CELEBRITIES DREW CAREY AND MEGYN PRICE HEADLINE SOLDOUT DISNEYLAND HALF MARATHON WEEKEND

MORE THAN 20,500 RUNNERS TAKING PART IN LABOR DAY WEEKEND RACES AS PART OF RUNDISNEY SERIES; HALF MARATHON FINISHERS TO RECEIVE NEW MEDAL; KIDS RACE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE LOS ANGELES ANGELS GAME TICKETS

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2011) – Hollywood actors Drew Carey and Megyn Price are expected to be among the throng of runners and fans at the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort, September 2-4.  For the sixth straight year a record field of more than 20,500 runners will compete in the three-day event that’s part of the runDisney series.

Carey, host of the popular game show “The Price is Right,’’ is one of the more than record 15,000 runners signed up to run the 13.1-mile half marathon. Price, star of the hit TV sitcom “Rules of Engagement,’’ will be part of the starting line festivities for the half marathon.

The Disneyland Half Marathon field, which encompasses runners from 49 states and 23 countries, will have the unique opportunity to run through two Disneyland Resort theme parks - Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.  Runners will pass by the Matterhorn, through Sleeping Beauty Castle and alongside California Screamin Roller Coaster before hitting the streets of Anaheim and running through Angel Stadium of Anaheim amid hundreds of spectators.

And awaiting them at the finish line this year will be a newly-created medal designed around Disneyland Resort’s iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.  Also, more than 2,750 runners, who ran a runDisney race at Walt Disney World Resort earlier this year, will qualify to receive Disney’s Coast to Coast Race Challenge medal when they cross the finish line.  All along the route runners will be greeted by cheering fans, Disney characters, music and live entertainers.   

In addition to the half marathon, other weekend events include the “Star Tours’’ Family Fun Run 5K, Kids’ Races and a Health and Fitness Expo where visitors can check out the latest in fitness apparel, running gear and high tech gadgets as well as purchase runDisney merchandise and receive training information from former Olympian and runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway.   

New this year is a special offer for participants in the kids’ races Saturday who will receive a voucher for a ticket to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s 12:35 pm game Sunday against the Minnesota Twins (half marathon runners, friends and families can purchase a $10 voucher for the game at the Health and Fitness Expo).  A special pre-game recognition ceremony will take place on the field to salute winners of the Disneyland Half Marathon. 

Disneyland Half Marathon: By the Numbers

1 - Newly designed 2011 Disneyland Half marathon Medal capturing the spirit of Disneyland and
      featuring iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle
2 - Theme parks the runners travel through – Disneyland and California Adventure
6 - Year for the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend
13.1 - Number of miles in the Disneyland Half Marathon
14 - Age of youngest Half Marathon runners
23 - Countries represented in the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon
36 - Average age of 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon participants
49 - States represented in the 2011 Half Marathon (no runners from SD), plus DC, VI and PR
54 - Runners celebrating birthdays at the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon
58 - Vendors at the Health and Fitness Expo featuring the latest running fashion, technology and nutrition
66.1 - Percent of participating runners are female – 9,772 out of 14,780
87 - Age of oldest runner in the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon, Helen Loy from San Mateo, CA
443 - Runners from foreign countries – Canada #1 with 317
672 - Legacy runners expected to run all 6 Disneyland Half Marathons
1,275 - Participants in Kids’ Races
2,800 - Runners eligible for the Coast to Coast Challenge Medal
4,500 - Participants in Star Tours Family Fun Run 5K
6,555 - Runners from the 5 county Southern CA area; LA, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego
10,082 - Runners from CA
15,000 - Registered runners for the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon

About runDisney
runDisney is a series of half marathon and marathon events that provide runners unique opportunities to run through Disney theme parks.  Race participants earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary Disney entertainment and guest service and ultimately celebrate their accomplishments with a Disney vacation.  The original event in the series, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA, takes place in January followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in September.  Disneyland hosts the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January and the Disneyland Half Marathon in September during Labor Day Weekend.  More than 100,000 running enthusiasts participate in runDisney events each year. For more information, visit rundisney.com and follow us on Twitter @DisneySports.