Howdy Lisa!
Welcome to
planDisney. I love to hear that you are interested in cheering on a loved one at a runDisney race. I have to confess that I’m not much of a runner, but I do love supporting my wife and kids at the races. I did complete the Castaway Cay 5K recently, so I guess you never know, maybe I’ll be out there running one day. So let's lace up our running shoes and get to it.
Yes, spectators are absolutely allowed and encouraged to attend runDisney events. I was at the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend just a few months ago, and I saw so many people with encouraging signs cheering everyone on; it was so great to see. Typically, races start around 5 AM, but I would check the
runDisney website prior to the event, as times are subject to change. Since the 5 K & 10K races are pretty short, I would suggest getting to the Start/Finish line really early so you can find a place to stand and watch. Since the half-marathon is much longer, there are multiple places along the run to cheer from. Depending on the route, many people like to stand on Main Street USA as they run through the Magic Kingdom, then take the monorail back to EPCOT to be at the finish line. As you get closer to the event, more information, such as finalized start times and routes, will be released.
One quick thing I would like to add is that if you are staying at a
Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you will have access to complimentary transportation to the event. These buses stop running around the time the race starts, so you'll want to check the schedule and make sure you're there before then. Once the race starts, getting to the spectator areas can be quite time-consuming as traffic builds up.
Lisa, I hope that you have a magical time cheering on your family and friends during the next runDisney event. Dash back by anytime you have a question, and fellow panelists and I will be happy to help.
See ya real soon,
Robert