Disclosure: I received a complimentary bib to run The Double Your Luck Challenge because I am a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro at BibRavePro.Tumbler. com.

This was the first year for the Sin City Run, a 5k, 10k, and double-road-race held in connection with the annual Sin City Shootout games. I’m pretty sure there should have been 2-3 times as many people running this event, as it was pretty and fun! I would estimate the 5k had about 100 people running. There was an hour time limit, making this 5k completely walker-friendly as well.

There was no race expo for this event. Registration/packet pickup was available on Friday night, as part of the main Sin City Shootout registration, or on Sunday just before the race. There was no Saturday pickup. The main advantage of Friday is the ability to purchase the special Sin City Shootout mug, which comes with a slew of drink specials at the various affiliated parties over the weekend. Due to personal circumstances I had to skip Friday, so I arrived early to get my things on Sunday morning. While there was a line, it was pretty fast-moving, and I felt like it wasn’t a big deal.

Packets contained your race bib, a discount on EnergyBits, samples of gummy vitamins, Clif Bar minis, and samples of BioFreeze, in addition to safety pins. I loved that there wasn’t a ton of junky paper involved (I usually recycle all that), and that all the items included were things I can and will use that are relevant to runners. Two of the boxes of shirts were stuck on a UPS truck somewhere, so I’ll be getting mine in the mail. (They only had small, and I’m not small.) The shirts are cute, with the Sin City Run logo on the front. I know I’ll wear mine.

There is a single finisher medal for either 5k or 10k, though if you do both you get a bonus medal. The race medal is poker-chip-themed, and double-sided enamel. The bonus medal is also poker-chip-themed, and is a spinner. Both feature wide colorful ribbons. Overall, I thought these were executed beautifully.

The course runs through Sunset Park, which is a protected wildlife dune just past the airport. The one thing I disliked about this event is that there was no transportation provided, and no forum or facebook group or other way to arrange a ride share. The Sin City Shootout host hotel is the Tropicana, though I stayed at nearby Harrah’s. My taxi out to the event cost around $30, and I wasn’t the only one who took a taxi—it would have been nice to have a way to coordinate rides. (I hitched a ride back to the strip with Laurel, another BibRave Pro who ran the event.) Some people did drive, but since I was just staying overnight the cost of a car rental was crazy. There was ample free parking right by the start/finish (which was actually in the parking lot).

As I was saying, Sunset Park is a desert dune. The race course takes one loop around a portion of the blacktop-paved trails. Despite being right in the middle of Vegas, the race course seemed very nature-y and not particularly urban. I spotted at least two dozen bunnies and a few jackrabbits or hares, as well as multiple desert-dwelling birds. (The birds fascinate me, since I don’t live in the same climate.) I’m not sure how to describe the landscaping, but it was a natural mix of yucca-like stuff, a few cactus, and the usual desert-like trees. I could see mountains (and snow!) in the background.

Initially, I was freezing cold—it was in the 40s, even though I’d checked the weather report and it said 60s!—but after I started running that wore off. The course was flat and as I mentioned 100% blacktop. There was the most minor of downhills at one point in the course, but you really had to be paying attention to notice it.

The course had one aid station with water (and music and cheering) which each runner passed twice during the run. The course was marked on the blacktop with chalk, with cones and XXX where appropriate to make sure runners didn’t stray from the path. There were volunteers at every point where the course might have been even a little bit confusing, as well as at the few places where the course crossed a road open to vehicles. The volunteers were really great, cheering for every runner who went through the course.

The finish line had someone to announce each finisher. A few steps beyond the finish line runners had an assortment of post-race snacks, including a beverage called rumble that I’d never tried before. (The vanilla maple is delicious.) Other offerings were water, bananas, Clif organic trail mix bars, pretzels, and tortilla strips.

This is less of a “destination race” and more of a “race in a destination.” It was small but mighty! This would be the perfect race for someone who wants to go to a small but extremely well-managed event. This would make an ideal race for a friends’ getaway weekend; I could see combining running these events with a longer weekend in Vegas—maybe go to the opening parties Friday, see an afternoon show Saturday, run Sunday morning, and then head to a champagne brunch buffet.

Expo/Packet Pickup. There was an expo, but it was on Friday (since this is a Saturday race). I’ve got a “day job” and worked Friday, so I missed it. It wasn’t much of a problem though, as the race also offered race-day pickup right at the starting line. The lines were not long, and moved quickly, so I had plenty of extra time to putz around. There were plenty of volunteers helping to move things along, and the bibs were separated by distance with a separate line for each race. Bibs and safety pins were on one side, with shirts on the other.

