ANAHEIM, Calif. (Jan. 20, 2013) – Angela Escay, from Carmichael, Calif., returned for her first race in three years following ankle surgery to win the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.

Escay’s winning effort, 1:24:10, also set a course record for the second annual women-focused event at Disneyland. Last year, Kellie Nickerson won the inaugural event with a 1:27:52.

“It was a good feeling to get back out there and do what I love to do,” Escay said. “The course was a lot of fun, run through the park. It was my first run back in three years.”

“Rudy” and “The Lord of the Rings” actor Sean Astin and former “Biggest Loser” winner and Live Well network host Ali Vincent were among the more than 14,000 registered runners for Sunday’s half marathon.

The Tinker Bell Half Marathon, hosted by Disneyland Resort and the city of Anaheim, led runners through a character-filled 13.1-mile course at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, as well as by several city of Anaheim landmarks. Runners received a commemorative Tinker Bell “wings” medal.

More than 21,000 runners participated in the weekend’s events, which were geared toward health, fitness and active lifestyles for women. Along with Sunday’s Tinker Bell Half Marathon, the weekend also included The Never Land 5K and runDisney kids races on Saturday. A health and fitness expo featured the latest running merchandise, products and apparel tailored for women, as well as a speaker series involving official runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway and nutritionist Tara Gidus.

Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend is the second women-focused event weekend in the runDisney series. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend takes place at Walt Disney World Resort Feb. 22-24. Both event weekends are among the largest women-specific events in the country and designed to celebrate and promote women’s empowerment, women’s health and an active lifestyle.