The Running Thread - 2026

[nancipants]

I don't understand this marketing push for more clients. Races already sell out in <90 minutes as it is. And they will still sell out super quickly even if they increase the field.

This is why I don't understand why they had GMA reporting from the races, either. Like, it was cool to see the races featured on national TV, but why market runDisney more when you already sell out and park operations don't even want us there?

 

[accm]

ATTQOTD: I’m planning on 2 races this year, both with PR goals. I’m planning on a half in May to hopefully get a corral A POT for Dopey next year, but mostly just to see how fast I can run it. And then Chicago later in the year. That should be an easy PR, since it’ll be my first marathon outside of rundisney, so just removing roller coasters and characters stops should get me a PR

 

[GollyGadget]

This is why I don't understand why they had GMA reporting from the races, either. Like, it was cool to see the races featured on national TV, but why market runDisney more when you already sell out and park operations don't even want us there?

I was similarly confused about GMA. It particularly stood out to me how they were hyping that you can ride a roller coaster. With the 4:30 start, you really have a very small window where you can ride it. I usually get there too early and lots of folks too late. Plus the parks seem to be actively pushing runners not to ride with the lack of single rider and inflated wait times.

 

[FFigawi]

I was similarly confused about GMA. It particularly stood out to me how they were hyping that you can ride a roller coaster. With the 4:30 start, you really have a very small window where you can ride it. I usually get there too early and lots of folks too late. Plus the parks seem to be actively pushing runners not to ride with the lack of single rider and inflated wait times.

Cast members at ToT and RnRC were very good about letting runners ride this year. Didn’t even push back on the people using Lightning Lane passes.

 

[IamTrike]

I was similarly confused about GMA. It particularly stood out to me how they were hyping that you can ride a roller coaster. With the 4:30 start, you really have a very small window where you can ride it. I usually get there too early and lots of folks too late. Plus the parks seem to be actively pushing runners not to ride with the lack of single rider and inflated wait times.

I am kind of curios what percentage of RunDisney people are first timers vs repeat runners. Even back 5 years ago it felt like runDisney had a fairly high contingent of repeat runners. Based on that I would guess they don't have to fill that many slots with new people, so they shouldn't need do a lot of marketing to attract people. Given that my guess is the GMA thing was more about GMA wanting novel content rather than RunDisney marketing the races. Promoting riding rides during the races probably just goes with that focus on novelty.

 

[IamTrike]

So just random question not a QOTD.

I am trying to find new disney races to watch when I am running on my treadmill. What content do you watch?

I watch MouseGen, RunArnoRun, RezRuns and Runsota, but am always trying to find new content. Mousegen and Runsota are nice because they both post full course POV of different Races.
Rezruns and RunArnoRuns both offer POV of races but they are edited so they are only parts of the courses.

 

[PrincessV]

I’ll take a cynical guess at the new marketing/GMA/higher cap push…

The parks in general have subscribed to a push for fewer guests, more new guests, more spend per guest. Figure a large percentage of rD racers are returnees - a fair number of those are like me: BT/DT, aren't buying a ton of merch (I haven’t bought ANY in years), aren’t registering for every race anymore, aren’t spending a bunch in the parks, aren’t doing long stays with more nights on property. That’s not their target audience anymore. Maybe the new rD push is to better align with the parks goal: get more new, high-spend runners into the field, those who are likely to drop a lot more cheddar while visiting. Entice them with Insta-worthy marketing that makes every minute of racing look like it could turn into a viral post. rD/WDW doesn’t need to care about whether races are congested or lacking support or leave runners feeling like they didn’t get their money’s worth if the goal is make quick bank off folks who are one-and-done.

 

[StarGirl11]

So just random question not a QOTD.

I am trying to find new disney races to watch when I am running on my treadmill. What content do you watch?

I watch MouseGen, RunArnoRun, RezRuns and Runsota, but am always trying to find new content. Mousegen and Runsota are nice because they both post full course POV of different Races.
Rezruns and RunArnoRuns both offer POV of races but they are edited so they are only parts of the courses.