Shirts/swag. Race shirts were royal blue this year, a color I happen to love. They are Greenlayer brand—I’m a fan because the sizing makes sense. (I wear a 12-14 in regular clothes depending on the brand; a women’s large fits perfectly.) Runners had the choice of a unisex crew neck or women’s cut v-neck shirt. The design is what I’d describe as a classic run shirt design (line drawing of the scenery, sunrise, and some runners) with race info on the front and sponsors on the back. I like it, and know I will wear this one again. There wasn’t really swag, which I sort of liked—I don’t like getting a bunch of paper (save a tree!) and didn’t have much room in my suitcase anyway.

The race medal is a bronze-colored cast in the shape of ¼ pie wedge. The outer portion shows the rock formations of Sedona, the inner part has some runners, and then there is the race information. Apparently four years’ worth of medals form a whole circle (pie) and make up a continuous picture. If you are a ribbon snob, you’d be disappointed that the ribbon was a solid-green, plain ribbon. I’m not, and think the green went really nicely with the bronze-color of the medal. I really like the medal, but part of that might be how hard I had to work to earn it!

Parking/Access. Runners and spectators had access to a shuttle service with stops throughout town. I thought this was a great idea, to cut down on traffic congestion pre-race. Also, I know that when I’m running in a town I don’t know well, I like having a shuttle so I don’t need to figure out parking, the best driving route, which streets are closed, etc. My race crew, Jackie, ended up driving me to the starting line, and even that wasn’t bad. There seemed to be plenty of parking available.

Starting Line. The starting line had race-day packet pickup and a mini-expo. There were booths for various race sponsors and community groups, and tents for several running clubs. There was even a tent for the Japanese runners—80 runners from Japan participated in the races! Announcements included fun facts about the race including that 47 states represented (South Dakota, up your game already!). There were also vendors with running items, Sedona Marathon clothing, and local foods and drinks. It had a pretty festive atmosphere, even though it was in the 40s. The first race start, the marathon, was at 9:00 so there were plenty of wide-awake kids bopping about as well.

The Course: Scenery, Elevation, and more. Let’s start with elevation: this race has it. Sedona is at 4,500 feet above sea level. I currently live on an island that goes from water-level to 33 feet. Needless to say, training there did not prepare me at all! I had a rough time of it because I couldn’t breathe very well. (I haven’t spent any significant time at elevation since I was a kid.) Even though my body could have run more during the second half of the marathon, my lungs were on fire. After the race I learned that many runners take a whole vacation week, or arrive at least a few days earlier in Sedona to acclimate a little.

The course is and out-and-back. The first half out is on paved roads. (The 5k and 10k athletes have turnarounds on the paved section; the half marathon turnaround is right before the paved section ends). The second half out (and thus the first half back) are on a dirt road. While the paved section has some elevation, it’s mostly downhill on the way out (or seemed that way) so mostly uphill on the way back. The dirt road portion has some serious hills. If you fear hills, this race is not for you. I wouldn’t say they were insane—Tiburon’s hills were MUCH steeper—but combined with the elevation, I personally found them difficult. The roads were not 100% closed to traffic, and multiple ATVs, Jeeps, and other vehicles passed while I was running. For the most part this was no big deal, as most drivers were courteous and went rather slow. I was glad I had a Buff with me, as I used it over my nose/mouth when drivers kicked up a little too much dust.

Scenically, you could not ask for a prettier desert-mountain course. The “urban” portion was less than a mile of the course, and even then it was set against the majestic backdrop that is Sedona. I’d never been to Sedona before, so I spent a lot of time gawking at the red and white striations in the rock formations. The greenery was pretty much all foreign-to-me desert-y stuff, so also fun to look at.

This year we had perfect running weather (though the native Arizonans informed me that this was “cold”). Just prior to race start it was in the 40s. The temperature rose progressively, and I imagine most of the half marathon athletes finished in sunny upper 50s or 60s. It never got too-too hot, and while I was out running on the dirt there were still cool breezes. Tuesday’s snow was still on the ground, and some of the ice in the roadside ditches stayed frozen until after I finished.

