Disney Marathon Weekend 2022
RunDisney Marathon Weekend 2022 is going to be a running celebration like no other, but what do we know about the races so far?
I’ll fill you in on all the information that has been released so far for Rundisney Marathon Weekend 2022 so that you can be up to date and ready to lace up for all the magical miles.
The Dates and Events:
Disney Marathon Weekend 2022 is scheduled to run from January 5th- January 9th 2022. The events take place on the following days:
- January 5th- First day of the Expo. If you are running the Walt Disney World 5k or Dopey Challenge, you must pick up your bib on the first day of the Expo. The Expo will run through January 8th.
- January 6th- Walt Disney World 5k
- January 7th-Walt Disney World 10k
- January 8th- Walt Disney World Half Marathon
- January 9th- Walt Disney World Marathon
It is important to note that as of now there is no mention of kids races on the schedule. This has traditionally been a part of every runDisney weekend. As of yet no news has been shared other than they are developing a new experience that will be called runDisney Kids Adventures
Both Challenges are also being held. The Goofy Challenge which consists of the half marathon and full marathon. The Dopey Challenge which consists of all 4 events: 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon.
Virtual races are also listed as an option. While the dates are set for the 6th-9th, there is no official verification, so theses dates are flexible for each runner.
As of right now, August 1st, the following races are listed as sold out:
- 5k
- 10k
- Half Marathon
- Goofy Challenge
- Virtual 5k
Disney Marathon 2022 Cost
The cost for each event is:
- 5k- $95
- 10k- $135
- Half Marathon- $195
- Marathon- $195
- Goofy Challenge- $390
- Dopey Challenge- $600
The pricing on the virtual races:
- 5k- $79
- 10k- $99
- Half Marathon- $118
- Marathon- $120
- Goofy Challenge- $275
- Dopey Challenge- $480
runDisney Corral Placement and Proof of Time
One of the biggest shocks to those of us who have run Disney races before is the change in proof of time. Going forward the only proof of time that will be accepted is a half marathon of 2 hours or less or a marathon of 4 hours or less.
This means that many runners will be assigned to corrals based on their claimed proof of time, or even at random. It is going to be very interesting to see how corral placement works for this season’s events and if there are adjustments that will be made for the 2023.
runDisney Marathon Weekend 2022 General Info
Things may look a little different upon the return to in person runDisney events, but many of the policies remain the same.
Bibs pick up must take place at the expo at least one day prior to your race.
Gear bag check will be available at all races with the traditional clear plastic bag that is given at bib pick up.
On course entertainment will be part of the race, although exactly what types of entertainment is yet to be disclosed.
All races are slated to start at 5 AM.
Transportation has also yet to be listed. It will be interesting to see if any changes are made. For instance the Swan and Dolphin Hotels have traditionally been included in the weekend’s transportation. Changes have been made in the last year in their busses to the parks, so it will be interesting to see if they will have official race transportation.
Spectators
As of now, the official word from Disney’s website is that the spectator experience is being evaluated. Like so many other things, they seem to be waiting before releasing their plans for how they will handle spectators in 2022.
Thoughts on runDisney Marathon Weekend 2022
First of all I am just so excited that in person racing is back at Disney World! It is something truly special to be able to run on property at Disney World. I am so thankful that Disney has recognized that and made sure that bringing back in person races was a priority.
I am also happy to see that the virtual options are still available. While I have been racing in person throughout 2021, I know that this is not something that everyone is ready to do. It is great that this option has remained available to that everyone can experience at least some of the magic.
I think that the on course entertainment will be something all racers are looking forward to, and I hope that Disney delivers. During my 2021 visits to the theme parks they have done an amazing job adjusting their entertainment to meet restrictions. If they can apply their creativity to Disney Marathon Weekend, I think they can still make it a magical experience.
The one area I am really concerned about is corral placement. Without proof of time many people may inflate their estimated finish time so that they can begin the race in a earlier corral. In small races this isn’t a big deal. In a race with thousands of people this can create headaches and even safety issues.
For example if a corral that should be runners estimated to finish a half marathon at a 9:10-9:45 pace is 50% filled with people intending on walking the race- huge problems can occur. Runners will be forced to weave excessively, run through the grass, or constantly start and stop. This can lead to either injury or general frustration and a bad race experience. I will be running the 2 course challenge in November, so I will be reporting back to you how the new corral placements affect the racing experience.
I want to hear your thoughts as well! Let me know in the comets below, and we can talk runDisney together!
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