my DH said he is so glad we didn't. He didn't want to take another step in the rain.

I am definitely doing this race again. However, next time, I am planning on doing my touring AFTER the race. We toured before the race because of not wanting my kids to miss school. I would have much preferred to rest after, rather than getting back to the airport and the grind.

 

[pxefig]

I'm going to start off saying I know this is a shot in the dark-
I was the dork dressed up like Rapunzel with the owing hair. In all the excitement if the night I never got a picture of my costume for myself. I know a couple of period asked for a picture of the the costume. Are any of them DISers that are willing to share?

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm going to start off saying I know this is a shot in the dark-
I was the dork dressed up like Rapunzel with the owing hair. In all the excitement if the night I never got a picture of my costume for myself. I know a couple of period asked for a picture of the the costume. Are any of them DISers that are willing to share?

Unfortunately I don't think my husband got a picture of you, but he wanted me to tell you that your costume was awesome!

 

[StarGirl11]

I'm going to start off saying I know this is a shot in the dark- I was the dork dressed up like Rapunzel with the owing hair. In all the excitement if the night I never got a picture of my costume for myself. I know a couple of period asked for a picture of the the costume. Are any of them DISers that are willing to share?

Okay funnily enough I was one of the people who asked for a photo if I remember you correctly. I was the girl dressed in purple who was about two people behind you in it was either the Mickey or the Minnie photo op line and I can't remember which because it's really early in the morning right now.

Anyways here is the photo I got:

 

[pxefig]

Okay funnily enough I was one of the people who asked for a photo if I remember you correctly. I was the girl dressed in purple who was about two people behind you in it was either the Mickey or the Minnie photo op line and I can't remember which because it's really early in the morning right now.

Anyways here is the photo I got:

AHHHH! Awesome. Thank you so much!

 

[Fruto76]

AHHHH! Awesome. Thank you so much!

That's awesome...I love how the Dis is it's own little community!
I didn't get to see you during the event... but that's a great costume. How did it hold up in the rain?

 

[RookieLady]

I didn't have time to use my mini golf tickets that came with my runDisney room package. Will these be good for another trip or were they tied to the race dates?

 

[sunshinecruise]

That's awesome...I love how the Dis is it's own little community!
I didn't get to see you during the event... but that's a great costume. How did it hold up in the rain?

Pxefig, I saw you before the race, I was impressed by your hair and I pointed it out to my dh. And I saw you after the race by the bathrooms in the Land, where I went to change my clothes.

We should have some sign that identifies us as Disboarders so we can introduce ourselves.

 

[Mariannekay]

So not only did I get an awesome medal to commemorate this race, but now that I'm home I received a diagnosis of bronchitis and the flu! Ugh!!!!! Loved the race and would do it again in a heartbeat

 

[Strawberry's mom&dad]

What a wet race. The wettest I have ever run. By mile 8 I was cold and just wanting to see the finish line. So happy when I crossed and received that wrap at the end. I went and got my coast to coast medal and then realized that I had not gotten my finisher medal. I had to hunt it down. The line to the women's changing was long but putting on dry clothes was worth the wait. We did not go to the after party, just to cold. We were at Pop Century and were able to just hop right on a bus. Got lucky there.

Will be doing the race again next year.

 

[walkdmc]

This was my first 1/2 and it was disappointing. I was in corral K, so way in the back which made for a lot of weaving in and out of walkers. There are people giving it their all and probably felt their only way to finish is to move at their own pace, in their own space, even if it involved stopping in the middle of the course. I cannot tell you how many people went from jogging to walking on a dime, no notice and did it in the center of the course, didn't bother moving to the side. So, I would come upon multiple groups of 2 or 3 that did the sudden stops and walk, so that made for a 4+ person wide obstacle. Ugh, so frustrating. Seriously, I'm a new runner and even I know to move to the right if I'm walking. And, the official race guide handed to each and every runner also mentions moving to the side if you're walking.

Then the end was hurried and messy. For anyone who hasn't run this, we are handed our medal, a thermal wrap, a box of food, banana, bag of chocolate covered craisins, water bottle and Powerade bottle. No bag to hold all that stuff and no table or bench to arrange those things in a way making them easy to carry. We juggled all that stuff and had to figure out what to do with it while getting our post-race pic taken. Since there were no tables at my pic stop, I wound up putting everything down on the ground…wet food box, wet thermal wrap, ugh. The line for beer/wine was awful…long, confusing…is this the beer or wine line? Who knows? I gave up and stepped out of line and it still took me a good 5 minutes just to wade through everyone. I was honestly upset I didn't get my wine and felt like they could've done a better job at organizing that cluster mess of folks waiting for their drink.


