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Ep 15 - Surviving the start line corrals
2 Playsin 5 hours
Lining up at the start line for a big race like runDisney can feel chaotic, but we're here to help you take the stress out of the start line. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about corrals — what they are, how they work, and how to make the most of your race-day experience. From handling nerves and staying warm to having having the right attitude, we’re sharing our best tips (and a few funny stories) from our many early morning i a race corral. Plus, we chat with first-time runDisney runner Krysten about her training, her mindset, and what she’s most excited for at her first Princess 5K.
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Transcript
Introduction to Run Disney Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Lining up at a big race like Run Disney can be intimidating and overwhelming. So today we're sharing our tips and tricks to help you survive the corral so you can thrive on race day.
00:00:18
Speaker
hey everyone, welcome to episode number 15. That is 1-5. Erica, that is like on the way to 20. That's right. I'm pretty excited about that. This podcast is here to help you feel prepared for your next race, whether that's a run Disney or not.
00:00:32
Speaker
Run Disney is supposed to be fun. Yes. Right. It's supposed to be memorable. It's not supposed to be stressful and right things like the corral can make it stressful. yeah So we started this podcast, gosh, two or three months ago with the intent of helping people feel less stress, more prepared, more confident going into their race.
Understanding Corrals
00:00:52
Speaker
yeah So today we're talking about corrals, which corrals could be kind of a hunger hunger game situation. Yeah, they can be. If you don't go in with the right mindset yeah or maybe some of the tips and tricks we're going to share.
00:01:03
Speaker
Yeah. Right. um It's where everybody who's been planning and training and all this stuff and they've got their costume dialed in, they all finally meet in one place yep at one time. So it can be a lot. So today we're just going to kind of talk through the corrals and how to survive them.
00:01:20
Speaker
Perfect. ah So we like to read reviews on the podcast. yeah It's so, so gracious in my opinion that people are willing to take the time out to leave us a rating yeah and a review. So we like to read it on the air. yeah would you want Would you mind reading this week's review?
00:01:33
Speaker
Absolutely. So this one is a podcast worth following. It comes from Marty K5AI or AL, I'm not sure. Maybe they're from Alabama. I don't know. Marty says. It's like a droid name.
00:01:46
Speaker
like Like Marty K2SO. Okay. Yeah. Good, good. It's okay. Sorry. I got us off the rails. All right. So Marty says, i thoroughly enjoy these podcasts. Each time I listen to an episode, i glean new information.
00:01:59
Speaker
They really capture the Run Disney spirit and get me excited about the next marathon weekend. Awesome. Marty's going to beat Marathon. That's perfect. I like the run Disney spirit. I've never really thought of that phrase before, but it does have a vibe, right? Like it does have a, um you know, it's like a subculture of Disney, but in my opinion, it's like the best. the best.
00:02:18
Speaker
That's what I just going say. was going to best subculture. circle the best yeah the best of of Disney is found at run Disney in my opinion. Absolutely. Thank you, Marty, for the review. Yes, thank you. We genuinely appreciate that. Um, upcoming topics, Erica, next week, we are talking about all those things you should practice at home before you get to race day.
00:02:36
Speaker
What are some things that you suggest people practice? Definitely. So what you're going to wear whether it's your costume or just your running shoes, um, definitely any kind of nutrition, things that you're going to eat on the course before the course, uh, things that you're going to drink, um, stuff like that.
00:02:53
Speaker
Yep. It'll be a practical episode. So that's next week. Later in this episode, we actually have an interview with a friend of ours we do who is doing her first run Disney. Yes, she is. Not her first race. I believe she's run before.
00:03:04
Speaker
Right. yeah And so we're going to have that interview here and in just a little bit. yeah And i'm I'm excited about that. But first, let's knock out today's topic, which is surviving the corral. By the way, I used the word surviving like that. That was intentional because it can be a lot.
00:03:18
Speaker
And even if you don't know anything about the corral and then you walk up to it and the first impression you have of even knowing that you had to go to a corral was what you see, ah man, like it's a lot. Right, right.
00:03:31
Speaker
Like what would you what would you like equivalent it to? Like showing up to a concert? yeah Yeah. Like what what do you – like it's it's just – it's so many people. it is. Yeah. A lot of people, everyone's nerves are kind of like a little bit on edge. You're like a little bit excited, a little bit nervous. And if it's, especially if it's your first one, it can be, ah it can be a lot overwhelming.
00:03:52
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, for sure. So let's talk through some things to know, I think, or just kind of, you know general information. Then we'll share some tips. Perfect. So you got the first one on the notes. Go for it. So a corral is just like an area where they are going to hold you until it's your turn to cross the start line.
00:04:08
Speaker
Um, if you do a small local race, you may just show up and you know, everyone just sort of gets behind the start line and you just run when the gun goes off. But when you go to a big race like Disney or Boston, everyone cannot just all start at one time. There's like 30,000 plus people. Yes.
00:04:23
Speaker
So when you go to run Disney, you are going to get a bib like this. It's going to have your number, your name, and then up here in the corner is going to be your corral placement. Um, and so this one is from princess.
00:04:36
Speaker
Let's see. What year was this? I can't even find it. 2023 to me. Yeah, it is 2023. Yes. Um, and so I was in Corral C and so, uh, there will be big signs and balloons everywhere. that's right Um, and you're just going to find your corral and they'll check your bid to make sure that you are allowed to go in there and then you will wait there until it's your turn to run.
00:04:54
Speaker
That's right. So let's talk about those letters. You said that's corral C. Cool if we just kind of like break down kind of totally what what they are. So yeah they're going to go A through, it depends on the race. So sometimes it's A
Navigating Corral Etiquette
00:05:06
Speaker
through E. ah California races did like, they went further than that, right? I think we were in G at one point.
00:05:12
Speaker
Back in the old days, it used to go even further. The corrals were smaller. So in each one of these, they have assigned you a corral number. There's going to be, I would say thousands of people yeah in each corral.
00:05:23
Speaker
And then they release those, you know, kind of in order, right? Totally. So if you have an A corral, you start in A, then B goes, then C goes, then D, then E, whatever. And they've got that all divided with gates and all that stuff. The reason why Ren Disney does corrals like this is just so...
00:05:41
Speaker
and Everyone has to have a place to start, right? yeah And so for people that have submitted a proof of time, um they are going to be generally usually in the first couple of corrals. um Disney does that so that they're not trying to weave their way through people that are walking or running slower.
00:05:57
Speaker
So, you know, depending on where you get, like you're going to have a different race experience, but none of them are necessarily bad. you feel It feels um like if someone's going out of B, like they have like a better privilege and like you see them go first. So you're like, oh, lucky they're they're already on the course and whatever. Yeah.
00:06:14
Speaker
It feels that way. But the reality is they just have to space everybody out. Right. Like they. Yeah. I'm sorry. No, no. Go ahead. No, no, they need to space everyone out, put the faster folks forward. And not because those are better or more privileged runners. right They've just proven, hey, I run a half marathon in this speed of time. right So let's make sure that they can just get out of the way right for some of our maybe run walkers. or And some people walk the race. right That's okay. yeah But you don't want a walker.
00:06:41
Speaker
yeah In front of someone who's going to be running like a six minute and 30 second pace. That would dangerous. That would be dangerous. dangerous Yeah. Right. So that's why they do the corrals the way the way that they do. It's really for our benefit, even though sometimes it doesn't really feel like that.
00:06:55
Speaker
Yeah. So let's talk about why somebody might want a better corral. So it's it's human nature. A is better than B. B is better than C. C is better than D. Like we just we just think that, right? I want a better one, of course. Yeah. You know what I mean? yeah what Why do we all want a better corral?
00:07:13
Speaker
So I would say that, I mean, lots of reasons. If you're gonna stop and take your photos with characters, yeah like the lines are gonna be shorter the closer you are to the front. Yeah, there's less people on the course to be in line, so yes.
00:07:25
Speaker
You also have more time if you need to stop and use the restroom. um you know There's a bigger buffer between you and the end of the race where the balloon ladies are, right things like that. It's less crowded.
00:07:36
Speaker
Yeah, there's just less people on the course at the beginning. yeah Let's say someone goes out of B, but they decide to walk run, walk the race, and stop for every character. That person's now going to be with the the D, E, F, whatever, catch up to that person. Right, wear it right, right. Right? So like it just is naturally more crowded in the back. Right. And nobody likes more crowded anything. We all like to be crowded.
00:07:58
Speaker
you know, but have more room and all And then we just want to be as far away from the balloon ladies as possible. Let's be honest. Like you just don't even want them to be a thought. So if you're going out of B or C, you generally don't have to think about them. I'm going to be honest with you about that. You generally, they don't they don't cross your mind. yeah you know But if you start in D, E, if there's an F, like they are there in the back of your mind. Even if you're running a pretty decent pace, you just You know.
