Run, Karla, Run!

The 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon start. (Photo: Preston Mack/Disney)

It’s no secret that the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is one of my favorite race weeks of the year alongside the TCS New York City Marathon. And registration for the 2015 race opens Tuesday, April 22 at 12 p.m. EST.

Walt Disney World Marathon 2015 Weekend

The Walt Disney World Marathon 2015 Weekend will run from January 7-11 at, you guessed it, Walt Disney World in Florida. The weekend is the largest running festival in the U.S. with 60,000 finishers in five races and two race challenges: Walt Disney World Marathon, Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Walt Disney World 10K, Disney Family Fun Run 5K, runDisney Kids’ Races, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge and Dopey Challenge. Plus, the 2015 races and challenges will all have new medals.

The medal haul from the Dopey Challenge. (Photo: runDisney)

Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge dares runners to complete the half-marathon and marathon on back-to-back days, and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2015 with a special 10th anniversary Goofy medal. The Dopey Challenge, in its second year in 2015, asks runners to take on the 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon on four consecutive days for a special Dopey-themed medal.

The Walt Disney World Marathon 2015 weekend also includes the free Disney Health & Fitness Expo, free Cool Down Party at Downtown Disney, ticketed Pasta in the Park Party, ticketed breakfasts after the 5K and 10K, ticketed Race Retreat before the half and full marathons, and Runner’s World Challenge race packages.

Dopey Challenge runners come into the finish at Epcot. (Photo: Preston Mack/Disney)

If you want to run with Runners World, get in there now. Registration for the Runner’s World Challenge is already open and 99 percent full, as of press time. Registration for all the other events will open Tuesday, April 22 at 12 p.m. ET.

The weekend is usually runners’ first chance to buy the newest edition of the coveted New Balance runDisney running shoes, as well. In both 2013 and 2014, new styles of the shoes went on sale for the first time at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. The shoes aren’t available online and can only be purchased at runDisney race expos.

The 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon sold out in August in just under four months, with most of the other races filling more quickly. The Dopey Challenge? Yep, it sold out faster than you can name all seven dwarfs. Expect the 10th anniversary edition of Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge to reach capacity quickly this year too, even though it was the last to fill in 2014. You may have a bit more time to contemplate the 5K, 10K and half-marathon, but not much. Most runDisney races are selling out faster and faster year over year, and I’m sure the Walt Disney World Marathon 2015 will be similar. Read the rest of this entry →

Captain America storms Disney (Photo: runDisney)

It’s no surprise that runDisney’s Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend of races at Disneyland in California sold out in under 2 hours. Half marathons at Disneyland are especially popular, and the Avengers Half Marathon was sure to be no different.

But if you want to run the 5K on Saturday, November 15 or the half marathon on Sunday, November 16, you still can. Limited entries are available through the runDisney Charity Groups Program and runDisney Travel Provider Program.

Contact each group below individually to find out their requirements for joining their team. Charities may require a fundraising minimum and travel providers may require a travel package purchase. Each group offers guaranteed entry, discount hotel rates and other perks. Read the rest of this entry →

Marvel super heroes at the Walt Disney World Marathon. (Photo: runDisney)

UPDATE: The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend sold out in under 2 hours. If you still want to run the 5K or half-marathon, you can through charity and tour groups. Read about it at Run Disney’s Avengers Half Marathon For Charity.

Runners, assemble. The time has come to register for the runDisney Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend. Registration for the inaugural event at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., opens Tuesday, March 25 at 12 p.m. Eastern. The race weekend is November 14-16, 2014.

The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend is themed around the Marvel universe and its stars: Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Iron Man among others. The weekend will include a Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Races, Health & Fitness Expo, Pasta Party, and, of course, super hero themed entertainment and characters.

Captain America runs Disney. (Photo: runDisney)

If I was a betting woman, I’d bet on this one selling out quickly. The two existing Disneyland events have proven especially popular for runDisney.

The 2014 Tinker Bell Half Marathon, which took place on January 19, sold out its 15,000 race spots in less than two days.

And the 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, scheduled for August 28-31, had the quickest sell-out in runDisney history. All 35,500 of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend‘s running bibs sold out within 12 hours and 13 minutes. The Dumbo Double Dare, where participants complete both the Disneyland 10K and Half Marathon on back-to-back days, filled up in just 41 minutes. The Disneyland 10K sold out in 53 minutes, followed by the runDisney Kids Races, which closed in 2 hours and 48 minutes. The Disneyland Half Marathon itself sold out in 9 hours and 20 minutes, while the Disneyland 5K closed in 12 hours and 13 minutes.

