FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stormy Washington
Disney Sports Attractions
(407) 938-3823
Disney Sports Attractions Announces Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge
for 2006 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Participants Who Compete in Both 13.1 and 26.2-Mile Disney Races to Receive
Special Goofy Medal
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (June 23, 2005) - With the Disney races occurring
on separate days for the first time in the event's history, Disney Sports
Attractions has introduced Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge for registered
participants who complete both races and the overall 39.3 miles across Walt
Disney World Resort during the two days. The 13th annual Walt Disney World
Marathon Weekend will offer a new split-day format with the 13.1-mile
half-marathon to be run Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006 and the 26.2-mile full
marathon set for Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006.
Some 26,000 participants are expected to compete in the 2006 Walt Disney
World Marathon Weekend (13,000 in each race). More than 700 participants
have already registered to compete in both races. Competitors who
accomplish this physical challenge will receive a special Goofy Medal in
addition to the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse medals, which are awarded to
half-marathon and marathon finishers, respectively.
"Since announcing the new split-day format in January, many participants
have expressed an interest in competing in both the Walt Disney World
Marathon and Half Marathon in 2006," said Mike Millay, director of sports
events for Disney Sports Attractions. "Running nearly 40 miles in two days
is an incredible feat, and we are thrilled to recognize the dedicated
participants who complete both Disney races. The addition of Goofy's
Race-and-a-Half Challenge is just one of the many exciting changes in store
for next year's Disney Marathon Weekend."
Other additions for the 2006 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend include:
Team Challenge
Disney Sports Attractions is offering a Team Challenge for the first time
in 2006. Groups of three to five runners will make up each team. The top
three individual scores for each team will be added together to determine
the team score. Awards will be presented to the top three teams in each of
the following categories: Male, Female, Mixed (at least one female
participant), Masters (men or women 40 years or older), Running Clubs,
Corporate and Military (active, retired or reserve members of the U.S.
Military).
Half-Marathon Race Course
With the new split-day format, the Walt Disney World Half Marathon is set
for Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006 at 6am. The new race course will take runners
from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom park and then back to Epcot for an exciting
finish at the same finish line that will be used for the marathon on
Sunday. The Walt Disney World Marathon will be Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006 at 6am.
The course will pass through all four Walt Disney World theme parks
starting at Epcot, continuing onto the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal
Kingdom, the Disney-MGM Studios and then back to Epcot for an exhilarating
finish.
The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will provide events and activities
for the entire family. In addition to the 13.1 and 26.2-mile races, the
weekend will also feature Disney's Family Fun 5K Run & Kids Races and
Disney's Health & Fitness Expo at the Milk House at Disney's Wide World
of Sports Complex.
Individual registration fees are $95 for the marathon and $85 for the
half-marathon and an additional $35 per team. Log onto
DisneyWorldMarathon.com to register or for additional information.
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