235: East River High School Choir: ChEAR Squad with a Soundtrack

You know that moment late in a runDisney race when your legs are toast, your brain is negotiating, and then you turn a corner and hear a choir lifting the whole road? We sit down with director Zach and students from the East River High School Choir, one of the groups that brings big, joyful sound to the final mile at Walt Disney World. They share how the runDisney relationship started, what Disney Entertainment actually means when they ask for a “gospel choir,” and how song choices are designed to push runners to the finish line.

We get into the real logistics too: a 2:45 AM school call time, warming up before sunrise, performing for hours, and timing the start of singing to runner flow. The students tell us what shocks them every time, from elaborate costumes and selfie stops to the emotional shift when a tired runner perks up, smiles, and starts moving again. If you have ever called the choir your “last-mile fuel,” you will hear exactly why that impact is real.

Then we pivot into pure community fun with Round 2 of our Disney animated features March Madness bracket, complete with debates, surprises, and Patreon tiebreakers. We also bring back Podcast We Listen To with a great chat featuring Peter and Kelly from The Lowdown On The Plus-Up, a theme park podcast packed with deep history, wild connections, and stories that get way darker than you’d expect from an attraction deep dive.

We wrap with updates, challenge results, and a loaded race report spanning first races, PRs, tough-weather wins, and even a 100-mile attempt. If you’re training for Springtime Surprise or just need a reminder that community can carry you farther than you think, hit play, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more runners can find us.

East River HS Choir
The Lowdown On The Plus Up

Rise and Run Links
Rise and Run Podcast Facebook Page
Rise and Run Podcast Instagram
Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching
Rise and Run Podcast Cruise Interest Form with Magic Bound Travel

Affiliate Links

The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded