Hi Monica!
Thank you for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. This past weekend you would have been witnessing participants in
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, but did you know
runDisney hosts multiple weekends throughout the year?!
I'm delighted to let you know that participants can absolutely walk any of the runDisney events, even the full marathon of 26.2 miles! I always encourage people to take on the challenge and sign up for a race, with the confidence of knowing that Walt Disney World is an incredibly supportive destination for all participants, but especially first timers. There is a
pacing requirement for all participants to be able to maintain a 16 minute per mile pace throughout the course. This is measured from the time the last person crosses the finish line though, so if you are concerned I'd recommend arriving early, getting to the front of your assigned corral and it will add a little buffer.
I know you can do it, Monica, and I'd love to share more runDisney advice with you at any time! Come back and let us know if you have any other questions.
-Lindsey