Run, Karla, Run!

Three Disney castles (Photo: Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris

Three Disney theme parks world-wide offer Disney races—Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California, and Disneyland Paris in France. I’m going to run a half-marathon, or more, at each of them in 2016 (partially as a media guest of runDisney).

I’m a lifelong Disney fan. My dog’s name is Cinderella, after all. And I’ve been a runDisney fan since I tackled the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon for the first time in 2011.

But I’ve only been to Disneyland once and I’ve never been to Disneyland Paris. So I’m incredibly excited to hit all three parks in one year to get the full back-to-back-to-back runDisney experience.

Minnie & Mickey at the Inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon (runDisney)

Which Disney Races To Run?

I really toyed with how I wanted to approach this adventure, and how to choose which three Disney races I’d run.

Did I want to run the three “title” races at each park—Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Disneyland Half Marathon, and Disneyland Paris Half Marathon? That would take me through all three castles and give me the “big picture” experience. I considered it as the most obvious way to experience each theme park as a runner. Read the rest of this entry →

Meet Mickey at the finish (runDisney)

Bib-only registration for the inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon opens Tuesday, February 16 at 5 p.m. Paris time, or 11 a.m. Eastern. The race weekend runs from September 22-25, 2016 at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France.

Registration through Disney travel partners opened in October. If you’re interested in a travel package that includes hotel, race bibs, and more, Magical Racecations in the U.S. still has availability for all of the weekend’s running events, as of press time.

Charity partners will also have bibs available at some point in the future.

I’ll be headed to the race to write about the event courtesy of runDisney. Excited? As Mickey Mouse would say, “Oh, boy! Oh, boy!”

How To Register

1) Register for a bib only, without a travel package, online.

2) Call the Disneyland Paris Reservation Center. The U.S. phone is 011 33 160 30 20 30. Phone numbers are also available for other countries in the link. Runners can buy running packages any time.

3) Book a package through one of the travel agency partners. Magical Racecations and GET Travel Sports are the U.S. agencies, but seven other agencies in the U.K. and other countries have packages for runners as well. You can book through any of them. Magical Racecations does have packages available as of press time. Packages include at least three nights hotel, one three-day park ticket, and a half-marathon or 5K registration, with other additional options.

4) Register to run with a charity. Limited charity entries will be released soon.

Read the rest of this entry →

More than 15,000 runners finished the 2015 race. (Disney Sports)

Registration for the 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna opens Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 12 p.m. Eastern. Last year, 15,225 runners finished the Disneyland Half Marathon, making it the 10th largest half-marathon in the U.S.

The race weekend from September 1-4, 2016 in Anaheim, California includes the Disneyland Half Marathon, Disneyland 10K, Dumbo Double Dare, Disneyland 5K, and runDisney Kids Races. At the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo, runners can pick up a pair of the coveted New Balance runDisney sneakers modeled after Dumbo, Ariel, Mickey Mouse, and Minnie Mouse.

The Disneyland Half Marathon tours runners from Disney California Adventure Park to Disneyland Park, along the streets of Anaheim and through 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.

The 2015 race sold out in hours. (Disney Sports)

Disneyland Half Marathon Sell Out Times

If you want to run at the 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, be prepared to register right away. All of the 29,500 bibs at the 2015 event sold out well within 24 hours.

The Dumbo Double Dare, Disneyland 10K, runDisney Kids Races, and Disneyland 5K all broke their sell-out records. The Dumbo Double Dare and Disneyland 10K closed in approximately 30 minutes in 2015. The runDisney Kids races filled up in about 90 minutes and the 5K followed in roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes. The Disneyland Half Marathon sold-out the next day.

Will 2016 be as fast? This event has soared in popularity each year, selling out faster and faster. But runDisney has raised prices for all of the weekend’s runs except the runDisney Kids Races, putting the half-marathon entry fee over $200 for the first time. The 2016 entry fee is $205, up from $199 in 2015.

Runners in Disneyland (Disney Sports)

2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Travel Providers

Want to skip the registration madness? Enter the 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon races through a runDisney Travel Provider. They offer special packages for runners, including discounted Disneyland hotel and theme park tickets.

Contact each tour company individually to register. Read the rest of this entry →

2016 New Balance runDisney Collection (New Balance)

Looking for the 2017 New Balance runDisney Collection? Look here: How To Buy 2017 New Balance Disney Running Shoes

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2016 New Balance Disney Running Shoes Revealed

They’re finally here! New Balance announced the 2016 line of New Balance Disney running shoes, which will debut at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna from January 6-10, 2016.

After releasing a single teaser photo of a feather, a yellow bow, and seashell necklace via Twitter and Instagram, New Balance has revealed the 2016 Limited Edition New Balance runDisney Collection feature Dumbo, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and The Little Mermaid’s Ariel.

