Lessons Learned from Wine and Dine Half Marathon

View of World Showcase at the After Party

The Wine and Dine Half was as much fun as everyone had said it would be!  But it didn't get there without a hiccup or two; and I hope my experience will help you when you go to the 2014 Wine and Dine Half!

What Worked

The Expo!

We showed up on Friday afternoon and found the Expo not crowded at all.  There were a couple of things on our shopping list that we weren't able to get before we left:  Yurbuds and Compression Sleeves, and we found both!  The Expo was fun as usual!

The Expo Floor

Tip:  Don't plan on the Expo to buy new things for the race:  you never want to run with new gear without testing it first!  Official Race Merchandise does sell out and it is almost impossible to get after the race.  If you see something you want, why wait and take a chance - get it!

Tip:  If you want to skip the long bus lines to and from the Expo or your resort doesn't provide transportation to the ESPN center (this was our case), use a limousine service like Southern Elegance!  They were prompt, friendly and a great value!

Southern Elegance Picked Me Up at My Resort

The Race

The race went off on time with fireworks and fanfare!  Each Corral had their own fireworks show which was really nice:  this exceptional touch made everyone feel special!  The Wine and Dine race course was mainly on Disney roadways and backlots:  less traditional characters and more running.  It had a "real" race feel to it.

Tip:  If you are looking for Princesses and other traditional Disney Characters, you will find them at the Epcot After Party!  Keep Running; the faster you run, the faster you get to the party!

Prince Naveen, Princess Tiana, and Louis were at the After Party

Nutrition!

I was worried about what to eat and when to eat when running so late - 10pm.  It was really a common theme that several of us on the bus were talking about.  I have low blood sugar so I really have to think about eating while exercising, especially for a long race:  I don't want to crash at the end!   I brought protein bars for during the race and a banana for the start.   And Thank You runDisney for the Gel Packs at mile 9.  I finished strong and felt good!

Clif Bars are my Favorite Protein Bar!

And as always, the water / powerade stops were well placed and manned with great volunteers:  I really appreciated all the volunteers!

Tip:  Test your running belt, bag or pouch to make sure it will hold all you plan to take and that you feel comfortable running with it.  Once again, you don't want to try new things on race day!

Snack Box!

After you finish the race, volunteers are there making sure you get water, powerade, a banana and your snack box!  The box is packed with perfect after run snacks!  Hummus for protein, gluten free whole grain chips and almond snacks, and sugar free fruit juice!

After Race Snack Box

Goodies Inside

Tip:  If you need it , ask for a second powerade, water or banana, the volunteers will be glad to give you one:  the snack boxes are only one per runner.

The After Party!

Epcot was open to runner's free of charge after the race, and Disney gave each runner a $10 gift card to get you started!  The food and wine festival is an eclectic treat with over 25 kiosks for you to stop and sample great food, wine and beer.

One of my many stops:  the Australian Kiosk

Runners traditionally have a lot of fun and enjoy a party:  and this race was no exception!  Really enjoyable and relaxing night out!

Cheers!

"A fine conscience I turned out to be!" - Jiminy Cricket

Mushu - The Cutest Dragon Ever!

Tip:  Be sure and pack your cash or credit cards in your checked bag.  There is a lot to taste and sample and you want to be sure to try it all!  Also pack your Magic Bands:  Touch to Purchase was in full use at the World Showcase and you will need them to get back in your room!

What Didn't Work:

Checked Bags

The Bags:  The clear plastic bag used for checking items before the race is really very thin. Both at the Disneyland Half and the Wine and Dine Half, the bag was broken before I even started.  The bag string was also rather long:  the bag hung way down to my calves.

Plastic Bags for Checking Personal Items at Start of the Race

The Fix:  Bring a shoulder bag to check:  you want to feel comfortable carrying all your stuff while you are walking around the World Showcase.  It needs to be sturdy enough to carry your sweaty clothes and running gear including your shoes.  Mine had an extra zipper which kept wallet and keys away from the stinky clothes!

My Shoulder Bag

The Check In:  If you forget to put something in your checked bag - too late!  We were told that we couldn't get the bag back once checked in:  we could however put in another bag and write our race number on it, but those bags are not guaranteed to get back to you.

The Fix:  Double check before you hand your stuff over - you don't want to run with added extras.

runDisney Transportation

I checked with runDisney prior to booking my resort to make sure which resorts would be included in the "Host Resorts":  I was told all Disney Owned Resorts will have transportation to events.  Well, that wasn't exactly true.  The Coronado Springs had a bus to Epcot where you could catch a bus to ESPN to the start of the race; they did not provide a runDisney bus to ESPN from the Coronado Springs.  This caused mass confusion with the runners staying at this resort and with the Cast Members working there. We tried to take a taxi to ESPN, but were turned around once we got there and told to go to Epcot. There weren't any instructions within the Event Guide about "no taxis".

Official Event Guide

The Fix:  I'm not sure what we can do to help make runDisney communicate better-earlier except by letting them know the issues.  I called them this week about the Princess Half and was told the same story "Disney Owned Hotels" will have race transportation.  I plan on writing a letter to nicely ask for better clarification on their website and explain the confusion experienced during the Wine and Dine Half.

Porta Potties

We waited in line an hour for the porta potties:  quite the crowd.  That was really longer than we expected and a lot of time on our feet.   Some of the potties ran out of toilet paper and the cleaning station was out of soap and water.

Lines for the Potty

The Fix:  Get there early to help alleviate the wait:  we actually would have been there as planned except for the whole taxi mix up.  Bring extra tissue and wet wipes with you just in case you are at a station that has exhausted all its resources!

The Race

 

Race Starting Line

As I mentioned earlier, the race had a more serious feel to it.  If you were expecting to run mostly through the parks and see Princesses, you would be disappointed.   The majority of the race is on the road and in the back lots.

The Fix:  Keep focused on your goal, remember your hard work and finish strong!  Bring your music and ear buds:  these tools will help you stay on pace and fill the empty spaces.

I love My Ipod Shuffle! No bulky phones for me!

Changing After The Race

The Tents: As you left the transition area where you got your medal and snacks, there were separate changing tents for men and women.  I sweat A LOT, and my run clothes were soaked:  I knew I had to change.  We thought about changing at Epcot but decided to go with the tents.  What we found inside the tent was, well nothing... just an empty space with no privacy.  

What I forgot:  I forgot baby wipes to wipe the grime off and just to feel fresher.  I did remember my compression socks which was great,  but I should have brought some more comfortable shoes than my running shoes.  My feet were tired of those shoes!  Also, if you have problems with your knees after a race, don't forget to take care of those, too.  You are going to be on your feet for another 3 hours walking around:  plan accordingly!

The Fix:  Next time I would probably change in Epcot so that I have privacy and can wash my face.  I would also add to my checked bag list things like wipes, powder and comfy shoes.

The After Party

Even though this was a night race, I planned a park day at Hollywood Studios before hand.  I love going to the parks, and I wasn't going to miss out on my favorite rides and restaurants!  However, being on my feel all day made my legs tired and not willing to stay up till 4am for the After Party!  My spirit was willing, but I had to drag my feet to get there!

The Fix:  Take a nap or just get off your feet for 3 to 5 hours before the race.  Normally, you would be in bed for several hours before an early morning race:  you need to use the same strategy for a night race.  Keep your legs energized so that you can have a great time and enjoy all the fun - especially seeing your favorite characters!

Donald was hanging at Mexico - no le digas a Mickey...mi personaje favorito es Donald!

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Despite the unexpected bumps along the way, it was an amazing weekend!   Even with my many years of running races, something isn't always as advertised:  however, thoughtful planning will conquer all the challenges you face and will make your race weekend a success!

I have the training and experience to plan your runDisney adventure:  together we can embark on the Wine and Dine Challenge of 2014!

You can see lots more fun I had at the Wine and Dine Race on my Recap