For the second consecutive year, overall Hakuna Matata 10-Miler winner Nolan McKenna of the Chicago area poses with women’s division winner Emily Hensel from the Pittsburgh area following their triumphant runs during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and marked the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
The 2023–24 runDisney race season came to a triumphant close on April 21, 2024, with the final event of the Springtime Surprise Weekend—the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler at Walt Disney World Resort.
Nolan McKenna and Emily Hensel Repeat Victories
For the second year in a row, Nolan McKenna of Chicago and Emily Hensel of Mars, Pennsylvania, claimed back-to-back wins. McKenna clocked in at 54:39, a 10-second improvement over last year, while Hensel edged out her competition with a time of 1:05:26.
McKenna celebrated by heading to EPCOT with his wife, saying, “There’s no better place to run than Walt Disney World… Once you do one runDisney race, you’re hooked.”
Hensel echoed the excitement, saying, “It’s like a dream come true… My family hoped I’d finish first again, and it feels amazing to do it two years in a row.”
Thousands of runners take part in the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and concluded the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
A Race Through Disney Magic
The 10-mile route wound through EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Runners enjoyed early-morning views and greeted favorite Disney characters along the way.
Olympian Jeff Galloway, official runDisney training consultant, was there to cheer participants toward the finish line. His encouragement added extra excitement to an already magical experience.
In the wheelchair division, Linden Williamson of Texas won the women’s title with a time of 45:12. Nicholas McCoy also from Texas, took the men’s division at 52:45
For the second consecutive year, overall Hakuna Matata 10-Miler winner Nolan McKenna of the Chicago area poses with women’s division winner Emily Hensel from the Pittsburgh area following their triumphant runs during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and marked the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
A Weekend Full of Celebration
Springtime Surprise Weekend featured a 5K, 10K, and a three-race challenge. It also included yoga sessions and a post-race splash party at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. The event’s theme—embracing adventure—brought joy and energy to the final weekend of the season.
Next up is the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend, scheduled for September 5–8, 2024. It marks the start of another exciting runDisney season.
Nolan McKenna of the Chicago area is greeted at the finish line of the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler by a sea of confetti and a cheering Mickey Mouse for the second year in a row during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. He finished with a time of 54:39, nearly two minutes ahead of the competition, concluding the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Nolan McKenna of the Chicago area is greeted at the finish line of the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler by a sea of confetti and a cheering Mickey Mouse for the second year in a row during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. He finished with a time of 54:39, nearly two minutes ahead of the competition, concluding the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
For the second consecutive year, overall Hakuna Matata 10-Miler winner Nolan McKenna of the Chicago area poses with women’s division winner Emily Hensel from the Pittsburgh area following their triumphant runs during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and marked the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Emily Hensel of the Pittsburgh area is cheered on by Minnie Mouse as she finishes first among women at the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler for the second year in a row on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Hensel finished with a time of 1:05:26 in the last on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Olympian and official runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway cheers on runners as they take part in the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and concluded the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Olympian and official runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway cheers on runners as they take part in the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and concluded the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Olympian and official runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway cheers on runners as they take part in the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and concluded the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Olympian and official runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway cheers on runners as they take part in the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and concluded the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Thousands of runners take part in the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and concluded the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Thousands of runners take part in the Hakuna Matata 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 21, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event focused on embracing adventure and concluded the final on-site race weekend of the 2023-24 runDisney race season. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
