Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Celebrates its Fifth Anniversary

Heather Hust Rivera

by , Vice President, Consumer Products

Fifth Annual Disneyland Half Marathon

The Disneyland Half Marathon is celebrating its fifth anniversary on Sunday with a record field of more than 14,000 registered participants. The fifth annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, held September 3-5, also includes Kids’ Races and the Disneyland Fabulous 5K, which has 5,000 registered athletes. This is the biggest Disneyland Half Marathon to date, and includes runners from 16 countries and all 50 U.S. states.

To commemorate the fifth anniversary, athletes who complete the half marathon will receive a special-edition finisher medal featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle circled by the number “5” and running Mickey Mouse.

Fifth Anniversary Disneyland Half Marathon Finishers Medal

Nearly 570 “Legacy Runners” – those who have competed in the race all five years – will also receive special recognition throughout the race weekend. Nearly 2,350 runners are going for the Coast to Coast medal, which requires a runner to complete one of three qualifying races at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Half Marathon in the same year.

Throughout the race, runners will pass Disneyland icons such as Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Matterhorn, Anaheim landmarks such as the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center, and they will see themselves on the jumbo screen running on the field inside Angel Stadium of Anaheim, before finally crossing the finish line next to the Disneyland Hotel.

If you missed your chance to participate in the races this year, you can register for next year’s Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend on Sept. 2-4, 2011, beginning Jan. 3, 2011.

If you’d like to watch the race, you can view the runners from several locations, including the following:

  • The Start – Disneyland Drive to Katella Avenue 6:00 a.m. to 6:40 a.m. (Accessible only by foot)
  • The Esplanade between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park 6:12 a.m. to 7:02 a.m. (Accessible only by foot)
  • Disneyland Drive to Ball Road 6:20 a.m. to 7:26 a.m. (Accessible only by foot)
  • Angel Stadium 6:45 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. (Accessible via Orangewood Ave. entrance)
  • Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and ESPN Zone 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
  • Spectators who purchased a ChEAR Zone package will have reserved seating in the Finish Line area.

You can also see a detailed map of the course that helps illustrate where these viewing areas are in the race here.

The Disneyland Health and Fitness Expo is also open to the general public on September 3 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and September 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This event, located in the Disneyland Hotel Exhibit Hall, features the opportunity to experience the latest in running and fitness equipment as well as the opportunity to get running tips during the speaker series.

Good luck to all athletes participating in the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend!

Comments

  • I’m so excited for this Heather, but I am also a little bummed out. I am running the half marathon for the 5th time so it makes me a Legacy runner! 🙂 But the official race guide I got today does not say my name as a legacy runner and I registered in March, so theres no way I wasn’t confirmed! 🙁

    Oh well, I’m still uber excited that I get to do this a fifth year in a row! Hopefully My name will be on there when I run the next 5! See ya at the finish line!

  • What better time then to run my first 5K then with Disney! So excited I will be out there this weekend. Hopefully next year I can give the 1/2 a try!

  • My friend Gina and I are doing the Family 5K for the second year in a row. We can’t wait!!!

  • I didn’t even know there was a half marathon at Disneyland, I’ll be sure to go next year! I’m so jelous of the participants this year!!! It’s a nice medal.

  • I am so excited to participate in the Disney Half! This is my first 1/2 Marathon. Last year I went to Disneyland on the 1/2 Marathon day & saw everyone with their medals and wanted to know how I could get one, now I will have my very own!! I have been training for 4 months now and can’t wait until Sunday!!!

  • Heather I have a question: Is it a requirement to run both at Walt Disney World AND Disneyland? Or is that just an option for those vying for the Coast to Coast medal?

    Sorry this is my first time learning that Disney has an event like this >_<

  • goodluck to all on the run/walk this weekend. Zee and I will be doing our best to make that finish line in time.

  • I’m one of the 2,350 completing the Coast to Coast challenge! I can’t wait to run through Disneyland and DCA! Should be an awesome event. 🙂

  • I’ll be out there in my Elvis’ tribute to Stitch gear and my wife will be dressed as Lilo =). Had such fun last year can’t wait to do it again this weekend! I broke my leg a few months back so i’ll get to enjoy more of the scenery as I walk the half this time!

  • I cant wait to participate in next years’ race! Anyone know if that medal design will be voted for as well, or was it just because of the 5 year thing?

  • Woohoo! And what a great medal!

  • A friend of mine will be running in the event. Her name is Jill and she ran a few years back but was in an auto accident and injured her back. She has since had surgery and is able to do the one thing she really likes and that is run. She will be in the event and I just Want to tell Jill good luck and see you when you get back.

  • woohoo!!! Coast 2 coast here we come!!!

  • Good luck Sarah on the marathon! I wont be running but I’m one of the many volunteers who work the registration booths and the bag check on race day! I want to wish all the runners best of luck this Sunday!

  • I will be running the Half Marathon this Sunday! I am super excited. This is my first race ever but I have been training for the past few months. I can’t wait to have the medal hung around my neck!

Comments are closed.