It's time once again for avid runners and Disney fans alike to turn their attention to the next big event in the 2016 runDisney race lineup at Walt Disney World: The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.
The annual race weekend kicks off Feb. 18-21 and includes the Enchanted 10K, Princess 5K, the Glass Slipper challenge, kid races and the main event, the half marathon.
Disney races always bring thousands of runners from all across the world to Central Florida every year. More than 49,000 runners competed in events during the during the Princess Half Marathon weekend last year, according to Disney Sports News. About 91 percent of them were women. The Princess Half Marathon weekend is one of two women-focused events runDisney organizes. The other is the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. Officials say the two events are among the largest race weekends geared toward women in the U.S.
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Runners are invited to dress as their favorite Disney characters. Last year there were plenty of Elsas, Ariels and Cinderellas. Expect more of the same this time around.
Last month Disney revealed the design of this year’s finisher medals, which are inspired by “The Little Mermaid.”
The Disney Princess 5K medal features Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder. The medal for the Disney Princess Enchanted 10K features a shell design. The kids races also have a special finisher medal that features Sebastian and Flounder.
Other races to look forward to later on in the year include the Star Wars Half Marathon -The Dark Side, which makes it Disney World debut in April. The “Star Wars”-themed race has been at Disneyland since 2015.
The Star Wars Half Marathon-The Dark Side will include kid races, a 5K, a 10K and the half marathon. Runners will make their way through Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios before crossing the finish line at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The “Star Wars” marathon weekend is April 14-17.
The Wine & Dine Half Marathon will cap off the year in November. The annual race coincides with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. It includes kids races, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K, the half marathon and an expo.
List of remaining Disney World races events in 2016:
Star Wars Half Marathon-The Dark Side
April 14-17
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
Nov. 4-5