Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Offers Runners Unique Experiences

Sold-out event features late evening start and exclusive after-hours party at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Running USA Wire
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (September 21, 2010) - A sold-out field of runners will experience many of the hottest and most unique trends in road racing at the inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, October 1-3, at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.

More than 11,000 runners will attempt to complete the 13.1-mile half-marathon course through Disney theme parks, while experiencing several twists - the race is at night, there is a relay option and the prize at the end is a unique race medal and an exclusive after-hours party inside the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

The half-marathon, which starts at 10:00pm on October 2, also will feature all of the signature elements of a runDisney event - fireworks, famed Disney characters, music and unparalleled entertainment throughout the course, which begins at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and weaves through Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios before finishing at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The relay option gives runners the opportunity to team up with a partner to complete the 13.1 miles in two segments of 4.8 and 8.3 miles. All finishers will receive a unique race medal.

"The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is the most exciting thing to hit road racing in a long time," said Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon race director Jon Hughes.

In addition to the half-marathon, the weekend features several events for the entire family. The Health and Fitness Expo, which runs October 1-2 inside the Jostens Center at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, includes running seminars from running experts such as runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway, as well as the latest running equipment, products and apparel. There also are kids' races at the sports complex on Friday, October 1 and Mickey's Halloween Family Fun Run on October 2 at Magic Kingdom.

"This event brings together a variety of cool elements - food, wine, a relay and family fun in a nighttime atmosphere - to create a unique running experience that runners around the country can't find anywhere else," said Disney Sports Events Director Paul Lambert. "The response from runners who are looking forward to this new event has been overwhelming and we are equally as excited about the launch of this unique event that becomes a part of our runDisney series."

Fans can purchase tickets to the exclusive Wine & Dine Half Marathon after-hours party for $35. Visit http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/sports/rundisney/ for more information on runDisney events and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend.