WDW Daily News

At Walt Disney World, you might find Darth Vader, Tinker Bell or a classic Disney princess running alongside half-marathon participants.

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The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is getting some new flavor this year.

The November runDisney race weekend is expanding to a three-day event that includes a new 10K race, a new half marathon course and a new challenge event. The Disney Wine & Dine 10K will debut on Saturday, Nov. 5. The new challenge – the Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge – will involve runners completing the 10K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday. The new half marathon course will now involve a 13.1-mile route that takes runners through ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot.

And the half marathon will be a morning race instead of a traditional night event, giving runners more free time in the evenings to experience new Walt Disney World Resort nighttime entertainment such as “Rivers of Light’’ coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in April.

The race weekend, set for Nov. 3-6, kicks off with the Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, Nov. 3 followed by the Mickey’s Holiday 5K on Friday, Nov. 4, the 10K on Saturday, Nov. 5 and the half marathon on Sunday morning, Nov. 6. There will also be runDisney Kids’ Races on Friday and Saturday.

The Finish Line Party (8 pm to 1 am on Sunday, Nov. 6), which is part of the popular Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, will once again be the perfect nightcap for runners who will have access to more than 30 festival marketplaces offering fine cuisine and wine, plus Disney characters, musical performances and the opportunity to ride signature Epcot attractions.

Registration opens March 29 at www.rundisney.com. Last year the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon was the fastest-selling race within the runDisney series. More than 20,000 runners participated during the two-day event.

The Force was with Fountain Valley, Calif., native Nick Arciniaga once again in the Star Wars Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort Sunday. After winning the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon in 2015, he followed up with second-straight victory in a record-setting time of 1:05:49.

Arciniaga, 32, who now lives in Flagstaff, Ariz., blasted past First Order stormtroopers to break the tape at the finish line. Adam Roach of Pebble Beach, Calif., was second (1:12:29) and Hunter Sapienza of Seattle, Wash., was third (1:12:38).

“This is a race that means a lot to me,” Arciniaga said of the victory. “I’ve been a Star Wars fan ever since I can remember.” Arciniaga goes on to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in the upcoming weeks.

Annie Bersagel, 32, of Colorado, also flew at lightspeed across the finish line Sunday as the female winner with a time of 1:15:09. Bersagel is also set to compete in the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon. Second-place female finisher was 2015 Star Wars Half Marathon female winner, Jennifer Berry, of Denver, Colo. (1:21:11) and third-place finisher was Kendal Sager of Los Altos, Calif. (1:25:05).

“I was the fastest stormtrooper out here today,’’ Bersagel joked after her win, clad in Star Wars-inspired running gear. “So that’s all you can really ask for, right?”

Arciniaga and Bersagel jumped to hyperspace to outrun more than 13,000 athletes in the 13.1-mile intergalactic journey through Disneyland Resort and Anaheim area streets, where a variety of Disney entertainment, including Star Wars characters, cheered on runners at every mile.

The Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend included several family-friendly events, including a three-day Health and Fitness Expo with the latest in fitness apparel, running gear and high tech gadgets. It was the second runDisney race weekend of 2016 and the first this year at Disneyland Resort. The event offered athletes a variety of race experiences for all levels, from Padawans to Jedi Masters – the runDisney Kids Races, the Star Wars 5K, the Star Wars 10K and the Star Wars Half Marathon. The ultimate test for Star Wars rebels was the Star Wars Rebel Challenge – a two-race challenge that combined the Star Wars 10K on Saturday with the Star WarsHalf Marathon on Sunday. Jedi runners who finished the 19.3-mile challenge earned a special Star Wars Rebel Challenge finisher medal in addition to medals for the 10K and half marathon.

South Carolina runner donated kidney weeks before race; Event weekend one of two Star Wars-themed runDisney events this year; Compelling local human-interest stories, runner interviews and visual live shot opportunities available

After winning the 5K on Thursday and the 10K on Friday, Marcelo Avelar, 31, won his third race in a row Saturday, Jan. 9 when he crossed the finish line first at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon presented by Cigna. Avelar, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, finished the race in 1:10:17, tying his personal fastest half-marathon time. This was Avelar’s first-ever trip to Walt Disney World Resort, a moment he said he has dreamed of since childhood. To win three races on his first visit made the moment even more special, he said.

With a running “hat trick” complete, Avelar looks ahead to competing in the Walt Disney World Marathon Sunday, the final race of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

For the women, Megan Curham, 20, from Warren, NJ, was the women’s top finisher. Her time of 1:14:29 qualifiers her for the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon, which take place in February.

Four-time British Olympian and women’s marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe also ran in the half marathon. Earlier in the weekend, Radcliffe, running on behalf of the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon, competed in the 5K and 10K races. The Disneyland Paris Half Marathon in September is the first international runDisney race.

Global running industry leaders are converging on the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna this weekend for runDisney’s first-ever State of the Sport forum and Race Director Series.

Nearly 100 of the most highly-respected names in the global running sector – major race directors, media executives, industry influencers and former Olympic runners – are expected to attend the Jan. 7 forum, making it perhaps the most significant gathering of running industry leaders ever assembled.

The event, staged at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, is being anchored by a panel discussion featuring race directors and executives from the world’s top running events – Peter Ciaccia (TCS New York City Marathon), Tom Grilk (B.A. A. Boston Marathon), Tad Hayano (Tokyo Marathon), Hugh Brasher (Virgin Money London Marathon), Carey Pinkowski (Bank of America Chicago Marathon) and Juergen Lock (BMW Berlin Marathon). The panel, moderated by Runner’s World editor-in-chief David Willey, is expected to tackle several key industry topics, such as the evolving demographics of runners, the impact of the upcoming Olympics, increasing runner participation and other best practices.

