Marathon Weekend 2026

[DianaMB333]

SAFD: After finishing my 3rd Dopey this year, I'm sticking to my plan to back off to the Happy Challenge -- 5K, 10K, Half -- and spectate the marathon for 2026. I just can't commit to the training during the holidays every year, so I will alternate back to Dopey every other, health and schedule permitting. I'll be booking our DVC rooms soon!

My plan exactly… #ChearSquad for the Marathon

 

[Disney at Heart]

I really mean it this time though!

I mean it this time too! No more marathons! I’ve told DH that if he wants to keep his Perfectly Goofy streak going, I’ll do the half with him and cheer him on for the marathon. He’s not decided if he want to keep on going or not, but the 20th anniversary cross body bag, neck warmer, and Shokz were a pretty good gift for the perfect runners this year! Will he make it to the 21st running? I’ll let you know!

 

[garneska]

I will be signing up for the half. I know the knees are not ready for a full (I think I got one more full before TKR and I am planning that for 2028 anniversary tear). I think I can be in my new normal shape for the half in Jan 2026.

 

[Disney at Heart]

I will be signing up for the half. I know the knees are not ready for a full (I think I got one more full before TKR and I am planning that for 2028 anniversary tear). I think I can be in my new normal shape for the half in Jan 2026.

See, I could run the half with you!!! (Not…. I’m slower than you are even though I have had no injury.)

 

[Fischstick]

SAFD: I’m planning on Dopey #5 for 2026! It’s my favorite vibe of the rD schedule and is logistically easy for me. I am even contemplating getting faster outside of rD so that I can get into a better corral. I typically stay offsite for the full week.....because I don’t do the parks at all before the races. I joked before that maybe I would train up to add them in. But I’m a park MAXIMIZER and I know I would over do it.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD:

This is a good question for today because I just put my deposit on a travel package for the NYC Marathon. I had been planning on skipping Dopey/ Marathon this year but given I'm now going to be training for a marathon in November, I'm aiming for Goofy for MW 26. I'll be going solo this time and it would be very difficult to do Dopey this year. I LOVE Dopey and will plan to do it again in 27.

So my current plan for MW is HH on Friday, Goofy on the weekend and DATW on Monday (unless I have a conference to attend).

 

[nekonekoneko]

I promise we don't bite

We don't?

SAFD: This will be my DW's Dopey #9! She's becoming an old pro at this. We're going to try for a perfect 2025-26 runDisney season, on both coasts, which we are saying will start with the DL Halloween Half in Sept, move to W&D, MW, DL Half, Princess, Springtime. After that, she may consider hanging up her running shoes.

 

[garneska]

See, I could run the half with you!!! (Not…. I’m slower than you are even though I have had no injury.)

You did beat me at wine and dine but I really had no business doing a half at that point. It almost really set me back. I am not great but am running and have PT tomorrow. Maybe we are running the half together next year

 

[marty3d]

We don't?

SAFD: This will be my DW's Dopey #9! She's becoming an old pro at this. We're going to try for a perfect 2025-26 runDisney season,

I so want to do this!! (Not in 25-26).

I think Disney needs to do a perfect season challenge medal!

 

[Disney at Heart]

We don't?

SAFD: This will be my DW's Dopey #9! She's becoming an old pro at this. We're going to try for a perfect 2025-26 runDisney season, on both coasts, which we are saying will start with the DL Halloween Half in Sept, move to W&D, MW, DL Half, Princess, Springtime. After that, she may consider hanging up her running shoes.

I so want to do this!! (Not in 25-26).

I think Disney needs to do a perfect season challenge medal!

Of course, the most difficult part of a perfect season is the registration!

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: Hopefully in for another Goofy! My running buddy who does MW with me every year said he might not do it again in 2026, but I would hate to miss out on the best race weekend ever!

 

[marty3d]

Of course, the most difficult part of a perfect season is the registration!

I know - should get a medal just for that!

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:

2026 will be my 10th Dopey! So barring a big failure on 3/11 I will be back next year for #10. More exciting for me though, my daughter who will be 18 is thinking very hard about doing her first Dopey!

