Ramblings on Recent RunDisney Trends

Yesterday, as I was giving a presentation for work, I was bombarded with FB messages and texts from friends getting nervous and needing reassurance to register for Star Wars weekend.  I already knew I'd be skipping out on this weekend this year, but I also knew it was a hugely popular race last year and really lived up to the hype.  You can read about all of the fun I had at Star Wars weekend HERE and HERE.

Last year was a quick sell-out (under an hour and closer to the half hour mark) and the expo left no merchandise to be had the day after it opened.  All the signs of a wildly popular runDisney race...otherwise known as the new normal these days when it comes to runDisney!

Then flip back to Avengers.  I skipped out on this race last year, but when the opportunity presented itself at Tink, I was right there giving over my credit card at the runDisney booth (see you in November!).

Through FB and Twitter, it was clear that Star Wars wasn't an instant sell-out.  And Avengers...well...it STILL has spots available.  What's going on???  Here are some thoughts:

They've priced out the market on the half marathon.  Let's face it...us crazy, loyal runDisney fans want to do the challenge and will pay whatever price.  But take away the challenge and I'm starting to think the price has reached the tipping point where people aren't biting.  Just to give some perspective, in 2010 I ran my first runDisney race (the Disneyland Half) and is was $95!!!!  And I only registered about 3 months prior to race day!!!  Yes...this is a TRUE STORY!!!  That's an over 100% price increase in 6 years.  It's a little much...Today's half marathon-er wants to run lots of races--so it goes back to price.  Disneyland is a locals park, and locals have tons of options for other fun races.  I can run 3 races for the price of Disney.

Speaking of the crazy group called half marathoners, I think there is the factor of it's too much of a "fun run" for some.  If I'm putting in 13.1 miles, I don't know that I always want it to be considered just a fun run.  It's a lot of work, and I like to race against myself sometimes.  I've always said that you can totally PR at a Disney race, but I think that is getting less and less likely.

Finally, with the addition of the 10k distance, runDisney is attracting a different runner.  A more casual, beginner runner (before you send the hate mail...there's NOTHING wrong with that!).  I think the 10k is giving people a great option to run a timed race with a "real" medal without having to jump to the half marathon distance.  Disney has always been beginner and walker friendly.  I think this distance is the perfect marriage for that.  Maybe the future of runDisney is a larger field for the 10k races?

Is this the end of the crazy registration days?  I wouldn't count on it, but I can't wait to see what the next year of runDisney brings.  For me, I loved being able to casually register for both Goofy and Avengers this past year at expos.  So much less stress!  But don't fret...when Dumbo registration day happens next year I'll be sweating it out at 8:55 just like everyone else.  A girl's gotta have a legacy race, right?

Race Report: 2015 Star Wars 10k

I’ve been running so much, I haven’t had time to recap races—get ready—there’s lots coming your way!  

Just a few days after coming home from Disney World, I was packing up again to head to Disneyland for the Inaugural 2015 Star Wars weekend!  This was a much-anticipated race, and I’m not even a huge Star Wars fan!  I knew it would be a blast and Disney would do it big, and boy, they did not disappoint.

Every once in a while, I actually HAVE to work, so I couldn’t get away to be at the expo on the day it opened.  I knew this meant I would miss out on some of the merchandise, and I definitely did.  In fact, I ended up with nothing from the runDisney official booth.  I went on Friday morning, parked at Downtown Disney (it’s free for 2 hours) and pretty much made it in and out within that time.  The expo ran very similar to the Disneyland Half Weekend, with the bib pickup being on the lower “parking” level of the Disneyland Hotel and the merchandise being in the ballroom.  They continued with the current practice of taking your photo for the challenges, and that was right next to bib pickup.  I would imagine that Thursday was madness, but by Friday the expo was pretty manageable.  With that said, I saw tons of cute stuff I wish I could have had the chance to purchase.  Maybe next time…

The 10k started at 5:30, so we were in for an early wake-up call.  My hubby and I were running the 10k together, focusing on all the fun and not so much on time.  I’ve always been a procrastinator, but this took the cake-I was actually sewing my costume at 3:00 in the morning, the day of the race.  It didn’t help that I was nursing a cold I got sometime in Disney the prior weekend, and all I wanted to do was sleep.  It turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself, and I got a ton of compliments on the course. 

We stayed at a hotel on Katella Ave, so we used the Good Neighbor Hotel Transportation which is free for the weekend for runners (be sure to stop by the transportation booth at the expo for vouchers).  It was definitely too far to walk, so this was a great option!  No one is awake enough to drive at that hour!  We walked from the buses to the start to meet up with some friends; we honestly were running a bit late.  The start line was right outside Paradise Pier hotel, which left only one bank of port-o-potties for me to hit prior to the race start.  I’m a bit of a ritualistic personality when it comes to races…two stops for me.  I figured I’d be okay since it was a 10k. 

We started in corral B.  Instantly we were impressed by the costumes and theme of the start line.  I cannot say enough how much I love 10ks at Disneyland!  They have so much more park time, and it seriously flies by!  We were off quickly heading away from Downtown Disney. 

We started in Disneyland.  Even though this park is usually all about fantasy, they really kept the theme going—there was no princess in sight!  Tomorrowland was where the best action was, and the line for Darth was HUGE!  We opted to not stop for characters and just enjoy the scenery.  I did sneak a little Stormtrooper action in the background.  Oh, and because it just makes sense, don’t be surprised that you don’t run through the castle.  That wouldn’t be very Star Wars like…

Once you exit Disneyland, you head into DCA through the front entrance.  Even the marque had the theme going on! 

We always love our Tower of Terror pic—we are starting to collect these from quite a few races.  Maybe we should come up with a new pose?

We came up around the back of DCA and we were done.  It was a great race!  Great finish line, great bling, great runners, just all around a great race.  Even though I’m not a Star Wars aficionado, I would definitely run this course again!  I’m definitely recycling this costume too—it was one of the best I’ve ever done.  I considered a Wookie Princess, but chickened out.  Look out for it soon, though.  I can’t wait to wear it again!

Up next, the Star Wars Half Marathon, and Part 2 of the Rebel Challenge!