Just wanted to say that we've done the Disney Half and would never go back
there again, and we tell everyone we know who mentions they're thinking about it to
rethink. It's probably the most runner unfriendly race we've ever done.
1: Who wants to get up at 2 a.m. (when you've spent the money to stay at Disney)
to go the bathroom, eat and get ready to do a half marathon because you have to
catch the last shuttle at 4 a.m. Is this a joke? Why don't they reserve a village
right close to the start (walking distance would be good) so you can just walk to
the start line??!! Better yet, why don't they start at 7 a.m. or 7:30 (and not worry
about opening the park for one day a year right on time).
2. Who wants to take off all their clothes (on a cold morning, like the year we ran)
and stand in chutes on the street in the pitch dark, freezing cold, for more than
an hour before the start??!! No bathrooms handy, no water, etc. No room to warm up.
Ridiculous!!
3. Who wants to run concrete highways with no spectators or distractions?? Most of
the half marathon goes through areas with NOTHING to see at all. Some of the areas
were downright dangerous because it was dark and the footing was tricky.
4. The refreshments were the very worst I had ever encountered at any race I've ever
been to!
5. Finding a shuttle to get back to our hotel was a nightmare. It took longer than
it took to run the half.
In short, we'll NEVER run Disney again!
--William Schaefer
