Five Tips for Running Disney
Happy Friday and Welcome to the Friday 5! This week I am sharing my top tips for running a race at Walt Disney World. Disney races are extremely popular and it seems that each year Run Disney adds at least one new exciting event to the race calendar.
Last January, I ran my 3rd Disney Marathon on a very humid morning! The Marathon is one of 4 races that occurs over the course of 4 days. I bumped into quite a few runners that were doing all 4 races, otherwise known as the Dopey Challenge. The Challenge consists of a 5k on Thursday, 10k on Friday, half-marathon on Saturday, then the full marathon on Sunday. There is also the Goofy Challenge, which is running the half on Saturday & the full on Sunday. Runners that tackle all of these events successfully end up with 6 medals, one from each race, then one for each Challenge. It's quite a bit of bling!! It's one of the few times I have run a marathon, when I felt compelled to say "I'm Just running the marathon!' :-).
Five Tips for Running Disney
1. Register Early: The races sell out quickly, especially the Dopey & Goofy Challenge, so plan well ahead if you would like to do this January event.
2. Be an Early Bird: It is a huge event with approximately 20,000 runners and the race starts at 5:30am, so getting up very early is a necessity. I had my alarm set for 2:30am, hit the snooze alarm once, & rolled out of bed at 2:40am. This gave me plenty of time for my "Pre-Race Rituals" and I was at the shuttle bus stop by 3:30am to head to Epcot where the race starts. I stayed on Disney property for all 3 marathons, and I would highly recommend it, as it makes transportation easy. ***One thing that changed at the last marathon I did there was the heightened security, so be mindful of what you are carrying with you (they will provide guidelines). Also, anticipate a line for a Security Check prior to going to your start corral.
3. Submit a Qualifying Race Time: So this may seem pretty obvious, but you do not have to submit one at registration. However, they need one submitted by mid October to place people in the appropriate corrals. They do not send out reminders for this and I completely forgot to send in mine! I had been waiting to get my time from the Maine Half Marathon, which was the first weekend in October, then submit it. I ran the half, got my time, but life got in the way and I ended up in corral "O". The Corrals ranged from "A" to "P" & I should have been in "D". Bottom line: Make sure to submit a time, especially if you are hoping to meet a race time goal, etc.
4. Keep an Eye on the Weather: The weather can vary wildly in January in Florida. The first time I ran the marathon in 2012, it was very cool at the start mid 40's & warmed to low 60's by finish. The second marathon I did in 2013 was a fluke heat wave & the temps were in the upper 70's to low 80's, it was miserable after training in the cool temps where I live in Maine! This past year, the temperature was reasonable mid- 60's, but the humidity was 100%, I could almost see the moisture in the air, which made for less than desirable conditions. However, by the time I hit mile 22-23, a cold front blew in and the weather completely changed during the race! I crossed the finish line drenched in sweat from the humidity, but shivering from the cold front!
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5. Enjoy the Magic: One of my favorite things about the course is the entertainment! There is Disney Magic sprinkled all along the course. You will see character greetings at different mile markers and experience running through the Castle at dawn with characters from Frozen making it snow! Runners are able to hop on Expedition Everest mid-race & get their pictures taken with a variety of reptiles from Animal Kingdom. A favorite moment of
mine, was running around the Ball Field at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex. The bleachers were filled with fans cheering everyone on! It really is an enjoyable event, no matter how much the last 5 or 6 miles hurt, there is always something to make you smile!
Have you ever participated in a Run Disney Event? Do you plan on doing one in the future? Let me know if you have any questions that I might be able to answer. Have a wonderful weekend!
You can read about race day here!
I've never run a Disney race, but these sound like great tips. I especially love the last one. What's the point in running Disney if you don't enjoy the magic? :)
I have run the Princess Half a few years ago and will be running my first Dopey Challenge in January. Thank you for the tip on the security! That is a change since my first RunDisney race. These are really great tips that I enjoyed reading!
I've never done a Disney race but I'd like to do at least one in my lifetime. I'd probably choose a Disneyland race, since it's only a couple hours away. Great tips!
These are great tips! I don't know if I'll ever run Disney but some of these tips are great for all races, too!
These are great tips! I don't know if I'll ever run Disney but some of these tips are great for all races, too!
Oh my good friend did this last year and she totally loved it! Great tips for running!
Good tips! I've done several Disney half marathons, and yes, registering early (pretty much on race day itself) is a must! When I signed up for the inaugural Star Wars Dark Side Challenge I was on the computer by 11:50 am and registered by 12:15! The race sold out in 45 minutes so its a good thing I was prepared. I also agree Florida weather can be a total crapshoot (I live about 2 hours south of Orlando). 2014 Princess half was rainy and in the 70s. 2015 it was in the 60s. 2016 it was in the 40s to start and warmed up to the 60s by the time we finished! You never know what you're going to get!!
I've never done a Disney Race, but after seeing all the Paris half marathon recaps.... i'd consider that one!
Never done a Disney race of any sort, but we've taken the kids to Disney World numerous times. I've said it before, I'm not ashamed to use Mickey as my trump card for getting the entire family (the husband AND three kids) to do a race with me ;-)
I know everyone loves the Disney races but the thought of getting up so early to get on the bus kind of deters me Thanks for the tips!
That is so cool that you have ran in three! My daughter has done a half marathon but I don't think she is interested in going any further!