The Dumbo and Ariel Vazee Pace are $124.95, while the Red Carpet Minnie and Mickey 860v6s are $139.95. And they didn’t forget the kids. Dumbo and Ariel 860v6 shoes are $79.95.

Read on to find out how, when, and where to buy them, along with pics of each shoe.

Ariel Vazee Pace, $124.95

Ariel Vazee Pace (New Balance)

The New Balance Vazee Pace shoes are a lightweight neutral trainer, available in women’s sizes 5 to 12.

Ariel in person (RunKarlaRun.com)

The Ariel-inspired kicks are shades of sea foam green with purple and red accents. The Ariel shoes come with purple shell clip-ons and a picture of Ariel on the heel.

Ariel (RunKarlaRun.com)

Check out New Balance Ariel runDisney Shoes First Look for a close-up view of the Ariel Vazee Pace.

Dumbo Vazee Pace, $124.95

Dumbo Vazee Pace (New Balance)

The Dumbo shoes are also the neutral, lightweight New Balance Vazee Pace available in men’s sizes 7 to 14.

Dumbo (RunKarlaRun.com)

The homage to Dumbo are gray with yellow and peach accents, with a picture of Dumbo himself on the heel. They also come with Timothy Q. Mouse clip-ons.

Dumbo Vazee Pace (New Balance)

Red Carpet Minnie 860v6, $139.95

Red Carpet Minnie (New Balance)

Each year New Balance releases a pair of shoes styled after a different Mickey and Minnie persona. In 2103, we saw classic Minnie in her red dress. 2014 brought us Pink Polka Dot Minnie, and 2015 was Retro Minnie, harkening back to her black-and-white years. For 2016, we have Red Carpet Minnie Mouse in her yellow evening gown.

Minnie front and back (New Balance)

The Red Carpet Minnie shoes are 860v6s, a New Balance stability shoe in women’s sizes 5 to 12. They also come with clip-on bows.

Read the rest of this entry →

The Star Wars Half Marathon start at Disneyland (Photo: runDisney)

Registration for the Star Wars Half Marathon 2016—The Dark Side opens Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 12 p.m. Eastern. The race will storm Walt Disney World in Florida from April 14-17, 2016. The race weekend follows the original Star Wars Half Marathon—The Light Side at Disneyland in California from January 14-17, 2016.

Light Side or Dark Side? (Photo: runDisney)

The new Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 Weekend will include a 5K, 10K, Kids Races, multi-day race challenges, and a three-day runDisney Health & Fitness Expo.

Runners who complete the inaugural Star Wars Dark Side Challenge, by running the 10K and half marathon on consecutive days, will earn a Death Star-themed medal. Runners must register for the challenge and not each race individually.

And if you complete both Star Wars Half Marathons at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, also known as the Kessel Run Challenge? Fans take home a Millennium Falcon starship “Coast-to-Coast” medal.

The Star Wars Half Marathon will get a new 13.1-mile course through Walt Disney World. Runners will fly through Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and finish at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Read the rest of this entry →

Runners at the Disneyland Half Marathon (Photo: runDisney)

The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna in Anaheim, California celebrated its 10th anniversary over Labor Day Weekend with more than 29,000 runners.

The celebration kicked off with a special Disneyland Half Marathon 10^th Anniversary Party with Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration “Paint the Night” Parade. The weekend culminated on Sunday with the main event itself—13.1 flat miles through Disney California Adventure theme park, Disneyland theme park, the streets of Anaheim, and Angel Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels, with a finish at Disneyland Hotel.

Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend 2015 medals (Photo: runDisney)

Half marathon finishers took home a 10th anniversary medal, shaped like a diamond for Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration. Among them were 436 potential “legacy” runners who’ve participated in all 10 Disneyland Half Marathons since 2006.

New Balance also released a new pair of Donald Duck runDisney shoes for the occasion.

Here’s a look at the Disneyland Half Marathon 2015 by the numbers.

Disneyland Half Marathon 2015 By The Numbers

Star Wars Half Marathon at Disneyland (Photo: runDisney)

The force is strong with runDisney. You asked. They delivered. A second Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend is coming to Walt Disney World in Florida from April 14-17, 2016. Disney has dubbed the original Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland in California from January 14-17, 2016 “Star Wars Half Marathon – the Light Side.” Which means one thing: the new Walt Disney World event is dedicated to the Dark Side.

Like other runDisney races the new Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend will include a 5K, 10K, Kids Races, and some new challenges too. Runners who complete the inaugural Star Wars Dark Side Challenge, by running the 10K and half marathon on consecutive days, will earn a Death Star-themed medal. And if you complete both Star Wars Half Marathons at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, also known as the Kessel Run Challenge? Fans take home a Millennium Falcon starship “Coast-to-Coast” medal.

