FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Running Industry Converges at Walt Disney
World Marathon Weekend for Inaugural runDisney
"State of the Sport" Forum
Forum to feature the world's foremost running industry leaders tackling a
variety of relevant topics; Event part of new runDisney Race Director
Series; 2017 Running USA Industry Conference up next for
Walt Disney World Resort
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL (Jan. 6, 2016) – Global running industry leaders are
converging on the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna
this weekend for runDisney's first-ever State of the Sport forum and Race
Director Series.
Nearly 100 of the most highly-respected names in the global running sector
– major race directors, media executives, industry influencers and former
Olympic runners – are expected to attend the Jan. 7 forum, making it
perhaps the most significant gathering of running industry leaders ever
assembled.
The event, staged at Disney's Contemporary Resort, is being anchored by a
panel discussion featuring race directors and executives from the world's
top running events – Peter Ciaccia (TCS New York City Marathon), Tom Grilk
(B.A. A. Boston Marathon), Tad Hayano (Tokyo Marathon), Hugh Brasher
(Virgin Money London Marathon), Carey Pinkowski (Bank of America Chicago
Marathon) and Juergen Lock (BMW Berlin Marathon). The panel, moderated by
Runner's World editor-in-chief David Willey, is expected to tackle several
key industry topics, such as the evolving demographics of runners, the
impact of the upcoming Olympics, increasing runner participation and other
best practices.
Additional speakers expected are Running USA CEO Rich Harshbarger, B.A.A
Boston Marathon race director David McGillivray and Maribeth Bisienere,
senior vice president of Disney Springs and ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Other special guests will be reigning women's world marathon record-holder
and four-time Olympic distance runner Paula Radcliffe and former Olympian
and runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway.
The State of the Sport forum kicks off runDisney's new Race Director
Series, which affords race directors from around the country with
behind-the-scenes experiences during the Walt Disney World Marathon
Weekend. More than 40 race directors and race management personnel are
expected to take part in the series that gives them special access and
insight into various aspects of the four-day event operation, plus the Race
Director Challenge, a light-hearted competition during Saturday's Disney
Half Marathon race.
The State of the Sport forum aligns with runDisney's goal of broadening
participation in road running and encouraging people to live a healthier
and more active lifestyle. Next year, Walt Disney World Resort will once
again become the center of the running universe when it hosts the 2017
Running USA Industry Conference during the Disney Princess Half Marathon
Weekend presented by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The annual
conference brings together industry experts for sessions on best practices,
panel discussions, industry awards and more.
Hosting the 2017 conference and this weekend's forum build on runDisney's
growing stature as one of the leading running series in the world. In the
last few years, runDisney has experienced extraordinary growth and
popularity with the launch of four new race weekends – including its first
international event, the 2016 Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend – and
frequent race sellouts at events at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and
Disneyland Resort in California.
For more information about runDisney, visit www.runDisney.com. For more
media- related information, video and photos, visit
www.disneysportsnews.com.
About runDisney
runDisney, one of the largest race organizers in the nation, hosts a series
of nine event weekends providing runners unique opportunities to run
various distances through Disney theme parks. Race participants 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 in January followed by the Disney
Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children's Miracle Network
Hospitals in February, the Star Wars Half Marathon – the Dark Side in April
and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November. Disneyland
hosts the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend in January, the Tinker Bell Half
Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry in May, the Disneyland Half
Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna during Labor Day Weekend and the
Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend in November. Disneyland Paris
will host the inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend in
September, 2016. More than 209,000 running enthusiasts participate in
runDisney events each year. For more information, visit www.runDisney.com
and follow us on Facebook (runDisney), Twitter @runDisney and Instagram.
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