RUNDISNEY: We need tables or benches, somewhere to organize all that stuff OR…HAND US ALL THAT STUFF IN ONE BAG…A BAG, WE NEED A BAG. I'm sure some sponsor would be happy to supply a cheap plastic shopping bag for said purpose.

I didn't even go to the after party, something I was so looking forward to. That was my choice since i was so cold and by that time my legs were cramping. I still feel as though I wished I blew off the run and went straight to the party at 10pm.

On a positive note, if you do this run, consider renting a car and park at Epcot at 7pm. From there, you'll take a nice comfy shuttle to ESPN and after the race you just walk to your car. Collapsing into that car was the best part of the night.

EDIT: The volunteers were AWESOME, just great! I was handed a drink of my choice at every drink station. At the smaller runs I've done, the lack of volunteers meant runners had to grab their own waters/lytes which made for crowding around the tables…none of that during the W&D. They also did a fantastic job at handing out the gel at mile 9 and the stuff at the end…so encouraging and nice! And the Osbourne Lights were amazing. To be able to see those lights with no crowd was so great.

 

[bumbershoot]

This was my first 1/2 and it was disappointing. I was in corral K, so way in the back which made for a lot of weaving in and out of walkers. There are people giving it their all and probably felt their only way to finish is to move at their own pace, in their own space, even if it involved stopping in the middle of the course. I cannot tell you how many people went from jogging to walking on a dime, no notice and did it in the center of the course, didn't bother moving to the side. So, I would come upon multiple groups of 2 or 3 that did the sudden stops and walk, so that made for a 4+ person wide obstacle. Ugh, so frustrating. Seriously, I'm a new runner and even I know to move to the right if I'm walking. And, the official race guide handed to each and every runner also mentions moving to the side if you're walking.


It's the same in corral I and even further up. At the DL half the start was on a huge videoscreen, and there were walkers in Corral A. A!

I'm not perfect at my walk breaks, but I try to look around before slowing or speeding up.

Then the end was hurried and messy. For anyone who hasn't run this, we are handed our medal, a thermal wrap, a box of food, banana, bag of chocolate covered craisins, water bottle and Powerade bottle. No bag to hold all that stuff and no table or bench to arrange those things in a way making them easy to carry. We juggled all that stuff and had to figure out what to do with it while getting our post-race pic taken. Since there were no tables at my pic stop, I wound up putting everything down on the ground…wet food box, wet thermal wrap, ugh. The line for beer/wine was awful…long, confusing…is this the beer or wine line? Who knows? I gave up and stepped out of line and it still took me a good 5 minutes just to wade through everyone. I was honestly upset I didn't get my wine and felt like they could've done a better job at organizing that cluster mess of folks waiting for their drink.

You got chocolate covered craisins??? Harumph.

The beverage line...Bud Lite first, Yuenling, wine, soft drinks. Found that out after waiting 5 minutes at least. Took the Bud because it was closest but the LAST thing I wanted was a cold cold can of beer. Tossed over half of it out.


RUNDISNEY: We need tables or benches, somewhere to organize all that stuff OR…HAND US ALL THAT STUFF IN ONE BAG…A BAG, WE NEED A BAG. I'm sure some sponsor would be happy to supply a cheap plastic shopping bag for said purpose.

A bag would be a great idea. Write a letter to them!


I didn't even go to the after party, something I was so looking forward to. That was my choice since i was so cold and by that time my legs were cramping. I still feel as though I wished I blew off the run and went straight to the party at 10pm.

My friend and I were trying to figure out if we were going to the party, and I said "if we don't go it wouldn't be fun. And she said, while pointing out the cold and the rain and our horribly cramping calves, "what part of THIS would be considered FUN?" She had an excellent point. We left.


On a positive note, if you do this run, consider renting a car and park at Epcot at 7pm. From there, you'll take a nice comfy shuttle to ESPN and after the race you just walk to your car. Collapsing into that car was the best part of the night.

I was trying to convince my friend to do this, but we were at Epcot at around 4 and the parking lot was full! We had to park at TTC and monorail over! My friend couldn't understand how it would be useful to park there (she figured it out later) and I couldn't figure out when to get there if the lot was full, so we didn't. Regret regret regret.