The Star Wars Half Marathon start (Photo: runDisney)

The Star Wars Half Marathon will get a new 13.1-mile course through Walt Disney World. Runners will fly through Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and finish at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

This latest Star Wars race brings runDisney’s event tally to nine running weekends throughout the year, including four at Walt Disney World, four at Disneyland, and one at Disneyland Paris set to debut in September 2016.

Registration for the 2016 Star Wars Half Marathon at Walt Disney World opens Sept. 22 at runDisney.com. The Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon—the Light Side is sold out, but entries may still available through charity and tour groups.
Read the rest of this entry →

Donald Duck Fresh Foam Boracay (Photo: New Balance)

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!” New Balance has revealed yet another pair of Disney shoes, this time modeled after Disney’s favorite duck. The Donald Duck Fresh Foam Boracay is coming to Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna in honor of Disneyland Resort’s 60th Anniversary celebration. The shoes will be available at the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo starting September 3.

Red bow tie (Photo: New Balance)

Donald’s signature look is woven throughout the shoe, from his red bow tie to a black heel tab evocative of the ribbon on Donald’s hat. The Donald Duck kicks will sell for $140.

New Balance’s Fresh Foam Boracay is a neutral cushioned shoe meant to carry runners for many a mile. I tried and reviewed the new kicks; read all about them here:

Testing 3 New Balance Shoes: Zante, Boracay, 890v5.

Donald’s signature (Photo: New Balance)

Along with Disney shoes for adults, New Balance is also releasing kids versions of the Donald Duck Fresh Foam Boracay and Tinker Bell Fresh Foam Boracay. They will also debut at the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend.

Here are a few more views of the new Donald Duck Fresh Foam Boracay Disney shoes. Read the rest of this entry →

Nick Arciniaga wins the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon. (Photo: runDisney)

UPDATE 8/25/15: runDisney has announced a second Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World in Florida. Check it out:

Star Wars Half Marathon Comes to Walt Disney World

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So you didn’t get into any of the Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 races from January 14-17 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.

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 Half Marathon 2016 Charities

runDisney Charity Groups offer guaranteed entries to sold-out races. Some charity teams include other perks for the Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 races like complimentary or discounted entries, party party tickets, training resources, and other benefits. Check with each group individually for their fundraising requirements, benefits, and to register with them.

The Star Wars Half Marathon start (Photo: runDisney)

• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
• Aly & Izy Foundation
• American Association for Cancer Research
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• ASPCA
• A-T Children’s Project
• Autism Speaks
• Back on My Feet
• Kellsie’s Hope Foundation
• My Brighter Tomorrow
• Noah’s Light Foundation
• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Team Muscle Makers for UCMD

Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 Travel Providers

Runners can also register for the Star Wars Disney races through a runDisney Travel Provider. They offer packages for runners, including guaranteed race entry and specially priced Disneyland hotel rates and theme park ticket options. Contact each tour provider individually to learn more and to register through them. Read the rest of this entry →

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 →

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris (Photo: Disney)

UPDATE 2/16/16: Bib-only registration is now open for Disneyland Paris Half Marathon. Information is available here:

Disneyland Paris Half Bib-Only Registration Opens

UPDATE 10/13/15: Registration is now open for the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon. Pricing, schedule, and more information is available here:

Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Registration Is Open

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Finalement! More information about the inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend has finally arrived. Disney’s first race weekend outside the U.S. will take place September 22-25, 2016, kicking off with a three-day runDisney Health & Fitness Expo starting Thursday, September 22 at Disneyland Paris Disney Events Arena.

The Disneyland Paris 5K and runDisney Kids Races will run Saturday, September 24, followed by the main event, the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon on Sunday, September 25. Runners can also buy tickets to a Pasta in the Park Party at Walt Disney Studios Park and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at Disney Village in the evenings before the race.

“We could not be more excited about the upcoming runDisney event,’’ said Tom Wolber, President of Euro Disney S.A.S. in a press release. “It will make Disneyland Paris the world’s third Disney destination to host this successful sporting series that offers a whole new running experience for the young and young-at-heart.’’

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

Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend Registration

Registration through runDisney Travel Providers is slated to open October 13, 2015. The list of tour companies offering travel packages for the weekend has not been released yet.

Runners can also register to run for charity starting October 13, 2015. The list of participating charities will be released on that date.

For individuals who want to register without a travel package or charity partner, limited race registrations will open February 16, 2016.

Pricing for all of the weekend’s events has not been announced yet.

Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Race Information

The Disneyland Paris races tour runners through two Disney Parks. Read the rest of this entry →

The 2015 Star Wars Half Marathon (Photo: runDisney)

UPDATE 8/19/15: The Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 is sold-out but you can still register via charity or tour group:

Run Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 with Charity or Tour

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Registration for the Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 Weekend opens at 12 p.m. Eastern on June 16, 2015. The Disney half marathon race weekend will take place January 14-17, 2016 in a galaxy far, far away. OK, it’s really at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

More than 23,000 runners took part in the inaugural event in 2015, which included the Star Wars Half Marathon, Star Wars 10K, Star Wars 5K, Star Wars Rebel Challenge—where runners complete the 10K and half-marathon on consecutive days—and runDisney Kids Races. All those races will be back for 2016, along with the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo—where you can buy the coveted New Balance runDisney shoes. The 2016 course maps have yet to be released, but last year’s races ran through Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney and the streets of Anaheim, Calif.

How fast will the Star Wars Half Marathon 2016 Weekend sell-out? Likely faster than the Millennium Falcon can travel 6.8323E-13 parsecs (that’s 13.1-miles). The inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend in 2015 sold out in two hours. The Star Wars Rebel Challenge sold out first in 24 minutes. The runDisney Kids Races followed in 38 minutes. The Star Wars 5K filled up in 54 minutes. The Star Wars 10K was gone inside of 80 minutes, and the Star Wars Half Marathon closed in 2 hours and 2 minutes. Read the rest of this entry →

Runners at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland. (Photo: runDisney)

This was originally published 5/09/2015, but thanks to technical hijinks, I had to restore my site and re-upload a few posts. Apologies to subscribers for finding this in your inbox again!

The Tinker Bell Half Marathon 2015 Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry from May 7-10 at Disneyland in California wraps up on Mother’s Day with the title event, a 13.1-mile tour of the Happiest Place on Earth and the streets of Anaheim.

The women’s focused running festival includes the title half-marathon, Tinker Bell 10K, Never Land 5K, Pixie Dust Challenge, and runDisney Kids Races.

Here’s a look at every fairy’s favorite race by the numbers.

Tinker Bell Half Marathon 2015 By The Numbers

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

257,600 combined miles runners will tackle throughout the weekend

32,050 total race registrants for the 2015 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry

16,000 participants in the Tinker Bell Half Marathon presented by PANDORA Jewelry

13,700 women running the Tinker Bell Half Marathon, nearly 1,000 more than women who started the Boston Marathon this year

12,800 runners participating in their first runDisney race during the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend Read the rest of this entry →

Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend (Photo: Scott Brinegar/runDisney)

Registration for the 2015 Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA from November 12-15, 2015 opens Tuesday, April 7 at 12 p.m. Eastern. In its second year, the runDisney Avengers half marathon will debut the new Captain America 10K and Infinity Gauntlet Challenge—running the 10K and half-marathon on consecutive days—along with the Avengers Super Heroes 5K.

The Avengers half marathon and other races run through Disneyland Resort and the streets of Anaheim with Disney’s signature entertainment lining the course—characters from Marvel’s The Avengers, bands, cheerleaders, and more. Runners who register for the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge will earn a challenge medal in addition to bling for each race. To qualify, you must register for the challenge—not register for each race individually.

The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon start (Photo: Scott Brinegar/runDisney)

The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend also includes runDisney Kids Races in Downtown Disney, runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at Disneyland Hotel, and a pre-race Pasta in the Park Party inside Disneyland Park on Friday, November 13.

How quickly will the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend events sell out? If the most recent Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon is any indicator, faster than a flash of lightning. The wine-themed half marathon at Walt Disney World sold out in about 30 minutes. The 2014 Avengers half marathon and other weekend events filled up in under 2 hours.

Will the 2015 Avengers half marathon match that? Read the rest of this entry →

runDisney comes to Paris (Photo: Disney)

UPDATE 10/13/15: Registration is now open for the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon. Pricing, schedule, and more information is available here:

Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Registration Is Open

UPDATE 6/25/15: Disney has released more information about the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon, including races, schedules, and registration dates. Details are here:

Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend Info Is Here

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It’s official! The much-anticipated inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon is coming to France from September 23-25, 2016. Disney announced the new race at the start of the Disney Princess Half Marathon presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Walt Disney World in Florida on February 22, 2015.

No other information about the race has been released just yet. But you can register your interest at DisneylandParis.com to get more details about the event and registration when it’s released.

My husband has been trying to get me to Paris since we first met seven years ago. As a native Montrealer, he speaks French fluently, attended French school while living abroad as a child, lived and worked in Paris in college, and loves all things French. Methinks this will finally get us to book the trip. I’ve only been to Paris once about 15 years ago. So I’m definitely overdue. I think a runDisney race is the perfect excuse.

How about you? Aspirations to run the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon in 2016?

As a member of the media, I have attended runDisney events courtesy of Disney. But as always, all opinions are purely my own. I really do believe in being honest about my experiences. For more information read my Disclosure Policy.

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