FROM: Running with the Mouse Published As Needed

Minnie Marathon 15K

Nothing lasts forever, such as former Running with the Mouse author Jennifer Lazzaro, but also the Minnie Marathon 15K, a 'retired' race with a manageable length and a great course - says Robert Mathis, who's back at the helm of this column.

- by Robert Mathis, June 28, 2011

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Here's a blast from the past: the 2007 Women Run the World 15K (aka the Minnie Marathon 15K) held on May 6, 2007.

I have been doing Disney races for over 15 years. The races have changed a lot over these years: some have come and gone, others have had their courses change dramatically as Walt Disney World has grown.

The Minnie Marathon 15K encompassed the last 9.3 miles of the WDW marathon course. It was a chance for people not ready to run the entire marathon to experience a portion of it. It was also Disney's first attempt at a women's themed race. Since then, they've added the Walt Disney World Princess race and the upcoming Tinker Bell race in Disneyland.

During the Minnie, the miles are 'The Wall' miles of the marathon where you are tested to survive. I brought lots of energy to the course, and enjoyed running it.

Run Along with Robert

We all started in the Animal Kingdom parking lot, then looped around the lot (mile 1) and off toward the Wide World of Sports (now rebranded as ESPN Wide World of Sports). When we reached the turnaround (mile 3.5), we veered off toward Disney's MGM Studios (now rebranded as Disney's Hollywood Studios), struggling up the 'hill' of the on-ramp and down the off-ramp (mile 5) to MGM, where we ran through the Backlot (mile 6) before leaving the park and striking out along the canal (mile 7) for Lake Crescent.

We then ran past the Epcot resorts, finally entering Epcot itself through the International Gateway, hitting the United Kingdom Pavilion (mile 8) and continuing around the World Showcase into Future World, where we raced past Spaceship Earth (mile 9) and then veered right for the final .3 mile leg of the course into the Epcot parking lot.

The Minnie Marathon, unfortunately, lasted only three years, despite its manageable length and great course.

I liked the Minnie Marathon when i ran it years ago, and I might run it again in its current incarnation as the Wine & Dine Night Half Marathon when I attend the International Flower and Garden Festival.

Disney continues to tweak their courses and that is half of the fun! Plus the new medals...

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