Spring Surprise (March 31-April 3rd 2022)

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I love the white cheery because the first time I had it was on the Princess Half in 2018, which also happened to be my first runDisney event and my first-ever half. I'd rather have the blue than the red.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Not the event guide, but it's something? Someone posted this in a fb group. They also had screenshots of course maps, but I can't find them when I click around the website.

 

[opusone]

Not the event guide, but it's something? Someone posted this in a fb group. They also had screenshots of course maps, but I can't find them when I click around the website.

Unfortunately, they got the communication wrong: “The first race begins on Friday with the fan-favorite, Expedition Everest 5K. This nighttime run and scavenger hunt through Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is sure to make any “Yeti” excited about running 3.1 miles.”

The 5k is Thursday evening.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Unfortunately, they got the communication wrong: “The first race begins on Friday with the fan-favorite, Expedition Everest 5K. This nighttime run and scavenger hunt through Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is sure to make any “Yeti” excited about running 3.1 miles.”

The 5k is Thursday evening.

Yep.


Interesting that IF this is accurate, it's a different 10k course than we've seen in the past few races. There's no jaunt into the corner of HS, but it does run around all the way the boardwalk area resorts. Link to the google maps of the courses.

HOLY CHOKE POINT when they send runners out past the skyliner station, around crescent lake, and back past the skyliner station to world showcase. That's gonna suck.

 

[opusone]

Looks like we get to go through Galaxy’s Edge!

 

[MissLiss279]

Yep.


Interesting that IF this is accurate, it's a different 10k course than we've seen in the past few races. There's no jaunt into the corner of HS, but it does run around all the way the boardwalk area resorts. Link to the google maps of the courses.

HOLY CHOKE POINT when they send runners out past the skyliner station, around crescent lake, and back past the skyliner station to world showcase. That's gonna suck.

If that map is correct, it is pretty similar to past 10ks, but it does enter the Crescent Lake loop a little earlier. This is from 2018:


Possible Race for the Taste 10k course:

 

[Naomeri]

What an exciting morning!!

 

[MissLiss279]

Here are the courses from the ‘Virtual Expo’ link (which may go live soon??):

 

[fatmanatee]

Well now I’m jealous, that run through HS is what I wanted going back to the 2020 Rival Run.

 

[MissLiss279]

I am not seeing any info on the scavenger hunt part of the 5k.

 

[MissLiss279]

Well now I’m jealous, that run through HS is what I wanted going back to the 2020 Rival Run.

Right??!!

 

[fatmanatee]

BTW the ten miler is still open, if I could I would absolutely register but I’ll have to hold out hopes that they use this route for a future race.

 

[The Expert]

Well now I’m jealous, that run through HS is what I wanted going back to the 2020 Rival Run.

YES!!!

 

[Naomeri]

I’m excited to get to run around World Showcase 2 more times. I was sort of overwhelmed and not paying attention during the Princess 5K. But also AK and lots of HS!

 

[fatmanatee]

Keep looking at these maps and I’m not sure they could have done better. I know it’s not in the spirit of Springtime Surprise but… can they just roll with these every year?

 

[Naomeri]

Keep looking at these maps and I’m not sure they could have done better. I know it’s not in the spirit of Springtime Surprise but… can they just roll with these every year?

I don’t see why not, there’s lots of things that could be themed to these routes. We could have Star Wars and Toy Story for 10 milers through HS, Avatar and Lion King for AK 5Ks, and any number of random themes can connect to Epcot for the 10K.

Of course, we all know Disney doesn’t like to make our lives that easy and fun

 

[MissLiss279]

I do really like these courses. I am a little worried for mid to back corrals for the section between Epcot and HS. The original SW half had a big pinch point around entering that path that I think caused a lot of people to have to walk because there was absolutely no room to run. It came early in the course, and then the next year, I think they switched directions and then they switched to starting at MK, so that area would come later in the course. Here’s a zoomed in portion of that first half showing that the path was around mile 2.5-3 - maybe the 10-miler is a little later, but pretty close to the same.

 

[Naomeri]

I do really like these courses. I am a little worried for mid to back corrals for the section between Epcot and HS. The original SW half had a big pinch point around entering that path that I think caused a lot of people to have to walk because there was absolutely no room to run. It came early in the course, and then the next year, I think they switched directions and then they switched to starting at MK, so that area would come later in the course. Here’s a zoomed in portion of that first half showing that the path was around mile 2.5-3 - maybe the 10-miler is a little later, but pretty close to the same.
View attachment 654185

Yeah, the walking path is pretty awful, but it’s less boring than highway running, and those are the only choices to get between HS and Epcot.

 

[1lilspark]

I don’t see why not, there’s lots of things that could be themed to these routes. We could have Star Wars and Toy Story for 10 milers through HS, Avatar and Lion King for AK 5Ks, and any number of random themes can connect to Epcot for the 10K.

Of course, we all know Disney doesn’t like to make our lives that easy and fun

Idk I’m holding out hope that they do a run through MK shorter than the half/full

 

[Kitty-chan]

Yeah, the walking path is pretty awful, but it’s less boring than highway running, and those are the only choices to get between HS and Epcot.

This year was my first Disney full marathon. After that course, I'm happy with ANYTHING that reduces the amount of highway running. The combination of boredom with lack of shade was brutal for us back-of-the-pack folks.