In Memory of the Tower of Terror 10 Miler
The first weekend of October used to be the weekend for the runDisney Tower of Terror 10 miler in Walt Disney World. But rumor has it, they will no longer be running the Tower of Terror 10 miler. That was one of my favorite races. I was lucky enough to run it in 2013 and 2014. It feels weird to know that this is the weekend of the event, yet it isn’t happening this year.
Most runDisney race weekends I don’t participate in the 5K because I travel in as late as possible so that I don’t miss too much time from work and my family. Sometimes that means I can’t participate in the 5K because they happen on the day I am flying in. With the Tower of Terror and Wine & Dine races the longer distance races take place at night and the 5K is the morning of the same day. I didn’t register for the Tower of Terror 5K race last year but I did go to the race with Kim, Gail and Becca.
If you all know Kim, Gail and Becca they don’t hold back when putting together their race costumes. I can’t even say that I wear a costume, when compared to them. Their race weekend involves prepping for the race with various trips to costume shops, home improvement stores and craft supply stores. They put a lot of work into their designs, and the end result is worth it. But the harder part is, they still have to RUN in those costumes!
For the 5K they were dressed as the hitch hiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion. I went with them to the 5K and loved the atmosphere of that race! It was a rainy morning but just when it was time to leave the car and walk to the starting line, the rain has pushed away and there was a low ceiling of clouds with the sun just beyond it that really set the stage for a haunted 5K trail run through the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
The best part of that whole even was the headless horseman that makes his appearance just before the race. Check it out. I had an incredible viewing location for this!
The Tower of Terror 10 miler race takes place the night of the 5K race. This year after the race I also participated in the after party. The first year of the race, I did not participate in the after party because I had to fly home very early the same morning. Last year I attended the after party, showered, and then hopped in the car to the airport to fly home and attend a family event. I only napped while on the plane. That was crazy but worth it!
The 10 miler race ran from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, down Osceola Parkway to Animal Kingdom, back up Osceola Parkway to a trail leading to ESPN Wide World of Sports and ended back in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In previous years the weather had been very hot and muggy for this race. Last year it was perfect. The air was dry for a Florida night in October and the temperature was perfect for a night run. The race course has a lot of character stops and the after party takes place in Disney’s Hollywood Studios with food (for purchase), some rides are open like the Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and also some characters. We stayed at the party until around 3 a.m. It was a long day and I had a flight to catch in a few hours. But it was a very fun event.
I am still hoping that the rumor is just that, according to runDisney Faith Dority the race is in the vault for now. I am hoping they will bring it back at some point. I do enjoy this race weekend with the Villains and the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party held in Magic Kingdom that weekend as well. In 2013 it was my first runDisney night race and I really enjoy the night races.
One of the reasons why I love runDisney races, is because at just about every race I make a new friend. I had the chance to meet two more Connecticut runDisney fanatics, Bob and Mary Perrotti when I got on the plane last October. I sat with them on the plane and now I visit them at their local shop in Perrotti’s Country Barn in Middlefield and see them at local races in Connecticut! My whole family has met Bob and Mary and I have also met most of Bob and Mary’s kids! It’s so awesome how running can bring people together for more reasons than just races.
I was also really sad to see the Tower of Terror 10 miler race off the calendar for this year and possibly forever. My daughter and I ran it just last year and also attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We had such a fun weekend and were only there for two nights. Hopefully with enough interest, runDisney will bring back the race weekend.
I know a lot of my friends really like this race! We need to write to runDisney to make sure we express to them that we want them to bring this race back!