00:08:23
Speaker
Yeah. You know they exist. Yeah. So that is why. ah But if you don't get great corral, great corral placement, that was quotes for audio, great corral placement, that's okay. You can still enjoy your race. Absolutely.
00:08:35
Speaker
Okay, let's talk about things to know. Yeah, so corrals are for runners only. So if you bring your family and they come to spectate, they can be with you ah while you're waiting to go into the corral. But once you go in, it's only you. They cannot go with you. That's right. There's a security checkpoint checking your bibs. me see your bib. Yep.
00:08:53
Speaker
Yep. Um, there's actually two checkpoints. There's one, you go where only runners can go into this runner's area. yeah That's where the bathrooms and the water stop and all our water station and all that is. Then there's another time when you're gonna have to show you, which is your specific corral.
00:09:06
Speaker
And you said there's like big signs and whatever, uh, which is good balloon because yeah, they're big green balloons. At least they have been for all of our races. You can see them from a mile away. yeah So it's very clear where you need to go. You can come and go from your corral. So like, let's say you go in early, the corrals open at three or three 30, whatever time I can't remember what exactly what time they open, but they open about two hours before the race.
00:09:29
Speaker
You can go in early, stake your spot, you know, get your yourself set up camp, you know? Right. But then you're like, oh man, I got to go to the bathroom. Yeah. You can leave. Right. That's okay. yeah And if like you and I are in the same corral, you look at me and you say, Hey, I'm going to the restroom. Don't move. Stay right here. Right. And then you come back and get your spot.
00:09:46
Speaker
If I'm by myself and I decide to go to the restroom and I come back, my spot might be gone. Right. You know, but you can come and go. Yes. um So like you just mentioned, um in the runners only area outside of the corral, there are porta potties and water stations. So you can use those as many times as you need to before the race starts.
00:10:03
Speaker
Yep. You don't use the water station. I noticed. I do not know. You've never, you've been to the the port-a-potty 30 times. 30 times. But I've never seen you get water. I'm over there dehydrating and you're like, i don't think so. Yeah, no.
00:10:16
Speaker
ah um Just a heads up, you have to be wearing your bib. You can't like have it in your pocket. You can't just like flash it, whatever, because what they don't want you to do is do Do that and then hand it to the person behind you. right i mean You have to be wearing it. They won't let you in if you're not if it's not secured to you. And it's got to be showing.
00:10:32
Speaker
That's correct. So it can't be like, ah oh, no, it's under my costume. I promise. Right. Sorry. It's got to be showing. No. The other thing to know about a corral is that you can go to a later corral further back than you. Yeah. Um, you cannot go ahead. So if you're running with somebody like AJ and I several times have had this happen, um, where he's been in corral a and I'm in C or D or whatever.
00:10:54
Speaker
Um, he can go backwards to me so we can start together, but I cannot go forward with him. That's right. We did this with our kids, right? yeah The girls had different chorale number letters than us. yeah So we went to there. we went see you You kind of like go to the highest one that you all can do, right if that makes any sense. So yeah, you can go backwards.
00:11:16
Speaker
They do close the corrals, just a heads up. It's staggered. And I feel like it varies a little bit depending on the race. So just a heads up that if the race starts at five and you're in corral A, you can't walk into the corral at 4.55. Right now. um They usually close that around, i would say 4.30 or something. And that is in your digital event guide. Yeah.
00:11:35
Speaker
The only one that doesn't, I think the only one that doesn't close close is that last corral, whatever it is. So
Challenges and Tips for Corrals
00:11:42
Speaker
if you're in the last corral, you can go hang out by the food trucks if you want. Yeah. um But if you want to make sure you go with your corral, you have to check that closing ah closing time. yeah It's in your digital event guide. Absolutely.
00:11:53
Speaker
So if you are late and you accidentally miss your corral closing time, um don't stress. You can still run. You're just going to go in the next corral back that's still open. Has that ever happened you? That has not happened to me because we get there super early.
00:12:07
Speaker
But let's say you were supposed to be in Corral C and it's already closed. You can go to D if it's still open or whatever's available behind that. And I wouldn't stress about it. No. I've heard of people being on the bus and they know that their corral is closing. They know the carral closed time and the bus isn't going to make it on time because of traffic. I mean, don't let that ruin your race. Like you can still get, as long as the bus makes it before the last corral, you can still run the race. Yeah.
00:12:30
Speaker
Don't, don't stress about that. No. um A heads up, this is we're talking about things you need to know. theraal The Corral is the most crowded place you will ever be in your life. Yes. it is It is the most. I can't think of another time I've ever been more close with strangers. Is that the right term? mean, the closest thing to it is Main Street on Christmas Eve. That's probably the closest I've ever been. Yeah, actually, that's really good.
00:12:51
Speaker
yeah if you If you've done fireworks on a holiday, whatever, yeah at the Magic Kingdom, that is what the Corral feels like. Yep. It gets worse. So like, no, no, no not gets no, sorry. That wasn't the right way.
00:13:03
Speaker
It gets worse as time goes on. So when you get in the corral, everyone's like, oh, I think i'm going to try and hold up here by the front and whatever. But you still have some breathing room. You can still yeah you know lift your leg up and stretch or whatever if you really want to. And then when the corral starts moving forward, it gets compactor and compactor and compactor. Is a word? I don't think so. More compact. Yes. as times And you start moving through, like, ah as every wave goes, right? right the The corral will then move forward. Right. Right? Because you're getting closer to the start as each wave gets released.
00:13:33
Speaker
And man, I mean, I have been close to some people where I was like, don't like Like they better not sneeze. Right. If they're in front of me or whatever, they might knock themselves out on my head. Right. You what mean? Because you just get, I mean, it's just crammed.
00:13:48
Speaker
It's very crammed. So if you're claustrophobic in any way or whatever, what's your advice? Go to the back of your corral. don't go to run Disney. No, Just start in the back. Yeah. In the back. Yeah. Yeah. That's a good point. Like just if, yeah, if you're super claustrophobic, i'm that's a good point. Just don't worry about being in the front or whatever. Just hang back. Yeah.
00:14:07
Speaker
Just let them do that. Yeah. So on that note, finding your people can be a little stressful. Um, so like AJ jokingly said, i do not use the port-a-potty 30 times, but I will use it a few times before the race starts depending on how early we get there. Minimum three.
00:14:21
Speaker
but ah No, there's been times I've only used it like once. But I mean, like the more we run, the less my nerves bother me and I'm not so worried about, you know. Anyways, moving on. So you leave the corral. So I will leave the corral to go use the restroom and then I will come back and try to find you. So typically what we do is you try to stay off to the side. And when I leave you, i will look around at the people that are next to us and sort of try to find like some distinguishing like characteristic about their costume. Yeah, yeah. So like a headpiece or something yes um to try to find you. This is when you like, you look at me, you you kind of put both hands on my shoulders and you look at me say, AJ, don't move.
00:15:00
Speaker
I'm going to the restroom. Don't move from right here. I won't be able to find you. I'm like, okay, I got it. Yeah. And the reason why i do this is because AJ is notorious for saying, I'll be right here. And then he leaves. Even our children know this about you. But but the corral moves forward. Like what am I supposed to do I don't care.
00:15:16
Speaker
You know, the other funny one I find is that um like you'll you'll leave and I'll be standing there. Right. And then you'll come back and you'll you'll call me and you'll be AJ, AJ, where are you?
00:15:27
Speaker
And I'm like, I'm standing. I'm i'm standing. I see like the big green lift with the LED screen on it. Do you see that? And you're like, yes, I'm standing right in front of that.
00:15:37
Speaker
And I'm like. Yeah. So am I like I'm, I'm standing next to, ah to Kevin from up. Do you see him? No, I don't see him. Okay. But you're standing in front of the green tower. Yes. I'm standing in front of the green tower.
00:15:47
Speaker
Then you realize there's like five green towers. Right. Yeah. So it's a little bit challenging to find your people. Yeah. And even it's funny, even if the corral moves just a little bit, uh, Like the way people ah fill in the gaps, that Kevin from up that was next to me before might not be. Right. Yeah. Now he's like 10 feet in front of you. Yeah. And so you're up there yeah yeah or I'm already up in the front and you're like, how did you get up here? Yeah.
00:16:09
Speaker
The other reason why I call you when I'm coming back from the bathroom is because I don't want people to think I'm like trying to cut ahead of them. There are people that are a little bit obnoxious that will like... push their way up to the front, like to literally claim like a yeah six by six inch square.
