Just one thing. You get on a bus and they take you to where everyone has finished. They let you off at a pretty discrete location. They give your medal and your box of food as you get off the bus. There is a med tent there and a bunch of people ask you if you are okay. However you do not get to cross the finish line. And you are not allowed in the finishers area where you can take pictures. Bc you did not finish. In 2020 they handed out ears too. I didn't get those either bc I didn't finish. It was odd bc if they didn't hand out the ears I would have blended in and no one would have known I didn't finish. I was a DNF for Dopey 2020. I got swept at mile 20 of the marathon.
Wow great interview! Lynn was super informative, I didn't even know what to ask but she covered it all. Good to know when exactly the sweep happens 👍 I love the picture taking tip but not brave enough to attempt being that close to the balloon ladies lol. I will be sure to say hi if i see you ladies on race day! Happy training!
Yes, Lynn is da bomb and this is very helpfu,, and super generous of her to let me interview her. Happy training!!! I am planning on doing a meetup at some point duringthe weekend. It will be a lot of fun.
I might never need to know any of this but I enjoyed hearing about it. Lynn did a great job of explaining. Well done to both of you, and I hope that neither of you need to use this knowledge in the future either.😄
At Marathon 2022 I was taken on a small van at mile 8.7, assessed, then taken to the sweep buses just out of MK. We were taken to a swept area where we received our medals, snack box, etc. This year, the balloon ladies got in front of me on the Boardwalk & the bikes were all around me. One announced that we must be in front of them when entering Epcot. They also stated you are not safe until you cross the finish line. I literally stopped my intervals around mile 22 & ran without stopping to the finish, and except where it was so congested I could barely move. I can say having the balloon ladies so close is very motivating 😂 I finished in front of them at 7:07:25 !!😅
I had a stroke seven years ago and I had signed up for a half marathon with my bff before I had it. The half marathon was seven weeks after my stroke and the doctors wouldn’t let me run till after I saw them again about nine weeks post stroke, but they told me I could walk. I told my bff to go ahead & run, but my sister signed up to walk it with me. We walked it in around a 15:20-15:30/per mile pace. I’m just naturally a fast walker. Lol I can walk a 14:30-ish mile, but I don’t know that I could maintain it for 26 miles. Lol My cousin and I volunteered for the Princess 5k a few years ago and we ended up at the water stop. They will sweep you in it, but you have to be SUPER slow. As we were packing up the water stop (there was only one for the 5k and it was in the World Showcase), they were sweeping the few stragglers at the very back of the pack with golf carts.
I am so sorry you had a stroke. Hugs my friend.. It must have been scary but way to stay active and accomplishyour goals anyway!! That is so inspiring. And yes that is very fast walking!!! And that is very good info to know about the 5k. Thanks for taking the time to type it 🙂
@@IRunThings thank you! I’ve made a pretty good recovery. I still feel tired a lot, though not as much as the first year after it happened and there are still some visual things that occasionally I deal with, but for the most part, I know I’m extremely blessed. The Neurologist told me once that my level of health before the stroke most likely helped me recover as well & as quickly as I did, so I’ve always tried to keep going.
I think it is! For me, I wasn't aware this was so involved with timekeepers and bike sweepers and all that. It all makes sense, but I never paused to think about it.
for proof of time, do you have to submit it at registration or you can add it later? the race series I run was USATF certified prior to pandemic but since they haven't been able to re-certify. wanting to find a race to certify my time at 2 hours for half. so wanting advice on strategy
You have a deadline to submit. It's usually about 3 months before the race. And the POT needs to be somewhat recent. For marathon weekend it was 12 months I believe.
You don't cross the finish line.(that wouldmess up times).. the bus brings you behind the finish line...hand you your medal discreetly getting off the bus..
It came to my attention that some cyclist just pee their pants in a race. Runners, why not unless it can get you disqualified? Cyclist have $6000+ bikes so l can see why they don't want to visit the potty and leave the bike unattended. Lynn mentioned pee and time lost.
😅😅 This is something over which men CLEARLY have the upper hand. It's much easier for a man to stop by the side of the road than it is for a woman (when running). Lol. When biking I would argue there is no difference 😁
Just one thing. You get on a bus and they take you to where everyone has finished. They let you off at a pretty discrete location. They give your medal and your box of food as you get off the bus. There is a med tent there and a bunch of people ask you if you are okay. However you do not get to cross the finish line. And you are not allowed in the finishers area where you can take pictures. Bc you did not finish. In 2020 they handed out ears too. I didn't get those either bc I didn't finish. It was odd bc if they didn't hand out the ears I would have blended in and no one would have known I didn't finish.
I was a DNF for Dopey 2020. I got swept at mile 20 of the marathon.
Thanks for posting this. I am going to pin it so other people find this information. 🙂
All you wanted to know about the Balloon Ladies in one video. Thanks to Lynn for sharing her experience and knowledge.
Wow great interview! Lynn was super informative, I didn't even know what to ask but she covered it all. Good to know when exactly the sweep happens 👍 I love the picture taking tip but not brave enough to attempt being that close to the balloon ladies lol. I will be sure to say hi if i see you ladies on race day! Happy training!
Yes, Lynn is da bomb and this is very helpfu,, and super generous of her to let me interview her.
Happy training!!! I am planning on doing a meetup at some point duringthe weekend. It will be a lot of fun.