Aid Stations. The aid stations were the best! All of them were staffed by themed-groups, including “run from the zombies” and a group with big flowers on their heads. Aid stations all had water and Clif Shot Electrolyte beverage (most had two flavors, a pink berry flavor and a clear one that was lemon-lime); I’m pretty sure all of the aid stations also had Clif Shot gels as well as bananas. At least one had some pretzels and other things. It’s pretty clear there was either good communication or a lot of experience, or both, with the aid station crew: cups were an appropriate size and fill-level, and when lots of runners went through it went pretty smoothly. The first two aid stations could have used a few more people—they were hammered in waves as the runners from each race were still in a big pack as they came through—but that was the only thing to complain about (and so minor as to not really annoy anyone but the speed-demons among us). Each aid station also had a porta-potty (and there were a bank of them at the start).

In addition to aid stations, the course had several other runner-safety crews. There were “spotters” whose job it was to watch a stretch of road for runners needing assistance, for example. The famous Pink Jeeps drove up and down the course checking on runners. As I was one of the very last finishers—so very last that when I arrived the timing mat had been disassembled and packed away, and they were taking down the signs and trusses that made up the finish line—I was really glad to see they were looking out for us slowpokes. While I knew I’d be slow (and was even prepared for the possibility of being sag-wagon-ed off the course), I also had Jackie in her Jeep, meeting me every mile or so on my way back into the finish; the runners behind me didn’t have their own personal sweeper trucks. At several points the Pink Jeep crew or their leader pulled up and offered me bottled water or Clif Shots. Towards the end I explained that if course policy was to sag-wagon/sweep the last runners, I would completely understand if they picked me up, but I did have my own crew and would prefer to finish the miles if that was okay. The Pink Jeep crew leader said he didn’t know the sweep/sag-wagon policy but would find out; eventually I got the “a-okay” to carry on, once all were assured that I knew what I was doing and was able to proceed safely.

Even after that, as the tear-down team came through with the U-Hauls to take apart aid stations (and pick up every piece of trash they found by the side of the road!) that crew offered me water and Clif Shots, and assured themselves I didn’t need them to call me a ride. Seriously, everyone was so nice and kind.

Finally, there was also an active medical and police crew on the course. Each of the aid stations and spotters also had a radio, and could call for medical or a ride for a downed runner. (While I don’t think there were too many runners who were injured or picked up, I did hear two calls for help. Since this race climate offers several challenges to non-natives—dry heat, elevation, direct sun for the whole course—I’m glad to see safety was a top priority.) Motorcycle police cruised the paved portion of the course playing classic rock.

Race Management. This race ran like Meb: smooth and steady. As a runner, my perception was that everything went 100% according to plan, with a high level of organization and teamwork. If there were any problems, I did not see them. Everything from bag check to aid stations to the Pink Jeep crew seemed to be seamless. I don’t think anyone had a reason to complain.

In addition to having no reason to complain, I have extra reasons to be thrilled with race management. First, after assuring themselves that I would be safe, they allowed me to finish even after the course officially closed. Second, as I turned the last corner off the main out-and-back portion, a race volunteer (another runner) came out to make sure I found my way through the last ¾ mile or so of the course (as the markers had been removed) and help me cross the finish line. While I didn’t get an official time (the timing system was shut down after 7 hours, well beyond the 6.5 hour limit advertised) I was presented with a medal and allowed to raid the snacks. Finally, the race staff taking down the finish line and packing things up thanked me for coming out to run the race and were sincerely interested in what I thought of the race. It felt like pretty amazing hospitality for one of the very slowest runners out there.

Overall. This race was gorgeous and I would definitely do it again BUT now that I know how elevation affects me, I’d choose the 10k or the half marathon. If you are looking for a challenge and are a seasoned runner, the marathon is totally appropriate (and do-able), just be aware of the elevation. If you want to make a getaway weekend that happens to have a run, choose the 5k—there were plenty of families and brand-new runners to keep you company.

Overall: this is a real-live marathon, which means 26.2 miles. If you’ve never run a half marathon, or if you haven’t trained for a marathon, do yourself a favor and sign up for the half or the 10k instead. Yes it is at Disney, and yes it is pretty walker-friendly (16 minute/mile is the required pace), but many people seem to think “Disney” means “we don’t make you complete the full distance” or “we’re just kidding about the pace requirement.” No, not kidding. In fact, runDisney recommends you train at a pace of 15 minutes/mile so you can take bathroom breaks and make some character stops. While there is a “safe” point after which no runners are swept (the sidewalk by the water that takes you from Hollywood Studios to Epcot—and the infamous “balloon ladies” announced this as they came into the area) you don’t want to have to count on getting there.

If you have previously run a half marathon, I highly recommend following the instructions to submit a “proof of time” for corral placement; the later corrals are larger and have less time between starts (or at least it seems that way), and if you plan to run the entire event (many runners do the course in intervals, alternating running and walking) you will have a very difficult time doing so if you start in the back as many runners do not follow basic course etiquette (and some will give you attitude when you politely call, "on your left"!).

