Rise and Run
Rise and Run
182: March Madness Comes to Disney Dining
March Madness fever sweeps through the Rise and Run Podcast as we launch our multi-episode tournament to crown the ultimate Walt Disney World sit-down restaurant! Using data from TouringPlans.com, our hosts have seeded 68 dining locations into four regions named after runDisney course staples: Plastic Cheese, Banana, Sports Bean, and Cliff's. Blocks.
Round one delivers thrilling upsets that will have Disney foodies buzzing. Watch as underdogs like Space 220 topple Wolfgang Puck, Yachtsman Steakhouse dethrones Yak & Yeti, and Roundup Rodeo BBQ outduels Liberty Tree Tavern. Meanwhile, powerhouses Sanaa, Boma, and California Grill advance as expected. The bracket sparked passionate debate about what makes a Disney dining experience truly exceptional - is it the food, atmosphere, or value? Let us know what you think.
Beyond our culinary competition, we celebrate the announcement of runDisney's 10th anniversary Summer Virtual Series featuring Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and Big Thunder Mountain medals. The hosts share their excitement about these attraction-themed designs while reminiscing about past virtual events.
In our Race Report Spotlight, Morgan describes her experience at the Asheville Half Marathon while supporting a community still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Plus, with Springtime Surprise just two weeks away, we offer final training advice and highlight how the Hollarhype app is connecting our community during those crucial last training runs.
Whether you're planning your next Disney vacation dining strategy or preparing for an upcoming race, this episode delivers the perfect blend of Disney magic and running motivation. Join our Rise and Run family as we continue our March Madness journey next week with round two of the restaurant bracket!
Rise and Run Links
Rise and Run Podcast Facebook Page
Rise and Run Podcast Instagram
Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Passport to Run
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)
Rise and Run Podcast Cruise Interest Form with Magic Bound Travel
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel
Stoked Metabolic Coaching
Rise and Run Podcast Cruise Interest Form with Magic Bound Travel
Affiliate Links
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded
3 am again. Why did I ever think this was a good idea? Welcome to the Rise and Run podcast. Join our group of Run Disney friends. As we talk about running at Walt Disney World and beyond. We'll discuss recent runs, training, upcoming races and surprise topics suggested by you, our listeners. Well, the alarm's gone off, so let's go.
Speaker 3:Hey, rise and Run. This is Michael from Patton Field, new Jersey, out on the infamous Cooper Loop, and everyone you are listening to the rise and we'll run. I mean rise and run podcast.
Speaker 6:Sorry, greg that is that funny, Michael? Thanks, hey, look, you know we're friends. We'll run for rise and run. I understand you getting confused about that. Michael's in Haddonfield. Greg. What's that Cooper loop he's talking about?
Speaker 7:That is the famous loop that is featured in the loopy looper, the frosty loopers. So if you're a South Jersey or Philly area native. It's a race and a loop you'll get extremely, extremely familiar with.
Speaker 6:That's one. I that one that I've heard of. I hadn't heard it called the Cooper Loop. That's pretty cool.
Speaker 2:And when Bob said Haddonfield before, first thing I thought of was Michael Myers.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I didn't either. I see blank looks on Alicia and Greg's face. I didn't either.
Speaker 2:Okay, but it means something. I guess you guys don't watch Halloween, the movie it means something.
Speaker 7:I guess you guys don't watch Halloween the movie. No, I'm not a scary movie guy.
Speaker 4:I don't know the reference.
Speaker 2:Okay, that's where the film, that's where it wasn't filmed there, but it's Haddonfield.
Speaker 6:I didn't either. But here's a new way of starting the program, my friends. Hey, welcome to episode 182 of the Rise and Run podcast. And, as you've probably already figured out, I'm Bob and I'm here. With John hey, how you doing. With Greg, hey, hey, hey. And with Alicia, hello. But you knew that, since you've heard from all three of them already. That's good. See what you did, michael. Good, that was a good quality intro, my friend. Way to go On this week's episode, the big thing for the rise and run family. Here we start our march madness brackets where we break down and rate the sit down restaurants at walt disney world. We'll be doing that for the next three episodes. We also hear from our friend Morgan in the Race Report Spotlight. Morgan did the Asheville, north Carolina half marathon.
Speaker 4:If you enjoy the Rise and Run podcast, please share us with your friends and introduce them to the Rise and Run family. We want to share in their Run Disney journey. Please remember to follow us on Facebook at Rise and Run Podcast, instagram at Rise and Run Pod. Check out our YouTube channel and visit our webpage at riseandrunpodcastcom. We have some new magnet merch on there, so there's some new things to check out. If you have a question, a comment, a race report or want to introduce an upcoming episode, like Michael did, a few of you also sent in introductions. We appreciate those. Please call 727-266-2344 and leave us a recorded message.
Speaker 2:We'll also want to thank our Patreons, who support, help Us Keep the Rise and Run podcast Rising and Running. If you'd like to join the Patreon team, please check us out at patreoncom. Slash riseandrunpodcast and you, too, can be part of some of these special events that that we had, like the voting for the upcoming final four bracket the riser on podcast is sponsored by our friends over at magic bound travel.
Speaker 7:Um, folks, I I wish our friends over at magic bound could look, look into a crystal ball to tell you when rooms in 2026 are going to be open, because we had marathon weekend registration and we still don't have anything yet so be patient on that front.
Speaker 7:but you know, in speaking of our friends at magic, brown on something that you can plan for and that is the first annual rise and run podcast cruise happening after springtime Surprise in 2026. Maggie told me that she got a bunch of interest forms after we had them on two weeks ago. So if that is something that you're interested in, if you want to set sail with us and the rest of our Rise and Run family, be sure to visit magicboundtravelcom to fill out your no-obligation quote form.
Speaker 6:Yeah, that's cool. Thanks, greg. I know at least one couple who have added their names to the list. That's our chief logistics officer, judy, and her husband, jim, will be on board with us, so that'll be fun. Apologies and alibis Again. Not really, but I don't know where else to put this in. Once in a while, once in a while, once in a while, working on the race report, I missed something significant, david. I missed your run in largo last week and I apparently missed you and I don't know how that happened, buddy because we were at the same race, but david ran and finished first in his age group and knocked out a half marathon PR. So nicely done, david. We don't want to miss stuff like that. Congratulations, However. Sorry, we missed each other. We'll catch you next time, I hope.
Speaker 7:You know, bob, I just thought of one more apology that you can insert here. Obviously, this will lead into the brackets, but would you like to go ahead and apologize to the Boardwalk Resort?
Speaker 6:Yeah, yeah, I'm sure Greg will talk about how decisions were made on restaurants. I went through and I looked for all of the restaurants at Walt Disney World that offered sit-down dining and took reservations. So we're talking about the larger restaurants and you have to do that by region. So, okay, epcot, disney Springs I left out Boardwalk. I just completely forgot about Boardwalk and there's three excellent restaurants there. Don't know that any one of these three would have won the whole thing, but they are all very good.
Speaker 7:So if you're a massive fan of Flying Fish, trattorino Al Forno or the Cake Bake Shop, you can send your angry emails to Bob at.
Speaker 6:RiseAndRunPodcastcom. There you go. Yep, sorry about that. I'm a Flying Fish fan although I haven't been in a while and we go to Trattororia Al Forno fairly often. We go to breakfast there. It's a good place for breakfast, so those are good restaurants and I hear really good things about Cakebox, but I don't think any of us have been yet. Well, when we go we'll let you know what we think. I may do it this next weekend. Sneak one in when Rachel and Tara don't have us booked up.
Speaker 6:Friends, let's look at the training schedule. Springtime surprise, you know it, it's two weeks away. This is your last big training weekend. If you're doing the challenge, you've got a five mile walk and a 12 mile run walk. If you're brand new to the podcast, you haven't heard us explain that. Yeah, 12 mile run walk on your long day is longer than the longest race. Mr Galloway and his training plan has learned through extensive research and multiple people trying the training mile or if you take yourself out to 12 miles and increase that endurance. So that's the reason for it. So 5 and 12 this week. Enjoy it While you're out there. Maybe somebody will send you a holler hype. What do you think?
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's pretty cool, Bob. I went for a short two mile run to see I got some medicine from the doctor for my shoulder which is working. Fingers crossed that I get through but I was like maybe I'll get one holler hype um from somebody and I got six or seven, which is amazing. Our friends are so great and it's just a really fun app, because I I trained by myself, so to hear our friends' voices was really cool.
Speaker 6:It is. I've only used it once. I've had two races, but I typically don't bring any kind of listening device to a race, so I do, however, when I go out for training. So I I went live for one training, and you're right, it's so much fun. I'm listening to a podcast and all of a sudden, the volume goes down a little bit. And just when you're thinking I wonder what's wrong with my podcast, here comes the hype. I'll tell you what. If you want to send one, it can be as simple as hi. Alicia, it's's bob. Hope you're enjoying your run. Talk to you later. Yep, that's all you need.
Speaker 7:Yeah, and if you could have seen me running, you could tell when I got the hypes, because a big smile every time I was just gonna say that, bob, I got a huge smile every time I got one that came through you know, bob, I'm a little disappointed though, because when you did go live, I sent you a hype and I asked you in your hype if you could do the uh the, the dance that your avatar was doing at the completion of your run, and I never saw that video.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I couldn't I couldn't do it. I gave it two, three shots, couldn't do it. I do remember getting the hype, though well, is that the?
Speaker 7:is that the watermelon one?
Speaker 6:or I forget which avatar.
Speaker 7:I've only been doing the Mario one, but um okay.
Speaker 6:Well, there's the default, which looks like a cucumber or something, I don't know. That's the first one that pops up. I just kind of scrolled through till I saw something I like. But it's. It's been fun. I knew the group would like it and I'm getting nothing but positive feedback. So just in the rare chance that you may not know what we're talking about, it's an app. It's Hollar Hype H-O-L-L-A-R-H-Y-P-E all one word. You can download it from the Google Play or the Apple App Store. It's free. When you sign up, use the code RISEANDRUN. It's free. So that doesn't get you anything, except it gets you into our group, and we have a huge group. I lost track of how many people we have in there. Uh, apparently we have enough that we shut it.
Speaker 4:We shut it down for a little bit on Saturday, but they got right back up, so speaking holler hype um, one of our friends in a facebook chat group had mentioned that they wanted to have some more accessibility features. Um, and as I was going through, I did notice that if you go into your account, um, and then click on your profile picture, there's an accessibility tab that can transcribe the hypes that you receive, so that if you need that accessibility feature, you can have that.
Speaker 6:They think of everything. So good for them. Good stuff. We had registration for Marathon Weekend last week. We mentioned that some folks didn't get what they wanted. It filled up so fast. Talked about charity bibs. Our charity bib link is still up In episodes 52 and episode 86, we devoted a fair amount of time talking with friends and guests who had some expertise in fundraising, so there are lots of good suggestions there.
Speaker 6:I have to stop for a minute here and give I don't know. Just say how grateful and thankful I am to this wonderful Rise and Run family. I didn't get into the 5k, as I explained last week family. I didn't get into the 5k, as I explained last week. That was Tuesday. On Wednesday I posted a fundraising link to get a charity bib for St Jude's Children's Research Hospital. I posted the link at 2.20 in the afternoon. At 4.30 in the afternoon I got an email from St Jude's saying good for you, you have already met your fundraising goal and that's thanks to the love shown by our friends in the Rise and Run family. I was deeply touched and I cannot thank you enough. Our friend Alan Young, when he found out about it, suggested that I submit that as a proof of time two hours and 10 minutes to do a fundraising. I don't think it'll work, but it's remarkable.
