Dopey Challenge Archives - Neverland Press

The Long Walk-26.2 Miles of Dopey Fun

The Age-Old Running Question

Can you walk the (insert runDisney race) without being swept? Visit any runDisney Facebook page or social media forum and you will see this question asked hundreds of times, especially as challenge weekends loom and nerves build. And people ask for lots of reasons…first time runners, life events, lack of training, injuries, illness, corral placement. But the stakes are even higher for Dopey-four races over four days totaling 48.6 miles.

The problem was…I didn’t realize I would soon know the answer first-hand, and that answer was YES!

Walt-We Have a Problem!

About halfway through the Half Marathon, I felt some pain on the outside of my left knee. It was simply a nuisance at first…didn’t affect my speed or my gait-I didn’t even think to tell my running friend, Meghan. From Corral D we easily made the castle by dark and I just assumed the pain would subside.

The calm before the (overused IT band) storm…

It didn’t. The last five miles had longer and longer walk intervals, and shorter running ones. The pain was sharper and more acute. I could have favored one leg if I allowed myself. I knew I was going to need a plan to tackle the full on Sunday, another 26.2 miles on top of the 23.9 I’d already run over the last three days. (If my math seems faulty it’s only because I logged an extra 1.4 miles…I wanted to run a full 50 miles to celebrate my 50th birthday this past November!) LOL!

Proactive Prep

I was hopeful I could get myself set up for success for the full marathon the next morning. We rolled and buffed (Yes, my friends and I travel with a handheld car buffer-our economy version of the Expo’s BFF!). I taped. We agreed to shorten our intervals from the 1:30/:30 the day before to :30/:30. It wasn’t enough.

I was so nervous I even checked my ears-a first.

We crossed the start line and I did two rounds of intervals. I knew immediately-the stopping and starting was not going to work. I think my exact words to my friend Jess were, “Just go. You actually have a shot of finishing this thing.” It seems overdramatic-but the wear of tear of four days of running combined with the four early wake-ups inspires doubt in the best of us. I wasn’t the only one questioning if I would be able to finish.

And it was a feeling I’d had once before…when I ran the Glass Slipper Challenge with Bronchitis and Walking Pneumonia (read about that here!) But this time was different-it was my legs versus my lungs, the distance was doubled and the Dopey Challenge medal was on the line.

Miles 1-5: Castle Bound

One of the perks of walking-all my pics came out nice and clear!

Once I resigned myself to walking and I knew I wasn’t holding my friends back, my new plan was easier to accept. I was still nervous, though. I had no idea of knowing how long my knee would hold up. Luckily, I also had some great friends spectating, and they were tracking both me and the Balloon Ladies. (They are the last runners to cross the start line, and maintain a 16 minute mile. If they pass you at any point on the course you are in danger of being swept.) I was already at mile 3 when they began, and that was the biggest lead I had all day.

My first goal was hitting the castle, so I chose to pass character stops for Pirates, Guardians of the Galaxy and Zootopia characters, as these were all ones I’d met on previous runs and trips. My only stop was for a real bathroom at the TTC location!

Magic Kingdom-One Magical Mile

Entering the Magic Kingdom was a huge boost! It was gorgeous all lit up and still decorated from Christmas, which was a surprise. The crowds were amazing with all their clever signs, and it made me want to break into a run. It was hard to walk in front of a cheering crowd!

This moment never stops being special or surreal…!

The best was yet to come though…I had two things to look forward to-Cinderella Castle and my friends cheering for me on Main Street, USA!!!

Cheering crowds as we make our way down Main Street, USA!

I was thrilled to see Jess and Sharon right by Casey’s Corner! They assured me I was doing great and would be able to stay ahead of the Balloon Ladies at my current pace. I just had to keep it up. Just love my runDisney peeps!

Jess and Sharon-runDisney cheerleaders extraordinaire!

It was noticeably lighter than the day before by the time I reached the castle. I also knew I was only going to get slower once the sun came out and the miles piled up. I had to make a decision about characters. Though I love my photos and character stops are my weakness, I decided I would only stop IF the line was extremely short (under ten people) or it was a rare character I’d never met before.

Cinderella Castle lit up in the early morning hours-perfection.

I passed Buzz in Tomorrowland, but I was thrilled to see this guy in Fantasyland! It was Ulf-the mime from Tangled!! I was so excited, and shocked that there were only five people in line! Maybe they didn’t know who he was?? This was my favorite character stop of the entire race!!

Doing “jazz hands” with Ulf-the mime from Tangled!

I walked through the castle (it really took restraint) and I got the requisite castle pic. I knew better than to try my trademark jump-I needed to play it safe with twenty (twenty!!!!) miles still in front of me. It wasn’t hard to pass on a character stop in Frontierland with Woody and Jessie, as I got Bullseye the day before, but passing on the male villains was harder-when do you ever get to see Dr. Facilier and Jafar together? The line was simply too long.

No jump pic today…have to show a little restraint!

Miles 6-13: Grand Floridian and Highway

The next stretch was highway, but had plenty of photo ops to keep it interesting and mark the passage of time. First stop were the groomsmen. They represent the Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian. Just the day before we were cracking jokes about “bad girls” (I was dressed as Maleficent for the Half) but today just a quick smile and moving on!

The Groomsmen from the Grand Floridian! Not too shabby!

