Track Disney turtles during the annual Tour de Turtles

This Sea Turtle Conservancy photo shows the 2011 Tour de Turtles kick-off party.

Dudes. If you thought Crush and his pals had a long way to flow on the EAC in the movie "Finding Nemo," you ain't seen nothing yet.

For the past four years the Sea Turtle Conservancy has been following the marathon migration of sea turtles from their nesting beaches to their foraging grounds. This year they do it again by following 13 sea turtles representing four different species, including two Disney turtles whose names -- "Peach" and "Pearl" -- come from the movie "Finding Nemo."

The turtles will be tracked by satellite for about three months -- we did say this was a turtle marathon -- with the goal of seeing which turtle swims the furthest distance.

The marathon starts Aug. 1 and can be followed on the TourdeTurtles website. 

“The marathon is important on the larger level because the Sea Turtle Conservancy shares information with the National Marine Fishery Services which controls where people fish," Anne Savage, Conservation Director of Walt Disney World Programs, said in a Disney news release. “This will help determine where turtles swim in relation to where boats are, and to use that information to regulate the amount of time that people stay in those areas keeping the turtles out of danger.”

During the marathon, each turtle will represent a “cause or threat” to their survival. Peach, which is being sponsored by Disney’s Animal Programs and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, represents the threat of light pollution. Sea turtle hatchlings rely on moonlight to find their way to the ocean, but many become disoriented and are drawn off-course by artificial light sources. If you've ever been to Vero Beach, you might have seen resorts ask that you keep your curtains drawn so as not to confuse the turtles.

Pearl, which is sponsored by the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and Disney’s Friends for Change, represents entanglement effects caused by pollution, fishing lines and fishing nets.

Once the competition starts, we will also be posting updates and reminding you to visit the TourdeTurtles website. 

Or as Crush would say: Watch the whole thing, dude. First, you'll be like "whoa," and then like "whoa" and then like "whoa ..."