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Des Linden Wins 2026 Disney Princess Half Marathon in 1:16:27

March 3, 2026
By
Anna F.

Des Linden surprised the field at Walt Disney World, winning the 2026 Disney Princess Half Marathon in 1:16:27 after turning up the pace early and never looking back, proving her preparation-first mindset still delivers big results.

​Des Linden won the women’s race at the 2026 Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 27 seconds.

(Credit: Mark Ashman)

​The 2018 Boston Marathon champion and two time Olympian averaged 5:50 per mile on the course at Walt Disney World. The race, known for its princess theme and costumed runners, is one of the most popular events in the runDisney series.

​Linden did not enter the weekend as a headline favorite. In recent years, she has focused more on ultra distance trail racing than road half marathons.

​After the opening miles, Linden increased the pace and created a gap on the field. She maintained control through the second half of the race and secured a clear victory.

​Elite runners have appeared at Disney events before. Meb Keflezighi has competed in the series following his Boston Marathon win. Brittany Charboneau, who swept the 2022 Dopey Challenge, also competed this year and was the first woman finisher in the 2026 Disney Marathon.

​Linden has often spoken about focusing on preparation rather than outcome. Her performance on Sunday reflected that mindset.

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