Speaker 6:And one more time. Thank you so much, friends. All right, friends, let the games begin. Gray, it's March, madness time.
Speaker 7:Yes, it is. You know and I know last week I did a very, very poor Dickie V impression last week and I'll spare everyone for the next couple of weeks, but I kind of sound like Dickie V a little bit this week because I'm feeling a little under the weather. So I'll do my best to get through this, but I'm very excited to help lead up this effort. So thank you, bob, for entrusting me with this because again, anyone who knows me, selection Sunday is the best Sunday of the year and this release day and friday, in my mind, is a, you know, two days out of the year where I always take off from work. I have two televisions set up in my living room.
Speaker 7:It's. I just I absolutely adore it. So the fact that we get to do it on the podcast and it being disney related, um, it just tickles me pink. So I'm excited.
Speaker 7:So before we get into the brackets, uh, I want to explain how the the seating worked here. So, as bob mentioned earlier, bob created a list of all of the table service restaurants on walt disney world property with, with the exception of, of course, the, the lovely Boardwalk Resort, the hosts. We came up with a field of 68 teams and then once we decided that then we needed to figure out, then it was my job to figure out okay, how do we put these 68 in order? So I used data from the awesome, awesome website and this is not sponsored touringplanscom.
Speaker 7:yeah, that's a good one they're. They're wonderful in terms of coming up with a game plan of what rides you should go on and stuff. But they also have great, um, restaurant reviews, and they have thousands upon thousands of dining reviews and then they assign a ranking to those. So what I did is I took that ranking system from touring plans and then I made my S curve, and that's how you know. So if you're surprised that, why did that restaurant get that seed or this seed, it's all based on the touring plans rankings and then from there, like I said, made the s curve and then came up with the bracket. So, before we do get into it, um, obviously, day of recording is actually technically the first day of the tournament, and those are the playing games. Uh, so we did our own version of the playing games and uh, so we did with all 16 seeds, though, and this was decided exclusively by our patreon. So I just want to quickly go over, uh, those results.
Speaker 7:And again, these were the restaurants that just made the bubble. So in our first matchup, we had Mama Melrose versus Paradiso 37. And in that matchup, mama Melrose took the cake with an 83% vote. In our second playing game, this is what I called the fish battle. It was Coral Reef versus Paddlefish, paddlefish, and paddlefish won 53 to 47. This is the one that's going to surprise a lot of people. And again, this is, and I think it's because of getting the S curve of touring plans. We had Terralina's versus be our guest. Yes, those two, be our guest is a 16 seed in this and be our guest won that match up 60 to 40. And then our last one was a matchup of two disney springs restaurants stk versus maria and enzo's. So maria and enzo's won that vote 74% to 26%.
Speaker 6:Upset city baby Yep. I think, SDK might be the best restaurant on property it's awfully expensive.
Speaker 4:Oh, all right, I have feelings about that.
Speaker 7:It's awfully expensive, Well guess what we can't have any more feelings because SDK already sent their bags packing back to disney spring so now we are going to start in um and I had to come up with some fun names for these regions. Yeah, because in in the real bracket, you know, no one likes east, south, midwest. So our first region I'm dubbing the plastic cheese region.
Speaker 6:Yeah, baby.
Speaker 7:And we're going to go with our first game the number one seed, sanaa, versus number 16 seed Mama Melrose, we're going to go ladies first here. Alicia, who are you picking between those two? Sanaa, sanaa, john.
Speaker 2:Never ate there, but I am not a fan of Mama Melrose.
Speaker 7:All right, so John Sanaa as well, Bob.
Speaker 6:I think Mama Melrose is underrated. I think it's decent, but Sanaa is a very good restaurant, so I would go with Sanaa.
Speaker 7:All right, and I am going Sanaa as well too. I should mention with Sanaa All right, and I am going Sanaa as well too. So I should mention this too. So obviously Jack and Lexi couldn't join us tonight, but since we do have still an even number here, in the event that we go to to, the tiebreaker goes to the patrons and I do have those results, so we will dip into those if we have to, but Sanaa moves on. Okay. Next one Our 8-9 matchup. The 8 seed, three bridges over at Coronado Springs, versus the 9 seed and one of Bob's favorites, morimoto Asia. Bob, we're going to go to you first, yeah no brainer.
Speaker 6:Now, three bridges is good. I have eaten there only once. It's good Again. Morimoto's is top flight. So yeah, morimoto's.
Speaker 7:Alicia.
Speaker 4:I agree. I think that the food is good at three bridges, but Morimoto takes the cake.
Speaker 2:John, we've got.
Speaker 7:Morimoto. All right, and I'm going, morimoto as well. So the nine seed moves on Our first 5-12 matchup. This is where you know, this is where the upsets could start to happen. Every year. It's a popular pick. We have the five seed Beer Garden over in the Germany Pavilion at Epcot versus the 12 seed Storybook Dining at Artist Point in Wilderness Lodge. John, how about you? I love Beer Garden. Okay, I'm going to go Beer Garden as well, alicia.
Speaker 4:Well, there's really nothing for me at Beer Garden. I don't love Storybook, but I'm going to have to say Storybook.
Speaker 7:Bob, how about?
Speaker 6:you. Yeah, storybooks get that prefix menu A little overpriced, but all the character dinings are overpriced. Beer Garden for me is one of my favorites, so Beer Garden it is.
Speaker 7:All right, excellent. Now what I find interesting is if we would have had to dip into the Patreon vote on that one, we would have had a 12. Into the patreon vote on that one, we would have had a 12-5 upset. Oh it just. It just sneaked it out, but based on the host, beer garden moves on okay. Next up the 4-13 matchup the four seed garden grill versus the 13 seed Enzo's Hideaway. Bob, we'll start with you.
Speaker 6:Oh, this is tough, Greg. I know Garden Grill gets super high reviews. I finally went I don't know six weeks ago, whenever Becky and I were there. I wasn't impressed, I just wasn't impressed. I didn't think it was that good. So we've got Enzo's Hideaway, huh.
Speaker 7:Yep.
Speaker 6:I've never been. It's one of the few restaurants on property I've never been to, so I'm in a pickle here. I think I have to say Garden Grill, because I've never been to Enzo's Hideaway, so I'll come down that way, garden Grill, because I've never been to Enzo's Hideaway, so I'll come down that way, garden Grill.
Speaker 7:All right, john.
Speaker 2:I'm going with the Garden Grill. I mean, that was a favorite breakfast spot for me.
Speaker 7:Alicia.
Speaker 4:Garden Grill was one of my places that I went as a kid and I have good memories, but I always go to Enzo's Hideaway, so I'm going to say Enzo's Hideaway.
Speaker 7:Okay, Like Bob, I've never been to Enzo's Hideaway and actually I really do like Garden Grill, so I am going to go Garden Grill as well. So that moves on.
Speaker 6:How did the Patreons go? I'm curious about that.
Speaker 7:This was a landslide 82% to 18% for Garden Grill.
Speaker 6:Okay. So if I had said Enzo, it wouldn't have made any difference. So we're okay, correct?
Speaker 7:yep, all right. Next up we have the six seed Shiki Sai what was the former Tokyo Dining in Epcot versus the number 11 seed Akershus? The princess character meal in Norway, alicia, how about you?
Speaker 4:I'm going to have to say the Japan, because I haven't been to the other one.
Speaker 7:John.
Speaker 2:I would have to say the Princess Dining, but I never ate there when there was the Princess Dining. I ate there before it was a Princess Dining.
Speaker 7:Okay, bob.
Speaker 6:Been to both. Akashus is good, princess Dining was fun.
Speaker 7:I like shikisai better all right, so we got two one here. I've never been to either one of these restaurants, but I'm gonna go shikisai because of my love for the japan pavilion. Okay, so shikisai moves on, all right. Next up, john. We're going to start with you here. The three seed, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review, versus the 14 seed Sci-Fi Dining.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I've never been to the Sci-Fi Dining and thanks to our friend Rachel, I finally went to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review. It was a lot of fun, so I'm going to went to the Hoop-Dee-Doo musical review. It was a lot of fun, so I'm going to go with the Hoop-Dee-Doo. All right, alicia.
Speaker 4:I'm also going to go with Hoop-Dee-Doo, and their plant-based options are good, so yeah.
Speaker 6:Bob. That's a worthy consideration. I'm going for the upset here. Sci-fi dining is just fun. It's something I like. Hoop-dee-doo is great with the group. Food was good, but I had more fun at sci-fi, I think.
Speaker 7:All right. Well, unfortunately there's going to be no upset here. I am going hoop-dee-doo as well. Even though it's been many years, I need to get back there. But I am going to go with the three seed there, all right. Next up in our seven 10 matchup, the seven seed LaSalle versus the 10 seed Cinderella's Royal table. Bob, we'll start with you.
Speaker 6:Let's see Cinderella's Royal table. Never been, but LaSalle is a favorite for me, so this is I have no problem casting my vote for LaSalle. We were there recently. The steaks are still very good there. A little expensive, of course, but it's good. Alicia.
Speaker 4:Well, I haven't been to either in a number of years and I don't eat steak, but I'm going to say Le Cellier.
Speaker 7:John.
Speaker 2:I'm going to say Le Cellier.
Speaker 7:All right, I'm going to make it a clean sweep. Le Cellier moves on. Okay, and our last matchup in the plastic cheese region the number two seed Steakhouse 71 versus the 15 seed Tony's Town Square, alicia.
Speaker 4:I don't like either of these. I guess I'm going to have to say Tony's. I didn't like the plant-based option at Steakhouse 71, and I didn't have a good experience, so I know I'm probably upset on that one because everybody loves that restaurant. But Tony's, all right, bob, steakhouse 71 is becoming a regular for us that restaurant, but Tony's All right, bob.
Speaker 6:Steakhouse 71 is becoming a regular for us. I have been to Tony's Again, thought it was fine, but I've been to Steakhouse for I don't know that I've been there for dinner. I know I've been for breakfast and lunch. It's one of the places that if we're leaving here on Expo Day we'll go to Steakhouse for lunch and then go over to the Expo Steakhouse for me all the way on this one.
Speaker 7:I have done all three meals at Steakhouse and I think they're all very good, so I am going Steakhouse 71.
Speaker 2:So, john, it comes down to you. Steakhouse 71, baby.
Speaker 7:All right, it moves on. All right. That finishes out the plastic cheese region. All right, we're going to continue to move down the bracket here to our next region. And we're now in the banana region, because no run Disney race is complete without a banana given at the end of a race. So we're going to start here with the first game. The number one seed Wine Bar George versus the number 16 seed Maria and Enzo. So a nice little Disney Springs battle here. Bob, how do you vote?
Speaker 6:Oh golly, I've been to Maria and Enzo's. It's really spotty. Sometimes it's okay, sometimes I didn't think it was that good. I'm trying to remember if Becky and I have been to wine bar George. I think we were there, so I'm going to say wine bar George.
Speaker 7:I'm going to go one bar George as well. Even though I've never been there, I have been to Marine ends. It's actually I, George as well. Even though I've never been there, I have been to Marine. Enzo's. Actually, I've been there with you, Bob, and yeah, I agree, it was very. There was very hit or miss. So yeah, wine bar George for me, Alicia.
Speaker 4:I'm going to go wine bar George.
Speaker 7:All right, john doesn't matter but what do you vote?
