This has quickly become one of my "can't miss' half marathons!…read more Started in 2014, I've had the opportunity to run the last two years and love it! Relatively inexpensive. (About 65-95 for the half, depending on when you register). Pretty organized. Beautiful Celebration setting. Flat, fast course. Nice race swag. Great after-party! They offer a half and full option. Fair warning though- the Marathon is two loops of the same course, which would not keep me engaged! It's relatively easy to park on a Celebration side street and walk to the start. I've parked in the town hall lot the past two years and have done same-day packet pickup which is nice and easy! They give great race swag. 2015 featured a really cute Raw Threads t-shirt as well as a free Headsweats hat and some other small items. Being that I run Disney races somewhat often, it's hard to compete with the level of entertainment that Disney provides, but a little more would be nice. As one of the signs along the course acknowledged, "It's not Disney, but we didn't make you get up at 2AM"! :) They also didn't make me pay $300 so not a major complaint! One of my favorite things about this race is the post-race party. In addition to getting a nice medal, you are handed a punch card. Many of the local celebration businesses have tents set up and your punch card provides you a free sample of food! I enjoyed a slice of pizza from D'Antonios, beans and Rice from Columbia, and a spring roll from the Thai spot, amongst other things. Beer and mimosas are also provided! I really appreciate the inclusion of those offerings, above and beyond a banana (although those are available too). Since this year's race was a little chilly, they also had throwaway jackets available at the finish line which was really considerate. The live entertainment was also fantastic! I've greatly enjoyed this race the last two years and plan on continuing to participate in the future. Such a great time!

One of the best in Central Florida. I have run every…read moreCelebration Marathon (or half) since the inaugural race and this event is extremely well-done - especially when it is not a major event-team putting this on - it's a bunch of runners who love to race and it shows. * Packet pick-up is always very easy. The race director is cool with transfers up until the day before the race. * The expo is pretty well-diversified and it still has its "boutique" charm that gets lost at some of the larger races. * The Raw Threads shirts are always very nice. * The medals seem to get better every year. I also like that they always have a different medal for the half marathon and the full marathon (a lot of smaller races do not do this.) * The S.W.A.G. gets better every year, too. I remember getting a hat (either the first or 2nd year), a really thick beach towel (3rd year), a stainless steel insulated travel tumbler (4th), and a very thick, plush sherpa blanket this year for the 5-year anniversary. They always give away a bandana buff along with any items that are donated by the sponsors. If it is cold, throw-away hooded jackets or Mylar blankets are provided. * Parking can be tight on race-day morning but if you are able to car-pool and arrive early, it is not so bad. * The race provides ample port-o-lets so the lines are never too long and they've always been well-stocked with TP and sanitizer. * The water stations are well-stocked and well-manned so I've never had to wait in line: I can grab and go. Each station seems to have first-aid items available (petroleum jelly, bandages, Biofreeze, etc.) * The course is flat with the exception of one small bridge over water street in the first mile. * The course is well-marked and, any "course hazards" are marked with bright orange duct tape (uneven sidewalks, boardwalk boards, etc.) During long stretches outside of the neighborhoods, one of the sponsors has "mobile DJs" to provide music to keep the runners pumped up. Neighbors usually come out and play tunes over loud speakers or local musicians play music, too. * The support from the neighbors is great - it can get lonely on the 2nd loop of the marathon, so having the neighbors' support to cheer us on is appreciated. (keep an eye out for treats, too. It was a little warm in 2018 and I was dying for salt. To my delight, a generous neighbor had set out bowls of pretzels and Cheet-it snack crackers. ) * After the first year, the organizers have made sure to power-wash the boardwalk - the most beautiful parts of the course - so runners can enjoy the scenery rather than constantly watch their steps. * The best part of the race is the after-party. The area around the lake is filled with tents featuring post-race massage areas, a photo booth, and many post-race treats. At the finish line, all runners receive a card so they can go to these tents and get pizza, pancakes, black bean soup, garlic knots, beer, coffee, mimosas, pulled pork sandwiches, etc. (there is more, but you get the idea.) I will run this race as long as they choose to put it on. NOTE - the marathon can get a little lonely on the second loop, but I've PR'd it 2 of the three years that I ran it.

