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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: Running Through The Most Magical Place On Earth

As marathon experiences go, very few can match the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. There are bigger races, faster courses and marathons with larger crowds, but none combine world-class organisation, iconic scenery and pure fun quite like Disney.

As marathon experiences go, very few can match the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. There are bigger races, faster courses and marathons with larger crowds, but none combine world-class organisation, iconic scenery and pure fun quite like Disney. From the moment the pre-race fireworks explode above EPCOT to the final steps around World Showcase, every mile reminds you that this is far more than simply another marathon. It isn't cheap, and it certainly isn't the place to chase a personal best, but if you're looking for a running adventure you'll remember for the rest of your life, this should be sitting firmly on your bucket list. The Destination Walt Disney World Resort opened in October 1971 and has grown into one of the world's most recognisable holiday destinations. Covering around 25,000 acres just outside Orlando, Florida, it remains vastly larger than Disneyland in California and continues to expand with new attractions, hotels and entertainment almost every year. The resort is home to four theme parks, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, alongside two water parks, nearly forty hotels, championship golf courses and Disney Springs, a huge shopping, dining and entertainment district. Unlike a normal holiday at Disney, Marathon Weekend gives runners the rare opportunity to see the parks before they open to the public. Streets that are normally packed with families are almost empty, attractions provide an incredible backdrop for the race and some of Disney's most famous landmarks become part of your marathon journey. It is an experience reserved for relatively few people each year and one that immediately sets this event apart from almost every other marathon in the world. A Running Festival That Continues To Grow The Walt Disney World Marathon was first held in 1994 when just over 5,500 runners took part. The Half Marathon followed in 1999 before moving onto its own day in 2006, allowing the introduction of the now-famous Goofy's Race And A Half Challenge. The event continued to expand with the addition of the 5K, 10K and eventually the Dopey Challenge, which sees runners complete all four races over four consecutive mornings. Today Marathon Weekend attracts tens of thousands of runners from around the world and has become one of the most sought-after race weekends on the international calendar. Many participants return year after year, not because they are chasing faster times, but because no other event offers quite the same atmosphere. Every January the resort becomes a celebration of running, with participants ranging from first-time 5K runners to experienced marathoners attempting the Dopey Challenge for the fifth, tenth or even twentieth time. The Race Distances One of the biggest attractions of Marathon Weekend is that there really is something for everyone. The programme begins with the 5K on Thursday before moving through the 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon over the following three mornings. Each event has its own unique medal and its own distinctive route through different areas of the resort. For runners looking for something more demanding there are two challenge events. Goofy's Race And A Half Challenge combines Saturday's Half Marathon with Sunday's Marathon, covering 39.3 miles over two days. The Dopey Challenge has become one of the most famous endurance challenges in road running, requiring participants to complete the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon on four consecutive mornings. Covering 48.6 miles in total, it is as much a test of recovery and determination as it is of fitness, but the reward is an unforgettable experience and an impressive collection of medals. The Expo Every major marathon has an expo, but Disney naturally puts its own spin on things. Held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the Expo is where every runner collects their race number, participant shirt and race information before exploring the extensive exhibition halls. Alongside official runDisney merchandise you'll find leading running brands, nutrition companies, footwear specialists and plenty of opportunities to spend far more money than you intended. The Expo also sets the tone for the weekend. Excitement builds as runners from across the globe arrive, challenge medals are displayed, photographs are taken and final race preparations begin. Whether you're running one event or all four, it's an essential part of the Marathon Weekend experience. The start and finish is at EPCOT The Marathon Course One thing every participant quickly discovers is that Marathon Weekend starts early. Every race begins at 5.00am, meaning alarm clocks ring well before dawn throughout the weekend. It sounds brutal, but those early starts are exactly what make the event so special. By the time most holidaymakers are still asleep, thousands of runners are making their way through the resort beneath fireworks, music and floodlights, creating an atmosphere unlike any other marathon. The marathon starts outside EPCOT before heading onto Disney's road network towards Magic Kingdom. Although the opening miles are mainly on wide roads, Disney makes every effort to keep runners entertained with music, performers, Disney characters and enthusiastic Cast Members providing encouragement from start to finish. The excitement builds as runners approach Magic Kingdom, passing Disney's Contemporary Resort before entering the park itself. For many runners, the journey through Magic Kingdom is the highlight of the entire race. Running along Main Street, U.S.A. with Cinderella Castle illuminated ahead is one of those unforgettable marathon moments that stays with you long after you've crossed the finish line. The route continues through Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square and Adventureland before leaving the park and heading south towards Animal Kingdom. The second half of the marathon continues through more of the Disney property, including Animal Kingdom, where runners pass Expedition Everest and several of the park's themed lands before continuing towards Blizzard Beach and Hollywood Studios. After a brief tour through Hollywood Studios the course returns to EPCOT for the closing miles around World Showcase before finishing close to where the day began. It isn't the fastest marathon you'll ever run, particularly with the temptation to stop for character photographs, but it is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining. Aid stations are frequent throughout the course, providing water, sports drinks and nutrition, while entertainment never feels far away. Another unexpected benefit is the availability of permanent restroom facilities inside the parks, something marathon runners quickly learn to appreciate. What Makes Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend So Special? Every marathon has something that defines it. London has its crowds, Berlin has its speed and Boston has its history. Disney has atmosphere. Running through four world-famous theme parks before they open is an experience that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere. Disney characters appear throughout the course, live entertainment keeps spirits high, volunteers create an infectious energy and the production values are exactly what you would expect from one of the world's biggest entertainment companies. Even runners who have completed dozens of marathons often describe Disney as unlike anything else they have experienced. The medals have also become legendary. Every race has its own beautifully designed finisher medal, while Challenge participants earn additional awards that have become highly prized within the running community. It's entirely possible to leave the weekend carrying six medals, making the journey home considerably heavier than when you arrived. Disney medals are known for being amongst the best in the running world Running For Charity Many charities receive official entries for Marathon Weekend, giving runners another route into what is often a heavily oversubscribed event. These places usually require participants to commit to a fundraising target, but they provide an excellent opportunity to combine an unforgettable running experience with raising money for a worthwhile cause. International tour operators also offer travel packages that include guaranteed race entries, making them another popular option for runners travelling from outside the United States. How To Get An Entry If Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is on your wish list, planning ahead is essential. General entries regularly sell out within hours, particularly for the Dopey Challenge, and demand continues to increase every year. Club runDisney members receive early access to registration, while charity places and official travel partners offer alternative routes into the event for those who miss out during general sales. Our Verdict The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is expensive, requires plenty of planning and those 5.00am starts are certainly not for everyone. None of that matters once you're running through Cinderella Castle with fireworks lighting up the sky and thousands of fellow runners sharing the experience. This isn't a marathon chosen because it's fast. It's chosen because it's magical. If you're looking for one marathon that combines an incredible holiday with an unforgettable running experience, few events anywhere in the world come close. It may not deliver a personal best, but it will almost certainly deliver memories that last a lifetime.

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