This was the first year for this race series. The idea behind this series is to bring together Alumni groups from around the country to socialize and compete to raise money for their alumni association and to support others while running.
I registered late for this race because I wanted to make sure that the weather would hold out on race morning and when I realized it would not rain I eagerly registered. I arrived fairly early on race morning. My friend was running the 5K and it started 30 minutes earlier than the 10K so I had to wait around and there was not much to do while waiting. I wished there could have been more engagement for the 10K runners rather than having a lot more energy and excitement reserved for when the 5K runners were also present.
The course was two loops of the 5K course, consisting of running around some of the most recognizable sites in America. From the course you saw the U.S. Capitol building, the Washington Monument as well as starting just two blocks from the White House. There are very few short courses that can include so many iconic sites in the world.
The post race was a little hectic. The cold caused some issues, including the banana that I grabbed being frozen. They had a small concert afterwards that included singing groups from local Universities but the weather caused many runners to leave before the concert started. There were very few booths and other activities at the conclusion of the event but I am sure that as this event grows the post race will only improve.
I hope that I will be able to participate in another race in this series in the future. I think that the idea is great, and that it will catch on quickly in major cities throughout the country. If they keep it simple they will surely attract a lot of participation going forward.

Race Criteria: I have divided my experience into five categories that cover what I think is every aspect of a race. Just to make it easy each category will be numbered 1-20 for a total out of 100 to rank the race.

Race Organization: 20/20
There is no race that is organized as well as the Disney races. They have thought of everything that could come up during the expo, the race and the post-race and addressed each scenario. Their staff and volunteers are always welcoming and happy even during what are a few long days since there are four consecutive days with early race starts. They have entertainment throughout the race and work to help the runners complete the race as easily as possible.
The one ding against runDisney is that they are so big and complex that they cannot adapt very well to unexpected events. When there was rain during the race the characters had to go inside instead of just being under cover to still allow the runners to enjoy the energy given by each character through the race. Despite this one criticism out of all the races that I have ran, runDisney and the Walt Disney Marathon is the cream of the crop.

Expo: 12/20
For Disney being such a well put on and large running event Disney's expo is lacking in size and attendance of the biggest and best companies and displays. The expo takes place in a great location, at the Jostens Center at the ESPN Wide World of Sports just across from where the packet pick up is. The organization getting into the expo is quick and easy, especially compared to getting into the expos at the Chicago and New York City Marathons. Also, the Disney expo, more than any other, has more custom apparel and merchandise than any other race. If you want anything running related to be Disney themed, you can find it at this expo. Be it t-shirts, running pants, jackets, headbands and even shoes it is available at the expo. Unfortunately many other large running companies are not present at the expo. Champion is the sponsor of the runDisney shirts and they seem to have a monopoly over all the other clothing companies including Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and Asics. No other large company has any presence at the expo also there are, for obvious reasons, no other races present to promote their upcoming events. I understand that runDisney competes with any other race since they have races throughout the year but giving other races the opportunity to promote at their events is good for the running community as a whole and a better experience for the runners themselves. Although the race organization is top of its class, the runDisney expo is definitely not near the best I have ever attended.

Race Experience: 18/20
Even to non-runners, the idea of running through Disney parks, during which some are not even open yet sounds like a great opportunity. This is the opportunity that every runner has during the Walt Disney Marathon. Getting to run through the Magic Kingdom Castle before the park is open and right at dawn is a great experience that you can only get if you run in the race. In every race you interact most with the volunteers that man the water stations throughout the long miles and often times after a few hours these volunteers understandably get tired and often will cheer just a little bit less but in Disney this is not the case. Weather the volunteers and crowds are at mile 2 or 22 they cheer loudly and excitedly for every runner. For anyone who has been to Disney they know that no matter how old you are you enjoy the parks and the atmosphere and running through the parks is no difference. It always amazes me how much energy running into the parks gives every runner. Even after 22 or 25 miles, when you enter those parks you quickly gain more energy and view the future miles as shorter than before. The only failure that I found in Disney’s execution was one that probably hurt me more than other runners. In the previous years they have served chocolate and fruit gummies just before mile 23, right as you enter MGM. This year those gummies were not available and I feel that runDisney saw this as a cost cutting measure. This treat helped take your mind off the fact that you still have a long 5K to go, and they also provided a refreshing flavor after a whole morning of GU, Powerade and Water. I hope that Disney just forgot to order these and did not try to save a few pennies by removing them. Besides that small change that I really didn’t like, Disney put on a world class race that is hard to beat anywhere in the country.

Post-Race: 14/20
Post-race is usually the best part of the day…because the race is over! At the Disney marathon the post-race is a lot of fun for many reasons. The first is that you are in the shadow of Spaceship Earth at Epcot and surrounded by the “Happiest Place on Earth”. Secondly after the finish you are able to take many photos with more characters, backgrounds, friends and family that were waiting for you to finish. This was mostly the case in 2015 as well, with a few drastic differences. When I finished the race I saw that there were no nylar blankets available and the massage area seemed much smaller than last year, with a much longer line. I was rushed through the drink area to the picture taking section where I tried to get a picture taken with a friend who was running Dopey but was told that only Dopey runners were allowed to go into that area and I was not allowed as just a marathon runner. Lastly, after I got my bag my friend wanted to wait in line to get her picture with Dopey but it started to rain and they had to take Dopey inside, leaving dozens waiting in line. There was a good chance of rain the whole day and Disney should have been prepared to handle the rain. Disney made some big, and uncommon, mistakes during my post-race time and I am confident that these mistakes will not take place in the future if I were to run the race again.

Extras: 12/20
Disney, as mentioned above, customizes anything that you would want. You could legitimately have a whole running wardrobe with just runDisney branded items. The one thing that runDisney doesn’t do well is provide extra items, or allow other groups to have items, to runners during the expo for in preparation for the race. Every branded item is tightly controlled by Disney and does not allow for some of the unique collector items that you can find at other races. I hope that in the future runDisney will reach out and open up the abilities of companies to expand the runDisney brand with more new and unique products.

MY OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 76/100
The Walt Disney World Marathon is one of the best in the country. Although some of the details of this year’s race were not to my liking, the most important aspects, the race experience and organization, are near perfect. While in Orlando for the race you get the opportunity to go to Disney, Universal Studios, the beach or any other activity that Orlando offers. As you run around the parks you get to see Disney like very few people ever get too, and you really get a lot of energy from the surroundings, the crowds and the excitement. I still believe that the Walt Disney World Marathon is the best marathon for any first time marathoner, and one of the most enjoyable for seasoned marathoners to participate in.

I am training for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January and in order to motivate myself to get in my long runs I signed up for this race. I have already ran the Historic Half in Fredericksburg two years ago so I was prepared for this course, which made the race much more appealing. I say prepared because in Fredericksburg they have a large hill that they love to put near the end of their races. This hill, nicknamed Hospital Hill because it is home to the city hospital and because one runner had a heart attack (and survived) on this hill during the Historic Half a few years ago, climbs over 200 feet in less than a mile and is quickly followed by a steep yet short climb to cross the interstate. These back to back hills are tough and coming where they did, between miles 11.5 and 12.2, make them a rude awakening for many runners who are not prepared for them mentally and physically.

This race is not the Chicago Marathon so you cannot expect the perks and the organization that goes along with that race, which is the charm of this race. I registered the morning of, got a discount since I didn't get a shirt, for an affordable rate ($55) and still got some perks of the race. They had food afterwards including pizza, chili, Krispy Kreme Donuts and hot chocolate. This race also included a small, but unique medal that will proudly go on my medal rack since I got a PR at this race.

A couple of the bad aspects of this race include the lack of scenery. The Historic Half takes you through the old town Fredericksburg area including getting to see many old buildings, and Mary Washington University where this course relied heavily on the bike path along the river for many of the miles and the out and back course did not take you through any of the historic areas of the town. The aid stations left something to be desired. I appreciate the aid station volunteers, I have volunteered at two races in DC where it was really cold, but these stations only had 1 table, passing out Gatorade and water. Multiple times I had to stop to wait for a cup of water or Gatorade and twice the Gatorade powder was not even dissolved in the cup that I was given. I know this is a small race, but I would like to see a better showing from the aid stations in the future.

Overall this race is exactly what I wanted, it provided me with a great place to get in some training miles during the cold days of winter. It would not be a goal race for me but for anyone looking to race in December, this race doesn't disappoint.

I do not usually run 5K races. I focus on longer distances, Half Marathons and Full Marathons, but this race holds a place in my heart. This year is the second annual "Race for Every Child" and this year was bigger and better than the last and I am sure that next year will be just as good.

The race raises money for the Children's National Hospital Foundation and this year it surpassed its goal of raising $1 million dollars just from this race!!! There are thousands of runners hitting Pennsylvania Ave. to celebrate the lives of those that Children's National has helped through the years. The most touching moment comes when families and children get up and talk about their experience at the hospital including how helpful the doctors were, and how, without the hospitals help, they would not be able to stand there today.

The race starts on Pennsylvania Ave. just a couple of blocks from the White House and begins the race by running southeast towards the Capitol before turning south to cross the mall. As we cross the mall you come to the first mile marker as well as the first water station just after it. You head across Independence ave. and into Southwest DC for a few blocks before going back west on Independence Ave. in front of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum before turning around and heading back towards 3rd Ave and back across the National Mall. Once you make that final turn on Pennsylvania Ave you are around the 2.25 mile mark and have a long strait road ahead of you until the finish line.

You finish with the Capitol behind you and the White House in front you. I cannot think of a better way to finish any race. After you cross the line Children's provides all the runners with water, gatorade, fruits and other snacks before heading out.

CONCLUSION: Although it will never be the most difficult race I have ran, it is one of my favorites. Not only does each runner have the opportunity to give to such a worthy cause, but they also have the chance to run on some of the most beautiful roads in America.