Speaker 2:So bar uh tails for uh, enzo's for the other place, yeah and it's the other place, all right I like that. I like that a lot all right.
Speaker 7:Moving on to the next matchup, the eight seed whispering canyon over at wilderness lodge versus the nine seed fifties. Primetime Alicia. We'll start with you.
Speaker 4:Whispering Canyon.
Speaker 2:John, I'm going Whispering Canyon.
Speaker 6:Bob, for me personally, this is the toughest one you've thrown out so far tonight, because I think they're both good Whispering Canyon and fifties primetime huh, just I'm going to do this just to make it interesting, because this is really a toss-up for me. So I'm going to say 50's Prime Time.
Speaker 7:Well, unfortunately it doesn't get any more interesting because I'm going Whispering Canyon, because when you ask for a large Diet Coke boy, do you get a really large Diet Coke.
Speaker 2:I need some ketchup, Greg.
Speaker 7:Exactly, you need some ketchup.
Speaker 2:It is a fun place.
Speaker 7:You'll get every single ketchup bottle in the restaurant.
Speaker 6:It is a fun place, but you know, in the same vein, 50's Primetime is a fun place too.
Speaker 4:Yeah, they're very similar in how they interact with people.
Speaker 6:I could have gone with either one of those, but yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 7:All right, we're going now to the 5-12 matchup. The 5 seed City Works in Disney Springs versus the 12 seed a pretty close neighbor to City Works, splitsville. I'm going to start with this one. I have not been to Splitsville but I have been to a City Works near my house, so the fact that it's a chain that loses some points for me. And I hear and I have to try one these days I hear Splitsville has the best sushi on property so, based on that, I'm going to go Splitsville John.
Speaker 2:I'm going to go City Works, alright.
Speaker 7:Alicia.
Speaker 4:They both have good things, but I'm going to say Splitsville.
Speaker 7:And Bob bring us home.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I think Splitsville's a hidden gem. Their sushi is excellent. I don't think it's the best at Disney We'll get to that later but it's very good. Their pizza is very good. It's one of those places you can probably walk into without a reservation. I like Splitsville. Like you said, greg, city Works. I haven't been to the one at Disney, I've been to one up in Boston, I think, but yep.
Speaker 7:Splitsville, we got our first upset of the tournament and, just like in real life, we got a 12-5.
Speaker 6:You got to love it Yep.
Speaker 7:All right, moving on to our next matchup in the Banana region. All right, moving on to our next matchup in the banana region. The four seed yak and Yeti versus the 13 seed Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Speaker 2:That's an interesting one.
Speaker 6:Bob, we'll start with you Two different cuisines, completely Yak and Yeti, mostly asian. Very good, uh, yachtsman, yachtsman. I think I've only been to for that breakfast that they have with the. Uh, that's the place we go together, sometimes right where you you can go to a little breakfast buffet and no, that's ale and compass.
Speaker 7:No, uh, okay, yachtsman, we did that to celebrate ali's all right springtime.
Speaker 6:Yes, I do remember Yep, yep, yep. I remember because I picked up the tab.
Speaker 7:So I remember that one. Thank you very much oh gosh.
Speaker 6:So Yachtsman and Yak and Yeti huh Boy, I would go to either one of these places. They're both very good, but I'm going to come down with Yachtsman for this one.
Speaker 7:John.
Speaker 2:I'm going to go with the Yachtsman because, like you said, it's another chain restaurant kind of.
Speaker 6:What Yachtsman is.
Speaker 2:No Yak and Yeti Is it, it's the same owners as Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex.
Speaker 6:Oh, I didn't know that John Landry's.
Speaker 2:Landry's, landry's.
Speaker 4:Yeah, forest Cafe and T-Rex oh, I didn't know that. John Landry's, landry's, landry's, yeah, okay, I go to both of these pretty much every trip, and so it is kind of difficult for me, but I think I'm going to go with Yachtsman.
Speaker 7:We have a clean sweep on a major upset. I'm going Yachtsman as well. I love their wedge salad that they had. That was one of the most unique wedges I've ever had before.
Speaker 6:So back to back upsets what sets the wedge at yachtsman apart?
Speaker 7:greg it was instead of blue cheese crumbles, it was like a blue cheese vinaigrette, and I thought that was. That was a very, very nice touch. So if you like wedge salads, definitely go check out yachtsman I think that's why I decided to like it's more.
Speaker 4:It's a different take on plant-based items than you get at other places.
Speaker 6:Oh, I know they were vegetarian-friendly because, as Greg said, Allie was there with us, yeah.
Speaker 7:And they were extremely accommodating, especially at the steakhouse. All right, man. So now it's guaranteed we're going to have a double-digit seed in the Sweet 16 because of those back-to-back upsets. Very exciting stuff. All right. This next matchup could be, I think, in terms of seeding, one of the most controversial that we have. So here we go. We have the 6 seed, kate May Cafe, versus the 11 seed, ohana Alicia. I'll start with you.
Speaker 4:They both have good things and Ohana just changed theirs, so I haven't tried the new stuff, but I'm going to go with Ohana.
Speaker 2:John Alicia has some good points. I like Kate May Cafe, but Ohana's.
Speaker 6:Bob Been to both. I think I've only been to each of these one time, but I'm going to put Ohana over the top.
Speaker 7:Ladies and gentlemen, our third upset in a row. I'm also going Ohana, even though to me, like Bob you were talking about with Marie and Enzo's, To me Ohana can be spotty, but when it's on, it's on, it's really good, it's delicious. The only bad part of the meal is when the check comes. I think it's up to like $60 or $65. But I mean if it works out in your favor. It's quite the experience.
Speaker 6:Now Cape May's Buffet. Yes, it is Yep, which is now. I may be wrong about this. Used to include the crab legs, but doesn't anymore.
Speaker 7:Doesn't anymore. They're an upcharge now.
Speaker 6:An upcharge. Yes, yeah, so you know that's going to put it almost in the same price bracket if you do that.
Speaker 7:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:But it does have going back to that. I think it does have the better breakfast buffet, though. Oh interesting.
Speaker 7:I've never been there for breakfast.
Speaker 4:Yes, I agree, john, that's better breakfast there.
Speaker 7:Okay, yeah, alright, moving on, we got the three-seed Gico versus the 14-seed Tutto Italia. John, we'll start with you.
Speaker 2:That's a great one. Haven't been to Gico's in a while, but that food was very good, so I will go Gico's.
Speaker 7:Alicia.
Speaker 4:Which one's Tutto Italia.
Speaker 7:Tutto Italia is the restaurant in the italy pavilion. That's not vietnam, the one that everyone got extremely upset about. That it was not included in the top seven answers. A podcast family feud for italian and disney world um, I'm gonna go with okay, bob, yeah, I am too.
Speaker 6:Uh, jiko, it's the better of the two restaurants. To tell you, it's fine but it's fine. And chico's a very good. Again, you're paying more, but it's a very good restaurant yeah, I've.
Speaker 7:I have not been to either of these, but I have heard marvelous things about their filet and, I think, the mac and cheese that you can get with it. I believe it's Legends of Lore, so one of these days. I'll have to try it, but all right, Chico moves on. Next up we have the seven seed Hollywood Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios versus the ten seed San Angel Inn in Epcot Bob. We'll start with you.
Speaker 6:Okay, Again a tough one. San Angel, maybe I've been twice. That is the one that is over on the lake.
Speaker 7:No, this is the one that's inside the pavilion.
Speaker 4:Oh, that's got the darker lighting what's the one on the?
Speaker 7:lake the one on the lake is.
Speaker 6:It's in a different bracket, let me find it here, the Hacienda, yeah, okay. Well, you've made it easier for me. The one inside there is just okay, so I am therefore voting for. What was the other choice? Brown Derby, brown Derby. Oh, brown Derby was the other choice. Yes, oh, how did I miss that? That's a no-go.
Speaker 4:I was waiting for this one, Bob. That's a slam dunk. Wait, there's a decision for you, Bob.
Speaker 6:Yeah, no, no, brown derby, for sure Okay.
Speaker 2:John, I'm going to. What do you call it? St Angel's?
Speaker 7:Okay, Alicia.
Speaker 4:I'm going to choose brown derby, but I usually go to the lounge and you can get the food from inside at the lounge too.
Speaker 7:Yeah, you can. Yes, I am team uh cob salad all the way. So I am uh brown derby as well. So it moves on all right. Next up our final game in this part of the bracket, the number two seed, topolino's terrace, versus the 15 seed, the Plaza in Magic Kingdom Alicia. We'll start with you.
Speaker 4:Which one's Topolino's, that's one at Riviera right.
Speaker 7:Top of the Riviera. Top of the Riviera, yep.
Speaker 4:Or the Plaza. I haven't been to the Plaza since I was a little kid, so I guess I'm going to go with Topolino's.
Speaker 7:Okay, john.
Speaker 2:I have not been to Topolino's yet, but that will be changing, so I'm going with the Plaza.
Speaker 6:All right, bob, I'm not sure I've been to the Plaza, it wouldn't matter. Again, topolino's is one of those that I really like. I've been for breakfast and I've been for dinner. A beautiful location, character dining. For breakfast, I believe, just breakfast, so you pay a little extra for that, but still the food is high quality there. Topolino's one of the better restaurants on property.
Speaker 7:And I do agree with you. I haven't done dinner yet, but I do contend that Topolino's is the best character meal on property. So an easy win there. All right, so we are through half of the brackets. Uh, we're going to take a quick commercial break to talk about something else and then, uh, we'll come back to our final two regions in just a little bit, so stay tuned All right, let's take a break.
Speaker 6:Everybody hungry, go grab something to eat. Put us on pause, send a couple of holler hypes out and come on back.
Speaker 2:You know, go on social, give us your updates. If you think we're wrong, oh that'll happen, which is part of the fun. Yes.
Speaker 6:Let's see. I want to remind our friends that the roll call for springtime surprise is coming up next week. It's that close. It's roll call for springtime surprises coming up next week. It's that close, it's roll call time. We have our friend Rob, who sends me these statistics. Keeps up on this.
Speaker 6:We only have about half as many people on the race report for springtime so far this year as what we had last year. I have a feeling we'll have as many people there, but you just haven't added your names to the roll call yet. Reminder how to do that and it's. I always give instructions, assuming people are on a laptop or desktop. It's a little tougher on your phone but you can do it. If you go to our Facebook page, there's a featured section. You can get to it on your phone or on your computer and the race report is the last pinned item in that featured area. Go there and, if you're capable, able, you can add your name directly to that. It's a Google Doc, or you can just leave in the comment that hey, I'm running the challenge challenge or I'm running the 10-miler, whatever. But we'll get to the roll call next week. Friends Disney announced their summer virtual series earlier today. A lot of positive reaction. What did the gang think?
Speaker 4:They're good.
Speaker 6:Hey, that's my line, I know. No, the gang think they're good.
Speaker 4:Hey, that's my line, I know.
Speaker 7:No the line is they're nice yeah.
Speaker 6:She was working on it. I give her credit.
Speaker 4:People are really excited about them, but I appreciate the virtual races. I remember when they very, very first started. That's what I was doing in the summertime when I was getting ready for Wine and Dine in 2016, so I appreciate them.
Speaker 7:I don't know that I'll be participating, but I think they're nice when I saw it I was like do I need to pull a Joe Graham here and sign up? Because I think wasn't it like two years ago they did a? Was the attractions based? Or yeah, I think it was based like two years ago they did. Was the attractions based or?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it was based two, three years ago. Might have been longer than that.
