Rise and Run

runDisney didn’t start as a massive, must-register-in-minutes phenomenon. It grew into that, and Jon Hughes was in the middle of the turning points. We finish our conversation with the Track Shack leader who helped bring the Walt Disney World Marathon to life, then watched it evolve into a global runDisney culture where first-timers, costumers, walkers, and marathoners all belong on the same course.

Jon shares when the races first felt “bigger than expected,” why the paper signup era created real confusion about sellouts, and how new weekends and concepts like Wine and Dine’s early night-race vibe reshaped logistics. We also get the origin story of the Goofy and Dopey challenges, including the moment the Dopey name clicked and why well-trained multi-race runners can actually fare better than people who show up underprepared for a single event. Along the way we talk characters, entertainment placement, and the simple reason so many people start running at Disney: they feel safe and welcomed.

Back with the hosts, we bring it to the present with summer training honesty: slowing down in heat and humidity, staying consistent through wind and bad air quality, and holding onto the mindset that your current pace might be someone else’s dream. Plus, Julia joins us for the race report spotlight to celebrate her 50th half marathon at Presque Isle and a strong finish as she lines up an ambitious season ahead.

If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a running friend, and leave us a review so more runners can find the Rise and Run community.
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runDisney feels like it’s always been there, but it hasn’t. The real story includes years of pitching, countless meetings, tough operational compromises, and a whole lot of faith that runners would actually show up. We’re joined by Jon Hughes from Track Shack, the first race director of the Walt Disney World Marathon and one of the key voices who helped convince Disney a marathon belonged on property.

Jon takes us back to the early days of Track Shack, when running specialty stores were rare and races were often built from scratch just to grow the sport. We dig into what makes a great race director, why course design and logistics matter more than most people realize, and how Disney’s marketing excitement didn’t always match the realities of operations. You’ll hear how the marathon finally got the green light, why the early course didn’t fully match the dream, and what it felt like to face a start line that ballooned to 8,400 runners before the first race ever happened.

We also keep things practical and personal: training updates in peak summer heat, hydration lessons, the mental tricks that get us out the door, plus community news like our charity fundraising plans and the first-ever Rise and Run virtual trivia night. Then we roll into race reports from across the Rise and Run family, from local 5Ks and an 8K series with a baked potato finish to truly wild endurance feats.

If you love runDisney history, marathon origin stories, or smart training talk that’s honest about real life, hit play. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend training for their next race, and leave a quick review to help more runners find the Rise and Run family.
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Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded

We hit a milestone and decided to do something worthy of it: build our own ranked list of the best road races in America. From the New York City Marathon’s five-borough roar to Boston’s history-soaked mystique, Chicago’s electric crowds, and the Marine Corps Marathon’s landmark-heavy patriotism, we talk through the races that feel bigger than a finish time and why they earn a spot on a true bucket list. 

We also keep it real for the runDisney community. Springtime Surprise registration moved faster than many expected, so we share what sold out when, what that might mean for the season ahead, and why charity bibs can be a smart Plan B. Then we dig into why runDisney itself belongs near the top of a “great American races” conversation, plus how we’d rank the current race weekends if you’re choosing your first one. 

And because July 4th means Peachtree, we spotlight the Peachtree Road Race with firsthand stories about the expo challenges, the party-on-the-streets vibe, the sneaky tough hill miles, and the iconic finisher shirt that makes Atlanta runners come back year after year. We also pause to remember Jeff Galloway, share a powerful origin story from his past visit, and reflect on how his encouragement continues to shape runners everywhere. 

If you like running culture, race travel ideas, training honesty, and a little friendly debate, press play. Subscribe, share this with a runner who needs a new goal race, and leave a review if the show helps you keep moving, what’s your pick for the best road race in America?

Rise and Run Links
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Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)
Johns Fundraising Link For The Special Forces Foundation 
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded

The reason you started running is probably not the reason you keep running, and that’s the point. We open with a simple community question from our friend Alan, then hand the mic to friends whose answers stretch from “I’ve never been an athlete” to “running became my only quiet place.” You’ll hear how stress, family health scares, grief, postpartum life, and plain old curiosity can turn into a steady running habit and a stronger sense of self.

We also get practical about summer training when the weather stops cooperating. We talk dew point, humidity, pacing, hydration, electrolytes, treadmills, and the mental game of making smart adjustments so you stay healthy enough to reach the starting line. There’s also a useful health sidebar on the cardiac calcium screen and why some runners consider it for peace of mind.

Then we hit the runDisney news and community buzz: Springtime Surprise registration and the messy feelings around Perfect status communication, plus a marathon playlist update and a corral prediction data project. We wrap with race reports, including a standout spotlight from Alicia on the Leadville Heavy Half, a brutal and beautiful 15.5-mile mountain race topping out at 13,185 feet, and a powerful moment of running in someone’s memory.

If this one resonates, subscribe for more, share it with a running friend, and leave a review. What’s your running “why” right now?
Rise and Run Links
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Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)
Johns Fundraising Link For The Special Forces Foundation 
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded

Summer training has a way of turning simple runs into big questions: Why is my pace suddenly slower, how do I stay safe in the heat, and what actually matters in the first weeks of a runDisney build? We sit down with our friend Coach Chris Twiggs to get real answers you can use right away, whether you’re gearing up for Wine & Dine, Marathon Weekend, or dreaming about Dopey.

Chris takes us from the mountains to the sidewalks, starting with the Hardrock 100, a legendary 100-mile loop in Colorado with 33,000 feet of climbing, high-altitude reality, and the famous finish-line rule: you kiss the rock. From there, we move to the training most of us are doing now. We talk consistency over speed, how to stop comparing yourself to last season, and why “pixie dust” is not a training plan even when the races are full of magic.

The heart of the conversation is heat training and performance. We break down what heat does to your body, how to acclimate on purpose, and how to cool yourself during runs. Chris shares clear red flags to stop a workout, plus hydration and electrolyte cues that too many runners miss. We also cover treadmill strategy, long-run pacing as a speed limit, and why your treadmill is usually more trustworthy than your watch indoors.

We also spotlight the Miles To Go 5K in Orlando (with a virtual option) and celebrate race weekend stories, including Nannah’s first marathon at Grandma’s Marathon and her mom, Ellen’s, half marathon PR. Listen, share with a running friend, and leave us a review, then tell us: what’s the one habit you’re locking in to stay consistent this season?

Chis Twiggs’s Links
Hard Talk Podcast
Customized Training

Miles to Go Links
Miles to Go Website
Miles to Go 5K Regitration
Rise and Run Links
Rise and Run Podcast Facebook Page
Rise and Run Podcast Instagram
Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)
Johns Fundraising Link For The Special Forces Foundation
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded