Run, Karla, Run!

Runners get their Tink on at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon. (runDisney)

You asked, runDisney answered. Disney’s running branch today announced the addition of the Pixie Dust Challenge to the 2015 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland in Anaheim, California from May 7-10.

The inaugural Pixie Dust Challenge follows in the footsteps of other popular runDisney challenges like the Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend and Glass Slipper Challenge at Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. Runners who register for the challenge and complete both the Tinker Bell 10K on Saturday, May 9 and the Tinker Bell Half Marathon on Sunday, May 10 earn a fairy-themed medal in addition to a medal for each race.

The start of the Tinker Bell 10K. (runDisney)

The Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland and Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World were the only runDisney half-marathon weekends without multi-day running challenges, along with the shorter distance The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend and Expedition Everest Challenge.

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend has the Dopey Challenge and Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge. The Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend has the Rebel Challenge. Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend and Glass Slipper Challenge at Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend round out the challenges.

Yet, race challenges have proven especially popular among runDisney fans, often selling out first among each weekend’s events. The 2015 Glass Slipper Challenge filled up first in 1 hour and 45 minutes despite technical difficulties when registration opened for the Disney Princess Half Marathon and the 2015 Rebel Challenge reached capacity in just 25 minutes before any other Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend event. Read the rest of this entry →

Princess Aurora tutu (Tutu-da-loo)

Thank you to everyone who entered my running tutu giveaway! I wish I could pass out tutus to you all.

But if you’ve got your heart set on one of Tutu-Da-Loo’s magnificent creations, use code “Karla” to get 15% off your next purchase at Tutu-Da-Loo. I’ll be wearing a Tutu-Da-Loo design, courtesy of Tutu-Da-Loo, at an upcoming race.

Elsa Frozen Tutu (Tutu-Da-Loo)

Whether you’re looking to run as Elsa from Frozen, Lilo from Lilo & Stitch, Captain America or some other character, Tutu-Da-Loo has an inspired design. Enter the coupon code at checkout for a 15% discount off any running tutu in the shop. Tutu-Da-Loo’s tutus normally range in price from $30 to $45. The code is good through Sunday, July 27. I don’t get compensated for your purchase in any way. Just want to pass along some savings.

Now, without further ado, the winner is… Read the rest of this entry →

Prince Mickey and Princess Mickey (runDisney)

Missed out on registration for the Disney Princess Half Marathon 2015 presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including the sold-out Glass Slipper Challenge and Enchanted 10K? Limited bibs are available via charity and tour groups. Runners must register directly through the groups listed below to participate in those three events from February 19-22 at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Frozen’s Elsa makes an appearance at the Princess Half. (runDisney)

Regular registration is still available for the Disney Princess 5K and runDisney Kids Races, both of which will feature a Frozen theme and finisher medals. At publication time, the 5K was 65 percent full and the kids races were 55 percent sold.

Tickets are also still available for the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Breakfast and Pasta in the Park Party, both on Friday and Saturday, and the Race Retreat on Sunday. Though the Race Retreat and Breakfast are each 52 percent full. Free, non-ticketed events include the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo from Thursday through Saturday and the Happily Ever After Party at Downtown Disney on Sunday.

The Glass Slipper Challenge, where runners complete the Enchanted 10K and Disney Princess Half Marathon on back-to-back days, sold out first in 1 hour and 45 minutes after an hour of technical problems between runDisney.com and the Active.com registration system. Registration opened at 12 p.m. ET on July 15. At 12:34, runDisney posted on Twitter: Read the rest of this entry →

Tutu-da-loo’s Snow White tutu (Tutu-da-loo)

Registration opened today for the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World in Florida, from February 19-22, 2015. The Glass Slipper Challenge, Princess Half Marathon and Enchanted 10K are already sold out as of 6:30 p.m., while the 5K is 52 percent full and the Kids Races are 50 percent sold.

(Tutu-da-loo)

In honor of the occasion, I’m thrilled to give away a custom-made running tutu courtesy of Tutu-da-loo! One winner will receive a handmade tutu of their choice, perfect for running any themed or costume race. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of the post.

Tutus are 9 inches long with a crocheted elastic waistband and two layers of tulle. Sizes range from X-Small to 3XL to cover women’s sizes 0-24. All of Tutu-da-loo’s tutus are custom-made, and they fill special orders as well. For an additional cost, runners can order a 12-inch length via Tutu-da-loo’s Etsy shop.

