Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Training Plans

Disney’s family-friendly atmosphere and Orlando’s mild January temperatures make the Disney Marathon Weekend’s races attractive for runners of all ages and abilities. Custom Training Plans designs race-specific training programs that can be personalized for runners at all levels. We offer Disney Marathon training plans, Disney Half Marathon training plans, Disney 10K training plans, and even Disney 5K training plans. Each program can be customized to factor in your current fitness and race goals. Following a CTP Disney Marathon training program can help you make progress toward race day at a pace that’s right for you.

The weekend kicks off on Thursday evening with the Disney 5K. All of the racecourses used during Disney Marathon Weekend begin and end at Epcot, with visits to Disney theme parks added on to increase the distance accordingly. The 5K course revolves around Epcot. The course starts in the parking lot and skirts Epcot’s backstage area. Just after the first mile marker, runners begin a tour through World Showcase, circling the lagoon before heading back through Epcot to the finish line.

The Disney 10K is run on Friday, and runners will begin by taking a similar loop out past World Showcase and the lagoon. The 10K route then splits off to run along the lagoons of the resorts adjacent to the Epcot area before finishing back at Epcot. Both the 5K and 10K races are well-suited for runners of all ages, and the flat course is perfect for beginners. Whether this is your first race ever or just your first race this weekend, following a CTP Disney 5K training plan or Disney 10K training plan can set you up for success. Each of our plans is designed to build your cardiovascular strength and endurance by helping athletes to avoid overtraining injuries.

Orlando’s sunny days and mild January temperatures make the Disney Half Marathon especially attractive for first-time long distance runners. The course begins at Epcot, but skips World Showcase and instead makes a beeline toward the Magic Kingdom. Runners pass Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain before heading back to Epcot. The route is lined with cheering spectators and countless characters providing enthusiastic support for all 13.1 miles. Its flat, even terrain allows you to focus on your endurance, making the course less demanding than one that includes significant elevation changes. It’s still important to train properly, though. Our 12-week Disney Half Marathon training plans are designed to increase your endurance and power so you can go the distance. For complete beginners, CTP also offers 20-week Disney Half Marathon training plans that provide an additional 8 weeks of cardiovascular strength conditioning to help you avoid burnout and overtraining.

The weekend is capped off by the Disney Marathon on Sunday. This marathon inspires deep loyalty – over 75 “perfect marathoners” have completed every single Walt Disney World Marathon. Over 20,000 runners line up to take on a marathon course that runs through all four Walt Disney World theme parks. The race starts at Epcot and turns north to visit the Magic Kingdom before reversing direction to head toward Animal Kingdom. One of the biggest highlights of the marathon is the opportunity to ride attractions mid-race. Many runners stop during the Animal Kingdom segment to ride Expedition Everest, which marks the unofficial halfway point. Other runners ride the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster or the Tower of Terror when passing through Hollywood Studios, the race’s next destination. After a brief visit to Blizzard Beach, the route turns onto the homestretch and heads for the finish line at Epcot.

To complete a marathon, most runners need more variety than a generic mileage calendar can provide. Quality marathon training plans should include additional workouts that incorporate strength training, mobility work, and cross-training. For those running 26.2, Custom Training Plans offers both 20-week Disney Marathon training plans and 24-week Disney Marathon training plans designed by professional trainers for runners of all levels. Whatever your distance and current level of fitness, we can customize a Disney race training plan just for you.