Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

:scared1:

It's not a real Disney trip unless you stay up packing into the wee hours of the night before your flight. :rotfl2:
Given the 12+ hour days that I'll be working for 2+ weeks leading up to the big deadline one day before I leave, I fear that I'm going to forget something important. Like my race clothes. Or camera. Or magic band. Or clothing in general.

So yeah, I'm packing early.
 
Given the 12+ hour days that I'll be working for 2+ weeks leading up to the big deadline one day before I leave, I fear that I'm going to forget something important. Like my race clothes. Or camera. Or magic band. Or clothing in general.

So yeah, I'm packing early.

Your life sounds exactly like mine! I have a big project starting early April and will probably be working nonstop until the day I leave. Isn't life grand? At least we get a vaca to look forward to...
 


Going simple with the costumes this time. I just finished these headbands.
View attachment 227390
Those are great!

Went for my first run in a while today to test how my foot felt. IT felt ok for four miles so thats good! Now to try to build my mileage back up as much as I can. This stress fracture really cramped my style!
That's great you could get out, hopefully you'll get back somewhat to feeling good for the races.


So, last night I had a vacation race dream. I ran the 5k and nothing was Star Wars themed, the mile markers were just round circles, no characters on course, no Star Wars music, nothing, but afterwards there were these weird little setups you could line up for and hope to see a character but the lines kept turning and I never got to anyone. It was bizarre for sure.
 
Those are great!

That's great you could get out, hopefully you'll get back somewhat to feeling good for the races.


So, last night I had a vacation race dream. I ran the 5k and nothing was Star Wars themed, the mile markers were just round circles, no characters on course, no Star Wars music, nothing, but afterwards there were these weird little setups you could line up for and hope to see a character but the lines kept turning and I never got to anyone. It was bizarre for sure.

Yikes! I've been having weird WDW dreams but nothing with the races...Yet. if I'm going to run, it's going to be for a rD race, and no theming, etc...:faint:
Maybe it was the dark side trying to throw you off
 
It was posted on Facebook and is on the USATF site. The park time is very very very small. They run past both AK and DHS without going in them.

I know I'm late to the party but where was it posted on Facebook? This wouldn't make any sense, it would require them to close down MORE major roads which I'm sure is something they would like to avoid if possible. I'll be super upset if this is the actual course, but I think this is someone's idea of a joke to cause us all to freak out.
 


I know I'm late to the party but where was it posted on Facebook? This wouldn't make any sense, it would require them to close down MORE major roads which I'm sure is something they would like to avoid if possible. I'll be super upset if this is the actual course, but I think this is someone's idea of a joke to cause us all to freak out.
Yeah, its been determined that is not the course and someone put it up as a guess.
 
My MagicBand arrived this week! Four weeks to go until the half, and 23 days until I leave! Since we're getting so close now, I really think this may be the week we get race waivers and hopefully an event guide. 3 weeks from the start of the expo seems to be the typical time frame for that information, based on the most recent Marathon weekend and Princess. So that would be this Thursday. Fingers crossed!!

On the topic of packing, I should probably start thinking about that too and make a list/go through things. I really need to be better about not waiting until the last minute. Especially since there will be quite a few things going on right before I leave (my birthday weekend/Easter) and I don't want to forget things.
 
Training check-in!

How's everyone doing?

Training plan called for 12.5 this weekend so I ran a local half instead, because why not go an extra mile and get a medal for it?! I PR'd by 5 minutes and change, and came in right between my two time goals. I hit all of my splits perfectly from 1-7 and then there was a really great 200+ feet of elevation gain in miles 8 and 9. :headache: Going up means going down as well though, so I made up a little bit of time there. The finish line was at the top of a giant freaking hill too (like, I hit that hill at like 12.7 miles!), so I lost a little bit more time there. A goal was 2:29 and B goal was 2:35, with a previous PR of 2:39. I finished in 2:33. Considering the elevation, I am really happy with my time. I have a half in May that is net downhill, so I'm feeling great about breaking sub 2:30 there.

Now that is out of the way, all I'm going to be thinking about is Dark Side!!!!
 
Great race @bryana - gotta loves hills, right! Congrats on the PR!

Training is good here for the most part, it was a goofy weather week here, rain, cool, warm, winnnnndy, cold, more rain, oh and wind did I mention that... mother nature doesn't really know what to do. My runs were a 9 tempo on Monday that I hit my half pace I want to run at Darkside, Tuesday medium easy, speedwork Wednesday of 2x400s, 800, 1600, 800, 2x400s, Thursday 8 easy, Friday medium, Saturday short. I stepped back this week on my longer since I did 13 last week, but next week will do around 13 again. My plan is an idea but changes on the fly as well, it's always in motion.

Hope everyone else is doing well too! Getting so...close!!!!!
 
Training check-in!

How's everyone doing?

Training plan called for 12.5 this weekend so I ran a local half instead, because why not go an extra mile and get a medal for it?! I PR'd by 5 minutes and change, and came in right between my two time goals. I hit all of my splits perfectly from 1-7 and then there was a really great 200+ feet of elevation gain in miles 8 and 9. :headache: Going up means going down as well though, so I made up a little bit of time there. The finish line was at the top of a giant freaking hill too (like, I hit that hill at like 12.7 miles!), so I lost a little bit more time there. A goal was 2:29 and B goal was 2:35, with a previous PR of 2:39. I finished in 2:33. Considering the elevation, I am really happy with my time. I have a half in May that is net downhill, so I'm feeling great about breaking sub 2:30 there.

Now that is out of the way, all I'm going to be thinking about is Dark Side!!!!

I did my 12.5 miles today. I hadn't felt good all weekend, so was putting it off as long as possible. But I talked hubby into running at least part of it with me, he ended up running the whole thing with me and kept me pushing. Ending up averaging 13:42 min/mile pace, which would put me just under my goal of under 3 hrs. I'm used to running in 40 degree or colder weather though, so I'm nervous about what the heat will do to me :) Much less worried about not being able to finish at all, though. We've got this!
 
Training check-in!

That's fantastic! Congrats on the PR!

I did the 12.9 on the gym's track because it was pouring rain and I was worried about lightening. I hate hate hate running inside. Hate it. To make up for it I ran 5 miles outside today. It was glorious!

We've reached the point in training where I am sick of my playlist and starting to get nervous. I just need it to get here already!
 
I can't wait to see the real courses. I feel like they always come out about 2-3 weeks before so hopefully we'll see something soon!
 
Question about the Dark Side 5k. My 14 year old son will be running - he knows there are finisher medals for everyone, but no "place" winners (more of a fun run). Our question is, does anyone run this as a race (not stopping for pictures, etc)? He is not really into character meetings, but is just excited to run through the world showcase (his favorite part of Disney).
 
Question about the Dark Side 5k. My 14 year old son will be running - he knows there are finisher medals for everyone, but no "place" winners (more of a fun run). Our question is, does anyone run this as a race (not stopping for pictures, etc)? He is not really into character meetings, but is just excited to run through the world showcase (his favorite part of Disney).
Yes, there are plenty of people who race it without stopping.
 
Did somebody ask about training? Yeah, that's not going so well over here. I won't even say what my longest run has been but let's just say I'll probably be really slow for these races. Hoping for good courses to make it enjoyable. But I'm still looking forward to it and still have a couple weekends to at least bump up the mileage a bit.
I can't wait to see the real courses. I feel like they always come out about 2-3 weeks before so hopefully we'll see something soon!
I really think it could be any day now. Hoping by week's end we see something. And if not, by very early next week.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top