It is known as the “Happiest Race on Earth." Sunday morning nearly 15,000 runners from 49 states and 23 countries lined up for the start of the sold-out 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon.
Runners started in Downtown Disney, ran through Disney's California Adventure, passed by Sleeping Beauty's Castle and the Matterhorn inside Disneyland, and headed out to Angel Stadium before finishing back at Downtown Disney. Disney characters and high school marching bands lined the 13.1 mile course.
The Disneyland Half Marathon doesn’t offer prize money, but it still draws a pretty fast crowd, along with plenty of weekend warriors in town to celebrate Labor Day weekend.
Last year's women's champ Rachel Booth, 30, of Mandeville, La., returned to defend her title. Booth once again took the top spot, finishing in 1:18:01.
“After last year I had to come back and see what I can do,” said Booth. “There is nothing better than running through the theme parks, Castle and all the other fun things.”
Booth finished three minutes slower the course record she set in 2010. She's saving her energy for her next big challenge, the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston in January.
Jennifer Boyd, 39, of Santa Paula, Calif., was second in 1:23:17 and Susan Loken, 48, of Phoenix, Ariz. was third in 1:23:43.
Humberto Rojas, 27, of Fountain Valley, Calif., dominated the men’s division in 1:08:14. “It’s like being a little kid when you run in there,” Rojas said . “I live a couple miles away and I was like, 'how cool would it be to run inside Disneyland.’ It’s like a dream come true.”
Jesse Kleinjan, 27, of Chicago, IL., placed second in 1:12:13 and Juan Arjona, 19, of Moreno Valley, Calif., took third in 1:12:54.
Comedian and “Price is Right” host Drew Carey also ran the race. Carey finished in 1:50:46, a personal best by seven minutes. Last May Carey completed the Historic Marine Corps Half Marathon.
Everyone who finished the Disneyland Half Marathon in less than three hours and thirty minutes received a medal. This year it was adorned with the resort’s iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Check here for the complete searchable results of the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon.
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