Rise and Run

Five years ago we hit record with a simple idea: talk running, talk runDisney, and share a few stories. Somewhere along the way, it turned into something much bigger - a real community that trains together, laughs together, and shows up for each other on the hard days and the best days.

To mark the fifth anniversary, we open the phone lines and tackle listener questions with our friend Brittany Charboneau. We get honest about motivation when your “why” disappears, how to let go of goals that no longer align, and why giving yourself permission to choose a di...

Wine and Dine is almost here, and the combination of nerves, excitement, and last-minute “what if” questions is real. We talk through taper week decisions, how to think about weather in Orlando, and why hydration and fueling should start before you ever reach the corrals. We also dig into Marathon Weekend medals, what stands out, what feels a little too familiar, and why the small design details still end up meaning a lot once that medal is in your hands.

Then runDisney race announcer John Pelkey stops by for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about learning to run late...

A marathon on a treadmill sounds like a joke until the weather turns, the schedule collapses, and you still need the miles. We talk through the reality of late-cycle training as Wine & Dine gets closer, including how we handle pacing when humidity spikes, why long runs should follow a speed limit instead of a “prove it” pace, and what it looks like to protect sleep while still getting the work done.

Greg shares a detailed breakdown of covering 26 miles indoors by splitting it into two half marathons, stepping off regularly, changing socks, rotating media, and leaning on comm...

Meredith didn’t just “add hills” to her training plan, she went to Tanzania and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, a 19,600 foot summit that turns every step into a decision. We talk through what it really takes: building aerobic fitness at sea level, practicing patience with “pole pole” pacing, and showing up with the right gear and the right expectations when altitude is the variable you cannot fully control. If you’ve ever wondered how runners can transition into big hikes and endurance adventures, her play-by-play makes it feel possible and real.

We also connect the mountain lessons back to everyday...

The Wine and Dine countdown just got real, and the details matter this year. We’re four weeks out, training is peaking, and runDisney dropped enough race-weekend updates to change how you plan your expo day, your 5K morning, and even how you think about pacing and character stops.

We walk through the newly released Wine and Dine event guide with a runner’s eye for logistics: updated expo hours, the shift to a 7 a.m. virtual queue for race merch and Brooks shoes, and what that earlier timing could mean if you rely on Disney resort tran...

Bird in Hand is the rare race weekend that feels like it was built for more than a finish time, and we’re still riding the high. We’re back with our full Bird in Hand Half Marathon recap from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where Amish country views, rolling hills, and small-town hospitality combine into one of the most joyful race experiences we’ve found.

We’re joined by BIH veteran Caroline and first-timer Maegan to relive the whole arc of the weekend: easy packet pickup, a surprisingly fun expo, the pizza and pasta party (plus pretzel wraps, shoofly...

Your training can be solid and you can still step into the corral feeling unsure and that doesn’t mean you’re broken. This week we go after the part of running that decides how you respond when it gets hard: confidence.

We’re joined by Dr. Sindra Kampoff, performance coach and author of The Confidence Habit, to translate sport psychology into simple tools you can actually use during Run Disney training and on race morning. We talk about why runners get trapped in comparison, outcome pressure, and perfectionism, then shift into practical resets like Learn, Earn, Return...

A long run can be tough, but this week proves it can also be downright ridiculous: surprise humidity, shaky confidence, and yes, a flying insect that turns one runner into an unwilling protein experiment. We share real training updates for the ramp-up to Wine and Dine and Marathon Weekend, including why “trust the process” is more than a slogan when the miles start to bite. We also talk practical hot-weather strategy, from carrying fluids to testing electrolytes, and what we’re noticing after trying Hydro Patch on long runs (helpful, not magic, and definitely not a replacement for water).

Dean Karnazes has done things most runners can barely picture, but the lesson he brings to our mic is refreshingly simple: you do not have to go fast, you just have to go. We catch up with Dean on a Greece running tour built around the history of Marathon and a heartfelt tribute to Jeff Galloway, then dig into what endurance really demands when the miles stop being fun and start becoming a choice you make over and over again.

We also get practical for the runDisney crowd with training timelines for Wine and Dine and Marathon...

D23 always feels like a fireworks show for Disney fans, but we watch it with runner brains: What will all these new lands, refurbs, and construction walls mean for runDisney race weekends? Our friend Amanda from Once Upon a Marathon returns for a deep-dive recap of the D23 Parks Panel, and we do the fun thing we usually avoid: a little course speculation. We break down EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth refurb talk, Animal Kingdom updates like the long-awaited Expedition Everest Yeti fix and Tropical Americas progress, and what Magic Kingdom construction could mean for how we enter and exit th...

