January 2023 will bring forth the 30th running of runDisney’s Walt Disney World Marathon. Now with four race weekend at Walt Disney World, returning races at Disneyland Resort, and past events at Disneyland Paris, runDisney has grown to be bit of a phenomenon in the running world. From olympians, actors and just every day people, so many have taken part in runDisney races over the years.

runDisney hasn’t always been what it is today however. Back in the 1980s, Jon Hughes, owner of local Orlando running business Track Shack approached Disney with putting on a world class marathon event. The Walt Disney World Marathon was born when Disney approved the event in 1992. Hughes was race director of the Walt Disney World Marathon for roughly 27 of the Walt Disney World Marathons before stepping away from that role. Track Shack still remains the race organizers behind these races in Florida.

When the Walt Disney World Marathon debuted in 1994, the race went through the three existing parks and had only over 5,500 runners. The weekend events included a family fun run in World Showcase at EPCOT as well. Today, the weekend includes four separate races including a 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon. Today, races can draw over 20,000 participants.

• 1995 – course records were set by Leonid Shvetsov at 2:11:50 for the men’s division and Judit Nagy at 2:31:54 for the women’s that have stood the test of time. Blizzard Beach was also included in the course this year.
• 1996 – electronic timing was first introduced.
• 1998 – was the 5th anniversary of the event and included the introduction of the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. The half cost just $25 while the full was $50.
• 1999 – saw a course change once again as Animal Kingdom was now open and the course ran through all four Walt Disney World parks. In October of this year, Disney held the Disney Classic 10K for the first time.
• 2003 – a local Florida resident won the women’s division, Bea Marie Alitieri, of Clermont with a time of 2:53:10. This year is also the first time “perfect” marathoners are recognized.
• 2006 – Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge was added as the marathon and half would be moved to separate days. Runners who completed both would receive an extra challenge medal. There was also a post race party at Pleasure Island which runners received free admission to attend.
• 2008 – Walt Disney World 5K is held at Animal Kingdom with a Lion King theme.
• 2009 – the first time “Cheer Squad” is held with spectators able to purchase reserved viewing locations.
• 2010 – was the year of one of the largest marathon fields to date and featured one of the coldest races to date with lows in the 30s at race start. runDisney also offered runners extra options for the first time including a pasta in the park offering and a post race party at EPCOT. A post race party event was held at Hollywood Studios for $45.
• 2011 – runDisney allowed runners to vote on medal designs beforehand. Free entry to a Walt Disney World park was given to marathon runners and the 5K was Toy Story themed.
• 2012 – the Chip and Dale Marathon relay was held for the first and only time. This year was also the 15th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Half Marathon.

• 2013 – the 20th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon and the course was altered once again to include the Walt Disney World Speedway and ESPN Wide World of Sports. 95 “perfect” marathoners were recognized for completing all 20 Walt Disney World marathons.
• 2014 – the Dopey Challenge was introduced as well as the Walt Disney World 10K. This 48.6 mile challenge had runners compete in all four weekend events back to back.
• 2015 – marked the 10th anniversary of the Goofy Challenge as well as introduced the Castaway Cay Challenge which gave runners the option for another medal if they ran on Disney’s Castaway Cay island after taking part in a Marathon Weekend event.
• 2017 – due to severe weather in the area the 20th running of the Walt Disney World Half marathon is canceled. Runners took it upon themselves to get their miles in though throughout Walt Disney World resort. Runners were given an option to even “upgrade” and run the full marathon the next day.
• 2018 – the 25th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon, as well as the 5th anniversary of the Dopey Challenge. This weekend saw huge numbers of runners. Nick Hilton wins the men’s event making him the first American to do so in 14 years. Perfect marathoners who remained were offered registration for life as a thank you for taking part in 25 years of Walt Disney World marathons.
• 2020 – the 15th anniversary of the Goofy Challenge and high temperatures on marathon day led to the course being cut for runners near the back of the pack. This year also brought more course changes taking out ESPN Wide World of Sports, running through Epcot twice and running through a portion of Blizzard Beach.
• 2021 – this race weekend was converted to virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Runners around the world took part virtually and some even on site around resorts.
• 2022 – Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend returns, field sizes were kept smaller intentionally as covid-19 is still a concern. Characters on course were kept at a distance from runners. Runner Brittany Charboneau wins all four events of the Dopey Challenge on the women’s side.
• 2023 – the 30th running of the Walt Disney World Marathon as well as 10th Dopey Challenge. The Castaway Cay Challenge also returns from taking a couple years off due to the pandemic.

