Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Race Recap: Dumbo Challenge, Burnout, and the Magic of Running

Some weekends feel big before they even begin. This one felt heavy and magical and complicated all at once.

The 2026 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend was the final runDisney race at Disneyland for the foreseeable future, with construction set to pause races for what’s estimated to be close to 10 years. I had signed up back in April, long before we knew this would also be the opening weekend of my almost nine-year-old’s play, Junie B. Jones—something she’s been working toward for four months.

Add in burnout, life feeling loud, and a training cycle that wasn’t exactly confidence-boosting… and this weekend became about much more than miles.

It became about choosing joy, community, and remembering why I run at all.

The Dumbo Double Dare: 10K + Half Marathon at Disneyland

For those unfamiliar, the Dumbo Challenge (officially the Dumbo Double Dare) includes:

• A 10K on Saturday morning

• A Half Marathon on Sunday morning

  
  

Complete both, and you earn extra bling—and, apparently, a very tired body.

I went into the weekend with zero performance goals. Truly. My only intention was to have fun again, because running—and honestly life—has felt heavy lately. I needed something that was just for me.

And Disney, for all its chaos and early alarms, still has a way of delivering magic when you need it most.

Friday: Expo Day, Mom Mode, and A Lot of Driving

Friday was… a lot.

I drove up to Anaheim to attend the expo, picked up my bibs, soaked in the excitement, and grabbed some post-show goodies for my daughter from Downtown Disney. Then I turned right back around to make it home for after school pickup and opening night of her play.

Watching her perform—confident, brave, joyful—after months of rehearsals was emotional in the very best way.

After curtain call, I hugged her, celebrated, and then… got back in the car and drove back to Anaheim to sleep.

I maybe got five hours of sleep before my alarm went off at 3:45 a.m. for the 10K.

Worth it. Exhausting. Worth it.

Saturday: The Disneyland 10K (Pure Magic)

I stayed very close to the start, which was a gift when you’re operating on limited sleep. I met up with one of my athletes, Megan, before heading to my corral.

I was placed in Corral D, which—lesson learned—was because I used a previous Disneyland 10K time instead of my actual 10K PR. Had I known, I likely would’ve been in A or B.

But honestly?I loved Corral D.

It felt relaxed. Fun. Less pressure. And that vibe carried me through the entire race.

Running Through Disneyland Never Gets Old

The 10K was magical in every possible way.

I stopped for photos. I smiled constantly. I said good morning and thank you to every cast member I passed. The Disney custodial crew cheer station remains unmatched—every single time.

I finished the race feeling lighter than I’ve felt in a long time.

Post-Race Wandering, Pretzels, and an Early Bedtime

After the race, I had a very chill day:

• Got a massage at the Grand California Spa

• Met up with a few athletes

• Wandered Downtown Disney

• Treated myself to pretzels and Jamba Juice (very not my usual)

• Somehow still clocked nearly 30,000 steps

  
  

By the time I got back to my room around 3:30 p.m., dinner was:

• An Uncrustable

• A banana

• Pretzels

• Random snacks

  
  

I was asleep by 8:00 p.m., absolutely wrecked.

Sunday: Disneyland Half Marathon Day (3:45 a.m. Again 😅)

Sunday morning came fast. Another 3:45 a.m. wake-up, another quiet walk to the start around 4:20.

I met up with Megan again—this time we remembered to take a photo. The half marathon energy was noticeably bigger. About 15,000 runners lined up, and the buzz was real.

I’ll be honest: I was nervous.

I hadn't really trained for 13.1. But I had just run that 2 weeks ago. For whatever reason, the distance felt long in my head. Even after all these years and races, I still sometimes get stuck in that mental spiral.

But once we entered the parks?

Everything shifted.

From the Parks to Anaheim (And Why It Wasn’t So Bad)

Running through Disneyland and California Adventure is always special, no matter how many times you’ve done it. The joy, the music, the characters—it pulls you right out of your head.

Around mile five, we left the parks for a long stretch through Anaheim, and I remember feeling a wave of dread.

But surprise: It wasn't that bad.

Running through Anaheim’s City Center, somewhere I’d never run before, gave me something new to focus on. I put on some music and the miles passed easier than expected.

The Last Three Miles: Going For It

With about three miles to go, something clicked.

I decided to go for it.

I put on a Selena Samuela 30-minute outdoor metal run—my current go-to “let’s crush this” soundtrack—and locked in. I ran a perfect negative split, finishing stronger than I started.

Crossing that finish line felt emotional in the best way.

Coaching, Community, and Full-Body Goosebumps

I didn’t linger long. I booked it back to the hotel to shower, change, pack up—and then headed straight back to the finish line to cheer.

This weekend, I had:

• Four athletes running the race

• Four athletes I got to see in person

I hugged athletes at the start. I cheered them through the finish. I watched three of them arrive at the finish line festival, and then I stayed for the final runner of the race—watching the balloon ladies come in right alongside her.

That moment never gets easier. And it never stops mattering.

The Goodbye We Weren’t Ready For

When Carissa Galloway gave her final speech, she quoted Winnie the Pooh:

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

There were tears everywhere. Mine included.

Because this wasn’t just the end of a race—it was the end of an era.

Why This Weekend Meant So Much

This weekend was exactly what my heart needed.

I came into it feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, unsure where I’m going with my running. And I left reminded that:

• I love running

• I love this community

• And it’s so much bigger than splits, paces, or perfect training cycles

  
  

Running through Disneyland—one last time for a long while—helped me remember that joy still lives here. That fun still matters. That it’s okay to choose something just because it fills you up.

And for that, I’ll always be grateful.