runDisney announces the return of races to Walt Disney World

Jun 30, 2021 in "Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend"

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Posted: Wednesday June 30, 2021 11:31am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

runDisney races will return to Walt Disney World Resort this fall, kicking off the runDisney 2021-2022 race season with four events.

Familiar runDisney enhancements will return, including special entertainment along the course and running through the theme parks. Disney has said that depending on conditions at the time, runDisney may implement health and safety measures, such as face coverings, physical distancing and other requirements if they are deemed appropriate.

The line up for the 2021-2022 season is:

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend powered by AfterShokz: November 4-7, 2021
The theme, Wickedly Delicious, celebrates favorite Disney villains, and the weekend will include a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and Disney Two Course Challenge (both the 10K and the half marathon). The Post-Race Party will cap off the weekend so runners can celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends at EPCOT with exclusive, after-hours access to the park and the International Food & Wine Festival.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 5-9, 2022
Celebrating the Most Magical Celebration on Earth for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 24-27, 2022
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend presented by Otterbox: March 31-April 3, 2022

New additions to Disney's races at Walt Disney World include:

runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend: Each race season, the fourth weekend will be the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend that will include different race themes and distances each year.
Disney Princess Sunrise Yoga: On the first morning of the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, runDisney will host Disney Princess Sunrise Yoga in front of Cinderella Castle, before the theme park opens.
Virtual Races: All runDisney races will have a virtual race option, allowing runDisney fans across the country to participate in your favorite races, even if you can’t make it to Walt Disney World to run in person. Runners will be encouraged to run on the same morning of the on-site events, and will receive the same finisher medals.
Just for Kids: The runDisney Kids Races during each event weekend will become runDisney Kids Adventures, focused on health, fitness, and fun for kids

For the latest on runDisney head to the running section of the WDWMAGIC Forums.

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Spoonful of Sugar4 days ago

Thank you so much for this reply and information. I will def look into Whispering Canyon - have heard good things about this one...and what a good idea to try this for breakfast while "working around" the road issues! Appreciate your insights! :)

the.dreamfinder5 days ago

It would depend on where you are staying, as the road closures make things hard. If you aren’t staying at a MK resort, you should be fine on Saturday with HS as the major road closures are on World Drive and into Epcot. If you’re at a Skyliner or Crescent Lake resort, you will have no problems getting to DHS. For Sunday, that’s going to be tough. rD has a 7 hour course limit for the full marathon, so MK will be difficult to reach unless you’re on the monorail loop or WL/FW launches. However, the marathon isn’t an out and back on world drive, so world drive reopening around 8:30-9am will ease traffic. If you can get to WL or FW and take their launches, Whispering Canyon Cafe could be a breakfast option that gets you in with a Uber/Lyft at WL. The big takeaway is that Sunday will be worse than Saturday and you will need to find means of transportation that take you around the road closures and ideally on a mode of transportation to MK that isn’t a car or bus.

Spoonful of Sugar6 days ago

Hello! Congratulations to all who are taking on the January 2025 WDW races! I am (ashamedly) not one of you, but my DSister is - 10K!! Newbie here...so I am posting this question here, but please direct me to the "non-runner" forum if needed. Not meaning to hijack this forum with non-runner questions, but not finding where I should ask this question. Here goes. I have been given the happy task of touring the parks with my dear nieces during the mornings of the half and full - they want to do early entry both on Sat and Sun - how do the parks work for HS on Saturday during ETPE and on Sunday at MK for ETPE? Thank you for all your help.

pdude8115 days ago

Ah ok. The races themselves mentioned USATF. Thanks, that helps me avoid wasting my time on a few contenders!

Rteetz15 days ago

This was listed on the half and full marathon pages. I also saw it under FAQ on the question, Can runDisney races serve as POT for other runDisney races?

pdude8115 days ago

It wasn't in the race policies tab for marathon weekend, so I went to the FAQ for the whole rD site and didn't see it there either. I always remembered seeing USATF somewhere though. Which page is that from? Posting my screenshots below. I just didn't look hard enough I guess __

Rteetz15 days ago

You had me go check. Where are you seeing that it doesn’t need to be USATF?

pdude8115 days ago

I'm noticing the POT section of race policies no longer specifies a race needs to be USATF certified. That might be helpful given I thought I'd have through late Sept to find something and now it's got to be before the end of June. Event when I go to the FAQ it no longer mentions USATF. Not sure when that vanished but it makes it easier. I've had to hunt down race directors before to double check.

surfsupdon16 days ago

Thank you @pdude81 and @Demarke for helping. I’ve never run the race when the parks were officially opened. They let guests in but rides weren’t running yet. I want to do it. I’ll check out the fbook group. I figure if I run the race, PLUS add rides, entertainment, and food that the value of my registration will increase!! I will still train, but I will celebrate while running. Who knows, tmrw I may change my mind. But I’ve got plenty of time to finalize.

Disney Dawg8816 days ago

Thanks very much!!!

Rteetz16 days ago

https://teamrundisney.com/rundisalerts

Disney Dawg8816 days ago

Thanks again. One last question, can you provide info on the tracker? I have no idea where to find that.

Rteetz16 days ago

Official charities are listed on the runDisney website: https://www.rundisney.com/plan-your-trip/disneyworld/travel-providers/disneyworld-marathon-weekend/ As for the spots that pop up that are non-Charity. Those just appear on the runDisney website. There are trackers and such to help with this but again you have to be quick. It is usually just one or two spots at a time and they will go in a couple minutes.

Disney Dawg8816 days ago

Thanks for the response! I assume Team in Training is one, do you know where I can find any others? Also, when you say spots pop up periodically, where does that happen?