Star Wars Half Marathon, Ali Nasser, photographer

The Walt Disney World Resort is your host to all of the galactic fun and adventure that characterizes a runDisney weekend.  Do you love Star Wars and a good challenge? The 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon –The Dark Side- is slated for April 20-23 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  Join Darth Vader, stormtroopers and many other Star Wars favorites for this weekend battle of good against evil. Registration opens on Tuesday, August 9 at noon EST, so make your plans quickly!

The weekend will feature several races including the Star Wars 5K (Friday, April 21), 10K (Saturday, April 22) and Half Marathon (Sunday, April 23). And if the force is strong with you, sign up for the Star Wars Dark Side Challenge, where you will run both the 10K and Half Marathon on consecutive days. This year all races will end at Disney’s Epcot Theme Park, which from what I have heard will be a welcome change from last year’s races. As is typical of a runDisney event, runDisney Kids Races – presented by GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce on the Go – are open to children aged 13 and under, with various dashes and a full mile race as well.  Kids’ races are held in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on both Friday and Saturday. Kiddos are grouped by age groups; this is the perfect way to get the whole family involved!

DIStracted Tip:  In order to complete the Star Wars Dark Side Challenge, you must register for the Challenge itself; don’t just register for the 10K and Half Marathon separately.

Wide World of Sports-Image by Disney Parks

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will be a hub for the race weekend, as the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo will be housed here, with all of the latest in official runDisney tech gadgets, swag, apparel and merchandise. Each runner will receive a race shirt, event guide, virtual goody bag, refreshments and entertainment as well as complimentary transportation from host resorts.  And of course each finisher will take home a medal to celebrate their accomplishments.

To register for the 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon and for more information, click here.  Dates, times, prices and inclusions subject to change. All races are subject to capacity limits and may close at any time before the percentage can be updated. Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. May the Force be with you!

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