Side note: my 4th Disney race (TOT 2013, WDW Half 2014, DL Half 2014, and this), and I finally finally finally saw volunteers with the mylar blanket things! And I got one! I was so excited!

And then I was so cold and shaky and my hands were so full of all the walkdmc mentioned, that I couldn't put it on properly and it didn't help even a little tiny bit. Sigh.

 

[Disney at Heart]

Was I wet? Yes. Was I cold? Yes. Was it awesome to finish, collect that medal, and have stories to tell? Absolutely! Congrats to all of you who are on a similar high!

 

[VAfamily1998]

This was my first 1/2 and it was disappointing. I was in corral K, so way in the back which made for a lot of weaving in and out of walkers. There are people giving it their all and probably felt their only way to finish is to move at their own pace, in their own space, even if it involved stopping in the middle of the course. I cannot tell you how many people went from jogging to walking on a dime, no notice and did it in the center of the course, didn't bother moving to the side. So, I would come upon multiple groups of 2 or 3 that did the sudden stops and walk, so that made for a 4+ person wide obstacle. Ugh, so frustrating. Seriously, I'm a new runner and even I know to move to the right if I'm walking. And, the official race guide handed to each and every runner also mentions moving to the side if you're walking.

Then the end was hurried and messy. For anyone who hasn't run this, we are handed our medal, a thermal wrap, a box of food, banana, bag of chocolate covered craisins, water bottle and Powerade bottle. No bag to hold all that stuff and no table or bench to arrange those things in a way making them easy to carry. We juggled all that stuff and had to figure out what to do with it while getting our post-race pic taken. Since there were no tables at my pic stop, I wound up putting everything down on the ground…wet food box, wet thermal wrap, ugh. The line for beer/wine was awful…long, confusing…is this the beer or wine line? Who knows? I gave up and stepped out of line and it still took me a good 5 minutes just to wade through everyone. I was honestly upset I didn't get my wine and felt like they could've done a better job at organizing that cluster mess of folks waiting for their drink.


RUNDISNEY: We need tables or benches, somewhere to organize all that stuff OR…HAND US ALL THAT STUFF IN ONE BAG…A BAG, WE NEED A BAG. I'm sure some sponsor would be happy to supply a cheap plastic shopping bag for said purpose.

I didn't even go to the after party, something I was so looking forward to. That was my choice since i was so cold and by that time my legs were cramping. I still feel as though I wished I blew off the run and went straight to the party at 10pm.

On a positive note, if you do this run, consider renting a car and park at Epcot at 7pm. From there, you'll take a nice comfy shuttle to ESPN and after the race you just walk to your car. Collapsing into that car was the best part of the night.

EDIT: The volunteers were AWESOME, just great! I was handed a drink of my choice at every drink station. At the smaller runs I've done, the lack of volunteers meant runners had to grab their own waters/lytes which made for crowding around the tables…none of that during the W&D. They also did a fantastic job at handing out the gel at mile 9 and the stuff at the end…so encouraging and nice! And the Osbourne Lights were amazing. To be able to see those lights with no crowd was so great.

You mention you are a new runner, and that this was your first half marathon; this was my 12th half this year (plus a lot of other races) and the situation you described (being handed everything at the end with no where to put it all) is pretty typical. I was actually just telling my husband last night that for my next race I'm going to stuff a little plastic bag in my running belt so I have a place to hold everything.

I'm sorry your first half was disappointing. This was my first time doing W&D and the weather really put a damper on it.

And I have to echo Bumbershoot with the "You got chocolate covered Craisins?" I LOVE those--I didn't see them at the end!!!

 

[anniebabymu]

I was actually just telling my husband last night that for my next race I'm going to stuff a little plastic bag in my running belt so I have a place to hold everything.

What a fantastic idea! The W&D was my first run greater than a 10k (and I happily crossed the finish line, might I add!!) but if I ever do another half I'm definitely going to do this! It really was so hard trying to hang onto everything and stay snuggled up in the blanket.

 

[walkdmc]

LOL, on the chocolate covered craisin envy! They were the first thing I dug into…so good.

Another thing, there was a worker yelling for everyone to walk to the end of the row of finisher photographers, "Do not stop at the stations, go to the end of the line!" She yelled that repeatedly yet I saw people stopping at the individual photographer's spots. I thought, "how rude, those people aren't doing what they're told." I followed the rules, walked to the end, there was NO line and I wound up having my picture taken with 2 bags of trash at my feet. I'll see what happens when the final picture comes out but they'd have to shop those trash bags out and I don't know if they do that.

