Plans for the 20th anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend are still being developed, but one thing is certain: some celebrities in Hollywood are already starting to line up to run it.

Alison Sweeney, host of the popular reality show “The Biggest Loser,” has just thrown her name into the hat. She recently entered the half marathon. Word is, other celebrities are on the verge of signing up, too, as well as some famous former distance running stars.

For Sweeney, an avid runner, the decision to choose the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend was an easy one – her kids’ faces lit up at the prospect of coming to Walt Disney World Resort for the race weekend, January 10-13, 2013.

Sweeney has already started training for the race. Check out this video of her from a recent training run at a park near her Los Angeles-area home where she talks about getting ready for her first runDisney race.

Check out these posts for more runDisney news from Walt Disney World Resort:

• Stay on the Run at Walt Disney World Resort


• New Twists and Turns Coming to 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Course
• From Wheelchair to Running on Air at Walt Disney World Resort

Tagged: runDisney, Video, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, WDW

Filed: Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Registration opened today for Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend, and if you haven’t run in this race, this might be the time to do it.

That’s because our runDisney team is working on a commemorative finisher’s medal for the 2013 race here at Walt Disney World Resort to mark the fifth anniversary of the race weekend, which is geared toward women and their active, healthy lifestyles. And the 2013 race will be the only one where you can get this special medal.

No details about the medal have been released yet, but I’m told it will feature some sort of princess tiara theme to it. Stay tuned for more details about that.

In the meantime, if you even think you might want to run, you’d better sign up early. This Princess race is a hot ticket. The race sold out last year in only a few months, with some 19,000 runners registering for the 13.1-mile run. This year the field is expected to swell to more than 20,000.

Like other runDisney races, this one, scheduled for February 22-24, will have fun stuff for runners of all ages and skill levels – everything from a Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Royal Family 5K to several Kids Races, plus a health and fitness expo with lots of running apparel and equipment geared toward women.

To sign up for the race or any runDisney race, as always, just go to runDisney.com.

Tagged: runDisney, WDW

Filed: Walt Disney World Resort


If you’re coming to Walt Disney World Resort on vacation, there are plenty of ways to maintain your healthy and active lifestyle during your visit here. In addition to healthy food options and exercise facilities in and around our theme parks and resorts, there are several running/walking trails around the resort for anyone looking to log a few miles while on vacation.

The trails are well marked and vary in length, so they are perfect whether you are a novice runner or an experienced long-distance runner. All the trails are framed by beautiful scenery and/or wildlife; the type of experience many Disney guests rarely get to enjoy. There are trails that take you along Bay Lake between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and The Campsites at Fort Wilderness Resort or around Seven Seas Lagoon with Cinderella Castle in the distance – just the kind of vistas that can make your run more magical and help you stay fit while making vacation memories with your friends and family.

But don’t take it from me. Listen to Lori Lovell, the runDisney mom on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, who recently hit the running trails at Walt Disney World Resort and shared with us three of her favorites.



If you want to hit the trails during your next visit to Walt Disney World Resort, check out www.DisneyWorld.com or stop by the front desk of your resort for maps and directions.

 And don’t forget: if you are looking to combine a great family vacation with the challenge of a half or full marathon, runDisney events are the perfect fit. With six event weekends at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort that all feature kids’ races, Family Fun Run 5Ks, half marathons and/or full marathons, there races for runners of all ages. Get more information or sign up for a race at www.rundisney.com. And to be among the first to find out all of the news and information related to runDisney, follow us on our new Twitter feed @runDisney and at Facebook.com/rundisney.

Check out more of the latest runDisney news in the posts below:

• The Second Chance to Get Your Tinker Bell Wings at Disneyland Resort Begins at Noon Today
• New Twists and Turns Coming to 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Course
• From Wheelchair to Running on Air at Walt Disney World Resort

Tagged: runDisney, Video, WDW

Filed: Walt Disney World Resort

If you didn’t get a chance to run in the wildly popular inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend last year at Disneyland Resort, now is your chance to get in on the fun. Registration for the 2013 race is now open at www.runDisney.com.

Last year’s race sold out quickly, with more than 17,000 runners registering for the various events during the weekend, all of which are geared toward women. Kellie Nickerson of New Mexico won the inaugural race, which also featured a few celebrities, such as Megyn Price (“Rules of Engagement”) and Sean Astin (“Lord of the Rings” and “Rudy”).

