Disney is often said to be the happiest place on Earth, but could it also host the happiest half marathon?
Between Jan. 11 – 14, Disneyland hosted their RunDisney Half Marathon Weekend. It was the park’s first time hosting a race since 2017. The weekend kicked off with the race expo, followed by a 5k on Friday morning, a 10k on Saturday, and the half marathon on Sunday. I ran the half marathon alongside my mom.
I had high expectations for this race. Prior to running the half marathon, I had spent years watching Youtube videos of people detailing their experience participating in races held at Disney World. I was ecstatic to hear that they were finally coming to Disneyland. At $235 per ticket , I hoped that it would not disappoint.
On the day of the race, we had a 2:45 a.m. wake-up call. It was simple to get through security and enter our designated corral. We arrived at around 3:30, and were in the corral by 3:45 a.m. Though the entry was smooth, waiting for the actual race to start was miserable. The race guidelines suggested that racers arrive by 4 a.m. to enjoy pre-race entertainment; however, only the people in the first corral were able to see the entertainment. The rest of the corrals simply had to stand around and wait. We were in the final corral, so I was unable to see anything for the entire hour that we waited. Next time, I would wake-up and arrive later if I knew I would not be in the first corral. This would allow for more sleep and less standing around in the freezing cold. The race was supposed to start at 5 a.m.; however, they spaced corrals five minutes apart. My corral didn’t start running until 5:40.
Now comes the most exciting part, the running! The course consisted of running through the Disneyland and California Adventure parks, as well as along highways throughout Anaheim. Running through the parks was a surreal experience. Everything was lit up and Disney music was playing at full volume. I loved being able to see the castle and Pixar Pier without the crowds. Most people dressed up in themed costumes, which added to the experience.
There were a few photo ops, such as Donald Duck, that runners could pose with. The lines were long, but moved efficiently. I especially liked seeing Chewbacca waving when we passed through Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars portion of the Disneyland park.
Running through the parks accounted for about 3.5 miles of the entire course; however, the rest of the course had some exciting sights, including the Angel Stadium. The 5k and 10k were mainly in the parks, which I think would have made it feel more like a Disney race. There were also music performances along the way to keep runners motivated. There were plenty of water stations – about one every 1.5 miles. Additionally, there were photographers on the course. It was nice to be able to run without worrying about carrying extra water bottles or my phone.
One frustrating aspect about the race were the bottlenecks. At one point, there was a three minute standstill because the water station area was so narrow. Additionally, there were a lot of people who would start walking randomly. This caused some issues, as runners kept bumping into each other as they tried to dodge the walkers. I think that next time, they should put more emphasis on runner’s etiquette. The race could fit athletes of all skill levels. The course was flat, and there was a generous time limit. Additionally, accommodations were made for runners with disabilities. I saw people running with guides, and even a few service dogs.
At the end of the race, each runner was given a medal and a box of snacks. The medal was detailed and much larger than your standard fun run awards. It made me feel extra accomplished about completing the race. Racers also got a shirt corresponding to the race (or races) that they signed up for. It was good quality and colorful!
Overall, I think that the Disneyland Half Marathon was an amazing experience. Though there were some issues, it ultimately did not negatively affect the overall race. With a few changes, I’m sure that it will continue to get better. I look forward to participating in another one of their races in the future to see what improvements have been made. I highly recommend this to anybody looking for a magical way to run! Whether you participate in the 5k, 10k, or half marathon, you are sure to have a good time!