00:16:25
Speaker
um and I don't want people to think that I'm doing that. So I like for them to know that I am trying to meet up with you again. I've i've seen it where someone acted like they were trying to find their people. Oh yeah. I've seen that too. Yeah.
00:16:36
Speaker
They're like, I don't know where you are. yeah i'm trying to find my friend. I'm trying to find my friend. like And then they're just all of a sudden you see them just- phone, standing there by themselves. Just standing. Yeah. I see what you did there. Yeah.
00:16:47
Speaker
Yeah. Um, which actually i know it's a point in the notes, but I'm just going to say it now. Uh, and then I'll skip it later is be courteous right and kind yeah in that scenario. It was not cool for them to do that. Yeah.
00:16:57
Speaker
You know, like we've all been waiting for a long time, right but I also don't know that person's story either. So maybe they were here two hours ago and they had to go to the bathroom. And they didn't have a anyone hold their spot. Right. yeah So like, just be kind, courteous, understanding, you know, the reality is we're all going to get out on the race course and we're all going to have a great time.
00:17:14
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Now the pushing and fighting and the, Hey, hey you, you know, yeah i had a view of the screen and you just stood in front of me. What do you there's 30,000 people, right? What are 17,000 depending on the race? Yeah. yeah you know be Be kind and courteous. Yeah.
00:17:28
Speaker
Okay. Uh, the corral will move forward just a heads up. So each wave goes, um, and, and they basically open the gates, you know, and there's people, they manage it very well. yeah It's going to move forward.
00:17:40
Speaker
Yeah. Um, just know that like, if you start in a later corral, you might be doing that move forward shuffle as each wave goes. I mean, maybe what an hour. yeah An hour over an hour.
00:17:52
Speaker
yeah Yeah. So if you if everybody stands up, you're sitting down, everybody stands up and you move forward, but you're in a later corral, D, E, F, something like that. Just know that that doesn't mean that you're about to start the race. You're unfortunately going to do that move forward thing yeah for a while. Yep.
00:18:11
Speaker
Even, I guess, and even in C, usually, would you say three to five minutes between each wave? Yeah. So even if you're starting in, ah you know, kind of a mid corral, like C, you're still, when that first wave goes off, you're still maybe 15, 20 minutes away from actually totally looking at the start line. Yeah.
00:18:28
Speaker
Okay. Anything else on on the start line moving or the corrals moving? No. Okay. Perfect. Let's move on to helpful tips. Yeah, totally. So definitely you want to bring some warm clothes or some Mylar to wrap up in while you're waiting. Like AJ just said, you could be waiting for over an hour before you start. And sometimes it's very cold. We've waited in feels like temps of like 23 all the way to, i don't know, 60 degrees probably. We've waited in rain. We've done a hot wait where it was a springtime surprise. surprise yeah And we were actually the opposite. We were sweating. It was muggy.
00:19:02
Speaker
yeah So you kind of just have to know what the weather is. So it may not be bring warm clothes. yeah I guess just bring appropriate yeah appropriate stuff. But generally, because the races happen in the colder months. Yeah. So we talk about this a lot. Wear are layers where you can bring clothes you know that you can throw off and Disney will collect them and- and and Donate them. Donate them. Yeah. So just come prepared.
00:19:22
Speaker
Yep. I've seen people bring blankets to sit on. Yeah, totally. And so they don't even wrap up in it. they just They know that they're going to be there for an hour and a half yeah and they just lay out a picnic blanket. Yeah. The other thing that people will sit on is like those little gardening foam sort of things that you can kneel on when you garden. Oh, yeah. People will buy those from like Dollar Tree and sit on those and then just throw them off to the side. didn't that's what was.
00:19:44
Speaker
Yeah. Huh. Cool. yeah Smart. I recommend bringing a snack and some water into the corral unless you're Erica and you need to go to the bathroom several times. and Don't bring, but don't bring water. But I, I usually bring a water bottle, like a, you know, a water bottle, like a Dasani one that you can throw away.
00:19:59
Speaker
Right. Right. So I, cause it can be a long time and you're, you've tried to fuel and hydrate for the race. And then what are you going to do the last hour and a half before the race? Not, you know, whatever.
Connecting with Fellow Runners
00:20:09
Speaker
So um you should have practiced all your fueling stuff at home. Absolutely. If you need a snack or whatever, no, you know, yourself, you know, you, I do, I need a snack 15 minutes before I run.
00:20:19
Speaker
Right. I bring one. Yeah. For me, it's usually a honey stinger stoop waffle. That is correct. Yep. And scan a little bit of water. um Another thing that's definitely a favorite of mine are hot hands. So, you know, the little like disposable, you shake it, it gets warm. yeah um Most people put these in their gloves, but I have been known to put these everywhere. So I will put them like in the pockets of my pants to keep my legs warm. I've put them down here by my socks, in my arm sleeves, everywhere. Those work great.
00:20:45
Speaker
Yeah. Yep. That's a good alternative. If you really don't want to wear mylar or anything like that, and you just don't want to deal with that. Yeah. You can do the hot hands. really, really. And I like them because they're like super lightweight and portable. So you can wear them as you start to run. Yeah.
00:20:59
Speaker
And then like, then you can throw them off. I usually like, we'll get rid of them one at a time as I'm running the further I get. Like going through like the hydration station, everyone's throwing cups in the trash can. right. Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:10
Speaker
Awesome. Yeah. um One of the other things you can do to make the time go by is I like to get to know other runners. Like people at run Disney are so nice and yeah a lot of people are waiting by themselves, you know, and so so it helps to make their time go by quickly as well. We usually talk about um costumes. yeah How many other races have you done? Which races have you done? Things like that.
00:21:33
Speaker
Yeah. Some really easy primers. Yeah. frank Crime questions. Oh my gosh, I love your outfit. That will spark a 20 minute conversation right there. Totally. Right. Yeah. ah Or have you ever done this race before?
00:21:46
Speaker
Yeah. And whether they have or not, all of a sudden it's just a perfect primer and you can talk to to folks or whatever for a long period of time. any other Any other suggestions on what, if you want to like strike up a convo with the princess standing next to you?
00:21:59
Speaker
I think, you know, something that's cool about run Disney is I feel like a lot of runners are newish runners. Yeah. um You know, people that are like in their 30s, 40s, all the way up. Really. I mean, there's a lot of people like in their 60s and 70s that run.
00:22:12
Speaker
But a lot of people have like really inspiring stories about why they started running or what they've overcome to start running. Disney will interview them from the side. So you'll be able to see some of this, you know, on the screens, but I've talked to a lot of girls in corrals who, you know, talk about like massive weight loss or last year in one of the races that we did, there was a group of girls that her husband had passed away. They they were super young and she decided to run in his honor with like his sister and her sister. And so, um, I've just heard a lot of really cool stories waiting in the corrals. How'd you bring that? Like, well,
00:22:47
Speaker
ah For an introvert like myself. Yes. How do you how do you engage in that? You know what mean? Like, is there a good question to ask somebody like, hey, are you running for something important? you're like but Like, what do you ask them? So and I'm about to make this silly, even though I was being so super serious. But, um you know, you joke about my hot hands and my bathrobe and whatever. Yeah.
00:23:05
Speaker
Usually i notice other girls that like we're not ready for the weather and they're freezing and I can tell they're cold. And so I'll offer them like hot hands or whatever blanket or whatever in the corral. And that usually gets gets us talking and they're like, oh my gosh, this is my first run Disney race. I didn't know I was going to be freezing and waiting and all the things. But that's because you're compassionate and you notice things and you care.
00:23:26
Speaker
I'm like in my zone with my headphones in. i'm like, oh, were you cold? Well, should have brought some mylar. You know me, I'm a helper almost to a fault. So yeah you're so nice.
00:23:37
Speaker
um Okay. What's next? um Oh, on the notes, I'm skipping. Be courteous because i already said that. Okay, perfect. So I would say be aware of things that you may not think about, like where the giant speakers are.
00:23:51
Speaker
Once I accidentally placed myself right in front of this huge speaker that was up on a lift and I didn't realize, and then it was like really, really loud for like an hour. So just kind of be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes you can't do anything about it. Right. yeah But if you can and you like walk up and you're like, whoa, that's a big speaker. Maybe I don't want to stand here. Right.
00:24:10
Speaker
Yeah. ah Yeah. That's a good point. Yeah. um Okay, so a heads up, you're gonna kind of like um shuffle, you know, as each wave goes out. And it kind of twists and turns a little bit. There's like a false summit where you think you're to the start line. Right, and you still like 30 minutes. And it curves around to the right. And you're like, oh, why did they do that me? Right, right. But they're doing, you they're obviously taking advantage of space, right, and all that stuff.
