The 2008 Walt Disney World Races

It seems that Walt Disney World has very much adopted the idea of hosting races year round.
Unfortunately not everyone lives is Central Florida and can make every one so we have to make choices.

Of course we need information to make these choices and my purpose today is to provide you with some information on all the planned WDW sponsored races for 2008, as well as info on the 2009 WDW Marathon Weekend.

I have done most of these races myself and hopefully can shed enough light on each so that you can get an idea as to what each race is all about.

So let’s see how the 2008 WDW Race Calendar stacks up.

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Date: March 8, 2008
Name: National Kidney Foundation 5K
Location: Epcot
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles)
Comments: This is a new race for 2008. The course is pretty familiar. It starts in the EPCOT parking lot (I’m guessing the Wonder parking lot) and eventually enters the park and makes its way to World Showcase. The course continues counter-clockwise around World Showcase and finishes in the parking lot. It looks like all participants will be required to maintain a 15 minute per mile pace.

For more info on this race like go to the National Kidney Foundation 5K Event Page.

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Date: May 2-4, 2008
Name: Minnie Marathon Weekend (2 Races)
Location: EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s World of Sports, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles) on Saturday and 15K (9.3 miles) on Sunday
Comments: If I had to choose one weekend to go to WDW to run this would be the one. I have done this duo of a 5K and 15K race on two consecutive days and I think it’s the best deal of all the WDW sponsored races. I have heard some rumors regarding this as being the last year for the Minnie Marathon Weekend. I hope not.

On Saturday the Go Red for Women 5K is held and the course for that race is located in EPCOT, specifically World Showcase. This is a great warm-up race for the 15K race on Sunday.

All participants must maintain a 15-minute per mile pace.

For more information on this race go to the Go Red for Women 5K Event Page .

On Sunday the Women Run the World 15K (9.3 miles) is held and that one has the absolute best course as it starts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, makes its way through Disney’s Wide World of Sports, down to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then over to the Beach and Yacht Club and then into EPCOT’s World Showcase before finishing in the EPCOT Parking Lot.

All participants must maintain a 15-minute per mile pace.

For more information on this particular race go to the Women Run the World 15K Event Page.

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Date: May 10, 2008
Name: Muddy Buddy
Location: Disney’s Wide World of Sports
Distance: 6.5 miles plus obstacle course
Comments: I’ve never done this race. It is a team race involving biking, running, leapfrogging, and finally a crawl through a mud pit. Each team alternates running and biking for the first part of the race. I guess this race is best suited for those who are interested in a different type of race. It does look like fun”¦but imagine if it’s a rainy day”¦talk about mud.
For more information on this race go to the Muddy Buddy Event Page .

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Date: May 10, 2008
Name: Danskin Women’s Triathlon
Location: Seven Seas Lagoon, Fort Wilderness, Magic Kingdom
Distance: 400 Yard Swim; 9 mile bike course; and a 2 mile run
Comments: This sounds pretty cool and pretty exhausting. Imagine swimming in the Seven Seas Lagoon and then getting on a bike and pedaling for 9 miles and then have to run 2 miles”¦phew. I am not sure exactly where the bike course is but I do recall someone mentioning to me that it goes through and out Fort Wilderness and possibly down the back road to Downtown Disney and back again.

For more information on this race go to The Danskin Women’s Triathlon Event Page.

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Date: September 27, 2008
Name: Expedition Everest Challenge
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles)
Comments: This is the first year for this race and the announcement has received mixed reaction from the running community. This is not so much a race as it is some sort of combination race and hunt for special stamps needed to complete the challenge. Individuals and teams may enter this race. The mixed response has been mostly because of the cost ($100 for individuals, $195 for teams of two people) as well as the fact that it’s not a pure race.

Also, get this. All participants must maintain a 16 minute per mile pace but there is a 2.5 hour time limit for the entire race”¦remember”¦it’s sort of a scavenger hunt too.

Anyway, if you’re interested in this race go to The Expedition Everest Challenge Event Page for more information.

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Date: October 5, 2008
Name: Susan G. Komen Central Florida Race for the Cure 5K
Location: TBA (In the past this race has been held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles)
Comments: This race is near and dear to my heart. The first time I ran in this race it was sort of an accident. I was planning to run in the Race for the Taste on Sunday and found out about this Saturday race and signed up a day before.

