This is part one of my six-part series on the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Part one is an introduction to the series.
Part 2 (Background of the Race & Registration Process) can be found HERE.
Part 3 (Training & Planning for the Event) can be found HERE.
Part 4 (Course Preview with Virtual Run) will be posted mid-October to beginning of November.
Part 5 (Travel, Event Expo, & Pre-Race) will be posted on Race Weekend.
Part 6 (Race Day & Post-Race) will be posted after Race Weekend.
The event's official website can be found HERE.
It was after only the first race of the Heartland 39.3 half-marathon series that I, along with my sister and brother, decided to finally take seriously what we'd been wishfully toying with for a couple of years now: to run the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon.
Growing up, as a family, we'd frequented Walt Disney world nearly every year. Regardless if experiencing it as young children or (relatively) fully-grown adults, Disney World has always been The Happiest Place on Earth to us, and despite our almost-annual visits, experiencing it over again and again always brought a renewed and shared sense of adventure and imagination. As odd as it would seem, Disney World would almost become an unofficial second home to us, always greeting again the familiar sights, sounds and smells upon touchdown in Orlando, and looking back with homesick nostalgia upon wheels up.
For 2015, it would have been nearly three years since we'd been back. So what a better way to re-experience our second home by running through it. Over just the last few years our family has rallied around its members' newly-formed passions for all things sports (be it as a spectator or participant). Combining one family interest with another only seemed natural. Plus: what a cool way to experience Disney World!
In researching for detailed info about the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (and one of the many things that triggered me to start blogging about racing), I was surprised at the scant amount of first-hand experiences with the race. Some were about the expo, most were about the race itself.
In the coming months through to the end of race weekend (and beyond), I will be covering -- in immense detail -- one of the top-ten most popular marathon events in the world. Because of the detail, and the breadth of the event itself, blogging about the WDW [Half-]Marathon will have to come in several smart parts, likely using the following format...
- Part I: Introduction (this post)
- Part II: Background of the Race & Registration Process
- Part III: Training & Planning for the Event
- Part IV: Course Preview with Virtual Run
- Part V: Travel, Event Expo, & Pre-Race
- Part VI: Race Day & Post-Race
I will write and release each as the process unfolds (I am actually writing this in late June, almost a whole six months away from race day, but, again, given the "process" involved for this race, there's a fair amount of information to share). Background on the race and the registration process will likely go out right after I publish this post, and right after registration is complete. Then the Training & Planning for the Event post will probably go out once I start training for the HM, about 3 months prior to race day in late October. Course Preview & Travel will release the night after I arrive in Orlando, perhaps 3 or 4 days before race day. Event Expo & Pre-Race will likely go out race-day or the day after, and hopefully the same for Race-Day and Post-Race (likely finish it up on the plane ride home).
With that, look for Part II: History of the Race & the Registration Process. By the time you're finished reading this, Part II should be finished and posted.
And, of course, thank you for reading.
Keep R/B/S-ing. -tds
With that, look for Part II: History of the Race & the Registration Process. By the time you're finished reading this, Part II should be finished and posted.
And, of course, thank you for reading.
Keep R/B/S-ing. -tds
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This is gonna be so awesome! I'm jealous!
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