By Meghann Anderson of Meals and Miles.

The Walt Disney Marathon will always hold a special place in my heart.  After volunteering for the race in 2009, I was so inspired by all the runners that I signed up for my first marathon the next week.

That first ended up being San Diego (there was no way I was going to wait a whole year!), but my second came full circle when I ran the Disney Marathon in 2010.

It was cold. It was thrilling. It was everything I dreamt of. It’s the race of a lifetime through the happiest place on earth and I encourage everyone out there to run it at least once in his or her lifetime.

Unfortunately I will not be running the Disney Marathon again this year (I’m giving my body a break after back to back marathons this Fall), but I wanted to share a few tips and tricks for everyone who is!

Meghann’s Tips for the Disney Marathon or Half Marathon:

• Forgot to submit your corral qualifying times? Accidentally placed in the last corral? Don’t worry about it – switching corrals is easy at the race expo. Simply bring a copy of your latest race qualifying times to the expo and the volunteers will be more than happy to assign you to the right corral. Tip: this is a walker heavy race, so if you plan actually running this race it’s worth the extra effort to move to a closer corral to avoid the crowds.
• If you’re driving to the race your best bet will be arriving to park at least 90 minutes before the race start. This time takes in account traffic, lines, and the mile walk to the start line from your car.
• Avoid the lines at the first set of porta potties and wait to use the ones closest to the start .The last set has shorter lines and should save you 30 minutes in the long run.
• Don’t check a bag. Leave your belongings with a loved one and take advantage of the family reunion area after the race. The line to drop your bag off before the race isn’t worth it.
• Family members are not allowed at the official starting area. Tell them to find a spot past the starting line and to hold on tight (you’ll be circling around for a second hello).
• Good: Disney has a great spectator guide that encourages spectators to take advantage of the monorail system to see their runners.
• Bad: Everyone follows the same guide and lines getting on and off the monorail can be rough.
• Tip: If you know your way around Disney property, surprise your runner by meeting them at the Animal Kingdom parking lot. Parking is free before 9:00 and it’s a quiet part of the race that your runner will be happy to see you at.
• If you’re not worried about time – take your camera! There’s plenty of characters and attractions to photograph along the way!
• For more information on the Walt Disney Marathon check out my blog for last year’s race recap at http://mealsandmiles.com/2010/01/10/my-official-walt-disney-world-marathon-recap/

Good Luck to all the Disney Marathoners and Half Marathoners this weekend!

Remember: There’s no time limit on greatness! Give ‘em hell!