This weekend, Disney runners and walkers will participate in the 3rd annual Expedition Everest Challenge held at Walt Disney World Resort. The night-time adventure race will take place just after sunset on Saturday, June 12, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Expedition Everest Challenge is a short competitive race that travels through Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Solo runners and teams of two begin with by completing a 5K. Participant then transition to an obstacle course that requires them to climb and crawl their way to the event’s third leg, a scavenger hunt. The combination provides an intellectually and physically challenging short-distance endurance event.
The night race starts at 8:30 p.m. and moves throughout the parks, although participants are guaranteed to run "in the shadows of the Forbidden Mountain," the Expedition Everest attraction, and escape the Yeti by solving the scavenger hunt clues.
This year’s Expedition Everest Challenge features a new course and scavenger-hunt format, fireworks to kick off the event, and an exclusive after-hours party. The party runs from 9:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. following the challenge, and is open only to participants and spectators with party tickets. Previous parties have included a deejay and the opportunity to enjoy some of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s popular attractions.
Awards for top three finishers in Team Division (Men’s, Womens, Co-ed, and Military) and Individual Divisions (Men’s Women’s, and Military) will take place at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Also part of the challenge weekend are kids’ races, held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at 7:30 p.m. just prior to the adult’s adventure race.
Last year’s race, which took place in September, attracted more than 3000 participants. Many were unable to finish the course due to inclement weather, including rain lighting, that forced officials to shut down the course. For more on last year’s event, see Senior DIS Correspondent Dave Parfitt’s 2009 Expedition Everest Challenge coverage.
Expedition Everest Challenge, presented by Champion, is part of Disney’s Endurance Series that includes the inaugural Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend.
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