You can train for a race and still wonder if you’re allowed to call yourself a runner. That quiet doubt shows up in a lot of places, on long walks that feel endless, on crowded courses where you’re watching your footing, and especially when your watch tells a story you do not like. We get honest about those moments, then share practical ways to keep moving as Wine and Dine training hits week eight, including how to schedule back to back days without burning out and a simple run walk interval that can make long sessions feel ment...

One loop. One river. A whole lot of miles. What happens when a runDisney community takes over a relay event in New Jersey and decides the real finish line is friendship, not pace? We’re joined by Greg, Jack, Chrissie, Ilyana, and Stephen to recap Loopy Looper weekend, where teams rack up loops, tents turn into mini HQs, and every lap feels like a mix of training run and backyard party.

We talk through the details that make a looped relay and ultra event work: simple course navigation, timing-bib handoffs that do not waste energy, and the he...

runDisney can look effortless on Instagram: a castle photo, a medal shot, a costume selfie, and done. Then reality hits at 1:30am when the alarm goes off again, you’re juggling corrals and buses, and there are still miles of dark highway between the highlight reel moments. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome back Lisa Dinoto Glassner after four years to talk about her new book, The Run Disney Companion: Your Race Day Guide From Fantasy To Finish Line And Beyond.

We get into what the guide is really built for: helping first-time runners pick a race...

runDisney didn’t start as a massive, must-register-in-minutes phenomenon. It grew into that, and Jon Hughes was in the middle of the turning points. We finish our conversation with the Track Shack leader who helped bring the Walt Disney World Marathon to life, then watched it evolve into a global runDisney culture where first-timers, costumers, walkers, and marathoners all belong on the same course.

Jon shares when the races first felt “bigger than expected,” why the paper signup era created real confusion about sellouts, and how new weekends and concepts like Wine and Dine’s early night-race vibe res...

runDisney feels like it’s always been there, but it hasn’t. The real story includes years of pitching, countless meetings, tough operational compromises, and a whole lot of faith that runners would actually show up. We’re joined by Jon Hughes from Track Shack, the first race director of the Walt Disney World Marathon and one of the key voices who helped convince Disney a marathon belonged on property.

Jon takes us back to the early days of Track Shack, when running specialty stores were rare and races were often built from scratch just to grow the sp...

We hit a milestone and decided to do something worthy of it: build our own ranked list of the best road races in America. From the New York City Marathon’s five-borough roar to Boston’s history-soaked mystique, Chicago’s electric crowds, and the Marine Corps Marathon’s landmark-heavy patriotism, we talk through the races that feel bigger than a finish time and why they earn a spot on a true bucket list. 

We also keep it real for the runDisney community. Springtime Surprise registration moved faster than many expected, so we share what sold out when, what that...

The reason you started running is probably not the reason you keep running, and that’s the point. We open with a simple community question from our friend Alan, then hand the mic to friends whose answers stretch from “I’ve never been an athlete” to “running became my only quiet place.” You’ll hear how stress, family health scares, grief, postpartum life, and plain old curiosity can turn into a steady running habit and a stronger sense of self.

We also get practical about summer training when the weather stops cooperating. We talk dew point, humidity, pacing, hydrat...

Summer training has a way of turning simple runs into big questions: Why is my pace suddenly slower, how do I stay safe in the heat, and what actually matters in the first weeks of a runDisney build? We sit down with our friend Coach Chris Twiggs to get real answers you can use right away, whether you’re gearing up for Wine & Dine, Marathon Weekend, or dreaming about Dopey.

Chris takes us from the mountains to the sidewalks, starting with the Hardrock 100, a legendary 100-mile loop in Colorado with 33,000 feet of climbing, high-altitude reality, and the fa...

runDisney didn’t just tease a surprise this time, it delivered one that can blow up travel plans. We react in real time to the Springtime Surprise weekend shifting dates, what that means for resort reservations and DVC juggling, and why having a good travel advisor can save you hours when Disney changes the calendar. 

Training talk gets practical fast: running in heat without turning it into a competition, how much to slow down as temps rise, and whether “real feel” should drive your pacing more than the number on the thermometer. We compare notes on when we star...

Princess registration has turned into its own endurance event, and we felt every mile of it. We break down what we saw during the Princess Half Marathon Weekend queue, why more runners are walking away disappointed, and what might be behind the slower movement now that old workarounds are gone. We also talk through the bigger forces at play like field size limits, staging constraints, rising demand, and the way social media can amplify FOMO and frustration.