The winner of this giveaway can pick any basic multi-colored tutu of up to 3 colors, like the one pictured at right.

Or choose a basic single color tutu, like this: Read the rest of this entry →

The Disney Princes Half Marathon finish (Preston Mack/WDW Photo)

UPDATE: The Disney Princess Half Marathon, Enchanted 10K, and Glass Slipper Challenge are sold out. Entries are still available via charity and tour groups:

Run Disney Princess Half Marathon 2015 For Charity or Tour Groups

* * *

Registration for the 2015 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals opens Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 12 p.m. ET. The women-focused race weekend will take place at Walt Disney World in Florida from February 19-22, 2015. The race is the fourth largest half-marathon in the U.S., according to Running USA, and the second largest women’s running event with 22,739 finishers in 2013.

Here’s what runDisney has planned for 2015, including a Frozen themed 5K and Kids Races with medals to match.

(runDisney)

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Races include:

• Disney Princess Half Marathon
• Disney Princess Enchanted 10K
• Disney Glass Slipper Challenge
• Disney Princess 5K themed to Frozen
  
• runDisney Kids Races themed to Frozen
  

Other race options include:

• Teams
• Coast-to-Coast Race Challenge
• Disney Castaway Cay Challenge

The Disney Princess Half Marathon takes runners from Epcot to Magic Kingdom and back, including a run through Cinderella Castle. The 10K, 5K courses and Kids Races go through Epcot.

The weekend also includes the Happily Ever After Party in Downtown Disney—a post-race celebration on Sunday—and the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from Thursday through Saturday. Both events are free and open to the public.

The weekend’s ticketed events include the Pasta in the Park Party on Friday and Saturday nights in Epcot with a buffet pasta dinner, Disney character Meet & Greets, DJ, face painter and a reserved viewing spot for “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” a light, laser, and fireworks show; the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Breakfast on Friday and Saturday after the 5K and 10K, respectively; and VIP Race Retreat Packages, which give runners access to a suite of pre- and post-race amenities. Read the rest of this entry →

At Walt Disney World Half Marathon (RunKarlaRun.com)

The Cinderella pink dress might be my favorite running costume I’ve put together.

After crafting a Cinderella ball gown for the 2012 Disney Princess Half Marathon and Cinderella in rags running costume for the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon, I was excited to dig into the deep cuts for a new take on a Cinderella running costume for the 2014 Walt Disney World Half Marathon.

The pretty in pink “dress for Cinderelly,” as the mice sing, sounded perfect to me. I’ve always loved the dress the mice made with love, crafted from Cinderella’s mother’s gown. It’s a dress fit for a princess.

Pretty in Pink!

How To Make The Cinderella Pink Dress

Registration opens Tuesday, July 15 at noon EST for the 2015 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. If you want to put together your own Cinderella pink dress for the race, here’s my step-by-step “How To” turn this basic skirt and tank…

Basic tank and skirt (RunKarlaRun.com)

into this Cinderella pink dress!

Gather all the pieces for the costume. I have zero background in sewing, so the sewing tools I used were:

1. Needle and thread

2. Hand-sewing machine

3. Safety pins

The costume items I used are:

1. Skirt

2. Tank

3. Petticoat

4. Ribbon (pink and white)

5. Old T-shirt

6. Headband

7. Hair rats

8. Blue beads

9. Shorts

10. Running shoes Read the rest of this entry →

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. Read the rest of this entry →

The Star Wars Half Marathon is coming to Disneyland. (Photo: Disney/Ali Nasser)

UPDATE: All Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend races are now sold out. If you want to run the Disney half marathon or any of the other Star Wars races, charity and tour groups have entries available.

Read more: Star Wars Disney Race Bibs Available Via Charity + Tour

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Registration for the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation opens at 12 p.m. EDT on June 10, 2014. The Disney half marathon race weekend will take place January 15-18, 2015 at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. Events include the Star Wars Half Marathon, Star Wars 10K, Star Wars 5K and runDisney Kids Races, plus the Star Wars Rebel Challenge. Runners who register for the challenge and complete the 10K and half marathon on back-to-back days will earn an extra medal. Like every Disney half marathon, the weekend will also feature a runDisney Health and Fitness Expo, along with Star Wars Wookie Welcome Party and more Star Wars and Disney-themed entertainment. Course maps have yet to be released, but the races will run through Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney and the streets of Anaheim, Calif. Read the rest of this entry →

Star Wars Half Marathon Comes to Disneyland. (Photo: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.)

