Run, Karla, Run!

Running past Sleeping Beauty Castle. (Photo: runDisney)

Registration for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon 2016 Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry opens Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 12 p.m. Eastern. The women-focused race weekend celebrates its 5th anniversary from May 5-8, 2016 at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. The race is the fourth largest women’s running event in the U.S. with 13,143 finishers in 2014.

In addition to the title half marathon, the Tinker Bell Half Marathon 2016 Weekend also includes the Pixie Dust Challenge presented by PANDORA Jewelry, Tinker Bell 10K presented by PANDORA Jewelry, Never Land 5K presented by PANDORA Jewelry, and runDisney Kids Races.

Mickey Mouse and friends escort runDisney finishers across the line. (Photo: runDisney)

Courses for the weekend’s races run through Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and the streets of Anaheim with music, entertainment and Disney characters, not to mention thousands of costumed runners. And don’t forget the jaunt through Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The runDisney Health and Fitness Expo is free and open to the public Thursday, May 5 through Saturday, May 7. That’s where runners pick-up their bibs and race gear, find official runDisney merchandise along with the coveted runDisney New Balance shoes, other retailers showcasing running apparel and products, and a speaker series with tips for training, racing and eating before the big day. In 2015, New Balance released a pair of special edition Tinker Bell shoes for the occasion.

The 2015 Tinker Bell Half Marathon and Pixie Dust Challenge sold-out in a little over a month. The runDisney Kids Races, however, filled up in 4 hours and 20 minutes. And the Tinker Bell 10K bibs were gone in 48 hours. Read the rest of this entry →

Runners at the Disneyland 10k (Photo: runDisney)

Registration for the Disneyland Half Marathon 2015 Weekend presented by Cigna opens Tuesday, February 10, 2015. The title half-marathon celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. For the occasion, runDisney has added a special 10th anniversary medal and Disneyland Half Marathon Anniversary Party to the schedule.

The race weekend from September 3-6 in Anaheim, California includes the Disneyland Half Marathon, Disneyland 10K, Dumbo Double Dare, and Disneyland 5K, all presented by Cigna. And don’t forget the runDisney Kids Races, Pasta in the Park Party, Disneyland Half Marathon Anniversary Party, and free runDisney Health & Fitness Expo, where runners can snap up a pair of the coveted New Balance runDisney sneakers.

The new Disneyland Half Marathon Anniversary party on Thursday, September 3 from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. will be a ticketed event with entertainment, character meet and greets, and Disneyland attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain. Runners at the party will also have exclusive access to Disneyland’s “Paint the Night” Parade, part of the park’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration.

The Disneyland Half Marathon tours runners from Disney California Adventure Park to Disneyland Park and through the streets of Anaheim and Angel Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels. The flat, single loop course has a reputation for fast times, that is, if you don’t stop to take photos with the Disney characters, marching bands, and other entertainers lining the way.

Last year, 15,979 runners finished the Disneyland Half Marathon and another 9,608 ran the Disneyland 10K. Over 5,700 of them completed the Dumbo Double Dare, running the 10K and half-marathon on back-to-back days. Runners came from all 50 U.S. states and 26 countries for the races.

Disneyland Half Marathon 2014 Sell Out Times

If you want to run at the Disneyland Half Marathon 2015 Weekend, be prepared to register right away. All of the 35,500 bibs at the 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon sold out in 12 hours.

Dumbo Double Dare runners (Photo: runDisney)

The Dumbo Double Dare 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.

Will 2015 prove to be an even faster sell-out? The 10th anniversary of the Disneyland Half Marathon is sure to lure some extra runners. The Dumbo Double Dare and Disneyland 10K are now in their third year.

But the addition of two new Disneyland races—the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend, which debuted November 2014, and Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend, which debuted January 2015—may pull from the pool of runners clamoring to run Disneyland. Read the rest of this entry →

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 →

The 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon registration opens June 11. (Photo: runDisney)

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Registration

Runners, mark your calendars! Online registration for the runDisney 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend from February 20-23 opens Tuesday, June 11 at noon EST. That includes registration for:

• Disney Princess Half Marathon
• The new Disney Princess Enchanted 10K
• The new Disney Glass Slipper Challenge
• Cinderella Royal Family 5K

Plus, a lucky few runners will be able to register early for the 2014 Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort in California with their Princess Half registration. Why would you want to do that? The new pink women’s focused Coast-to-Coast Race Challenge medal, of course. Online registration for the 2014 Tinker Bell Half Marathon officially opens on July 9.

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Changes

Minnie Mouse high-fives runners at the Disney Princess Half Marathon finish. (Photo: runDisney)

What else is new for the 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend? Well, runDisney just announced that in order to ease crowding on the course and improve the overall race experience for everyone, they will be making a few changes similar to their planned changes for the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. That includes: Read the rest of this entry →

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is getting a new 10K and a Glass Slipper Challenge. (Photo: runDisney)

Big news from runDisney! Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend from February 20-23, 2014 at Walt Disney World in Florida is getting the royal treatment with a new Disney Princess Enchanted 10K and a new two-race challenge in the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge. Based on the name alone, I like it already.

Princess Half Glass Slipper Challenge

The Glass Slipper Challenge follows in the footsteps of the Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland: runners complete both the new Disney Princess Enchanted 10K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday for a total of 19.3 miles. Best of all for Disney bling lovers, runners earn the inaugural Disney Glass Slipper Challenge Medal in addition to the medals from each event, including a new yet-to-be-announced medal for the 10K. Read the rest of this entry →

UPDATE 12/22/13: Last year, I got so giddy about running the Walt Disney World Marathon, that I crafted a “12 Days of Christmas” runDisney style. I even recruited my mom and husband to sing along with me. There was lots of giggling.

Minnie Mouse, Santa Goofy and Mickey Mouse are ready for Christmas. (Photo: Gene Duncan/Walt Disney World)

I tried to incorporate as many runDisney elements as I could. Some of the newer challenges like Dopey and Glass Slipper are missing because they hadn’t been announced yet.

So here is my homage to run Disney Christmas and the Walt Disney World Marathon. In just a few weeks, I’ll be heading to the race again in 2014 to run the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Walt Disney World 10K and Disney Family Fun Run 5K.

The 12 Days of Run Disney Christmas

The 12 Days of Run Disney Christmas celebrates the spirit of joy that Christmas and Disney bring. For a full list of lyrics, check out my first post on the song: 13.1 Days of Disney Running Christmas. Merry Christmas!

All photos courtesy of runDisney.

I am running in the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 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.

The start of the 2012 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. (Photo: runDisney)

Nearly 14,000 runners stormed Walt Disney World Saturday night for the third annual Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. The half marathon is unique for it’s 10 p.m. start and a private after-party at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival that lasts until 4 a.m.

It’s also a race that holds a special place in my heart. It’s the one that started my tumble down the Disney running rabbit hole. Read the rest of this entry →

Racers run through Cinderella’s Castle during the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. Photo courtesy of runDisney/Todd Anderson.

I like a good challenge. The Runner’s World Holiday Running Streak? Check. Four hours on an elliptical machine? Dunzo. My first triathlon? In the bag.

So I’m making my first goal of 2012 another challenge—the run Disney Coast to Coast Race Challenge. Runners who finish a half marathon or marathon at both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California in the same calendar year receive a third medal to mark the occasion. I do like a nice medal. Read the rest of this entry →