I do think that the medals will be entirely focused on the sequel trilogy era this year especially with the First Order Challenge switchup. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing although I really hope for no stormtrooper medals.
Looks like I nailed the first part of this and missed on the last part. I'm not a huge fan of stormtroopers to begin with, but I will soon have 4 stormtrooper medals. This will be the 6th Star Wars race weekend overall and at least 5 by my quick count of the 5K/10K/Half medals have featured stormtroopers. By comparison, only 2 Darth Vader medals (spinner on the Inaugural Rebel Challenge) and 2 Kylo Ren medals. Vader and Ren are bigger characters than stormtroopers. Other popular characters have yet to even be acknowledge on the ribbon or the medal and yet it's another 2 stromtrooper medals. I understand the reasoning for Captain Phasma on the half.
Star Wars has so many great medal design possibilities. I hope they branch out beyond yet another stormtroooper variant. I also hope they eventually go back to mine the possibilities from the original trilogy that they haven't tapped such as the Imperial Guards, Star Destroyers, ships, bounty hunters, etc.
What do I think we're getting? Based on the race descriptions from the website, Prateorian Guard for the 10K, Captain Phasma for the Half, and some sort of Kylo Ren medal for the challenge. No idea on the 5K, although I could see BB-9E.
Perfect guess on this one albeit BB-9E for the kids races.
I'm iffy on them but I can't say why because of spoilers! But one of these medals is funny, knowing what happens in TLJ. I know they have to stick with the theme but I kinda hope they don't do the Dark Side thing next year so they have more flexibility with everything, including the medals.
I think I know what you're getting at. I suspect that the medal designs were more or less finalized before the movie came out.
The time has come and gone for spoilers. If you haven’t seen the movie by now then ohhwell.
I see what you're saying, but if you've seen the movie please be respectful of those who may not have gotten that chance yet and at least use spoiler tags. Now that said, if you haven't seen the movie, you are at risk looking in any Star Wars related discussion board on the internet especially by now.
You are not alone.
I'm still running the races because in the end, I truly do not care about medals, but these are BAD. The Vader/Palpatine and TIE Fighter medals are the only non-marathon medals I've kept - love them! ♥
I started running because of the old
Disneyland half medal. I loved it. While I have long since found greater benefit to running than just medals, I still hope for good designs. For me that finishers medal is a tangible reminder of the process, especially including the setbacks and unexpected challenges that come with training for each race. I'm still processing how I feel about these medals. There are things I like a lot and things that disappoint me. I
would love a Vader medal in the same vein as the Kylo Ren challenge medal.
I also don't love the 5K and 10K. Personally I thought last years were better but I think I'll still go.
I do like the half and challenge medals though!
Compared to last year, it's very difficult to top the challenge medal with the Death Star especially in the 40th anniversary year of Star Wars.
I really love the race location at the top and race designation at the bottom of each medal. I also like the overall design idea they were going for.
My 2018 runDisney Star Wars Medal Rankings. Repeated medals not ranked. Keep in mind that the Kessel Run medal is my all time favorite runDisney medal. I even wore it at Disneyland during Superheroes race weekend because I wanted to wear it around Disneyland.
1. Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon
2. Kylo Ren (First Order Challenge)
3. Dark Side 10K
4. Dark Side 5K edges out the half by virtue of the side profile being different and the ribbon)
5. Dark Side Half
, but... this strikes me as overthinking medals. 
