RUNNING NEWS ITEM

Bastos Returns to Walt Disney World Marathon

THURSDAY, 10 JANUARY 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Brazilian Adriano Bastos returns to the Walt Disney World Marathon Jan. 13 wearing a familiar number: 1. The 29-year-old Sao Paolo athlete will be running for his fourth straight Disney title and fifth in six years, starting at the front of an entry field of more than 18,000 athletes in the 15th annual Walt Disney World Marathon that takes participants on a 26.2-mile tour of the Florida Vacation Kingdom's expansive property, including all four theme parks.

Bastos has posted four of the 25 best times ever at Disney in winning the marathon four times - including each of the last three years. In January 2007, his 2:19:24 performance (20th best in the event's history) earned him his biggest victory margin - 12 minutes and 59 seconds.

The marathon caps a four-day "weekend" of activities that this year has attracted a record 40,000 participants for a variety of races - from a 'diaper dash' for crawling babies to a 5K fun run to a half marathon to the full marathon. Entry is closed for all events except select Kids' Races.

Kids' Races will take place on the track at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Friday, Jan. 11 and Saturday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m. each day. Children up to age 8 can participate in 400-, 200- and 100-yard Kids' Races, while the famous Diaper Dash is an opportunity to get infants off "on the right foot" with exercise - before they are on their feet.

For the first time, the lineup of events also will include Heelys Kids' Race & Roll - a 200-yard combination race and obstacle course for children ages eight to 14 wearing the popular Heelys wheeled footwear. All participants in the Heelys Kids' Race & Roll are required to wear a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, and kneepads.

To register for Kids' Races, guests can log on to www.disneyworldmarathon.com through Jan. 9. If Kids' Races and Heelys Kids' Race & Roll registrations are still being accepted on race weekend, only cash or check will be accepted for payment ($5 per child).

The schedule for the weekend's other running events includes:

Friday, Jan. 11 - Disney's Family Fun Run 5K (at Disney's Animal Kingdom), 7 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 - Walt Disney World Half Marathon (start near Epcot), 5:55 a.m.
Sunday, Jan. 13 - Walt Disney World Marathon (start near Epcot), 5:55 a.m.

The half marathon has a field of 16,500 registrants, while the 5K has 4,000. Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge also reached capacity with 3,000 half-marathoners planning to return Sunday morning for the full marathon.

Champion, the official sports apparel provider of Disney's Wide World of Sports, is hosting this year's "Family Reunion Area" for the race activities. The Family Reunion Area is located in the Wonder area of the guest parking lot at Epcot. This year, Champion also is offering finishing racers commemorative "support medals" -medals designed to give to others that allow Half Marathon and Full Marathon finishers a way to show their appreciation to someone who supported them throughout training. These medals (quantity of 10,000) can only be picked up at the Champion Tent in the Family Reunion Area - while supplies last - on Saturday and Sunday.

The four-day Disney Marathon Weekend also features Disney's Health and Fitness Expo in The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The event features celebrity runner appearances, seminars on training, racing and nutrition, and the opportunity to check out and experience the latest in running and fitness equipment. Expo hours: Thursday, Jan. 10, 3-8 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Saturday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission to the Expo is free.

More information about the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and an interactive, online race and event weekend can be found at www.disneyworldmarathon.com.

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