Lynsee Evans's Staging Area

This was my first time doing a Disney run and as a runner + Disney fan, I was super excited. I didn’t know what exactly to expect other than it would be BIG.
I went to the expo on Thursday to pick up my bib and shirt. It was a little annoying that they were in separate buildings of the ESPN sports complex because personally I wasn’t that interested in the expo, I just wanted to get my stuff and get back to the parks. However it was pretty quick to grab my stuff and go.
Friday – 5k. I was staying at a Disney resort so they had buses available for getting to (and from) the run. I got up extra early to allow plenty of time, but that whole process was very easy. The starting area had plenty of porta potties and snacks, but could have used more seating. (I know, we were there to RUN! But when you’re waiting for an hour+ before going to stand in your starting corral, it would be nice to relax.) Starting corrals were well marked and they had large screens so you could see what was going on at the stage next to the starting line. The hosts kept the energy UP in those early morning hours! The course for the 5k went around the EPCOT parking lot and “backstage” before coming out into the EPCOT park. It then went around the World Showcase lake, back towards the entrance, then came out the side and back into the parking lot for the finish. The lighting was adequate since it was still dark out, no worry about tripping.
Saturday – 10k. Starting out there was an out and back on the road before coming into EPCOT, it went over to the Disney Boardwalk Resort and back to EPCOT, finishing in the same spot. This day we got some daylight, and it was a beautiful sunrise as you were running 🙂
Sunday – 10 miler. Wow. Now I know why they call it a “challenge!” Completing these three runs under normal circumstances would be no problem, but with the early wake ups and loooong days in the parks after, I was exhausted by this day. The course went through EPCOT, the Boardwalk, and over to Hollywood Studios. There is a stretch out on the highway back to EPCOT, this was a real killer. There’s no real Disney magic out there so I struggled during that part of the course!
Disney knows what it’s doing and the whole operation is very smooth. Waiting to start, you are in your corral and eventually moved over to the starting line – there is no personal space here, it’s CROWDED. But everyone is very courteous and patient. Out of 5 starting groups, I was in the 4th. (Not sure how the placing works….I submitted my time when I registered and I’m about a 10:30/mile runner??) For the 5k and 10k, it took about 30 minutes from when they officially started the run until I actually crossed the start line. For the 10 mile, it was an hour.
They send out waves of runners to try and space everyone out but the course is still very crowded because well there’s just a LOT of people. I knew not to expect a PR on these, but I was a little disappointed at how often I got stuck in a bottleneck of walkers. (I don’t mean to sound like a snob and by all means I am NOT a fast runner! But when you get into your groove, you hate to constantly be stopping.)
I enjoyed the experience, took some pictures along the way, but did not stand in the looooong lines for character pictures.
The finish area was well organized. Runners moved through the chute collecting their medal, Powerade, wet towel (YES!!!!), snack box (double YES!!!). Traffic flowed smoothly through there. Oh and the medals are AWESOME!
I did not use the gear check but I would assume it ran as well as everything else, this is a well-oiled machine!
It would have been nice if the courses were different each day, and you got to experience more parks. But I understand for such a large production, it makes more sense to have the start/finish set up once and left there for the duration of the event weekend.
Would I do another Disney run? Yes, only because the crazy part of me wants to complete the Dopey Challenge! If it wasn’t for that, I think once would be enough.

This was my first time doing a Rock n Roll run. I lived in Vegas previously and needed to get some personal “closure” so this was the perfect opportunity to go and kick butt!
The expo was super crowded and I wasn’t interested in buying anything so grabbed my stuff and started the long trek out.
The half and 10k started at the same time and I think there were like 17,000 runners total. The starting corrals were a little confusing because towards the front they were bunched together. Once they got the first group started, it was a little easier to differentiate where the next couple groups were.
They had a LOT of porta potties towards the front so as you were waiting in the staging area, there was little to no wait for that last minute pit stop. Good job organizers!!
The run started at 4:30pm for group 1; group 2 went 10 minutes later; I was in group 3 so I started just before 5pm.
From the starting line in front of New York New York, the course heads south down Las Vegas Blvd., past the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, and then turns back to head north. Great photo ops at the sign. Once you got back to NY NY/MGM Grand, the crowds were gathered on the sidewalks and the overhead walkways. Wow, that made you feel like a “real” runner!
Going past the Stratosphere, the course makes a small loop off to the side to get you turned back heading south on the strip. This area was a little sketchy but safety in numbers right?!
Now you’re in the home stretch, running towards the finish line in front of the Bellagio!
The wind can really kick up in the desert but luckily the weather for this run was PERFECT. No wind, comfortable temperature.
The course is FLAT and all on the paved road so no tripping hazards.
There are bands along the way so entertainment is provided, along with the cheering spectators.
But….that finish line…..that needs some work. Super congested, I only found one exit from the finish “chute” area and it put all the runners out onto the sidewalk in front of Bellagio/City Center in the mass of non-runners (tourists/spectators/family looking for runners). It was shoulder to shoulder and extremely hard to get through. It took forever to make my way up to the next intersection to take the walkway over the strip to get back to the Paris where I was staying. I understand there were just a LOT of people, but I felt there could have been better traffic control for getting people out of that area.
I was hoping for a PR but I realized pretty quickly that wasn’t going to happen due to how many runners there were and how much energy I was wasting trying to bob and weave around people. So I kicked it into low gear and took it all in. Being able to run the strip at night under the neon lights is an amazing experience. And I got the closure I needed. Thirteen point freaking one!
Would I do another one of these? Not this location, but possibly another Rock n Roll event.