Shea Zablan from Alabama Wins the 2024 Disney Princess Half Marathon on a Girl’s Trip

Shea Zablan from Alabama Wins the 2024 Disney Princess Half Marathon on a Girl’s Trip

Shea Zablan, a Birmingham, Alabama runner, unexpectedly claimed victory as the first female runner to cross the finish line during the RunDisney Disney Princess Half Marathon presented by CORKCICLE at Walt Disney World Resort. This accomplishment was part of her annual girls’ trip with high school friends who chose Disney World for the adventure.

Related –Colorado Resident Conquers Her First-Ever RunDisney Race After Life-Saving Lung Transplant Surgery

Despite being a first-time participant in a runDisney race, Zablan finished impressively with a time of 1:21:18, outpacing Leah Foley of Goodrich, Michigan (1:23:38), and Sarah Humble of Salt Lake City, Utah (1:24:43). The event allowed her to combine the joy of running with the enchantment of Disney’s theme parks, creating a magical experience for the Birmingham runner and her friends.

“Running through the parks was definitely a joy,’’ said Zablan, who spent Sunday afternoon enjoying EPCOT with her girlfriends. “I think also there was music everywhere. I’m not used to that at other races. There were people cheering every 100 meters apart. There was always someone all around. It was nice.’’

On the men’s side, the race for Michael Fussner of St. Louis, Missouri was a wonderful journey of redemption. After nearly winning the race a year ago, he hoped that a little Disney magic this year would create the fairytale ending that narrowly eluded him last year. Bolting to the lead early, he cruised the rest of the way to become the first male finisher (1:15:11).

After coming in second place last year, Fussner said of this year’s race: “You want to win. I mean, you get the confetti and everything. It’s awesome.’’

Reality TV star Matt James of Miami, Florida made his runDisney debut, running the entertainment-filled course in 1:27:32, which was 10^th among male runners. James enjoyed the race so much that he said he would likely return next year for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January where he plans to do the Dopey Challenge – running the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon on consecutive days for a total of 48.6 miles and six medals.

Heather Sealover of Bossier City, Louisiana, who won the wheelchair division last year, was the top wheelchair finisher (1:02:53) again this year followed by Linden Williamson of Seguin, Texas (1:05:37) and Nicholas McCoy of Boerne, Texas (1:18:31).

Sunday’s half marathon was the final race of the three-race weekend that included a 5K and a 10K, plus a Disney Fairytale Challenge (10K and the half marathon). The event ends Monday with a yoga event in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. Next up is the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend (April 18-21), the fourth and final race weekend of the runDisney race season at Walt Disney World.

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.

Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel

Who is your Travel Agent?(Required)

Let us pick for youEric HilesStacy ReedAbbey JohnsonAlisa SullivanAlli WillisAmanda FolsomAmanda VannAmber BrillhartAmber FisherAmy SieburnAndrea SmithAngela AndersonAngie BaycuraAnna PetrilliAnnabelle DuboseApril StefanskiAshley RamseyBeth ParsonsBetsy SantoroBrandie McQueenBrian BuckleyBridget HatchBryan SchwartzCandice SneedCarrie ButlerCarson DockumCasey BoltCharleen HortonChelsea RoyChelsea WuebkerChris BoyerChristie GrubeChristina FratturaChristina SmithCourtney WhiteCraig YoderDan MercedDanielle NorcrossDarby MouritsenDavid ForrestDeborah AlvaradoEmilee BiegelEmily MorrisFaith HakesGail HatchGreg MatzkerHelen HummerHolly CurryJackie CavistonJaclyn PepitoneJamie SwansonJeanine JordanJeff CallahanJenni MaierJennifer BrownJennifer StephensonJennifer StoessnerJessica HatfieldJessica HuffJessica WunderJoe GuertinJon CarpentierJoseph SliwaJulie McCombJustin BrownKat AttridgeKathryn EberhartKathy AndersonKatie HarrellKatie PrevotKayla CookKelsey SullensKim HelmsKimberly HutchinsonKristi GallagherKyle RamsdenLauren DewlenLeanne MonterLinda DurhamLindsay AckermannLindsey VromanLissette BritoLori HardyMallory MorrisonMandi QuinnMaranda PerkinsMarisa AlvaradoMegan TeismannMeghan BlairMelissa ReedMichele KlineMike BeyerMissy McCormickMisty DickersonNancy CasteelNicole ThorntonPatrick O'ConnorPaul SulPeyton Ward-KubikRaylene CooganRegan OstranderRobbie BulusRobert ThomasSara SolbergSarah McCandlishShanna BrowningShelley BennettShelly MetzStacy CristStacy KrzyminskiStacy SmithStephanie DraganoStephanie FerencStephanie WalshSusannah McCordTara SlusserTerri MillerTiffany DobraskiTiffany DrenkhahnTina FarmerTonya LesiukTracy DaneTroy DuncanVeronica RenteriaVicki FesslerWendy CarllWendy HauserWendy KellehanWendy Shelley

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Destination(Required)

Walt Disney WorldDisneyland ResortDisney Cruise LineAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaUniversal FloridaUniversal HollywoodRoyal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian or other Cruise LineI don't know yet

# of Adults(Required)

# of Children(Required)

Check-in-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Check-out-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Comments, Questions or Special Requests

Email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!