runDisney announces new 'Star Wars Half Marathon – the Dark Side' event at Walt Disney World

Aug 25, 2015 in "Star Wars Rival Run Weekend"

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 1 Photo
'Star Wars Half Marathon – the Dark Side' overview

Posted: Tuesday August 25, 2015 12:02pm EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

runDisney has today announced a new series of races taking place at Walt Disney World inspired by the dark forces of the Star Wars universe.

Following the debut of the popular Star Wars-themed race at Disneyland Resort, the Walt Disney World event turns to the dark side of the force, and will be titled 'Star Wars Half Marathon – the Dark Side,' and will feature kids races, a 5K and a 10K, in addition to the half marathon.

The half marathon course takes place in Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and finishes at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

It wouldn't be a runDisney event without multiple race challenges, and there are two to choose from:

Star Wars Dark Side Challenge — running the 10K and the half marathon on consecutive days – that offers each finisher a Death Star-themed medal.
Kessel Run Challenge — completing the Star Wars half marathon missions on both coasts. Kessel Run Challenge runners can earn a commemorative “Coast to Coast” medal inspired by the Millennium Falcon starship.

“Ever since we launched the Star Wars race at Disneyland Resort, runners have been clamoring for more, so we’re thrilled to bring the Star Wars franchise together with the runDisney brand to Walt Disney World Resort,’’ said Maribeth Bisienere, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises. “If the inaugural Star Wars race at Disneyland Resort is any indication, this new running adventure to the dark side is sure to be the out-of-this-world experience that runners have come to expect at runDisney events.’’

The Star Wars-themed race at Disneyland Resort, will return in January 2016 as the 'Star Wars Half Marathon – the Light Side'.

The race weekend will be April 14 - 17 2016, with Race registration opening on September 22 2015 at www.runDisney.com. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

LizaMarie89Jan 17, 2017

Thank you everyone for answering all my questions - I may be worrying for no reason . I just walked a mile in 15 minutes and more than a quarter was uphill. I also realized I'm messing up what my actual mile time is by not separating my warm up time from workout. I just plan to keep training hard and hopefully have more confidence when it gets to be race time.

dreamfinderJan 17, 2017

Kind of, but not really. There will be a point on course where they usually won't have any more buses, and will do everything they can to help you finish. At the full marathon the other week, we were in Norway when the tail end of the runners came through, and the last pack of runners/walkers pretty much all had their own runDisney CM on a bike with them, and two of the pargo? golf carts bringing up the rear. I imagine if the bikers felt any of the runners were unable to finish, they would have been loaded onto the golf cart. But as the race goes later, the lines for characters will grow. If you do choose to get in a line, just make sure to keep your eyes out for the balloon ladies/people on bikes and make sure to stay ahead of them. Possibly, but remember, the sweep clock starts when the last person crosses the start line. This is why getting proof of time is so important. There may anywhere from 1-6 corrals where the runners have no proof of time. So if the corrals are starting 6-8 minutes apart, someone in that first corral w/no time could have a considerable buffer over the last person to cross the start line. It depends on the exact race and runners, but even if there is one corral with a 6 minute head start, that means someone in the second to last corral could in theory do a 16:25 or so pace, and still stay ahead of the last person to start and the sweepers. Now even though they may be able to finish over the 16min/mile pace, runDisney could elect to not recognize it as an official finishing time, not award a medal or finishers certificate, etc. But the odds of this happening are pretty slim.

LizaMarie89Jan 16, 2017

There are no 10k races in my area before then, so no I don't have a time.

Texas84Jan 16, 2017

You don't have a 10K time? You have until the 19th to get a time in. As for the time limit, don't know. There wasn't much 'safe' space last year. Just about a mile.

LizaMarie89Jan 15, 2017

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm using the Hal Higdon Novice training plan with a run/walk interval. I have 2 extra weeks so I'm repeating the first week 3 times - I'm about to head out for a four mile run at the gym. This week has been a bit brutal but I haven't missed a single workout so I'm a bit proud of that! I was planning on getting to the corrals as early as possible so that I can get towards the front of whatever corral I get placed into. I didn't have a proof of time so I'm pretty sure that I will be in the last corral even though my estimated time currently is right at 3 hours. I'm currently not planning on stopping for any character photos but I figure that if I get towards the end and I am safe by a decent amount of time I will stop for a few. Is there any point in the race where you're safe from the sweepers? And I had another question - I was looking at the results from the half marathon last year and noticed that there were some finish times that were past the pacing time limit. Is this because they escaped sweeping and then slowed down? I don't anticipate it being an issue but I'd rather just not have the anxiety.

