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?