Fun-run events have become extremely popular in the past few years and it is encouraging many people to get off their couches and go running! One of the giants in this industry right now is runDisney, which hosts events in Disneyland, Disney World, and even some of the international Disney parks. Currently, Disney offers 7 different runner's weekends, which is less than in the past. I have personally participated in 3 runDisney weekends and I wanted to offer some insight for those interested in signing up.

The first runDisney event I participated in was the Happy Haunted 5k in 2014, as part of the Tower of Terror 10-miler event at Disney World, which is unfortunately no longer available. This was a really fun event and introduction to runDisney. My next event was the Wine & Dine half marathon in 2015. I also participated in the Disney Princess Enchanted 10k in 2016.

You've probably heard, but runDisney is costly. Prices vary between events but a half marathon can cost around $200 and a challenge event with at least two races upwards of $300. These prices do not include lodging, food, park admission, race photos, or any other purchases beyond race entry.

Registration can also be challenging. It typically opens up about six months before the event and many of the races are extremely competitive and can sell out within minutes. I remember for the Wine & Dine event, my boyfriend was able to buy an entry and I wasn't fast enough. I was able to earn a race entry by entering with a charity. You have to meet certain criteria determined by the charity in order to earn your race entry. For example, a charity may require you to raise a certain amount of money to earn a spot on their "team."

Otherwise, runDisney is a fun and well-organized event. I think for me, it was really motivating to be registered for a race. The themes are fun and there are opportunities for photos with Disney characters along the track. The theme for the Disney Princess weekend I participated in was "The Little Mermaid" and everything was customized for the theme, including the medals.

A lot of people who participate in runDisney run for the medals. The medals for the 10k and marathon events are really nice and make a great addition to a medal collection.

Many people also dress up and it is really fun to see the creative costumes or running outfits people create. The first year I ran, my friends and I dressed up as Ariel, Prince Eric, and Ursula. For Wine & Dine, my boyfriend and I dressed up as Flynn Rider and Rapunzel. For the Princess 10k, my friend and I dressed up as Lilo & Stitch. I love being able to exercise my creativity in designing our race outfits.

There is a lot of encouragement and great people around you while you run. I think that is the best part for me, the sense of accomplishment after you finish a race. It is definitely really fun to participate in these races.

If you are interested in signing up for a runDisney event, I would consider making a full weekend of it. We typically planned for about five to seven days for each trip. It's worth it to visit the parks because in the race you're not really getting to experience the park itself. One year, we spent our days at Universal Studios visiting Harry Potter World. If you love running and Disney, I think you should try at least one!