Run, Karla, Run!

Charities and tour groups offer entries into the sold out Star Wars Disney races. (Photo: Disney/Ali Nasser)

So you didn’t get into any of the Star Wars Disney races from January 15-18 at Disneyland in California, including the Star Wars Half Marathon, Star Wars Rebel Challenge, Star Wars 10K, Star Wars 5K and runDisney Kids Races? You’ve still got a chance. Charity and travel providers offer limited entries for runners who register and run with them.

The inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend sold out in two hours, nearly matching the runDisney Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend sell-out record of 1 hour and 48 minutes for all races. The Star Wars Rebel Challenge, where runners complete the Star Wars 10K and Star Wars Half Marathon on back-to-back days, sold out first in 25 minutes. The runDisney Kids Races followed in 40 minutes. The Star Wars 5K filled up in 1 hour. The Star Wars 10K was gone inside of 1 hour and 40 minutes, and the Star Wars Half Marathon closed in 2 hours.

Tickets are still available for the Star Wars Wookie Welcome Party on January 15. The event in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland will offer character meet-and-greets, entertainment, dessert and select attractions like Space Mountain, Star Tours, Astro Orbitor, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. At publication time, the party was 65 percent full.

But if you really want to be a part of the Star Wars Disney races, you can still register through a charity or tour group. Contact the following organizations directly to find out how to run the races with them. Charities will ask runners to raise a certain amount of money and tour providers may require purchase of a travel package.

Star Wars Disney Half Marathon Weekend Charities

The race weekend celebrates the Discovery Science Center, a non-profit organization that inspires and educates kids through science-based programs.

runDisney Charity Groups offer guaranteed entries, discounted Disneyland theme park tickets and other perks for the Star Wars Disney races. Check with each group individually for their requirements, benefits, and to register with them.

You can still channel your inner Princess Leia at Star Wars Disney races. (Photo: runDisney)

• American Association for Cancer Research
• A-T Children’s Project
• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• American Liver Foundation
• ASPCA
• Autism Speaks
• Back on My Feet
• Kellsie’s Hope Foundation
• Lazarex Cancer Foundation
• My Brighter Tomorrow
• Noah’s Light Foundation
• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
• Save the Children
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Teaching & Learning Collaborative
• Team Challenge – Chron’s Colitis Foundation of America
• Team Muscle Makers for UCMD
• The Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Star Wars Disney Half Marathon Weekend Travel Providers

Runners can also register for the Star Wars Disney races through a runDisney Travel Provider. They offer special packages for runners, including discounted Disneyland hotel rates and theme park tickets. Contact each tour provider individually to learn more and to register through them.

• Acclaim Travel
• Adventures by Disney
• Dream Travel (Canada)
• GET Travel
• Mouse Fan Travel
• Shadow Fox Athletics

More charities or tour groups may become available and are all subject to change. Visit the “Registration” tab at rundisney.com/star-wars-half-marathon for more information.

As a member of the running media, Disney sometimes provides me with complimentary race entry, hotel, park tickets, and some meals for runDisney events. But as always, all posts and opinions are purely my own. For more information read my Disclosure Policy.

About Karla Bruning

Karla Bruning hosts On The Run for New York Road Runners. She used to report for Newsweek but spent her free time squeezing in workouts. Now she freelances as a running reporter. She's run 7 marathons, 15 halves, 4 triathlons, sings in an '80s cover band, spoils her dog and travels compulsively.

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Karla Bruning