2008 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend - August 29-31, 2008

Disneyland Half Marathon - Sunday August 31, 2008

Disneyland Family Fun Run 5K and Kids' Races - Saturday, August 30, 2008

Disneyland Health & Fitness Expo - August 29-30, 2008

Click HERE for more details.

Official Press Releases

First-Hand Reports and Other Links

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U.S.C. GRAD STUDENT CROSSES FINISH LINE FIRST IN THE
DISNEYLAND HALF MARATHON

ANAHEIM, Calif. (September 3, 2007) - Carlos Carballo, 24, of Cathedral City, Calif., posted a time of 1:10:07 to lead the field of more than 13,000 registered runners to victory in the Disneyland Half Marathon today. The Half Marathon, affectionately dubbed "The Happiest Race on Earth," took participants on a 13.1-mile landmark-filled route through the two Disneyland Resort theme parks - Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure - and the streets of Anaheim to the finish line in the Downtown Disney District. Some runners stopped mid-race to pose with Mickey Mouse and his pals for photos commemorating both the race and Disney Parks' ongoing Year of a Million Dreams celebration. Half Marathon race finishers earned a special commemorative medal depicting Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. After crossing the finish line, Carballo, a graduate student at University of Southern California, said, "I love this course, and there were a lot of firsts for me. It was the first time I'd been in Disney's California Adventure, and the first time I'd been in Angel Stadium. Being in the parks sort of takes you away from the pain of the race." Carballo came in just three minutes ahead of Jeff Huxhold, 28, of Reno, Nev., who finished second with a time of 1:14:09. Suzy Schumacher, 38, of Phoenix, Ariz., was the women's Half Marathon champion with a time of 1:24:07. "It's a different way to see the parks," she said. "I thought they'd be empty, but the workers were all incredibly loud and supportive!" The women's second place finisher was Kim Mueller, 31, of San Diego, Calif., with a time of 1:26:35. Jeff Ambos, 45, of Cottonwood, Ariz., earned a notable Masters Division (age 40+) win in the Half Marathon with a time of 1:14:52 and a fourth place overall ranking. For the second year in a row, Christie Dubach, 45, of Atascadero, Calif., was the top women's Half Marathon Masters finisher. Her time this year was 1:35:39. Also repeating for a second year was Troy Davis, 32, of Queen Creek, Ariz., who finished first in the Half Marathon wheelchair division. His time this year was 1:10:35. The Disneyland Half Marathon, hosted by the Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim, and presented by Kaiser Permanente, is part of the second annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. The events throughout the weekend attracted more than 18,000 participants from 49 states and 13 countries, an increase of 3,000 from last year. The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend provided a full weekend of activities for the whole family, including the Family Fun Run 5K and Kids' Races, which took place on Sunday. This year's 5K, titled "The Great Ratatouille Race," was themed to the recently-released Disney/Pixar hit film Ratatouille. Along the route, adults, teens and tweens encountered their favorite characters from the movie, including Remy and Emile, and passed a specially-constructed Disneyland Resort version of the Arc de Triomphe. Even little runners (8 and under) joined in the weekend running fun with 100, 200 and 400-Yard Dashes. For more information and to view complete searchable race results visit www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com.

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Second Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend to be Held
September 1-3, 2007

After the huge success of the Inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon in 2006, Disneyland has announced that the second Disneyland Half Marathon weekend will be held on September 1-3, 2007. The 13.1 mile half marathon will be held on Monday, September 3. The dates of the Family Fun Run 5K and Kids' Races are TBD.

The mostly flat half marathon course takes runners into both the Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland theme parks before heading out on the streets of Anaheim to the Arrowhead Pond, and along the Santa Ana River. The course continues around Angel Stadium and then back into Disney's California Adventure and through the Downtown Disney district before finishing near the Disneyland Hotel.

In the Family Fun Run 5K, participants will have the opportunity to run through both the Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure theme parks, with plenty of surprises along the way.

Registration opens January 8, 2007. Both the Half Marathon, with a participant capacity of 12,000 runners, and the Family Fun Run sold out in 2006.

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September 17, 2006: CALIFORNIAN BROADY WINS INAUGURAL DISNEYLAND HALF MARATHON

Former Disneyland Cast Member Takes Top Prize

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept, 17, 2006) . Kevin Broady, 44, of Brea, Calif., posted a time of 1:11:31 to lead the field of more than 9,700 participants en route to victory in the inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon.

