Posted: June 25, 2005

Athletics: Disney Sports Attractions Announces Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge for 2006 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Participants Who Compete in Both 13.1 and 26.2-Mile Disney Races to Receive Special Goofy Medal

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (June 23, 2005) - With the Disney races occurring on separate days for the first time in the event's history, Disney Sports Attractions has introduced Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge for registered participants who complete both races and the overall 39.3 miles across Walt Disney World Resort during the two days. The 13th annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will offer a new split-day format with the 13.1-mile half-marathon to be run Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006 and the 26.2-mile full marathon set for Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006.

Some 26,000 participants are expected to compete in the 2006 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (13,000 in each race). More than 700 participants have already registered to compete in both races. Competitors who accomplish this physical challenge will receive a special Goofy Medal in addition to the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse medals, which are awarded to half-marathon and marathon finishers, respectively.

"Since announcing the new split-day format in January, many participants have expressed an interest in competing in both the Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon in 2006," said Mike Millay, director of sports events for Disney Sports Attractions. "Running nearly 40 miles in two days is an incredible feat, and we are thrilled to recognize the dedicated participants who complete both Disney races. The addition of Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge is just one of the many exciting changes in store for next year's Disney Marathon Weekend."

Other additions for the 2006 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend include:

• Team Challenge
• Disney Sports Attractions is offering a Team Challenge for the first time in 2006. Groups of three to five runners will make up each team. The top three individual scores for each team will be added together to determine the team score. Awards will be presented to the top three teams in each of the following categories: Male, Female, Mixed (at least one female participant), Masters (men or women 40 years or older), Running Clubs, Corporate and Military (active, retired or reserve members of the U.S. Military).
• Half-Marathon Race Course
• With the new split-day format, the Walt Disney World Half Marathon is set for Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006 at 6am. The new race course will take runners from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom park and then back to Epcot for an exciting finish at the same finish line that will be used for the marathon on Sunday. The Walt Disney World Marathon will be Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006 at 6am. The course will pass through all four Walt Disney World theme parks starting at Epcot, continuing onto the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Disney-MGM Studios and then back to Epcot for an exhilarating finish.

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will provide events and activities for the entire family. In addition to the 13.1 and 26.2-mile races, the weekend will also feature Disney's Family Fun 5K Run & Kids Races and Disney's Health & Fitness Expo at the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Individual registration fees are $95 for the marathon and $85 for the half-marathon and an additional $35 per team. Log onto DisneyWorldMarathon.com to register or for additional information.

Contact: Stormy Washington, Disney Sports Attractions, (407) 938-3823