What It’s Like To Run a Race at Disney

From age 12 to 30, I ran competitively—at my peak, I was working 65 miles per week and training to interrupt three hours inside the marathon. I solely knew one working velocity: fast. And impulsively, I wanted to stop working altogether.

I was attacked and suffered severe injuries that made it unimaginable to run. My whole life had revolved spherical teaching and dealing—the pals I frolicked, what I appeared forward to, my every day routine—and it was inextricably tied to my occupation as a working coach, non-public coach, and well being creator.

I felt like I misplaced an unlimited part of my id, to not point out my passion, mental health coping mechanism, social neighborhood, and development in my day. I grieved the dearth of working in so much the equivalent technique that one grieves the dying of a preferred one.

However, after years of not being able to run, I decided to attempt to get once more into the sport remaining summer time season after a chunk journey had me testing out treadmills, which pressured me to run.

I discovered just some points: working now could also be very painful; the mobility challenges from my accidents make it unimaginable to run simply; and I cannot run wherever near as fast as I used to.

Nonetheless, I moreover discovered I can run.

Remaining fall, I was given the prospect to attempt the runDisney event in January 2024 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I hadn’t run a race in over seven years, nevertheless I had heard Disney races are pace inclusive to runners for all levels, so I decided to be brave and offers it a shot.

Why runDisney races are distinctive

Due to the inclusivity of the events by means of the cut-off events and welcoming setting, runDisney races are large widespread for newbies looking for to start working, runners who’re returning to the sport after an prolonged break (akin to postpartum moms trying to start running again), expert runners who need to complete their first marathon, and aggressive runners alike.

Tons of dates and distances

There are numerous Disney races all 12 months lengthy, and at different Disney parks, which makes it easy to go looking out one to fit your schedule. Together with the Walt Disney World Marathon events, there are a variety of various runDisney races at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland in California, and digital races as properly.

(Check out the current runDisney race calendar proper right here.)

Certainly one of many benefits of the runDisney events is that even in case you may’t attend considered one of many races in particular person at a Disney theme park, lots of the races present a digital chance. This allows you to register for the rise after which full the area at dwelling wherever you reside using a GPS watch. You’ll nonetheless get hold of a finisher’s medal, a T-shirt, and all of the swag.

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

The weekend contains 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 deal with what known as the runDisney Dopey Downside, which incorporates working all 4 races on back-to-back days.

Although I would like that I was in kind ample to cope with the Dopey Downside, I knew that the entire marathon was going to be out of my wheelhouse in my restricted teaching time.

As a working coach, I always advise runners to prioritize their safety comparatively than try and do one factor their physique is not going to be ready for. So, I settled for doing the alternative three shorter Disney Marathon Weekend races: the 5K, 10K, and half marathon.

Generous cut-off events

The whole RunDisney events have very generous cut-off events in an effort to walk with out being pulled from the course. The setting is all about embracing the enjoyment and magic of the confluence of working and Disney comparatively than primarily aiming in your quickest race time.

I knew that working three events might be higher than formidable, as a result of it has been 7 years since I’ve run a single race. However, I imagined that my vitality and confidence might be buoyed by the fulfilling setting and primary inclusivity of the runDisney race setting (spoiler: it was!).

The reality is, inclusivity for runners and walkers of all means ranges is baked into all Disney races: The cut-off time for the entire marathon is seven hours, the half marathon is 4 hours, and for the shorter races, it’s worthwhile to protect a 16 minute per mile tempo. That could be a brisk strolling tempo that’s attainable with teaching for most individuals.

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

Many marathons have so much sooner cut-off events and in addition you’ll be requested to go away the course in case you might be nonetheless making your technique in direction of the tip line at a slower tempo. Plus, you don’t get the glory and confidence improve of actually crossing the tip line and incomes your race medal.

Spectacular group

The whole runDisney races are moreover very properly organized: There are starting corrals based in your anticipated frequent tempo or finish time. Due to this in case you’re a model new runner and plan to utilize a run/stroll technique, in any other case you want to stroll your full race distance, you might be seeded with people of comparable means. Equally, in case you’re a aggressive runner, you presumably can submit a “proof of time“ race consequence for the Disney half marathon or Disney marathon. Your earlier race consequence will then be used to give you a bib amount for the following starting corral alongside runners who will be sustaining a similar race piece.