The second annual event should be just as entertaining. In addition to running through Disneyland park, Disney California Adventure park and the streets of Anaheim, runners will also get to run through the new Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park. Like all runDisney events, the 2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon will feature events for the entire family, plus music, entertainment and beloved Disney characters along the 13.1 mile course. The reward at the end is a coveted Tinker Bell medal with its own set of “wings”.

To sign up for the race or any runDisney race, go to www.runDisney.com.

Check out more of the latest runDisney news in the posts below:

• New Twists and Turns Coming to 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Course
• From Wheelchair to Running on Air at Walt Disney World Resort
• Booth’s Record Day at Disney is a Family Affair

Tagged: DLR, runDisney

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Special Events

The countdown has begun to the 20th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon on Jan. 13, 2013, and not surprisingly, our runDisney folks are hard at work putting their creative juices together to come up with some fun new twists for the race.

So far they have added some special entertainment along the 20th mile to commemorate the 20th anniversary and added a post-race party at Downtown Disney. They are also working on the creation of a special 20th anniversary medal, which I’ll reveal later.

But the latest development that I can share with you now involves some unique twists to the course. Here’s a hint: the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon is going to have some “high-speed’’ elements that will knock this race “out of the ballpark.’’

Think you have it figured out?

Well, just check out this video for all of the new details about the fun enhancements to the 26.2-mile course that will go through the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks – and a few other places you probably never dreamed about.

If you want to get in on the fun, just sign up at runDisney.com for the marathon or any of the other family-oriented races taking place here during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, Jan. 10-13.

Check out these posts for more runDisney news:

• From Wheelchair to Running on Air at Walt Disney World Resort
• Booth’s Record Day at Disney is a Family Affair
• Everyone’s a Winner in the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at the Disneyland Resort

Tagged: runDisney, Video, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, WDW

Filed: Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

If you happened to see Kimberly Sheerin running the Disney Tangled Royal Family 5K this past weekend at Walt Disney World Resort, she probably looked just like any other runner in the field. But the truth is she is far from ordinary.

The fact that she was able to run three yards, let alone 3.1 miles, made her unique when you consider that it was about this time last year when she was in a car accident near her hometown of Winter Haven, Fla., that left her as a virtual quadriplegic. A C-3 incomplete spinal cord injury is what doctors called it that day in April when she was rushed to Lakeland Regional Hospital. She couldn’t move her arms and could barely move her legs.

Yet, after several months of exhaustive and painful rehabilitation at Shepherd Center, she regained the use of arms and legs and set a goal of running in the 5K during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend. Her doctors called it “remarkable.’’ I would argue it was a little magical too. I mean, this is the place where dreams come true, right?

In typical Disney fashion, her entire rehab team decided to run with her. And yes, they all finished the race. Together.

Here’s a video clip of her story.

Tagged: runDisney, Video, WDW, Wide World of Sports Complex

Filed: Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Say this for Rachel Booth: she sure knows how to make a grand entrance.

Booth of Mandeville, La., signed up to run her first Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort this weekend and made quite an impression by not only winning the 13.1-mile race in record time but she also achieved a “coast-to-coast’’ milestone. The reigning two-time winner of the Disneyland Half Marathon in Anaheim, Ca., Booth became the first person to capture women’s titles at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.

It was quite a feat. Booth didn’t just win; she dominated, leading the race from start to finish. In fact, she likened the race to a “good morning run.’’ About the only thing she didn’t do Sunday was beat herself. Her winning time of 1:18:11 was just a tad slower than her winning time of 1:18:01 at the Disneyland Half Marathon last fall.

Still, she crossed the finish line amid a blizzards of confetti, music, cheers and Mickey and Minnie Mouse. And in typical Disney storybook fashion, it wasn’t the record time or the bi-coastal milestone that mattered to her the most, but rather having her family – her husband, daughter and son – on hand that made the moment memorable.

“This was a lot of fun to have my two children there to enjoy the whole experience and just to see mommy cross the finish line with Minnie and Mickey,” Booth said. “…It definitely has a little bit of a special place in my heart.’’

Mine too.

Tagged: runDisney, WDW, Wide World of Sports Complex

Filed: Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort