Run, Karla, Run!

The inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon—The Dark Side takes runners to a galaxy far, far away. OK, it’s actually at Walt Disney World in Florida, where the Dark Side of the Force is strong on April 17, 2016. All together 43,000 runners will awaken The Force, with many registered for multiple events.

The Star Wars “Dark Side” themed race weekend includes the Star Wars Half Marathon, Star Wars 10K, Star Wars 5K, runDisney Kids Races and the two-day Dark Side Challenge, where runners complete the 10K and half-marathon on consecutive days. Many runners will also be completing the inaugural Kessel Run Challenge, by running both the Star Wars Half Marathon—The Light Side at Disneyland and the Star Wars Half Marathon—The Dark Side at Walt Disney World.

I will be among them, courtesy of runDisney, with my husband by my side. Our costumes? Chewbacca and Rey.

If you see us out there, say hello!

My niece and nephew ran the the runDisney Kids Races. Each asked me to run with them. How could I say no? We had a blast.

Now it’s time to blast off for 13.1 miles of fun through the Star Wars Galaxy.

Here’s a look at runDisney’s galactic race weekend by the numbers.

Inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon—The Dark Side By The Numbers

$2.053 billion—worldwide box office receipts for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to date

260,900—combined miles adult runners will tackle at the Star Wars Half Weekend. That’s 1.36125299e-8 parsecs or like circling the world the 9.5 times.

250,000—runners who participate in runDisney events each year

43,000—registrations for the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend—The Dark Side. It’s runDisney’s largest half-marathon.

36,000—cones used throughout the half-marathon course

23,000—gallons of water at aid stations, enough to fill a swimming pool 6-feet deep

19,282—runners from Florida participating in the weekend’s races

19,500—runners registered for the Star Wars Half Marathon

12,000—runners registered for the Star Wars 10K

9,800—runners registered for the Star Wars 5K

7,500—runners registered for the Dark Side Challenge

2,000—kids registered for the runDisney Kids Races

87–age of the oldest female Star Wars Half Marathon runner

83—age of the oldest Star Wars Half Marathon runner

56—percentage of female runners

44—percentage of male runners

34—countries represented among runners

32—number of half-marathons it takes to lap the second Death Star

14—age of the youngest Star Wars Half Marathon runner

9—runDisney race weekends in 2016

7—Star Wars films that have been released to date

5—Star Wars films, including continuing episodes and spin-offs, in the Disney pipeline

2—Star Wars-themed race weekends in the runDisney series. The other is the Star Wars Half Marathon “The Light Side” at Disneyland in January

1st—runDisney half-marathon race to finish at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

1—number of Star Wars movies Disney plans to release each year, ad infinitum

May the course be with you, runners!

I’m attending the Star Wars Half Marathon as media, courtesy of runDisney. But as always, all opinions are purely my own. I really do believe in being honest about my experiences and Disney is no exception. For more information read my Disclosure Policy.

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