Navigating the Start Line
00:24:32
Speaker
But just a heads up, on the final turn, you're gonna kind of like come by the stage. the stages Well, as long as they don't change this before this podcast comes Right. The stage, you know, to kind of be on your right and you're going to make a hard left turn going away from the stage and you're like, where are we going?
00:24:47
Speaker
And then it comes back around. It's a U-turn. Yeah. At this moment, unless unless you want to be like on camera or as close to the stage as possible or like try and say hi to the announcers or anything like that,
00:24:59
Speaker
stay to the left. So the outside of the turn, which is going to seem counterintuitive because you're going to want to like cut the corner to like make the turn as short as possible. But that right turn right there is where everybody jams up. Right. Trying to like be seen by the cameras, you know, or whatever. And these aren't photo cameras. These are like being on the screen cameras. Right. If that's important to you, go for it Right. Yeah. Have fun. Yeah.
00:25:24
Speaker
Totally cool. ah We kind of stayed at the middle right of the pack or we just go far left, swing way wide. Next thing you know, we're 50 people ahead yeah of where we just were by by all these people that either want to be in that hairpin turn right or accidentally get caught in it.
00:25:45
Speaker
So if you're trying to get as far forward as possible, as fast as possible, swing wide. right That's my suggestion. yeah Okay. What's next? Um, also like you were just saying, like once you start moving, if it's your first time, people may think, oh gosh, this is it. And they start to ditch their warm clothes.
00:26:01
Speaker
You may be moving depending on what corral you're in for up to an hour before you actually cross the start line. So don't ditch your warm clothes or your mylar or whatever until you can actually like see within like 30 feet, the start line and you, you can't miss it because there's like a big, you know,
00:26:19
Speaker
Banner thing. It's like a big archway that goes over the start line. My general rule is, is if I can't take a really good picture of that start arch thing yet, I'm not close. Right. Just wait. Just because you can see it.
00:26:30
Speaker
Right. Pull your phone out. If you're like, wow, that's way further away than i thought it was. you know, yeah then you still have probably three, four start waves. Yeah. As soon as you can get a really good picture of it that you can read what's on the sign in your picture, then you're close enough to ditch your mile. Absolutely. That's kind of my general rule.
00:26:47
Speaker
yeah And the last tip I have, a helpful thing about the corral, is you, depending on what time you got there, you have now stood or sat for an hour and a half, two hours, and any stretching you did at any point, yeah either at your hotel window or maybe you stretched at the back of the corral or you know while you were waiting, you've now kind of stiffened up, yeah ah stood still, whatever, and you kind of your body's not warmed up anymore, right? So my suggestion is don't go out too fast.
00:27:17
Speaker
Let your body now adjust to the fact that you are moving because you were standing Still for a long time. So um yeah, if you're going for PR or whatever and all that, then I know that's going to be a challenge, but just a heads up. it's going to be crowded, but two, it's also dark right there yeah at the beginning. So just my suggestion and too is your body's not warmed up.
00:27:40
Speaker
Let it warm up for a second. Right, right. Cool. Any other tips, Erica, before we move on to the good and the bad? I don't think so. Good and the bad is a section we like to do. We like to take a topic. We talk about the good things and the bad things of of that topic. Today we're talking the corrals and we've kind of highlighted all the things about them. I thought maybe we could talk about the good and the bad um in context of what each corral is like. Right. So we have represented all of them.
00:28:05
Speaker
Yes, yes, we have. I was just gonna say that I have submitted proof of time for some races, but I have also not submitted proof of time. Once Disney does sort of the separating out with the proof of time, everybody that's left over, it's sort of like a random, like the machine populates basically into the corral.
00:28:23
Speaker
So I just like for folks to know if this is your first one, Without a proof of time, I have been in corrals C all the way through J. So, yeah you know, we really have experienced, especially me, I've really experienced all of them.
00:28:36
Speaker
They, in your registration, you can put in your anticipated finish time. I think they do that. Hopefully run Disney never hears this. yeah I think they do that to make us feel better.
00:28:47
Speaker
don't think they look at it. That would they're actually considering that. Right. Right. I don't think they are. No, I don't think they are either. I think that's for our benefit. Yeah. You could put in that you're going finish the marathon or whatever in five hours and they're still going to put you wherever they want to put you. Yeah. Unless you have a proof of time. Yeah.
00:29:04
Speaker
I don't know. That's not a fact. Yeah. I just feel that way. No, I feel that way as well. Because feels very random. Strongly. Yeah. Strongly. Very strongly. Okay. So let's let's talk about it. You started in J for your very first princess race. And let's talk about that in just a minute when we get back to our first and last experiences.
00:29:20
Speaker
But things we can talk about together are G. We started in G. That was in California. Yeah. And so let's just kind of talk about what that felt like. I would say for that one specifically, the the very back, I mean, we were right We're up against a channeling fence. Next to the balloon ladies. you know There was no no way we were getting, yeah we couldn't get ahead of them. I would say that was probably the most stressed I'd ever felt in terms of like, oh my gosh, am I going to get swept out of
Corral C Experience
00:29:46
Speaker
this race? yeah Because if you're looking at the balloon ladies in their face, right they're nice people, yeah but you're like, you are the one right that I need to get away from. yeah
00:29:55
Speaker
So it is it is probably the most stressed I think I've ever felt. Yeah. I would say like, honestly, it doesn't really matter how fast you run. If you start in that last corral, you still have to factor in things like restroom stops, yeah character stops, water stops, things like that. so But I also want to turn this the other way is that like,
00:30:14
Speaker
You're, you've trained, right? you' carb bloated You've loaded, you fueled, you're hydrated. You've done all these things to prepare yourself. Yeah. Right. And so you need to kind of go into it with like a, yeah, this is the most stressful corral, but but I can still do it, but I can do it.
00:30:31
Speaker
Yeah. You know, please go in with that mindset. We knew we could, and it was still stressful and you can't help it. Yeah. You know what i mean? You go in to take a test, ah you know, your driver's test, a mat, like whatever, you're still stressed, right but it's how you handle that. Absolutely. Right, moving forward. yeah Positive mindset will get you there.
00:30:47
Speaker
yeah Freaking out will not. No. No. We've talked about that, I think, on on previous episodes. so Anything else about Corral G? um I would say that this most likely, you know, well, no, that's not true.
00:31:00
Speaker
We'd run several run Disney races. And because we had a late registration, we got put in Corral G, right? And so I was going to say that it's probably all newbies, but really that's not true.
00:31:10
Speaker
Yeah. That's what I was saying earlier is that like, I basically had the same time for all those times that I ran Corral C through G. So I would just say that if you go to ah the expo and you pick up your bid, excuse me, and you find out that you're going to be in that last Corral,
00:31:25
Speaker
I've already talked about this before, but I would stress for this last corral, make sure that you get your car bloating in for that least the 48 hours before the race. This is going to make a huge difference in your endurance. Um, so if you're concerned about your time or the number of times you're going have to stop and you know, you're going to be in the back, don't skip it anyway, but especially don't skip it if you're in the back.
00:31:45
Speaker
Agreed. Yeah. You want to move on to D and E? Sure, yeah. I guess F kind of was in there too. Yeah, about the same. We started in F, right? Yeah. D, E, F, they all feel about the same. Yeah. Unless it's the last corral, then it kind of has that maximum stress, whatever. Right.
00:32:00
Speaker
I would say that, again, you're going to have a lot of first-time runners, but you're still going to have a sprinkling of everyone else. I feel like, though, that the vibe in these corrals is actually pretty good.
00:32:11
Speaker
Yeah. Because you get a lot of people that are just honored to be there at all. Right. You know, you don't have your corral A and beers that are like, oh yeah, this is my 35th run Disney. yeah right yeah she You can hear that sometimes, you know, um, and you don't have anyone really going for a PR.
00:32:29
Speaker
So they're really, um, whoa, you disagree. Yeah. Okay. I'll take that back. I take it back. What make your point? I'm ready. I mean, I've tried to go for a PR for several the races where I was done stuck in the back.
00:32:41
Speaker
Okay. I take it back. Erica's right. Yeah. Sorry. I apologize for that. No, no. I mean, I agree with everything else you said that it's, you know, fun. People are more, you know, encouraging and friendly and everything in the back. I feel like then they are in the front, but I would say this is especially important for me as a runner. If I get placed in the back. Yeah.
00:32:58
Speaker
And I'm going way off topic, oh but just know, especially if it's your first run Disney race or any race really, but especially run Disney, that if you are walking, you should do that on the right side of the road and then leave the left side for the people that are trying to run. yeah um Because it has been tricky to try to weave my way through the walkers and there's nothing wrong with walking. I have walked before. yeah I have run so, so slow before. I've been afraid of being swept because of my my pace when I first started running.
