Marathon Weekend 2026

[marty3d]

A belated SAFD re: Medals:

I like medals that are simple with visible metal — not over-painted. Good graphic design is key (and has been really lacking on Disney medals lately). And I like to be able to read "Walt Disney World," the event distance, and year, very clearly on the medal.

I prefer keeping the focus on just the iconic characters for Marathon Weekend medals (and the weekend overall), and not overlaying an additional race theme, but that ship has sailed for 2026. (I'm doing the half and I find the romance novel theme kinda odd!)

Finally, I think the full marathon medal should ALWAYS have Mickey ears or a classic Mickey ear/head silhouette. It's iconic and can only be Disney. Every time they use the "running Mickey" or some other non-iconic design for the marathon, I am sad.

My favorite medals are the 2013 and 2017 marathon. 2013 is just perfectly designed (clearly says Walt Disney World, clearly says Marathon, clear dates, clear Mickey, super high quality design!), and 2017 is so classic with the big Mickey ears.

I did the full in 2013 and it is my favorite of all my medals. (I did not do 2017, sadly!)

Love that 2013 medal - even better than the 2017 which I have- I do like the classic Mickey Ears. The 2014 Marathon was my first and while I think it fits in with other running medals of the time, I do find it a little boring compared to 2013 and 2017. My personal favourite for the Marathon is still 2022.

 

[camaker]

Good morning RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). Let's talk about that most essential piece of running gear, the headphones. What are your go to headphones and why do they stand out for you?

SAFD: My go to headphones are unquestionably Shokz. I've had a number of different models over the years and am currently running in OpenRun Pro. The biggest draw for me is their safety benefit, with their form factor being a close second. I don't like inserting buds into my ears. I really like being aware of the environment around me while allowing me to listen to my audiobooks or music. They're not perfect, though. By leaving your ears open, they can be drowned out by passing traffic if I'm running on a busy road. That's a trade off I'll happily take, though.

The Shokz can be a bit of a pain in the winter, though, with their back loop getting in the way of warm headgear. In those instances, I'll often go with AirPods Pro, using a fleece headband not just for warmth, but to secure the AirPods in my ears so they don't fall out. They're definitely a situational choice, though.

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD I stopped using headphones a few years ago and found I enjoy running without anything other than noises around me and thoughts in my head. When I did it was AirPods simply because I had everything Apple.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: I like Shokz and have the OpenRun Pro. Earbuds don't fit my ears well and are either uncomfortable or falling oujt, and I also like to be aware of what's going on around me. I appreciate that they fit easily with my glasses and any headgear I may have on. I definitely need to swap out to a Mini size/version, though. The band sticks way out behind my head and I have to get them seated just right or they end up tilted so that I can't hear well.

 

[JackosinDIS]

SAFD: I’m AirPods all the way. I love running with music (mostly Disney). I do always take one out when I’m running on roads without a pavement, just so I can hear approaching vehicles and move over a bit more. Not lost one yet!

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD:
I wear shokz most of the time. I bought a pair when it was still "aftershokz" off HSN because they had a sale and a first-time customer code that made them a price I was willing to pay. DH has the open runs, and mine are old enough now (4 or 5 years) that I'll borrow his for the really long events.

***If you have a costco membership, they have them on sale for $75 currently, and I believe they carry the mini version online.***


If I'm on the treadmill, I prefer something that goes IN my ear and block out all of the ambient noise so I can actually hear my music/pod/show.

If I'm running with a friend I'm 100% OK with not having them turned on, except for my run/walk alerts, but if I'm running alone they are definitely going to be playing something to help distract me.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: AirPods Pro. These are pretty much in my ears all day long - running, walking the dog,Teams calls, podcasts, the gym. (And they actually work pretty well as ear protection at a concert)

I always use them in transparency mode and I find I can hear everything pretty well to the point that if I’m not playing music I sometimes forget I’m wearing them. They are probably the only piece of technology that I would replace immediately if they died or I lost them.

 

[Stitch&Co.]

SAFD: Shokz Open Run. I moved to these a few years ago and they’ve been great. I like being able to hear the things going on around me as well as clearly hearing whatever I’m listening to. I cannot get comfortable with anything in my ears. They never felt comfortable and I had zero confidence of them staying in for long.

Before switching to the Shokz I had a pair of cheap earbuds that hooked over my ears that were connected by a cord. They were ok and it was convenient to hang around my neck if I needed to take them out. Now it seems like I have a pair of Shokz on almost all the time. I have a pair of the Open Move that I wear around the house synced to the Roku so I can be doing anything and still hear the TV or whatever else I want to listen to and not bother anyone. When they wear out I will probably replace them with another pair of the Open Runs though. I find them to be the more comfortable of the two.

 

[mmm_texas]

SAFD: AirPods Pro. Like @marty3d, I use them for multiple things a day, daily. The multiple size ear tips let you find a good fit, and I use the hearing assistance feature, so I hear better with them in than without anything.

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD: I’ve got a pair of cheap ears buds that have a wrap around the ear holder. I’m not an audiophile and have never been able to tell the difference between expensive and cheap headphones (not enough to justify a price difference anyhow). Apparently, I have weird shaped ears and I’m definitely paranoid; so between actually falling out and me being worried about them falling out, AirPods style earbuds aren’t good for me. I, almost exclusively, only wear one at a time no matter where I am or what I’m doing to allow me to hear my surroundings.

I have a pair of Shokz. They’re fine, I guess. They aren’t for me. Glad they work better for others.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD: I mostly use Shokz as well except for treadmill runs where I usually switch to my Airpods Pro to hear better in the louder surrounding of a gym. I like the saftey value of the Shokz and even when I listen to music the quality is good enough. I've always had trouble keeping any ear bud in my ears when running. The only thing that really works for me is to use a pair with "wings" that push against the iner part of my ear and provide a bit of extra security to keep them in. I have cheap silicone covers with them that I can slip on the AirPods. Sort of a pain as they won't fit in the charging case with them on, but they help get the job done.

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: Currently I use AirPods Pro in transparency mode. Although I want to try Shokz just because on really long runs, the AirPods eventually get too sweaty.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: 100% Shokz OpenRun. The back loop is annoying in the winter, but I don't have a good alternative. I bought a pair of OpenFit for winter running, but they're not very sweatproof, as it turns out. After an hour and a half or so, the sound starts getting wonky.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD: Shockz openrun minis for me! I will run with my AirPods as well, if I fail to charge my shockz, and have no issues with them falling out or bothering me.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

SAFD: I am also a Shokz user. I can’t remember which model I have since they’re several years old now but they work great for me since I can’t do earbuds like AirPods. I agree with previous comments though about it being hard to wear cold weather head gear with the Shokz.

 

[SheHulk]

I have a pair of Jabra brand earbuds which I really like. I have ruined multiple pairs of AirPods and other, cheaper ear buds by sweating, but the Jabras seem to be impervious. I am in awe of any of you that can stand to run with no music or podcasts or audiobooks. I can't imagine being alone with my own thoughts for so long, listening to myself breathing and my feet clomping.

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD:

Using Shockz but TBH the AirPods sound much better. The flip side is the Shockz feel a little more safe because they don’t noise cancel ambient noise like the AirPods