Matt Hensley and Brittany Charboneau Capture 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon Titles

The 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend came to a triumphant conclusion on Saturday, January 11, as Matt Hensley and Brittany Charboneau crossed the finish line first in the men's and women's divisions of the full marathon.

Hensley completed the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 37 seconds, while Charboneau—a familiar name to runDisney enthusiasts—finished with a time of 2:54:48.

Race Results

Men's Top 10

1. Matt Hensley — 2:29:37

2. Sean O'Bryan — 2:36:40

3. Michael Orifice — 2:38:18

4. Nicholas Jollye — 2:39:00

5. Fredison Costa — 2:41:14

6. Jose Ancona — 2:41:24

7. Corey Bellemore — 2:43:03

8. Justin Bellemore — 2:43:03

9. Vanilson Neves — 2:45:46

10. John Huber — 2:46:22

Women's Top 10

1. Brittany Charboneau — 2:54:48

2. Haley Chura — 2:59:36

3. Sadie Smith — 3:02:31

4. Georganne Watson — 3:02:46

5. Emily Hensel — 3:06:38

6. Molly Rouillard — 3:07:17

7. Leah Foley — 3:09:31

8. Nicole Coccia — 3:10:21

9. Kelly Lynch — 3:10:38

10. Marielle Despres — 3:10:59

A Storybook-Themed Weekend

This year's Marathon Weekend embraced a storybook theme, with each race representing a different genre and featuring beloved Disney characters as hosts.

The festivities began Thursday, January 7, with the 5K hosted by Pluto and themed to science fiction. Friday's 10K featured Chip 'n Dale leading runners through a mysterious adventure. Saturday morning's half marathon celebrated romance with Donald Duck and Daisy Duck, before the main event on Saturday featured Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse ruling over a fantasy-themed full marathon.

The famous "Dopey Challenge"—completing all four races on consecutive days for a combined 48.6 miles—drew hundreds of ambitious runners eager to earn the coveted collection of medals.

The Course

The Walt Disney World Marathon remains one of the most unique running experiences in the world, taking participants through all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Runners passed through Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom, experiencing the resort's magic from a perspective few guests ever see.

The course offered early-morning views of Cinderella Castle, runs through World Showcase, passes by Tower of Terror, and treks through the African savanna—all while Disney cast members and characters cheered from the sidelines.

Marathon Weekend by the Numbers

The 2026 edition marked another successful year for runDisney's flagship event. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend has been an annual tradition since 1994, growing from a single marathon to a multi-day celebration that includes:

• 5K (Thursday): 3.1 miles through EPCOT

• 10K (Friday): 6.2 miles through EPCOT

• Half Marathon (Saturday AM): 13.1 miles through Magic Kingdom and EPCOT

• Full Marathon (Saturday): 26.2 miles through all four theme parks

• Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge: Half marathon + marathon

• Dopey Challenge: All four races

Looking Ahead

With the 2026 Marathon Weekend in the books, runDisney enthusiasts are already setting their sights on upcoming events. The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend runs February 26 through March 2, 2026, followed by the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend in April.

For those inspired by this weekend's action, the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend takes place January 29 through February 1, 2026, at the Disneyland Resort in California.

Full results from all Marathon Weekend races are available at trackshackresults.com.

Until next time, keep believing in magic. — Behind the Wish