Then we pivot back to what actually moves the needle: training with humility and consistency. We share practical summer running...

runDisney training may be between big weekends, but our brains are still in race mode. We start by mapping the season ahead, talking base building, long-run confidence, and how to sneak in hill work even when you live somewhere flat. We also share one of our favorite community rituals: a collaborative Spotify training playlist that turns solo miles into a shared soundtrack and helps you find new “go-to” songs when motivation runs low.

Then the mood shifts to the headache a lot of runners felt this week: Princess Half Marathon Weekend registration gets postponed. We talk through what...

He’s the runner you spot from a distance, not because of a character costume, but because he’s carrying the weight of a whole profession. Fireman Rob joins us to explain why he races in full firefighter turnout gear and what that choice has to do with mental health, hope, and letting people know they’re not alone.

We talk about the realities behind the gear: the heat you can’t escape, the sweat-soaked weight that only gets heavier, and the mindset required to keep moving when there’s no “easy mile.” Rob shares how he trains for the...

Boston and London aren’t just marathons. They’re full-body logistics puzzles, city-wide celebrations, and emotional pressure cookers that reveal what your training is really made of. We sit down with runners who lined up at two of the biggest stages in the sport and tell the story from the inside, from expo wins and wallet pain to the moments when the course turns and your plan has to change.

Before we get to the World Marathon Majors recap, we share something closer to home: Bob reflects on losing Lily and the unexpected way she helped him find...

A cruise ship can feel like a floating city, but it gets a lot smaller when you spot your people. We’re back with the full recap of the inaugural Rise and Run cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, and we’re sharing what surprised us, what we’d do differently, and the moments that turned a trip into a four-night running community meetup.

We talk through the send-off at Pop Century (yes, Pluto shows up), the bus ride to port, and that first step onto a ship that feels more like Vegas than a quiet...

You can learn a lot about a running community by the questions they ask, and this week our listeners showed up with everything from serious marathon nerves to wildly fun runDisney hypotheticals. We dig into smart offseason training so you do not drift between race weekends: setting a local goal race, building an aerobic base, adding strength and mobility, and respecting summer heat. We also get specific on proof of time strategy, including why certain distances help, what counts for different runDisney weekends, and how planning ahead can change your corral placement and your whole race-day experience.

...

Merch sold out by lunchtime. “Perfect” status quietly returned. Someone built a race plan around getting a photo with Boba Fett. That’s the kind of wonderfully specific runDisney chaos we love, and we’re recapping it live from the inaugural Rise and Run Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas.

We break down the 2026 RunDisney Springtime Surprise weekend from the expo to the finish line, including what went smoothly, what still needs fixing, and how to think about merch strategy if you can’t arrive on day one. We also talk about the surprise perfect recognitio...

Jeff Galloway didn’t just teach people how to run. He taught people to believe they belong. We put our normal Rise and Run format on pause to honor Jeff’s life and collect the stories that explain why his impact feels so personal to so many runners, from first-timers to legends.

You’ll hear from ultrarunner Dean Karnazes on Jeff’s generosity, his love of marathon history, and the Greece trip that’s now becoming a Jeff Galloway Memorial Tour. Amby Burfoot takes us back to a time when running on the roads made you look like an al...

A race weekend can feel like pure fun until real life breaks through. We start by remembering Lauren Bullis, a beloved Rise and Run community member whose kindness showed up in every Holler Hype, comment, and encouraging word. In the wake of her passing, our listeners do what runners do best: we show up. A simple, powerful idea takes hold, dedicating runs across the country to help Lauren reach her dream of racing in all 50 states, turning grief into a shared tribute and a reminder that community is built one mile at a time.

Then we pivot...

In this episode, we’re joined by the legendary Jim Ryun, one of the most famous names in American middle-distance running, to talk about the coach who redirected his life, the moment he understood what breaking the 4-minute mile really meant, and why “ownership” is the skill that outlasts talent. Jim takes us from being a teenage Olympian to racing at Mexico City altitude, then back to the quieter memories of Tokyo that still shape how he views people and competition.

Because we’re the Rise and Run crew, we also bring it home to runDisney. Jim shares h...

A half marathon through Hobbiton sounds like pure fantasy until you hear what it’s really like underfoot. We’re joined by Kerry Flynn, a lifelong Lord of the Rings fan and seasoned half marathoner, to break down the Middle Earth Halfling Half Marathon in New Zealand: the small-field logistics, the afternoon start, the trail terrain on a working farm, and the very real elevation that turns “cute themed race” into an earned finish. She also shares what surprised her most, how photo ops and characters work outside the Run Disney machine, and why the post-race celebration feels like a perfec...

You know that moment late in a runDisney race when your legs are toast, your brain is negotiating, and then you turn a corner and hear a choir lifting the whole road? We sit down with director Zach and students from the East River High School Choir, one of the groups that brings big, joyful sound to the final mile at Walt Disney World. They share how the runDisney relationship started, what Disney Entertainment actually means when they ask for a “gospel choir,” and how song choices are designed to push runners to the finish line.

We get...

Registration day doesn’t just test your internet speed, it tests your nerves, your backup plans, and who you can text when the queue refuses to move. We share exactly how the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend sign-ups played out for our crew, including the moments that went sideways, the workarounds that still worked, and the community trust that helped multiple friends land the races they wanted. We also break down the sellout times and talk about what to do if you got shut out, from charity options to alert tools, plus a clear warning about social media scams cl...

Tokyo Marathon looks like a postcard until you remember one detail that can change everything: the cutoffs are based on gun time. We sit down with several of our friends fresh off a plane from Japan to get the kind of Tokyo Marathon recap runners crave, the stuff you can’t learn from a highlight reel. They share how they got in (lottery vs charity), how they handled jet lag, what the expo is really like, and the cultural surprises that made Tokyo feel so different from any other World Marathon Majors weekend.

Then we get into ra...

A weekend of sparkle, sneakers, and shared heart. Princess Half Marathon Weekend brought out everything we love about runDisney—creative costumes, cool-weather miles, and castle magic—but also the kind of community you can feel in your bones. We navigated an expo frenzy as Brooks’ princess-themed shoes sent lines snaking across the building, watched Disney pivot fast to keep characters and bands on course during a misty 10K, and soaked in small moments that turned into big memories: a family’s first 5K together, a triumphant TinkerBob, and the scent of BoardWalk bacon drifting through a fast, happy morning.

The news hit like a thunderclap: Jeff Galloway, the voice behind run-walk-run and a steady light at so many runDisney start lines, has passed away. We pause to honor the coach who made marathons feel possible, share early thoughts through the shock, and invite everyone at Princess Weekend to carry his legacy in the miles ahead.

From there, we shift into a packed, upbeat show that keeps community at the center. We break down the new Marathon Weekend artwork and what Donald’s 30th half marathon anniversary might mean for medal design and race-day energy. Then we re...

What if every step you took felt like a small miracle you could share? That’s the energy running through this episode as we move from Princess Weekend prep into one of the most inspiring stories we’ve ever hosted. We kick things off with training touchpoints, expo strategy, and course notes for the Run Disney Princess 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon—plus our meetup details, virtual queue tips, and the can’t-miss Main Street moment for first-timers. If you’re mapping out corrals, merch runs, or yoga logistics, we’ve got your plan.

Then we sit down with Am...

A good mantra can change a season, and ours hits different: earn it in the winter, win it in the spring. We start with a candid weather check and slide straight into the nuts and bolts of racing life—updated Wine & Dine registration flows, random queue placement, why sellout times barely budged, and how our community rallied with Zoom rooms, phone trees, and charity backups  We map out Princess Weekend long runs, Springtime Surprise magic miles, and the kind of speed work that shakes off a post-Dopey lull and brings your spring fitness back online.

Then everything sha...

Fireworks before sunrise, yoga in the cold, and a finish line that felt like a farewell—this Disneyland race weekend had a different kind of electricity. We open with Miss Piggy’s cameo on the castle screen and roll straight into the expo’s virtual queue scramble, a quick detour through misplaced bib drama, and a check-in with Jeff and Barbara Galloway that left us optimistic and grateful. Between merch scarcity, the Dumbo hoodie frenzy, and smarter PhotoPass ops, the weekend balanced magic with mechanics in classic runDisney fashion.

The 5K reminded us why the west coast course...

Confetti at the finish is only part of the story. We sit down with Walt Disney World Marathon champion Matt Hensley to trace the path from family running roots and college grind to a smart, tactical win built on adaptation, fueling, and a decisive late-race move. Matt walks us through race-week realities—working the expo, long park days, heavy legs—and explains how dew point data and small early adjustments can save a marathon when heat sneaks in. He opens his playbook on fueling (60–90g carbs per hour), mid-race decision-making, and the difference between racing for time and racing for pl...

Start with a grin, stay for the goosebumps. We sit down with marathon winner and runDisney favorite Brittany Charbonneau for a candid, no-filter look at a race that felt hard from the gun, a costume with a story, and the moment she stepped off the fence to encourage the final finisher home. From sleepless nights with a teething baby to Florida humidity after Denver air, Brittany opens up about panic in the early miles, how she reset her mindset, and why a mid-race character stop with Joy was the medicine she needed to run happy again.

We...