| The 2011 Princess Half Marathon was my first race ever. I loved it. I felt it was so magical that I was the only one of my friends who said that same day that I was definitely doing it again the next year. Three years later 3 out of the 4 of us were still running it. I also added Tink in the last 2 years and have planned several more runDisney races in the years to come. You can safely say I was bitten by the runDisney bug. |  |
As the popularity of these races have grown they are selling out faster and faster, can anyone say Dumbo Double Dare? Which I am sure led to the Dopey Challenge selling out almost as quickly. Then runDisney adds in more challenges like a pink Coast to Coast medal, the Glass Slipper Challenge and the rumored, and semi confirmed, Tinker Bell weekend 10k and the internet is in a frenzy.
Now people are trying to find ways to cheat the system, and succeeding! Where I once was blissfully ignorant to the dirty and deceptive side of race registration, I am now seeing it flaunted all over the internet. Yes, that is right there are people out there that have found a “backdoor” link and are reporting that they have already signed up for the highly anticipated Glass Slipper Challenge using said link. Which has now lead to others searching out and finding the same link and registering as well, because they don’t want to miss out either. That link is reportedly also allowing people to sign up for Tink at the same time as Princess, thus causing more of a frenzy that Tinker Bell will sell out before ever opening to the general public.
Personally I don’t see runDisney allowing that to happen, but with the perception being there it is likely to feed the frenzy even more, thus causing a panic and a rush to register for Tink as well. I am not saying that this is runDisney’s fault, per se, but none the less it is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of many loyal runDisney fans, myself included.
I was very disheartened to see all the people saying that they had signed up today. I can only hope there's still some room in there for those of us that have to wait for general registration to open.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too. I'm not even sure if I am going to do Princess at all, but I just don't feel that it is right.
DeleteI didn't hear about this! How disappointing. It really takes away from the positive atmosphere and overall attitude: approach of the running community... :(
ReplyDeleteYes it does. It is going around several FB groups. I'm not a member of the one I heard it originated from, but people on a couple of groups I am a member of have confirmed that they did it also, so I believe it is happening.
DeleteDisney should look into that and.disqualify those people refund their money and not allow them to register when registration really does open. Dishonesty should not be rewarded
ReplyDeleteTHIS, people using the DVC/Visa/ AP links when they shouldn't and those who have found "tricks" in getting into the pre-race Galloway meetups really ruin the magic for me. It's funny because Disney is all about the positive and this is just showing exactly how people can ruin it. I feel you :(
ReplyDeleteExactly! It's not Disney, it's the people trying to play the system.
DeleteI did get into the Tink meet up this year, but I spent all stalking the site and had a friend send me a text. I probably wont even try to get in again. It seriously sucked up my whole day.
I'm turned off by the frenzy in general. My first half marathon was the Disneyland Half in 2010 and like you, I immediately said I wanted to do another runDisney event. In 2010, I didn't even sign up until the end of April and I don't think it sold out until May. Now I have an anxiety attack watching the stuff posted on their rD facebook page like I'm going to miss something vital! It's a little out of control.
ReplyDeleteBut I still love their events, so I'll still be there, lol.
LoL. I don't even visit the official facebook page, but I am in a few other Disney running groups so I hear all about it. I have several rD races I want to do, but yes I am totally turned off and stressed out by all the drama surrounding them.
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