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We all know it takes speed to cross the finish line of a RunDisney event, but yesterday runners discovered they had to be quick just to get a place at the starting line for the 2013 Disneyland Half Marathon weekend events. Fortunately, charity teams have room for runners who missed the starting gun - keep reading for details.

The new 10K race proved to be extremely popular, selling out in just over three hours on Tuesday. The Disneyland Half Marathon sold out Wednesday morning, setting a new runDisney record. Fastest of all was the Dumbo Double Dare, with 5,000 runners registering to complete both the 10K and the half marathon. That event sold out in under an hour.

By the numbers, there are

12,500 half marathon-only runners
3,000 10K-only runners
5,000 Dumbo Double Dare participants

Add in the 5K and kids races, and runDisney expects over 25,000 runners to participate in the race weekend events.

While registration is still open (but selling quickly) for the 5K and kids races, Disney is no longer accepting registration for the 10K or half marathon events. Even so, there's still a way to get a spot at the starting line by registering with one of the official charity partners.

Running for charity brings a new element to your race experience, and I personally think it's worth doing at least once. When you run for a charity, especially one you have a personal connection to, you're suddenly not just running for yourself. I participated with Team in Training for the 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon, and the inspirational example of my friends and family who have faced and survived lymphoma helped me put all those training miles in perspective.

The runDisney website lists several teams with open spots, but two of my personal favorites are not yet listed (runDisney is updating the site).

Team Muscle Makers was founded by MousePlanet reader Melissa (who posts as fairestoneofall), and raises money for Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. The team has participated in several runDisney events, including last weekend's Tinker Bell Half Marathon. The team has openings for the 10K and Disneyland Half Marathon, and has a wait list for the Dumbo Double Dare. You can contact Melissa through MousePad, visit the team's Facebook page, or send an e-mail for more information.

Team in Training is one of the best-known charity organizations participating in runDisney events, with their purple-clad runners and green-shirted coaches easy to spot along the course. Team in Training works in seasons, and is currently focusing on their summer season events like the San Diego Half Marathon in June. Registration for the Fall events, including the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, usually takes place in May. If you're interested in running with Team in Training, check with your local chapter for more information.

Other runDisney charity partners include:

• A-T Children's Project
• Lazarex
• PPMD
• Special Olympics of Southern California
• Team TSA

Every charity team has different fundraising requirements, so look around and find a group with a goal you feel you can meet. And don't forget to see if your company offers a matching gift program - that's a great way to double your fundraising results.

If you don't feel like fundraising, you can also secure your spot in the Disneyland Half Marathon events by booking a race travel package through one of the official partner Tour Operators. This is a less-attractive option for locals who don't necessarily need transportation and hotel rooms, but check to see what packages may be available.

• GET Travel Sports & Events – based in the US, servicing guests from all countries
• Dream Come True Vacations
• Marathon Tours
• Acclaim Travel

Finally, a shameless plug here - if you want to make sure you don't miss out on future runDisney races, be sure to follow the MousePlanet Twitter account and Facebook page, and check our Team MousePlanet forum frequently. We posted all of the pre-registration options as we learned about them, and many of our runners were safely registered for the races two weeks ago! Sometimes you don't have to be fast, you just have to be smart.