Broady, a former Disneyland cast member, finished just a minute and a half over Benjamin Gomez Gutierrez, 30, of Jalostotitlan, Mexico, who finished second with 1:13:04.

"I used to work at Disneyland," said Broady, winner of the inaugural event. "I've been to Disneyland so many times. It was so much fun to run through there. It was just a really great experience."

Kim Jones, 48, of Fort Collins, Colo., was the women's half marathon champion with a time of 1:25:03. The women's second place finisher was Edith Martinez, 38, of Brea, Calif., with a time of 1:27:05.

Mark Donaldson, 43, of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., earned a notable Master's Division (age 40+) win in the half marathon with a time of 1:16:37 and a seventh place overall ranking.

Christine Dubach, 44, of Atascadero, Calif., was the top women's marathon Master's finisher at 1:31:51. In the half marathon wheelchair division, Troy Davis, 31, of Queen Creek, Ariz., crossed the finish line with a time of 1:08:56.

First-time half marathoners and veteran runners, including participants from 49 states, plus 15 countries, enjoyed the inaugural trek through the two Disneyland Resort theme parks and beautiful streets of Anaheim, while colorful Disney characters and festive music inspired them along the way.

The runners who completed the half marathon received a special Sleeping Beauty Castle medal, the newest addition in the Disney endurance series collection.

For more information and to view complete searchable race results visit www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com.

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March 2006: 2006 DISNEYLAND HALF MARATHON REGISTRATION SELLS OUT

10,000 RUNNERS SIGN UP SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE FOR THE "HAPPIEST RACE ON EARTH"

Registration for the inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon presented by Kaiser Permanente has reached capacity with 10,000 total participants, six months before the event is scheduled to begin.

Besides the Disneyland Half Marathon, other weekend activities include the Disneyland Family Fun Run 5K and Kids’ Races on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Disneyland Health and Fitness Expo, Sept. 15-16. Kaiser Permanente is the presenting sponsor and will provide its medical expertise to the runners and their supporters. Volunteers will also come through a partnership with Anaheim Community Foundation which will receive a portion of the proceeds from the three-day event.

Registration remains open for the 2006 Family Fun Run 5K and Kids’ Races at www.disneyworldsports.com. Special Anaheim-area hotel rates and reservations and Disneyland theme park ticket options are available for registered runners, family members, and friends through Disneyland Sports Travel Team by calling 1-877-814-3528 or a travel agent. Guests may also contact Disney Sports Travel by e-mail at wdw.disney.sports.travel@disney.com.

Plans are already underway for the 2007 Disneyland Half Marathon, with registration opening online on Sept. 18, 2006.

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Disneyland announces "Happiest Race on Earth"
Inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon will be held in 2006

The "Happiest Place on Earth" will host the "Happiest Race on Earth" -- Disneyland will hold its first Half Marathon Weekend on September 15-17, 2006. The weekend begins with the Health and Fitness Expo at the Disneyland Hotel on September 15 and 16, continues with the first Disneyland Family Fun Run 5K on September 16, and culminates in the inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon on September 17.

All participants in the 5K and the half marathon will receive a special t-shirt and finishers will receive a special inaugural finisher's medal. After the 5K on September 16 there will be special "Kids' Races", including 100- 200- and 400-yard dashes, plus an Infant diaper dash for babies under the age of 12 months. All Kids' race participants receive a medal.

The half marathon begins at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 17. The course goes through both Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland park before heading onto the streets of Anaheim, past the Arrowhead Pond and Angel Stadium before proceeding back through Disney's California Adventure to the finish line. There is a time limit of 3 hours and 30 minutes (16 minute miles).

The 5K starts at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 16 on a course that takes runners through both Disneyland park and Disney's California Adventure. The Kids' races begin after the 5K, with the first race scheduled to start at 8:30.

Registration began on October 15, 2005. Registration is $85.00 for the half marathon and $25 for the 5K. Kids' races are $5.00 per child. Register on-line at http://www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com. There's only one opportunity to participate in an inaugural event, so register early!

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First-Hand Reports

Laura Gilbreath's 2006 Half Marathon Report