Meet Calvin: Ear to Ear Magic’s runDisney Superfan
Who Am I?
Hi there! For those I haven’t had the chance to meet or chat with in our Facebook runDisney group or during the streams, my name is Calvin. Somehow, I’ve become the Ear to Ear Magic runDisney superfan.
I wanted to share a little about my runDisney journey as an introduction. Moving forward, I’ll be posting about upcoming races, training tips, race reports, and other runDisney-related topics. And who knows? Maybe I’ll even throw in a few other topics near and dear to my heart—Rebel Alliance, anyone?
The Moment That Sparked My runDisney Journey
My runDisney journey started back in the 1990s or early 2000s during a family trip to EPCOT. While heading to pick up a FastPass for Test Track, we got caught waiting for a group of runners to pass.
It was early in the morning, and I remember thinking these people were breaking the “no running in the parks” rule. But they weren’t just running—they had clearly been at it for a while.
Years later, I finally realized that what I had witnessed was a runDisney event. I still don’t know exactly which race it was or what time of year it happened, but it left a lasting impression.
Balancing Family, Fitness, and Disney
When my daughter was born in 2006, I wanted her to experience Disney with the wonder of a child. As she grew, I also realized I wanted to set a good example of fitness and routine for her.
Like many young parents, I struggled to balance fitness with my responsibilities as a father. In 2011, I saw Disney fans talking about runDisney, and an idea started forming.
I had run in my youth—never competitively, but I had always enjoyed it. I’m a goal-oriented person, and the bigger the goal, the more seriously I take it. That’s when I decided that my first official running event would be the 2012 Walt Disney World Half Marathon.
My First runDisney Race: 2012 WDW Half Marathon
During the summer and fall of 2011, I dedicated myself to training for my first half marathon. Then, in January 2012, I arrived at Walt Disney World with my wife, daughter, and parents for my first ever runDisney race.
13.1 miles later, on a cool January morning, I had completed my first half marathon. That race started a journey that has now carried me for over 12 years.
My runDisney Experience Over the Years
Since 2012, I’ve:
✅ Completed every distance offered at WDW
✅ Run over 50 in-person runDisney events at Walt Disney World & Disneyland
✅ Participated in inaugural events and learned plenty of lessons along the way
✅ Started races from various locations, including highways, parking lots, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom
✅ Struggled with online registrations, some of which were delayed or even canceled
Not every race has been smooth, but I’ve loved the journey every step of the way.
Why I’m Sharing My Story
I’m not sharing all of this to brag—I want you to know I’ve been there. I’ve been the first-timer, and now I’m the old-timer with over 500 miles of runDisney experience on both coasts.
Our goal as a community is to help you participate in runDisney events. In future posts, I’ll cover:
🎯 Registration tips
🎯 Training advice
🎯 What to expect at runDisney events
🎯 How to maintain your fitness throughout the runDisney “season” and beyond
Until next time, I’ll see you… on the course!