Speaking of corral placement, people get positively obsessed with which corral they are in for this race (and for the marathon). This is my third year running this race and I am still shocked by the inordinate amount of whining about corral placement that goes on just prior to the race. Lots of slower runners complain that they should get to go first because it’s not fair they don’t get to do the character stops. (By the way, I’m a slower runner and this year barely scraped by at the marathon. I’m in favor of slower runners!) Um, no. The purpose of corral placement is to regulate traffic flow, and attempt to prevent slower runners from getting run over by faster ones (while allowing faster runners to move forward with the fewest roadblocks possible). Putting the slower runners in front would be a major disaster, especially since the back corrals tend to have more people who walk 4-5 across and create roadblocks even for their fellow slower runners!

Many people choose to run in costume (though if you do so, please be sure to read the rules carefully!). Every year I doubt the wisdom of this, as I see costume pieces ditched by the side of the road. If you plan to run in costume, I strongly suggest doing at least a 10 mile run in your costume elements before the race. The fluffy tulle skirt that felt fine at the 5k may cause unbearable arm chafing at a half marathon distance or longer. (I've done exactly one race with such a skirt--my arms still sting when I think about it.)

This race, like the half marathon, is substantially bigger in size than the 5k and 10k races. (There are more than double the number of participants.) The marathon distance has more cheating than any other distance, including (but not limited to!) course-cutting, a couple who took the monorail to cut out the middle section of the course, and a man who gave his bib to another runner in the bathroom. (Those are only the ones I’ve seen proof of, so doubtless there are more.) Fortunately more and more runners are disgusted by cheating, and with easy access to smart phone cameras, MarathonFoto pics, and bib information, reporting is on the rise. This race IS a Boston-qualifier, and experienced runners do know where to look for cheaters. Bottom line, don't be a jerk. If you sign up to run the marathon, run the marathon.

Shirt/Swag: The shirt for this event is a long-sleeved tech shirt. For as long as I have run with Disney, the shirts have been Champion brand, and they are available in both women’s and men’s sizes. While there is a size chart available online to guide you, if you choose the wrong size chances are pretty good that you can swap for the right one. Mickey Mouse is the main character for this race—though a decent number of runners are also participating in the Goofy Race-and-a-Half Challenge (half marathon plus full marathon) or the Dopey Challenge (5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon)—and the Mouse himself is featured on both the shirt and the medal. The medal has a great design, is gold-colored (shiny), and comes on a colorful, fat ribbon that compliments the design.

runDisney has a controversial policy of giving medals to non-finishers. If you are swept from the course for not keeping time, for example, you will still get a medal. Since the medals do not actually say “finisher” on them (neither do the shirts, FWIW), they are basically participation medals. (This isn’t the only race series with such a policy, but since it is controversial I thought it worth mentioning.) As a result, there are some runners who sign up for the races knowing they can’t or won’t train, get swept early, and grab the hardware. This makes me really sad, because there are people who would love to run but couldn’t register for the events before they sold out. It’s no surprise that runDisney medals are very popular with the Medals for Mettle kids, or that some runners can completely finance their trips to runDisney by selling them on eBay. Anyway, the race bag also includes a small Clif Bar, safety pins, and a race weekend booklet with all the information you need about transportation, the course, the expo, etc.

Elevation: not much. Like the other races, the course is relatively flat, with a few banked roads (mostly canted to the right), an overpass or two, and a run over the bridge near the Dolphin and Swan hotels. A portion of the course is along roads on the Disney property, which are fairly well covered with entertainment but mostly flat. There is also a portion on the boardwalk that goes by the beach club resorts; while neat to run through the area, it’s a bit treacherous after it has rained (wet wood is no bueno for running). Be careful if you have any issues with clearance between shoe and road, or are prone to stubbing your toe, or tripping over relatively flat areas. There are portions where the course narrows, and they are well-marked and announced, as are the speed bumps as you enter the park properties.

Aid Stations: well-stocked and attended, with water and yellow PowerAde. Three aid stations provided bananas and ClifShot in various flavors. I carried my own hydration and nutrition, but did take some of what was provided on course. (By the way, you can get water bottles refilled at an aid station, making it easy to mix your preferred brand of electrolytes on course.) As always, if you haven’t trained with the nutrition and hydration offered on course, you should carry your own and stick to what you have used in training. Race day is not the time to find out the citrus flavored gel gives you the runs, for example. Just after entering Hollywood Studios, volunteers hand you a piece of chocolate (this year, Dove milk chocolate). This year there were plenty of spectators handing out various food too, and some runners had pre-arranged meetings with their cheer crew to get additional nutrition. (Note that this is not allowed at many races, and can get you disqualified if you are at a competitive racing level as it is against USATF rules to receive outside assistance during a race.)