00:33:29
Speaker
So there's nothing wrong with going slow. But if you will just walk to the right, run to the left. I think just be, goes back to that being courteous, do the same thing on the course. If you are walking, you want the runners to treat you with kindness and respect right and let you have the space to walk.
00:33:47
Speaker
Yeah. But if you're in the lane that's really meant for runners, it's going be hard for them to do that. Right. You're, you know, you're creating a challenge for them. Yeah. So stay to the right. Yep.
00:33:57
Speaker
Okay. If you're a runner and you're trying to get your first proof of time and all that stuff, remember that someone is just thrilled to be here. Right. And trying to stay ahead of the balloon lady. Yes. And you should run on the left and not go flying around them on the right. Yeah. That's equally just terrible. Yeah, it's dangerous and makes people feel awful, all all the things.
00:34:17
Speaker
yeah So it goes back to that being kind. They yeah they call it coarse etiquette. I mean, just treat other people the way you want to be treated. If you literally just came off of a knee surgery and you need to walk, do it.
00:34:28
Speaker
Yeah, I haven't had knee surgery, but I've done that. Come into a race totally injured, I have to walk. You might be a runner and in this scenario, you need to go slower for who knows what reason. Right. Absolutely. Please be kind. Yeah. To to those around you. Yeah. A lot of that is going to be more of a challenge in some of those later corrals. Right. Corral C. That's a sweet spot.
00:34:48
Speaker
That's what I think too. yeah I genuinely think that C is a sweet spot. And we I've gone out of a and B and I still think that C is a sweet spot. This is where, unless you want to start, can I start? No, you start. I feel like this is the best balance of runners with costumes and no stress.
00:35:08
Speaker
Yeah. You know, because the back corrals, those folks don't want to get swept. The front corrals, those people are trying to like qualify for something. Right. Okay. Yeah. And so this is like the no stress zone, I feel like. Has that been your experience? Yeah, totally. I love going out of sea.
00:35:24
Speaker
Yeah. It's, it's like my ideal corral. Honestly, if I could, even if I could be placed in a higher corral, I probably wouldn't want to I think C is my, is always my dream spot. It's where all the good, good costumes are too. yeah I feel like. Yeah. Because you get a lot of run Disney folks who may not have their proof of time or whatever, but they, I don't know what their club run Disney or something like that. It just, this is where it's at in my opinion. I love Corral. C, if you're lucky enough to get Corral, C. And we've done it a few times. Yeah. It's a good one. Anything else on C before I move on to a and B, which I think- That's all you.
00:35:54
Speaker
yeah Yeah. Anything else on- No. Okay. So B, no one's stressed out. Like, I'm just going be honest with you, but this is a little bit where the- The Disney vibe starts to roll off a little bit um in that you see less costumes, less people that are just hoping ah to make it. You get less of those, at least from what I gather, you get less of the stories of people running in the honor of their you know family member who passed away or they've overcome cancer or whatever. is that just It might still be there.
00:36:26
Speaker
It's less community vibing yeah in that corral. Yeah. It's still a great corral. the um Typically, the AWD goes out of this corral. You know, it's good. It's also kind of nice that you're not the first ones out because you can see a few waves go. Yeah.
00:36:43
Speaker
And you know that you're still near the front, but like you still kind of, you know, you don't have the stress of like, oh wow we're going and then you know whatever right you see a few of the waves go and you kind of know what to expect you see it happen on camera yeah so b is a good one but the for me all my experiences in b the disneyness rolls down a little bit and it's a little less magical yeah a is fantastic a is for awesome If you want to run sub whatever, it's intense. yeah there are There are Disney folks there.
00:37:19
Speaker
i would say that I just run in like a themed t-shirt kind of thing, whatever. And I was like, oh man, I'm a little too dressed up for this. yeah Yeah. People are wearing their Nike super fly, whatever those things are called. And they, you know, like they're, they're ready.
00:37:32
Speaker
Yeah. These are like the elite runners from their, from each hometown represented. The shorts are short. Like it's right. It's great to go out of a, and there are some club renders new members in there too. Yeah. um But yeah you, what you don't get in a is the crowding.
00:37:48
Speaker
Nobody's pushing forward except for like a small group of people that want to go out of the very, very, very first wave. yeah then it's a little crowded up there. yeah But you can go out of the first or second wave even and not have that whole like pushing because they're not they're not even moving forward.
00:38:03
Speaker
Right. Right. Like they just go like first thing out of the races, there goes A. And so it's been awesome when I PR'd out of A. Right. It is not awesome for like vibe.
00:38:16
Speaker
I have an unscripted question for Please, I'm ready. What kind of time per mile do you think you have to have to go out of Corrale? Right.
00:38:24
Speaker
So should i just say my time? No, I should not. Okay. as i'll so I'll say sometimes and I'll edit it out if it feels feels obnoxious. Okay. So I submitted, um i got Corral B for the first time. My mile time was 9.58 for the first time. You got B with 9.58? I did.
00:38:46
Speaker
Wow. mile. Yep. That kind of surprises me. Yeah. That was my first, that was um Wine and Dine. Yeah. That Wine and Dine. I mean, I feel like that's, I'm doing air quotes, too slow for B.
00:38:58
Speaker
I think it might be under 10 or whatever. might be the kind of general rule maybe, under a 10-minute mile. But I had to prove it. Right. It was a proof of time. it wasn't I said I could do it. I had to prove it.
00:39:10
Speaker
So I don't know what the official thing is there. I had a pretty significant leap from there. My next one when I got A was 8, what was it, 835 maybe okay per mile is when I got a Or maybe maybe it was...
00:39:26
Speaker
But now all of a sudden I'm like really excited to submit. 847 maybe. I'm really excited to submit my proof of time for next year's race season because now I run so much faster. Yeah. But I was injured this year and so I couldn't submit a proof of time. Yeah. We usually don't. Now knowing this I'm like.
00:39:39
Speaker
Yeah. We usually don't talk times on the podcast because I don't want anyone to feel like like they're, oh, they could never come close to that or whatever. Yeah, no. But for context. yeah I guess I might leave it in here because let's say I run, like so like my most recent race was an 805, right? Per mile.
00:39:55
Speaker
So I went out of A. You wouldn't want me in E. No. Trying to run past you. yeah If you're starting in E, you don't want somebody who's going to run an 805 round. Right.
00:40:06
Speaker
Not because yeah it's unfair or anything like that. but That's dangerous. Well, I think it's already hard enough starting an E. Like in you've got someone that's running a 10 minute mile pace and someone that's running 16 minute mile pace.
00:40:18
Speaker
And that's already, that's already hard enough. Yeah. Yeah. um Okay. So just so you know, the A's, I mean, they are, they're fast. Yeah. They're, they're, they're typically fast, except I do know that club run Disney. If you buy, you can buy your way into A and B. Right. Right. That is the thing. Okay, cool.
00:40:33
Speaker
Great. That's everything on what the corrals feel like. that That was the good and the bad. you want to talk about our first and most recent
First Race Experiences
00:40:40
Speaker
experiences? We do this often on a topic. You want to go first or do you want me to go first? You can go first.
00:40:45
Speaker
Okay. My first was princess. Oh, you should go first. You know why? Because yours was so much earlier than mine. It was. Ten years ago. remember less about it Oh yeah. Yours was, so you go first cause yours was 10 years ago and I wasn't at that race. Yeah. So princess 2016, I ran with a friend, Angela.
00:41:01
Speaker
I did not submit a proof of time because I had never even run before the half marathon right that we signed up to do. was just like a bucket list thing. yeah Um, and honestly, Angela handled, handled most of the registration for us. Like, so I didn't know anything at all until were a passenger princess at Princess. Yes, I was. I totally was. um So I was in Corral J, which they don't even like do corrals that far back. I think it's because back then they did more corrals and no waves. And now they do less corrals with more waves in them. see. Okay.
00:41:32
Speaker
um But yeah, I just know that she had submitted a proof of time. And so we were not in the corral together. So I sat by myself. I did not know it was going to be cold. I was freezing um and uncomfortable and and so nervous because like I've shared in previous episodes, I did not fit complete my training. And so I was not, I did not have a great first time.
00:41:57
Speaker
You know, I don't think most people do, which is part of the reason we're talking about Right. Yes. We want you to have a better experience than we did. What if you're nervous? Yeah. Okay. Let's say you're going out of the last corral, which you did on that race. yeah What's your like advice now, having done it several times, what's your advice to someone who, like their hands are shaking, they're so nervous. What's your advice?
00:42:15
Speaker
I mean, things that we've already said, like, remember why you're doing this. You're doing this to have fun. Like you're running at Disney, so it's going to be awesome. Trust your training. If you know that you can run 15 minute mile, then you don't need to worry about it.