The race supports the fight against Breast Cancer and I guarantee that if you ever participate in a Komen race you will never find a better organized race”¦ever. I was overwhelmed by my first Komen race and the following year got involved in raising funds for this worthy cause.

Although I love the Minnie Marathon Weekend if I could do only one WDW race a year this one would be my choice.

The exact location for this year’s race has yet to be determined. You can check for updates at The G. Komen Central Florida Race for the Cure 5K Event Page.

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Date: October 12, 2008
Name: Race for the Taste 10K
Location: Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club, and EPCOT
Distance: 10K (6.2 miles)
Comments: This is very much a fun race and has grown in popularity over the last several years to the point at which you need to register early to guarantee entry. It celebrates Disney’s Food and Wine Festival and participants are treated to dome foodies from the F&W festival at the finish line.

I highly recommended this race. It used to be held on the Sunday following the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K but unfortunately they are now held on separate weekends.
I believe, but am not certain that all participants must maintain a 15 minute per mile pace.
Look for more information on The Race for the Taste Event Page.

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Date: October 25, 2008
Name: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K

Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Wide World of Sports
Distance: 13K (8.2 miles)
Comments: This race was first held in 2007 and many participants had some issues with this race. Tt was held at around 10 P.M. which is not the best time to run for most folks as it puts a real hold on their day being careful not to use up much energy. Then there were parts of the course that were on uneven ground and muddy.

Finally the party was less than adequate so my guess is that many hard core runners may pass on this race for this year.

If you are into night running however this is the race for you.

The only pace requirement that I know of is that participants need to finish within 2.5 hours but that pacing requirement may change.

As of the day of the posting of this blog entry an event page has not been put up yet for this race.

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Date: January 8-11, 2009
Name: Disney’s Marathon Weekend
Location: The Walt Disney World Resort
Distance: 5K, Half-Marathon (13.1 miles), Full Marathon (26.2 miles)
Comments: If you’ve been reading this blog for the past 9 months you should be familiar with this huge annual event but if not then head over to The Marathon Weekend Event Page.

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Well there you have it”¦all the Walt Disney World races in a blog nutshell.

There are also events for kids and you can find info on them at Endurance Kids Races Event Info Page.

For updates through the year constantly check The Endurance Event Listing Page.

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Helping Others

Before signing off for today I wanted to make one more comment.

There has been much criticism tossed at Walt Disney World regarding the number of races held every year. Those critics point to the revenue that these races generate.

Let’s not forget that the Disney Company is a business and all businesses look towards both making a profit and achieving customer satisfaction.

Let’s also not lose sight of the fact that in almost all cases these races are involved in raising funds for very worthy causes.

For instance the Disney Marathon Weekend last month raised almost $8 million for charities.

It was those participants in the weekend races who were responsible for helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society raise $5.6 million, the AT Children’s Project raise $900,000 to cure a rare childhood disease, and another $1 million was raised for various other charities.

In describing the event and it’s current legacy Senior Vice President of Disney Sports Enterprises Ken Potrock stated, “The marathon that started 15 years ago as an outlet for runners to reach their athletic goals, has turned into so much more than an athletic event; it’s a way for runners to rally around organizations that are making a difference to millions,”

He went on to say, “We’re thrilled that through the Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon we’ve created a platform for teams of athletes to help find cures for serious diseases – and momentum is building.”

One group that should be saluted is Team In Training. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program kicked off their 20th Anniversary at the WDW Marathon. “This is a great opportunity for our organizations to raise funds to support our mission,” said Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Senior National Director of Team In Training Donna Grogan. “We’re so thankful to Walt Disney World for providing the venue for athletes to participate in a world-class event while doing something for the greater good of others. This race has allowed us to fundraise over $53.1 million over the past 15 years.”

From time to time when running comes up in conversations I get strange looks as if to say, “Why run? Why sweat? Why risk injury?”

Maybe I should have them talk to two-time marathon runner, Emma Kieran, who started running in 2006 for her grandfather who died from lymphoma.

Emma puts it best when she says, “It’s great to be out there at Disney on race day knowing we’re all doing something for ourselves and to help improve the quality of life for so many patients and families. It’s simply an incredible feeling.”

It certainly is.