Hiya Gary - welcome to
planDisney!
Thanks so much for stopping by with your
runDisney question! It just so happens that I'm running in the
Springtime Surprise Weekend next week, and have experienced quite a few runDisney events in the past. There's nothing quite like it in the world! It's so special to run (or walk!) through the
Theme Parks and even some backstage areas, and the Character encounters along the way always help me stay happy and motivated.
Every runDisney race is different, but in my experience (and in the race rules for most races) walking to the starting line from a Resort is not permitted at Walt Disney World Resort. Other races have been exceptions - for example, I walked from my Resort to the starting corrals a few years back at the Disneyland Paris Run Weekend.
At Walt Disney World Resort runDisney events, you will need to arrive by personal vehicle or use the bus or other transportation options arranged by planDisney (i.e., Monorail transportation is available for some races) unless other options are explicitly offered. If you do not have a personal vehicle with you during your runDisney vacation and want to avoid the busses, you should consider using a ride-sharing service, such as Lyft, to arrive at the races. While in some cities you might have trouble finding a driver for an early morning race start, I've had quite a few early flights out of Orlando and have had good luck getting a driver to take me from my Resort to the airport. Another option would be to reserve a private car service, but at that point, it might make more budgetary sense to rent a car yourself.
I hope this information is helpful as you plan for your runDisney races!
Please let me know if any other questions arise.
Ryan J.