I doubt the new Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon will be any different. Read the rest of this entry →

Chef Mickey and Minnie greeted runners at the finish of Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon on Nov. 9, 2013. (Photo: runDisney)

Registration for the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend from November 8-9 at Walt Disney World in Florida opens Tuesday, March 4 at 12 p.m. EST.

It’s no secret that the Wine and Dine Half Marathon is my favorite half marathon. I ran the 2013 race as part of a press trip sponsored by New Balance and runDisney. In 2011, the event was my first runDisney race and where my husband proposed. So it will always be a sentimental favorite.

But that’s not the only reason I love this race. Marriage proposals aside, it has the best post-race party I’ve ever been to, at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

The Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon starts at 10 p.m. outside the ESPN Wine World of Sports Complex and takes runners through Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, past Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, and finally to the finish at Epcot.

Once there, runners can party until 4 a.m. with Epcot all to themselves. Admission to the Finish Line party is included in race registration, along with a $10 Disney gift card and a complimentary beer, wine or soda at the finish.

My husband and me with the real Aladdin and Jasmine. (Photo: RunKarlaRun.com)

Friends and family can also buy tickets to the Finish Line Party, where select Epcot attractions like Test Track and Soarin’ remain open into the wee hours. The party also includes all the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kiosks, live bands, DJs, and meet and greets with Disney characters. My husband and I got a photo with Aladdin and Jasmine while we were dressed as Aladdin and Jasmine at the 2013 race. In 2011, we photographed ourselves around the world. Read the rest of this entry →

Runners dressed as Captain America. (Photo: runDisey)

UPDATE: The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend sold out in under 2 hours. If you still want to run the 5K or half-marathon, you can through charity and tour groups. Read about it at Run Disney’s Avengers Half Marathon For Charity.

Fanboys and fangirls, get your super hero costumes ready! runDisney announced today the Inaugural Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland slated for November 14-16.

In case you live under a rock, the Avengers are a Marvel Comics super hero team that includes Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Iron Man, among others. The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend themed around the Marvel universe will include a Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Races, Health & Fitness Expo, Pasta Party, and, of course, super hero themed entertainment and characters.

“runDisney races are a natural fit because our comic book Super Heroes embody many of the same brand attributes as runDisney, such as heroism and intensity with a heavy dose of fun,” said Dan Buckley, president of TV, Publishing and Brand Management for Marvel Entertainment. “This race weekend will have a very distinct atmosphere that will appeal to comic book fans and runDisney fans.”

It’s the fall Disneyland half-marathon runDisney fans have been waiting for. Read the rest of this entry →

Beauty and the Beast

If Disney characters were runners, what kind of runners would they be?

The Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend of races kicked off today with the Cinderella Royal Family 5K, and continues Saturday with the inaugural Disney Princess Enchanted 10K and the Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday. Not to be forgotten is the first ever Glass Slipper Challenge, where runners complete both the 10K and half-marathon. Talk about medal envy; I’ve got it bad. You know I love me some Cinderella.

So in honor of the Disney Princess Half Marathon, I thought I’d share another installment of my runDisney Running Profiles.

Previous installments have looked at Sleeping Beauty as the runner who needs some rest and recovery, Alice in Wonderland as the newbie runner who has fallen down the running rabbit hole, and Cinderella as the hard working back-of-the-pack runner.

But who better to spur runners on this Princess Half Marathon weekend than Disney’s best cheerleader, Belle?

Belle

Beauty & the Beast: The Coach and the Runner

Great coaches—in running and in life—are the people who bring out the best in us. They cheer us from the sidelines, encourage us when we’re down, expect more of us when we give them less, and help us show the world, and ourselves, just how great we really can be. Never is that more apparent than when watching the Olympics.

In the Disney universe, the greatest coach of them all is Belle from Beauty & the Beast. And the Beast is a quintessential runner.

If I had to pick one Disney character to coach me, Belle would be my top pick. Read the rest of this entry →

The 2014 runDisney New Balance collection.

I attended the 2013 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend as part of a press trip sponsored by New Balance and runDisney, where they gave runners a first glimpse of the new New Balance Disney shoes. I’ve subsequently gotten a lot of questions about how to buy them. Here’s the scoop on how to get your hands on them at the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

First, the New Balance Disney shoes are only available at runDisney race expos. Unfortunately, they are not sold online. Though I’m sure some enterprising individuals will hawk them for obscene amounts of money on eBay, as happened last year, or offer their services as virtual personal shoppers.

But New Balance is now offering runners with bibs at the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend a way to register early to buy the shoes before all those non-runners, who are merely trying to capitalize on the craze.

2014 890v4 Cinderella Women’s Shoe (Photo: runDisney)

How To Buy New Balance Disney Shoes For Runners With Bibs

Starting at 6 a.m. each day of Disney’s Fit For a Princess Expo from Thursday, February 20 through Saturday, February 22 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, runners can visit www.nbvirtualqueue.com to enter their bib number and sign up early for a reservation at the New Balance expo booth. There, they can try on and purchase the New Balance Disney shoes.

