What It’s Like To Run a Race at Disney

From age 12 to 30, I ran competitively—at my peak, I used to be working 65 miles per week and coaching to interrupt three hours within the marathon. I solely knew one working velocity: quick. And all of a sudden, I needed to cease working altogether.

I was attacked and suffered severe injuries that made it unimaginable to run. My entire life had revolved round coaching and working—the chums I frolicked, what I seemed ahead to, my each day routine—and it was inextricably tied to my profession as a working coach, private coach, and health author.

I felt like I misplaced an enormous a part of my id, not to mention my ardour, mental health coping mechanism, social community, and construction in my day. I grieved the lack of working in a lot the identical method that one grieves the dying of a liked one.

Nevertheless, after years of not having the ability to run, I made a decision to try to get again into the game final summer season after a piece journey had me testing out treadmills, which pressured me to run.

I found just a few issues: working now may be very painful; the mobility challenges from my accidents make it unimaginable to run easily; and I can not run wherever close to as quick as I used to.

However, I additionally found I can run.

Final fall, I used to be given the chance to strive the runDisney occasion in January 2024 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I hadn’t run a race in over seven years, however I had heard Disney races are pace inclusive to runners for all levels, so I made a decision to be courageous and provides it a shot.

Why runDisney races are distinctive

Because of the inclusivity of the occasions by way of the cut-off occasions and welcoming environment, runDisney races are tremendous widespread for newbies seeking to begin working, runners who’re returning to the game after an extended break (comparable to postpartum moms trying to start running again), skilled runners who want to complete their first marathon, and aggressive runners alike.

Tons of dates and distances

There are various Disney races all year long, and at varied Disney parks, which makes it straightforward to search out one to suit your schedule. Along with the Walt Disney World Marathon events, there are a number of different runDisney races at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland in California, and digital races as nicely.

(Take a look at the present runDisney race calendar right here.)

One of many advantages of the runDisney occasions is that even in case you can’t attend one of many races in individual at a Disney theme park, many of the races provide a digital possibility. This lets you register for the increase after which full the space at dwelling wherever you reside utilizing a GPS watch. You’ll nonetheless obtain a finisher’s medal, a T-shirt, and all the swag.

The Walt Disney Marathon weekend, which is held each January at Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, is the preeminent runDisney occasion on the race calendar.

The weekend features a 5K on Thursday, a 10K on Friday, a half marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday, and a full marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday. Some runners tackle what is called the runDisney Dopey Problem, which includes working all 4 races on back-to-back days.

Though I want that I used to be in form sufficient to deal with the Dopey Problem, I knew that the total marathon was going to be out of my wheelhouse in my restricted coaching time.

As a working coach, I at all times advise runners to prioritize their security relatively than attempt to do one thing their physique will not be prepared for. So, I settled for doing the opposite three shorter Disney Marathon Weekend races: the 5K, 10K, and half marathon.

Beneficiant cut-off occasions

The entire RunDisney occasions have very beneficiant cut-off occasions in an effort to stroll with out being pulled from the course. The environment is all about embracing the enjoyment and magic of the confluence of working and Disney relatively than essentially aiming on your quickest race time.

I knew that working three occasions could be greater than formidable, because it has been 7 years since I’ve run a single race. Nevertheless, I imagined that my vitality and confidence could be buoyed by the enjoyable environment and basic inclusivity of the runDisney race setting (spoiler: it was!).

The truth is, inclusivity for runners and walkers of all means ranges is baked into all Disney races: The cut-off time for the total marathon is seven hours, the half marathon is 4 hours, and for the shorter races, you need to preserve a 16 minute per mile tempo. That is a brisk strolling tempo that’s attainable with coaching for most people.

So in case you contemplate your self a “slow runner,” you’ll not solely have loads of firm alongside the race course—you’ll be an official finisher.

Many marathons have a lot sooner cut-off occasions and also you’ll be requested to go away the course in case you are nonetheless making your method towards the end line at a slower tempo. Plus, you don’t get the glory and confidence enhance of really crossing the end line and incomes your race medal.

Spectacular group

The entire runDisney races are additionally very nicely organized: There are beginning corrals based mostly in your anticipated common tempo or end time. Because of this in case you are a brand new runner and plan to make use of a run/stroll method, otherwise you wish to stroll your complete race distance, you may be seeded with individuals of comparable means. Equally, in case you are a aggressive runner, you possibly can submit a “proof of time“ race outcome for the Disney half marathon or Disney marathon. Your earlier race outcome will then be used to offer you a bib quantity for the next beginning corral alongside runners who can be sustaining an analogous race piece.

