The Walt Disney World Marathon: Not just for athletes

by Lani Teshima

If you ever plan to visit Walt Disney World during the relatively quiet off-season period after the holidays, be careful to avoid getting trampled over by the tens of thousands of sneaker-wearing runners and joggers as they dash through the on-property courses for the Walt Disney World Marathon.

The full marathon, the 13.1-mile WDW Half-Marathon, and the Family Fun Magazine Family Fun Run are all held during the same weekend in mid-January. In 2003, weekend festivities start on Friday, January 10 with the Disney's Health and Fitness Expo at the Coronado Springs Resort, with the Fun Run on Saturday, and the marathons on Sunday.

Coronado Springs Resort.

Rest easy -- before your friends kid you about getting in shape to do something as crazy as a 26-mile run, be glad that registration is already closed, with both marathon events fully booked. Come January, approximately 16,000 folks will run the marathon, and 5000 will do the half-marathon.

With the marathon celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Disney plans all sorts of extra surprises. So instead of trying to avoid the runners altogether, why not get in on all the adrenaline and excitement by taking part as a spectator or volunteer?

To be a part of all the festivities and excitement, you can visit Disney's Health and Fitness Expo at Coronado Springs, join the "scream team" to cheer runners on at various places on the route, sign up to be an event volunteer with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or attend the awards ceremony the next day at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Finally, if you want to try your hand at working up a sweat, why not participate with your children in the Family Fun Magazine Family Fun Run on Saturday? You can feel the energy and excitement of a marathon without the grueling distance in this 5K (3.1 mile) family-friendly event.

The awards ceremony is at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Photo by Sue Holland.

EXPOse yourself to the Disney's Health and Fitness Expo

According to Disney, "The Expo features celebrity runner appearances, seminars, and the opportunity for guests to experience the latest trends in running, fitness equipment, footwear, and apparel. Located at the world's premier vacation destination, Disney's Health & Fitness Expo is a complimentary event attracting race participants, friends, family, and running enthusiasts from all over Central Florida." The Expo includes:

• Race number and goody bag distribution for all race participants
• Celebrity runner appearances
• Guest speakers and seminars
• Exhibits featuring the latest trends in running, fitness equipment, footwear, and apparel
• Official WDW Marathon Weekend merchandise

The 2003 Expo is scheduled to be open during these periods:

• Friday, January 10, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 11, 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Traditionally, these fitness expos are a good opportunity to try free samples, take home promotional goodies (like stickers and pens), check out the latest in gear from manufacturers -- and spend lots of money on running-related goodies.

Be SPECtacular: Be a spectator!

Leave it to race organizers to provide you with great viewing areas throughout the course. You can visit the More Info page of the marathon for more details, but here is the basic rundown:

In order to see the runners off at the start of the event, you need to be at the viewing area in Epcot by 5:00 a.m. -- yikes! Yes, it's early -- but just realize the runners need to already be there, before you. Space here is very limited, but it is a spectacular view to see 16,000 people all rushing forward at once.

Main Street USA is a prime viewing location.

• Transportation & Ticket Center: 6:50 a.m. to 8:35 a.m.; Mile 9
• Magic Kingdom/Main Street USA: 6:55 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.; Mile 10
• Floridian Way: 7:10 a.m. to 9:25 a.m.; Miles 12.7 to 13
• Half Marathon Finish: 7:10 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Mile 13.1
• Disney's Animal Kingdom: 7:25 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.; Miles 16.5 to 17
• Disney-MGM Studios: 8:05 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.; Miles 23 to 23.5
• Epcot: 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Miles 25 to 25.9
• Marathon Finish: 8:20 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In addition, if you are a WDW Resort guest, you can watch the Marathon and Half Marathon in viewing areas at selected Resorts:

• Contemporary Resort: 6:45 a.m. to 8:40 a.m.
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: 7:05 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.
• Polynesian Resort: 7:08 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.
• Disney's Boardwalk Resort: 8:10 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

The Boardwalk is a great place to see the Half-Marathon.

Lend a hand and volunteer

As you can imagine, coordinating an event for over 20,000 people is an overwhelming task as well as stunning achievement. Every year, a lot of this work falls on the shoulders of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which coordinates volunteers to assist throughout the course.

For volunteering your time, you get a free volunteer jacket, food and beverage, and a WDW One Day, One Park Ticket upon the completion of your shift. You can obtain more information and register to volunteer through the Marathon volunteering information page, however, be warned: The Society needs -- and gets -- thousands of volunteers, and space is filling up fast! At the time of publication, there were only a handful of shifts left to sign up for.

Your task varies based on what you sign up for, but you might pass out water to thirsty and grateful joggers, help with spectator viewing areas, assist in crowd control, and other tasks. Depending on the shift you sign up for, you might even be free to go to the finish line area to cheer runners on.

Note: You must be registered with a username and password at Disney.com to sign up for a volunteer shift.

Awards Ceremony at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex

If you are curious about the Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, how about visiting on January 13 and watching the marathon's awards ceremony at the same time? You can look up in awe at humans who can run faster than you can ride your bicycle, and look sympathetically at the rest of the runners who will inevitably be hobbling around with their sore legs.

A family that runs together, has fun together

Finally, if you want to share in the physical excitement of a run without putting in those grueling miles, consider participating in the Family Fun Magazine Family Fun Run, a 5K (3.1-mile) course that features a tour of the World Showcase at Epcot, and your only means of crossing the official Marathon finish line without running the marathon.

The Family Fun Run is held at World Showcase.

Parents are strongly encouraged to trot with their kids. The 5K fun run starts at 7:30 a.m., but you can also get your children to participate in the various kids' races held later in the morning. They include:

• 400 Yard Dash (ages 7-8): 8:45 a.m.
• 200 Yard Dash (ages 4-6): 9:00 a.m.
• 100 Yard Dash (ages 1-3): 9:15 a.m.
• Diaper Dash (crawlers): 9:30 a.m.

The entry fee of $20 (until January 3) goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, so it goes to a good cause.

If you'd like to write Lani Teshima, you can reach her here.

Photos on this page, unless otherwise noted, by Brian Bennett.

If decide you want to visit WDW during the marathon, or any other time, you can find a ton of trip planning information at MousePlanet's WDW Trip Planning Guide.

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