The course also had multiple medical stations. As at the marathon, there are trained medics on hand (volunteers are required to have a valid license) and EMTs at the ready. There is also a selection of “self help” supplies, including BioFreeze, Vaseline, Band-Aids, etc. Unfortunately, the medical team was very busy at the marathon tending to both emergencies and undertrained runners. I personally saw two ambulances with runners in them, and multiple downed runners being attended-to by medical staff. I’m thankful for the medical volunteers and on-duty emergency personnel, but wish fewer runners were sick/hurt.

Course scenery: pretty hard to beat, as the run goes through all four parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot). Of the four races this weekend it is the most gorgeous course in terms of trees and nature stuff, including some animals from Animal Kingdom that cast members bring out onto the back roads/non-public areas. The course through the Magic Kingdom runs through all of the “lands.” Like the half, the course runs down part of Main Street USA, which is lined with volunteers, cast members, and a cheering throng of friends and family—lots of people to take your picture with the castle in the background. It is pretty cool to see the castle all lit up for Christmas/winter in the early morning (topped with characters from “Frozen,” no surprise!). The marathon had less castle-crunch than the half.

I really enjoy running through the parks before they open, though by the time I hit Animal Kingdom the parks are open! Some runners actually stop and ride Expedition Everest (and other rides) during the race. As a slower runner, I chose not to ride Everest since I didn’t have a FastPass and the wait for non-FastPass was 15 minutes. I needed those 15 minutes in my run! Park traffic is pretty well controlled by cast members, who use a modified “bus box” method (dividing up the street in lieu of changing the course path) to make sure no one runs into a guest.

As with all Disney races, there are characters out in costume, and many runners stop to wait in line and take pictures with them. Some cast members are out in wearing their usual costumes (their work clothes).

My favorite “scenery” is the margarita stand in Mexico at Epcot. I stop there for a frozen margarita (with salt—electrolytes, right?). Other runners prefer France (champagne) or Germany (beer, pretzels). One guy crossed the finish line this year with a plate of nachos in his hand.

Expo: I rate this pretty low for a number of reasons. One, given the size of the events over Walt Disney World marathon weekend, I expect a bigger expo. This one is smaller than the expo for most of the larger events I have run, including all of the Rock ‘n’ Roll series races and the Detroit Marathon. It is about the same size as the expo for the Portland Marathon (at least as of 2002 or so). I would like to see more vendors, and more space—the expo is held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, so there is plenty of room to branch out and add more vendors by taking over additional space. Two, there is generally a mad frenzy over at the Official Disney Merchandise portion of the expo. People literally push and shove to get certain merchandise on the first day of the expo. (I recommend avoiding the first day of the expo. You won’t die if you don’t get that jacket or whatever.) Popular items sell out, and can be found on eBay later in the day for three times the retail price. Three, the official race charities don’t even all have booths. (Disney gives bibs to certain charities—or sells them at a deep discount, I’m honestly not sure which—and runners fundraise for those groups.) I’d like to learn more about the other groups running on course, and I’m sure other runners would too. Four, the same exact mix of vendors tends to be at every runDisney expo. The main race sponsors have significant real estate, with a giant amount of space (comparatively) going to New Balance, which makes officially licensed Disney character inspired shoes. (People also go nuts over these, so much so that there is a limit to how many pairs you can buy, and a separate reservation system to get fitted.) Smaller vendors probably can’t afford the booth fees, but I’d love to see more family businesses and new products.

Parking/Access: if you are going to run any of the Disney events in Florida, I highly recommend staying at one of the host resorts. There is free bus transportation to and from the event from those hotels and it is the most convenient way to get to the races. (You can also take the monorail from the Contemporary). Parking is free and plentiful, though it adds to the number of pre-race steps you need to walk before you get to the corrals. I have limited experience with this—drove TO a race once, and received a ride FROM the race to another destination another time.)

