WDW Daily News

One year after Lauren Passell feared she would never run again because of a broken hip, she found herself in another unlikely place Sunday – the winner’s circle at the Disney Princess Half Marathon presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Passell, 30, from New York City, slipped on some ice last winter, breaking her right hip and plunging her running future into serious doubt. “I didn’t think I’d ever run a race again,’’ she said.

Turns out, all she really needed was a little Disney magic.

“I was afraid actually (to run again) but this race really pulled me through,’’ said Passell, who couldn’t walk for four months after the injury, took disability leave from her job and didn’t run normally again for nearly a year. “When I was stuck on my couch (during her recovery), I would dream about running here, I would fantasize about it. I mean, for me to run through Disney, it means the world to me. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.’’

Passell, a self-described Disney nerd, didn’t appear to need much luck Sunday at Walt Disney World Resort, pulling away from the field of more than 24,000 mostly-women runners just after the midway point of the 13.1-mile course through Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Her winning time of 1:22:59 was nearly 30 seconds faster than second-place finisher Heather Schulz of Orlando (1:23:28). Mariela Ortiz of Argentina was third (1:23:45).

While Passell’s winning time was far off the race record of 1:11:49, it was easily her fastest half marathon time ever and her first half marathon win. And a performance that apparently holds the kind of special meaning that can’t be measured in hours, minutes and seconds.

“I seriously think I had that little extra push because of the injury and I just felt so driven and so lucky to be healthy and able to move,’’ she said. “It’s a blessing to be able to run and I appreciate it now. I really do.’’

In all, more than 49,500 runners competed in various events during the weekend. The weekend included the Disney Frozen 5K, the Disney Princess Enchanted 10K,runDisney Kids Races and the Glass Slipper Challenge, which involved runners completing the 10K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday.

The weekend event also included a health and fitness expo which featured the latest running apparel and equipment, plus a speaker series involving running experts such asrunDisney’s official training consultant Jeff Galloway.

The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is one of eight annual runDisney events and one of two women-focused events. The other is the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry, which takes place in May at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA.  Both events are designed to celebrate and promote women’s empowerment, women’s health and an active lifestyle. And both are among the nation’s largest race weekends geared towards women.

One of the nation’s largest women-focused running events takes place this weekend as more than 49,000 runners from across the nation and from 32 countries are expected to participate in the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  Many are participating in one or more events, including more than 24,000 running in the 13.1-mile half marathon, which travels through Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

Among those 24,000 runners is Angela Sipes from Seattle, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11. For many years, the disease was uncontrollable and eventually caused her blindness, kidney disease, infertility and nerve damage.  Sipes amazingly reversed these conditions and now lives a healthy life. Wanting to give back, Sipes, who was treated at a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in Seattle, registered to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon to raise funds for the hospital network that supported her.

LIVE STREAM: The Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday will be streamed live on the Disney Parks Blog (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/) starting at 5 a.m. EST. There will be two live streams – one feed will be produced with multiple cameras and social media content and the other will be a single camera shot of the finish line.

More than 23,000 runners from across the United States and 17 different countries are trekking to a galaxy far, far away for the debut of the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation at the Disneyland Resort this weekend. The new Star Wars-themed runDisney event will involve kids’ races, a 5K, a 10K and half marathon, plus several family-friendly events such as the Health & Fitness Expo and the Star Wars Wookiee Welcome Party.

Among the runners are LA-area military veterans Sandra Greenman and Jose Romero, who each struggled in their separate returns to civilian life, losing their jobs and their homes because of various addictions. Both were forced to live on the mean streets of metro Los Angeles, Sandra living out of her car starting in 2012 and Jose on the streets in 2013. But last year they became involved in the “Back On My Feet” program, the race weekend’s official charity which helps LA-area homeless people achieve independent living through running. Program participants run together three to four times a week at 5:30 am.  As a result of the running program, both are beginning to live independently again, Sandra working in a government IT position and Jose off the streets and into his own apartment. Sandra and Jose, along with other program participants, are continuing their personal life development and training at the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort.

Weekend Events

Star Wars Half Marathon │ Sunday, Jan. 18, 5:30 a.m.

Star Wars 10K │ Saturday, Jan. 17, 5:30 a.m.

Star Wars 5K │ Friday, Jan. 16, 5:30 a.m.

runDisney Kids Races │ Saturday, Jan. 17, 9 a.m.

Star Wars Wookiee Welcome Party │ Thursday, Jan. 15, 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Fredison Costa is making himself at home – literally – at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Brazilian runner, who recently moved to Orlando and trains at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World, ran away with another Walt Disney World Marathon victory on Sunday. On a picturesque morning at Epcot, Costa left everyone behind in waltzing to his second straight Disney Marathon win and fourth in the past five years.

