Ultimate Guide to runDisney: Post-Race

As you make that final turn from the choir (a staple of every runDisney home stretch) you feel joy, elation, excitement, and, if you're running the WDW Marathon, probably relief. You finally cross the finish line... and now what? Like the end of any race, you'll follow the route to get your medal (or medals - don't forget to grab your Challenge medal) and post-run snacks. You'll get a water, a Powerade, a banana, and your patented runDisney snack box complete with the famous plastic cheese. While you walk - or hobble - out the finish line area with your hands full of medals and snacks, there's a few things you'll want to look for.

There are usually two main medical areas: one right as you finish and one by the gEAR bags

If you're really hurting for whatever reason, you're going to want to visit the first medical station you see. There should be plenty of volunteers waiting to help get you patched up. If you're just looking for some ice or self aid, I would suggest getting yourself to the second medical tent for self treatment.

Once you pass the gEAR bag trucks, you can reunite with your family and/or supporters

Make sure you get all your medals, snacks, and gear before going to the reunion area as it'll be tough to get back. In the reunion area there aren't many areas to set your stuff down or sit, so it's best to hand your stuff off to your loved ones or keep moving.

There are a few more opportunities for finisher photos or character photos

The same four characters from the pre-race entertainment should still be out and available after the race. There are also a number of Photopass photographers near the characters that will take a finisher photo with special filters (so long as you have Memory Maker).

If you don't have any spectators then you can head to your car or the resort buses

The resort buses will typically start leaving about 60-90 minutes after the races start, as they can't leave until the route is cleared of all the runners. The buses also won't leave until they're full, so if you finish your race early and hop on the bus you'll still need to wait until the course is clear and the bus is full. Most importantly, if you manage to get on one of the first few buses you should be able to make it back to your resort before rope dropping a park.

Make sure to celebrate your race at a park or Disney Springs

Between the early morning and (if you're running multiple races) the accumulation of miles, you'll be tempted to head back to your hotel and rest. However, that's not the Ultra Dopey way! You'll find plenty of runners in the parks wearing their race shirt or medal, and it's always encouraging to congratulate others or just give a simple head nod of recognition. For Challenges I usually like to wait until I've finished the last race to wear my shirt and medals (call me superstitious), but there's also nothing that beats heading to a great Disney restaurant for a celebratory meal. Plus, staying on your feet and moving around is the best way to recover from those long miles.