Finally — here’s the info we’ve all been waiting for regarding this BRAND NEW Disney endurance event!! The Wine and Dine Half Marathon is replacing the Race for the Taste 10K race, offering everyone — including foodies — the chance to run a half marathon at night through Disney parks and property! Cool!
The best part is, if you’re like me and can’t quite do a half marathon, you can split it up into a relay with a partner! (And if you want an even shorter race, here’s a great one: The Mickey Halloween Family Fun Run 5K!)
Here’s the deets from Disney:
DISNEY WINE & DINE HALF MARATHON
Saturday, October 2, 2010
10:00 p.m.
Start: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Finish: Epcot® World Showcase
The Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will be run on a brand new half marathon course at the Walt Disney World Resort, and it will be run at night! Where else can you run a half marathon at night? Running through theme parks and world-class Disney entertainment along the way will make the miles fly by, but what could motivate you more than finishing inside Epcot® to an exclusive after-hours party inside the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival?
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon features:
* First nighttime half marathon
* Brand new course through 3 Walt Disney World theme parks
* Disney Entertainment on-course
* Finish inside Epcot® World Showcase
* Exclusive After Hours Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
* Event Weekend Transportation from the Event Host Resorts only
Each participant’s $135 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon registration includes:
* Race Registration
* Commemorative Champion® Tech Shirt
* Goody Bag
* Personalized Bib (Must register by August 2, 2010 for name to appear on bib)
* On-course and Post-Race Refreshments
* ChronoTrack D-tag timed race
* Personalized results website
* Inaugural half marathon finisher medal
* Access to the exclusive after-hours Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
* One (1) Complimentary “Taste” and one (1) complimentary “Sip” at the Finish Line Party
DISNEY WINE & DINE HALF MARATHON RELAY
Saturday, October 2, 2010
10:00 p.m.
Start: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Relay Exchange Zone: Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park
Finish: Epcot® World Showcase
The Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will be run on a brand new half marathon course at the Walt Disney World Resort, and it will be run at night!
Are you looking for a little more party and a little less race? Order up a smaller course with the Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Relay and divide up the 13.1 miles between two runners. It will be two times the fun and help you get to the party faster!
The relay will be run at the same time as the half marathon and on the same course. Runner 1 will start the race and run to the exchange zone where Runner 2 will begin their leg and race to the finish line. Runner 1 will then be transported to Epcot® to reunite with Runner 2 after they have crossed the finish line.
* Runner 1 – 8K (5.1 miles)
* Runner 2 – 13K (8 miles)
Both runners will enjoy the exclusive after-hours party inside the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Relay features:
* Nighttime half marathon 2-person relay
* Relay course featuring ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park for Runner 1 and Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ and Epcot® for Runner 2
* Disney Entertainment on-course
* Exclusive After Hours Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
* Event Weekend Transportation from the Event Host Resorts only
Each $195 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Relay Registration includes:
* 2 Person Relay Team Registration
* 2 Commemorative Relay “Batons”
* 2 Commemorative Champion® Tech Shirts
* 2 Goody Bags
* 2 Personalized Bibs (Must register by August 2, 2010 for team name to appear on bib)
* ChronoTrack D-tag timed race with individual runner splits and a final Team Finish Time
* On-course refreshments
* Post-Race refreshments at Exchange Zone and Finish Line
* Transportation to Relay Start, Exchange Zone and Finish Line
* Inaugural half marathon relay finisher medal for each runner
* Access for both runners to the exclusive after hours Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
* One (1) Complimentary “Taste” and One (1) Complimentary “Sip” at the Finish Line Party for each runner
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Course Description
Start at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex running down Victory Way and then west on Osceola Parkway toward Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park. Make your way past the Tree of Life, Expedition Everest™, Dinosaur® and then race back to Osceola Parkway and head toward Disney’s Hollywood Studios™. You will enter the park in the shadow of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™, run down Sunset Boulevard through Pixar Place, past Toy Story Mania!, then through the Costuming Tunnel in the Backlot on your way to Lights Motor Action! for your big debut! Race through the Streets of America, past Star Tours and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular on your way to Epcot®! The course will wind through the idyllic village of Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts and lead you through the international gateway entrance to Epcot®, where you will pass United Kingdom and Canada before finishing on World Showcase!
