RUNNING USA – Disney Salutes U.S. Troops with Companion Race Tied to Disney Marathon Weekend – Half-marathon in Baghdad for more than 300 U.S. military personal; sold-out field of 53,000-plus expected at Walt Disney World; new Mickey Mouse medal; will Bastos seven-peat?

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – (Jan. 4, 2011) – More than 300 U.S. military personal in Iraq will take part in a Disney half-marathon in Baghdad during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA, which will feature more than 53,000 runners at Walt Disney World in suburban Orlando this weekend. Last year, the WDW Marathon and Half Marathon became the largest M/H combo all-time with 34,055 finishers.

The runDisney Heroes Race in Baghdad on Saturday will involve service men and women based at Victory Base Complex trekking 13.1 miles through the Iraqi desert while simultaneously more than 27,000 runners – a new race record – run the same distance during the Disney Half Marathon. Both races will be linked by satellite so runners and spectators at both events can view live video of each race. Runners in both races will receive official runDisney race bibs, shirts and finisher medals.

The companion race is just one of the many new twists to this year's Disney Marathon Weekend. In addition, runners who finish the 26.2-mile Disney Marathon will receive complimentary entry into Walt Disney World the next day as part of Marathon Monday at Disney. Also, finishers will receive a new Mickey Mouse medal.

"The runDisney Heroes Race is our way of honoring the courageous men and women of our armed forces who put their lives on the line every day,'' said Kathleen Duran, runDisney Sports Area Manager. "With the salute to the troops and new features like Marathon Monday and the new race medal, the Disney Marathon Weekend is unquestionably our signature event among the four runDisney events we stage each year.''

In all, runners from all 50 states and 60 other countries will take part in a variety of Disney Marathon Weekend events, such as the Disney Family Fun Run 5K on Friday, Mickey Mile and Mickey Marathon Kids Fest on Friday and Saturday, the Disney Half-Marathon on Saturday and the Disney Marathon on Sunday.

And once again more than 5,000 runners are putting themselves to the ultimate test – the Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge which involves running the half-marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday.

There's also the Health & Fitness Expo from Thursday-Saturday at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex which features running merchandise, equipment and running-related seminars by leading authorities such as renowned marathon trainer Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney.

All eyes will once again be on men's defending champion Adriano Bastos. The colorful Brazilian is going for his seventh straight Disney Marathon win and eighth overall. Bastos first won the Disney Marathon in 2003 and has won six straight since 2005.

For more information on the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend or to register for future runDisney events, visit www.rundisney.com.

For coverage throughout this event check out Twitter (@disneysports) and Facebook (Disney Sports).

RUNNING USA