The Force Was Strong With the Inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon at Disneyland

2015 Star Wars Half Marathon

This past weekend, thousands of active Star Wars fans descended on the Disneyland Resort for the various events of the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon weekend. The weekend included races for kids, a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. There was also a Wookie Welcome Party to get the weekend started off in the right direction.

The events were completely sold out 122 minutes after registration opened with the Star Wars Half Marathon filling up in a mere 24 minutes. There were approximately 28,950 people registered for the weekend’s events in those 122 minutes, with around 12,200 signing up for the Half Marathon alone. There were approximately 10,400 signs up for the 10k, around 5,100 for the 5k, and 1,250 signed up for the runDisney kids races.

The weekend was full of Storm Troopers, droids, Jawas, Disney characters in Star Wars garb, and even the might Chewbacca helped encourage athletes throughout the various events. By Sunday, the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation had its first champion as Nick Arciniaga ran across the finish line just 1:08:13 after beginning the race. This was his second win at the Disneyland Resort in five months after also winning the Disneyland Half Marathon in August. Jennifer Berry was the first woman to cross the finish line at a time of 1:22:34.

For those that found running just one event wasn’t enough of a challenge, their force skills were put to the test with the Star Wars Rebel Challenge. Runners who finished both Star Wars 10K on Saturday and the Star Wars Half Marathon on Sunday earned a special Star Wars Rebel Challenge medal, along with the medals earned for each individual challenge.

Throughout the weekend, over 23,000 people participated in the various Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend events. The Star Wars Half Marathon weekend was the first of four Half Marathon weekends that will be held at the Disneyland Resort in 2015. The three more Half Marathon weekends will include:

  • Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry 
    May 7-10, 2015 at the Disneyland Resort. Information here.
    Registration currently open. 
  • Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA
    September 4-6, 2015 at the Disneyland Resort. Information here.
    Registration begins February 10, 2015. 
  • Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend
    November 12-15, 2015 at the Disneyland Resort. Information here.
    Registration begins April 7, 2015.

Have you participated in a Half Marathon at the Disneyland Resort? Will you in the future? What do you think about them?

Videos of the Star Wars Half Marathon weekend at the Disneyland Resort: 

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