Shut Out Of runDisney? Run These Races Instead

Okay, kids, it finally happened: after multiple years in a row where Springtime Surprise Weekend took days and even weeks to sell out all bibs, this year’s races went within hours just like the rest.

This is hardly, ahem, surprising. (Rim shot!) runDisney registration has only gotten more and more competitive in the post-COVID era with no signs of slowing down. After many, many people were locked out of WDW Marathon Weekend, Princess Half Marathon Weekend, and even virtual races, it was really only a matter of time. Honestly, the real shock is that it took this long.

So what’s a running and runDisney enthusiast to do? Luck can’t possibly be on your side every single time. You could run for charity, of course, but for some people that feels like a lot of pressure. There’s always the Club runDisney route, although I myself am staunchly against it for a variety of reasons.

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, JOIN… SOMEBODY ELSE

I fear the best course of action may in fact be as I suggested at the end of my anti-Club runDisney post – divest. Not completely! By all means, continue to runDisney whenever you can as you like. I certainly intend to. But rather than live in fear of the dreaded “sold out” message, I think it might be time to… look outside of runDisney for my racing fun???

Because yes, runDisney is the primary purveyor of fun and exciting race themes, costuming, and on course entertainment – yet it is not the ONLY such race organization. There are other races out there that are more than the sums of their bibs, miles, and age awards. Not all of them are easy to get into in their own right, but hey, the more irons in the fire the better, no?

To that end, I have done some internet sleuthing and Instagram polling to round up a selection of races that offer some of the same features as runDisney. Strong themes, race costumes encouraged, big medals, engaging courses and entertainment – it’s all here!

So when you don’t get into a runDisney race, maybe you’d like to try one of these? Some are nearly as popular as runDisney, so there are no guarantees, but at least you’ll have more irons in the fire!

Quick note: I haven’t put in any dates, and that is on purpose. Race dates change, sometimes drastically, year over year. Add to that, many organizations have multiple events over the course of the annum. Please click through the links that interest you for more details!

ALTERNATIVE THEME PARK RACES

Alas, while more theme parks – including Universal Studios, Disneyland Paris, and Hersheypark – used to offer races, many shut them down during COVID and then never brought them back. Here’s hoping they return! In the meantime, try one of these:

Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in Tennessee now has races! I haven’t done this one yet, but the theme seems pink and sparkly and full of butterflies and I dig it. They appear to offer a half, 10K, and 5K.

Run & Ride Half Marathon at Kings Dominion in northern Virginia is a fun little jaunt if you’re big on roller coasters. (They also have other race distances some years; I did the 10K and my friend Elizabeth did the 5K.)

Busch Gardens Williamsburg offers periodic races, also in northern Virginia. Their runs are often a 5K or 8K in association with an event such as their food festival or holiday parties. BGW is owned by the same company as SeaWorld and Sesame Place, so you can find events at some of those locations too!

Across the pond, England’s Alton Towers has a half marathon and 5K. I’ve never been there personally, but it’s evidently the UK’s biggest theme park and features thrill rides that look worth the plane ride.

Check your closest Six Flags event page for potential races; I had trouble finding anything current but there was ample evidence that they pop up sporadically.

ALTERNATIVE THEMED RACES

Looking for a race with a strong theme beyond “running”? Hankering for a unique course or a direction for your race costume? Consider one of these:

My runDisney enthusiasts can stay inside central Florida with the Space Coast Marathon & Half Marathon, where every aide station is themed to the final frontier. This one seems to sell out quickly too, so make sure you keep an eye on registration dates.

In Orlando and San Diego you’ll find Margaritaville Runs, with distances including a 5K, 10K, and half marathon. The vibe is pretty much what you’d expect from anything surrounding Jimmy Buffett, with a strong snowbird-yacht life feel. Pack a captain’s hat and a toucan Hawaiian shirt and fit right in; race costumes are definitely encouraged.

Hatfield McCoy Marathon in West Virginia AND Kentucky (counts for two states if you’re trying to hit ’em all) passes by historic sites of the famous feud between the Hatfields and McCoys, and even features reenactors.