00:42:28
Speaker
Like whether you start in Corral, see your F like it you can do it. So believe in yourself. Remember you're there to have fun. Really, really focus on, you know, your healthy carb loading. So Like, you know, we talk about this a lot, like just for clarification, um we're not talking about like a giant, like extra large pizza the night before, like 48 hours or more before the race, depending on how long you're running marathon. I start carboating a week before we run. yeah Um, you know, you want to incorporate healthy things like potatoes, sweet potatoes, brown rice, a whole grain, you know, things like that, well see yeah but you, your body needs that extra fuel to burn when you're running long distances.
00:43:09
Speaker
yeah That's a huge thing is is you may not want to eat because you're nervous, but you got to eat to fuel, put gas in the tank. right yeah Positive mindset's my other thing there is like, yeah even if you've never done it, say that you can.
00:43:23
Speaker
yeah The narrative to yourself is, I can. Absolutely. and Like you said, it's it's normal to be nervous. oh yeah like There's a lot going on that morning, but talk yourself off the ledge.
00:43:34
Speaker
Great. Anything else on your first experience? Nope. Okay. My first experience was, and you were there, Princess, i think it was 2023. And do you remember that the Corral, now they're all in the Epcot parking lot. Right. like the Wally lot or Nemo lot, something like that.
00:43:50
Speaker
They're all out in the parking lot. And it's great because it's very organized. Yeah. But this was, it was a long walk out to, I think it was like Epcot Center Drive or World Drive or something like that. yeah And it was on the road. yeah So like instead of all the corrals being next to each other, you know, A sits to the left of B, sits to the left of C. They were, A was in front of B, C, D, and they were all on a straight line. Do you remember that? Vaguely. Yeah. Anyway, it was what I didn't like was a long walk out there. Right. You know, was like, yeah they were gonna walk two miles before we even start the race um but i did like that we just moved forward in a straight line they like moved the gate bike rack or whatever and we just i felt like i could see the start line and i just kept getting closer to it it wasn't this bob and weave you know open open each individual thing you know section or wherever whatever so that was my first memory and then i also remember i had a bag do you remember this
00:44:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. A paper bag. Yeah. It had a water bottle in it and snacks. And I brought the Mylar, which we didn't use because it wasn't cold. Right. And it was in this paper bag.
00:44:57
Speaker
And um you know I was just, I don't know what I was thinking. It's like a shopping bag. Right. I was carrying like a brown paper and I was carrying it all the way up to the start. And I remember like being at the start, looking at it and looked it didn't drink the water. Right.
00:45:09
Speaker
And I was like, what do I do with this now? And I had these two Mylar things that were still sealed in the Right, right, right. And I'm looking at it and I remember like literally being like, I don't know what to do. There's no trash can. So I just remember like looking around like throwing it into the grass. I'm like, hopefully that gets donated. Right. Yeah. yeah Or something. Yeah. Yeah. That was my first experience.
00:45:30
Speaker
My most recent one was ah Princess was our most... We do a lot of princess. Princess 2025 was our most recent one. And that was six months ago. And i so i got to start in A. I did something different.
00:45:43
Speaker
ah We talked about the pushing forward and trying to stay in the front. I decided not to go in the first wave, which I had done before out of A. I decided to hang back to the very back of a and just...
00:45:56
Speaker
Chill. Yeah. I'm not in a hurry. I wasn't going for a PR. We had our whole run Disney season already. And I was, it was not there to prove anything. Actually, i was there to prove, can I stop at as many character stops as possible? So I had no reason to be upfront.
00:46:11
Speaker
Right. And it felt so nice. It was the first time I'd ever just not pushed forward. Yeah. I understand luxury situation here. You know i mean? ah You know, this is, you know first world problem is sitting in the back of You what I mean? I get that.
00:46:28
Speaker
But it was nice to not push. So like part of me is like, should I, if we're going out of B or C together or whatever, like, does it make sense to just not fight the, you know, elbow to elbow, right? Or whatever. I don't know.
00:46:39
Speaker
Anyway, I had a good experience just when they sit, go the next closest person was three feet away. Yeah. And I just kind of started jogging. Yeah. And so I enjoyed that. What was your most, yeah obviously same race, but any, any notes, anything noteworthy or not really?
00:46:52
Speaker
No, I would just say like the more, the more races that we do, the more comfortable I get just waiting in the corral by myself. Like I just talk to other people and, and, try to encourage them before we go out. You didn't like that in the beginning.
00:47:04
Speaker
No, I did not. The first time you waited in the car by yourself and it was my fault. No, it's fine. Because, you know, we'd started together before a few times. And I said, were not at that moment, I said at dinner the night before, Erica, I'd like to go for a personal record tomorrow.
00:47:21
Speaker
Yeah. And I have a Corral B placement. You unfortunately did not have that. And I was like, I'd really like to go out of Corral B if you're okay with it. yeah And i don't think you liked that idea. I did not. But you still let me, which was very nice of you. and Yeah, of course. No, no, no. Yeah. i just you know At the time, like I didn't want to wait by myself. I was super nervous.
00:47:41
Speaker
i was running much, much, much slower than I am now. And I was really worried about being swept. and you know But now- I still don't think I would want to run the marathon without you. Like, I feel like I, I, we have to do that together, okay but, but any other distance I could, I'm happy to do by myself now.
00:47:57
Speaker
So. Well, when you start running like ultra marathons, you're going to be like- There's no way I'm not doing ultra marathons. You're going to be like, oh, the marathon, that's fine. Go ahead. No, I don't. I'll never get to that place. No. 26 is enough for me. Yeah, for sure.
00:48:11
Speaker
Let's run it back. Okay. Anything you would do the same or different? I guess this kind of goes back to like a little bit of advice for those who have not experienced the corrals yet. yeah Or maybe someone's had a bad experience in the corral. yeah Anything you would go back and tell yourself from several years ago, what would you do the same or different?
00:48:27
Speaker
Honestly, like we've said, like, just try not to be so worried about it. Trust yourself, trust your training, yeah you know, um have fun. And yeah. Yeah. Mine is the ease off. We just talked about that in the good and the bad or whatever or whatever section we just did.
00:48:40
Speaker
um Just ease off a little bit. Yeah. if you If you are slower than you want to be, I should say. Right. And the balloon ladies are right behind you. Yeah. You might want to be a little strategic and get yourself as far away from them as possible.
00:48:51
Speaker
And I would say to your point about the buffer between you and the balloon ladies, if you're in the back, don't do that in the first mile, like, or the first half mile. Like you said a while ago, we've been sitting, especially those last corrals, they've been sitting for an hour or two hours.
00:49:05
Speaker
They're going to be real tight. So if you try to, if you try to, you know, jet out of the start. Oh, I'm picking up what you're putting down. Yeah. Yeah. So yes, leave some space between you and the balloon ladies, you know, create some space is what I'm trying to say, but don't do it at the beginning of the start line.
00:49:22
Speaker
Okay. Now I know where you're headed with this. I'm picking, okay. So you've got the balloon ladies are standing right there next to you or whatever. Right. And you want to get as far away from them as possible. Yes. But if you burn all your gas in the beginning- Yes. is what will happen. Once you burn it, you can't refuel, you can't- No. No matter how much you try- Right. To restock that you know with fuel or hydration or whatever, you're not going to be able to recover it if you don't run that fast- Yes. Normally. Yes. Yes. Right. Yeah. Stick to your training, stick to your pace, all that stuff.
00:49:52
Speaker
low Slowly create the distance. Yeah. Then, yeah. Then at the very end, if you have gas left in the tank. Yeah. And you need to hit the NOS button and and just go, go ahead. That's when you do it. Right. When you're a mile out or something like that, because then, you know, even if you overdo it, then you could still, the the finish line is in sight.
Kristen's Run Disney Journey
00:50:16
Speaker
Mm hmm. If you do it at the beginning, yeah man, you're going be hurting for, yeah if it's a 10K, you're going be hurting for six miles. yep If it's a half marathon, that's that's ah that's that's tough. Yeah, you do not want to do that.
00:50:26
Speaker
Okay, yeah great. That's everything that I have to say about corrals. Do you have anything else to say about corrals? Nope. Good. So next we are going to talk with my good friend, Kristen. She is just the sweetest. She's a nurse and she and I sing together and she um is not new to running, but she is new to run Disney. She's signed up for next spring. Yes. And so we just want to interview her and and hear how her training is going.
00:50:51
Speaker
Hey, this is so exciting. Kristen, welcome to the podcast. We are so excited to have you, my friend. how how does it feel to be on a podcast? I am so excited. I love podcasts. It's like a secret.