Starting in Corral D and only stopping for three photos up to this point meant I still had a ton of people behind me. Perfect time to stop for these fun photo ops with no line! First up were retired ride vehicles! Loved seeing the sub from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-so nostalgic-loved this ride from my childhood! Also represented was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Star Jets. Star Jets??? Then some interesting busts (never quite figured these out) and the iconic Orange Bird!

Seeing the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues was particularly nostalgic!

My daughter and I are both big fans of Orange Bird!

The sun was also still low enough in the sky not to be a factor, so I stopped for this fun photo op with the Adventurers Club. They were mic’d up and pretty funny…he quipped how I wasn’t doing that bad, but I wasn’t doing that great, either! That got some laughs from the crowd, and reminded me I needed to keep moving!

Oh how I wished that oversized Martini was real…! LOL!

As a Disney fanatic, I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know who Bowler Hat Guy was. But I did know this was a rare appearance and a very short line, so I stopped to meet him. I did rectify this as soon as I got home…watching Meet the Robinsons with my kids. What a great movie! *sniff*

Not sure what my pose is supposed to be (?) but still funny!

Animal Kingdom-A Wild Mile!

Hitting mile 13 means things were starting to get real! The sun was up and it had already taken me close to four hours to get to the half way point. By now I was hitting each and every medical tent-loading up on Biofreeze and taking the maximum number of Tylenol. (They mark your hand with a Sharpie so you can’t request too many!) The knee was twingy but holding up. I was tired though…I could feel the last few days catching up with me.

Sunglasses came out for the first time just outside the AK entrance.

I was still excited to see this frame opportunity right before the entrance to Animal Kingdom, though! There was also an animal handler a few paces away but the line was too long. I know my friends got some great shots with donkeys and exotic birds, depending on when they passed by! I was also pretty excited to see the ostrich from Fantasia-with no line!

A rare character AND a nonexistent line-a win win!

This is where I started to get a little in my head. One of the perks of running the full is that if you time it just right, you can ride Expedition Everest during your race. It was something I was really excited about and planned to do. Except I never saw it, or even thought about it. (Which was good considering the narrow margin at which I finished!!)

I was starting to get preoccupied. If there was a photo op by the Tree of Life, I don’t remember that either. When I stopped for this photo-I wasn’t quite sure who they were…Lion King or Festival of Fantasy parade performers? (They were in fact parade performers from the Little Mermaid section.) I had started to go on autopilot.

Sure, I’ll pose with you ladies, whoever you are!

Miles 14-18: We’re on a Road to Nowhere

There was an awesome surprise waiting for me in the parking lot just outside Animal Kingdom at mile 14-the parking lot was filled with cheering spectators-including my friends! Jess and Sharon had been joined by our friend, Jenn, and hearing them call out my name was pure joy! It was great to grab a selfie, some sweaty hugs (mine) and assurance that I was still well ahead of the Balloon Ladies, though the lead was narrowing.

All of these girls are multiple Dopey finishers-I’m not worthy!

Another awesome perk was all the organized cheer groups-many of which were offering runners snacks! I’m pretty sure I remember stuffing chocolate (Twix, KitKats?) in my pockets-but I had my eye on the prize-someone was handing out jello shots!! I was ridiculously excited to see these and pretty sure I remember choosing green to match my Dole Whip outfit. I really wasn’t thinking clearly at this point. LOL! A fellow runner and I sucked these down together-instant bonding! Cheers!

I’ve always had a weakness for jello shots…!

Pride is a funny thing. I had always coveted the race photos I saw with the Grave Diggers, Haunted Mansion-style, and this was my chance! Common sense told me to stay upright, but no, I couldn’t pass up on this ultimate photo op! Getting down was easy, and I remember popping up as if I was perfectly fine. (Nothing to see here…!) It cost me for sure…but I didn’t regret it. I still don’t!

The Grave Diggers claim their next victim!

Once I exited the parking lot, it was highway. Miles and miles of highway. Miles of up and backs with nothing to really break up the monotony. Now walking in full sun, no shade. Tired. Knee hurting. No characters. Too much time to think…

This was the first time it occurred to me that walking, even brisk walking, is very different from slow running. I trained to run 26 miles, not speed walk 26 miles!! It is a very different skill that uses totally different muscles! I was now “running” a race I hadn’t trained for. It was humbling.

Pluto doing some “excavating” at the construction site!

By the time I realized I probably should have put on sunscreen the medical tents had run out. It was okay-I was still a frequent flier with my Biofreeze fix. Pluto was a sight for sore eyes when I finally saw him around Mile 18 with no line. I was now headed for ESPN’s Wide World of Sports for the first time ever!

Miles 18-20: ESPN’s Wide World of Suck

I didn’t coin that phrase-a veteran Dopey friend did, and I have to say I didn’t buy in. Initially. With the exception of picking up my bib, I had never spent any time at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. I was excited to see something new-and anything that wasn’t highway miles! What was really cool was that it was an up and back…as we were entering the Sports Complex, you could see all the runners ahead of you pouring out! (This is an important part of my narrative…and contributes to the “suck” factor!)

The first nice touch were the wet sponges! It was hot, and a Heat Advisory had been issued for the day of the race. Walking instead of running meant I was spending a lot more time on my feet in the heat of the day, but it also meant I was expending less energy. Luckily, I love the heat and was not uncomfortable. My friends poke fun at me for running with my hair down, but even that felt okay. I did not use my sponge (and mess up my hair and outfit??) but I did take one for a photo op…my runDisney friends and I have an inside joke about, what else?…sponge baths. LOL!

