My 2025 Disney Halloween Half Marathon Race Day
Running the 2025 Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon was extra special! It is my second marathon ever, and the first one I got to do together with Dom. We started with the whole park glowing in Halloween lights, pumpkins everywhere, and characters in costumes cheering along the course. By the time we crossed the finish line the sun was just starting to rise. Seeing the park shift from spooky and lit-up to daylight while finishing our first half together is a magical experience I’ll never forget!
Halloween 2025 Disneyland Half Marathon
This week, we’re heading to Anaheim, California for the Halloween 2025 Disneyland Half Marathon. This is the first time Dom and I have ran a marathon together. I’m so excited because Disnelyand is completely decorated with Halloween decor, and we’ll be able to see the sunrise in the park as we’re running.
This is only my second ever half marathon. It was such an amazing time that I’m already wanting to sign up for more marathons! There’s something so special about thousands of people, different ages, backgrounds, and fitness level, all coming together to celebrate what our bodies can do.
My Race Day Gear
I like laying out gear the night before my race to help me prepare. My outfit for race day is simple: a lightweight tank top, comfy shorts, and my Salomen running vest. I’m keeping 2 water bottles in my vest to keep my hydrated during my race tomorrow. Since we are at Disneyland after all, I also grabbed a super cute Minnie bow hair tie that I got today during the Halloween Marathon Exhibition.
For nutrition, I’ve put aside four Maurten Gels. Then, I’m going to eat a XAct Energy Fruit Bar in the morning. It’s a chewy caffeine fruit bar. Then, I’ll also eat one of these Honey Stinger Waffles tomorrow.
SALOMON ACTIVE SKIN 8
I really love running with my Salomon Active Skin 8. It holds both water bottles I need for this race, and all the gels and cookies I’m snacking on along the way. This one is super comfy and I love the green color I got!
MAURTEN GEL 100
Maurten Gel 100 is my go to running gel. I have a sensitive stomach so I get nervous when it comes to gels. It tastes great,t and doesn’t upset my stomach at all. I only use it on my longer runs, and it makes a HUGE difference in my runs! I ate one of these first thing to prep in the morning!
HONEY STINGER ENERGY WAFFLES
A lot of fuels can be too sweet or have a weird texture, but these Honey Stinger Energy Waffles are SO yummy! They’re nice and chewy, and you can taste the real honey. These cookies are also super gentle on my stomach. I personally can’t run and eat these at the same time, so I usually eat these before my long runs!
XACT ENERGY FRUIT BARS
These XAct Energy Fruit Bars are my new obsession right now. These caffeinated gummy candy-like bars are made with real fruit pulp. They’re tasty and I usually split these with someone half each. They are great to have before a run.
My Race Day Experience
Dom and I are in our 30’s and honestly, this is probably the most fit we’ve been in the past 10 years. Not in terms of weight, speed, or appearance, but how we feel both mentally and physically. As someone who struggled with body image for years, I can finally say I feel truly proud of my body. Exercise no longer feels like a punishment, but a way to celebrate what my body can do.
Everything I ate for Race Day
Running has showed me that food is fuel. You literally cannot run without it. But, on race day, it’s super important to make sure your stomach’s not upset after eating. Here’s everything I ate before my marathon together keep me fueled up for the big day!
Halloween Half Marathon Exhibition
We headed into the Disneyland Halloween 2025 Expo and picked up our bibs for the race. Walking through the expo, you see all the hard work and dedication everyone’s poured into training. It just feels like one big celebration. You’d think being surrounded by the 8,000 runners will make me more nervous for tomorrow. but honestly, it was the complete opposite. Seeing everyone in one place reminds me that I’m not alone. We’re all in this together, chasing the same finish line.
We wandered around the expo checking out all the Disneyland running gear, from race shirts to limited Halloween merch. Of course, I had to grab a cute hair tie for tomorrow’s race. Another highlight for us was trying the special Halloween Dole Lime Whip: bright green, frozen, and super sour. It was the perfect treat for walking around the expo.
Halloween Half Marathon day
The Halloween Half Marathon today starts early, so we started getting ready at 3 AM. We were almost too excited to sleep last night. A little eyeliner and glitter later, we’re heading out to the park.
The race starts at 5:00 AM, but you can start feeling the anticipation as thousands of strangers gather at the starting line. So many people were dressed up as their favorite characters! Waiting to run is always the most anxious part, but it’s so much more fun with so many people around.
The race kicked off while the park was still completely dark, so everything was glowing with Halloween lights and decorations. They even had Disney cast members along the route cheering people on. There’s something special about feeling like the park is alive, just for us. By the time we crossed the finish, the sun was starting to rise over the park, and seeing it shift from spooky and lit-up to daylight was honestly the best part of the whole run.
However, all that excitable energy really comes from the people running alongside us. There were also tons of strangers who woke up at dawn just to cheer each other on and hold up signs all day. Volunteers handed out water and fuel. It felt more like a celebration of life, movement, and collaboration than a simple race. Sharing that moment with my life partner was truly magical and is definitely a core memory I’ll hold in my heart forever.
My Thoughts on Disney Halloween Half Marathon
The Halloween Half Marathon was absolutely such a good time. At the end, you also get a super cool medal, with Maleficent as this year’s design. It really felt more like a celebration event than a race. The energy there was unreal, and the decor and merch are super cute. Everyone was so kind, so supportive.
This race experience is a 10 out of 10. Highly, highly recommend. I think this is a very good race for those who have never ran a half marathon before, and want to try something new and fun. It’s definitely an experience I’d love to have again!
Check Out More of My Marathon Running Journey
