Hi friends! We’re less than one week away from the 2018 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – The Dark Side! For runDisney news, here’s what you need to know:

runDisney News Recap April 2018

Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side presented by Otterbox
April 19-22, 2018

A quick reminder that the medals this year are amazing. Above is the 10K red guard medal. Last Chance registrations are still available for the First Order Challenge, Half Marathon and 10K on the runDisney website via active.com!

Also important weekend reminders:
Official Digital Event Guide
Race Waivers
Corral Assignments: First Order Challenge
Corral Assignments: Dark Side Half Marathon 
Virtual Goody Bag

runDisney Health & Fitness Expo | ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Thursday, April 19, 2018 | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, April 20, 2018 | 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Star Wars Dark Side 5K
Friday, April 20, 2018
5:30 a.m.
State/Finish: Epcot Parking Lot

Course map: 
swds18_5k_course_map_final.cad021cca9b4
Route: Epcot parking lot, highway service road to World Showcase backstage, through Norway pavillion, around World Showcase, and out the International Gateway, through a service entrance back into Epcot for the rest of World Showcase, up the main artery to Future World, pass The Land and The Living Seas pavilions, back to Future World artery and out for the finish.
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Star Wars Dark Side 10K
Saturday, April 21, 2018
5:30 a.m.
Start: Magic Kingdom Parking Lot
Finish: Epcot Parking Lot

Course map: 
swds18_10k_course_map_final.c99b6866c657
Route: Magic Kingdom parking lot, highway time will lead to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, through the Fantasmic! stage area, up Sunset Boulevard, then Hollywood Boulevard, then out through the main gate to the waterway heading to Epcot. Alongside the waterway, past Swan and Dolphin, Boardwalk Inn & Villas side, and into Epcot via a service entrance from the International Gateway, through World Showcase via UK and Canada pavilions and through the main artery of Future World for a finish in Epcot.

runDisney Kids Races presented by GoGo squeeze Applesauce on the Go
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Start/Finish: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – Track & Field
100m Dash: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.*
200m Dash: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.*
Diaper Dash: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.*
One Mile Run: 1:00 p.m.

*Races will have multiple starts throughout the designated race timeframe listed above, per runDisney.com
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Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon
Sunday, April 22, 2018
5:30 a.m.
Start: Magic Kingdom Parking Lot
Finish: Epcot Parking Lot

Course Map:
swds18_half_course_map_final.6715683a0416
Route: Magic Kingdom parking lot, through service roads to the back of Disney’s Animal Kingdom via the power generator area and Conservation Station and Africa, to Pandora – World of Avatar (!), Oasis area and out through DinoLand, USA. Highway time will lead to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, through the Fantasmic! stage area, up Sunset Boulevard, then Hollywood Boulevard, then out through the main gate to the waterway heading to Epcot. Alongside the waterway, past Swan and Dolphin, Yacht & Beach Club side, and into Epcot via a service entrance from the International Gateway, go around World Showcase and through the main artery of Future World for a finish in Epcot.

I wish I could join you all for this event weekend! Keep calm, and May The Force Be With You!

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In other runDisney news…

What does this mean exactly? Well, it could mean a few things. For the last few race seasons, runDisney bumped up the registration dates significantly earlier than past years, which caused some issues, including faulty registration openings as well as the uncertaintly of the disneyland race schedule (which inevitably was suspended due to ongoing construction at Disneyland.) It’s also possible that runDisney is attempting to create a new registration platform, directly associated with the Disney Company, thus cutting out the third party active.com site. We’ll have to wait and see! In the meantime, here is the upcoming race schedule:

runDisney 2018-2019 Schedule

Registration is now open for this year’s INCREDIBLE  runDisney Virtual Running Shorts Series!

June 1 – August 31, 2018

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The Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend race packages are available now! Bibs-only registration will open on Tuesday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m. Paris Time (10:00 a.m. EST.) Check the runDisney France website to register. It was announced last week that this year’s theme is the DISNEY VILLIANS! Race medal designs TBD.

Disneyland Paris – Val d’Europe 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo Challenge

September 21 – 23, 2018
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Registration for the 2018 Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Presented by MISFIT is OPEN! Only the Two Course Challenge and Kids Races remain.

2018 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend | November 1-4, 2018
Disney Two Course Challenge, Kids Races 1 Mile and Dashes, ChEAR Packages available

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Thinking about running your first marathon? Maybe feeling a little Goofy? Or possibly a little Dopey? Generation registration for the 26th annual 2019 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – Presented by Cigna opens on Tuesday, April 17 at 12:00 p.m./EST!

2019 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend | January 9-13, 2019
Registration TBD

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Calling all Princesses! The 11th annual Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – Presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals will be held February 21-24, 2019. General registration will begin on June 12.

2019 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend | February 21-24, 2019
Registration TBD

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I plan on letting my readers know the latest as soon as I find out about the official registration dates!

Thanks for reading and until next time, Will Run for Disney!