When the Magic Pauses: My Thoughts on the Hiatus of runDisney Races at Disneyland

When runDisney announced the return of races to Disneyland for 2024, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. After a long pause that began in 2017 due to the construction of Galaxy’s Edge, the idea of lacing up my running shoes and racing through the Happiest Place on Earth again was something I had eagerly awaited. I signed up. I trained. I showed up. And I soaked up every magical mile.

But now, not even two full years later, it’s happening again. runDisney has announced a hiatus for races at Disneyland after just five race weekends. To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement.

For those of us on the West Coast—especially in Washington State like me—Anaheim races aren’t just convenient, they’re the ones we grow attached to. Sure, Walt Disney World is incredible, and Epcot will always hold a special place in my heart. But there's something timeless and intimate about the original Disneyland Park that no other resort can quite replicate. I rarely even step foot in California Adventure, not because it isn’t great, but because Disneyland has everything I adore. If given the choice, I’d spend all three park days within the gates of that charming, nostalgia-laden park.

The return of races in 2024 brought a renewed sense of excitement. I proudly participated in the January weekend, the Dumbo Double Dare.

followed by the new Halloween Half weekend, 

then another series of glorious January races, I say that because I loved by Baby Groot outfit and all the 80's music. 

I’m already signed up for this years' September races as well as the final race weekend in January 2026. That phrasing—"final"—hits hard. It’s not just the end of a race weekend. It’s the end of a routine, a tradition, a community experience that means so much to so many.

Is “devastated” too strong a word? Maybe. But my heart is heavy. These weekends are more than just medals and mileage. They’re shared smiles, early morning corrals, castle selfies, and post-race churros. They’re a reason to train, to travel, and to reconnect with something whimsical and pure.

I don’t know when—or if—the races will return to Anaheim. I want to believe this is just a pause and not a full stop. Until then, I’ll keep showing up for the races that are still on the calendar. I’ll treasure every mile, every character stop, every moment. And yes, I’ll continue to run Disney races in Orlando too—because the magic is still very much alive there, and I’m not ready to hang up my ears just yet.

And if you see someone a little misty-eyed crossing the finish line in January 2026—it might be me, letting go of something that brought me so much joy, even if just for a while.