Speaker 7:Yeah, I mean in the fact that these medals of Pirates, jungle Cruise and Big Thunder I mean right there, two out of my three favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World and in the fact that the challenge medal is happily ever after themed like that's just awesome.
Speaker 7:And I know that, like the really popular opinion and I share this opinion is I really, really wish that we could just get a springtime surprise theme of Disney attractions because it would regret the races always sell out. But I mean, if you think about it, the last couple of springtimes they've had a little bit of trouble selling out the 10 miler and the challenge. If you did something park specific for springtime you would have zero issue whatsoever. But at the same time I completely understand why they're reserving it for the virtual series, because obviously so many people have the affiliation to the parks and that will help them make money in terms of the virtual series. But just one of these times I would love to see park specific in-person racing. Or even I remember somebody had an idea years ago of do transportation Like a monorail, metal or a bus or a skyline or a boat. That would be an awesome thing to do so.
Speaker 7:I absolutely love it and I'm sure it's going to sell really well. Just as soon as I saw it, I was like we need this in person. So run Disney, do it please.
Speaker 6:You going to do the?
Speaker 2:virtuals, John. I'm probably going to not do them this year, yeah.
Speaker 6:I think I've done one Disney virtual race and it was the year that they canceled Star Wars for COVID and I did Star.
Speaker 2:Wars half. I think the last summer virtual I did was 2021, when they had the Lion King thing. Yeah, so I'm looking, I'm not going through them right now. 2021 was last year. Was food right? It was the snacks. Yeah snacks yeah 2023 was the 100th anniversary. 2022 was Frozen. 2021 was the Lion King. Lion King, yeah, 2020 was the last time they did the attractions and then they kept going back. You know, I know our buddy Joe said this will be his 10th year doing them.
Speaker 7:Wow, that was the thing that surprised me the most when the news came out is that this is the 10th anniversary of the Summer Virtual Series, and I couldn't believe we've been doing it for that long Wow.
Speaker 6:Or, in my case, not doing it for that long. Well, yeah, hey, if you want to be part of the Run Disney community, you can't get to Disneyland, disney World. It's not easy, it's expensive, they're neat. The virtual medals are neat, neat. Put them up on your you know metal rack.
Speaker 2:They look good, yeah and it's, it's the start, it's, it's that little gateway to get you in so again, a lot, of, a lot of positive feedback on socials.
Speaker 6:When these came out, people seemed very excited, so that's a good thing. I'm glad they're out there. That'll be fun. All right, our commercial interlude is passed. Let's get back to the second half of the first round. You got it, greg.
Speaker 7:All right. So now I do have a question because, in real time as we are recording the UNC, san Diego State game has tipped off and obviously there's a lot of controversy this year because of North Carolina getting into the tournament. So, bob, I do have a question for you as a member of the selection committee did you get some type of financial benefit by not including the boardwalk restaurants? Golly, I wish, because I think you know someone maybe could come up with some type of conspiracy theory and maybe you know.
Speaker 7:That's why boardwalk was was left off the list.
Speaker 6:Yeah, those are some good restaurants to leave off. But uh, no, I wish man, I, yeah, anybody wants to provide kickbacks, I, but uh, no, I wish man, I, yeah, anybody wants to provide kickbacks. I'm, you know, I'm, I'm.
Speaker 7:I'm here. Bob at rising road podcastcom. Disney's going to hear this now and Bob's going to get a free meal at a cake bake shop.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there you go. The FBI's coming right at you right now, bob Point shaving uh extra desserts. Yep, that's it extra desserts.
Speaker 7:Yep, that's it all right. Well, let's continue on. We are in our next region. So, again, keeping with the theme of run disney, we are in the sports bean region, because everyone loves some sports beans to step on, uh, while you're on the run dis race course. So we are going to start with the number one seed in the sports bean region, and that is Boma, over at Animal Kingdom Lodge, versus Paddlefish down at Disney Springs, the 16 seed, bob. We know how you're going to answer here, so just go ahead and just say Boma.
Speaker 6:Well, I will, but I will say that, as a 16, paddlefish is really underrated because paddlefish is a good restaurant. Uh, good place to go for fish, of all things, but paddlefish is a good restaurant. No, boma is great. The the it's a Becky and I go there quite often. We love the breakfast buffet. We've been there for all three meals. Boma it is.
Speaker 7:I'm going Boma as well, because all you have to say is soups, and I'm in Alicia. What?
Speaker 4:are you voting Boma 100%?
Speaker 2:All right, and, john, I'm going for the slam dunk Boma. All right, excellent, all right.
Speaker 7:Excellent, all right. Next up our 8-9 matchup the 8 seed Skipper's Canteen over at the Magic Kingdom versus the 9 seed Citricos over at the Grand Floridian Alicia. We'll start with you.
Speaker 4:Skipper Canteen.
Speaker 6:Bob, yeah, I've been to both of these places, both good, but I lean Skipper Canteen also.
Speaker 7:All right, John Skipper Canteen and another slam dunk. I'm going Skipper's Canteen as well, because if I can get food and bad jokes all at the same time, that sounds like a good time to me.
Speaker 6:You can buy my house, Greg.
Speaker 7:All right. Next up, our 5-12 matchup, the 5-seed this is a nice little Disney Springs matchup here the Boathouse versus the 12-seed Summer House on the Lake John. I'll start with you. I have not been to Summer house on the lake.
Speaker 2:John, I'll start with you. I've not been to summer house on the lake yet, so I will have to go to the boathouse, but I really do like the boathouse though.
Speaker 4:All right alicia I also haven't been to summer house on the lake, but I didn't really like the boathouse, so I'm gonna go wait, just kidding, which one's the boathouse?
Speaker 6:so I'm going to go.
Speaker 7:Wait, just kidding which one's the boathouse. The one where you can sit in the boat.
Speaker 4:Just kidding, I was thinking of the big boat.
Speaker 6:That's Paddlefish. Right, that's Paddlefish, yeah.
Speaker 4:Just kidding. Then I'm going to choose Boathouse, okay.
Speaker 2:And the boathouse is really huge.
Speaker 6:if you really don't think about it, it's the one where you can go and get the, and the Boathouse is really huge if you really don't think about it. Yeah, it's the one where you can go and get the cars.
Speaker 4:Yeah, okay, you have the cars. Yeah, so Boathouse.
Speaker 6:Bob. Okay, I have been to Summer House by the lake and I like it a lot. It's got a nice menu, good bar, nice location. I'll go with Boathouse.
Speaker 7:And another clean sweep for me. I have been to both, I like both, but the rolls at Boathouse are really really good yeah yeast rolls. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And the little ducks they give you.
Speaker 7:Oh yeah, that's true, yeah.
Speaker 4:But they used to have filet mignon sliders. They do right. They were really good.
Speaker 7:Yeah, the sliders are very good. I don't know if they still do. I don't think so.
Speaker 6:The last time.
Speaker 7:I was there.
Speaker 6:I had them and they were very good. I think that's one of the things you're most known for.
Speaker 4:Okay.
Speaker 6:Yeah.
Speaker 7:And I will say a quick tip but the sit-down or the table service restaurants not owned by Disney down at Disney Springs. If you can't get a reservation through Disney, look on Open Table. Open Table right. And they usually have a lot of availability and I always have done that for Boathouse. Yep. All right, so Boathouse moves on.
Speaker 2:That's how I did mine Greg Open Table because Disney had nothing available.
Speaker 7:I kind of feel bad. We haven't had any ties yet for the Patreon, so hopefully we get some coming up here. But we move on. The four seed in the sports bean region Olivia's over at Old Key West. That's a good one Versus Chefs de France in.
Speaker 2:Epcot, john, I got got a reaction out of you so we'll go to you first. I've ate at olivia's a lot, I get it. That's the one. Chef de france is the one in the front right, lower level. Yeah yes I've ate in there once. It was good, but I will go with olivia's.
Speaker 7:All right, bob, we're tough call here john, describe olivia's for me. I don't know that I've. It was good, but I will go with.
Speaker 6:Olivia's. All right, bob Tough call here John. Describe Olivia's for me. I don't know that. I've been there. It's in Old Key West.
Speaker 4:It's kind of got a tropical.
Speaker 2:Yeah, tropical feel.
Speaker 7:They're known for their buttermilk fried chicken. Don't think I've been there. I don't know if that helps.
Speaker 6:It kind of does help. I don't think I've been there. I don't know if that helps. It kind of does help. I don't think I've been there. Chef de France is okay, but just because I haven't been to Olivia's, I'm going Chef de France.
Speaker 7:All right, I am also going Chefs de France as well. Sometimes they offer like a little like prefix menu. Yeah, you can get like a couple of courses plus a glass of wine or champagne. I thought it was very nice. I'm going Chefs de France as well. We go to Alicia. Can we get our first tie here or no?
Speaker 4:We do get a tie, because I'm going to say Olivia's.
Speaker 7:All right, we go to the Patreons In a 54, the 46% vote the four seed Olivia's moves on. All right, patreons, glad to see we can finally get you on the board here.
Speaker 2:This was not planned, this one.
Speaker 7:Yeah, correct.
Speaker 6:Yeah, greg, just happened to call his shot.
Speaker 7:Yeah, I did All right. Next up our 6-11 matchup the Six Seed, a restaurant that Bob was confusing earlier on. Ale and Compass over at the Yacht Club versus 1900 Park Fair, the character meal at the Grand Floridian Alicia. I'll start with you.
Speaker 4:Hmm 1900 Park Fair has the characters at the Grand Floridian Alicia. I'll start with you. Hmm, 1900 Park Fair has the characters. What was the other one?
Speaker 2:Alien Compass Both buffets.
Speaker 4:Well, I mean not for dinner for Alien Compass, but I feel like the breakfast buffet is better than the dinner there.
Speaker 7:I guess I'm gonna go ale and compass all right, john, I'm gonna go with ale and compass. I'm gonna go ale and compass as well. Um, I've only been there once, but it was that time I think it was wine and dine a few years ago. I went with the two of you guys and I thought the food was very good, very reasonably priced, and then you could, for like a couple of bucks, you add on that little like continental buffet that they have there. I thought that was really good. So, yeah, I'll go alien compass as well. So it doesn't really matter, bob, but what would you?
Speaker 6:pick, I'll go ahead and make it unanimous. I I need to get to alien compass for dinner one of these days, because I've only been for breakfast, but it it's very nice, isn't that on the plan for this?
Speaker 2:It could be I think it's on the plan. It might be on the plan for this year, could be. I like dinner there. It's really good, all right.
Speaker 6:Good to know.
Speaker 7:All right. Moving to our next game, we have the three seed Sebastian's Bistro at caribbean beach versus the other restaurant in the mexico pavilion, the 14 seed, la hacienda de san angel alicia.
Speaker 4:I'll start with you this is hard because I went to sebastian's when it very first opened and I didn't really eat plant-based meats, but yet I couldn't have regular meats. So I don't feel like I have a fair opinion on it. I feel like I would like it better now, and there's not really anything at La Hacienda for me anymore, so I guess I'm going to go with Sebastian's.
Speaker 7:I'm going to go Sebastian's as well. I think this is one of the best hidden gems in all of Walt Disney World property. The food's fabulous, the price is extremely reasonable and if you really like that dessert over at Ohana they have something very, very similar at Sebastian's. So 2-0 right now for Sebastian's Bob. How about you? I'll make it interesting Very, very similar at Sebastian's.
Speaker 6:So 2-0 right now for Sebastian's Bob. How about you? I'll make it interesting. I like the Hacienda. I know I've been there once, maybe twice, but if you can get a late reservation there in the evening it's a wonderful place to watch the fireworks.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it is.
Speaker 7:And I thought the food was good. All right, John, are you making an interest in it, or does Sebastian's take it so?
Speaker 2:we have Le Hacienda coming down, court makes the shot and we missed, so we're going with Sebastian's, All right.
Speaker 7:I like what you did there. Very nice, john. All right, next up the 7 Seed Tiffin's over at Animal Kingdom versus Hollywood and Vine the 10 Seed from Hollywood Studios. I'll start this one out. I actually have been to neither of these restaurants, but I just hear absolutely wonderful things about Tiffin's especially. It's getting some notoriety now because apparently they have like a really really good burger now at lunch that people salivate over. So I'm going to go Tiffin's Bob. What say you?
Speaker 6:Been to both. Been to both more than once. On a side note, the Nomad Lounge at Tiffin's is one of my favorite places to just pop in during a trip to Disney. Tiffin's is very good. They've got a bread service. It's not Sanaa's, but it's not bad. I'll go with Tiffin's.
Speaker 7:All right, Alicia.
Speaker 4:I'm going to go with Tiffin's as well.
Speaker 7:All right, John, is it a clean sweep or no?
Speaker 2:I'll go with Tiffin's, because I never ate at both, but I hear good things at Tiffin's also.
Speaker 7:All right.
Speaker 2:That one was Hollywood and Vine right.
Speaker 7:Yes.
Speaker 6:That is. I don't want to. It's going to be gone. That's a good place. It's character dining buffet. It's good again. Every time you say character dining, you're adding money to the bill but it's a good buffet there. It's worth.
Speaker 7:It's worth a trip all right, and our last game here in the sports bean region, the number two seed, chef art smith's homecoming, versus a actually pretty close neighbor to it down disney springs. The 15th seed, the Edison John. I'll start with you.
Speaker 2:Okay, another place. I haven't been to either of them, but I hear Art Smith's really good.
Speaker 7:Yeah, John, you need to change that really quick. I'm going Art Smith's as well, because two words fried chicken Bob.
Speaker 6:Yeah, been to both Art Smith's hands down and Alicia.
Speaker 4:I'm also going with Art Smith To anybody who's plant-based. It's not on the menu but they do have plant-based chicken that you can get and make into salad and sandwiches and all sorts of things. So 100% I'm going to go with that All right.
Speaker 7:So not too many upsets actually, was it? Let me look this through? Actually, no, we were all chalk in this in the sports being region as well, so we'll see if we can get any upsets and hopefully involve our patrons. In our last and final region. We heard from Michael from the will run for podcast and, ensuring this episode, this part of the bracket goes out to our buddy Tom over at Will Run, for this is a fuel that you might eat on the course, not Cliff Blocks, but Cliff's Blocks region we get this in Austria, right?
Speaker 6:I'm sure there's a story there somewhere.
Speaker 7:You weren't there for Bob. You missed round two of Podcast Family, even though Tom is a massive fan of goo. For some reason in Fast Money he meant to say cliff blocks but said cliffs instead and great hilarity ensued. Yeah, between that and the Austria Pavilion. I do remember that Fast Money was quite fun, but got to love our buddy Tom. Can't wait to see him down in Springtime Surprise. So this region goes out to you. All right, here we go. The number one seed in this region down in Disney Springs, raglan Road, versus the number 16 seed. Be Our Guest, bob. We'll start with you.
Speaker 6:Well, I don't know who seeded these, because I think Raglan Road's too high and Be Our Guest is too low.
Speaker 7:Well, again there you can blame touring plans.
Speaker 6:No, I'm blaming you. Okay, all right, that's fine.
Speaker 2:You're on the selection committee.
Speaker 6:Yeah, However, Raglan Road. I'm interested to see what they do. They just I don't know if they just completed some motivations there or they're in the process. I think they're expanding the outside bar area. But I like Raglan road. It's fun, Entertainment's good, Food's, decent Um and. And it was just St Patrick's day, so I've got to go Raglan road.
Speaker 7:Alicia.
Speaker 4:I don't know that I would go back, but I'm going to say Raglan Road.
Speaker 7:All right.
Speaker 2:John.
Speaker 7:I'm going to go Raglan Road and I'll make it a clean sweep as well. I just went there for the first time during Wine and Dine and thought it was really good Be Our Guest. It used to be great, yeah, really good be our guest. It used to be great, yeah, now. Now it's ever since they got rid of lunch and it's, you know, in the super expensive prefix meal.
Speaker 7:Yeah, yeah, I don't know if I ever see myself going back to be our guest, so raglan road moves on all right. Next up the eight, nine match up, matchup the number 8 seed over at the Grand Floridian Narcooses versus the 9 seed Spice Road Table. Alicia, I'll start with you.
Speaker 4:Spice Road Table.
Speaker 2:John, I'm going to go with Narcooses, narcooses, bob.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I've been to both again.
Speaker 7:Not a lot of explanation, but I'm going with dark koozies okay, and I have not been to either of these, but I have heard very, very nice things very recently, uh, about spice road table. So that makes it two to two. So we go to the Patreon vote. In a 58 to 42% vote, the eight seed Narcooses moves on. Yay, oh, I'm sorry. All right, this one, I think, could raise some eyebrows in terms of how it landed on the S curve. We have the five-seed Tepanito over in the Japan Pavilion versus the 12-seed Rose and Crown. Ooh, got another reaction out, john, so we'll go to you first.
Speaker 2:I really like Tepanito and I really like the Rose and Crown. You get the right time at the Rose and Crown. You get nice firework views.
Speaker 6:Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2:But I'm torn. I'm torn between the two, but I mean I've had better steakhouses so I will go with Rose and Crown.
Speaker 7:All right, Alicia.
Speaker 4:I've never actually eaten at Rose and Crown and I can't eat at Teppanito anymore, but I'm going to go with experience and say Teppanito.
Speaker 6:All right, bob. The last couple times Becky and I have been to Rose and Crown, we've been disappointed and haven't been back. We like the bar, we like the setting, we like the atmosphere. Tepanito, it's good. I'm going to vote for Tepanito, but I'm going to say it's like going to any other Japanese hibachi place Butterfly, egg roll, all that stuff. It's the same thing, teppanito for me though.
Speaker 7:Now, bob, I do agree with your sentiments. I'm going to go rose and crown here, based on the fact that you can pretty much get hibachi almost everywhere you go. So, alright, it's another tie. So we go to the Patreons. In a 57 to 43 percent vote, we have our second 12-5 upset. Rose and crown will move on. It's the sticky toffee pudding. Next up we have the four seed Via Napoli versus the 13 seed Frontera Cucina down at Disney Springs. I'm going to start this one. This was my victory meal during Marathon Weekend this past year. I think it's some of the best pizza on property. I am going Via Napoli, alicia.
Speaker 4:Frontera Casino is one of my favorite places, so I'm saying that one.
Speaker 7:Okay, I won the one so far, john.
Speaker 2:Via Napoli. That pizza is probably the best pizza around.
Speaker 6:Property.
Speaker 2:All right, bob bring us home.
Speaker 6:Yeah, it's the best pizza on property. The rest of the menu not that great. Frontera Cocino only been once again think it's underrated. This is a tough call for me. I will go with Via Napoli alright, via Napoli moves on.
Speaker 7:That was a close one, though very close. How did our Patreons go with that one? Overwhelmingly.
Speaker 2:Via Napoli moves on. It was a close one, though Very close, all right.
Speaker 7:Next, how did our Patreons go with that one? Overwhelmingly Via Napoli 76 to 24%. All right, next up.
Speaker 4:More margaritas for me. There we go.
Speaker 7:We have a matchup of two all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurants here. We have the six-seed Liberty Tree Tavern versus the 11-seed Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land. Bob, what do you say?
Speaker 6:Yeah, good places both. I only dined at Roundup Rodeo once, but really liked it, so put me down for Roundup Rodeo please.
Speaker 7:And make that two for Roundup Rodeo. It's also become great. I don't think it's a sleeper hit, because obviously it's a restaurant in the park, but I think it's very, very good. I have dreams of their tater tots and their mac and cheese. I think it's very, very good. I I have dreams of their, their tater tots and their mac and cheese. I think it's very, very good. And not to mention I I love watching my kiddo whenever you know andy's coming and everyone's gonna, you know, sit still or stand still, yeah, yeah and riding horses, you know, to your table.
Speaker 7:That's just. It's a lot of fun, so all right, so it's two. Oh for roundup rodeo, alicia, what do you think?
Speaker 4:I haven't eaten at roundup rodeo, so I'm going to have to say, I'm going to have to say Liberty tree.
Speaker 7:All right, John, what do you say?
Speaker 2:I have not eaten at roundup rodeo yet. I might be going there this this time, but I have to go with Liberty tree. The only thing I am kind of upset with with Liberty Tree they got rid of the characters and they still kept the same price.
Speaker 7:I didn't realize it had characters.
Speaker 2:I didn't either.
Speaker 4:Interesting.
Speaker 7:Alright, so that's another tie. We go back to the Patreons. This one was super close Win, winning with a 52 percent vote. Watch out, everybody andy's coming round up rodeo barbecue. The 11 seed pulls the upset. All right, our next game actually, this is another themed game here the Battle of the Character Meals. We have the three seed Tusker House in Animal Kingdom versus the 14 seed Chef Mickey's over at the Contemporary John. We'll start with you.
Speaker 2:Okay, this is an easy one. Chef Mickey's is really overrated. It's great that first time for your little kids. After that you realize that it's very overrated. But I'm going with Tusker House, alicia.
Speaker 4:I'm going to choose Tusker House.
Speaker 7:Bob, I think I know where you're going with this one, but let's hear it anyway.
Speaker 6:Yeah, you have reminded me that it's been a while since I've been to Tusker House. I like Tusker House, it's a good one.
Speaker 4:We've been there together, Bob.
Speaker 6:Oh yeah, oh yeah, we used to go. After the 5K.
Speaker 4:Yep.
Speaker 6:Yeah, so it's been a while Need to get back there, good place.
Speaker 7:All right, we go four for four from the line. I am going Tusker House as well, all right. Next up, the 7-10 matchup, the seven seed from the contemporary California Grill versus the 10 seed crystal palace Alicia. I'll start with you on this one.
Speaker 4:Well, I really wish they would bring back the brunch buffet.
Speaker 7:Amen, sister. Can you say that a little louder for the people in the back?
Speaker 4:Bring back the brunch and they don't put the vegan menus on or the vegan options on the menu half the time. So I haven't been to California Grill for a long time. I have fond memories of that as a kid, but I haven't been in a long time. I guess I'm still going to say California Grill, but this one's not great of a decision for me.
Speaker 2:All right, john, this one's not great of a decision for me. All right, john, this is a tough one because my one and only experience at the California Grill was horrible.
Speaker 6:Thought you were making an easy one then, John Crystal Palace was no better.
Speaker 2:Yes, oh, that's bad, but I think I'm going to because, long story short, they would not seat us because no one would leave the tables because of the fireworks coming. So when we finally got seated, I was not even hungry anymore, so I had a bowl of soup. So I really can't say that for the food there. So I'm going to go with the Crystal Palace.
Speaker 7:That's an expensive bowl of soup.
Speaker 2:All right, yeah, probably won't I actually comped it, so that wasn't that bad.