I realize being a rookie at this was a detriment. I didn't know the order of drink issuance, didn't know there was no line for finishing photos and I could, in fact, stop anywhere I wanted and would've preferred a spot with no trash bags at my feet. I hope this info. helps a fellow rookie W&D runner next year.

 

[Rose&Mike]

We had a great time at the race! I was grossly under trained (injuries and a move at the beginning of Oct from Louisville to Charlotte) but finished with a 2:54. My goal was to be under 3:00. My DH and DS ran with me and it was pretty awesome to finish as a family. My goal is usually around 2:25, but despite the slower time, we had a great run!

This was my 5th w&d and my only issues were the bag pick up--totally chaotic and disorganized and the beer/wine distribution. It was way too small a space for the volume of people. I don't remember it feeling that crowded in the past.

I think the rain helped me feel good at the end--no chance of over heating in that rain. But my chafing has chafing--it is bad! Luckily it didn't hurt during the race.

We waited to change inside epcot and hung out at the party until ~3:30. We had drinks and food and hung out at the craft beer area--it was inside. There was a very short line for the bus to SSR at 3:45am.

Things were not perfect Saturday night, but all in all I think this was my favorite w&d. It has been a challenging year at our house, so this was a huge mental victory.

We talked to several first time half marathoners who were just overwhelmed with the weather and how hard it was and we told everyone--once you get some distance from the race, you will be able to pull from the victory of completing this run in the dark, cold, rain. It was a huge mental victory for everyone who finished!

A big congratulations to everyone who showed up Saturday night to run. It was definitely memorable.

 

[PrincessV]

This was my first WDW race. The bus situation after the race seemed horrendous!! Is that normal?

Yes and no... every race has at least one bus/one resort with MAJOR transportation issues. It's a crapshoot as to which it will be for any given race, but there's always at least one. PHM this year, there was an endless line back for buses back to one of the values, while my CBR bus was mostly empty and waited for me to finish my champagne before taking off.

High grade running socks are a must...

^THIS!!!! As a Florida runner, I run in torrential rain pretty often - I only wear Smartwool socks and have never, ever had a blister.

For how long did it rain during the race and just how cold was it?

I started in corral I: it started raining as I walked to my corral, rained non-stop until I entered DHS, then lightened to barely a sprinkle through most of DHS before returning to a full deluge for the rest of the race. It continued the on/off stuff through the after-party. Temps started in the mid-60s and fell to 50s.

No bag to hold all that stuff...

I complain via email about this after EVERY rD race. It's crazy, that awkward cardboard box o' snacks!

 

[PrincessV]

I'm working on a full recap in my blog and will share here when it's done, but for now...

CONGRATULATIONS to all who toed the line Saturday! It was a tough race and we all should be proud of ourselves for getting out there.

And...

THANK YOU!!!!! to the outstanding staff and volunteers who were out standing in the rain for far longer, and far more uncomfortably, than any of us runners. We couldn't do our race without you!

The rain really didn't bother me much; I've run in far worse down here in FL so I knew what to expect there. I was warm enough while running, but the cold got to me after the finish; I'm still struggling to stay warm. Starting in I made for a lot more walking than I really wanted to do, but it was that or weave all over... as it was, I clocked 13.8 miles, so I'm glad I decided early on to just roll with the crowd and not worry much about time. Finding a warm place to change after the race was the biggest challenge for me. After that, I was ready to stuff my face and closed down EP, leaving around 4:30, lol!

 

[bumbershoot]

Princess, yes I forgot that it was nearly dry in DHS. I kept thinking it wasn't raining elsewhere until I looked up, because I was already so wet lol.

Was ever so thankful for a real bathroom when we went through DHS. (And other parks but I only used one at dhs)

Once I can compose it without bad words every sentence, I'm going to write rundisney to beg them to put the finish line somehow in SIGHT of the 13 mile marker. I almost gave up. I actually stopped at that bend. (Pulling over all the way to the right without cutting anyone off)

To all those who heard my really bad words as I psyched myself up to go again, well, write to rundisney too.

And ohhhhh, anonymous fellow participant......the last .10 is NOT the time to stop in the middle and walk while messing with your phone.

(Holy autocorrect misses, Molly! Edited)