On Sunday, Sept. 5, a record field of nearly 14,000 registered runners and walkers participated in the Disneyland Half Marathon in Anaheim, Calif. The race is a featured runDisney event and highlight of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, which celebrated its fifth anniversary this past weekend – with some help from two runners who set course records.
Paul Ngeny, 31, of Auburn, Calif. took first place overall and in the men’s open division in 1:07:25, a time that beat the previous record for the Disneyland Half Marathon by 41 seconds.
“The course was very nice and comfortable,” Ngeny said. “I liked running through the parks and all the music. I could keep on going for a hundred miles.”
San Diegan Eric Marenburg, 27, finished second in the men’s open division in 1:12:11. Kevin Broady, 48, of Brea, Calif. completed the race in 1:12:44 for third.
In her own record-setting race, Rachel Booth, 29, of Mountain View, Calif. won the women’s open division. Her time of 1:15:20 finished 4:04 faster than the previous women's record.
“It was great. Magical,” Booth said. “It’s in Disneyland and it’s just a happy day. Always enjoyable. Everyone was so loud and cheering.”
Theresa Lowery, a 36-year old from San Diego, took second in the women’s open division with 1:19:60. Phoenix resident Susan Loken, 47, finished just behind in 1:19:15 for third.
In other race results, Jon Megeff or Rancho Palos Veredes, Calif., 47, finished first in the men’s masters division in 1:16:57. Merryt Jackman, 41, of San Diego finished in 1:28:16 for first in the women’s masters division.
Scott Parson, 51, of San Jose finished first in the men’s wheelchair (push-rim) division, with a chip time of 00:56:56. Sandi Rush, 49, of Oceanside, Calif., finished in 1:17:06 for first place in the women’s wheelchair (push-rim) division. In the wheelchair crank (handcycle) division, John Elliot, 65, of San Juan Capist, Calif. took first in 1:05:55 and Kirstie Honeywill-Sykes, 35, of Celebration, Fla., finished in 1:06:51.
In the men’s military results, Kenneth Burgess, 29, of the Coast Guard finished first in 1:15:08, followed by Marine Enrique Hernandez, 35, in 1:22:13. Daniel Hazelton, 31, of the Army came in third at 1:25:34.
Robin Lee Wilhelm, 47, Army, placed first in the women’s military division with a time of 1:39:49. Dawn Steinberg, 34, with the Marines, came in second at 1:46:03. Laura Yeager, 47, Navy, finished third with a time of 1:48:29.
More than 12,300 runners and walkers completed the 2010 Disneyland Half Marathon, ranging in age from to 14 to 83, Its 16-minute mile pace requirement makes the race friendly to both runners and walkers. Live entertainment and Disney characters are featured throughout the 13.1 mile course.
The Disneyland Half Marathon course offers participants a loop that begins near Disneyland Downtown Disney area before moving through Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Park. The race course then takes to the Anaheim streets, past city landmarks and into Angel Stadium. The race finishes at Downtown Disney.
The “Happiest Race on Earth” is a popular race for both Southern California residents and destination runners. In 2010, runners and walkers from all 50 U.S., the District of Columbia, 16 countries registered for the half marathon. Each year, registration closes early as the race fills to fills to capacity. In 2010, the Disneyland Half reached capacity in May, and the 5K fun run in June.
Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend includes a 5K fun run on Saturday, followed by kids’ races, and a health and fitness expo.
To mark the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend's fifth anniversary, half-marathon finishers received a special edition medal featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle and a running Mickey Mouse in front of the number “5." Legacy runners – those who completed all five Disneyland Half Marathons – received a special medal lanyard. The Disneyland 5K finisher’s medal featured the “Fab Five” in a colorful design.
Finishers of the Disneyland Half Marathon who also completed this year’s Walt Disney World Marathon or Half Marathon or Disney's Princess Half Marathon also received the third annual "Coast to Coast Race Challenge" medal. Approximately 2,350 athletes earned the medal, which features "Partners Statue" of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.
As part of the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, Disney announced Jeff Galloway will serve as the official training consultant for runDisney, Disney’s series of running and endurance events. Races under runDisney include the upcoming, inaugural Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, January’s annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend; and Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend.
Dates for next year’s Disneyland Half Marathon have already been set for Sept. 2 – 4, 2011. Registration is scheduled to open Jan. 2, 2011.
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Comments
Congrats to all the runners of the 2010 Disneyland Half Marathon! They did something I can only dream of doing.
Congrats to all the Disneyland Half Marathon runners for a job well done!
glad to see such participation in the Disney half marathon, 12,300 runners, good reporting
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