Hi there, Kim! We are happy that you stopped by planDisney with your question.
As Hercules says, it sounds like you are ready to "Go the Distance" in a few months.
The Walt Disney World Marathon is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023, and I'm excited that you'll be taking part- I love the retro theme! The first Disney Marathon in 1994 had just over 5,000 runners, but it launched an obsession that became runDisney.
In past years, registered runners could pre-purchase commemorative merchandise before their arrival via the Products tab in their runDisney account. I spoke to a runDisney representative today, and there has not been an announcement yet, but keep your fingers crossed that they bring back this option for 2023; it sure makes things less stressful! I like to follow runDisney's official Instagram account for the latest race information.
The
runDisney Health & Fitness Expo is where the magic begins for any runDisney weekend, and this is where you'll go to pick up your race bib, participant shirt, and pre-purchased merchandise. If you're unable to pre-order and are looking for something specific, try to get there in the first day or two, as some popular items such as the spirit jerseys and jackets sell out. If you plan to stay in a
Walt Disney World Resort hotel, buses will run from each resort to the Expo all weekend (through Saturday), starting Wednesday, January 4.
The Expo is also a great place to pick up some last-minute items (such as the socks that I forgot to pack this year) and get some fun photo opportunities. I also like to stop and chat with Olympian runner Jeff Galloway, who's always there to offer advice and motivation. He's considered runDisney's official coach, and I swear by his
training plans on the runDisney website.
I hope to see you at the finish line after those 26.1 magical miles, Kim! Happy training, and please stop back anytime if you need more advice.
Eean