The races all have every thing you’ll count on from a top-tier street race comparable to water stops, clearly marked programs, medical tents alongside the course and on the end line, and a free breakfast field with snacks whenever you end the race.

Sadly, a tropical storm required last-minute modifications to my half-marathon race, shortening the course to solely 7.2 miles. The whole runDisney group pulled off a large change within the closing hours earlier than the race and made it a fantastic expertise.

(On that observe, one other perk of the runDisney races: The swag is superior! The race medals are large and have Disney characters in 3-D that transfer, plus, you get a long-sleeved technical T-shirt for every Disney race that you simply run.)

Strong neighborhood

The setting and your fellow runners are different particular elements of Disney races. Whether or not you might be doing one among these runDisney races at Disney World or Disneyland theme parks, you get to run via the totally different parks.

Tons of individuals put on Disney-themed costumes, and each mile or so, you possibly can cease and take photos along with your favourite iconic Disney characters, from basic favorites (like Mickey Mouse and Snow White) to fashionable ones (like Elsa and Moana). There may be additionally loads of leisure on the race course in addition to within the beginning space and end line areas, with music and extra character experiences for photograph ops.

I had the chance to look at the total marathon, and though loads of runners within the quick beginning corrals wore costumes, the corral with the walkers was undoubtedly the occasion vibe race expertise. The entire walkers and joggers appear to be having the time of their lives, many clad in costumes of their favourite Disney princesses, villains, and superheroes.

It’s actually a enjoyable environment—and could be an thrilling distraction in case you are struggling throughout your race.

There have been elements in a few of my very own races the place I wasn’t absolutely in it, however I used to be captivated by the vitality of the runners round me, the thrill of Disney World, and my very own deep pleasure for having a race alternative that felt so approachable and celebratory—regardless of the place I used to be in my working journey.

Easy methods to prep for a Disney race

Coaching for a Disney race isn’t inherently totally different from coaching for every other street race. Nevertheless, if you’re going to be doing a number of Disney occasions again to again (like I did), or you’re taking on the total runDisney Dopey Problem or Goofy’s Race, you will need to tailor your coaching plan accordingly.

Running a half marathon and a marathon on consecutive days is extraordinarily taxing on the physique, and coaching requires doing back-to-back longer runs. Because of this, the Dopey Problem is often finest reserved for knowledgeable runners who’ve been coaching for a few years and have already run a full marathon.

However newbies can completely do the total Disney Marathon—and most of the triumphant finishers are certainly first-time marathon runners.

One of many cool issues about all the runDisney occasions is that accepted individuals get a free Jeff Galloway training plan to assist put together for no matter occasions you could have registered for.

There are totally different coaching plans based mostly in your health degree, and the Jeff Galloway includes a run/walk approach for newbies.

Echelon Health additionally sponsors the Disney races, so you should utilize the Echelon Stride treadmills with the Jeff Galloway run/stroll coaching applications to arrange for the races. These treadmill workouts are a fantastic possibility for runners who reside cold-weather climates who’re coaching for the January Disney races.

Final, runDisney introduced me again to racing

I completely liked my expertise on the 2024 runDisney Marathon Weekend, and whereas my end occasions had been nowhere close to as quick as they was once, I felt a lot pleasure and gratitude that I used to be in a position to run once more, not to mention in such supportive races.

Going into it, I used to be admittedly anxious to see how it might be to take part in a race in a completely totally different gentle than I had run a race earlier than. I had additionally by no means been to Disney World or any Disney theme park, so I knew that I used to be in for an eye-opening expertise.

In the end, I used to be extraordinarily impressed with how well-organized the runDisney races had been and the way welcoming, supportive, and celebratory your complete environment surrounding the occasions was.

I like the truth that you possibly can go there to run your coronary heart out and attempt to obtain a quick time, or go there and attempt to have a good time the beginning of your health journey. Both method, runDisney appears completely dedicated to organizing working occasions which might be memorable and empowering.

For me, simply being in a bodily state the place I might lace up my favorite running shoes and take part within the very sport that has been the best reward and keenness in my life was actually the real-life embodiment of the particular magic that Disney films and Disney parks are all about.