And he led another parade of Brazilian runners who were among the first four runners to cross the finish line. Trindade Mateus was second; Joao Fonseca was third and perennial Disney Marathon champion Adriano Bastos was fourth. It was the 11th straight year that a Brazilian won the 26.2-mile race through all four Disney theme parks, the Walt Disney World Speedway and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

To complete the Brazilian domination at Disney, Giovanna Martins of Brazil was the top female winner, finishing in 2:50:20. Martins cried tears of joy after crossing the line. “I’m a teacher of disabled and underprivileged children (in Brazil) who dream about Mickey Mouse and love him as much as I do,’’ Martins said through an interpreter, “so this was a dream come true.’’

Martins was never challenged down the stretch. Neither was Costa, 37, who won by more than four minutes. That’s enough time to ride Space Mountain before Mateus crossed the finish line. At 2:18:06, Costa easily topped his winning time from last year of 2:21:39.

He said the best part of the race was seeing his coach, former US Olympic track coach Brooks Johnson, as he ran through ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. “I could see (him) and he was just cheering me on,’’ Costa said through an interpreter. “I really feel at home running here.’’

In the wheelchair division, Robert Kozarek of Urbana, Ill., repeated as the men’s champion (1:57:35). Perennial winner Jacqui Kapinowski of Tesqesta, Fla., won the women’s division (2:39:04).

In all, more than 26,700 runners competed in the Disney Marathon presented by Cigna on Sunday. More than 7,600 of those runners ran in all four weekend events – the 5K, the 10K, the half marathon and the marathon, completing the popular “Dopey Challenge’’ (48.6 miles).

The Disney Marathon featured events for the entire family such as runDisney Kids’ Races, the Family Fun Run 5K on Thursday, the Walt Disney World 10K on Friday, the Half Marathon on Saturday and the Marathon on Sunday. A Health and Fitness Expo ran throughout the weekend at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and featured the latest in running technology and fashion, as well as renowned running experts such as Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney, and Tara Gidus, the official runDisney nutritionist.

In a new twist this year, the Disney Marathon Weekend extends onto the high seas. Disney Marathon Weekend runners are competing Jan. 14 in the new Disney Castaway Cay Challenge, a special 5K race on Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private Bahamas island. Every runner who finishes this new runDisney Challenge event will earn two medals – an inaugural Disney Castaway Cay Challenge medal and a Castaway Cay 5K medallion, plus any medals earned for running any Disney Marathon Weekend events (5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon).

The Castaway Cay Challenge takes place during the 4-night Disney Dream cruise itinerary that sets sail Jan. 12 from Port Canaveral, Fla. and includes a stop in Nassau in addition to Castaway Cay. The cruise will feature exclusive activities designed for Castaway Cay Challenge participants, plus special menu items and merchandise.

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is the first race in the 2015 runDisney series, which includes eight weekend events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Next up in the runDisney series is the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation at Disneyland Resort, Jan. 15-18.

Course Information: 

As Central Florida’s largest sporting event, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will host more than 100,000 runners and spectators from across the nation and more than 65 countries for various events, including more than 26,000 runners in the 26.2-mile marathon which goes through all four Disney theme parks.

 

Registration Numbers:

84,150* total race registrants for the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

26,700* participants in the Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna

26,700* participants in the Walt Disney World Half Marathon presented by Cigna

12,700* participants in the Walt Disney World 10K presented by Cigna

12,800* participants in the Walt Disney World 5K presented by Cigna

5,250* participants in the runDisney Kids Races

 

Challenges:

7,700* participants in the Dopey Challenge

6,500* participants in Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge

 

Demographics:

52.2% male participants / 47.8% female participants

48% returning runDisney participants / 52% first-time runDisney participants

52% first-time marathon runners / 48% repeat marathon runners

 

Fun Facts:

-Runners will celebrate the 10th annual Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge with 39.3 miles over two days

-Dopey Challenge participants will run the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon to complete 48.6 miles in four days

-The Walt Disney World Marathon is the only runDisney race to run through all four Disney theme parks

-Hideo Furudate, who is 81 years old from Japan, is the oldest participant running the Walt Disney World Marathon

-Runners from 65 countries around the world traveled to Central Florida for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Rank	Time	Year	Name	Age	Hometown
1	2:11:50w	1995	Leonid Shvetsov	25	Russia
2	2:13:59	1995	Peter Maher	34	Canada
T3	2:14:27	1995	Eddy Hellebuyck	33	Belgium
T3	2:14:27w	1994	Leonid Shvetsov	24	Saratov, Russia
5	2:14:42	1995	Danny Gonzalez	32	Margarita, Calif.
T6	2:16:26	1994	Danny Gonzalez	31	Anaheim, Calif.
T6	2:16:26	1995	Pavel Valilenko	25	Ukraine
8	2:16:33	1994	Jackson Kipngok	27	Cambridge, Mass.
9	2:17:20	1995	Ronnie Holassie	23	Miami, Fla.
10	2:17:32	1994	Gilbert Rutto	29	Cambridge, Mass.