There were some super cute character interactions along the course here, including Mickey and Donald in referee gear and Goofy in sportswear. The lines were longer here than for other meets, so I only stopped for my Home Girl, Minnie. This was also the last time I remember having my readers. (see hand) LOL! Turning 50 means readers in your Sparkle Skirt pockets are a necessity if you want to read anything!!

My Sparkle Skirt pockets are seriously like Mary Poppin’s carpet bag-they have everything in them!

I had met Joy and Sadness from Inside Out before, but since there was no line I jumped in. My expression here says I’m over it. Still more joy than sadness, though.

Still more Joy than Sadness twenty miles in…but not much!

The last lap through ESPN had us running (walking) through the stadium. That was pretty cool and some runners were called out by name! Some wonderful spectators were camped out by the exit, and I helped myself to both a mini-Coke and a handful of potato chips. Omg sooo good!!!!

A nice distraction…walking through ESPN’s stadium.

The moment of truth was coming, though. As I exited Wide World of Sports, I saw something that struck fear in my heart. There was no runner traffic coming in the opposite direction. None. The road was deserted. No one was entering ESPN because sweeps were happening. The party buses were making their rounds. I had to face the reality that the Balloon Ladies could catch up with me. I may not be able to finish this race.

Miles 20-25: Hollywood Studios Bound… Freak Out Edition

The three miles between ESPN and Hollywood Studios were stressful ones. I kept turning my head to look over my shoulder to make sure there were people behind me. I had been on my feet for over five and a half hours. No sign yet of the Balloon Ladies-but I saw something even scarier. The medics on bikes. I was officially a back-of-the-packer.

They started to check on runners…asking them if they were okay. I literally avoided eye contact. On one hand, I was feeling something close to shame, but on the other hand, understood there was a legitimate need to keep close tabs on us, bringing up the rear for so many different reasons! One guy stopped to change his music and they approached-he hustled right back on the course. I remember increasing my pace as well. Show no weakness!

Still feeling strong despite a long day in the sun!

I finally entered Hollywood Studios around mile 23. It was either a blur or we only traveled through a small section of the park because I don’t remember much at all. I do remember posing with the Incredibles right inside the park. (When you’re already walking and there’s no line it’s literally a drive-by…taking up seconds, not minutes!) I was feeling strong here, and relieved to be off those empty highways!

Feeling like the end could (finally!) be in sight!

Relegated to a much narrower course, there was comfort in being part of a bigger group again, compared to how spread out we were on the highway. In this photo in front of the Chinese theater you can see plenty of people behind me, as well as one of the infamous bike medics! Could I pull this off?

Miles 25-26.2: Epcot-the Holy Land

One short highway mile and I was finally, finally in Epcot! It was a rush-pure joy! At this point I was pretty much guaranteed my medal-all of my medals-as long as I didn’t blow out my knee!

Nothing short of a disaster could take me off the course at this point!

There were various Princesses (Aurora, Jasmine, Snow White) meeting in their respective countries, but I wasn’t even tempted to stop. Epcot had already opened to the public and the lines, while short, were a mix of runners and park goers. I had a very different stop to make that was top priority!

A few miles before, I noticed my hands felt sore, and hurt when I clenched them. They had become swollen from the heat and water retention. The salt chews I used only got me so far…what I needed was a MARGARITA!!

Enter Team Margarita! As I rounded World Showcase, I made a quick stop in Mexico. My bib number was checked, and my pre-paid Margarita (with salt!!) was handed over. So grateful for this group who organized this genius idea online!! Absolute Nirvana!!!

That is one happy runner in front of Spaceship Earth!

My mood was 100% turned around! Margarita in hand, I happily posed in front of Spaceship Earth. To be honest-I was in the home stretch and considered a jump here-but I didn’t want to spill my Margarita! LOL!

Evident relief on all three faces here in the final stretch!

I could tell my friends were relieved and happy to see me around Mile 25! I had been on the course for over seven hours at this point, so they had been cheering all day, and I was the last of our little group to head towards the finish line. Now they could wrap up, too! What good sports!

Hey! Look at this! Got myself a Margarita!!

I was really tickled to have this Margarita! The day before I had crossed the Half finish line with a creamsicle, so this was a definite upgrade! One of the perks of running through the Parks later meant that food and drink kiosks were open. I did hear afterward (through the grapevine) that I was one of the last runners allowed to carry a drink over the finish line. I guess the rationale was that we were already taking quite a while to finish…don’t encourage bad behavior! LOL!

Crossing the finish line for the fourth and final time that weekend!

Crossing the finish line was an absolute rush! I honestly can’t remember if I mustered up the energy/strength/courage to shuffle across in something resembling a run, but I’m pretty certain I did! It was just too exciting to walk it in-what’s a little more discomfort at this point?

This photo was taken the split second my Margarita was about to be liberated from its cup, arms raised victoriously! As the runDisney volunteer placed the medal around my neck, I had a rare moment of emotion. Not just elation…I was choked up. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride as I collected my commemorative Marathon Ears, blue Gatorade (clearly the best) and the requisite snack box and banana.

Jubilation! Crossing only my second marathon finish line.