Orrrr you can go all the way to New Zealand for the Middle-Earth Halfling Marathon, which is just what it sounds like – a race through some of the most iconic sites of the Lord of the Rings movies. LOTR costumes seem very popular if that’s your thing! According to the website, the race sold out in under and hour last year, so this is another one you’ll want to jump on.

The Rock ‘n Roll Marathon series offers multiple race distances in multiple global cities over the course of the year, including Las Vegas, DC, Mexico City, Madrid, Taipei, and more. The course, as you might imagine, is lined with various rock bands playing originals and covers as the runners streak by. The atmosphere is definitely pro-party, and plenty of people wear costumes too.

ALTERNATIVE RACES THAT LOVE A COSTUME

No race is off limits when it comes to costumes! You can wear a race costume, subject to any greater rules for attire, in the vast majority of racing events if you’re so inclined. However, if you’re looking for races that specifically encourage costumes, these will fit the bill:

The Crescent City Classic in New Orleans and BlobFest races in Phoenixville, PA not only encourage costumes, they have dedicated costume contests! Becky is the undisputed champion of the BlobFest costume contest; why not give ‘er some healthy competition? Make her work. 😜

The EVL Halloween Half Marathon & 5K in Ellicottville, NY and Devil’s Chase 6.66K & 3.33K in Salem, MA are, well, Halloween themed, so there ya go. Both homepages are covered with people in costume!

More of a Christmas person? Slap on your reindeer ears and ugly sweater print skirt for the Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Jog 5K in Lakeland, FL.

The Bay to Breakers 12K & 15K in San Francisco has the following tagline: “Cardio, chaos, and costumes.” Can’t argue with that.

I received multiple votes for the Run Gasparilla Distance Classic races in Tampa, FL. It appears to be lightly pirate themed, and while the website is not as costume-forward as some others, I was assured by many Gasparilla loves a costume and is just generally an all-around good time.

ALTERNATIVE RACES WITH FANCY MEDALS

Do you run for the bling? runDisney doesn’t have the corner on fancy medals. Maybe one of these will do the trick! I feel like what makes a medal special is a value judgment, so the best thing to do might be a Google image search for “[adjective] race medals” or whatever and clicking through to the site of the ones you like. That being said, I can personally vouch for a couple:

Coastal Race Productions, primarily working in North and South Carolina, is famous for their Big Ass Medal (BAM!) series, and kids, they are NOT kidding. These medals are invariably eeeeeeenormous and very well themed to the coastal Carolinas. Or the Wilmington Historic Half races, which used to be under Coastal’s umbrella but has since been taken over by RaceBash, has continued to have sizable medals under new management.

The Marine Corps Marathon may not have the biggest medals out there, but they’re carefully crafted and well-constructed considering the moving parts. Every year has a different theme!

IF YOU CAN’T FIND THE RACE YOU WANT, DO IT YOURSELF

In just about every category, I always received a couple votes from people who firmly believe that you should be running your local races to encourage flourishing community and put your own personal touch on racing events.

Heck, if there isn’t one, maybe you could make your own to your specs…? You could pick the theme! You could arrange the course entertainment!

I know, I know; race production is a LOT of work – and expense. But this doesn’t have to be a full public production. You could just as easily gather some running buddies, then gather some non-running buddies who like cheering and refilling water bottles, and then gather some children who like cheering and singing and wearing funny costumes and designing cardboard medals, and you’ve got yourself one heckuva bespoke fun run.

WHERE WILL YOU RUN NEXT?

How do I love runDisney? Oh, all sorts of wonderful ways. Every runDisney race I run becomes an instant life highlight. I would love to get every bib I want in perpetuity.

Alas, at the moment, it doesn’t seem like that can happen organically. But when you zoom out a little, it becomes clear that there are quite a few non-runDisney races out there with a similarly happy atmosphere and unique flavor, and that’s all I require. For as the Rolling Stones so wisely tell us, you can’t always get what you want… but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need!

There are so many great races out there, even with crowdsourcing I couldn’t possibly cover them all. I’d never finish writing this post, and you’d never finish reading it. If you see one you like conceptually but can’t make work for whatever reason, try googling [aspect] + running or race. You’re bound to find even more awesome options. Find a good one I missed? Let me know in the comments!

Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!