Runners can reserve one style in a specific size ahead of time, and can buy three additional pairs in any style and size from the non-reserved inventory. Once registered, New Balance will send you a confirmation text with your group number, confirmation number, return time and requested style and size.

The men’s shoes come in sizes 7-14. The women’s shoes are available in sizes 5.5-12. Read the rest of this entry →

The start of the 2013 Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler. (Photo: runDisney)

I already reminded you that registration for the 7 Mile Bridge Run in the Florida Keys opens Tuesday, February 11 at 6 a.m. EST. But another popular Florida race opens registration the same day: the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler.

I’ve never run either race, but have run other races at Walt Disney World as media courtesy of runDisney.

Registration for the 2014 Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend from October 3-4, 2014 at Walt Disney World opens Tuesday, February 11 at 12 p.m. EST.

This race doesn’t sell out as quickly as, say, the Disneyland Half Marathon or the 7 Mile Bridge Run, but it will sell out.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend is dedicated to the villains as the Disney baddies come out in the dark with a nighttime race that starts at 10 p.m.

At the 2013 race, 9,480 runners finished the 10-mile course that starts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, heads to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Champion Stadium, and finishes at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror back at Hollywood Studios.

Runners disguised as Cinderella’s step sisters pose with Snow White’s evil queen disguised as an old woman. (Photo: runDisney)

But what I imagine is the best part of the race comes after the finish at the Disney Villains Hollywood Bash at Hollywood Studios, where rides like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Star Tours and Toy Story Mania stay open just for runners and their guests. Admission to the party is included in race registration for runners. Friends and family can buy tickets too.

Other races at the weekend include the Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run and runDisney Kids’ Races, including a Diaper Dash for babies and 1-mile run for older kids. Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo will be in full swing too. All those events take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend benefits Autism Speaks, a charity that funds research for treatments, causes, prevention and a cure for autism, raises awareness of autism, and advocates for autistic individuals and their families. Read the rest of this entry →

The Disneyland 10K and 5K finish. (Photo: runDisney)

So you didn’t get into any of the Disneyland Half Marathon 2014 races including the Dumbo Double Dare, the Disneyland 10K or the Disneyland Half Marathon? It was a record sell-out for runDisney this year. But limited entries are still available through charity and tour groups.

The major Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend races and events sold-out even faster than the 26 hours from last year for a new runDisney record.

All 35,500 of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend‘s running bibs sold out within 12 hours and 13 minutes. The Dumbo Double Dare, where participants complete both the Disneyland 10K and Half Marathon on back-to-back days, filled up in just 41 minutes. The Disneyland 10K sold out in 53 minutes, followed by the runDisney Kids Races, which closed in 2 hours and 48 minutes. The Disneyland Half Marathon itself sold out in 9 hours and 20 minutes, while the Disneyland 5K closed in 12 hours and 13 minutes.

But if you really want to be a part of the Disneyland Half Marathon 2014 races from August 28-31, you still can if you register through a charity or tour group. Contact the following groups directly to find out how to register for the race through them. Read the rest of this entry →

The 2013 Disneyland Half Marathon (Photo: runDisney)

UPDATE: The Disneyland Half Marathon, Disneyland 10K, Dumbo Double Dare, Disneyland Family Fun Run 5K, runDisney Kids Races and Welcome Event featuring Runner’s World are now sold-out. Limited entries are available through charity and tour groups. Registration is still open for the Pasta in the Park Party.

Run Disneyland Half Marathon 2014 Races For Charity

* * *

Registration opens for the Disneyland Half Marathon 2014 Weekend on Tuesday, January 28 at 12 pm EST. I’ve never actually run the Disneyland Half Marathon, but did run the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon in 2012, courtesy of runDisney. Running Disneyland and Anaheim was one of my favorite race experiences.

The 2013 Dumbo Double Dare medal (Photo: runDisney)

The race weekend from August 29-31 in California includes the Disneyland Half Marathon, Disneyland 10K, Dumbo Double Dare, Disneyland Family Fun Run 5K and runDisney Kids Races. Runners, friends and family can also buy tickets to the Pasta in the Park Party and ChEAR Squad packages for the half marathon.

Last year, 15,872 runners finished the Disneyland Half Marathon and another 7,839 finished the Disneyland 10K. Over 5,000 of them finished the Dumbo Double Dare. Runners came from all 50 U.S. states and 15 countries for the races.