This 2017 event was an exciting one for us! We are Death Star, Dark siders, Darth Vader homie…read moreriders til we die. Earlier this year we completed the Light Side 1/2 at Disneyland which set us up for this adventure: The Dark Side 1/2 at WDW. Loved it all except I would have to say that the merchandise set up and bib pick up is a bit more convenient in CA The run itself is much more challenging here but totally worth it! Next stop ... you'll see :)

*Expo* It's located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports…read more There's plenty of parking if you're driving there. Or if you're staying at one of the Disney resorts, you can take the runDisney event shuttles. This expo is probably the most well organized race expo that you'll ever attend. Sure it's crowded, but Disney knows how to move people efficiently. First you pick up your bib at the HP Field House. Then you head over to the Jostens Center to pick up your race shirts and see the many vendor booths. Most people will be in the official merchandise area trying to pick up some cool runDisney merchandise. *Pre-race* If you want to take pictures with Star Wars characters with cool backdrops, get to the staging area as early as possible! The characters will be at the finish line area as well, but you'll be pretty sweaty and gross after covering 13.1 miles! *Course* The course for the inaugural year started at the Epcot parking lot where we ran about a mile before going inside Epcot for about a 3/4 clockwise loop of the worlds. We then ran through the Boardwalk and headed towards Hollywood Studios. After a short run through that park, we made our way to the Animal Kingdom. We covered a great deal of the parking lot before entering the park. Then we headed towards the finish line at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. *Post-race* If you ran the dark side challenge, they will check to see if you are the person that picked up the bib before giving you the bonus medal. If you also ran the Star Wars Light Side Half Marathon earlier in the year, you will have to show them your bracelet that they had put on you at the expo in order to get the Kessel Run medal. After getting your medal(s), you get a bottle of water and Powerade. After taking an optional post race photo, they will give you a banana and a box of snacks. If you can't carry everything, most likely the friendly volunteers at the gear check area will give you a plastic bag. *Overall* If you love Star Wars and you love running, you should run this race! You can run it fast and still enjoy the Star Wars atmosphere or you can take it easy and take photos with characters all along the course... just beware of the balloon (Death Star) ladies! You'll want to stay in front of them!

Every year this event is always great. It's crowded but the careful planning and attention to…read moredetails makes it fun and bearable. A great way to see the heart of downtown from a walking view as opposed to the hustle and bustle view from your car. Highly recommend you attend at least once and be a part of something great!

This was my first time participating in the Corporate 5K and for the amount of people that…read moreparticipated I was extremely impressed with the crew that set up and cleared out. I think that despite the weather, everything was handled really well, I just wish they had better sound for the walkers. We couldn't hear anything over the sound system at the beginning of the race. So any announcements made were lost on those of us in the back. This isn't your typical race, this is definitely a fun run, because it isn't an officially tracked time. Plus there are ALOT of participants! Other than that, everything was great. Kudos to IOA and Track Shack! Can't wait until next year and hopefully we can have even more people join in on the fun!!!

This was my 2nd year doing this race. Elite Yelper Pam H. is a proud UCF alum and convinced me to…read moredo the 2 miler last year. We had a great time and she gave me an awesome tour of the campus. If I was from here, I could totally see myself going to college here. The school spirit is infectious! Anyways, fast forward to 2014 and I signed up with a bunch of friends. I decided to be a little bit more ambitious and do the 5 miler even though I stopped running in the spring and just got darn right lazy come summertime. You can also do the "distance dare" which means completing both races for a medal. Registration and packet pickup were a breeze. And parking wasn't even an issue either. Make sure to read your race packet paperwork for which garages you can park in which are free. The race takes you throughout the campus and around Brighthouse stadium. I did a mix of running and walking . It was a mix of all fitness levels , people of all ages and there was never any judgment. There were several water stations along the way with students really cheering us on! Loved the women with the cowbells too! And the UCF Glee club performing to "Happy" really pepped up my step! They even had a DJ set up towards the end of the race really pumping up those jams! At the end, you feel like a superstar because there are photogs taking your photos and the announcer even recites everyone's names as you cross the finish line! I like that it's not just for the top performers. And you can access your race time right away! There's your usual afterparty with music, several booths catering to running, health and fitness. There are also complimentary bottles of water and snacks like bananas and popsicles! I really enjoy this race and think this will be a yearly tradition!

I did this event for the first time in 2013. It was the very first time I'd ever run five miles…read morestraight in my life! I think it'll always hold a special place in my heart because, after that, I completed my first Spartan Race & half marathon just a few months after! Aside from that, I am a proud UCF alum and the campus is beautiful, therefore making for a great place to run! Whether you want to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself or you're a seasoned runner, I think it's a great event for people of all ages and walks of life!