Speaker 7:Oh, okay, there we go, yeah, all right, I have not been to Crystal Palace. I am going to Crystal Palace, though, during springtime, so I will finally get a chance to try the famous churro Mickey waffles. I'm very excited for that, but again, I wish they would bring that brunch back. But again I wish they would bring that brunch back. I will go California Grill, though, so 2-1 California Grill Bob what say you?
Speaker 6:yeah, two restaurants I like a lot, and I usually talk about the one that I'm not going to vote for, because I want our friends to know that's a good restaurant. And what I'm not going to vote for is Crystal Palace. I do like the buffet there once again, character dining. You're spending extra for that. Get a chance to say hi to Pooh, ask Eeyore if it's going to rain. But I like California Grill, becky and I. There's another one, greg, that you reminded me. Becky and I haven't been for a little while. In fact, the last time we were there, I think they were still doing the 50th anniversary pre-fix menu Another great place to get sushi. So California Grill.
Speaker 7:All right, so California Grill moves on, and here we go, our last game of round one, and this is a very interesting matchup, but again, this is just how it landed on the S-curve. I'll be interested to see what people think the number two seed, wolfgang Puck, down at Disney Springs, versus the number 15 seed, space 220 from Epcot Bob. We'll start with you.
Speaker 6:Just ate at Wolfgang Puck. Last trip. It's the first time I had a big grudge against Wolfgang Pucks. Becky and I had made reservations. This was years ago back when it was in the old location. It was back over in the vicinity where Summer House is, yeah, yeah, and they used to have two different restaurants in there. They had their main dining and then their upscale dining upstairs. So Becky and I are heading for our I don't know 42nd, 45th anniversary. I don't remember what year it was. It was more than it's, probably more like 40 or 42. That's back. We had made our reservations 90 days out. We are driving to Disney World and we get a phone call. Hey, we, we're sorry, we had to cancel your reservation because we had another party that booked the boat. So we went 20 years or whatever, or no, it's not that long.
Speaker 6:My time without going to wolfgang pucks went back this last visit. Thought it was okay. Oh, space 220 is interesting. I like space 220. I would strongly recommend that you go to the lounge at Space 220. The thing is you can be sitting at your table and the table five feet away from you. You're at the lounge. They're at Space 220. They're on a prefix menu. You're ordering a la carte. I don't know if that's changed or not, but that's the way it was.
Speaker 7:No, I think it's still the same, so you can do that I like it.
Speaker 6:But my asterisk is go to the lounge. Yeah, kind of a neat experience taking the elevator ride and getting up there. I like it.
Speaker 7:All right, space 220 for Bob John.
Speaker 2:I haven't eaten at Wolfgang Puck's in its new location and I've never eaten at Space 220, so I will go with Wolfgang Puck's, Okay.
Speaker 7:Alicia.
Speaker 4:I haven't eaten at Wolfgang Puck in the new location, so I'm going to say Space 220.
Speaker 7:I have not eaten at either location. I will say that speaking of Wolfgang Puck, though. What I do miss is the quick service that they used to have. That food was always very good, that's where the new Eat, the Indian restaurant, is now in Disney Springs, over by the World of Disney and Once Upon a Toy which I hear is phenomenal.
Speaker 7:So, maybe next year we'll do quick service yeah so I, I grant I myself was surprised that wolfgang puck um landed this high on the s curve. I'm gonna go with the majority here and our absolute, massive, massive upset here. I'm going to pick space 220. The 15 seed moves on to the next round and, ladies and gentlemen, that now concludes round one of the rise run march madness, patreons. Uh, stay tuned to your inboxes in the the next of days and I will be posting all of the matchups for round two. Be sure to get your votes in by next Tuesday morning before we record, so that way, hopefully, your voice can be heard once again. So there we go, onions everybody, and best of luck in your brackets.
Speaker 6:Yeah, sounds like fun, looking forward to it. I think most of my Disney favorites are still in there. We had a couple where it was a tough call, so I'm looking forward to next week. Well, since we're on polling, since we're on taking votes, we talked about our theme for next year's marathon weekend 5k when we ran the Dalmatians in 2025 and 2026. We're running the toy story aliens.
Speaker 6:I did get up with our friend Alex at Hawaiian pizza apparel. She is. She has you can go to KPA now and see the alien shirt that she has but she's working on a special. She's working on making modifications to it for us for Marathon Weekend, talking about putting the logo on there and making maybe a couple of other modifications to make it even better looking than it already is. It's already a good looking shirt. So when we get details on that, I will be sure to let you know about it. But I'm excited about that. I did ask. I had friends asking me what I should be and it seemed it was split between Buzz Lightyear and the Claw. So I put a poll up asking our friends what it should be. Buzz Lightyear won about approximately two to one in the outcome there. Now we got to get a costume for John. I thought he was going as Sigourney Weaver. That was one option. Yep, I think we need a poll for John Sigourney Weaver from Aliens or the Pizza Delivery Guy from Toy Story.
Speaker 2:Or who is it Skippy from the Alien Encounter? No, was it Skippy?
Speaker 6:It was Skippy I don't know, I don't remember, but I know I'm going Pizza Delivery Guy for John. That's how I'm voting, but don't let me influence you.
Speaker 7:I voted for Mrs Nesbitt. I how I'm voting, but don't, don't let me influence you. I voted for Mrs Nesbitt. I'm really sad.
Speaker 6:Did you that vote lost out? Yeah, it did. That came in late. It was kind of cute, all right.
Speaker 6:So with that it's time for the Race Report. The Race Report brought to you by Thomas Stokes, stoked Metabolic Training, stokesfit slash riseandruncoaching is the website. You can find information pinned to the top of our Facebook group page. We got to get Tom back on here Probably in this upcoming episode. The eight-week challenge that started at the first of the year is coming to an end, so we want to talk with Thomas before we see him at Springtime Surprise Friends. I mentioned this last week.
Speaker 6:St Patrick's Day maybe and I don't think maybe is the second busiest race weekend of the year here in the US of, a Second only to Thanksgiving and all the turkey trots. So we've got a bunch of races to talk about. You gave us a report. I love it. I read them all, I promise, but I have to keep this part of the report short, so even if you gave a lot of information, I have to condense it down. I hope you understand.
Speaker 6:Here we go. Let's start with. We had a couple of weekend long events, but we'll talk about some of them on Saturday and Sunday. We'll start with the one I knew was a weekend long event and that was in Virginia beach, virginia. It was shamrock marathon weekend. It was Shamrock Marathon weekend. We'll start with the Dolphin Challenge. The Dolphin Challenge was an 8K on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday. Taylor did this. In the 8K Taylor ran a five-minute PR. They had four beer tickets at the after party which I think she went easy on because she had the half the next day. The half was an out and back with a tailwind to start. That's the tough way to do it because then you've got the headwind coming back. She fought the wind, finished with another PR and four more beer tickets which I hope she got to enjoy this time.
Speaker 6:Chrissy did the challenge. Yakey was foggy and chilly but a good run. She ran with a lady who was pushing her 5-year-old daughter in a stroller. Found out that they both did their first dopey this year. That's cool. Carrie and Christine did it 8K. They got to run with friends In the half. Carrie said the humidity got to her a little bit, not the time she was looking for. She said the humidity got to her a little bit, not the time she was looking for. She still powered through to the finish. Steve did this one In his 8K. He beat his target time In the half. His hip bursitis flared up a little bit, slowed him down. Some he still finished. Says this event is more party than run and I like this description. It is too much fun to describe. It is too much fun to describe. Samantha was there running the 8K, great course and good energy. On Sunday we had the marathon. Carrie and Catherine left us this audio race report.
Speaker 3:Hi, this is Carrie calling from Owings Maryland, and my sister, catherine and I just got back from running the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach this weekend. It was a great race. It was the first time we'd ever done it and the course support was fantastic. The race organization did a great job of putting on the race and all of the staff were very friendly. There were crowds all along the route in downtown Virginia Beach with some unofficial character stops and lots of fuel and water stops, so I'd really recommend it if anyone's looking for a fun laid-back weekend in the area.
Speaker 3:I also wanted to shout out the use of Holler Hype, so both Catherine and I used it, as well as some of our fellow Rise and Runners who are doing the race, and we got so many kudos, we got some songs. It's just a great app. If you haven't tried it yet, I'd really recommend it. It was so encouraging to get those surprise cheers from lots of our friends that we know and also new friends that we haven't gotten to meet yet, so I really appreciate everyone from the Rise and Run community who called in to cheer us on, and for those of you who were following along, you'll know both Catherine and I DNFed at the Walt Disney World Marathon back in January. So this was our comeback marathon and not only did we both finish, but we both got PRs, and Catherine actually got a 20-minute PR and I'm so proud of her. Both got PRs and Catherine actually got a 20-minute PR, and I'm so proud of her. So again, thank you all to the Rise and Run family for cheering us along and happy running.
Speaker 4:Allie with an E was also there. This was her second full marathon. She was going for a sub 530, which was her B goal, and she made it. That's a PR. She said the course support was great, but she's never seen so many people who were handing out beers and jello shots. She did mention to me about the wind as well, that that was a major factor, but had an awesome race and killed this one.
Speaker 6:I get a kick If you're running on a windy day. I don't know how many people have said this. They're doing it out and back. They said it was into the wind on the way out and then when I turned around, the wind stopped. No, it didn't. It's at your back now. You don't notice it as much, you don't hear it, but it's there pushing you. Our friends Woody and Kim were there too. I know Allie ran into them. Kim had a tough time. She was pushing into the wind.
Speaker 2:I imagine it was pretty tough with that race chair Half number 91 for Kim, about number 50 for Woody, that was the Yingling Marathon, I think, too right, Yingling sponsors that Shamrock Marathon weekend, so that's probably why there was a lot of beer tickets.
Speaker 6:Okay, yeah that makes good sense, john yeah friends, let's continue on saturday and let's start out in ashville, north carolina. There were a series of runs ashville race weekend but our friend morgan did the half marathon and morgan joins us now for the race report spotlight. Hiya Morgan, how are you?
Speaker 8:Hi guys, how are you?
Speaker 6:We're good, we're good. Yeah, we are. We're happy that you joined us. So we're good now, and you? You just finished some other strenuous sport and you, you broke away from that in time to join us here for the spotlight. What were you doing?
Speaker 8:I did. I play in a bocce ball league, which is new to me, learning the rules and trying to add some diversity other than just run training right now.
Speaker 6:And you look. I mean you look real fresh and you didn't work up a sweat or anything. That's great.
Speaker 8:No, it was a nice night for it, yeah.
Speaker 6:You don't have to run after the ball, after you roll it, or anything.
Speaker 8:No, thank goodness.
Speaker 6:In all seriousness, it sounds like fun.
Speaker 8:It's a lot of fun, but I enjoy it because it's a sedentary sport. Like I, just stand there and roll the ball, not too crazy.
Speaker 2:You've got to be like the old Italian men in the backyard a little bottle of wine, a little bocce and the whole day's gone.
Speaker 6:That sounds nice. I knew you were in John's wheelhouse there, Morgan. Yeah. Came with an Italian heritage. That's nice. Well, thanks for joining us. I'm going to go with standard race report spotlight question number one Morgan how did you get started in running?