Additional speakers expected are Running USA CEO Rich Harshbarger, B.A.A Boston Marathon race director David McGillivray and Maribeth Bisienere, senior vice president of Disney Springs and ESPN Wide World of Sports. Other special guests will be reigning women’s world marathon record-holder and four-time Olympic distance runner Paula Radcliffe and former Olympian and runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway.

The State of the Sport forum kicks off runDisney’s new Race Director Series, which affords race directors from around the country with behind-the-scenes experiences during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. More than 40 race directors and race management personnel are expected to take part in the series that gives them special access and insight into various aspects of the four-day event operation, plus the Race Director Challenge, a light-hearted competition during Saturday’s Disney Half Marathon race.

The State of the Sport forum aligns with runDisney’s goal of broadening participation in road running and encouraging people to live a healthier and more active lifestyle. Next year, Walt Disney World Resort will once again become the center of the running universe when it hosts the 2017 Running USA Industry Conference during the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The annual conference brings together industry experts for sessions on best practices, panel discussions, industry awards and more.

Hosting the 2017 conference and this weekend’s forum build on runDisney’s growing stature as one of the leading running series in the world. In the last few years, runDisney has experienced extraordinary growth and popularity with the launch of four new race weekends – including its first international event, the 2016 Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend – and frequent race sellouts at events at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.

For more information about runDisney, visit www.runDisney.com. For more media- related information, video and photos, visit www.disneysportsnews.com.

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, the largest sporting event in Central Florida, features more than 100,000 runners and spectators from across the nation and more than 60 countries Jan. 7-10, 2016.

Among the many compelling storylines is U.S. retired Master Sergeant Cedric King, a decorated war hero who lost both legs during combat while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. King, who earned numerous military commendations that include the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, is competing on behalf of Cigna in the 26.2-mile marathon alongside Cigna CEO David Cordani. In addition, reigning women’s world record-holder Paula Radcliffe, a four-time Olympian from Great Britain, is competing in the 5K, 10K and half marathon. And Emmy-winning actor Uzo Aduba (hit Netflix show “Orange Is the New Black”) and popular Mexican actors Aaron Diaz and Laura Flores are running in the 5K.

The race schedule is as follows, with all races beginning and finishing at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort:

5K – Thursday, Jan. 7, 6 a.m.
10K – Friday, Jan. 8, 5:30 a.m.
Half Marathon – Saturday, Jan. 9, 5:30 a.m.
Marathon – Sunday, Jan. 10, 5:30 a.m.

In celebration of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, we’re excited to reveal the 2016 Limited Edition New Balance runDisney Collection, which includes the Dumbo Vazee Pace, Ariel Vazee Pace and the Red Carpet Mickey and Minnie 860v6s. All shoes will be available at the Walt Disney World Marathon Expo, starting January 6^th, 2016.

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Cheered on by Avenger characters, an estimated 14,000 runners participated in this year’s Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon exerted superhero strength as they raced the 13.1-mile course that took them through Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park Angel Stadium and four Orange County cities, with the final stretch going past Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel for an exciting finish.

Pedro Manuel Lemus Reyes of Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, won this year’s Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon on Sunday, blazing through a field of more than 13,500 registered runners. Manuel smashed last year’s half marathon time by over three minutes.

Manuel led the Avengers pack from the start and never looked back. His time of (1:11:09) was three minutes faster than last year’s Avengers half marathon winning time, second-place finisher Nicholas Bowerman of Arlington Heights finished with a time of (1:11:48). Chris Trebilcock of Tampa Florida was third at (1:14.45).

“It was a very nice race,” said Manuel. “I really enjoyed all the support from the crowds of children, families and Disney cast cheering all along the course.”

Top women finisher Alex de la Huerta of Mexico City, wins back-to-back Avengers half marathons beating her time last year by fifteen seconds with (1:22:27). Kellie Nickerson of Albuquerque, NM, repeated with a 2^nd place finish at (1:28:29) and Jenessa Rose of Carlsbad, CA, finished close behind to take third place at (1:28.58)

“I could not be happier with winning again this year,’’ said Huerta, returning to defend her title. “I always enjoy the great atmosphere of running in this race, the cheer of the fans all along the way makes me feel as if I am not even in a competition and I can just have fun, which is incredible.”

Cheered on by Avenger characters at the starting line, over 6,000 out of an estimated registered field of 13,500 runners in this year’s Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon exerted superhero strength as they ran in both the 10k and half marathons over the weekend for the honors of completing the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge. New to this year’s runDisney Avengers Marathon weekend, is the Captain America 10k race – runners completing both races over the weekend, receive a special Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal in addition to receiving their 10k and half marathon medals.

The 13.1-mile course took runners through Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park Angel Stadium and four Orange County cities, with the final stretch going past Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel for an exciting finish. All along the route, they were greeted by cheering fans, music and live entertainment.

Sunday’s half marathon race was the finale of the three-day race weekend that continues to build in its popularity from last year’s inaugural debut. The new 10k Captain America race – part of the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge – sold out in just over 40 minutes.

In addition to the half marathon, other weekend events included the Avengers Super Heroes 5K, Captain America 10k and the runDisney Kids Races. In all, the race weekend included runners from ages 14 to 79 and all 50 states, plus over 25 countries!