After teasing out details via social media with the hashtag #LetTheWookieWin, runDisney has announced today its newest race: Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation slated for January 15-18, 2015 at Disneyland Resort in California.

Get your Star Wars costumes ready. (Photo: Preston Mack / WDW)

The race weekend will include the title Star Wars Half Marathon, Star Wars 10K, Star Wars 5K and runDisney Kids Races, plus the two-race Star Wars Rebel Challenge following in the footsteps of the popular Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. Runners who register for the challenge and complete the 10K and half marathon on back-to-back days will earn a special challenge medal. The weekend will also feature a Health and Fitness Expo, Star Wars Wookie Welcome Party, and more Star Wars and Disney-themed entertainment.

Lucasfilm and runDisney have teamed up with presenting sponsor Sierra Nevada Corporation, an aerospace company best known for its Dream Chaser spacecraft to sponsor the event. Course maps have yet to be released, but the races will run through Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney and the streets of Anaheim, Calif. Read the rest of this entry →

Minnie Mouse times four at the Walt Disney World 10K. (Photo: runDisney)

So you didn’t get into any of the Walt Disney World Marathon 2015 races including the Dopey Challenge, Walt Disney World Marathon, Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Walt Disney World 10K and Disney Family Fun Run 5K? Never fear. Limited entries are still available for the races through charity and travel providers.

It was a record sell-out for the runDisney event. The Dopey Challenge, Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Walt Disney World 10K and Disney Family Fun Run 5K all sold out within 24 hours. The Walt Disney World Marathon filled up in 21 days, shattering the nearly 4 months it took the 2014 race to sell out.

Mickey Mouse & Snow White at the Kids Races. (Photo: runDisney)

Entries remain available for the runDisney Kids Races and Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, where runners complete both the half marathon and marathon on back-to-back days. For the 10th running of the event, runners will earn a special anniversary Goofy-themed medal. As of press time, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge is 62 percent full and the runDisney Kids Races are 50 percent sold.

But if you really want to run any of the other events at the Walt Disney World Marathon 2015 Weekend from January 7-11 in Florida, you still can if you register through a charity or tour group.

Contact the following organizations directly to find out how to register for the races through them. Charities will ask runners to raise a certain amount of money for participating in the race, and tour providers may require purchase of a travel package. Read the rest of this entry →

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Photo: Kent Phillips/Disney)

I’ve gotten this question a lot and in many varieties: What Disney hotels are best for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend?

There is no “best” hotel for any runDisney race. The best hotel for you for any race depends on many factors: what you want to do while you’re at Walt Disney World, who is in your party, and what your price point is, among other things.

I’ve stayed at eight different Disney hotels (four of which Disney comped for me during runDisney events) and two off property hotels while visiting Walt Disney World. But my hotel recommendations for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend are based on two main factors: Whether or not you have spectators in your group and what you want to do while you’re not running.

If Your Group Includes Runners Only

Walt Disney World Half Marathon finishers. (Photo: runDisney)

If everyone traveling with you is running a race, all the Disney hotels are great.

All the Walt Disney World Resorts are official “host” hotels for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and offer event buses to shuttle runners to and from the start and finish of each race. The buses are comfortable and efficient, both before and after the race.

Having stayed at Disney hotels on the Monorail loop, on the BoardWalk and elsewhere on property for runDisney events, there’s not much of a difference from a runner’s perspective. The event buses got me where I needed to go and back every time from all those different areas.

A Dopey Challenge runner races around the BoardWalk. (Photo: runDisney)

So if all the people in your group are runners, I would pick the hotel that makes your days easiest and meets your price point.

Are you looking for a great pool to rest your legs each day while doing Dopey Challenge? Is there one park in particular where you want to spend most of your time? Do you want to be close to the Expo to stalk runDisney New Balance shoes? Different hotels are better suited for each of those scenarios.

Parks

The Wishes Nightime Spectacular at Magic Kingdom. (Photo: Disney)

Magic Kingdom

If it’s Magic Kingdom you’re after, any resort on the Monorail loop is fantastic: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Resort, soon to become Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort as it undergoes major renovation.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground also have water taxis to the park.

The perks of each? The Contemporary Resort has my favorite quick-service restaurant, Contempo Cafe, and Magic Kingdom fireworks viewing from the hotel. Plus, it’s the next stop after Magic Kingdom on the Monorail. So at the end of a long day in the park, you’re home in a jiffy. Read the rest of this entry →

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 →