If you're a runner and a Disney fan, you can't beat this race! The Walt Disney World Marathon is the only runDisney event that goes through all 4 parks and while you do spend a decent amount of time on the highways going between the parks, seeing Disney characters and stopping for pictures with them along the way makes it more than worth it! (**I never run Disney races for time, having fun and taking pictures along the way is really what makes a Disney race experience!)

The runDisney expos are always well organized and have plenty of vendors and running products to explore if you're interested. This year runDisney FINALLY made the switch to offering women's specific race shirts which means they are now actually wearable which is GREAT!

The biggest heads up you need about the Walt Disney World runDisney events is that it's an EARLY wake up call! Races begin at 5:30am so that the majority of runners will be through the parks by the time they start to open, which means you're setting an alarm clock for 2:30-3am! This year I did the Dopey Challenge (5k, 10k, half and full marathons on back to back days!), so by day 3 these early mornings were feeling pretty brutal!

The runDisney events are all well organized though and offer plenty of well staffed water & aid stations throughout the course. The on course beverage is PowerAde (usually yellow) and there is a Power Gel and banana stop later in the race - and if it's a hot day don't forget to grab a wet sponge at the sponge station (and hold on to it for the remainder of the race, you'll be glad you did!).

Overall while the price is steep, I can't recommend a runDisney race experience at least once more than enough, I really do love every minute of this marathon - it barely even feels like I'm running 26.2 miles! (Oh and if you're up for it, wear a costume - most people do so you won't feel out of place!)

The Manchester Road Race has been around quite some time and is a Thanksgiving Tradition for many in the Connecticut area. I decided to do it last year since my husband is originally from Manchester, so I thought it would be fun.

I have to say this race really left much to be desired. It was incredibly crowded for the entire race, with over 14,000 people running a race that is less than 5 miles long and had no real corrals (except for a few people who met a qualifying time at the very front), there really wasn't enough time for the crowd to spread out. I also found a HUGE lack of race etiquette. As I said, this is a great Thanksgiving tradition that many do with their families, however because there were no corrals, I was often stuck behind families with young children walking several across and taking up most of the street that left me with the choice of slowing down to walk or knocking over small children.

I basically was never able to run at a comfortable pace for this entire race and really didn't find it enjoyable at all. I heard that for 2014 they made the qualifying time to be placed in the corralled section broader so I would have qualified to be in a corral, so I'm interested in how different the experience would have been.