This is the fourth and final part of my series of running Disney races. Part one can be found here. Part two can be found here. Part three can be found here.
Featured image above: Medals from left to right: Mickey Mile, Kid’s Races, Half Marathon, Goofy’s Challenge, Full Marthon, Dopey’s Challenge, 10k, 5k
On the weekend of January 10th & 11th, I participated in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Calling it a weekend has really become something of a misnomer, I must say, as it stretches over the better part of a week in its current form. With the addition of a 10k last year, marathon related activities now start on Wednesday (with the opening of the health & fitness expo) and continue through to the big event on Sunday: The Walt Disney World Marathon. An estimated 60,000 runners signed up for one or more of the races, including a little over 6,000 who signed up for “Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge” (Doing the Half Marathon as well as the Full Marathon), and over 7,000 particularly crazy folks who signed up for “Dopey’s Challenge”: running all four races in as many days. I confess to being one of those stalwart souls. That’s a 5k, a 10k, a half marathon and a full marathon for a total of 48.6 miles.
Now, to most people this sounds crazy. And I guess to a degree it is. But what is it about challenging ourselves that would make someone decide to take on something like this? And what is it about Disney races in particular that bring out the crazy in some of us? Well, the interesting thing for me in particular was that I noticed was that each of the races has their own personality and charm that make them unique and really sets them apart – not just from other non-Disney races, but from each other. I hope that, by reading this, if you are a runner and you’ve never done a Disney race, that this might convince you to take the plunge. And if you are not a runner and you’d really like to give it a try, then I hope that reading this will convince you that the lure of Disney can provide great motivation to start your training.
In a recent episode of The DIS Unplugged, Pete talked about visiting Walt Disney World over Marathon Weekend. One thing he pointed out was how nice all the participants and their families were. Well, I can tell you that he could not have been more right. Sure, you’ll find an odd rude person here and there, but by and large the Disney running community is amazingly supportive, encouraging, and just plain fun. Truth be told, this can be said of the running community as a whole, but it is particularly evident with the Disney runners. And as I had mentioned in an earlier post, you can even experience this before you run your first race by getting involved in some of the social media groups consisting of runner/Disney fans (such as the W.I.S.H. boards on DISBoards.com). (I discuss many of the other resources available to you in Part 3 of this series.)
When you participate in a race you will find that the experience is remarkably different depending on the event you sign up for. And I’m not just referring to the length of the course. The courses do share elements, but each is unique in a way that gives each its own personality. And with each race you’ll find a different mix of participants as well. Obviously you’ll find more runners with less experience in the shorter races, but there’s more to it that that (I’ll get into a little more detail later). Finally, as strange as this may seem, your experience will be very different depending on where you are in the “pack”. I was toward the rear of the pack for each race, and I saw a video put together by a fellow member of a running team I belong to who was closer to the front. I was amazed at how different things looked to have been for him as compared to what I experienced. I’ll touch on each race now and highlight some of the things that make them unique.
First, on Thursday morning, was the 5k. To begin with, the 5k is classified as a “Fun Run” – or at least it used to be. What does that mean exactly? Well, a Fun Run is a race where you are not timed and, technically, there is no strict time limit maintained. In fact, I don’t think that the 5k bibs have timing chips in them (as a Dopey runner, the bib I had did have a chip). Now, I’m sure that the race officials would urge you along if you decided to go off the course and hang out at Cava de Tequila all morning (just kidding, World Showcase is not open while the race is in progress… if only…) As this is the shortest distance, and as it is a fun run, you will see a lot of beginner runners. Additionally you will see some kids as well (especially in the rear of the pack), but I suspect not as many as in years past when it was billed as a “Family Fun Run”. Also, something you will definitely see more of in this race are costumes. Disney-bounding Minnie is so common as to be ubiquitous. And of course lots of other characters including women and girls dressed as princesses. And a few men too. Some of the costumes can be quite elaborate and creative. I saw four women dressed as the parrots from “The Tiki Room” – right down to the nameplates with “Fritz”, “José”, “Michael” and “Pierre”. Most of the course runs through the World Showcase, which adds to the festive atmosphere. The 5k is definitely the most “Low key” of the races, with many participants walking most or all of the 3.1 mile course. Finishers of the 5k receive a colorful medallion featuring Pluto made of a rubber-like material.
