From age 12 to 30, I ran competitively—at my peak, I used to be operating 65 miles per week and coaching to interrupt three hours within the marathon. I solely knew one operating velocity: quick. And out of the blue, I needed to cease operating altogether.
I used to be attacked and suffered extreme accidents that made it inconceivable to run. My complete life had revolved round coaching and operating—the chums I frolicked, what I regarded ahead to, my every day routine—and it was inextricably tied to my profession as a operating coach, private coach, and health author.
I felt like I misplaced an enormous a part of my identification, not to mention my ardour, psychological well being coping mechanism, social community, and construction in my day. I grieved the lack of operating in a lot the identical approach that one grieves the dying of a cherished one.
Nevertheless, after years of now not with the ability to run, I made a decision to attempt to get again into the game final summer season after a piece journey had me testing out treadmills, which compelled me to run.
I found a couple of issues: operating now could be very painful; the mobility challenges from my accidents make it inconceivable to run easily; and I am unable to run wherever close to as quick as I used to.
However, I additionally found I can run.
Final fall, I used to be given the chance to attempt the runDisney occasion in January 2024 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I hadn’t run a race in over seven years, however I had heard Disney races are tempo inclusive to runners for all ranges, so I made a decision to be courageous and provides it a shot.
Why runDisney races are distinctive
As a result of inclusivity of the occasions when it comes to the cut-off instances and welcoming ambiance, runDisney races are tremendous in style for newcomers trying to begin operating, runners who’re returning to the game after an extended break (reminiscent of postpartum mothers making an attempt to start out operating once more), skilled runners who want to full their first marathon, and aggressive runners alike.
Tons of dates and distances
There are lots of Disney races all year long, and at numerous Disney parks, which makes it straightforward to search out one to suit your schedule. Along with the Walt Disney World Marathon occasions, there are a number of different runDisney races at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland in California, and digital races as properly.
(Take a look at the present runDisney race calendar right here.)
One of many advantages of the runDisney occasions is that even when you can’t attend one of many races in particular person at a Disney theme park, a lot of the races supply a digital possibility. This lets you register for the increase after which full the gap at house wherever you reside utilizing a GPS watch. You’ll nonetheless obtain a finisher’s medal, a T-shirt, and all the swag.
The Walt Disney Marathon weekend, which is held each January at Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, is the preeminent runDisney occasion on the race calendar.
The weekend features a 5K on Thursday, a 10K on Friday, a half marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday, and a full marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday. Some runners tackle what is named the runDisney Dopey Problem, which entails operating all 4 races on back-to-back days.
Though I want that I used to be in form sufficient to deal with the Dopey Problem, I knew that the complete marathon was going to be out of my wheelhouse in my restricted coaching time.
As a operating coach, I all the time advise runners to prioritize their security relatively than attempt to do one thing their physique just isn’t prepared for. So, I settled for doing the opposite three shorter Disney Marathon Weekend races: the 5K, 10K, and half marathon.
Beneficiant cut-off instances
The entire RunDisney occasions have very beneficiant cut-off instances to be able to stroll with out being pulled from the course. The ambiance is all about embracing the enjoyment and magic of the confluence of operating and Disney relatively than essentially aiming in your quickest race time.
I knew that operating three occasions can be greater than formidable, because it has been 7 years since I’ve run a single race. Nevertheless, I imagined that my power and confidence can be buoyed by the enjoyable ambiance and common inclusivity of the runDisney race setting (spoiler: it was!).
In actual fact, inclusivity for runners and walkers of all capability ranges is baked into all Disney races: The cut-off time for the complete marathon is seven hours, the half marathon is 4 hours, and for the shorter races, you need to keep a 16 minute per mile tempo. That is a brisk strolling tempo that’s attainable with coaching for most people.
So when you contemplate your self a “sluggish runner,” you’ll not solely have loads of firm alongside the race course—you’ll be an official finisher.
Many marathons have a lot sooner cut-off instances and also you’ll be requested to depart the course in case you are nonetheless making your approach towards the end line at a slower tempo. Plus, you don’t get the glory and confidence enhance of truly crossing the end line and incomes your race medal.
Spectacular group
The entire runDisney races are additionally very properly organized: There are beginning corrals based mostly in your anticipated common tempo or end time. Which means in case you are a brand new runner and plan to make use of a run/stroll method, otherwise you wish to stroll all the race distance, you can be seeded with members of comparable capability. Equally, in case you are a aggressive runner, you may submit a “proof of time“ race consequence for the Disney half marathon or Disney marathon. Your earlier race consequence will then be used to offer you a bib quantity for a better beginning corral alongside runners who shall be sustaining an identical race piece.
The races all have every part you’ll count on from a top-tier highway race reminiscent of water stops, clearly marked programs, medical tents alongside the course and on the end line, and a free breakfast field with snacks once you end the race.
Sadly, a tropical storm required last-minute adjustments to my half-marathon race, shortening the course to solely 7.2 miles. The complete runDisney group pulled off an enormous change within the last hours earlier than the race and made it a terrific expertise.
(On that notice, one other perk of the runDisney races: The swag is superior! The race medals are large and have Disney characters in 3-D that transfer, plus, you get a long-sleeved technical T-shirt for every Disney race that you simply run.)
Sturdy group
The setting and your fellow runners are different particular features of Disney races. Whether or not you’re doing one in every of these runDisney races at Disney World or Disneyland theme parks, you get to run via the totally different parks.
Tons of members put on Disney-themed costumes, and each mile or so, you may cease and take photos along with your favourite iconic Disney characters, from basic favorites (like Mickey Mouse and Snow White) to fashionable ones (like Elsa and Moana). There may be additionally loads of leisure on the race course in addition to within the beginning space and end line areas, with music and extra character experiences for photograph ops.
I had the chance to observe the complete marathon, and though loads of runners within the quick beginning corrals wore costumes, the corral with the walkers was undoubtedly the get together vibe race expertise. The entire walkers and joggers appear to be having the time of their lives, many clad in costumes of their favourite Disney princesses, villains, and superheroes.
It’s actually a enjoyable ambiance—and could be an thrilling distraction in case you are struggling throughout your race.
There have been components in a few of my very own races the place I wasn’t totally in it, however I used to be captivated by the power of the runners round me, the thrill of Disney World, and my very own deep pleasure for having a race alternative that felt so approachable and celebratory—irrespective of the place I used to be in my operating journey.
How you can prep for a Disney race
Coaching for a Disney race isn’t inherently totally different from coaching for some other highway race. Nevertheless, if you’ll be doing a number of Disney occasions again to again (like I did), or you take on the complete runDisney Dopey Problem or Goofy’s Race, it is very important tailor your coaching plan accordingly.
Working a half marathon and a marathon on consecutive days is extraordinarily taxing on the physique, and coaching requires doing back-to-back longer runs. Because of this, the Dopey Problem is normally greatest reserved for skilled runners who’ve been coaching for a few years and have already run a full marathon.
However newcomers can completely do the complete Disney Marathon—and most of the triumphant finishers are certainly first-time marathon runners.
One of many cool issues about all the runDisney occasions is that accepted members get a free Jeff Galloway coaching plan to assist put together for no matter occasions you might have registered for.
There are totally different coaching plans based mostly in your health degree, and the Jeff Galloway includes a run/stroll method for newbies.
Echelon Health additionally sponsors the Disney races, so you need to use the Echelon Stride treadmills with the Jeff Galloway run/stroll coaching packages to arrange for the races. These treadmill exercises are a terrific possibility for runners who stay cold-weather climates who’re coaching for the January Disney races.
Final, runDisney introduced me again to racing
I completely cherished my expertise on the 2024 runDisney Marathon Weekend, and whereas my end instances had been nowhere close to as quick as they was, I felt a lot pleasure and gratitude that I used to be capable of run once more, not to mention in such supportive races.
Going into it, I used to be admittedly anxious to see how it might be to take part in a race in a very totally different mild than I had run a race earlier than. I had additionally by no means been to Disney World or any Disney theme park, so I knew that I used to be in for an eye-opening expertise.
Finally, I used to be extraordinarily impressed with how well-organized the runDisney races had been and the way welcoming, supportive, and celebratory all the ambiance surrounding the occasions was.
I really like the truth that you may go there to run your coronary heart out and attempt to obtain a quick time, or go there and attempt to rejoice the beginning of your health journey. Both approach, runDisney appears completely dedicated to organizing operating occasions which are memorable and empowering.
For me, simply being in a bodily state the place I might lace up my favourite trainers and take part within the very sport that has been the best reward and keenness in my life was actually the real-life embodiment of the particular magic that Disney motion pictures and Disney parks are all about.
