Four-day race weekend at the Disneyland Resort likely to sell out quickly; Event kicks off with nighttime Star Wars Wookiee Welcome Party

ANAHEIM, Calif. (June 10, 2014) – Runners can register today for the new Star Wars™Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation at the Disneyland Resort. The intergalactic journey runs January 15-18, 2015. Runners can sign up at www.rundisney.com.

Jedi runners should move fast. Given the popularity of all runDisney race weekends, this transportive event will likely sell out at warp speed.  In recent years, runDisney race weekends have regularly sold out in record time, and last year attracted more than 163,900 runners to Walt Disney World and Disneyland – a 40 percent increase over the previous year, making the runDisney series one of the largest in the nation.

The Star Wars race weekend kicks off with the Star Wars Wookiee Welcome Party on January 15. This private event in Tomorrowland will feature character meet-and-greets, entertainment, a dessert reception and an opportunity to ride select attractions, such as Space Mountain and Star Tours – The Adventures Continues, Astro Orbitor, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.

In addition, there will be a slew of family-friendly events throughout the race weekend, including a three-day Health and Fitness Expo, featuring the latest in fitness apparel, running gear and high tech gadgets, plus speakers such as runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway and runDisney nutrition consultant Tara Gidus.

The Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend is the fourth runDisney race weekend scheduled for 2015 at the Disneyland Resort, doubling the number of races held in 2013. The new event offers runners a variety of race experiences for all levels, from Padawans to Jedi Masters – the runDisney Kids Races, the Star Wars 5K, the Star Wars 10K and the Star Wars Half Marathon. And for an ultimate test for Star Wars rebels, there’s the Star Wars Rebel Challenge – a two-race challenge that combines the Star Wars 10K on Saturday with the Star Wars Half Marathon on Sunday. Jedi runners who finish the 19.3-mile challenge earn a special Star Wars Rebel Challenge finisher medal in addition to medals for the 10K and half marathon.

The celebratory charity for the race weekend is the Discovery Science Center, a non-profit organization that inspires and educates young minds through engaging science-based programs and exhibits that create a meaningful impact on the communities it serves. Contributions to the Discovery Science Center can be made at http://www.active.com/donate/SWDISCOVERYSCIENCE

WHERE: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.

WHEN: January 15-18, 2015

runDisney Health & Fitness Expo

Thursday, January 15, Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17

Star Wars Wookiee Welcome Party

9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15

Star Wars 5K presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation

5:30 a.m. on Friday, January 16

Star Wars 10K presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation

5:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 17

runDisney Kids Races

9 am on Saturday, January 17

Star Wars Rebel Challenge presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation

Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18

Star Wars Half Marathon presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation

5:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 18

About runDisney
runDisney, one of the largest race organizers in the nation, hosts a series of nine event weekends providing runners unique opportunities to run various distances 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, takes place in January followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in February, Expedition Everest Challenge in May, the Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror 10-Miler in October and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon

Weekend in November.  Disneyland hosts the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation in January, the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in May, the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend during Labor Day Weekend and the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend in November. More than 163,900 running enthusiasts participate in runDisney events each year. For more information, visit www.runDisney.com and follow us on Facebook (runDisney), Twitter @runDisney and Instagram.

About Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties, including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd is headquartered in northern California.

Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd and/or its affiliates. TM & © 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, is one of America’s fastest growing private companies based on its significant expansion and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, avionics, aerospace, propulsion, micro-satellites, aircraft, and communications systems. For over 30 years SNC has been under the leadership of CEO, Fatih Ozmen, and President, Eren Ozmen, the company’s sole owners. SNC is also the top woman-owned federal contractor in the United States.  Among SNC’s most revolutionary advancements is its Dream Chaser® spacecraft, SNC Space System’s answer to the retirement of NASA’s space shuttle. The primary mission of the Dream Chaser is transporting up to seven crew members and cargo to the International Space Station. With a workforce of over 3,000 personnel in 30 locations in 16 states, SNC has six unique business areas dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to SNC’s dynamic customer base. For more information on SNC visit www.sncorp.com and on SNC’s Dream Chaser visit www.sncspace.com/ss_about_dreamchaser.php.