Official Castaway Cay 5K Thread

[bumbershoot]

If they offer it every time the ship is docked at Castaway cay?

Usually. There has been a report or two recently of it just being done once on a double dip, but especially since you will have days in between stops I would assume it will be done twice. Just check the Navigators! And if you have a mobile device that gets wifi, you can download the Navigator app, and once onboard and launched you can look at all the Navigators for your sailing, and that will give you more info.

 

[mershell]

What is the weather like on this run in mid December?

Thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

It's going to be hot. Just plan on that. Mid-January = HOT. October = hotter. I'm going to say that December will be somewhere in between.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I know that many people take it as fun....but when it comes to running in some event....even if it's on a tropical island when it's 90+ degrees....yeah, I'm like you....I'm running like I would on Castaway Cay just like I would run in the Bay to Breakers

I know, I take stuff like this too seriously....but, that's just me when it comes to running.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't race (ever), but I do like matching the pace of the person on the treadmill next to me.

 

[jahber]

What is the weather like on this run in mid December?

Thanks

I ran it the week before Thanksgiving and it was hoooooot. I'm from Orlando and it was still hooooot. But I was also pregnant, so I tended to heat up faster. I brought a bottle of water with me just to be safe. I run at home, so I figured I'd be fine, but the problem is there's basically no shade and we didn't get off the ship until 9. So it was hot. Did I mention that?
I would do it again, though. Just be prepared for it to be...hot. And you'll have a blast!

 

[Steve Dexter]

It's so funny how different people have such very different experiences for this 5k, is anyone else thinking that? I've ran it 6 or 7 times and always thought that it was just awesome and loved it. Sometimes the weather is warm, sometimes not, weather is weather, same as anywhere. We ran it once and it was so cool that I wore a long sleeved shirt under my regular shirt to keep warm. I think it's just like any other run, your experience depends a lot on your fitness level. I do love the new medals. We are on a double-dip in October and I'm getting conflicting info about if they do the organized 5k event on both stops. I know that we will be running a 5k both times, organized or not!

This event is always a real highlight of the cruise for me and my wife. It's a special treat to run on Castaway Cay.

 

[MRBorn]

It's so funny how different people have such very different experiences for this 5k, is anyone else thinking that? I've ran it 6 or 7 times and always thought that it was just awesome and loved it. Sometimes the weather is warm, sometimes not, weather is weather, same as anywhere. We ran it once and it was so cool that I wore a long sleeved shirt under my regular shirt to keep warm. I think it's just like any other run, your experience depends a lot on your fitness level. I do love the new medals. We are on a double-dip in October and I'm getting conflicting info about if they do the organized 5k event on both stops. I know that we will be running a 5k both times, organized or not!

This event is always a real highlight of the cruise for me and my wife. It's a special treat to run on Castaway Cay.

Most people report that they run the 5K for both stops on a double dip but the double dip we were on this past October only ran it the first stop. Addressing something said above, there was a sea day and a day at Key West before we went back to Castaway Cay so it wasn't just that they didn't want to run it on consecutive days.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

How long do the castmembers hang out at the end? If I am not done walking by the time they are done can I still get a medal from guest services? And can DH who isn't doing the walk buy a tshirt for me?

The reason I ask is because I managed to break a bone this spring and it derailed my training, I have DREAMED of my first 5K being the Castaway Cay 5k, have lost over 40 pounds to do it (still lots more to go, and am trying) and want to do it so bad, but I know my time is really bad because of my break...25 min. mile.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Don't give up Princess Vija! All runners get side lined by injuries sometimes. I can't answer how long the CM's are there at the end. I know it is awhile. I am sure arrangements can be made to get the medal to you if they can't wait. And your DH can most certainly buy you the shirt. Anyone can actually buy them. The Castaway Cay 5K was my very first informal 5K. At the time- just the plastic Mickey head medal. But I cherish it as my first and have gone on to run other more formal races. Keep the faith! I hope you heal quickly!

 

[bumbershoot]

This is a case where the fact that it's not truly 5k will help. let the CMs know and do your best and see what happens.

Anyone can buy the merchandise, but have DH take one of your shirts with him to get the right size. When they made the women's sizes they made them small, at least when I bought my shirt! And make sure he gets the normal 5k shirt, not the Challenge shirt, to be accurate.