Fredison Costa has won the men’s marathon a record seven times. Giovanna Martins has won a record five times on the women’s side.

runDisney has continued to offer a virtual option for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (and their other race weekends) since the pandemic. runDisney virtual races do not require runners to enter any sort of time information. Kids races also used to be part of the weekend events with diaper dashes to kids one mile runs. These have not returned since the pandemic closures.

In the history of the Walt Disney World Marathon, runDisney has only given out prize money for marathon winners twice. In 2018, roughly 2.5 million ounces of water were distributed, as well as 117,000 bananas. 42,000 cones are used to keep runners on course and there are more than 1 million photos taken by photographers throughout the race weekend.

Since beginning in 1994, runDisney has held the following race weekends:

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – since 1994
• Princess Half Marathon Weekend – since 2009
• Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – since 2010
• Tower of Terror 10-Miler – 2012-2014
• Expedition Everest Challenge – 2012-2015
• Star Wars Light Side Weekend – 2015-2017
• Star Wars Dark Side Weekend – 2016-2021
• Springtime Surprise Weekend – since 2022
• Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend – 2012-2017
• Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend – 2014-2017
• Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – 2006-2017
• Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend – 2016-2019
• Disney Classic 10K – 1999-2004
• Race for the Taste 10K – 2005-2010
• Minnie Marathon Weekend – 2006-2008
• Disneyland Marathon – 1998
• Disney Inline Marathon – 2003-2007
• Virtual Running Shorts 5K Series – since 2016

Over the years, runDisney has held numerous different events. Disneyland held it’s first and only marathon in 1998 along with a 5K. In 1999, Walt Disney World hosted the Disney Classic 10K which in 2005 was rebranded Race for the Taste. This would be rebranded again in 2010 as runDisney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. The half was originally held as a night race until 2017 when runDisney added the 10K and Two Course Challenge to the mix. In 2003, Disney added the Walt Disney World Inline skating marathon which ran from 2003 to 2007. In 2004, Walt Disney World hosted the Florida Half-Ironman Triathlon and Family Festival but this ended in 2005. Disney’s Minnie Marathon Weekend was held from 2006 through 2008 but no actual marathons took place during this weekend. Minnie Marathon Weekend was a women’s themed event with a 5K and 15K. Following the runDisney 2017 season, Disneyland Resort had canceled their races due a number of issues. runDisney has announced Disneyland races will return in 2024.

Runners love to make the most of these events in more ways than one. One of the big things that makes runDisney events stand apart from just running through the parks is the characters on course. Runners can stop and take photos with various characters including ones you may not be able to find in the parks. Outside of that, during the marathon runners will hop off course and ride attractions such as Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom or Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios. Then many will cross the finish line just outside EPCOT with a beer or margarita in hand. runDisney brings serious and not so serious runners in ways you cannot find elsewhere.

January 4th through January 8th, 2023 will be the 30th running of the Walt Disney World Marathon. If you are interested in learning more about these events, and to book your next runDisney endeavor, be sure to reach out to your Crescent Lake Club agent today!

Sources:

• Touring Plans
• WDWMagic
• Disney Minnie Marathon Weekend
• The Disneyland Half Marathon
• Walt Disney World Triathlon
• Walt Disney World Inline Marathon

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