Tips for the Big Races....I'm looking at You Disney

 My sister and I have been both runners and spectators at large races and this is how some of these ideas came about.


I am of course aiming these ideas at Disney because this is where we first thought of the ideas, but I'm thinking that they could work at any large race, perhaps Rock n Roll Las Vegas, NYC Marathon, or any race that supports a large crowd.

So what are these ideas we speak of?

This first one I've been thinking of for several years now. As I sat near the finish line and waited for my sister to complete the Disney World Marathon in 2013, I was being entertained by the run Disney announcers and all the uplifting music that was being played. Disney certainly does make the finish line a party type atmosphere.  A few years and several Disney races later, I asked my sister, wouldn't it be cool if there was a local radio station feed in which we could hear the going ons of the finish line while we are running on the course?

I would love to turn my ipod to the appropriate station and hear the same music that is being played at the finish line, hear the jubilation in the announcer's voice as the first runner crosses the finish line, and even hear them call the names of my friends that finish before me.

Everyone talks about wanting to "take in the whole race atmosphere" and I think this would be the perfect way to do that. I know a lot of people have their own playlist to get them in their "groove", and I probably wouldn't listen to this feed during a marathon, but for a half marathon I think it could be fun.

The second idea was thought of during this past marathon weekend.  Because I wasn't running the half marathon with my sister, I was invited to wait for her in the VIP tent.

While I was there, I noticed the TV screens and was desperately hoping that they would show a live feed of the start line. They didn't.



 It wasn't until halfway through the race that they even started to show the live feed from the finish line.  We bounced back and forth between watching the runners inside on the tv screen and going outside and watching them in person. We were waiting for our friend so having the screens inside was helpful.  We did the same thing the next day after the marathon.  As we were sitting inside watching the marathon runners come in on the tv screen I said "Disney really should have this broadcasted over one of the TV channels back in our resort rooms."  Isn't that a great idea? Imagine finishing the race and then being able to go back to your hotel room and comfortably watch your friends finish while you are showered and resting comfortably in your bed?

Of course I wanted to actually be there and congratulate my friend in person for finishing, but my point is, it would be nice to watch the rest of the race if for some reason you didn't feel like staying.  I bet some of the non running Disney guest might be intrigued and watch it too as they are preparing for a day at the parks.  Who knows, it might inspire some other Disney lovers to become Disney runners. Besides, there are SO many visitors that have no idea that a race weekend in going on. This would be some of the best advertising for run Disney.  How come they haven't thought of this?

Okay, I don't know how possible these ideas actually are. In fact, I would bet there are reasons why Disney is not already doing these things because if they could, why aren't they?

Do you think these are pretty good ideas for big races, particularly Disney?

22 comments:

  1. I think having the feed in your resort room at a Disney race would be great. I'm not sure about the music, but I am so set with my own playlist that my opinion would not be the best for this type of thing. During races, I like things the same as during my training runs in terms of music, fuel etc.

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    1. Yea, I figured the live radio broadcast wouldn't be for everyone but I think many people would enjoy it being broadcasted on the in-room TV!

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  2. I love the idea of a live feed at the room. It certainly would be self promoting for Disney to do that. It's actually kind of surprising that they don't.

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  3. I like the idea of the live start feed as well as broadcasting in the hotel rooms. They've done the live feed online before so you'd think that these additions wouldn't be too difficult.

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  4. what a great idea to have a feed on the TV - I haven't ever heard of that being done before.

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  5. I LOVE your ideas!
    I loved when I volunteered at the Ironman - they had feeds from throughout the course coming on the overhead screen - until the finish line started getting busy.
    I've said the same thing about knowing what's going on at the finish line. I'm so slow - I always wonder what's going on ahead of me at the finish & would love to hear the winners crossing & all the excitement of it - it could fuel the fire to get there faster :)

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  6. I love the idea of the live feed on the tv! I think that might get more Disney visitors into the idea of running a race too.

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  7. Those are some awesome ideas! Disney needs to get on it! :-)

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  8. thats such a great idea! it would be so nice to be able to go back to the hotel and watch the rest of the racers finish. seeing the random pics on instagram and facebook just dont match watching it in person. love this idea!!

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    1. I know right? It's so much better to catch live emotion!

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  9. Disney has that Disney Parks channel for every room, so why not commandeer that channel for the live races? Maybe even do what TV broadcasts do and have live footage from the media truck, as well as the finish line.

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  10. I like your ideas! Disney should take heed - and hey, why not hire you as a consultant...you've done enough of their races to know what could make them even better, right?

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  11. Great ideas! I think a feed of the starting line would be awesome...and how cool to be able to watch from your hotel room. And if anything it should inspire people to sign up for future races...so it could be a total win-win. Let's get it together, runDisney! ;) lol

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  12. CCTV would be super easy for Disney races+Disney resorts. Not that I know anything about CCTV, but Disney can literally do anything. Disney is on my bucket list!

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  13. Great ideas! I know several of the marathons I have run do live web cams during races where you can go online and view the finish at anytime during the race. I have several videos they sent me after races giving me a copy of it that i was able to show the fam. Not sure if feeds in rooms would work at other races just for the airwaves expense. But at Disney they already have their own channel for their resorts so you should suggest the idea to them. It would be nice to for family who come with ya to a race and don't want to hassle the crowds at the finish so they could support ya from the room instead :) Disney would probably like that better you'd think anyway to help keep down some of the lingering race crowds after the event. Definitely pass it on and if they go with it they should owe ya a few free race entries for the tip:) Only fair right!

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  14. I love the idea of the live feed on the hotel TV's- like you said, you never know who is watching and who will be inspired next!

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  15. Those are great ideas! Sounds like Disney should hire you all to consult. You should pitch your ideas

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  16. I love the idea of the live feed in the resort rooms! I've run a few marathons where they send me a video of my finish after, which I think is very cool cuz at the really big races nobody is even allowed near the finish line anymore.

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  17. LOVE the live feed idea in the resort rooms! You're right...it might inspire non-runners to check the whole runDisney thing out! Great idea!

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