The balloon ladies haunt dreams lol
They have a very important job. 🙂
I might never need to know any of this but I enjoyed hearing about it. Lynn did a great job of explaining. Well done to both of you, and I hope that neither of you need to use this knowledge in the future either.😄
Haha. Hopefully we don't need it, but if we do, now we know!!! Lynn is wonderful. She is so so sharp.
At Marathon 2022 I was taken on a small van at mile 8.7, assessed, then taken to the sweep buses just out of MK. We were taken to a swept area where we received our medals, snack box, etc. This year, the balloon ladies got in front of me on the Boardwalk & the bikes were all around me. One announced that we must be in front of them when entering Epcot. They also stated you are not safe until you cross the finish line. I literally stopped my intervals around mile 22 & ran without stopping to the finish, and except where it was so congested I could barely move. I can say having the balloon ladies so close is very motivating 😂 I finished in front of them at 7:07:25 !!😅
Oh wow April!!! Kudos to you!! Running all the way after run walking 4.2 miles is hard to do. Very hard. You are a super badass lady 🥰🥰🥰🥰
@@IRunThings typo…I ran the last 4.2 miles without intervals 🤣🤣🤣
We'll, that is very hard to do as well!!!! 🙂
Great story, I think if you are 'almost' caught by the BLs would be a thrill.
That's awesome!! Great job. Bottom line, you finished
I had a stroke seven years ago and I had signed up for a half marathon with my bff before I had it. The half marathon was seven weeks after my stroke and the doctors wouldn’t let me run till after I saw them again about nine weeks post stroke, but they told me I could walk. I told my bff to go ahead & run, but my sister signed up to walk it with me. We walked it in around a 15:20-15:30/per mile pace. I’m just naturally a fast walker. Lol I can walk a 14:30-ish mile, but I don’t know that I could maintain it for 26 miles. Lol
My cousin and I volunteered for the Princess 5k a few years ago and we ended up at the water stop. They will sweep you in it, but you have to be SUPER slow. As we were packing up the water stop (there was only one for the 5k and it was in the World Showcase), they were sweeping the few stragglers at the very back of the pack with golf carts.
I am so sorry you had a stroke. Hugs my friend.. It must have been scary but way to stay active and accomplishyour goals anyway!! That is so inspiring. And yes that is very fast walking!!!
And that is very good info to know about the 5k. Thanks for taking the time to type it 🙂
@@IRunThings thank you! I’ve made a pretty good recovery. I still feel tired a lot, though not as much as the first year after it happened and there are still some visual things that occasionally I deal with, but for the most part, I know I’m extremely blessed. The Neurologist told me once that my level of health before the stroke most likely helped me recover as well & as quickly as I did, so I’ve always tried to keep going.
We can all get sick, but how healthy your body is before that will help you recover. I am glad you made a good recovery.🥰
Very nice ladies and they try to encourage you to pass them…
I hope this is helpful for some people nervous about the balloon ladies.
I think it is! For me, I wasn't aware this was so involved with timekeepers and bike sweepers and all that. It all makes sense, but I never paused to think about it.
Really interesting account, passed twice! Congratulations.
If you power through the first few characters the lines are always shorter
They swept at mile 13 on the 1/2 January 23, and they swept at mile 5.8 in Epcot for the 10k
I had heard of this actually. I think they might change this depending on the year and circumstances?
I have night terrors about two things. My two tours in Iraq... And balloon ladies
for proof of time, do you have to submit it at registration or you can add it later? the race series I run was USATF certified prior to pandemic but since they haven't been able to re-certify. wanting to find a race to certify my time at 2 hours for half. so wanting advice on strategy
You have a deadline to submit. It's usually about 3 months before the race. And the POT needs to be somewhat recent. For marathon weekend it was 12 months I believe.
What happens when you are in a character line and then the balloon ladies go by?
You will see everyone leaving the character line. You'll get the picture but you might get swept
You don't cross the finish line.(that wouldmess up times).. the bus brings you behind the finish line...hand you your medal discreetly getting off the bus..
Do the ballon ladies run?
They walk the whole thing.
@@IRunThings interesting! Makes sense
@@CeliaCavalli 16min miles is super fast for a walk though. I don't know that I'd be able to do it
@@IRunThings it’s definitely a power walk
It came to my attention that some cyclist just pee their pants in a race. Runners, why not unless it can get you disqualified? Cyclist have $6000+ bikes so l can see why they don't want to visit the potty and leave the bike unattended. Lynn mentioned pee and time lost.
😅😅 This is something over which men CLEARLY have the upper hand. It's much easier for a man to stop by the side of the road than it is for a woman (when running). Lol. When biking I would argue there is no difference 😁
@@IRunThings Disney is kept so clean it seems like they wouldn't appreciate pee on the fly. They probably have lots of bathrooms available.
@@stevemurray710 yes they do and because you go through the parks a lot of them are real bathrooms.
Because urine is very irritating. I don't want to think about the chafing:(
Oh yeah.... sweat is irritating enough.
I’m afraid of the balloon ladies
Don't be of them. Which weekend/races are you doing?
@@IRunThings I haven’t signed up yet. I’m still considering and watching run Disney vlogs. 😜
@@priscillanash3543 that is how I started 😅😅 and look at me now!
Don't fear the balloon ladies. LOL With Disney registration is so far in advance, there is plenty of time to train to make pace.
🥰 I concur