00:51:02
Speaker
have a long commute. So that's like my jam. So when you guys asked me for this, I was like, oh my God, I'm so excited. Okay. Have you ever been on a podcast before? Or I mean, you got it. You're holding a pretty fancy mic there. That's why I ask.
00:51:12
Speaker
I am. It makes me look more official than I am. I have done two. I've done one other one um ah with another like family friend who's like a therapist or something. And she wanted to kind of dive into some stuff. So that was my first time ever being on one. But yeah.
00:51:25
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. this number three. You guys are scratching mouth number three. Good. Well, we'll take notes from you then since you're the experienced one. We've got you on the podcast to talk. ah You're signed up for a run Disney race.
00:51:36
Speaker
So we've got yeah my first one. Yeah. To talk about that You're not new to running though, right? Like, or or are you, what, what, what's your backstory? So actually it's crazy. So, um, hot take, I hate running. I've hated it for a lot of my life. yeah And I think it was out of, um, I played like volleyball and basketball throughout, um, like my, uh, high school and elementary middle school years.
00:51:59
Speaker
And there's so much running in basketball. And so I think I was always comparing myself. I had always been really heavy set most of my life too. So I was always the slowest one presidential fitness test. I'd always be like the last person to finish my mile and all things.
00:52:11
Speaker
Then this past like year, I don't know what came over me, but I was just like, you know what? I want to get into it and I want to be like actually committed to it. So this is probably the most committed I've ever been to actually running consistently.
00:52:23
Speaker
That's awesome. So tell us which run Disney race are you signed up for? I've actually signed up for the princess 5k. That's awesome. Yeah. You're going love princess weekend. It's it's saturday our favorite. It is our favorite. It's like, I feel like it's the most fun, most inclusive. Like everybody's just excited.
00:52:40
Speaker
Why run Disney? Uh, any specific reason or just cause it sounds awesome. um So we are very big Disney people. um Like I've heard so many good things. And of course, you know, TikTok and all the things really inspire you. They have so much fun in the community and camaraderie of a lot of run Disney runs are, it's contagious. Like I love the way it looks and,
00:53:01
Speaker
how people are just so supportive of everyone that goes. So was like, you know what, I'm going to do it. I'm going to just brave the registration process and then um jump in. So yeah, I'm excited. It's the it's Disney in a different way. you know like I feel like it will it's like the Disney I've always known, but like I'll see it so differently because I kind of do have to have little bit more focus in it with running, but I'm excited. I'm excited to be able to.
00:53:21
Speaker
run through there so running is magical at disney that's like the only place where it's it's so neat and to be able to combine like your favorite place with like this really you know difficult challenge it's it's it's special yeah it's really special do you have any goals for this this upcoming race With the 5k, I think what I've kind of refocused my brain on is like timing. I would love, love. I've never in my life ever finished a 5k under 45 minutes.
00:53:46
Speaker
So if I could finish a ah the 5k in like 30 minutes, I would be elated. Like that would just be the ultimate goal. So that's kind of what I'm going in with it. my training kind of has kind of revolved around just kind of getting faster and faster.
00:53:59
Speaker
Awesome. Great. What do you have before then? I think I saw you're doing the Peachtree City Classic, which we're doing as well. but and Are you looking forward to that? Is part one, part two, anything else coming up?
00:54:10
Speaker
I feel like running a race is like getting a tattoo. I don't know if you guys have any, but every time I'm like, I'm only going to one time and then you do it. Okay. like I got to get it again. I got to get another one. And so that's how I felt the last couple of, I've done two races this year. And every time I finish, I'm that's enough. I'm going to wait. I'm like, no, I'm signing up for the next one immediately. Yeah.
00:54:29
Speaker
Totally. And it helps keep you on track. Like it helps keep you motivated, you know, if you're signed for another race. Awesome. it sounds like mindset wise, like you're pretty locked in and whatever. Are you nervous about anything, anything that you, um even if it's not running related, like anything about just about the run Disney process that you're kind of like Ooh, I don't know. Like any, anything like that.
00:54:48
Speaker
Two things. I feel like two things kind of give me heartburn. One, I think run Disney is so, It's so elaborate. And I feel like even just, go you know, y'all know when you plan a ah Disney vacation, there's so many things that go into it. This is the least prepared I have been going into, like, going to Disney in such a short amount of time. So, like, I'm really, i think I am kind of overwhelmed by, like, oh, you have to walk here. You gotta take you, this hotel's gotta take you here. you gotta to make sure you go here. Like, just, I mean, registration in alone was...
00:55:16
Speaker
overwhelming. So that's what I do. That is something that like, I think I'm underestimating, like, I'm just going to wing it. I don't think I can do that in this situation. yeah yeah Yeah. And so I've been, I have been researching. I have watched y'all. so I've watched y'all's podcast twice already. I've watched two other girls um off of TikTok. They had podcasts. And so I listened to their stuff and been taking notes.
00:55:36
Speaker
um But I think I, again, I think it's one of those, i'm and I'm going by myself. So that's another thing. This is my first time ever going to Disney alone. So I'm like, really like, oh gosh, like I'm really gonna have to navigate all these things alone. But But my people, you guys, all of y'all will be there. So it'll be fine. It'll be okay. um But the second thing that gives me heartburn, truly, it is just the mental. i don't know if you guys, you guys probably 1000% feel this, but the mindset of running, I think it's so like, this is such a mental game. And even even though I am in the happiest place on earth, I know, like, I still, i'm have i really have to gas myself up.
00:56:08
Speaker
But yes, that is the, I am a little bit worried about that. Like either I'm going to go in too hot because I'm just so excited and then like burn myself out a little bit or um i won't get the mindset out of like, you're running, this kind of sucks. Like whatever, kind of releasing myself. So those are, yeah, those are the two things I think going into this.
00:56:26
Speaker
Any advice, Erica, you can give having done several run Disneys and some 5Ks? Any advice you can give? Yeah. So the first one that you said, the like starting out too fast, like that is a legit thing, you know, try not to do that. But the second one, that's not even going to be an issue. Like you're going to be so excited to be running at Disney.
00:56:43
Speaker
They have so much entertainment and like yeah everyone's like so excited. The buzz, like you, you never for a second will you think, oh my gosh, I'm running. and I hate running right now. Yeah.
00:56:53
Speaker
Once you get there, you're going to love it. Awesome. I have a question. Have you thought about your costume yet? Are you going to run in costume? I forgot about that. That gives me heartburn for real. i I haven't even thought about it. I have no idea what I to do It obviously will be princess related, but do y'all like coordinate?
00:57:10
Speaker
Do y'all like match when you do it? Okay. yeah Okay. we Have you met Erica before? Yeah. Be quiet. Erica won't let me. I've tried like five times to be off theme from her.
00:57:21
Speaker
Yeah. and thing And she looks at me and she goes, no, you will not. that is He's totally exaggerating. Emperor's New Groove is the one I want to do. That's like the... my favorite and i don't know what race but i really excuse me i really want to do that and erica hasn't like fully he wants me to go with yzma and i'm like a cronkin yzma maybe i mean yzma is not the most like visually flattering right yeah so i get it but i think that would be hilarious it would be so good yeah yeah yeah Any other questions, Erica?
00:57:52
Speaker
No, no. Any questions for us? Anything that you just, you know, we can chat about to ease some nerves as you lead up to your first run Disney. And if not, then this was awesome talking to you.
Disney Run Highlights
00:58:02
Speaker
What probably is your, like, what is your favorite part about doing it? Because you guys have been doing it forever and you've done so many. So like, what is your favorite part? Like what keeps you going back every single time?
00:58:14
Speaker
I think, and I don't know if the five k It doesn't. I know what you're going to say. I was going to say you running down main street, which the 5k doesn't do that, but it just means you have to sign up for another run Disney race. Yeah, but exactly. After you finish this one. Yeah.
00:58:27
Speaker
that's That's probably my main thing is running down Main Street. um And then just, you know, just the the vibe. like It's fun. It's just much fun. And Princess is the most fun weekend, I think, in my opinion.
00:58:39
Speaker
And the thing is, like, you love Disney as much as we love Disney. Oh, yeah. But, like, you're surrounded by tons of other people that, like, love Disney as much. Yes. Okay.
00:58:49
Speaker
heard I do have one more question. What is, what's the craziest thing you have seen at our own Disney race? Like whether it's a costume or ah group of people, whatever. Craziest costume recently. And that was Bob from yeah another podcast called rise and run. If you don't listen to that, that podcast yet, you need to add it to your list. Yeah. it's good uh bob is i think he's 70 years old and he dressed as groot and he was i mean the his costume was like three feet taller than he's just like seven feet tall yeah like huge plastic and whatever groot costume it was crazy it was and he ran in it uh he walked i think he walked oh okay well still what what are the crazy things have we seen
00:59:30
Speaker
I mean, it's it's usually related to a costume. People covered in like full body paint, but like really intricate. Like they were probably up for hours, like all night long, getting that painted on. That's right. yeah Group costumes. You know, you'll see people like a group of like eight or 10 people that are on like, I don't know, give us a good example. There was the one year they were um like a matching set of VHS tapes.