*Pre-race* Get to the staging area early if you want to take…read morepre-race photos with the Star Wars characters. For their inaugural year, they had Boba Fett, Jabba, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Captain Phasma, BB-8, Rathtar, and First Order Stormtroopers. There will be cast members there to warn you when it's time to shut down the character lines and for the runners to start heading to the corrals. Runners are not released to the corrals until the time specified in the runner's guide. You are surrounded by a perimeter of portapotties while you wait. Off to the side of the corrals are a line of portapotties in case you need to go again right before the race. *The course* This is a point to point race course that starts from Epcot and finishes at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Along the way you'll run through Hollywood Studios before running on some roads, highways, and even half a mile of dirt road as you head towards the finish line. The dirt road section was pretty cool since it also had a lot of tree covering. You could pretend that you're running on Endor. *Post-race* They give you a bottle of water, a bottle of Powerade, a banana, and a snack box. You can also take a picture in front of a backdrop. In case you missed the photo opportunities before the race, they've transported all of the dioramas and the characters to the finish line. If you stayed on Disney Resort, find the number that corresponds to your hotel and get in line for a shuttle. They also have shuttles back to Epcot if you've parked at the start. *Overall* If you're a fan of Star Wars and remotely interested in running, you should definitely run this race, the half marathon, or both as The Dark Side Challenge! It's actually pretty cool to see some of your fellow runner's costumes. Some people are really creative! I'm planning to run this race as often as possible!

We gals had to do it!…read more Orlando Starfyler - 5.30.2026 8265 International Drive, Orlando FL www.starflyer.com Employees there was great and very helpful to get you all ready. They have a bar where you get your drink or a shot before you go up in the air. It was so much fun. You must do it!

This is a tourist trap area. Growing up in Orlando, we avoid…read morethe tourist areas. The traffic is always awful. Plenty of shops though! If you want to do shopping, there's an outlet mall, shopping centers and plenty of restaurants in every direction. Over by Fun Spot, there's a small shopping center with an all you can eat sushi spot, Kingdom Sushi that's pretty good. I drive is huge. Any tourist could make a whole day trip out of it, and still not see everything!

I say 3.5 but would round up to 4 stars because of the swag you get! have ran this race 3 or maybe…read more4 years in a row. It is always well organized with a great turn out of runners. They offer 2 miles, 10k and distance dare that includes both. Parking can get tricky so arrive early if you dont want to be circling around for a bit. There is steeet parking and garages to choose from. My biggest con is the route, go over a lot of cobblestone. For runners this can be tricky, especially among crowded areas. I saw a couple people trip and yep....so did I. The uneven roads also are a watch out if you already have a weak ankle/knee from a prior injury....yes me again! The views are great! Pass beautiful houses and nice lakes but the roads could use improvement. There also are two water stations that I can remember of available. The best part of the 10k is you are tremendously rewarded....and not just with a medal! You get your medal, beer glass, towel and so many goodies from vendors. They had breakfast sandwhiches, smoothies, massages, bananas, strawberries, coffee and so much more! Runners of all speeds run the race. If you have never ran a 10k or are nervous to run one this would be the perfect one, get off that couch and get to jogging!

I completed the Distance Dare for the Winter Park Road Race, in which you run the 2 mile race…read morefollowed by the 10k. I am not the speediest of runners, but I'm typically solidly in the middle of the pack. For me, completing the 2 miler and making it to the start of the 10k was a little tight time wise, but doable. It may have been because I was towards the back of the 2 miler starting group, which out me a minute or two behind the clock start of the race. The courses both run through beautiful Winter Park, which provides a great backdrop for a morning run! Bits of the course were a tiny but crowded and there is cobblestone and uneven ground so it's important to watch you footing! Runners who completed the 10k received a medal and completing the Distance Dare also qualified runners for a second medal! I always enjoy some extra bling! The post-race area had a great energy but was a tad crowded, lines for the free beer included with the race were very long, but that wasn't a big deal to me as it was still so early in the morning! Participants receive a free stemless wineglass which was a nice extra piece if swag. Runners can pay extra for access to a VIP area with extra food and some seating, which is something I'd consider in the future. Fun run!

The Orlando Urban Trail is one of my favorite running/walking paths. I have participated in a few…read moreof Track Shack's weekly runs, which utilize this trail. It is clearly marked and I feel safe on it. There's one spot where you cross a busy street, but there's a crosswalk that has signage and lights (still look both ways before crossing!). Along the trail you'll pass by a few different restaurants/breweries which make for a fun stop on your way back.

I always park at The Fresh Market parking lot to walk this trail. It's a decent distance and mostly…read moretrail although you do have to cross some big roads at certain points. I usually walk the trail and then turn onto orange ave and hit the shops over there near Ivanhoe which is fun sometimes when the walk is leisurely. Not sure how lit this trail is at night as I've never been there when it is dark but I know there used to be an evening run club a while back so assuming it's safe? Love having more trails to walk in central Florida!