Race Management: runDisney could do a few things to improve the management of this race. Specifically, I would suggest: (1) Making smaller corrals (there are currently wheelchair plus A-P corrals) to help avoid the bottle-necking problems in narrow areas of the course, or adding more time between the later corrals. I was stuck behind multiple walls of 3-across walkers once I hit the sidewalk to Epcot, and could not get around them (even when I asked nicely). This meant I couldn’t do any intervals at all, because running was not an option. I know some people would hate this suggestion (after all, the P corral already starts the race over an hour after the A corral starts), but I think it would help. (2) Add recorded announcements of basic runner etiquette at key portions of the course—for example, pass on the left and slower runners keep right announced at the narrow spaces such as the transition to the back stage area at Magic Kingdom—and designated runDisney staffers to ensure people do not stop drop and selfie in the middle of the castle. (3) Porta-potties at the entrance to Hollywood Studios. You enter in the “backstage” area, where they could put a bank of them. There was a large stretch before this with no potties (save for the one at the medical tent, which had no paper), and I absolutely could NOT wait. (Sometimes when Nature calls, you can’t just put her on hold.) I ducked into an administration building out of desperation, and lost quite a bit of time waiting to use one of the three stalls—I would have staged a mutiny and captured the men’s room, but it was a constant parade of men in and men out. The sheer number of people in and out of that building indicates the need for a nearby porta potty location.

As long as I’m making wishes, I’d also like to see some of the parks’ bathrooms converted from “men” to “women only” just for the duration of the race. While men have other options—I saw more men drop trou and pee on the side of the road at the half marathon and marathon this year than I’ve seen in my entire life—women generally do not.

Spectators: there are several “chEAR squad” packages available for the Florida Disney races. I’ve never bought one, so I don’t know all of the options. I do know there are bleachers/stands set up at the finish line. Aside from the start and finish, there are multiple other great spots for spectators, including Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom. The runDisney website has a complete spectator guide, including where to see the runners during each race.

Misc: hot coffee is available for purchase (cash only) before the race, and there is food and drink available afterwards (Magic Band accepted). There is a bag check available, and it is generally organized and efficient. Mylar blanket “heat sheets” are available at the finish line if the weather warrants it, though I didn’t see them for the half or the full marathon. (Pro tip: when you can, save a few of these and keep them with your race gear. They are great for pre-race warmth, and for tucking into your checked bag for use in case none are available after the race.)

Post-race snacks include bottled water, bottled PowerAde, a banana, and a snack box. (Contents of the snack box vary from race to race; this year there was a Clif Builder Bar, some cheese dip, bite sized tortilla chips, dried fruit mix, and a 2-pack of Oreos. Also a wet nap.) Contrary to popular assumption, you do NOT get free park entry because you ran in a race. (I have no clue why people believe you would get a free ticket, since it does not indicate that anywhere on the race website or in any of the pre-race emails.)

Overall: this is a fun 5k that is pretty walker-friendly (16 minute/mile is the required pace), though many people seem to think “Disney” means “we don’t make you complete the full distance.” Many runners do the course in intervals, alternating running and walking. This is my third year running this race, and every year I’ve seen a number of kids running with their parents. Many people choose to run in costume (though if you do so, please be sure to read the rules carefully!). While I can’t personally see flying across the country to do ONLY the 5k, or making this my first 5k (due to the expense of the bib!), perhaps if you were traveling with your family it would be worth it.

Shirt/Swag: The shirt for this event is always a unisex cotton t-shirt. Some runners would prefer a tech tee, but I have gobs of tech tees and don’t mind a cotton one. Pluto is the main character for this race, and he is featured on the medal (which is made of rubber) and the shirt. I’d prefer an actual medal instead of a rubber one, and have always wondered what the rationale is for making this one rubber. (The Kids’ Races do give out rubber medals too.) Of course it’s a 5k, and at any other 5k I don’t expect a medal at all.

Elevation: not much. The course is relatively flat, with a few banked roads (canted to the right). A portion of the course is along roads on the Disney property, and a portion goes through the Epcot theme park, around the World Showcase. There are portions where the course narrows, and they are well-marked and announced, as are the speed bumps as you enter the park property.

Aid Stations: water only. I would have liked to see electrolytes at one in the middle, simply because of the humidity. While I think there was an on-course medical tent, I’m not 100% sure about it (I didn’t need it, so I wasn’t looking). The volunteers are all terrific.

Course scenery: pretty hard to beat. It’s not the most gorgeous course, but I really enjoy running through the park before it is open, and getting to watch the sunrise over the lake in Epcot. (That is, when it isn’t super foggy or otherwise overcast.) As with all Disney races, there are characters out in costume, and many runners stop to wait in line and take pictures with them. Some cast members are out in full costume (e.g. the national costumes from the world showcase nations). The park is closed while the 5k runs through, so there are no options to ride the rides or buy food (like there is with the marathon). I’m fine with that, but some runners seemed genuinely surprised.

