Disney World Marathon - The ultimate family marathon

Disney Marathon weekend - Thursday, January 6 - Sunday, January 9, 2011

This marathon is held the second weekend in January, this was there 5th. year, with a total of just over 55,000 participants.

They have an event for every member of the family, on Friday they have “Mickey's Marathon Kids' Fest” which includes; Up & Away Family Fun Run 5K.” then for kids under 13 years they have the Mickey Mile, Infant Diaper Dash, 100m, 200m, 400m, plus games, activities and entertainment.

Saturday is the half marathon, Sunday is the full marathon, and then there is Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, the challenge is to complete the half marathon and the Full marathon, in two days, through the four theme parks, totaling 39.3 miles. If you complete this in the required time you will receive the Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge Medal, in addition to your medals for the ½ and full.

This marathon weekend is well organized in the Disney tradition, while it is a timed course where you have to maintain a 16 minute mile pace, it is full of entertainment, music, school bands, Disney characters out cheering you on and providing some great photo opportunities, even a full choir at approximately the 25 ¾ mile mark, this is a fun marathon.

The marathon course is well marked with time clocks at every mile, there are 22 beverage stations, with Power Aid and water, plus 4 have food, and many first aid stations.

The runs start to fireworks at 5:30 am. – wheelchair start, followed by the runners at 5:40 am. The course for the most part is flat. Adriano Bastos from Brazil won the full in 2:22;08 and Lisa Mizutani from Japan won the ladies in 2:51:20. in 2010.

There is a good Health and Fitness Expo. They have a speaker series with well known runners such as Jeff Galloway, Jenny Hatfield and others. Thursday evening there is a pasta in the park party, at Epcot. Sunday there is a victory Lap Celebration at Hollywood Studios. And of course you have all the entertainment that Disney has to offer.

For more information check out there web. site for 2011: www.disneyworldmarathon.com.

If you are looking for a fun packed marathon for the family I suggest you check this one out.

Take care and good running,

John Murphy

MRA Director