Run, Karla, Run!

Photo courtesy of runDisney

Yesterday runDisney unveiled a new race weekend for 2012. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend will debut in September 2012 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida. The race is a re-imagination of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K last run in 2009.

The main event of the weekend is a nighttime 10-mile race, scheduled for Sept. 29. The course will run through the set of Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, past Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat and finish near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In true Disney fashion, the race will culminate in a villain-themed post-race party with live music, characters—including your favorite Disney villains, of course—and exclusive access to attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Star Tours and Toy Story Mania.

“The 10-mile distance has emerged in popularity as beginning runners, who are fast becoming super fans of the sport, consider it the next big challenge after a 5K or 10K,” said race director Jon Hughes.

The new The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-mile race follows in the footsteps of the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, Disney’s original nighttime race, which will take place Nov. 9-10 in 2012 during the final weekend of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Like all runDisney events, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend will involve a variety of events, including a 5K and kids’ races, plus a Health and Fitness Expo at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend is the sixth signature event in the growing runDisney family, which includes races in both Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. All of the races features Disney entertainment along courses that run through the Disney theme parks. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, coming up in January, is one of the 10 largest race festivals in the U.S. with over 41,000 finishers in five races during the 2010 event.

Registration for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend opens Feb. 14, 2012 at runDisney.com.

Karla Bruning is a veteran journalist and running nerd. She has completed four marathons, trains with the New York Harriers and is a member of New York Road Runners. Follow Karla at RunKarlaRun.com, The Washington Times Communities, Facebook and Twitter@KBruning.

Disclosure: As part of the running media, runDisney provided me with complimentary race entry, hotel, park tickets, and some meals for the 2011 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. But as always, all opinions are my own. For more information read my Disclosure Policy.