Expo: I rate this pretty low for a number of reasons. One, given the size of the events over Walt Disney World marathon weekend, I expect a bigger expo. This one is smaller than the expo for most of the larger events I have run, including all of the Rock ‘n’ Roll series races and the Detroit Marathon. It is about the same size as the expo for the Portland Marathon (at least as of 2002 or so). I would like to see more vendors, and more space—the expo is held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, so there is plenty of room to branch out and add more vendors by taking over additional space. Two, there is generally a mad frenzy over at the Official Disney Merchandise portion of the expo. People literally push and shove to get certain merchandise on the first day of the expo. (I recommend avoiding the first day of the expo. You won’t die if you don’t get that jacket or whatever.) Popular items sell out, and can be found on eBay later in the day for three times the retail price. Three, the official race charities don’t even all have booths. (Disney gives bibs to certain charities—or sells them at a deep discount, I’m honestly not sure which—and runners fundraise for those groups.) I’d like to learn more about the other groups running on course, and I’m sure other runners would too. Four, the same exact mix of vendors tends to be at every runDisney expo. The main race sponsors have significant real estate, with a giant amount of space (comparatively) going to New Balance, which makes officially licensed Disney character inspired shoes. (People also go nuts over these, so much so that there is a limit to how many pairs you can buy, and a separate reservation system to get fitted.) Smaller vendors probably can’t afford the booth fees, but I’d love to see more family businesses and new products.

Parking/Access: if you are going to run any of the Disney events in Florida, I highly recommend staying at one of the host resorts. There is free bus transportation to and from the event from those hotels and it is the most convenient way to get to the races. (You can also take the monorail from the Contemporary). Parking is free and plentiful, though it adds to the number of pre-race steps you need to walk before you get to the corrals. I have limited experience with this—drove TO a race once, and received a ride FROM the race to another destination another time.)

Race Management: runDisney could do a few things to improve the management of this race. Specifically, I would suggest making smaller corrals (there are currently wheelchair plus A-F corrals) to help avoid the bottle-necking problems in narrow areas of the course. I would also add recorded announcements of basic runner etiquette at key portions of the course—for example, pass on the left and slower runners keep right announced at the narrow spaces.

Spectators: there are several “chEAR squad” packages available for the Florida Disney races. I’ve never bought one, so I don’t know all of the options. I do know there are bleachers/stands set up at the finish line. Aside from the start and finish, there are not really any other great spots for spectators for this short course.

Misc: hot coffee is available for purchase (cash only) before the race. There is a bag check available. Mylar blanket “heat sheets” are available at the finish line if the weather warrants it. Post-race snacks include bottled water, bottled PowerAde, a banana, and a snack box. (Contents of the snack box vary from race to race; this year there was a Clif Builder Bar, some cheese dip, bite sized tortilla chips, dried fruit mix, and a 2-pack of Oreos. Also a wet nap.) Contrary to popular assumption, you do NOT get free park entry because you ran in a race. (I have no clue why people believe you would get a free ticket, since it does not indicate that anywhere on the race website or in any of the pre-race emails.)

Overall: this is the newest addition to the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, a fun 10k that is pretty walker-friendly (16 minute/mile is the required pace), though many people seem to think “Disney” means “we don’t make you complete the full distance”—people were swept from the 10k for not keeping pace. Many runners do the course in intervals, alternating running and walking. This is my third year running this race. Many people choose to run in costume (though if you do so, please be sure to read the rules carefully!). While I can’t personally see flying across the country to do ONLY the 10k, perhaps if you were traveling with your family, or wanted to do something extra special for your first 10k, it would be worth it.

Shirt/Swag: The shirt for this event is a long-sleeved tech shirt, like all of the other marathon weekend runs. For as long as I have run with Disney, the shirts have been Champion brand, and they are available in both women’s and men’s sizes. While there is a size chart available online to guide you, if you choose the wrong size chances are pretty good that you can swap for the right one. Minnie Mouse is the main character for this race, and she is featured on both the shirt and the medal. The medal has a great design, is gold-colored (shiny), and comes on a colorful, fat ribbon that compliments the design. It’s no surprise that runDisney medals are very popular with the Medals for Mettle kids, or that some runners can completely finance their trips to runDisney by selling them on eBay. The race bag also includes a small Clif Bar, safety pins, and a race weekend booklet.

