Ray Magana Is A Run Disney Veteran Sharing His Tips and Best Advice

Today I’m on location with someone that considers Disney races a bit of a home course advantage.

Ray Magana is in town to run his third Dopey Challenge, 50th half marathon, and 15th full marathon.

I am looking forward to a good conversation and a sprinkling of pixie dust with Ray Magana.

Ray Magana

Tragedy Breeds Determination

Before 2013, Ray Magana was never a runner nor did he personally know any runners.

None of that mattered as he watched the news coverage on the Boston Marathon bombings.

Ray came across a charity run his local running club was having to benefit the people affected by the bombings.

Though he had never run a 5k before, Ray was motivated by the resilience of the people in Boston.

He surprised himself by completing the race and promptly signed up for more races.

On his way to completing his first full marathon in 2014 at Disney, he also completed a 10-mile race along with a half marathon.

Disney Memories Span a Lifetime

Ray was born and raised in Southern California, not far from Disneyland.

He grew up with Disney in his backyard and has many fond memories of the park.

Ray attended college on the east coast and it was during that time that he made the trek to Florida to visit DisneyWorld.

It was during that first trip that he promptly fell in love with DisneyWorld and has since made frequent visits.

Over the years Ray has become a seasoned Run Disney veteran.

In the early years of running Disney races, Ray would often focus on a time goal.

As Ray has become more experienced, he now often chooses to enjoy the race experience rather than rush it.

Ray Magana At the Finish Line of His 50th Half Marathon

Pro Tips For Race Weekend

Ray would recommend a Disney race for any level of runner.

The benefits of Disney over other races according to Ray are there is no pressure, they’re packed with fun, and he has seen all ages participate.

Ray has met numerous people over the years at Disney races, many of which have become close friends.

His number one pet peeve is when a runner says they are “just” running a certain distance.

Each finish line is an accomplishment regardless of distance.

If participating in more than one race, don’t forget to focus on recovery.

Self-care between the races is critical to ensuring a good experience.

Race-Cations

Ray loves to race and he also loves to travel so it made sense for him to combine the two whenever he could.

Along with running multiple Disney races, he has also run the NYC marathon and the Marine Corps marathon.

He enjoys the excitement of big race events and hopes to one day accomplish all 6 of the World Marathon Majors.

Even with all the travel plans on his horizon, Ray will always make sure to start each year with the Disney Race weekend in January.

The running community has turned out to be some of the most motivational people Ray has ever met.

Ray Magana

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Run Disney
• Marine Corps Marathon
• NYC Marathon

Stay connected with Ray Magana by following him on Twitter.

Ray Magana is a seasoned Run Disney Veteran. The most magical place on earth happens to be the friendliest place to race as well. Click To Tweet

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