Marathon Weekend 2022

[Ronski]

SAFD:
Princess-- the overpass going over World drive, after mile 10. Cheering and waving to all the runners below as we make our way to epcot.
Star Wars-- the sidewalk between HS and Epcot along the waterway. Almost done!

 

[Rogue224]

SAFD:
1. Charter bus rides from/to races. Best ride ever haha, and talking with fellow racers
2. “3....2....1....Gooooooooo” fireworks
3. Everywhere there’s volunteers, cast members, police helping with traffic, Boardwalk and Chear Squad - bless them all for the added motivation during the race

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD:

My favorite part of the race was always the finish line. The tiny burst of adrenaline that I usually/sometimes had left rounding the corner to head backstage at Epcot, pass the choir, and head down the final chute to the finish line was the best. Usually I’d make it all the way home on that adrenaline but sometimes I had to conserve for the final stretch past the gates. I always veered to the right at the final little split with the photographers because it always seemed to attract fewer people. The accomplishment was always the goal and it was never more real than when the finish line was in sight.

Others:
-Anywhere with Ralph/Vanellope, anything 90’s Disney afternoon, or Panchito. (I’d add Eeyore, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him on course)
-Entering Hollywood Studios during the Marathon. The highway/WWoS/highway section on the 2013-2019 course was always the worst. Soul crushing and hot. DHS was the light at the end of the tunnel.
-World Showcase in the dark (or light). It’s awesome when the torches are lit.

Just thinking of the entire Marathon stretch from HS to the Boardwalk to World Showcase to the finish has me realizing how much I miss Marathon Weekend and finishing the Marathon. I screwed up 2020 and didn’t get that feeling but figured I’d be back in 2021 to make amends. I think I’d disconnected a bit from the emotions and meaningfulness these races hold for me over the last year and a half since I never really felt 2021 was going to happen after the pandemic hit. I know the Marathon course won’t necessarily be anywhere close to the same, but I think I need that finish line more than ever. I really hope MW 2022 happens.

 

[MissLiss279]

SAFD:
-Turning the corner onto Main Street and seeing the Castle.
-5k run around World Showcase in the dark (start of the weekend excitement!!)
-SW: Battle of Endor, that first time seeing it and not expecting it (2017??)... Amazing!!!
-Just seeing all the characters along the course, whether I stop or not.

 

[pluto377]

SAFD:
1. Has to be Main St. It's just so fun!
2. Going down the center of Epcot towards Spaceship Earth. I don't know why, I just really enjoy that part.
3. The Boardwalk
4. Finish line home stretch!

 

[lhermiston]

-Entering Hollywood Studios during the Marathon. The highway/WWoS/highway section on the 2013-2019 course was always the worst. Soul crushing and hot. DHS was the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hitting Hollywood is such a good feeling. Seeing people/crowds again and knowing you're so close, especially after such a miserable stretch, means so much.

 

[BikeFan]

SAFD:
1. Main Street USA - just so amazing. That stretch will never get old.
2. World Showcase - I've always loved the atmosphere and theming of that part of the park and getting to run through it is awesome. It's best in the dark, but I also love it as the final 1.2 miles of the marathon. It's great having the International CMs and the park guests cheering you on, and knowing you're on the home stretch.
3. The WDW Speedway (now gone) - I only got to run it once, but it was cool Disney invited local car clubs to come out with their classic cars. There must have been 50+, at least. It was just a typical runDisney touch that made those races so unique and fun.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: in no particular order, except that #1 is really #1 lol!

1. DISCO TUNNEL BAYBEE!!!!
2. Battle for Endor on Bear Island Rd
3. World Dr./Osceola. I know: most people hate those long stretches of highway, but I love how the course opens up so I have plenty of space, and I really need those stretches of relative quiet to balance the overstimulation in the parks.

Honorable mention: any weird, random stuff backstage. Recycling stacks, piles of kegs, broken ride parts - I dig all of that.

 

[garneska]

World Showcase in the dark at the start of the full is my absolute favorite part of a Disney race course. It’s a shame they don’t use those old courses anymore.

Same.

 

[FFigawi]

Hitting Hollywood is such a good feeling. Seeing people/crowds again and knowing you're so close, especially after such a miserable stretch, means so much.

You also know you’ve got two great rides coming up!

 

[flav]

SAFD:

• 3-2-1-GO!
  
• Night running: The quiet part at the beginning, Hollywood Boulevard (when I ran it in WnD 2017) and Epcot World Showcase.
• Going under the honking monorail and Spaceship Earth at the end (2017, not possible in 2020).

 

[SarahDisney]

SAFD:
1 - The Epcot cast member parking lot entrance (or whatever that backstage area when you first get to Epcot in the 5K is)
2 - MK tollbooths
3 - All things castle
4 - All of running through World Showcase
5 - All of running through Magic Kingdom
6 - Really, just most of the courses

 

[Carol_]

Ya, waving at the monorail and getting those honks is a major highlight.

 

[flav]

Ya, waving at the monorail and getting those honks is a major highlight.

Yes, it happened to me the day after I had chosen that charm for my Pandora style bracelet as a souvenir for WnD 2017. I am brought back to that moment and feeling every time I look at it. For those who are still looking for memorabilia ideas, this one doesn’t take much space.

 

[lahobbs4]

SAFD:

Epcot in the dark! Why is the music there always SO PERFECT?

 

[lukemorenus]

Nothing beats Mickey's Magical Wastewater Treatment Plant!

 

[BikeFan]

6 - Really, just most of the courses

The only correct answer, IMHO. It's like the runDisney slogan says, "Every Mile is Magical!" Event weekends are such a great time!

 

[camaker]

The only correct answer, IMHO. It's like the runDisney slogan says, "Every Mile is Magical!" Event weekends are such a great time!

Ha! Ask @lhermiston how magical the Ebola ditch across from the wastewater treatment plant was!

 

[BikeFan]

Ha! Ask @lhermiston how magical the Ebola ditch across from the wastewater treatment plant was!

Hey, you leave the course, you get what you get! He's lucky Ebola was all it had in it, WDW being in Florida and all. Florida waterways are full of things that want to kill you!

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
Any part of the races I would have shared have been already.

So I will add after the finish line, walking down the finishers chute. Collecting your medal, getting my favorite blue Powerade taking a big drink. Hearing medals clink against each other, feeling tired, sore and elated. I cherish that brief minute or two of pure accomplishment, pride and pain. Then it is time to board a bus, clean up and get in a park!