Actor Sean
Astin to lead sold out field of more than 17,000 registered runners along half
marathon course through all-new Cars Land at newly reopened Disney California
Adventure
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Aug. 22, 2012) – The
Happiest Race on Earth just got happier as runners in the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend will race Sept. 1 and 2 through
the newly reopened Disney California Adventure Park, including Cars Land.
More than 17,000 registered half
marathon runners, including actor Sean
Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, The Lord of the Rings), will get to motor down
Route 66 through Cars Land as they start their 13.1 mile journey that takesthem through Disneyland and Disney
California Adventure. In addition, runners
will pass by the Matterhorn and through Sleeping Beauty Castle, all before
hitting the streets of Anaheim and running through Angel Stadium of Anaheim. All
along the route runners will be greeted by cheering fans, Disney characters,
music and live entertainment.
This year’s sold-out half marathon
field includes runners ages 14 – 78 from all 50 states and 19 countries. While all finishers receive a Disneyland Half
Marathon medal, more than 2,800 who ran a runDisney
race at Walt Disney World Resort earlier this year, will qualify to receive a
second medal – the runDisney Coast to Coast
Race Challenge medal.
In addition to the half marathon,
other weekend events include the Cars
Land 5K Rally, runDisney Kids’ Races and a two-day Health and Fitness Expo where visitors can check out the latest in
fitness apparel, running gear and high tech gadgets as well as training
information from runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway, former Olympian Suzy
Favor Hamilton and well-known running authors Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity
McDowell.
About runDisney
runDisney is a series of events providing runners unique
opportunities to run various distances through Disney theme parks. Race
participants earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary
Disney entertainment and guest service and ultimately celebrate their
accomplishments with a Disney vacation. The original event in the series,
the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, takes place in
January followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler
in September and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in
November. Disneyland hosts the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in
January and the Disneyland Half Marathon in September during Labor Day
Weekend. More than 100,000 running enthusiasts participate in runDisney
events each year. For more information, visit runDisney.com and follow us
on Facebook (runDisney) and Twitter @runDisney.