Later on Thursday morning are the Kids Races and the Mickey Mile. These races feature events geared for kids from the “Diaper set” up to 13. Every participant receives a colorful medallion.
Friday morning was the 10k. Unlike the 5k, this race is timed, with all runners receiving a bib with a timing chip. Like the 5k, much of the course takes runners through the World Showcase, but the 10 adds a couple of miles on roads before reaching the park (which is the most boring part of the 6.2 mile course) as well as leaving the park via the International Gateway for a loop around crescent lake. The 10k is the only course that goes through this section and it is wonderful to run by the Boardwalk and the Yacht and Beach Club, especially as the course there is lined with resort guests cheering you on. Despite the first few miles, which are boring, I really liked this course. The distance is also a great stepping-stone for those wanting to take on a more challenging distance, but who do not feel comfortable tackling a half marathon. Finishers of the 10k receive a golden medal featuring Minnie Mouse.
Friday morning is the Half Marathon. Everything about the race makes it feel like much more of an “event” than the 10k. To begin with, there are about twice as many runners. In addition, each corral of runners (runners are released in groups called corrals, with those with expected shorter finishing times being sent out first) is released with a larger (and louder) set of fireworks. The Half Marathon will always hold a special place in my heart due to the fact that it is not only the first Disney race I ever participated it, it is the first race I participated in period. That said, now with the experience of the other races under my belt, I have to say it is the least interesting course in many ways. On the one hand, it is the shortest distance of any Walt Disney World race that a) has you run through more than one park and b) takes you through The Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom section includes what has to be the highlight for any Disney runner – running through Cinderella’s Castle. As wonderful as that experience is – and it is wonderful – the rest of the course is, quite frankly, pretty boring. The bulk of the miles are eaten up with and out-and-back up World Drive to The Magic Kingdom and back to Epcot. Even the Epcot section – which goes through Future World – is not as good as the 5k and 10k. Disney does a very good job of providing entertainment on the course, but you really can’t get past the fact that you are essentially running on a long stretch of open road. All that said, there is a level of excitement in the air as you run the course that is palpable. After all, you are running at Walt Disney World – how cool is that? Each finisher of the Half Marathon receives a golden medal featuring Donald Duck.
Finally on Sunday is the main event – the Walt Disney World Marathon. The excitement and festive atmosphere is palpable – even more so than with the half marathon. The course for this race is fantastic – with runners going through all four parks, the Walt Disney World Speedway and the ESPN Wide World of Sports. A very good breakdown of the course can be found here. One of the great things about this course is that the “boring parts” (5 miles or so before reaching the Magic Kingdom, 4 miles between MK and Animal Kingdom and 3 miles or so between AK and ESPN) are all before mile 16 or so. So, in the final 10 miles you run through ESPN, Disney Hollywood Studios and Epcot. This makes for an exciting conclusion to the race right when runners need it most. And still, like in the half marathon, there is entertainment and crowd support along much of the course leading to a very festive atmosphere. In fact, this race feels more like a “moving party” than it does a race. Runners finishing the Full Marathon received a golden medal featuring Mickey Mouse. Runners who completed Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge also received a special 10th anniversary medal with a “spinner” featuring Goofy. In addition to those two medals, those finishing all four races as part of Dopey’s Challenge received a medal featuring Dopey. If you are a distance runner, and a Disney fan, you owe it to yourself to do this event at least once in your life.
If you would like to hear more about my experience running the WDW races, I also have an interview with a fellow runner on the Runner of a Certain Age Podcast. Additionally, I will be posting more details about my trip on my personal blog.
That concludes my series on running Disney races. I hope you enjoyed it and remember to keep running around in the parks!
About the author: John Thompson and his wife of over 20 years are the parents of two wonderful young women. John, who grew up in Southern California in the shadow of Sleeping Beauty castle, is a life-long Disney fan. He has been blogging about travel – Disney in particular – for 17 years. He is also the host of the Runner of a Certain Age podcast.
