Part 2: 2005 Disney World Inline Marathon

Race Preview: the 2005 Disney Inline Marathon

Attendance Drop for Disney Blamed in Part on Last Year's Treacherous Boardwalk

Smaller Field to Include Olympians Jennifer Rodriguez and KC Boutiette

(Page 2 of 2)

New Start Times

Another change this year is in the start times for the race.

Instead of starting all the divisions within minutes of each other, the open division will be held back while the faster pro skaters finish their first lap of the two lap (13.1 mile) racecourse.

"That way we won't have the pro skaters lapping anyone," Ortolano said.

The men pro and master skaters will be set off at 6:15 a.m.; the women pros and masters, a minute later; the open division skaters will be held back until 7 a.m.

"We continue to learn," Ortolano said. "Hopefully, the skaters will see that we have listened to their feedback and have made some changes, and they will decide that this is a great place to skate and come back."

Matzger, Glass, Rodriguez, Boutiette

Among the pros racing in the event this year will be Eddy Matzger, Julie Glass, and the Olympic speed skating couple, Jennifer Rodriguez and KC Boutiette, both of whom started as inline racers.

Matzger will give a talk for skaters on Saturday at the pre-race expo. Rodriguez, Boutiette and fellow Olympian Chris Thorpe (luge) will be part of a panel discussion at 2 p.m.

Event sponsors Rollerblade and K2 will both have booths at the expo.