Last week runDisney released the course maps for Marathon weekend. The maps I was most excited to see are for the half marathon and 10k, but since Preston is doing the Dopey Challenge we also took a close look at the full marathon and 5k routes as well.
Photo Credit: runDisney
Marathon weekend will start with the 5k on Thursday morning. Preston will complete the 5k as the first race of the Dopey Challenge. Some of the highlights of the course include:
- Starting in the parking lot at Epcot
- Running through World Showcase and Future World West
- Running past Spaceship Earth then exiting Epcot through the main entrance before finishing in the parking lot
- Two water stops
Following the 5k, the 10k will be on Friday morning. Both Preston and I will participate in the 10k. This inaugural race and brand new course feature:
- Starting in the parking lot at Epcot
- Running through the Epcot Toll Plaza on Epcot Center Drive
- Running through World Showcase
- Running through the Boardwalk and past Beach Club and Yacht Club
- Running through the backstage area of Epcot just behind Future World West
- Reentering Epcot in Future World West
- Running past Spaceship Earth then exiting Epcot through the main entrance before finishing in the parking lot
- Three water stops
Photo Credit: runDisney
The half marathon will be held on Saturday morning. Again, both Preston and I will run the half marathon (my first!). The course is the same as last year’s course, which includes:
- Starting in the parking lot at Epcot
- Running through the Magic Kingdom Toll Plaza on World Drive
- Running through the Transportation Ticket Center
- Entering Magic Kingdom in Town Square
- Running down Main Street in Magic Kingdom
- Running through Fantasyland and Cinderella’s Castle
- Running through Frontierland
- Running past the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts
- Running a loop through Future World at Epcot
- Running past Spaceship Earth then exiting Epcot through the main entrance before finishing in the parking lot
- Nine water stops
- One food stop
Photo Credit: runDisney
The last Marathon weekend event, and the culminating race for the Dopey Challenge, is the full marathon on Sunday morning. The course is very similar to the 2013 course, with one slight change in Animal Kingdom. The course highlights include:
- Starting in the parking lot at Epcot
- Running through the Magic Kingdom Toll Plaza on World Drive
- Running through the Transportation Ticket Center
- Entering Magic Kingdom in Town Square
- Running down Main Street in Magic Kingdom
- Running through Fantasyland and Cinderella’s Castle
- Running through Frontierland
- Running past the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts
- Running on the Richard Petty Speedway
- Entering Animal Kingdom in Asia
- Running through Africa and exiting Animal Kingdom at the main entrance
- Running the track and around the bases at Wide World of Sports
- Running through Hollywood Studios
- Running through the Boardwalk and past Beach Club and Yacht Club
- Running through World Showcase
- Running past Spaceship Earth then exiting Epcot through the main entrance before finishing in the parking lot
- 21 water stops
- Four food stops
We have lots to look forward to experiencing during the upcoming Marathon weekend! Beyond the races, there’s also the Expo, meals at some of our favorite restaurants, and of course time at the parks!
QOTD: Which course are you most looking forward to running?
I am most looking forward to the inaugural 10k course! It’s exciting to be part of something brand new! And I also love the half course because once you get through MK, you know you just have to get back to Epcot and then you have your medal 🙂
I too am very excited about being a part of an inaugural event! And you make a great point about the half course – I didn’t really think about it that way before!
So excited for you!!
Thanks Courtney! Its hard to believe that its so close!
so exciting!! now i can’t wait for Princess 🙂
Princess will be here before you know it!