Our 10K~runDisney Love Affair

Not since the now-retired Race for the Taste 10K have runners been able to compete in the  6.2 mile distance for Disney bling.  The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Relay offered the 4.8 mile/8.3 mile option for just two years (2010 & 2011), and since then, racers looking for a “gateway” into longer distance competitions have been waiting.  Somewhat patiently.

Ever with their EARS to the ground, for 2013 runDisney has introduced the 10K into their growing line-up.  This most magical and popular distance allows for the perfect road race; completely achievable and fun for beginners, challenging enough for long distance runners to use for speed and stamina training.  Since runDisney is in the magic business, it seems the 10 kilometer’s time has come.  Want to earn your first official Disney (non-plastic) medal?  Run a 10K.  Not quite ready to take the leap from 3.1 to 13.1?  Run a 10K.   Recovering from an injury?  Run a 10K.  Longing to fully enjoy a runDisney race weekend without the discipline needed to sleep well, avoid park fatigue and dodge that cheeseburger, coke or Lapu Lapu?  Try a runDisney 10K.  And not just one, perhaps.

Disney Co.

I am getting ready for that “very important date” on August 31st; the Disneyland® 10K will be the runDisney brand’s inaugural 10K race.  Combine that outing with the Disneyland® Half Marathon on September 1st, and the new Dumbo Double Dare medal will be yours!

The Orlando park gets their shot with the Minnie-inspired inaugural Walt Disney World® 10K during the 2014 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna®.  This 5 day, enhanced and expanded event takes place January 8-12, 2014, and offers a half marathon, full marathon, and then two challenges: Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge (the popular back to back half and full marathons) and the new and totally Dopey Challenge (48.6 miles that include the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon).  The six medal Dopey Challenge will be a running industry standout, and will attract both elite runners and Dopey soles alike!

Not to overlook royalty, the Disney Princess Half Weekend gets a “Dream Come True”  addition with the Disney Enchanted 10K.  Registered runners who complete this 10K on February 22, 2014 and the Disney Princess Half Marathon the following day will earn the new Glass Slipper Challenge medal.

These challenges and 10Ks have been selling out in record time, so ladies and gentleman, get those 10 digits ready.  The Tinker Bell 10K  and Tinker Bell Half Weekend registration opens at noon ET today!  And proving that runDisney does consider runners of all abilities, there will not be a special challenge added to this weekend’s line-up.  This potentially frees spots in the 10K for runners who cannot yet combine that race with a half the next day.  However, capable runners who finish the Tinker Bell Half on January 19th, 2014 and the Disney Princess Half Marathon 5 weeks later will be eligible for the pink Special Edition of the Coast to Coast Race Challenge Medal!!

runDisney has proved its versatility with its 2013/2014 race calendar.  The 10K races will no doubt prove to be that gateway for budding runners; today the Tinker Bell 10K, tomorrow??  One can only imagine the special challenges the runDisney “Imagineers” are dreaming up.  I only wish I owned a steel company- someone has to supply all that bling!!