Post-Race Celebration

I was all smiles as I took my Finisher and I Did It! photos. I grabbed my checked bag, put my ears back in their rightful position and couldn’t wait to find my friends in the Reunion area! My final net time? 7:24:23

I Did It! Showing off my new medals in my finisher photo!

Reunited and it feels so good! Lots of hugging and congratulations and catching each other up. We determined that the Balloon Ladies finished just 3/4 of a mile after me, which translates to about ten minutes. While that seems like enough of a buffer, that’s about how long it would have taken me to ride Expedition Everest back in Animal Kingdom. It still gives me chills thinking about how riding could have been the difference between being a finisher and being swept. Choose your stops wisely!

Who says you shouldn’t meet up with people you meet on the Internet?

Lessons Learned-Every Mile Still Magic?

Most people are curious if I felt compromised, if I was disappointed. After all, the reality I got was very different from the reality I trained for. Did I compromise? Yes. I completed a marathon injured. I walked instead of ran. I wasn’t able to experience it with my friends. I didn’t get a PR or a fast POT to brag about…my per mile pace is clearly even over runDisney’s generous 16 minute mile guidelines. (16:57 to be exact.)

Even so, my stats paint a different picture. I walked fast enough from Corral D that even those who started dead last couldn’t catch me. I stopped fifteen times to take pics with characters, made three location stops (Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, Choza de Margarita), at least three bathroom breaks plus stops at every single medical tent.

My training did not disappoint. Though not required to run, proper training ensured that even when I was on the course hours longer than anticipated, I had not one blister, not one chafed spot, more than enough fuel. Heck-I didn’t even get sunburnt!

Was I disappointed? No way. All that talk about running being just as much a mental sport as a physical one? Totally true-all about mental toughness. I was committed to doing my very best, regardless of outcome. I never considered not starting just because I could fail-which was a very real possibility. I was alone with my thoughts for almost seven and a half hours. No music. No conversation. You have to be kind of okay with yourself to be in your own head like that all that time. I thought about all kinds of wonderful and interesting things…

And my friends? They’re the best! They were rooting for me every step of the way! Tracking me, texting me, taking the monorail all over tarnation to cheer along the course! They think I’m a Badass!! Imagine that! Who am I to correct them?!!

When everything was said and done, I logged the same 26.2 miles that every finisher did. My race, my pace. I just got to do it with a Margarita in my hand.

Undeniably Dopey. Four runs over four days totaling 48.6 miles…complete. Run, eat, sleep, repeat.

Jacqueline lives in Connecticut with her family and a cat, Rocky Road. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.

Diary of a Dopey Girl: Year Two!

Last year, I ran my first Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World. If you’re not familiar with the Dopey Challenge, it’s four races over four days, for a total of 48.6 miles. It starts with a 5K, then progresses each day with a 10k, half marathon, and full marathon. It’s often said that the hardest part of the challenge is waking up so early (buses begin running as early as 3:00 am for certain races!), and I can agree that getting up in the middle of the night was a huge challenge. This year, freezing temperatures added another level of difficulty!

Last year was an incredible experience – from running at my resort when the Half was canceled to the triumph of completing the entire challenge (read all about my adventures last year here). I couldn’t wait to do it all again! This year would be a very different trip for me, because I’d be traveling solo and my family would be cheering me on from home. I went into the weekend slightly apprehensive about undertaking such a big event without my usual support team.

I arrived in Orlando on Tuesday night and hit the expo first thing on Wednesday morning. It was cold and rainy, and the expo was quickly filled to capacity with lots of runners waiting in a miserable outdoor queue. I was able to get in and out, and the sun was shining by the time I left. Due to a combination of cold weather and crowded parks, I was back in my room early and ready to start my Dopey adventure.

Day 1: 5k!

The morning of the 5k was cold. And I don’t just mean Florida-cold, I mean COLD! It was in the low 30’s, which meant lots of costume adjustments! I had planned on a tank top and skirt, but put on several layers instead, and took a mylar blanket, gloves, and a hat.

On the way to the pre-race area, I ran into my friend and Team Shenanigans teammate, Laurie, who was volunteering. HUGE thanks to all those volunteers who got up even earlier than the runners, were out in the cold, and weren’t earning a medal for it! Once inside the pre-race area, I met up with some other teammates before heading to the corrals. I like to be early to my corral so I can be toward the front, and relax before the start of the race. Usually I don’t mind the wait, but it was so cold that I felt like time was standing still. I finally put in my headphones and turned on an audiobook to pass the time.

At last, the race began! We started in the parking lot of Epcot, and the first characters on the course were Chip and Dale. I didn’t stop for them, since they can easily be found in the parks. Around mile 1 (right when I could finally feel my toes again), we entered the park backstage. When we entered World Showcase, the Vikings were out in Norway. There wasn’t much of a line, so I stopped. Next up was Jiminy Cricket, then Vacation Genie in Morocco (another skip since he’s a frequent race course character), and Koda and Kanai in Canada. As is my tradition, I also stopped to take a few scenic pictures and soak up the magic of running through World Showcase.

After leaving World Showcase, the course continued around past The Land (with a quick stop to see Horace Horsecollar) and then back around to Spaceship Earth, out of the park, and to the finish line!

I was happy to find another teammate at the finish line! Anita presented me with my medal, and just like that, the first three point one miles of the Dopey challenge were done. It was so cold that I didn’t want to stand in any character lines (which is extremely rare for me!). I headed straight for the bus and back to my room, where I took a nap and waited for the temperature to rise a little. Due to another cold and crowded day at the parks, I once again found myself back in the room and ready for bed earlier than expected.