Participants run through Angel Stadium at the Disneyland Half Marathon. (Photo: runDisney)

If you want in on the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, and especially the Dumbo Double Dare, be prepared to register right away. The 2013 Disneyland Half Marathon, Disneyland 10K and Dumbo Double Dare sold out in just 26 hours. The 10K and Dumbo Double Dare sold-out first, with the half-marathon closing just a few hours later. Read the rest of this entry →

Goofy and Donald Duck at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon finish. (Photo: runDisney)

The Walt Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday, January 11 was the third of four races at the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: the Disney Family Fun Run 5K, Walt Disney World 10K, Walt Disney World Half Marathon and Walt Disney World Marathon.

Done! (Photo: MarathonFoto.com)

runDisney invited me to be their guest at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. I was running the first three of the four races, so the Walt Disney World Half Marathon was the finale to my running weekend.

I’ve never run this race before; I was really looking forward to it. I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon in 2012, which had a nearly identical course but with a slightly different start and finish, and I had a blast at that race.

I had one goal and one goal alone for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon: get a picture with Cinderella while dressed as Cinderella.

It was my sixth Disney race and I had yet to achieve that feat. Read the rest of this entry →

Minnie Mouse presides over the Walt Disney World 10K. (Photo: runDisney)

The Walt Disney World 10K on Friday, January 10, 2014 was the second of four races at the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: the 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon.

runDisney invited me to be their guest at the race. Some 7,000 runners were completing all four races as part of the Dopey Challenge. Another 3,000 runners, like me, were just along for the ride.

It was the inaugural Walt Disney World 10K with a brand new race patron and medal: Minnie Mouse.

I can’t believe Minnie is only just now getting her own race. (UPDATE: A few readers have pointed out that Minnie Mouse used to host a Women Run the World 15K, known as the Minnie Marathon, that was eventually replaced by Disney’s Princess Half Marathon in 2009. Glad this isn’t Minnie’s first race!)

Of the three races I was running at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend—the Disney Family Fun Run 5K, Walt Disney World 10K, and Walt Disney World Half Marathon—I was most excited to earn that Minnie Mouse medal.

Minnie Mouse medals! (Photo: runDisney)

Going into the Walt Disney World 10K I had just two letters on my mind: PR. I desperately wanted to break 54 minutes and my personal best of 54:09. I was well trained and ready to run. But I had four things working against me come race day.

1. Sleep deprivation
2. Humidity
3. A blister
4. Dopey Challenge runners

More on that after a breakdown of the race itself. Read the rest of this entry →

This Dole Whip Pineapple Float celebrated the end of my running streak.

That’s right, my running streak has officially died. As my husband predicted, it passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 12, the day after the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, which I ran as a guest of runDisney.

As Walt Disney World Marathoners and Dopey Challengers arose at 3 a.m., I slept in until 8:15 a.m., the latest I’d slept all week.

And then I did the unthinkable: I didn’t go for a run. I ate a Dole Whip pineapple float at Magic Kingdom instead.

Sure, I walked a few miles around Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I even jogged a few steps to hurry to nab Fast Pass tickets for a few rides. But I did not run the requisite mile.

And so, my running streak ended after 46 days and 166 miles, averaging 3.6 miles a day. I started with a race in the first week and ended with three races (1, 2, 3) in the last week.

Here’s the run down of its final days since my last recap. Read the rest of this entry →

Cinderella did it! Three races in three days. (Photo: RunKarlaRun.com)

Read my full Walt Disney World Half Marathon Race Report!

Three days. Three races. Three costumes. Two theme parks. And lots of fun.

I ran the Disney Family Fun Run 5K, Walt Disney World 10K and Walt Disney World Half Marathon at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend as a guest of runDiseny. My full race reports are still to come!

But here are the pics I snagged while dressed as Cinderella, in the dress the mice made for her, at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday, January 11.

Hope everyone who ran this weekend had great races!

Walt Disney World Half Marathon Slideshow Read the rest of this entry →

Cinderella is Pretty in Pink!

What a week! The Disney Family Fun Run 5K and Walt Disney World 10K at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend are already behind me.

Pluto made me miss my pup, Cinderella.

I picked up my Pluto medal Thursday at the Disney Family Fun Run 5K while dressed as The Hunchback of Notre Dame‘s Esmeralda with my mom by my side. Read all about it in my race report.

Today, I got my Minnie Mouse at the 10K this morning while dressed as Beauty and the Beast‘s Belle. I didn’t run a personal best like a hoped, but I gave it my all and got some great pictures with Daisy Duck and Pluto. Read the full race report!

I’m attending the weekend as a guest of runDisney and I’ve got just one more race and one more Disney running costume to don: The Walt Disney World Half Marathon. A photo of my costume is below.

In case this is your first visit to my blog, I’ll start with this: I’m obsessed with Cinderella. Why? I have no idea. She’s just my boo. She has been since I can remember remembering things. Read the rest of this entry →