Registration Now Open for all 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Events
Lake Buena Vista, FL (March 15, 2011) – Registration for the Walt Disney
World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA opens today and two new features – a relay option and a new medal – await runners who sign up this year for the weekend event, Jan. 5 – 8, 2012.
Runners who want to participate in the 26.2 mile Disney Marathon can now join a buddy and sign up for the Disney Marathon Relay.
Unlike other marathon relays, the Disney Marathon Relay runners will each run 13.1 miles through Walt Disney World’s four theme parks. The first runner will travel through Epcot and Magic Kingdom, while the second runner goes through Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios before finishing at Epcot. Both runners receive official half-marathon times as well as a combined team time, plus the new Chip and Dale medal – the first new character medal for Disney Marathon Weekend since the Goofy medal was introduced in 2006. The Disney Marathon Relay will be run simultaneously with the Disney Marathon and share the same course.
“Many runners find a half marathon’s 13.1 miles is the perfect challenge for them so our new Disney Marathon Relay is the perfect way to run that half marathon distance but in the Disney Marathon,” said Kathleen Duran, Disney Sports Area Manager. “It also gives half-marathon runners a chance to run a different course by completing the second half of the marathon, and provides another opportunity for family members or friends to participate together.”
The Walt Disney World Half Marathon will also offer a new feature – a special edition Donald Duck medal to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the race. Earlier this year the Disney Half Marathon reached record capacity with a little more than 27,000 registered runners.
Once again the Disney Marathon Weekend will be anchored by the Walt Disney World Marathon (Jan. 8) running through all four Disney theme parks and rewarding finishers with the coveted Mickey medal.
Other Disney Marathon Weekend events include the Disney Family 5k Fun Run (Friday, Jan. 6), Disney Kid’s Races (Jan. 6-7), and Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge (Jan. 7-8). There’s also Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo (Jan. 5-8) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney, which will feature the latest in running merchandise, equipment and products, plus healthy and fitness seminars by leading authorities such as renowned marathon trainer Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney.
Runners who register for Disney Marathon Weekend events before April 25 receive a discount. To register for any of the races or for more information, go to www.rundisney.com.
The Disney Marathon Weekend is the crown jewel among Disney’s four signature runDisney events. The other signature weekend events are the Disneyland Half Marathon (Sept. 4, 2011), the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon (Oct. 1, 2011) and Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Lady Foot Locker (Feb. 26, 2012). For more information, go to www.rundisney.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at DisneySports and on Facebook at Facebook.com/rundisney.
About runDisney
The runDisney series is a program of half marathon and marathon events that provide runners unique opportunities to run through Disney theme parks. Race participants also get to earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary Disney entertainment and guest service, and ultimately celebrate their accomplishments with a Disney vacation.
The original event in the series, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA, takes place each January and features both marathon and half marathon distances. Other races at Walt Disney World in Florida include the Disney Princess Half Marathon presented by Lady Foot Locker in February and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon in September. The Disneyland Half Marathon takes place each Labor Day Weekend in California.
More than 75,000 people participate in runDisney events each year. For more information visit www.rundisney.com.