Day Two: 10k!

Friday morning was another cold one that required adding (unflattering) layers underneath my Peter Pan costume. I huddled together with teammates again to stay warm before heading to the corrals. After another chilly wait, we were off! This race begins in the Epcot parking lot, and the first three miles are on the highway.

The first character stop was Pocahontas and Meeko, with a fun backdrop. The line was already long, but I figured I’d wait since she had on her cold weather outfit and I don’t have a picture of the two together.

Next up was Flik and Atta from A Bug’s Life. I’d gotten a picture of them at a previous race, and their line was long, so I kept on running. A little further down the highway was the Old Hag from Snow White. Yes, please! Just let me warm my hands on your cauldron for a minute…

One of my favorite things about Disney races is running into friends on the course. From friends that I’ve met in various Disney facebook groups to more of my Team Shenanigans teammates, it’s great to see friendly faces out there!

Before I knew it, we were entering Epcot and were halfway through the race. Running into World Showcase in the dark, with torches lit and music playing, really is one of the most magical feelings. All of the pavilions in World Showcase are lit up, and it’s just beautiful.

Pinnochio was out in Italy (I didn’t stop – his line was long and I’ve gotten a picture with him before), and Rapunzel and Flynn were in Germany. I was excited and immediately got in line, only to be told by a Cast Member that it was about a 30-minute wait. There was no way I could justify stopping that long in the middle of a race, so off I went. I ran by Marie in France, and then headed down the International Gateway and around the boardwalk.

Then it was time to run back into Epcot, past Spaceship Earth, and to the finish line where another teammate, Kenny, gave me my medal!

I was freezing by the time I walked through the post-race area, so once again I headed straight for the bus and back to my warm room. There was a team breakfast at Trail’s End (check out my previous review here – it’s delicious!), followed by park time with some teammates, and then it was back to the resort to meet up with Jessica.

Jessica is a friend that I originally met online, but who has now become a “real life” friend, as well. When some things with school changed and I posted about being bummed that my family wasn’t going to get to come, she quickly decided to fly down for the weekend to cheer for me. I was extremely grateful, and excited to spend some time together! We had an early dinner at Disney Springs, followed by drinks at the Contemporary, and then back the room to get ready for early wake-up #3.

Day 3 – Half Marathon!

Another cold, early morning. Today’s costume (little green alien from Toy Story, a Team Shenanigans group costume) got some additional layers added, but I was still happy with the end result. After more meet-ups, hugs, and laughter, I headed off alone to my corral.

I don’t know what came over me on this race. It was the first time I’d ever run this particular race, since last year’s was canceled and I ran the miles at my resort. I was particularly excited about running down Main Street, and the Disney magic had started to take hold. I decided to just enjoy myself – to stop for all the characters that I wanted, to take my time and have fun. That’s something my runner’s brain has struggled with while running at Disney. Today, it happened. I was in rare form, and I was having SO. MUCH. FUN!

The race began on Epcot Center Drive, and we ran down the highway and through the gates of the Magic Kingdom. The first character was along Mile 3, and it was Mater and Lightning McQueen. I didn’t stop, but the next characters weren’t far off, and I couldn’t resist stopping for them. Vanellope and Wreck-It Ralph, followed shortly by Jack Skellington and the lovely Sally!

From there, it was on to the Magic Kingdom! We received a warm welcome as we ran through the entrance (a great change from entering backstage!) and headed down Main Street.

This moment is one that makes all the training miles, the cold mornings, the early wake-ups, ALL OF IT, so worth it. It’s still dark, Main Street is lined with cheering spectators, and the castle is lit up straight ahead. It’s pure magic.

The course passes by the castle (don’t worry, we’ll be back!) and heads into Tomorrowland, where I ran past Sully near the Laugh Floor. There were even more characters as we crossed into Fantasyland – the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit were near the Teacups, and Circus Goofy was by Storybook Circus. And…SEBASTIAN was greeting runners by Under the Sea! I wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity, and the line was somehow fairly short.

After that, the course took us back toward the Castle. Suzy and Perla were off to the side, but I was too anxious to run through the castle to stop. I always stop for a photo in front, and then it was back through Liberty Square and into Frontierland!

My costume absolutely mandated that I stop for a picture with Bullseye and Woody, and this turned into a longer wait because Bullseye had to go check on his pals backstage.

Exiting the Magic Kingdom, there were photo ops with the train and with Cinderella, Aurora, and their princes. The penguins from Mary Poppins were near the Grand Floridian, and the singing princes (Bachelors? Groomsmen? I’m honestly not sure what they are!) were out a little further down the road. I didn’t stop, because I was now focused on getting to one place – my friends who were cheering near the Poly! Finally I saw them, and went sprinting across the grass to greet them. After hugs, selfies, and some much-appreciated cookies from the Chicken Hat Cheerer, Laura, I was back on my way.

My energy was still running high, and I was feeling great! I passed by Vacation Genie, but couldn’t resist stopping by to say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Incredible. And then Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa.

As we ran up the hill after mile 10, Sarge (the green army man) ran up to me and told me “I want to see REAL running up this hill, Little Green Man!”. So I dug deep and showed him some real running!

