Marathon Weekend 2026

[radiodome21]

SAFD: a year ago the longest I ever ran was just shy of 4 miles. During Covid when our gym was closed I’d run a 5k every weekday. But I never went any further. Flash forward to November 2024 and I’m starting to train for the SS 10k in April. First runDisney race. Great experience and got me into a new world of running. Aside from that distance the furthest I’ve done is a 10 miler at Soldier Field on Memorial Day this year. Nice race along lake Michigan. I’m training for the Food & Wine HF in October and enjoy the training so far. However for now I love the 10k and my least favorite is 5k - too short. I signed my wife and I up for the 10k at the 2026 SS, though she said maybe we should’ve done the 10 mile race. Oh well.

 

[nancipants]

Favorite distance: Half marathon. It’s long enough to feel challenging but not too long that I feel like dying.

Least favorite: Can I say any marathon not at Disney World? Because I can’t see myself ever doing one if I don’t get characters and parks. Haha.

Otherwise, 5k.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD:
Favorite Distance:
runDisney: Marathon - love running through all 4 parks and being able to ride an attraction in the middle of a race. Ireally feel you get to experience everything in that race.

Anywhere else: 10k - I love the 10k. Really feel like it's the perfect distance. I like Half Marathons and 10 milers too but not as much as the 10k.

Least Favourite - everywhere - 5k: 5k is actually my favourite easy run distance during training but my least favourite to race. I just feel it's too short for the amount of effort it takes to get to the race. This is especially true for Disney 5Ks and I'm not sure I'll ever run one that's not part of Dopey.

 

[jpholic]

SAFD: a year ago the longest I ever ran was just shy of 4 miles. During Covid when our gym was closed I’d run a 5k every weekday. But I never went any further. Flash forward to November 2024 and I’m starting to train for the SS 10k in April. First runDisney race. Great experience and got me into a new world of running. Aside from that distance the furthest I’ve done is a 10 miler at Soldier Field on Memorial Day this year. Nice race along lake Michigan. I’m training for the Food & Wine HF in October and enjoy the training so far. However for now I love the 10k and my least favorite is 5k - too short. I signed my wife and I up for the 10k at the 2026 SS, though she said maybe we should’ve done the 10 mile race. Oh well.

The 10 miler is still available if you wanna switch from your 10k to 10 miler....

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I put my rD magnets on my treadmill. Great motivation!

That’s a great idea!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I um, [looks intently at toes] ordered a jacket for this coming MW. Totally outside my usual purchasing, but wanted a jacket to run in (besides the only one that I have) and thought a rD jacket would be cool. I put a reminder in my phone so I don't forget to pick it up.

I love how colorful and cheerful the magnets are, but my 2022 marathon magnet on the tailgate of my truck rapidly faded. All my other magnets have been kept inside; I have a couple on the fridge and a few inside the lid of my big toolbox. I need to obtain a sheet of steel sheet metal or buy a magnetic bulletin board for my rD magnets.

Good for you, for grabbing a jacket at registration! I wear my RD princess one all the time. It always baffles me when people say they have to get their Disney clothes out of storage or wherever to go to Disney. Ummmm…mine are part of my everyday clothes cycle. Including when I run! Lol

My magnets are on my garage fridge. I “accidentally” leave my garage door open so my neighbors and the Amazon guy can marvel at my accomplishments.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

My most recent magents go on the side of my microwave in the kitchen, once they are replaced they move to the side of the garage fridge so I see them every time I go out to the garage for a beer or stuff in the freezer (but mostly for beer).

Beer = carbs. Running approved

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD: Just going to go with a best. The distance that feels the best to finish and the one during which I ask myself the most existential questions is definitely the Marathon.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD: I LOVED the 10 miler for SS. It was so much fun! I feel like you really are able to see the park instead of skimming the outskirts of it. Something magical about running through Galaxys edge and Toy Story land when it’s dark out! Plus, I feel like the race is a challenge but you finish before you hit any type of wall. Which I’ve hit in a HM before.

Least favorite: I’m going to say marathon because this will be my FIRST marathon, and I’m scared! lol! I’ll report back on Jan 12th, for my final ranking!

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: My favorite distance is the marathon. It's perfect for settling into a steady groove for a few hours. Unlike my least favorite distance, the 10k, which is too short to settle in but too long to go all out all race. Guess that explains why my 10k PR was set while hungover (and probably still drunk) from the night before - my brain was too fuzzy to think and I just ran as fast as I could to get it over with.

 

[KellyKateri]

Favorite is the 10k. It was my first race ever, and first rundisney race. Lots of park time and running around my favorite hotels on Crescent Lake.

Least favorite is the 5K. Its over by the time you get into it! But I am also not a speed-based runner.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: Fav distance for a travel race is HM. Long enough to be significant.
Local, I’d say a 10k or 10 miler. SS was my first 10-miler and I really liked that.
Least would be a 5k because it is over so quickly.
I enjoy the Full at WDW for seeing all the parks and parking lots (ok, that was sarcasm). I think any non-rD marathons will be travel races and selected for being interesting.

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD:

Ran many marathons and every single finish sheds a few tears of joy.

 

[Erika10021]

SAFD:

My favorites are 5k and half marathon. 10k is my kryptonite! For whatever reason, that is always my worst race distance. It's probably because I think I can crush it like a 5k and then crap out at mile 5 and am miserable for the rest of it.

Can't wait to try the marathon again in January. It has to go better this time, I learned so many things during the last one.

 

[MissLiss279]

SAFD:
My favorite distance is the marathon. I like the feeling of accomplishment, and I love being able to travel to new places to run one. I like that I don’t feel I have to run all out for one and can run at a decent pace or an easy pace.
Like many, the 5k is my least favorite. I’m not a big fan of running at a hard pace for an extended period of time.

 

[smileyanna]

SAFD: Marathon and ten miler. I’ve been running marathons for 25 years, and every single one has been special.

But I love me a 10 mile race. Significant, long enough to require training and a race strategy, but short enough to meet my family for breakfast or brunch and be functional later that day.

 

[The Expert]

Least favorite: Can I say any marathon not at Disney World? Because I can’t see myself ever doing one if I don’t get characters and parks. Haha.

I was very firmly in this camp, but then a friend ran Chicago a few yeas ago and planted that bug in my brain. I've applied for the lottery but never been chosen and never thought much more about it, but for some reason this last rejection got me searching for charity bibs. The timing doesn't work out for 2025, but I've got an in with One Tail at a Time for 2026 and I think I'm gonna do it!

iirc I also said "I can't see myself ever doing a marathon" and here we are 4x later.

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD:
For sense of accomplishment? Marathon

For maintaining some semblance of sanity while shoehorning all of the training in and still feeling like I did something cool? Half marathon.

 

[marty3d]

I was very firmly in this camp, but then a friend ran Chicago a few yeas ago and planted that bug in my brain. I've applied for the lottery but never been chosen and never thought much more about it, but for some reason this last rejection got me searching for charity bibs. The timing doesn't work out for 2025, but I've got an in with One Tail at a Time for 2026 and I think I'm gonna do it!

iirc I also said "I can't see myself ever doing a marathon" and here we are 4x later.

That was me too - but with NYC instead of Chicago. And after cursing summer marathon training here I am, halfway through training thinking Chicago in a 26 or 27 might not be a bad idea. (and then there's Sydney.... )

 

[The Expert]

That was me too - but with NYC instead of Chicago. And after cursing summer marathon training here I am, halfway through training thinking Chicago in a 26 or 27 might not be a bad idea. (and then there's Sydney.... )

I would NOT be opposed to some fellow DISers joining me for Chicago 2026!