Our plan is for the whole family to walk the 5K together and then DD and I will complete Dopey together. Again dependent on 3/11. We are just a couple weeks out from booking our DVC. Very excited about this as well as we are going to splurge this year and get a two bedroom villa to share with our kids and my folks. The past couple years we have been spread out all over the property. This year DW, DD and I were at WL, my folks were at French Quarter and my older DD and boyfriend were at AS Sports. It will be so nice (maybe a little crowded) to all be in one spot!

Nothing feels real though until after 3/11!

 

[Herding_Cats]

I know - should get a medal just for that!

Disney already has this. You get a jacket and a medal that says 10k on it. It’s called club Rundisney platinum

 

[Erika10021]

SAFD: We are definitely signing up for the Dopey in 2026! I know we could have finished the whole thing but for other events and the entire weekend was one of my best experiences. I can't wait to do it again.

 

[TeeKo]

I’ve been studying the registration tips. Have many of you been shut out of registering?

I’m going to be OOT on 3/11 with just my phone and a laptop
Me and 5 friends will all be trying to register for just the marathon. Everyone who could has blocked their work schedule!

 

[PrincessV]

Sort of hate that we have to decide all of this so soon!

This ^.

SAFD: I’d put the probability of me registering for *something* at 100%, but right now I have no idea what. I’ve got several new shoes coming to try before registration opens, plus a couple long-ish runs, and I’ll see how all of that feels before deciding.

I’ve been studying the registration tips. Have many of you been shut out of registering?

I’ve been shut out a few times over the years. In my experience, there is no rhyme or reason: it’s very much a game of luck. The good new is that folks here are always happy to help!

 

[Naomeri]

Disney already has this. You get a jacket and a medal that says 10k on it. It’s called club Rundisney platinum

Hey now, we get a magnet too

 

[Barca33Runner]

I’ve been studying the registration tips. Have many of you been shut out of registering?

I’m going to be OOT on 3/11 with just my phone and a laptop
Me and 5 friends will all be trying to register for just the marathon. Everyone who could has blocked their work schedule!

In a non-anniversary year, the Marathon as a stand alone is usually the last registration to fill. You should have a pretty good chance to get a Marathon registration. If you are in the same location as your 5 friends, you should be able to use whatever device gets in first to take turns registering everyone.

That said, the last couple of registrations have been pretty wild. Previously, the stand alone Marathon registration would often stay open for a few days or weeks (and sometimes longer). The last couple it seems like people have been much more willing to sign up for anything just to get signed up for something and everything has been sold out after a couple hours.

ETA: I have been fortunate to have never been personally shut out; but my family (we have anywhere from 3 to 8 race participants each year) has missed out on a few individual registrations over the years. I’ve also registered my mom, my niece and nephew, my sister-in-law, and some members of SILs family I barely knew at the time on my registration link in the last couple years to avoid having a much larger amount of our group get shut out. So having quick communication of rD logins and/or birth dates and other registration information can be useful. Like I said, the last couple years have been pretty wild.

 

[jmasgat]

Of course, the most difficult part of a perfect season is the registration!

Wonder if RD will ever come up with a limited edition "The Ultimate Challenge" as a moneymaker. They could make a package that included all the races and extras, and price accordingly (i.e. stupidly expensively)

I’ve been studying the registration tips. Have many of you been shut out of registering?

I’m going to be OOT on 3/11 with just my phone and a laptop
Me and 5 friends will all be trying to register for just the marathon. Everyone who could has blocked their work schedule!

As @Barca33Runner mentioned, the marathon is one of the events that lasts "longer"--which just means you may have 90-120 minutes instead of 45-60. The key is to be ready (review this thread to see how registrations go). Also, people here will share registration queues that they may no longer need that can give you a bump if you get a rotten one.

One caution about registering multiple people at once is that any items in your cart are NOT guaranteed until you pay. So a race could sell out before you get everyone's choice into the cart and pay, and then you are all out of luck.