Before I knew it, we were heading back into Epcot. I didn’t stop for the next two characters – Tink’s fairy friends or Stitch. I just kept running until I heard that sweet gospel choir singing “We are the Champions”! What a perfect finish.

This was my slowest half EVER. And yet, I was thrilled with how it had gone. I had so much fun, and I PR’d in characters! I call that a win. The weather was finally feeling warmer, so I decided to hit some character lines. I made up for lost time on previous days – I met four characters (Pluto, Goofy, Dopey, and Mickey) and even saw a proposal!

My fabulous day continued with an early dinner at ‘Ohana with some friends. A view of the castle, a pineapple drink, and a lot of laughs. I was in bed by 7:30 and managed to get an entire 6 hours of sleep!

Day 4: Marathon!

Today was the day! My fourth full marathon and my first “official” Dopey! I was excited, but not nearly as nervous as I’d expected to be. The weather was slightly warmer and I had taken an extra mylar blanket, so I was feeling great. I hung out with a new teammate, Joe, in the corrals, and the time passed quickly as we chatted.

Before I knew it, I was off and running. The first few miles of this course are the same as the half, so I knew what to expect. I didn’t plan to stop nearly as much as I had the day before, and I also suspected I’d see some repeat characters. I ran into teammates early on the course – both running and cheering – and it was great to see friendly faces!

I couldn’t resist stopping for a double character opportunity – Maleficent (!!!) and the Queen of Hearts.

From there, it was straight on to the Magic Kingdom, for another emotional run down Main Street. It may sound cliche, but I never want to take this for granted. I feel insanely lucky to get to do this!

Exiting the Magic Kingdom, I stopped for a quick pic with Maleficent in dragon form from the Festival of Fantasy parade. I LOVE this photo op!

From here, we ran past the resorts just like yesterday, but then spent a few miles out on the road until we entered Animal Kingdom around mile 12. But there were some pretty epic character stops in those miles! I was ecstatic to get a picture with the entire Up gang, including Mr. Fredrickson! He’s at the top of my character wish list!

I couldn’t resist a quick stop for some retired ride vehicles. Last year there was a Cast Member here taking photos, but this year we just had to rely on the kindness of fellow runners.

The next character stop was another must-do: Hades with Pain and Panic! Eeek!

On the out-and-back that was mile 11, I ran into my buddy, Mark – the two of us usually cross paths somewhere along the race course!

Then it was time to head into Animal Kingdom! I had to stop and greet the animals that were out.

I had hoped to ride Everest this year, but unfortunately, I had entered the park too early. The good news was that I was now halfway done with this race, and I was still feeling awesome!

We exited Animal Kingdom and headed into the dreaded slog through the parking lot. This time it wasn’t so bad because I knew I had friends ahead! I was thrilled to see them, and they had snacks! Seeing your people on a race course is incredibly invigorating – I hope that spectators know how important they are.

Directly across from where they were cheering was the Haunted Mansion gravediggers. I couldn’t resist this fun photo op!

After this is when the race really becomes a mental game. You know that you have a lot of boring road miles to log before you hit another park, including those at the Wide World of Sports. Luckily, another teammate came along just when I needed him! Taylor and I spent the next few miles running together, and I was surprised several times to look down at my watch and realize that we were running faster than I had expected to run at this point in the race. The miles passed quickly, and before I knew it, we were heading into Hollywood Studios. We happily accepted the candy that was being handed out – M&M’s, Snickers, and Skittles. I’m always grateful for ANY kind of small snack at this point.

We had hoped to ride Tower of Terror, but the CM at the gate told us that they couldn’t let us in the Fastpass (which we expected) OR the regular line, since we hadn’t entered the park with tickets. I know that other people were successful in going on several different rides, so it is possible (2019 goals!)! Taylor’s family was cheering in DHS, so he stopped to see them and I headed on to finish alone.

We ran out of Hollywood Studios (and I passed Jeff Galloway during mile 23, which gave me a little boost!) and down the path that leads to the Epcot resorts. There were lots of people cheering there, which was awesome! We headed into Epcot and there was a special Mile Marker at 25, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the race.

From there, it was through World Showcase, and I didn’t stop for any characters (except a quick hello to my friends serving as Team Margarita!). Then past Spaceship Earth, and the sweet sounds of the gospel choir singing me home! There may have been some happy tears at this point – it’s impossible to run 26.2 miles and not have emotions run high! And even though this was my fourth marathon, I am still slightly incredulous every time that I’ve accomplished this.

I got a finish line shoutout for my Team Shenanigans shirt, which is always awesome! And there was another great surprise at the finish line – each runner was gifted an ear hat commemorating the 25th anniversary.

As proud as I was of my own accomplishment, I was even more proud of two of my teammates (Sandy and Dale, I’m looking at you!) who were completing their first marathons. There were more happy tears when I saw the video of a large group crossing the finish line together.

I will warn you: the excitement of Marathon weekend is contagious. Before the weekend was over, I was making plans with a group of friends for next year! Until next year, Dopey…

Diary of a Dopey Girl: Taking on WDW’s Biggest Challenge

Marathon Weekend in January is the biggest race weekend at Walt Disney World. There are four races held that weekend: a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon. In typical Disney fashion, there are also Challenges to earn additional medals. Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge is the half marathon and the full, and the Dopey Challenge is all four races.