For more info, head over to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Website.
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I’m splitting the 1/2 with a friend of mine. She doesn’t even like Disney, so I’m hoping to convert her. And how could you not love a race that ends in food?
So jealous. I’m really considering looking for a partner. I would love to do the 1/2, but can’t do it all! 🙂 I look forward to finally meeting you there (hoping to at least get a ticket for the after party…)
I’m using this as the excuse to start the running I’ve wanted to do for years. Never run before in my life unless something was chasing me, but the training program spread over 7 months is certainly doable. Turns out to be fun, too!
Curtis — good for you!!!!!!!!!! Keep us updated on your progress! Are you using a training program, or just winging it?
We did a Rock’n’Roll Half at Nashville, and expect Disney Wine & Dine will be the ultimate. We are in a seven-month train-up right now. Soooo excited… cannot wait. Started checking the news every weekend and we’ve already confirmed our registration twice :-). Anyone know if anyone has drawn a course map? Not expecting any elevations, of course, but would be nice to see the route… Best wishes and good luck all.
Barbie and Steve — Congrats! Have you done any Disney races before? They are a blast! I haven’t seen a course map, yet, but I’ll keep an ear to the ground. If you see one, let me know!
My sister and I will be doing the relay. We have particpated in Disney’s 1/2 marathon twice.
I have a friend who is interested, does anyone know what the tome restrictions are, she’s a new runner and doesn’t want to get kicked off the course bc she’s too slow. One more ? Is registration still available?
Just a little encouragement to those thinking about “taking the leap” and doing a half for the first time – you can do it! My husband (he is very wonderful) and I ran our first half in March: the Princess Half Marathon (see, I told you he was wonderful,) and I can’t imagine any other organization doing as great of a job as Disney did. The encouragement along the race course was unmatched, and the event flow was extremely smooth. It’s a very flat course (not sure about this new one, but most of the resort is pretty flat anyway,) and where else can you get the excitement of running through Epcot with only a few hundred yards to go? It’s awesome – do it! 🙂
Lan — Great news! Good luck!
Kristen — If you go to the ESPN Wide World of Sports website you can click through to all of the restrictions 🙂
Allison — Thanks for the encouragement! I did the Expedition Everest run last year and felt very “loved” by all the folks on the course!
OK i missed the registration I was waiting for my “Partner” to confirm and by the time he told me he was not going to run, the Race was already at capacity. SO is there anyone out there that is registered that their partner dropped out and is looking for a replacement I can do either the 5 or 8 mile part. I just want to run in the race… Please email [email protected] thanks…Phil
I have just learned family members will not be allowed around the park to be our cheerleaders. I’m so disappointed. The website should have made this more clear. Had I known this in advance there is no way I would have registered honestly. The fun part is having your friends and family there to cheer you on and to give you that encouragement you will need to make it through the tough patches. They keep telling me the after party is where they will be…who cares….I want them at the finish line!!!
Phil — Good luck!!
Renee — I’m sorry to hear that — what a bummer! There are plenty of Disney folks throughout the race and you’ll feel very encouraged, but I understand what it’s like to need your fam there and not have them 🙁
Hi All – excited for the race…
I’ve never run so late in the evening, and I’ll be flying in from Pittsburgh that day. Does anyone have a recommendation for what to eat, and when, prior to the race? I can’t just eat bananas all day, right?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Dave! Here’s what I’m reading: eat a meal about 2 hours before the race. Shoot for 65 percent carbs, 20 percent protein and 15 percent fat. Go easy on the fiber 🙂