Speaker 8:so I'd say, like I grew up playing soccer and long distance running I hated, absolutely did. I was like I just want to sprint, I don't want to be running for a long amount of time. And then my sister and I well, my family, family went to Disney World for the first time. For my, actually, for my college graduation, that was my, like, my gift. So I didn't like grow up going and my sister and I like fell in love with Disney, everything Disney related. So we got annual passes in 2017 and became Disney obsessed. And my sister's college roommate had run Princess, I think, the year before that. I want to say it was in 2016. And just like seeing her pictures and knowing like you get to run through the castle. Okay, this changes my mind. Maybe I do want to do long distance. I signed up for Princess 2018 and was hooked ever since. And now I like to say I run, train run for Disney. If I wasn't running any Disney races I would probably quit, but it keeps me going.
Speaker 6:It wasn't for Rise and Run, I probably quit running, but it keeps me going too. I think that's great and for what it's worth. You may not think you were in the distance running, but if you were a soccer player, yeah, you've heard me say before, I used to be a referee. I only ran with a Garmin one time because I needed the watch. I did seven miles in a full 90-minute game.
Speaker 8:It doesn't feel the same same, though, when you're just like no, because you stop quite a bit you.
Speaker 6:You sprint and stop and sprint and stop. Yeah, but yeah, you're going hard, yes, so well, good. So soccer, bocce ball, and now running at disney how was that run in asheville?
Speaker 8:um, I actually loved it. I was very worried about it, um, obviously, asheville being in the mountains, I knew it was going to be hilly. Um, but the course layout was like, actually not too bad. It was through neighborhoods. We got to do a greenway for a while, got to go through downtown, um, and then it at new belgium brewing company oh good place so that was a nice spot to end.
Speaker 8:Um, no, it was actually really well done. Um, they had a lot of spectators on the course um having the community come out and cheer on, and there was a girl. I passed in a inflatable cow costume with a huge sign that said providing a little extra motivation for runners and it was just really cool to like see how many people just came out, especially in the neighborhoods that would just come to the end of their driveway just to cheer on and nice it was a lot of fun yeah I really enjoyed.
Speaker 6:Those runners are crazy. Extra motivation, that's good stuff. It makes for fun. That area correct me if I'm wrong got hit or it was close to the area that got hit by the hurricane, Is that correct?
Speaker 8:It did. It had a lot of damage from Helene and that was one reason I thought this was a good year to go and support Asheville and give a little back to that community. Just even just going and you know, staying in a hotel and eating out and all those things means a lot to that community right now. So there was another like local race to me, but I decided I'd rather travel and go to Asheville and do that for that community.
Speaker 6:Do you live in North Carolina? I?
Speaker 8:do? I am about. I think it's three and a half hours. I live in the triangle area and, like Raleigh, durham, cary area.
Speaker 6:Yeah, basketball fans know the triangle area.
Speaker 8:Huge basketball fans. My team has a play in game tonight.
Speaker 6:So, oh so you got to get out of here real quick. Okay, We'll get you out.
Speaker 8:They play late tonight. I hope they can pull out a win. Prove to be in the tournament.
Speaker 6:You're allowed to tell us who they are.
Speaker 8:It's UNC.
Speaker 6:UNC. Okay, it's very controversial right now, but yeah, go Eagles. Why is UNC very controversial right now? I haven't been paying attention.
Speaker 8:They were one of the last four teams in, so they're in a play-in game tonight. And their record? Some people would say they did not deserve to be at the tournament.
Speaker 6:Yeah, and those people were fans of Duke and NC State, right, exactly.
Speaker 8:Yeah, I'm a little biased and I will say my team definitely deserved to be at it.
Speaker 6:But yeah, a proud tradition at all three of those schools, and I'm not taking sides for any of them. They all three have a great basketball tradition and great rivalries. So what do you think, morgan? You recommend the Asheville Race Series. What other runs did they have this weekend?
Speaker 8:They did a half marathon and a full marathon. I think it was 2,000 runners that came out. Um, they did a rolling start, um, with everyone going at once, which I have not really participated in before, so that was a little little scary for me that everyone's just going at once. I'm used to like corrals and things, but, um, it was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend definitely recommend that people go and travel and try different races, but this was a great race to try.
Speaker 6:Outstanding. That's a pretty area and I agree with you. It's great that you support the area Because they I mean we see it down here it's not different kind of devastation up there, but there are places here that are even now just opening from Helene. And then what was the m hurricane? I want to say it wasn't morgan, okay maybe it was megan, no sorry inside joke, but yeah, genuinely, there are places here that are just opening now. Morgan, what's next for you? What? What's on your schedule?
Speaker 8:I have a race coming up. I'm doing a 10 miler in May. I'm hoping to get proof of time for Dopey. I am shooting for a perfect season next year for the first time, so lots of training coming my way.
Speaker 2:Which? Which kind of perfect season? Are we talking about A Florida or a both?
Speaker 8:I'm doing perfect season of we talking about a florida or a both. I'm doing perfect season of walt disney world, but I'm adding in halloween weekend at disneyland to get the coast to coast medal, because if you're running all those races you might as well get that extra medal yeah, and it's a better look.
Speaker 6:I did it last year. Or yeah, no, 24. Yeah, 24 last year. Yeah, no, I didn't do it this year. I did Halloween 24 to get to Coast to Coast. This medal they have now is better looking than the one I got. I didn't Kind of plain, but that's all right.
Speaker 2:It's okay, right.
Speaker 6:Bob yeah, it's okay, these are better though. John, yeah, yeah, perfect season. It's quite an accomplishment. It's really even better when you pay off all your credit cards from the perfect season.
Speaker 8:They posted today the summer series. Yeah. They really want to take all my money this year.
Speaker 6:Okay, Well, look, that sounds like we will see you at Disney World. Disneyland in September, Disney World in October next year.
Speaker 8:Yeah, that would be great.
Speaker 6:Wonderful Morgan, thanks for joining us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 4:Thanks guys. Anita was also at this race. She said there was a lot of hills and she said it was one of the hardest half marathons she's done yet, but she still ended up with another PR. So congratulations, anita.
Speaker 6:All right, let's continue. On Saturday, the Louisville Triple Crown of Running Derby City 10K. Ashley said there was a 45-minute weather delay due to lightning. She had a personal goal to finish under an hour and a half. Her chip time an hour 23. Way to go, ashley. One time I ran in Louisville we had a lightning delay also. That was the Kentucky Derby week half marathon years back. But I digress because we're back to Winter Park, florida, for the Winter Park Double Dare Challenge, monica, a two-miler and a 10k. Same day, both on saturday. She finished another race and then went to epcot for her medal photos still at that same event. Tracy was there. Tracy got off to a comfortable start. The weather got kind of warm and humid kind of quickly this weekend. Not a PR for most people, including her, but she finished with a very solid one hour one minute. That's a great 10K time. I think Tracy Jennifer knew it wasn't for time for this race so she just took it easy, glad to run into a fellow Rise and Runner. Tracy Jennifer did this one five years ago. It was back then the last in-person race she did.
Speaker 6:Before COVID and Jared was at the Winter Park Road Race, also In Columbia, south Carolina. The get to the green. 10k. Dylan was there, happy to say that she has a one hour four minute proof of time for Disney races for the next little while. Bonus to this race for a super cute medal. There was a shamrock run in Bristol, connecticut. In Bristol, connecticut, sherrod Lynn was there. There was a Shamrock run in Johnson City, tennessee, 5k. Lessa was there. How about a PR bell for Lessa Finally broke 40 minutes for the 5K.
Speaker 2:In Clinton, new Jersey, at the run of the mill 5K. Beth and her cousin kathleen, dad, sister and nephew ran that race. It was a hilly course but our three generations had fun running together. My nephew got second in his age group and my dad got first in his age group. Congratulations, guys. And staying in jersey. Going race south down to cape may. Kelly and her 11 year old son, sp Spencer, did the Cape May 5k plunge. They powered through the finish in 40 minutes. Then I sealed the deal with the plunge while her son played the cameraman Braver than me Kelly, I would not have gone.
Speaker 6:I'm not sure I would have gone into the Gulf. I definitely wouldn't have gone into the ocean at Cape May.
Speaker 4:But it's a unique experience. How many people can say they've done that?
Speaker 2:see the difference is if it was in wildwood, which is like right up to town, the the shelf is really long so you can just get your like feet wet here.
Speaker 6:It's basically you go in and you go down gotcha yeah, I think most people ran in up to about their knees and turned around, but I'm not sure I'd have done that either. Hey, good job, kelly. Decatur, georgia the Tour Decatur 5K Lauren was there left us this report.
Speaker 5:Hi friends, this is Lauren B from Decatur, georgia. I was just doing the Tour Decatur race. It was a 5K beautiful weather like feeling-wise, but it was real kind of ugly, stormy-looking, waiting for the storm to roll through later tonight, but happy that the rain held out. Anyway. I missed a PR by nine seconds, but it was still fun to be out amongst the crowd and happy running everyone.
Speaker 6:There was a rock and roll half in Washington DC. Matt and Robin were there. It was LA Marathon weekend. It started on Saturday with the LA Big 5K. Jackie and Fred reported on it. It was their second leg of what they're calling the SoCal Dopey. I think we explained a little more of that on the Sunday run. Lauren was also there. I know she left a report on Sunday Race for the Green Half Marathon in Seneca, south Carolina. Lauren. First report for Lauren. Thanks for leaving a race report, lauren. What a great first race post-Disney Marathon weekend for her, including a PR. Now I got a feeling and again the list is so long I may have this one on here more than once the Hart Mini 5K in Cincinnati.
Speaker 6:Melissa did her first 5K in many years. Let's go to Oklahoma, the Muskogee Oakey Half Marathon. Amy, apparently there was fires in the area, but Amy says the smoke cleared up for the race. As always, she's thankful that she's able to get to run. Her run was a decent time 2.16 for the half. That's pretty solid. She missed her goal, though, by 12 seconds. Actually it was 2.16.11. I think she wanted to be under 2.16. Amy, that's pretty darn good. You'll make that time up. Good for you. Out. In Houston Brandi ran the Lucky Charm 10K. Got a shiny new 10K PR. Don't worry, though. Brandy says she won't let it go to her head. She'll be the same shy, quiet, unassuming Brandy that she's always been In Hurricane.
Speaker 6:West Virginia, ileana did the Muddy Mutt 15K. Rain held off for her. That's a good thing on this beautiful morning it was a great race. She surprised herself with an age group third place finish Congratulations, rob. In Fort Myers did the McGregor Kilts and Kilos 5K. As much fun as you can have running 3.1 miles in a parking lot. Proof, says Rob, that 8.30 in the morning is not too early for a Guinness Up.
Speaker 6:In Rochester, new York, the running of the green five miler Amy. Amy was supposed to do a pizza, a 5k pizza run, but it got canceled. So she ends up doing this one for donuts. Really enjoyed it, got a two-minute PR and hung out with the other folks who were there, our friends Allison, along with Karen and Brian. There were a couple of races in Connecticut getting into the St Patrick spirit the Oneantic 5K in East Lyme, connecticut. Gretchen was there. Gretchen's number 11 out of 169 in the Connecticut 169 series Race was great Misty weather, a little bit cool to start. Gretchen PR'd her 5K. Now she's got a 10K on Sunday that we'll talk about here in just a bit. In Canal, fulton Ohio, the Get Lucky 5050 25K Lauren did this one.