Last January, I completed my first full marathon. It was 26.2 miles of magic, and when I finished, I felt more proud and accomplished than I could have imagined. I immediately knew that I wanted to do it again, but this time I was all in. I wanted to be able to say that I was Dopey! One year and countless training miles later, it was go time, and I found myself less terrified than I expected. I knew I was ready, and I was extremely excited for what the weekend would hold. After a trip to opening day of the expo (where I bought everything), I was officially ready!

Day One: 5k

I was really looking forward to the 5k, mainly because at the last minute, I had thrown together a costume that I was very excited to wear: Merida! She is one of my favorites, and I felt that her bravery was an excellent theme to kick off the weekend. I boarded a bus at 4:00am, and my buddy and Mickey Miler/Team Shenanigans teammate Sam was on the same bus. While we were hanging out at the pre-race area, I confided that my biggest concern was that I wouldn’t be able to hold back and I’d go too hard the first two days. Sam invited me to run with him and he’d make sure I didn’t overdo it. I took him up on his offer, and off we went.

This is a fun course, starting in the Epcot parking lot and entering World Showcase in Norway after Mile 1. There’s nothing more breathtaking than entering this area of the park in the dark, with the lanterns around World Showcase Lagoon lit and music playing. Runners exit down the International Gateway and then re-enter in the UK pavilion, run through Future World, past Spaceship Earth, and back out into the parking lot to the finish line.

Characters on the course included Thumper and Miss Bunny, a group of vikings in Norway, Minnie in Italy, Chip & Dale in Morocco, Canadian Donald, and astronaut Goofy by Spaceship Earth.

We stopped for the vikings, Minnie, and Donald. We saw our buddy Laurie while waiting in line for Donald, and convinced her to join us. It’s always fun running into friends on the course! I had a great time running this one, and got several on-course shoutouts for Merida. Running in the wig wasn’t as bad as I had expected – I will definitely be adding wigs to my costumes in the future!

After the race, I spent a few hours at the Magic Kingdom with my family (I obviously had to go meet Merida), but I left them in the late afternoon and went back to rest. I was determined to play it smart and stay off my feet and go to bed early. I grabbed dinner alone at the resort and was asleep before the family got back for the night. It was the right decision – I felt great the next morning!

Day Two: 10k

After another ridiculously early wakeup, I was on a bus at 3:30 and headed back to the Epcot parking lot. When I arrived, the lines for characters were shorter than they’d been the day before. I immediately grabbed a picture with Dopey, and then Minnie. Today’s outfit was in honor of my I Run 4 buddy, who was having surgery that morning. I didn’t have time to meet up with any of my teammates after the pictures, so I headed straight to my corral. I would be running solo today, which is how I run most of my races.

The first three miles of this course are fairly boring, out on the road with not much to see. I was disappointed in the characters during this section, as well, since I’d gotten pictures with two of them at Wine & Dine. Darkwing Duck was up first (although he had Scrooge McDuck with him this morning), followed by Lilo and Stitch and then Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. I skipped all three character stops and was wondering if this race was going to be a bust.

We entered World Showcase and saw the same vikings again (another skip). And then as I ran up to the American pavilion, I saw the holy grail of character stops: Colonial Mickey, Donald, and Goofy! YES! The line was long but moved quickly, and I was able to soak up the wonderful atmosphere while I waited. I skipped vacation Genie in Morocco, since I’d gotten him at the last race, but I stopped for Pluto at the ESPN Zone on the Boardwalk. My teammate Bill was also cheering here, and he was stocked with goodies: donut holes, orange juice, and “adult” orange juice. I stopped to see him and then headed on around the Boardwalk. It was absolutely beautiful! I had so much fun during those last two miles, and I got a finish line picture that makes me smile every time I look at it.

After the race, I met up with teammates for breakfast at Trail’s End (review coming soon – I loved it!), then met the family for a few hours of park time. Once again, I headed back early to be the responsible runner. Unfortunately the weather had become a concern, and it was being rumored online that the race was going to be delayed. After much speculation, we found out that the race was completely canceled. Based on weather reports, I knew that runDisney was making the right call, but I was crushed because I wanted every one of those 48.6 miles of my first Dopey.

Almost immediately, runners began making plans to “unofficially” run the 13.1, and I knew I wanted to do that, too. One of my teammates invited me to run with a group at midnight at the Boardwalk, which sounded like fun. But by the time we arrived, there was crazy rain, thunder, and lightning. We waited awhile to see if it would pass, but I decided I didn’t want to risk slipping on the wet boardwalk and messing up my marathon. The group that was there ended up going out and running a few miles, and my teammate Heather did her entire 13.1 that night. Hats off to you, Heather – you’re a beast! I ended up heading back to my resort with a couple of other people, and I went to bed discouraged at the way my night had ended.

Day Three: The DIY Half Marathon

Saturday morning, I woke up to the sounds of cheering. I looked outside (we were staying in a lake view room at Pop Century) and realized that there were tons of runners on the path around Hourglass Lake! I threw on my Donald costume – complete with race bib – as fast as I could, and ran out to join them. When I got out there, I realized that it wasn’t just runners – there were also families cheering, holding signs, and they had even created water and snack stops!

This was one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever been a part of. A group of people who were disappointed but determined to make the best of the situation and earn those medals. Runners and spectators both began calling out to me in support as soon as I joined in. I got countless high-fives. We created character stops by taking pictures with anyone in a costume. One family even brought out “baby Stitch” and a line formed for pictures with him!

