Hi friends!

Here’s the latest on runDisney news for the week of 6/11/17 through 6/17/17. Just a few standout pieces of news, including updates on the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend, Disneyland races and everyone’s favorite Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend! Here’s what you may have missed:

Here’s the week of June 11-June 17, 2017:

    
Virtual Running Shorts are underway! Just a couple more weeks to get that virtual 5K in to receive credit for earning your Pluto collar medal.

Participation still available
June 1 – August 31, 2017
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Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend kicks off the fall runDisney race schedule and training is underway! runDisney is hopefully working to alleviate traffic issues reported from Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend. One of the changes they have made already in preparation for this is by bumping up the race times from 5:30AM to 5:00AM as seen on the runDisney website. In addition, switching from a volunteer-based weekend to contracted paid employees will hopefully be smoother post-Tink. According to the runDisney website, characters are expected along the course for the Half Marathon, 10K and 5K. Race medal designs, TBD.

All events sold out!*
August 31 – September 3, 2017
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General registration for Disneyland Paris – Val D’Europe – Half Marathon Weekend had a bit of a rocky start. General bib registration was supposed to open Wednesday (6/14) at 10:00AM EST/7:00AM PT but was down throughout the day. runDisney issued a statement in the late afternoon that day to let guests know they were experiencing a “technical issue.” This issue delayed the registration to the following day, Thursday (6/15) at 10:00AM EST/7:00AM PT. Once registration was functioning properly, runDisney France tweeted the Kids Races, 5K and 10K were sold out. The Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo Challenge also appears to be sold out. A design concept of the Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo Challenge medal has been announced but all other race medals, TBD.

Disneyland Paris – Val d’Europe – Half Marathon still available
September 21 – 24, 2017
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Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend training guides available now on the runDisney website. Program begins July 4. The Wine & Dine race weekend appears to be going through an identity crisis. Last year was the first time the race weekend was held in the morning, a controversial move for many who used to love the unique late-night race. Due to a number of issues, including inclement weather year over year, and the introduction of a 10K and Challenge race, this weekend became a traditional race weekend. With the construction of Toy Story and Star Wars lands and removal of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (R.I.P.) the entire course had to be rerouted to avoid Hollywood Studios, creating a lackluster course of mostly highway. 2016 Wine & Dine also saw the partnership with Misfit, a fitness tracker company.

By looking at this year’s training guides I noticed a few glaring changes. For one, the logo is clean and modern as it features Misfit, it’s presenting sponsor. But wait, there’s no running Chef Mickey!

2016 logo:

2017 logo:

And the Two Course challenge has been completely stripped of character (literally)! So much for the inaugural “Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge” from last year!

Same goes for the 10K, which used to be “Chef Remy’s 10K”.

In addition, the 5K, with a course through Disney’s Animal Kingdom, has gone from “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K”, to 2016’s “Mickey’s Holiday 5K” to the “Disney Fall Feast 5K”. I suppose celebrating Christmas in early November was a tad too early! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens! Race medal designs, TBD.

“Disney Two Course Challenge” and Kids Races still available
November 2 – 5, 2017
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Disneyland’s Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend training guides available now on the runDisney website. Program begins July 11. Like the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend races, start times have changed from 5:30AM to 5:00AM according to the runDisney website. Oddly enough, practically every race is still available. This leads me to believe that the Super Heroes weekend isn’t as popular as some of the other runDisney events. Race medal designs, TBD.

Infinity Gauntlet Challenge, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K still available
November 9 – 12, 2017
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The 2018 25th anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend training guides available now on the runDisney website. Dopey and Goofy and Marathon programs begins June 27. The Half Marathon program begins September 5 and the 10K program begins September 12. Race medal designs, TBD. I’m anxiously awaiting to hear more since I will be participating in the 25th anniversary marathon!

Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, Marathon, and Kids Races still available
January 3 – 7, 2018
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Still no word on the Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon – The Light Side. As I mentioned last week, registration was supposed to open in March! Rumor has it that this race course is particularly challenge to permit due to important road closures. Between permitting and the in-flux Disneyland construction calendar, this race, and perhaps the other Disneyland race courses, will take a hit. runDisney website still currently says “UPDATE: Registration for the 2018 Star Wars^™ Half Marathon at Disneyland^®Resort has been temporarily postponed and will open at a later date. Updated information regarding early and general registration dates to come.”

Registration TBD
January 11 – 14, 2018?
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From    To  

2018 Princess Half Marathon Weekend training guides are already up! This is practically the earliest they’ve ever posted the training schedules! I think everyone is excited for the 10th anniversary weekend. Program begins October 24. As I mentioned last week, Princess weekend is expected to undergo a design overhaul in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Half, and the 5th anniversary of the Challenge.

Special 10th Anniversary Disney Princess Half Marathon logo
(But which princess/es!?)

The new “Fairy Tale Challenge” logo!

A very familiar looking Princess 10K logo

As you can see the logo has changed, along with some of the font, and most importantly, the name of the Challenge. After four years of the Glass Slipper Challenge, runDisney has decided to change the name to the Fairy Tale Challenge. No princess has been announced for the theme, causing us diehard Princess Half fans to scratch our heads. Will they parade them ALL out this year? Race medal designs, TBD. All races on the runDisney website are sold out!*

All events sold out!*
February 22  – 25, 2018
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Star Wars Half Marathon – Dark Side Weekend training guides are also up really early on the runDisney website! Challenge and Half Marathon programs begin December 19 and the 10K program begins December 26.

Dark Side Challenge, Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Races still available
April 19 – 22, 2018
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Disneyland’s Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend page has not yet been refreshed for 2018. Registration for Annual Passholders/DVC members was originally scheduled to open Thursday, June 22, and General Registration June 27, but now the runDisney website reads: “Stay tuned for registration and event information for the 2018 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend.” Could Tink weekend be affected by traffic issues/construction like the Light Side half? Stay tuned!

Registration TBD
May 10 – 13, 2018?
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Wishing all fathers and father-figures a Happy Father’s Day weekend! 

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter. As always, #willrunfordisney !

*Please note: if you really want to participate in a race and it is no longer available on runDisney, check your local travel agent as runDisney provides entries to them in an effort to boost their businesses. Bibs will have to come with a ticket and lodging package.