Elevation: not much. Like the 5k, the course is relatively flat, with a few banked roads (canted to the right) and a run over the bridge near the Dolphin and Swan hotels. A portion of the course is along roads on the Disney property, and a portion goes through the Epcot theme park, around the World Showcase. There is also a portion on the boardwalk that goes by the beach club resorts; while neat to run through the area, it’s a bit treacherous after it has rained (wet wood is no bueno for running). Be careful if you have any issues with clearance between shoe and road, or are prone to stubbing your toe, or tripping over relatively flat areas. There are portions where the course narrows, and they are well-marked and announced, as are the speed bumps as you enter the park property.

Aid Stations: well-stocked and attended, with water and yellow PowerAde. While I think there was an on-course medical tent, I’m not 100% sure about it (I didn’t need it, so I wasn’t looking). The volunteers are all terrific.

Course scenery: pretty hard to beat. It’s not the most gorgeous course, but I really enjoy running through the park before it is open, and getting to watch the sunrise over the lake in Epcot. (That is, when it isn’t super foggy or otherwise overcast.) Despite this year’s wet weather—I did not run on the wood—I do like passing over the boardwalk area. I just wish I had someone there to hand me coffee! As with all Disney races, there are characters out in costume, and many runners stop to wait in line and take pictures with them. Some cast members are out in full costume (e.g. the national costumes from the world showcase nations). The park is closed while the 10k runs through, so there are no options to ride the rides or buy food (like there is with the marathon). I’m fine with that, but some runners seemed genuinely surprised.

Expo: I rate this pretty low for a number of reasons. One, given the size of the events over Walt Disney World marathon weekend, I expect a bigger expo. This one is smaller than the expo for most of the larger events I have run, including all of the Rock ‘n’ Roll series races and the Detroit Marathon. It is about the same size as the expo for the Portland Marathon (at least as of 2002 or so). I would like to see more vendors, and more space—the expo is held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, so there is plenty of room to branch out and add more vendors by taking over additional space. Two, there is generally a mad frenzy over at the Official Disney Merchandise portion of the expo. People literally push and shove to get certain merchandise on the first day of the expo. (I recommend avoiding the first day of the expo. You won’t die if you don’t get that jacket or whatever.) Popular items sell out, and can be found on eBay later in the day for three times the retail price. Three, the official race charities don’t even all have booths. (Disney gives bibs to certain charities—or sells them at a deep discount, I’m honestly not sure which—and runners fundraise for those groups.) I’d like to learn more about the other groups running on course, and I’m sure other runners would too. Four, the same exact mix of vendors tends to be at every runDisney expo. The main race sponsors have significant real estate, with a giant amount of space (comparatively) going to New Balance, which makes officially licensed Disney character inspired shoes. (People also go nuts over these, so much so that there is a limit to how many pairs you can buy, and a separate reservation system to get fitted.) Smaller vendors probably can’t afford the booth fees, but I’d love to see more family businesses and new products.

Parking/Access: if you are going to run any of the Disney events in Florida, I highly recommend staying at one of the host resorts. There is free bus transportation to and from the event from those hotels and it is the most convenient way to get to the races. (You can also take the monorail from the Contemporary). Parking is free and plentiful, though it adds to the number of pre-race steps you need to walk before you get to the corrals. I have limited experience with this—drove TO a race once, and received a ride FROM the race to another destination another time.)

Race Management: runDisney could do a few things to improve the management of this race. Specifically, I would suggest making smaller corrals (there are currently wheelchair plus A-F corrals) to help avoid the bottle-necking problems in narrow areas of the course. I would also add recorded announcements of basic runner etiquette at key portions of the course—for example, pass on the left and slower runners keep right announced at the narrow spaces.

Spectators: there are several “chEAR squad” packages available for the Florida Disney races. I’ve never bought one, so I don’t know all of the options. I do know there are bleachers/stands set up at the finish line. Aside from the start and finish, there are not really any other great spots for spectators for this short course.

Misc: hot coffee is available for purchase (cash only) before the race. There is a bag check available. Mylar blanket “heat sheets” are available at the finish line if the weather warrants it. Post-race snacks include bottled water, bottled PowerAde, a banana, and a snack box. (Contents of the snack box vary from race to race; this year there was a Clif Builder Bar, some cheese dip, bite sized tortilla chips, dried fruit mix, and a 2-pack of Oreos. Also a wet nap.) Contrary to popular assumption, you do NOT get free park entry because you ran in a race. (I have no clue why people believe you would get a free ticket, since it does not indicate that anywhere on the race website or in any of the pre-race emails.)