Speaker 6:Lauren is just about exactly six months post-op from her total knee replacement and doing very well. Total knee replacement and doing very well. She ran eight miles of this 25K with 1830 intervals. Then seven miles with 25, I think it's three and a half minute intervals after that. I think I may have copied it wrong, it may be 25, 30. I don't know. But here's the big deal. She ran across the finish line to an age group win. Lori, you're doing great. You really are. I'm proud of you. You're coming back from that knee replacement very well, good job. We finish up Saturday in Lake Worth, florida, with the Shamrock 10 miler. Jen did it, ran with her friend Alicia. That wasn't you, was it Alicia? No, another Alicia, no. This Alicia is shaking her head.
Speaker 4:I wish I was in Florida. Yeah, I knew it wasn't.
Speaker 6:Hey, jen. Jen knocked out a 13-minute PR on this 10-miler. Good job, celebrated with beer at the finish line. That's a way to do it. Moving on to Sunday the big one was the United Airlines New York City half marathon. It was.
Speaker 6:Our friends are saying it was humid in New York on Sunday. They did have a rise and run meet up there. I saw some photos. That was night. Most of our friends mentioned that.
Speaker 6:A highlight was that the route for this has changed and they now go over the Brooklyn Bridge. Both Doug and Rob asked that. Since it's a new route, is it now a course PR for everyone? I don't think so, but we can give you all one course PR bell. How's that? All right, let's see. Brenda says it was tough but incredible the hills and the bridges and a challenging final stretch. Now she gets her own bell. She ended up with an eight-minute PR, danielle, who was with us in the spotlight last week, two weeks after Tokyo, she smashes her five-year-old half-marathon PR herself. Another bell. As a bonus, she gets a proof of time for marathon weekend. Doug.
Speaker 6:Doug comments on the crowd support. That's always great in Manhattan. Real treat to hang out with Rob at the start and run with him for a little bit. Might as well go to Rob. Rob says thanks to Doug for sharing his gels because Rob forgot them. He is torn between being happy that he almost hit his goal and annoyed that he couldn't find 11 seconds to get under two hours. Rob, that's still an outstanding run. Congratulations on that, grace.
Speaker 6:After being sick this week, grace took this one easy. She says running over the Brooklyn Bridge was fun. She hit Times Square while the kids races were going on. I'm sure that was fun too. The Ox and Spoon crew was there Jar, lindsey and Kimmy. Unfortunately I didn't see a report from them, but look forward to seeing them at springtime. I hope I'm not positive and I want to comment that our friend Jen was there volunteering, kicking off her spring break and maybe continuing her New York Roadrunners 9 plus 1 journey. She was at Fluid Station 8 in Central Park at 6 am, which is just past mile 12. A really nice, invigorating experience, says Jen.
Speaker 2:Just a quick note for this race this was the first time any New York Roadrunners race ran over the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh, that's significant. And it's the second time, only the second time well, only two times that New York actually shuts down Times Square for this race and for, of course, new Year's Eve. So it was pretty neat, sean. Yeah, so that's interesting that they had to go over to Brooklyn Bridge for like the first time. So which was they said was really cool.
Speaker 6:Oh yeah, just about everyone commented on it again. I had to cut a lot of these short, but yeah, neat stuff. Let's see the Lucky Charm 5K in Winter Park, florida. The date was changed from Saturday to Sunday. Jessica was there, heather in the push rim division got a package of Lucky Charms for her first place push rim finish. Kay was there, didn't hear from Kay, jennifer did the 10K and Laura and Sam were there or is it Sam and Sam's mom? Anyway, laura and Sam found a few lucky coins who were left behind by leprechauns. Now they've got a tradition going on now Once the finish line is in sight, sam takes off on a sprint. This time he beat her. We knew it was going to happen.
Speaker 2:Maybe he took my advice from last time I talked to him.
Speaker 6:Yeah, maybe he did. Yeah, we knew it was going to happen. Out in Sacramento, California, the Shamrockin' Half Marathon, Bethany, chilly start out in Sacramento, but overall very nice weather. Missed the PR by just a few minutes. Still very happy with the results, as you should be One. We had talked about a couple times on the podcast.
Speaker 6:Our buddy, Greg Creel, the pacer for Galloway, was involved in the lightning warriors 5k in Tampa. It's a great little local run, small about 85 and trees, but very well run. Greg was there. I got to meet uh, I think it's the president of their local association, Rob. Excellent metal, no t-shirt, but I really liked the runner's hat that you got instead. And they had a post-race raffle with really nice prizes for a small event like this. So if you're in the Tampa area I'll remind you about it next year. I did it.
Speaker 6:5k, good course, nice and flat, a little warm. Race starts at nine. I kind of liked that. Didn't have to get up too early. I was kind of meh for this one for me. Our friend and chief logistics officer, Judy, ran with me. I started off on my first running interval. I did 45, 30s. Judy says to me oh, I can't keep up with you Then proceeded to beat me. So we stayed together till the end and then she did a Sam. She took off, left me in the dust, Says it was her fastest 5K in a while. Our friend Pam was also there with her husband, who had the guts to wear a Boston Ruins jersey to a Lightning Warriors 5K. Good event, A lot of fun. Kelly was at the Shamrock 5K in Baltimore, part of the B3 Challenge Series. In Fort Lauderdale, Ravi did a Shamrock run Over.
Speaker 6:In England, in Bath, the Bath Half Marathon. Anna did this one. I'm chuckling. I made a note to myself about the cop a feel costume that Anna wore. If you haven't been on Facebook to see it, you need to see it. She didn't wear it in the run, but she did bring it with her. Uh, kind of enjoyed the race, flat course, except for the finish. Who puts a steep hill at mile 12.7 at a half marathon? Some some sadist. What can I say? Uh, most most importantly though, she got her proof of time for her Hollywood weekend at Disneyland. Good job, Anna.
Speaker 6:In Cincinnati I knew this heart mini came up again. Nikki was there, as was Julie. Julie ran a 15 K. I know I read a report from Julie, but I couldn't find it in our Facebook group. I hope you guys had a good time at the Hart Mini in Cincinnati.
Speaker 6:In Cary, North Carolina, Tobacco Road Marathon. Because of lightning in the area, the race directors made the decision to change the cutoff time from seven hours to four hours Big change. As a result, several folks who had registered for the full ran the half. Now David did run the full. It was his sixth marathon. He finished just a few minutes shy of his PR goal, but he's proud to have persevered through these difficult weather conditions.
Speaker 6:It got kind of warm. Meredith and Debbie were there running together. The first two and a half miles were on closed roads, then an out and back on an old railroad trail, tree-lined on both sides. They actually met Jordan from Hollerhype. We've talked to Emily. They met Jordan. Always fun for the two of them to run together. Rise and Run shirt for Debbie looked great. Debbie. Courtney M was there said she saw both Meredith and Dopey and Dopey Marathon and Debbie on the course and I said Marathon and Debbie instead of Meredith and Debbie. You did Leave all of it in. I need that little blurb that says oh, Bob, you never make a mistake.
Speaker 6:The Los Angeles Marathon. We talked about it earlier. The 5K on Saturday On Sunday was Marathon Day. Great Course starts at Dodger Stadium, goes through downtown LA, into Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Brentwood and Enz in Culver City. Lauren, as we said, did the 5K on Saturday on the marathon Says the people of LA really come out to represent at this race. Don't think she's ever done a race where even the police are having fun. The crowd support even blew Chicago out of the water. That's saying something, Lauren. This was her eighth marathon and one of her tops for sure. Jackie and Fred also commenting on the amazing crowd support. Jackie was on track for a PR despite kind of a hilly course around mile 23. She had to start walking because she's getting a little lightheaded. Missed her PR by less than two minutes, but still super proud of the accomplishment.
Speaker 6:This is the third leg of the conquer la challenge, which is what they're calling the socal dopey. Next up the rose bowl. Half marathon in marco island, florida. The marco island half marathon rob back on the report. Hilliest half in florida. Hilliest half marathon in Florida. Maybe A whopping 400 feet of elevation change. Last four or five miles felt like running in a sauna with weights on his feet. Well, that's tough, that's a challenge. Rob Out in Oklahoma City the time to patty 5K. Anna was there, Knoxville, Tennessee. The Barley's, St Patrick's, Emily's Power for a Cure 5K.
Speaker 4:Bradley walked most of it but PR'd in fun and Jimmy was also there. He's been dealing with sickness so he did his best. He tried his intervals but it just wasn't a great day for him. But he still finished and the medal for this one was super cute. There was a bottle opener and a little leprechaun. He's hoping to do better for the 10K that he has coming up.
Speaker 6:Sounds good, all right. Somewhere in the UK Sam did the fleet half marathon. This is his first race report. Longtime listener recently found his running legs. That's cool. Sam Knocked out a great hour 46 half Planning on dopey in 26. Hour 46, Sam way to go.
Speaker 4:In Austin, texas. It was the Time to Patty 10K. Amanda was there. She said this was a fun race with little elevation, a few dogs running and a lot of people in green. She should have checked her results before she got home because she found out that she got second in her age group. Unfortunately, this one wasn't one that she could use for a POT, but she knows where she's at and is ready to hit the next 10Ks and get that POT and PR.
Speaker 6:Sounds good. I've done that. I left the race. Found out I was third in my age group. Also found out there was only three people in my age group, but that's a long story.
Speaker 2:It doesn't matter, it still counts. Yeah, it still counts.
Speaker 6:That was a couple years ago. Fort Monmouth, new Jersey, the Shamrock and Roll 5K Christine Inaugural event in Fort Monmouth. Not much on-course entertainment but a good after party and a good cause. Connecticut the O'Hartford 10K Sue. Felt like a struggle for Sue but with the Holler Hype app she got lots of encouragement. Finished second in her age group, earned a great looking mug. Gretchen was on the report earlier. Gretchen says this is the last in a four race series. It's fun. She got a medal since she did one of the 5Ks. The report earlier. Gretchen says this is the last in a four race series. It's fun. She got a medal since she did one of the 5Ks the day before we talked about it. Finished next to last, right before Gary the Leprechaun. That's pretty cool.
Speaker 6:In Baltimore, the Kelly Street 5K. Tom from the We'll Run For podcast been doing this race as part of the B3 running series for about 10 years. Starts right before the St Patrick's Day parade. They typically get to an Irish pub called Mick O'Shea's have a few ciders before they run, which is a great tradition but makes for a little bit of a precarious run. We'll see them at springtime. Thanks, tom.
Speaker 6:Lake Erie in Geneva, ohio, the Geneva on the Lake Leprechaun Run 5K, melanie. A scenic course that featured rain and mud puddles How's that for scenery? Despite the challenging conditions she finished first in her age group for the first time ever Congratulations. Now that was on Lake Erie in Geneva. Meanwhile in Erie, pennsylvania, michelle did a St Patrick's Day 10K. She's scheduled to do eight miles for a half marathon training, so she used this as a catered training run and did two miles before no PR, but she did shave off five minutes from last year's race.
Speaker 6:And finally, in Las Vegas, the St Patrick's Day 5K. Sarah normally takes it easy on 5Ks decided to push on this one and may push on the rest until summer heat rolls around. Not a PR. Still felt good to push herself. And there we have it, folks. The race report for St Patrick's Day weekend in episode 185. Thank you, john and Alicia, for your help on this. Wasn't sure I made it without you. All right, my friends, and if you run you know you are our friend. That does it for episode 182. Not a Zoom weekend. We'll meet with you next week. The week after that we'll meet with you in person. Until then, happy running.
Speaker 1:Happy running. The Rise and Run podcast discusses general information about Run Disney and is in no way affiliated with Run Disney or the Walt Disney Company. Any information or advice discussed on this podcast should not be considered medical advice and should always consult with your healthcare provider or event organizer.