The energy of the cheer squads kept us going – I can’t put into words how much I appreciated these strangers, who were spending their morning standing out in the mist/drizzle/rain to encourage us, instead of being at a park or in their warm, dry rooms. My family was out there, and they had a blast cheering. Knowing that runs like this were springing up at various resorts all over property was amazing. I felt like I was part of something special, a little piece of runDisney history. This level of dedication and support is what makes me love the running community. If you were out there cheering or running, THANK YOU!

I may not have run the official course for the WDW Half Marathon, but I ran 13.1 miles on Saturday morning in an atmosphere that was more exciting than a lot of local races I’ve done. It felt good to finish and know that when I crossed the finish line on Sunday, I would accept my Dopey medal having completed all the miles. Will I count this as a half marathon when I talk about how many I’ve run? No. But you better believe that I will tell this story, and I’ll tell it with pride.

Day Four: Marathon

The good news: the rain had passed and the skies were clear. The bad news: an unusual cold front had moved in, bringing temps in the 30’s for the start of the marathon. Also good news: at the last minute, I had thrown my cold-weather running gear in my suitcase, so I was prepared. I layered up and boarded a bus at 3:00am. I decided to get a picture with Daisy, since I had done that last year, and I’m all about tradition. After that, I met up with some Mickey Miler teammates and one of them (thank you so much, Michelle!) was kind enough to offer me a trash bag to put over my clothes. Never underestimate the amount of gratitude you’ll feel for a trash bag when you’re shivering in the cold! I headed to my corral early, and attempted to eat a bagel and peanut butter through my shivering while I waited for the race to start.

My strategy for the marathon was thrown off by the cancellation of the half. I had planned to take it easy and stop for lots of characters at the half, but not as much at the full. I decided to just have fun and get the full experience, since just finishing Dopey was my prime objective of the weekend.

Getting a shoutout at the start line for my Mickey Milers jersey was the perfect way to begin the race! The first few miles went by quickly, since I was looking forward to one thing: running down Main Street and seeing the castle! I passed up a character stop for Jack Sparrow and Barbossa, but couldn’t resist stopping for Jack and Sally. My general rule of stopping for characters is that I only stop for rare characters or ones that I can’t see regularly in the parks. Unless lines are really short, then all rules go out the window.

I love this part of the race! You can hear the cheering crowds before you see them. Main Street is lined with people cheering, and it’s always impossible for me not to get a little choked up. I try to soak up every minute in the Magic Kingdom, because how lucky are we to get this experience? We ran through Tomorrowland (Buzz Lightyear character stop), on through New Fanasyland (Beast greeted runners outside of his castle), and then back through the castle with a quick stop for a picture.

After the castle, it was through Frontierland (hey, Country Bears!), past the train, and backstage to exit the park. Here we found what was probably my favorite character stop – the Maleficent float from the Festival of Fantasy parade.

The next 6 or 7 miles would take us toward Animal Kingdom. Another awesome photo op was found on Bear Island Road: classic ride vehicles! And for some reason, the line was extremely short.

Around Mile 11 was an out-and-back that seemed really long, and I spent part of it trying to get around a large run/walk/run group. The only fun part of this was high-fiving runners who were coming the opposite way. We finally entered the backstage area of Animal Kingdom, and saw some performers from the Lion King as well as some animals. The park wasn’t open yet, so I snapped a quick selfie instead of waiting to ride Everest. I love running through Animal Kingdom – it’s absolutely gorgeous! I didn’t stop for any of the characters here, since I knew my family was waiting right outside. Seeing them was a real energy booster, especially since I knew I was halfway done.

After leaving Animal Kingdom, I couldn’t resist stopping for the Haunted Mansion gravediggers. How much fun is this?!

After that, it was about 5 more miles until we hit the dreaded Wide World of Sports Complex. This is a stretch of over 3 miles of running inside the complex and around the track. I was feeling good and this stretch didn’t seem as bad as I was expecting. There are bands playing at a couple of different places, as well as a couple of characters, but I didn’t stop. When we exited, we were past Mile 20 and I knew I was in the home stretch. I got to see a couple of different teammates on the course in the next couple of miles, which was exactly what I needed. It’s always great to see a friendly face and get a hug, a high-five, or even just a shout of encouragement when you’re this far into a race.

Around Mile 23, we entered Hollywood Studios for what seemed like a split second. We were given Dove chocolates, as well as bite-size Snickers and packs of M&M’s. I was so looking forward to that little piece of chocolate! It’s amazing how much you appreciate small things like a piece of chocolate or a handful of pretzels when you’re running a marathon. The spectators who are handing out snacks are lifesavers! My family was cheering at the Studios, so I got some extra special high-fives and hugs on my way out. There was also a character stop here for Oswald, and I really regret not stopping.

From here, we ran over to Epcot and around World Showcase. I saw my friends Dale and Kristen in Mexico (they were doing Margarita duty for teammates who wanted to cross the finish line with one), and stopped for a quick hug. Then it was off to finish this thing and officially earn my Dopey status! The gospel choir sang me home and I got another Miler shoutout at the finish line.

I finished this marathon about 5 minutes slower than my first one. Considering that I had added the challenge this year, and I stopped for more characters (as well as 2 lengthy waits to get into a bathroom), I was okay with that. This was an incredible, unforgettable, completely exhilarating experience that I cannot wait to do again! I’ll see you again in 2018, Dopey!