FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Relay and Medal Await Runners at the Walt Disney World Marathon
Registration Now Open for all 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Events
Lake Buena Vista, FL (March 15, 2011) – Registration for the Walt Disney
World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA opens today and two new features
– a relay option and a new medal - await runners who sign up this year for
the weekend event, Jan. 5 – 8, 2012.
Runners who want to participate in the 26.2 mile Disney Marathon can now
join a buddy and sign up for the Disney Marathon Relay.
Unlike other marathon relays, the Disney Marathon Relay runners will each
run 13.1 miles through Walt Disney World's four theme parks. The first
runner will travel through Epcot and Magic Kingdom, while the second runner
goes through Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios before
finishing at Epcot. Both runners receive official half-marathon times as
well as a combined team time, plus the new Chip and Dale medal – the first
new character medal for Disney Marathon Weekend since the Goofy medal was
introduced in 2006. The Disney Marathon Relay will be run simultaneously
with the Disney Marathon and share the same course.
"Many runners find a half marathon's 13.1 miles is the perfect challenge
for them so our new Disney Marathon Relay is the perfect way to run that
half marathon distance but in the Disney Marathon," said Kathleen Duran,
Disney Sports Area Manager. "It also gives half-marathon runners a chance
to run a different course by completing the second half of the marathon,
and provides another opportunity for family members or friends to
participate together."
The Walt Disney World Half Marathon will also offer a new feature – a
special edition Donald Duck medal to commemorate the 15th anniversary of
the race. Earlier this year the Disney Half Marathon reached record
capacity with a little more than 27,000 registered runners.
Once again the Disney Marathon Weekend will be anchored by the Walt Disney
World Marathon (Jan. 8) running through all four Disney theme parks and
rewarding finishers with the coveted Mickey medal.
Other Disney Marathon Weekend events include the Disney Family 5k Fun Run
(Friday, Jan. 6), Disney Kid's Races (Jan. 6-7), and Goofy's Race and a
Half Challenge (Jan. 7-8). There's also Disney's Health & Fitness Expo
(Jan. 5-8) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney, which will
feature the latest in running merchandise, equipment and products, plus
healthy and fitness seminars by leading authorities such as renowned
marathon trainer Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for
runDisney.
Runners who register for Disney Marathon Weekend events before April 25
receive a discount. To register for any of the races or for more
information, go to www.rundisney.com.
The Disney Marathon Weekend is the crown jewel among Disney's four
signature runDisney events. The other signature weekend events are the
Disneyland Half Marathon (Sept. 4, 2011), the Disney Wine and Dine Half
Marathon (Oct. 1, 2011) and Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend
presented by Lady Foot Locker (Feb. 26, 2012). For more information, go to
www.rundisney.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at DisneySports and on
Facebook at Facebook.com/rundisney.
About runDisney
The runDisney series is a program of half marathon and marathon events that
provide runners unique opportunities to run through Disney theme parks.
Race participants also get to earn Disney-themed medals, experience
legendary Disney entertainment and guest service, and ultimately celebrate
their accomplishments with a Disney vacation.
The original event in the series, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
presented by CIGNA, takes place each January and features both marathon and
half marathon distances. Other races at Walt Disney World in Florida
include the Disney Princess Half Marathon presented by Lady Foot Locker in
February and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon in September. The
Disneyland Half Marathon takes place each Labor Day Weekend in California.
More than 75,000 people participate in runDisney events each year. For more
information visit www.rundisney.com.
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