Running to Stand Still

RunDisney has revealed the revised course for the 20th anniversary running of the Walt Disney World marathon.
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Runners to Race Around the “High Banks’’ and “Bases’’ As Part of 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Course

2013 Disney Marathon route to go through baseball stadium and speedway; course tweaks build on list of new 2013 enhancements

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (May 16, 2012) - Runners in the 20th anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon in 2013 will have the unique experience of running along a speedway and through a baseball stadium - in addition to Disney’s four theme parks - as part the latest enhancements designed to celebrate the event’s two decades of existence.

The 2013 Disney Marathon course will again start at Epcot. But runners will go through the Magic Kingdom and then, for the first time ever, run through the high-banked Walt Disney World Speedway where stock cars, Indy cars and exotic supercars typically roar around the one-mile tri-oval track. And later the course will take runners to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and through the complex’s Champion Stadium, a major-league style ballpark that’s the Atlanta Braves’ annual spring training home.

“Running through the speedway and the ballpark should provide quite a thrill for the runners,’’ said veteran race director Jon Hughes. “These very creative enhancements should make for a pretty memorable 20th anniversary marathon that people will probably be talking about for 20 more years.’’

The marathon’s commemorative route changes add to the new enhancements recently announced, including enhanced entertainment along Mile 20, a specially-designed 20th anniversary Mickey Mouse medal and a new post-race party at Downtown Disney.

In addition to the 26.2-mile marathon, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna (Jan. 10-13) will feature events for the entire family such as Kids’ Races throughout the weekend, including the Mickey Mile, a Family Fun Run 5K on Friday, the Half Marathon on Saturday and the Marathon on Sunday. There is also Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge which involves running the Half Marathon and the full Marathon - 39.3 miles! The Health and Fitness Expo runs throughout the weekend at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and features the latest in running technology and fashion, as well as renowned running experts like Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney.

Runners can register at www.rundisney.com. Runners can register early to get the best price. Below is pricing and the schedule of events for the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna.

EVENT	Toda-June19	June 20-Sept. 25	Sept. 26-Jan. 13
Full Marathon	$150	$170	$190
Half Marathon	$150	$170	$190
Goofy Challenge	$320	$350	$380
Family Fun 5K	$55	$55	$55

EVENT	DAY	TIME
Disney's Health and Fitness Expo	Thursday	9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
	Friday	9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
	Saturday	10:00 AM -5:00 PM
runDisney Kids' Races	Thursday	3:00 PM
	Friday	11:00 AM
	Saturday	11:00 AM
Mickey Mile	Thursday	4:30 PM
	Friday	12:30 PM
	Saturday	12:30 PM
Disney Family Fun Run 5K	Friday	6:30 AM
Walt Disney World Half Marathon	Saturday	5:30 AM
Walt Disney World Marathon	Sunday	5:30 AM
Downtown Disney After Party	Sunday	4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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I can't say that I'm all that thrilled with the changes for the anniversary. I will definitely miss the early-morning pass through Epcot to World Showcase with the Illuminations torches blazing. Running on a banked, exposed race track is not my idea of a good time, nor is running around ESPN World of Sports. I suppose the addition of the ESPN pass eliminates the cruel out and back loop in the blazing sun, so that's one thing going for it. You can see a video preview and course maps on the runDisney event website.