Everyone tells me how early they have to be for the race and I just feel like I would get 0 sleep and stay up till 2!
Great tips! For someone who has never run it or thought about running it before, this would be very helpful!
Anna @ Piper's Run
Running a race is so much fun, I am sure Disney makes it magical! Awesome tips! Thanks
I loved remembering last January while reading this! It was humid. I want to do Dopey 2018. This is my C2C year.
i havent but if i have a group of friends doing it, i might someday :)
I would love to do a Run Disney race just for the experience. I guess I need to work on getting in shape and getting that stamina up!
I don't do races, but this is something I'd like to do in the future. These are great tips.
I didn't know you needed a qualifying race time to run Disney. Good to know.
holy crap! You woke up 2:40am?! Didn't that mess up your racing at all, being up that unusually early and missing out on some sleep?
Wow, I had no idea any of this but think it would be so cool to do. look at all those medals. Very neat! I would love to do a race at some point!
My bestie and I were just discussing planning a run together (since we live in different states). I'd like to do a half at Disney but I didn't realize the races started so early!!!
They are early to have the races finished before the parts open in the morning. A bit crazy but def an experience.
I highly recommend the Rock n roll races. They are all over the country and VERY well put together :)
Wow - what a collection of awards you have there! And they all look so fabulous with Disney! Congrats on the races and on your motivation. Ive never done a race, but am impressed with those like you who do them!
One of our friends is running the race in Florida next year and we're going down there with her (she's from Southern California and is doing both races next year). These are great tips! I'll have to pass them along to her.
What great tips for Disney races!
I did the Disney Princess half a few years ago but I actually was a bit disappointed with the race. It seemed really overpriced for the actual race and most of it wasn't in the parks. Still fun due to the Disney characters & my amazing team, but I doubt I will run Disney again.
Those are some great tips! I need to get myself back into running. I've been sick so now just slowly starting to get back into it. Amber N
Love this! The WDW Marathon was my very first back in 2014 and I did Dopey this past January. I'll be back in February for the Glass Slipper Challenge and can't wait!
I ran the WDW Marathon last year (first and only marathon), and it was a great experience. So far, I did the Tower of Terror in 2013 and the Glass Slipper Challenge in February in addition to the Marathon. I like the rD events, but they are a pretty big toll on the budget. I noticed that, with the exception of Princess weekend, a lot of the Disney races are still available this year. Which means, I still have a chance at the Dark Side.... :)
I'm off to Disney in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. I'm going for fun and not a race, as I'm not a runner. But this adventures sound like so much fun, and I love all the touches of magic they provide the runners.
I see all my friends on facebook posting about their run at Disney. I'd love to make it out there one day and join in on the fun with friends! Sounds like fun! xoxo Jessica
Running at Disney is so much fun. I can't wait to head back one month from today for Wine and Dine!
I have never done a Disney race - or any race at all! I would love to WATCH one though :-) I live in Maine, so that is cool you ran up here!
Yeah, enjoying the magic is the best tip! I love your tips and hope to get into this soon.
I think this would be an amazing location to run at - the happiest place on Earth!!
I've never tried joining a Disney marathon before, it sounds challenging and also very fun. Thanks for the lovely tips, I would like to try this some time.
I'm really excited to run my first Disney Race...Princess 10K in February! Thanks for the tips, I hope it really is a magical weekend! :)
Running a Disney race is on my bucket list but I always wonder if the cost makes it worth it...any thoughts on why the cost is worth it?
This looks like it was such a fun experience. I have always wanted to have the chance to do something like this. So much fun and energy.
These are such great tips - I hope to be able to run a 5k one day! Running one at Disney would be such a dream!
I've been to the Marathon in 2013, 2015, and 2016 and the weather was definitely different each year! I ran the Goofy Challenge once and I am not a shamed to say I now run "just" the marathon...lol
The only time I have participated in a marathon was a mud run for the first time last month. However, I'd love to try a Disney marathon someday. It sounds like it would be a lot of fun!
My hubs has run the Disney marathon twice and I've loved cheering him on. It's such a fun experience! They know what they're doing!
Yes, such fun events :-)
Run Run Run like the wind. That is what I have been wanting to do, to run in such a fun and safe place must be wonderful... So many comments,,, I had to search for the way to find your comment form it was hidden...
Will have to check into that! Sorry you had trouble.
I've run a few Disney races. I ran the marathon this year too and found myself saying "just the marathon". A very sweet woman who had run the Dopey Challenge corrected me and told me a marathon is never "just". Good point! I thought the characters stops were even more impressive with their background scenery. I'm still thinking about 2017. You? Thanks for linking, Angela!
Not 2017, but my husband is trying to convince me to do the Dopey in 2018 with him... We will see :-)
Running in Disney is definitely on my bucket list. I'm sure these tips will come in handy when that happens :) thank you sharing
You will love it!
Wow this sounds like such a fun run, one I'd love to complete. Some great tips!! Thanks for sharing with us all
Everything is fun at Disney :-)
These are great tips and yes all very good! I was there last year or ummm this past January and getting up that early is no joke! I thought surely having to be on a bus by 3:30 for a 5am start was not right. WRONG! Holly and I had about 10 minutes to kill before the guns went off. That's it.
Yup! That's my real deterrent for doing races there. My husband wants to do the Dopey, but I dread getting up that early 4 days in a row!!