What is runDisney? And how did the world go from old-school Olympic marathons to having the planet’s most recognizable mouse hosting races? Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about Disney marathons.
Let’s take it from the top. The lore behind marathons stretches all the way back to ancient Greece. Legend says it all started with a man named Pheidippides, who ran 26 miles between the towns of Marathon and Athens. While the Pheidippides story is an entertaining one, the real history behind modern marathons doesn’t go back quite that far.
As National Geographic writer Erin Blakemore explains, runners have French linguist and classicist Michel Bréal to thank for marathons. Bréal introduced the idea of a roughly 24-mile footrace to the International Olympic Committee. The organization adopted the idea, then extended it to 26.2 miles in 1908.
How we got from there to the world of runDisney is a much more complex web to untangle. As you’ve probably guessed, runDisney is a division of The Walt Disney Company that hosts marathons, 5Ks, and other running events. The project began in 1994 when Disney held its inaugural race at Florida’s Walt Disney World. Today, runDisney is still up and running with a calendar of events hosted online, at Disney World, and at California’s Disneyland.
How does runDisney work?
Through the runDisney website, runners can register for various Disney running events. If you’ve ever tried planning a Disney trip, you should know that the rule for planning ahead absolutely extends to these races.
Registration is a simple process, wherein runners can expect to fill out basic demographic information and pay a registration fee. That fee not only reserves runners a spot in their chosen race but also comes with perks like a finisher medal. Even virtual race participants get these goodies; events like the Neverland 5K provide runners with a medal, shirt, certificate, and digital race tool kit.
What’s the appeal of these Disney races? As Eve Chen, USA Today Consumer Travel Reporter, explains, “I don’t run, but years ago, I promised myself I’d do a marathon if I made it into grad school. I don’t think I could’ve kept that promise anywhere but at Walt Disney World.”
“It’s not just because there’s no qualifying time and the course is paved and flat, all valuable perks for beginners. It’s because it still felt like a Disney vacation, even though I had to put in work,” Chen continues.
Curious to know more about the runDisney experience? Find everything you want to know explained in Chen’s article, “I hate running, but I did Disney World’s marathon. Here’s why it’s different.“