Denver native
DISNEY STAR WARS HALF MARATHON — THE DARK SIDE 2nd title this year for women’s champ; men’s title goes to Brazilian
Brittany Charboneau wins the women’s division at the Disney Star Wars Half Marathon — The Dark Side. Twotime Disney World Marathon runner-up Vanilson Neves of São Paulo, Brazil, is the top men’s finisher.
When Brittany Charboneau ran in high school and college, she never won.
The distance didn’t matter. The conditions didn’t matter. Simply, nothing mattered.
Charboneau was not coming in first.
The Denver native finally broke through with a victory in a half marathon in Chicago two years ago, and for the second time in 31⁄2 months, she prevailed in a 13.1-mile race Sunday at Disney World.
Charboneau, 29, won the women’s division at the Disney Star Wars Half Marathon — The Dark Side in 1 hour, 21 minutes, 39 seconds.
Two-time Disney World Marathon runner-up Vanilson Neves of São Paulo, Brazil, was the top men’s finisher in 1:09:55.
More than 15,000 runners completed the third annual race.
“I let go of my fear,’’ Charboneau said. “I just remember being so afraid at the starting line at all of my college races and just being intimidated and finally, I was like, ‘This isn’t worth it.’ I
love running, and I just want to do it for me.’’
Charboneau is more than a relatively late bloomer.
She is an Olympic hopeful. The woman who joined the Colorado State cross country team as a junior walk-on qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials last month at the Los Angeles Marathon, bettering her personal best by 15 minutes.
“I remember crossing the finish line, and it was a very surreal experience,’’ Charboneau said. “It was like, ‘I cannot believe I just did that.’’’
Charboneau, who won the Disney World Half Marathon in January, crossed the finish line 41⁄2 minutes in front of runnerup Katherine Burkowski (1:26:09) of Windermere. Canadian Jennifer Barron (1:26:41) placed third.
Burkowski, 38, ran at the University of Michigan but took time off while raising 2- and 4-year-old sons.
“I ran the Disney Marathon in January, and this is my second race in seven years,’’ Burkowski said. “I was just going for a good solid time, finish faster than I started. I’m really happy.’’
Neves, 30, jumped into the lead early and crossed comfortably ahead of another Brazilian, runner-up Dicson Peixoto Falcao (1:14:38).
Neves battled the wind, which he said, through an interpreter, bothered him more than the temperatures in the 60s or the humidity.
“The [wind] slows the running,’’ Neves said.
“It is amazing because this is the first win here. It is very exciting.’’
UF professor Zane Grabau finished third in 1:15:27. The former smallcollege runner in Nebraska said his goal is to break 2:30 for 26.2 miles.
His best so far is two minutes shy of that benchmark.
“I am kind of knocking on the door,’’ Grabau said.
So was Charboneau at one point.
It used to be that a lack of confidence hamstrung her more than the challenges presented by a course or the weather ever could. Charboneau ran for 11⁄2 decades before experiencing a breakthrough victory.
All that time, Charboneau prepared — not really sure whether that day would arrive.
“I do mental training just as much as I do physical training,’’ she said. “That’s a lot of visualization, just a lot of self-talk, positive talk every day. Just a habit that you have to make yourself believe.’’
The difference showed Sunday. Although admittedly tired, Charboneau smiled broadly for several minutes after the race.
She was proud of what she had accomplished and joyful for what the future holds.