Chet DakotaJan 14, 2017

So far through the 10k, I am a little disappointed in the "presentation" of the Star Wars Light Side Half Weekend races. I thought the 2016 events were fantastic. This year, not so much. Although similar as last year, seems like the course routes this year have more backstage than last year. Less characters out on the courses also. The "entertainment" on the main stage in the corrals is pretty lame compared to last year, and the guy that they have in crowd is terrible. One thing I noticed this morning is that the film clips and trailers that they showed prior to the 10k race were all Force Awakens and not a single mention of Rogue One or the second half season of Rebels. It is almost like runDisney budget got slashed in half for this race, the event organizers met for the first time last week to start the planning, or the let the Orlando team do the planning this year. Maybe tomorrow will be better. Hopefully the local CosPlayers will be out in force outside the property.

LAKid53Jan 14, 2017

@LizaMarie89, To add to @Texas84 excellent advice, don't fret if you don't get 8 hours of sleep the night before. As Galloway mentions in his training, the most important thing is to rest the night before. You will be plenty fired up from excitement and adrenaline for the run in the morning. Just make sure to eat something light (my go to is a bowl of oatmeal) before the race. I also have a strong cup of tea and put some pre-workout in a water bottle I take with me to sip on on the bus going to the corrals. I use Galloway's training schedule. You can download it into your calendar. Yeah, show up early. Plenty of stories on the Running threads about runners barely making it to their starting corral on time. And not having enough time to visit the port-a-potty...that first park bathroom is really a distance when you have to pee.... Which brings up a question - why no port-a-potties along the roadway leading to the first park? Not all of us are able to, um, use the woods...nor would I want to in the dark...

Texas84Jan 14, 2017

Got a training plan? Jeff Galloway run/walk is great if you're a beginner. I use Hal Higdon's plans. Oh, and show up early. You don't want to stress out if you're running late.

SwissmissJan 14, 2017

@LizaMarie89 - the above post is full of great advice. You'll make it - I finished the DLP half (my first) after nursing an injury for 8 out of my 18 week training plan; I only was able to restart running 4 weeks before the half. About a third of the way into the race, I felt like I would re-injure myself if I kept to a run, so I looked at the time and decided I could probably finish without being swept if I just kept to a fast walk - and I was right . I finished my very first half on the day before my 50th . Now I'm training for a 10 km in May and going to do the DLP half again this September (hopefully with a bit more running involved!). I remember during the DLP half someone nearby me chanting like Dory "just keep moving, just keep moving" - do that and you're sure to finish

LAKid53Jan 14, 2017

Think positive, you can do it! As long as you can maintain the 16 minute mile pace - a brisk walk - you'll be fine. But make sure you pace yourself - there's nothing wrong with taking walking breaks. You'll be surprised at the number of people who walk the entire race. And start out slow - brisk walk - for the first few minutes - you will spend at least 30 minutes waiting in your corral to start. Make sure you're hydrated, but not overhydrated - the first bathroom after you leave the starting point isn't until you enter a park. If you're thinking of wearing a costume., make sure it meets the costume requirements. And wear it during one of your training runs - the Half isn't the time to find out your costume will be uncomfortable to run in. Make sure to wear comfortable clothing to prevent chafing - Body Glide is great for those sensitive areas. Have a great Playlist, songs with a variety of tempos to help your pacing and keep you inspired and motivated to make those last few miles. There will be many photo opportunities , but be careful - you don't want to end up getting swept because you stood in line too long get a picture with Vader. But most important- enjoy yourself! It's a fun run and some of the costumes runners wear are really cool. I did the 10k last year - upgrading to the Half this year. There was a group of runners dressed up as Storm Trooper fairies- yes, storm troopers with wings. Awesome! Good luck!

LizaMarie89Jan 14, 2017

I'm running this as my very first half marathon. I've wanted to run a Disney Race since I was in High School. My biggest fear? Getting swept. I just started my training this week and I'm nervous and excited. I am aiming to finish in three hours but I will be content to cross that finish line. Any tips for a first time rundisney runner?

LAKid53Dec 20, 2016

Just realized that my 14 mile training run for Dark Side Half is the Sunday we will be on the SW cruise. Will probably switch to the previous Sunday since we won't be back until tax day and I don't think I want to run 14 miles 7 days before I run 22.4...... Or I run 14 miles around the ship, since that Sunday is a day at sea....nah.....