Half marathon racers in 2008. Click on photo for slideshow.
Racers dressed like Minnie and Mickey Mouse are expected to stop traffic this weekend as the Disneyland Half Marathon route snakes through Anaheim streets.
Now in its fourth year, the Disneyland Half Marathon and related events remain popular, with Sunday’s big race reaching capacity at 13,500 participants. Registration was closed in July, about the same time the half marathon has filled up each year.
Other events, including a Diaper Dash for crawling babies and a Family Fun Run 5K race, also are full. About 18,000 people will take part in the events that wind through Disney theme parks.
“I think it’s really successful, and they drive a lot of family participation,” said Charles Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau. “There’s a real uptick in the park activity. It’s turned out to be a really nice event.”
For outsiders, the 13.1-mile centerpiece race means closed roads and fuller visitor venues.
On Sunday, some roads near Disneyland and Angel Stadium will be closed starting at midnight and lasting as late as 10 a.m. CLICK ON MAP TO SEE SPECIFIC ROAD CLOSURE TIMES.
Disney hotels usually fill up and others book more rooms, Ahlers said.
Bill O’Connell, who owns five Disney-area hotels, said earlier this week that about 85 percent of the rooms were full and he expected to book the rest of them by the Labor Day weekend.
Runners come from all 50 states and 13 countries.
Cindy Inloes, her husband and two adult children flew in from their home in Hawaii just to join the 5K race last year. Since that time, they’ve moved to Northern California and they plan to return again this weekend. This time, Inloes is joining the half marathon, while her three family members are trying for the 5K again.
“I am a huge Disney fan,” said Inloes of San Ramon. “We were able to go through Disney before the park opened and that whole experience. … The race was fun, but it was because it was Disney.”
Next year for her 50th birthday, Inloes plans to sign up for both the Disneyland Half Marathon and the one in Walt Disney World in Florida for the Coast to Coast Challenge Race. Racers on both coasts are eligible for a special medal. This year, 1,751 are going for that medal, the second year it is offered.
A Health and Fitness Expo at the Disneyland Hotel, 1150 Magic Way, is free and open to the public. Hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Check back this weekend for coverage of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend at ocregister.com.
Read previous blog items about Disney events:
Post from: Around Disney
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