WDW Endurance Series

Disney's Endurance Series offers Walt Disney World guests the opportunity to participate in a number of races ranging from 100-meter dashes to full marathons.

In recent years the crown jewel of the Endurance Series has been the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend held in January. This weekend has spawned two other notable weekends, the Princess Half Marathon Weekend in the spring and the Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend in the fall.

The Endurance Series half and full marathon races offers guests the chance to not only test their endurance but also gives them an opportunity to do so while running through the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Persons who complete one WDW Marathon or Half Marathon AND the Disneyland Half in the same year get a special "Coast to Coast' medal, which features Walt and Mickey at the Partners Statue. In 2010, around 2,400 folks received the treasured Coast to Coast Medal!

2011 Events

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Jan. 7, 2011 at 7:00 a.m.	Disney Family Fun Run 5K Friday, Epcot
Jan. 7, 2011 at 12:30 p.m.	Mickey Mile at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Jan. 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.& Jan. 8, 2011 at 11:00 a.m	Mickey's Marathon Kids' Fest at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Jan. 8, 2011 at 5:40 a.m.	Walt Disney World Half Marathon at Epcot
Jan. 9, 2011 at 5:40 a.m.	Walt Disney World Marathon at Epcot

The Walt Disney World Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile race. Its course takes runners from Epcot to Magic Kingdom and back to Epcot. In recent years it has seen about 20,000 participants, who are required to complete the race in 3.5 hours (a 16 minute per mile pace). The Half Marathon tends to reach registration capacity before the full marathon. This race takes place on Saturday of Marathon weekend. Those who finish within the 3.5-hour time limit receive a Donald Duck medal.

The Walt Disney World Marathon is a 26.2-mile race with a course that takes runners through all four Disney theme parks. This is a very popular race with also almost 20,000 registered participants every year. The pace requirement is 16 minutes per mile. This race takes place on Sunday of Marathon weekend. Those who finish within the 7-hour time limit receive a Mickey medal.

Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge invites those who are "Goofy" enough to do it to run both the Half Marathon and the Marathon. Runners who successfully complete both races within the 3.5 hour and 7 hour time limits receive an additional "Goofy" medal in addition to the Donald and Mickey finisher medals.

In addition to the longer races there are shorter races geared to the whole family:

In conjunction with Marathon Weekend, specially priced theme park tickets are available for on-line purchase to those registered for an event, as well as their family and friends. These tickets are usually very nicely discounted - up to $80 savings. The tickets are only valid for a period of time before or after the event. The time period is not specified, but is at least a week before/after the Marathon.

Typically Disney provides the necessary link and a password code in one or more of the race update email messages they send out periodically to registered participants.

Please visit The Official 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Page for more information on this event.

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Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Feb. 26, 2011 at 7:00 a.m.	Disney's Royal Family 5K Epcot
February 26, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.	Disney's Royal Family Kids' Races at ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex
Feb. 27, 2011 at 6:00 a.m.	Disney's Princess Half Marathon at Epcot

Disney's Princess Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile race that takes runners through two Walt Disney World theme parks. The race takes place on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. It begins in Epcot; takes runners to and from the Magic Kingdom and brings them to the Finish Line in front of Epcot. This race allows for either individual or relay team (two) participation to run the course. Like most Walt Disney World races, this race also requires participants to maintain no less than a 16-minute pace for the entire length of the race.

ELIGIBILITY requirements for Disney's Princess Half Marathon call for participants to be 14 years of age or older. Because this is a women's focused event men will be placed in later starting corrals and are not eligible for individual awards.

Disney's Royal Family 5K will take place at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 at Epcot with all ages welcomed to compete. However, this race requires participants to complete the race on their own and maintain a 16-minute per mile pace or faster in order to receive the finisher medallion. There is a stroller division for this race. The stroller division also has a 16-minute pace requirement.

Disney's Royal Family Kids' Races take place on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex Track. These races are held for those who are not necessarily ready to run the Disney's Royal Family 5K race.

Please visit The Official Disney Princess Half Marathon Page for more information on this event.

All Ears® has a running team: Team AllEars - Running with Purpose.