00:59:51
Speaker
Like they all looked like VHS tapes. Yeah. Yeah. That's pretty cool. That's awesome. I love that. That's very cool. We're so excited for you. You're going to love this. By the way, just so you know, it's a gateway drug.
01:00:02
Speaker
right It's a problem. That's what I've heard. i've Now that I've ripped the bandaid, I'm like, oh, no. it was kind of like Honestly, was like going on my first Disney cruise. It ruined me for any of it. That's the only way I'm like, no, you have to vacation that way. That's the only way.
01:00:16
Speaker
yeah yeah I will say i will always remember my first run Disney race. And so like embrace every minute of it, you know, but everyone after the first one was better.
01:00:28
Speaker
You can't erase the nerves until you've experienced it. Once you have, then going like, oh yeah, remember that time I ran a 5k? You know, like you're going to, you're going you know, no big deal. You're going to love Honestly, that makes me feel so much better. Like seriously, it's going to be so awesome.
01:00:42
Speaker
Thanks for being on the podcast. We really loved having you. You're welcome. And we will see the Peachtree City Classic here in just a couple of weeks. Yes.
Wine and Dine Event Discussion
01:00:50
Speaker
Thanks, friends. Bye. Awesome. I really enjoyed that conversation with Kristen. I'm excited for her to experience Run Disney. Yeah.
01:00:57
Speaker
i'm I'm excited for everyone to experience it, right? Right, right. we just knowing her personality and she's so looking forward to this. And she loves Disney. Right. Yeah. Like her whole family. Right, yeah, yeah. I'm very excited for her. Yeah.
01:01:09
Speaker
It's going to be a good one. Let's wrap this episode up, Erica, with some um run Disney news, some training updates, and and we'll wrap this up. So news is that Wine and Dine, which we're not doing this year, teardrop, falling right on my face right here.
01:01:23
Speaker
We've done Wine and Dine two years in a row. We're not doing it this year. And so Wine and Dine is in a couple of weeks, I think two or three weeks. They released the courses and the merch preview. Do you have any thoughts on either one? I do have a couple of thoughts on them, but do you have any thoughts on what you've seen online from the ah course preview? For those that are anyone we know that is running it or people, you know, are totally clueless and they haven't seen anything yet. yeah Any thoughts on Wine and Dine courses or merch? Yeah.
01:01:50
Speaker
I saw the merch with like Olaf on it. Yeah. And it was so cute. Like that was the first time I was like, oh man, I'm bummed we're not doing this. Okay. But yeah. Okay. there were Was there any merch there? That was it. You liked the Olaf one. That's I think the 10K.
01:02:03
Speaker
Yeah. Honestly, I've tried not to look at it. Oh, because you don't want to be like yeah super sad that we're not doing it? that Yeah, that. Okay. Yeah. The Wine and Dine is a tough one for me because I like the time a year that it falls. I love the first of the season vibes of it or whatever.
01:02:18
Speaker
The theming typically isn't, it doesn't like land 100% with me. I'd much rather have Mickey and Minnie for, you know- um Marathon weekend. And I always love the princess themes because you look great in princess stuff. So Wine and Dine, it's kind of a mixed bag. yeah And so it's a bunch of random characters whatever. So, um you know, I could take it or leave it.
01:02:38
Speaker
yeah um I saw they, you know, they do have some new stuff this year that that's cool. But the color theme, even all the times we've done it, the colors never 100% landed with me. Yeah, not so much. Yeah. But I'm super excited for our friends that are running Wine and Dine. Yes. um We've got some friends that are doing the 10K specifically. And um once they cross that finish line, life's going to be different.
01:02:58
Speaker
Yep. um Okay. They did release the courses. And um there's only one notable thing that I really have. They're very similar. Okay. One notable thing that I have. Do you know the phrase Blizzard Beach parking lot? Yes.
01:03:12
Speaker
yeah That's a marathon thing. Yep. Somewhere, I would say it's mile 20, 22, something like that. You go to Blizzard Beach, which is a water park, and you just do a few, it feels like a few laps, really you only go around once, I think, or maybe one and a half times around this parking lot.
01:03:29
Speaker
And at the time of the marathon, it's hot. The sun's fully out. youre don't You don't want to anymore. You're like, why am I running? And they just but just say, hey, thought you were having fun?
01:03:40
Speaker
I don't think so. Let's run around a parking lot. It's awful. Anyway, all that to say, they've added that to this half marathon. I'm interested to see if it's as painful in a half yeah as it is on the- i don't think it will be. You don't? No, I think it'd be fine.
01:03:58
Speaker
Okay. I think it's just like the point in the marathon, ok at which it is, like that makes it so terrible. Okay. I think I agree with you because if you're going out of A, B, C, whatever, it's still, the sun might not even be up.
01:04:10
Speaker
Right. Fully by the time you get to that parking lot. Yeah. So like it might not be hot. Yeah. And all, I think that's the thing that kills us about the Blizzard Beach parking lot. Right. But anyway, I just thought it was interesting course change. Yeah.
01:04:21
Speaker
Because what it did before, I'm i'm a map nerd on on the Run Disney stuff. It went like a way around the back, like on the roads. Yeah. Around Blizzard Beach. For some reason they're going to Blizzard Beach through the parking lot and then back the way you came.
01:04:34
Speaker
Interesting. sure why. Maybe there's like a road construction or something. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. Or maybe they're just trying to shake it up. I don't Anyway, I'm going to miss Wine and Dine. and I don't mean to. We're running a race that day. It's the same day? Yep.
01:04:46
Speaker
Oh, wow. Cool. we will be running. Yeah. Well, I hope so. Well, why do you hope so? Because I'm two weeks in and still having issues with my rib and haven't been able to run in like a week and a half. Okay. So, all right, perfect. let Let's talk about training updates. I don't have much of a training update, but you do have training update kind of. Is that I was just picking up? Yeah. So two weeks, two weeks today, it's been since I somehow hurt my rib.
01:05:09
Speaker
I think it was on the tube. I'm not sure. on the boat. Yeah. Yeah. On the boat. Yeah. um So I haven't been able to run in like a week and a half, which is... frightening because we have two races coming up in the next two weeks. the ones Yeah, two. Yeah. Yeah. The one that you were talking about, um I was doing that for proof of time for for next year. So um that's a little, I'm going to like take my own advice that I just gave everybody five minutes ago on the podcast, which is trust your training. Just the fact that I was going for PR like that.
01:05:37
Speaker
kind of messes with a little bit. So anyway, it's, it's the thing that's the most frustrating is that it has nothing to do with my legs, my feet, nothing. Like most but most of my running injuries, you know, have to do with that. Like this feels fine. My legs feel fine. It's, it's my ribs. I'm so sorry.
01:05:53
Speaker
It is what it is. It's fine. It's fine. Everything's fine. That's so my personality, but I mean, it is what it is. So I'm just going to make the best of it. I know you will. You'll come out stronger somehow. You always do.
01:06:05
Speaker
Yeah. We do have a couple of races in October. So get your stuff together. I know. Please. and Okay. That's it. My training update is just miles. Like that's, yeah you know.
01:06:16
Speaker
nothing hurts or anything like that at the moment, knock on wood, wherever there's some. There's no wood anywhere. Perfect. All right. That's it for this episode. Erica, thanks for talking corral stuff with me. Next week is everything you need to practice at home.
01:06:28
Speaker
So don't miss that episode.
Podcast Wrap-up
01:06:30
Speaker
Thank you, Kristen, for being on the podcast. What a joy it was to have you as part of this with us. If you don't mind, leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend. yeah We also share some of stuff on Instagram. If you like Instagram, we share some of it on YouTube. If you like YouTube, but really this podcast, like this is where you get the full episode. We talk about all the things. If you like the long form and i mean we don't get too irritating too quick for you, then listen here on the podcast. If you leave a review and send me an email ah with your address, I'll mail you some stickers. Yes.
01:07:01
Speaker
I've got a bunch to actually get in the mail today. Perfect. So I probably need to go do that. Okay, good. All right. Thanks so much. Join us next week. for the shoot crap. One more run the podcast.
01:07:19
Speaker
Thanks for joining us for this episode of one more run the podcast. If you like what we're up to, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram. You can find links all of that at agingamerica.com.