The races all have each factor you’ll rely on from a top-tier avenue race akin to water stops, clearly marked applications, medical tents alongside the course and on the tip line, and a free breakfast subject with snacks everytime you finish the race.

Sadly, a tropical storm required last-minute modifications to my half-marathon race, shortening the course to solely 7.2 miles. The entire runDisney group pulled off a big change inside the closing hours sooner than the race and made it a incredible experience.

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

Sturdy neighborhood

The setting and your fellow runners are completely different explicit parts of Disney races. Whether or not or not you may be doing one amongst these runDisney races at Disney World or Disneyland theme parks, you get to run by way of the completely completely different parks.

Tons of people placed on Disney-themed costumes, and every mile or so, you presumably can stop and take photographs alongside along with your favorite iconic Disney characters, from primary favorites (like Mickey Mouse and Snow White) to modern ones (like Elsa and Moana). There could also be moreover a great deal of leisure on the race course along with inside the starting area and finish line areas, with music and additional character experiences for {photograph} ops.

I had the prospect to have a look at the entire marathon, and although a great deal of runners inside the fast starting corrals wore costumes, the corral with the walkers was undoubtedly the event vibe race experience. The whole walkers and joggers seem like having the time of their lives, many clad in costumes of their favorite Disney princesses, villains, and superheroes.

It’s really a fulfilling setting—and might be an thrilling distraction in case you might be struggling all through your race.

There have been parts in a couple of of my very personal races the place I wasn’t completely in it, nevertheless I was captivated by the vitality of the runners spherical me, the joys of Disney World, and my very personal deep pleasure for having a race various that felt so approachable and celebratory—whatever the place I was in my working journey.

Simple strategies to prep for a Disney race

Teaching for a Disney race isn’t inherently completely completely different from teaching for each different avenue race. However, if you happen to’re going to be doing various Disney events once more to once more (like I did), otherwise you’re taking up the entire runDisney Dopey Downside or Goofy’s Race, you’ll need to tailor your teaching plan accordingly.

Running a half marathon and a marathon on consecutive days is awfully taxing on the physique, and training requires doing back-to-back longer runs. Due to this, the Dopey Downside is usually best reserved for educated runners who’ve been teaching for a couple of years and have already run a full marathon.

Nonetheless newbies can fully do the entire Disney Marathon—and many of the triumphant finishers are definitely first-time marathon runners.

Certainly one of many cool points about all of the runDisney events is that accepted people get a free Jeff Galloway training plan to help put collectively for regardless of events you can have registered for.

There are completely completely different teaching plans based in your well being diploma, and the Jeff Galloway features a run/walk approach for newbies.

Echelon Well being moreover sponsors the Disney races, so it’s best to make the most of the Echelon Stride treadmills with the Jeff Galloway run/stroll teaching functions to rearrange for the races. These treadmill workouts are a incredible chance for runners who reside cold-weather climates who’re teaching for the January Disney races.

Remaining, runDisney launched me once more to racing

I fully preferred my experience on the 2024 runDisney Marathon Weekend, and whereas my finish events had been nowhere near as fast as they was as soon as, I felt so much pleasure and gratitude that I was able to run as soon as extra, to not point out in such supportive races.

Going into it, I was admittedly anxious to see the way it may be to participate in a race in a totally completely completely different light than I had run a race sooner than. I had moreover not at all been to Disney World or any Disney theme park, so I knew that I was in for an eye-opening experience.

Ultimately, I was terribly impressed with how well-organized the runDisney races had been and the way in which welcoming, supportive, and celebratory your full setting surrounding the events was.

I like the reality that you just presumably can go there to run your coronary coronary heart out and try and get hold of a fast time, or go there and try and have a superb time the start of your well being journey. Each technique, runDisney seems fully devoted to organizing working events which may be memorable and empowering.

For me, merely being in a bodily state the place I would lace up my favorite running shoes and participate inside the very sport that has been the most effective reward and keenness in my life was really the real-life embodiment of the actual magic that Disney movies and Disney parks are all about.