 

[IlovePluto]

So I know it will be hot in June, but can anyone tell me what time the race typically starts? I'm sure hoping for way before 9am...

 

[MarkF0wle]

So I know it will be hot in June, but can anyone tell me what time the race typically starts? I'm sure hoping for way before 9am...

It's meant to start at 9am, but I think my one started more like 9:15am, it all depends what time you dock & are cleared to leave the ship. We didn't dock until about 7am & I think we were cleared to leave the ship about 8:45am & had to walk around to the start.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

We went to CC in 2004 & 2005 on the Wonder. At that time, the best scenario for getting a quiet-ish spot on the Family Beach (with a hammock/umbrella of course) was to be among the first off the ship and make your way aaaalllll the way down to the end of the FB. Worked great.

Fast-forward 10 years...DS is now 17, and to borrow a quote from Forrest Gump, is a running fool (he's a state champion ). He is super-excited about the CC5K . His best time for finishing 3 miles (over hills and through mud) is 14:59, so I anticipate him finishing the CC5K in no more than 20-something minutes (we live in high-nineties heat and 100% humidity, so I don't think that will affect him too much).

Anyway, can someone please help me out with a scenario to watch him finish the race and still get a nice place on the beach? Will DH and I be allowed off the ship with the runners? I don't want to return to the ship once we're off, so will we have time to go put our (non-valuable) stuff down on the beach and then go watch DS? And if he finishes fairly quickly, can we still get a "good" spot on the beach?

We will be on the Fantasy this time, so there will be a lot more guests on CC this time compared to what we are used to.

Thanks in advance to the CC5K vets who can answer!

.

 

[IlovePluto]

It's meant to start at 9am, but I think my one started more like 9:15am, it all depends what time you dock & are cleared to leave the ship. We didn't dock until about 7am & I think we were cleared to leave the ship about 8:45am & had to walk around to the start.

Thank you! I just read we don't even dock to 8:30am...so it'll be a late race start...oh boy!!

 

[cschaaf]

We went to CC in 2004 & 2005 on the Wonder. At that time, the best scenario for getting a quiet-ish spot on the Family Beach (with a hammock/umbrella of course) was to be among the first off the ship and make your way aaaalllll the way down to the end of the FB. Worked great.

Fast-forward 10 years...DS is now 17, and to borrow a quote from Forrest Gump, is a running fool (he's a state champion ). He is super-excited about the CC5K . His best time for finishing 3 miles (over hills and through mud) is 14:59, so I anticipate him finishing the CC5K in no more than 20-something minutes (we live in high-nineties heat and 100% humidity, so I don't think that will affect him too much).

Anyway, can someone please help me out with a scenario to watch him finish the race and still get a nice place on the beach? Will DH and I be allowed off the ship with the runners? I don't want to return to the ship once we're off, so will we have time to go put our (non-valuable) stuff down on the beach and then go watch DS? And if he finishes fairly quickly, can we still get a "good" spot on the beach?

We will be on the Fantasy this time, so there will be a lot more guests on CC this time compared to what we are used to.

Thanks in advance to the CC5K vets who can answer!

.

I'm hardly an expert, but here was my experience.

I did the 5k and we were let off the ship at exactly the same time as the non-5k folks that went to the aft. They held up the folks in the forward stairs and let the 5K'ers pass.

I was probably near the middle of the 5K pack let off the ship and plenty of aft exiting passengers were in front of me by the time I hit the dock. I'm sure the forward passengers weren't far behind.

 

[bumbershoot]

For the free 5k I've never been off first. We always just join the normal passengers. So from my experience you'd be with or even ahead of him. If with him go and get spots then go to the start (along the path to the loop/bike path. The group of runners walking to the start isn't all that fast.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

how long is the distance from the ship to the start of the race, and how fast do people walk to get there?

 

[IlovePluto]

Off topic - but PRINCESS VIJA - how do you get to be Magical Family so many times?!?!? or even once?

 

[MarkF0wle]

how long is the distance from the ship to the start of the race, and how fast do people walk to get there?

I don't know about distance but we got off the ship then stood around for 10 minutes waiting for the whole group to catch up, we got off with the normal crowd so there were loads of people going through & we didn't get any special treatment. We left the room where you meet when they announced we were cleared at 8:45am, walk was a solid 30 minutes including the 10 minute waiting around.