In Part 2 of our conversation with data analyst Brian Davis, we dive deep into one of the most debated topics in endurance racing — corrals, course congestion, and what race data actually reveals about performance, safety, and race outcomes.

How much does corral placement really affect your time?
Is course cutting actually common — and how do race organizers detect it?
What happens when pacing, crowd density, and race logistics collide?

Drawing from extensive analysis across Disney and non-Disney races, Brian breaks down what the numbers really say — and where common assumptions fall apart.

We also explore:

• The reality behind proof-of-time and corral sorting
• The impact of Club Run Disney placement
• Crowd physics and race safety
• Why starting order matters more than most runners realize
• How race design influences runner experience
• The human stories behind the data

Whether you’re chasing a PR, running your first race, or just curious about how large endurance events actually work behind the scenes — this conversation will change how you think about race strategy.

Be Fierce. Be You.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What really happens at the back of a runDisney race?

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Davis — physics professor, long-time runDisney athlete, and the unofficial statistician behind the Dead Last Start (DLS) movement — to unpack what most runners never see.

We talk about:

The origin story of Dead Last Start

Why some fast runners voluntarily start with the balloon ladies

How many runners actually cut the course (spoiler: it’s lower than you think)

• What congestion really does to pace
• What race morning looks like from Corral A vs. the very back
• The mental side of running from last place
• What happened behind the scenes during this year’s Blizzard Beach course modification

Brian has analyzed years of runDisney timing data — and the numbers tell a much different story than social media.

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.
In Part 2, we dive into corrals, timing math, and race cheating in much more detail.

If you’re a runDisney regular, marathoner, or just fascinated by race strategy and data, this one’s for you.

Be You. Be Fierce.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jill and Carolyn discuss:

• Carolyn’s path to earning her pro card and racing professionally
• The realities of competing at the pro level
• Managing expectations and race-day nerves
• Imposter syndrome in endurance sports
• How Carolyn defines success today
• Balancing training with a full-time job
• Social media growth, plateaus, and mental health
• Advice for beginner triathletes
• Gear recommendations for new athletes
• Favorite and least favorite workouts
• Mental strategies for pushing through tough race moments

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t just show up in the boardroom — it shows up at the starting line, in training cycles, and anytime we try something bigger than what we’ve done before.

In this episode, Jill is joined by Sharon from Bib and Tiara to talk candidly about imposter syndrome in endurance sports, careers, and life. They explore how comparison, gatekeeping, and external validation can undermine confidence, why women experience imposter syndrome differently, and how environments like runDisney and Ironman create very different feelings of “belonging.”

Along the way, they dive into:

• Why imposter syndrome often appears when growth is happening
• Endurance sports as identity, therapy, and personal challenge
• The role of failure — and why it’s not the opposite of success
• How community, mentorship, and encouragement change everything

Whether you’re training for a race, navigating a career move, or questioning your place in a new space, this episode is a reminder: belonging isn’t earned by perfection — it’s claimed by showing up.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• What one week post-Dopey recovery should feel like
• Why heavy legs, low motivation, and emotional dips are normal
• The difference between discomfort and pain
• Why movement helps recovery — and when it becomes too much
• How to safely reintroduce running, cycling, or cross-training
• Fueling and hydration for post-race healing
• Alcohol, recovery, and why timing matters
• Disney-specific recovery considerations (feet, swelling, sleep)
• When to resume structured training — and when to wait
• How to rebuild motivation after a major endurance event

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Recorded just hours after the final race concluded
• Panel includes experienced runDisney and Dopey Challenge athletes
• Covers all race distances from 5K through Marathon
• Honest discussion of expo flow, merch availability, and pre-orders
• Crowd management, corral sizing, and character stop dynamics
• Weather conditions and their impact on performance and safety
• Fueling preferences: gels, chews, real food, and what worked (or didn’t)
• Medical support and real examples of heat exhaustion and recovery
• Why expectations matter when approaching runDisney events
• Lessons runners can apply to future Marathon Weekends

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Race-day nerves and butterflies are normal

The 5K is a warm-up, not a test

Conditions may be humid, foggy, or unpredictable — adjust calmly

Ignore comparison and other runners’ bravado

If a mile feels hard, manage this mile only

Adjust pace early if needed — pulling back is smart execution

Stopping too long often makes restarting harder

Run your race, in your body, at your effort

Trust yourself — you did the work

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.