Self plug but I have an account on an app with a music note. (Stargirl9028) I should note I don’t post just Disney race content. Also post a lot of fandom content. But I record my races as long as my GoPro is cooperating. And that’s where I post it.

I also have an account on the pink camera app (stargirl0929). Though I’m less frequent about posting race videos there.

You’ll get to see things from a handcycle/wheels perspective which isn’t common

 

[Psymonds]

I am kind of curios what percentage of RunDisney people are first timers vs repeat runners. Even back 5 years ago it felt like runDisney had a fairly high contingent of repeat runners. Based on that I would guess they don't have to fill that many slots with new people, so they shouldn't need do a lot of marketing to attract people. Given that my guess is the GMA thing was more about GMA wanting novel content rather than RunDisney marketing the races. Promoting riding rides during the races probably just goes with that focus on novelty.

I don't see them marketing heavily in the running community broadly, especially on the west coast. They used to have a booth at SF marathon packet pickup but I haven't seen a runDisney booth at another expo in a decade.

 

[nancipants]

So just random question not a QOTD.

I am trying to find new disney races to watch when I am running on my treadmill. What content do you watch?

I watch MouseGen, RunArnoRun, RezRuns and Runsota, but am always trying to find new content. Mousegen and Runsota are nice because they both post full course POV of different Races.
Rezruns and RunArnoRuns both offer POV of races but they are edited so they are only parts of the courses.

Travel With Josh and Taylor have livestreams from a lot of old races. Josh didn't run last year but he ran Goofy this year.

 

[IamTrike]

I don't see them marketing heavily in the running community broadly, especially on the west coast. They used to have a booth at SF marathon packet pickup but I haven't seen a runDisney booth at another expo in a decade.

Yeah that brings back memories. I bought 2 everest challenge bibs at another RunDisney booth at another races expo when they longer selling bibs online because it was too close to the race for them to sell them online. Sigh signing up for runDisney races used to be a little easier.

 

[IamTrike]

Self plug but I have an account on an app with a music note. (Stargirl9028) I should note I don’t post just Disney race content. Also post a lot of fandom content. But I record my races as long as my GoPro is cooperating. And that’s where I post it.

I also have an account on the pink camera app (stargirl0929). Though I’m less frequent about posting race videos there.

You’ll get to see things from a handcycle/wheels perspective which isn’t common

Cool I'll try and check these out. I have to figure out the apps

Travel With Josh and Taylor have livestreams from a lot of old races. Josh didn't run last year but he ran Goofy this year.

Thanks, I'll look these up today.

 

[The Expert]

And then Chicago later in the year. That should be an easy PR, since it’ll be my first marathon outside of rundisney, so just removing roller coasters and characters stops should get me a PR

I'm going for the same! Also @Fischstick and @marty3d will be in Chicago with us too!

 

[FFigawi]

Yeah that brings back memories. I bought 2 everest challenge bibs at another RunDisney booth at another races expo when they longer selling bibs online because it was too close to the race for them to sell them online. Sigh signing up for runDisney races used to be a little easier.

Not only could you sign up late into the fall for marathon weekend, they had a little progress bar showing you how full the registrations were. No need to hit the button until it reached 80% or so. I miss those days.

 

[IamTrike]

Not only could you sign up late into the fall for marathon weekend, they had a little progress bar showing you how full the registrations were. No need to hit the button until it reached 80% or so. I miss those days.

Yeah my first half was the 2011 MW. I signed up in late Sept or October. I remember progress bars.

 

[Goofed98]

My first Goofy was 2010. I think I signed up for my second the following Monday? It was open almost immediately.

I usually get there too early and lots of folks too late. Plus the parks seem to be actively pushing runners not to ride with the lack of single rider and inflated wait times

I was shocked to see that when I went through AK (started in D, ran a pretty consistent 11:30 pace) they had cones out and a cast member directing traffic. "Everest to the left! Course continues to the right!"