Women’s Top Finishers

Rank	Time	Year	Name	Age	Hometown
1	2:31:54w	1995	Judit Nagy	29	Melykut, Hungary
2	2:32:32w	1994	Judit Nagy	28	Gyor, Hungary
3	2:35:05	1994	Alla Doudaeva	23	Tampa, Fla.
4	2:36:30	1994	Solange de Souza	24	Tampa, Fla.
5	2:37:18	1995	Firaya Soultanova	33	Russia
6	2:38:50	1995	Julie Peterson	34	Beverly, Mass.
7	2:39:13	1994	Lynn Doering	32	Atlanta, Ga.
8	2:39:31	1995	Galina Goraova	32	Varna, Bulgaria
9	2:39:41	1994	Lutsia Belaeva	36	Moscow, Russia
10	2:40:15	1994	Kathlene Bowman	32	Bellingham, Wash.

– See more at: http://disneysportsnews.com/fact-sheets/2015/01/06/walt-disney-world-marathon-all-time-finishers/#sthash.QSEgUyc3.dpuf

The collection of all new finisher medals for the sixth annual Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend were revealed this week. The collection includes medals for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, Disney Enchanted 10K and the Glass Slipper Challenge.

With more than 26,000 runners participating in events throughout the weekend, Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has quickly become one of the largest women-specific endurance events in the country. This signature runDisney event features events for the entire family, including the Princess 5K, the Enchanted 10K and runDisney Kids Races. The 13.1-mile highlight event takes runners through the Magic Kingdom and Epcot starting at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 22 at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, one of the largest women-specific half marathon weekends in the nation, takes place, Feb. 19-22, 2015 at Walt Disney World Resort.

There are races for all ages and levels, including runDisney Kids Races. For those who think a half marathon is just a walk in the park, runners can participate in the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge, which includes a 19.3-mile adventure over two days – the Disney Enchanted 10K on Saturday followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday.

Also, runners who complete the Princess Half Marathon in February and the Tinker Bell Half Marathon presented by PANDORA Jewelry in May at Disneyland Resort will earn a special pink version of the runDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge Medal. Also, runners can combine one Princess Half Marathon Weekend race with a Castaway Cay 5K on Disney Cruise Lines’ private island in the Bahamas the following week to earn a specially designed Disney Castaway Cay Challenge Finisher Medal.

William Prom won the inaugural Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon on Sunday, slaying a field of more than 10,500 runners and a challenger he couldn’t even see – the wind.

On a blustery morning at Disneyland Resort when winds gusted up to 22 mph, Prom of Irvine, Calif., outran the field, but battled a stiff breeze, especially down the stretch, to win the debut event. His time of 1:14:17 was more than a minute ahead of second-place finisher Fernando Blanco of Encintas, Calif. (1:15:46). Adam Henry of Santa Monica, Calif., was third (1:17:21).

Alex de la Huerta of Mexico was the first female to cross the finish line (1:22:42), easily outrunning Kellie Nickerson (1:25:54) of Albuquerque, NM who was second, and Lauren Reasoner (1:26:03) of Sahuarita, AZ who was third. Huerta, 24, seemed just as happy about winning as she was about just being here.

“It was awesome,’’ said Huerta, who won an Avengers-themed race in Mexico to go with her Avengers race win at Disneyland on Sunday. “Running here in California where it’s relaxed and beautiful, and running here at Disneyland? I mean, you can’t ask for something more than running and being at the Happiest Place on Earth.’’

For Prom, 29, who had only won one previous half marathon event, the race was, well, a breeze.

“It was a fun run, but the wind really picked it up along the back half. That was pretty rough,’’ said Prom, who had no serious challengers “except the wind.’’

Cheered on by Avengers characters, runners in this first-ever Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon tapped into their inner super hero as they weaved their way along a new 13.1-mile course through four Southern California cities and traveled through Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. 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 proved to be super popular in its first year. The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon race sold out in less than two hours, one of the quickest sellouts in runDisney history.

In addition to the half marathon, other weekend events included the Avengers Super Heroes 5K and the runDisney Kids Races. In all, the race weekend included runners from age 14 to 77 and from all 50 states, plus 12 countries. There were more than 11,000 runners from California.