Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Field Nearly Doubles in Second Year

"Every woman wants their chance to feel like a princess and this event allows them to embrace the attributes Disney princesses embody: commitment, courage, determination, fantasy, perseverance and strength," said Disney Sports Area Manager Kathleen Duran. "This event is all about princesses and spreading the message of health and wellness to women of all fitness levels while incorporating the glamour and grace of the Disney princesses."Disney's Princess Half Marathon, which attracted over 11,000 for the inaugural weekend a year ago, involves Disney's Fit for a Princess Expo as well as two road races - Disney The Princess and the Frog Royal Family 5K and the signature 13.1-mile half marathon - through multiple theme parks. Kids in attendance can also participate in Disney's Royal Family Kids' Races. 

Disney's Fit for a Princess Expo, free and open to the public, takes place at the newly re-launched ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Friday and Saturday. The expo, geared toward women's health and wellness, features celebrity runner appearances, Disney characters and seminars on training, racing and nutrition, along with the opportunity to experience the latest in running and fitness equipment. 

Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), an organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancers. With the support of thousands of volunteers and participants in LLS's Team In Training program, Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend will help blood cancer patients live better, longer lives.

Registration for the 2011 Disney's Princess Half Marathon begins this summer at www.disneyprincesshalfmarathon.com.

Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend is part of the Endurance Series at Walt Disney World Resort, which gives recreational athletes of all ages and abilities the chance to walk, jog, run, bike and swim their way "around the world." From marathons to road races to triathlons, athletes from across the country and around the world compete to stay in shape, achieve personal best times and raise donations for charitable causes. Popular Endurance Series events are Expedition Everest Challenge (June 12, 2010), Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (Oct. 1-2, 2010), Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon (Jan. 6-9, 2011) and Champion 5k at ESPN the Weekend (February 2011).

About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which hosts more than 300 events a year, is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States, accommodating 60 different sports and athletes from more than 70 countries. Designed to take youth sports to the next level, the 220-acre facility features: The Fieldhouse, a 165,000-square-foot facility which seats 5,500 for basketball; Champion Stadium ballpark (cap. 11,500); Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport field house; and Innovation Lab, a real-world testing ground for the ESPN Emerging Technology group to develop ground-breaking on-air products like Ball Track and ESPN Snap Zoom. In addition, the complex features 56 high-definition cameras (42 robotic, 10 handheld and four studio) and 40 high-definition video screens, including three jumbo screens, that can capture and display footage from any event taking place at the complex. The camera and video screens, as well as a  20-zone audio system, are controlled through the state-of-the-art Production Center that features eight edit bays and links to ESPN facilities in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles.