LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA (April 26, 2013) – Building on the success of its women-focused events, runDisney is broadening the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort next year by adding a 10K and a new two-race challenge.

The Princess 10K gives runners of various levels more opportunities to run through Disney theme parks and receive a specially-designed finisher medal. And runners looking for an even bigger challenge can sign up for the 10K on Saturday and the Half Marathon on Sunday (19.3 miles total) to earn the inaugural Disney Glass Slipper Challenge Medal to go along with medals from each individual race.

The Princess Half Marathon Weekend, scheduled for Feb. 20-23, is one of two women-focused runDisney events. The other is the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January at Disneyland Resort in California.  Both races are among the largest women-specific running events in the country and focus on healthy active lifestyles for women and girls.  For instance, after nearly 7,500 runners ran in the inaugural Princess Half Marathon event in 2009, the popularity of the race has grown considerably with more than 26,000 registered runners for last year’s race.

Also new in 2014 is a special edition runDisney Coast-to-Coast Race Challenge Medal for runners participating in the 2014 Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland in January and the 2014 Princess Half Marathon five weeks later at Walt Disney World.  Finishers receive the coveted medal featuring the likeness of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse with a pink overlay and lanyard.

Registration for the 2014 Princess Half Marathon opens June 11 at www.runDisney.com.  A limited number of runners will have the opportunity to register for both the Princess and Tinker Bell Half Marathon at that time.  Those not securing an early registration for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon will have a second chance when on-line registration officially opens on July 9.

Both the Princess and Tinker Bell Half Marathon weekends include signature runDisney events including a health and fitness expo geared towards women, kids races, a family fun run 5K, as well as featured half marathons for both weekend.

For more information and to register for runDisney events, visit www.runDisney.com.

About runDisney

runDisney is a series of seven event weekends providing runners unique opportunities to run various distances through Disney theme parks.  Race participants earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary Disney entertainment and guest service and ultimately celebrate their accomplishments with a Disney vacation.  The original event in the series, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, takes place in January followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February, Expedition Everest Challenge in May, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler in October and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November.  Disneyland hosts the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January and the Disneyland Half Marathon in September during Labor Day Weekend.  More than 125,000 running enthusiasts participate in runDisney events each year. For more information, visit www.runDisney.com and follow us on Facebook (runDisney) and Twitter @runDisney.

Baney was one of more than 26,000 registered runners – mostly women – from throughout the country who ran thru Epcot and Magic Kingdom on Sunday morning at Walt Disney World Resort Sunday during the fifth anniversary Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla (February 24th, 2013) — Elyse Baney of Dover, Del., completed all 13.1 miles of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday despite running the entire way with a brain tumor. Baney was diagnosed with the benign brain tumor in November, but delayed having surgery to remove it until after Sunday’s race. Baney is scheduled to have brain surgery on Friday, March 1.

Baney was one of more than 26,000 registered runners – mostly women – from throughout the country who ran thru Epcot and Magic Kingdom on Sunday morning at Walt Disney World Resort Sunday during the fifth anniversary Disney’s Princess Half Marathon.

Baney was one of more than 26,000 registered runners – mostly women – from throughout the country who ran thru Epcot and Magic Kingdom on Sunday morning at Walt Disney World Resort Sunday during the fifth anniversary Disney’s Princess Half Marathon.

Baney was one of more than 26,000 registered runners – mostly women – from throughout the country who ran thru Epcot and Magic Kingdom on Sunday morning at Walt Disney World Resort Sunday during the fifth anniversary Disney’s Princess Half Marathon.

  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – (Feb. 24 2013) – Rachel Booth etched her name in the runDisney record books – again – by winning Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday for the second straight time, beating her own race record from a year ago.

In all, more than 36,000 runners – mostly women – competed in various events during the weekend, the largest weekend total in the race’s five-year history. LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla (February 24th, 2013) — Elyse Baney of Dover, Del., completed all 13.1 miles of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday despite running the entire way with a brain tumor. Baney was diagnosed with the benign brain tumor in November, but delayed having surgery to remove it until after Sunday’s race. Baney is scheduled to have brain surgery on Friday, March 1.

Baney was one of more than 26,000 registered runners – mostly women – from throughout the country who ran thru Epcot and Magic Kingdom on Sunday morning at Walt Disney World Resort Sunday during the fifth anniversary Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. Actor and running enthusiast Sean Astin (Rudy, The Goonies, The Lord of the Rings) talks about running in Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. Runners pass by waving Epcot cast members on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass by Epcot on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) A Runner stops to take a picture with Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Hector Barbossa from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) A runner takes a picture with Princess Atta from ‘”A Bug’s Life” out side Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners stop to take a picture with Jessie from “Toy Story” at Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass by New Fanastyland at Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass by New Fanastyland at Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass thru Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass thru Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass by thru Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass thru Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass thru Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) Runners pass thru Magic Kingdom on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - For the fifth straight year, a capacity field is expected to take part this weekend in Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend, one of the largest women-specific event in the nation.

More than 26,000 mostly women runners – nearly 20,000 more than the inaugural year in 2009 – are set to run the 5^th anniversary Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday.  The 13.1-mile course starts just outside Epcot and takes runners through the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella Castle before finishing back at Epcot. Along the route, runners from all 50 states and 32 countries typically feature colorful runner costumes, Disney entertainment and characters. Runners completing the half marathon will receive a commemorative 5^th anniversary tiara medal.

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend includes the Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Royal Family 5K and runDisney Kids’ Races on Saturday and Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday.  The weekend also includes the Disney Fit for a Princess Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, featuring the latest running fashion, equipment and a speaker series featuring running experts such as official runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway.

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is the second women’s focused runDisney event weekend.  The Tinker Bell Half Marathon takes place in January at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA.  Click on www.rundisney.com for more information or to register for a runDisney event.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. – (July 10, 2012) – Runners nationwide have their first chance today to go after a commemorative new medal that will be awarded to finishers of the 2013 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon.

Registration for the race weekend opens today and all finishers will receive a one-of-a-kind medal to mark the fifth anniversary of the women-focused event at Walt Disney World Resort, Feb. 22-24, 2013. Runners can sign up for the race at www.rundisney.com and the commemorative tiara medal will be revealed in the coming months.

Disney’s Princess Marathon Weekend is one of the largest women-specific running events in the country and focuses on healthy active lifestyles for women and girls.  After nearly 7,500 runners ran in the inaugural 2009 event, the popularity of the race has grown considerably with more than 19,000 competing in last year’s race. This year, the event is expected to attract more than 20,000 runners.

The weekend event includes the Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Royal Family 5K and Kids’ Races on Saturday, followed by half marathon on Sunday.  The weekend also includes the Disney Fit for a Princess Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, featuring the latest running apparel and equipment, as well as a speaker series involving running experts such as official runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway.

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is one of two women-focused runDisney event weekends.  The Tinker Bell Half Marathon takes place in January at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Ca.

To download video or photos of the 2012 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon, go to www.disneysportsnews.com and click on the video or photo tabs.