Dopey on the Run

It’s now almost two months after the 2024 runDisney Marathon Weekend.  And I am still amazed that my Dopey Journey has come to a end, and a successful one at that.  It’s been 4 years since I first planted the Dopey Challenge seed in my brain.  Since then we have had a pandemic that nearly shut the world down, I suffered a bout of COVID that has perhaps done permanent damage to my heart resulting in episodes of irregular heartbeat,  I retired from my lifelong career, and I suffered a hip injury that took over 6 months to recover from. In February 2020, I imagined that I could and would run an 8:30 pace for the 5K, a 9:00 pace for the 10K, a 9:30 pace for the half-marathon, and a 10:00 pace for the marathon.  I even did a test run on a treadmill where I ran a 5K and 10K back-to-back at my target paces with a short rest in between.  By the time I got to the starting line in Walt Disney World, I had added 2:30 per mile to each of my target paces.  And what I ran was even slower than that b

runDisney Marathon Week was upon us before we knew it.  The running plan was simple, 4 consecutive days, 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, Marathon.    Here is how my actual mileage compared to the plan for the week starting January 1, 2024:   Week 18 Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Total Plan Rest Travel Expo 3.1 6.2 13.1 26.2 48.6 Actual Rest Travel Expo 3.1 6.2 7.1* 26.2 42.6 By Steps 4.0 9.0 8.5 11.5 12.0 14.0 33.0 92.0   The half marathon was shortened to 7.1 miles due to incoming storms with a chance of lightening.  I included my estimated total miles on foot, based on step count, because it is easy to underestimate the impact of being on your feet more than you realize when participating in an endurance event at a vacation destination.   Monday of Week 18 was New Year’s Day.  After our typical New Year’s morning, we scrambled in the afternoon to take down all our Christmas decorations.  We had no snow yet and temperatures outside were right around freezing.  I wanted to get all the outdoor

When I woke at 1:30 am, I was ready to go tackle the marathon.  I got up with a sense of excitement, today was the last day of the Dopey Challenge.   I knew that once I crossed that starting line, it would only be a matter of hours before I crossed the finish line and completed the runDisney Dopey Challenge. I went through my morning ritual once again.  The preparation the night before was a little more challenging because I had to include enough fuel for a 5–6-hour journey.  My FlipBelt was loaded with four Hüma gels, 3 extra servings of HEED electrolyte powder, and a dozen electrolyte capsules as well as my phone and a spare GoPro battery.  I slipped the belt on, laced up my shoes and headed out to catch the 2:30 am bus.   I ran into some friends on the bus and upon arriving in the pre-race gathering area, about 3:00am, we were able to snag an open picnic bench.  We sat and chatted about many things and before we knew it,  it was 4:00 am and time to head to the corrals.     Each of t

Early Friday evening, the news started to spread that Disney was changing the course for Saturday’s Half Marathon due to incoming storms with a threat of lightening.  I checked my email and found a message from runDisney.  To ensure the safety of runners, volunteers and cast members, Disney wanted the course cleared by 8:0O am.  The course was changed to 7 miles, eliminating a segment of World Drive and the loop through Magic Kingdom.  In addition, the start time was moved 15 minutes earlier, Corral A would start at 4:45am.  Social media came alive with complaints and disappointment.  I took it in stride, one can’t argue with an organization responsible for the safety of 15-20 thousand people when you consider runners, volunteers, cast members and crews hired to tear down and clear the roads along the course.  Completing the full marathon on Day 4 was what meant the most to me.   Nevertheless, as I fell off to sleep the night before, I did feel like I was just going through the motions

  Our alarms were set for 2:00 am, but I woke about 1:45 am again and got up and started my morning ritual.  I made sure Cat was up by 2:00 am.  We both went through similar morning rituals.  I had laid out all my gear the night before, so the process was mechanical for me again.   One quick check of my watch, phone and ID and we were out the door on our way to the bus stop by 2:40 am.  We made one of the first busses from Boardwalk and were in the Epcot parking lot by 3:00 am.   It was a colder morning.  We both had multiple layers and hats and gloves on. In the fall, I had purchased some inexpensive warm top layers, sweatpants, hats and gloves for this purpose.  I was wearing a zippered hooded sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants, Cat had a fuzzy half-zip pull over. In addition we both had windbreakers that would go in our drop-bags before we headed to the corrals.   We sat in the bleachers for a few minutes and chatted with some friends.  We started getting cold and decided it was be

  My alarm was set for 2:00 am. I woke at 1:30 and lay awake for 10-15 minutes before I decided to just get up and get going.  Cat had said not to worry about waking her, just do what I needed to and she would go back to sleep if I woke her.  My goal was to be out the door at 2:40 am so I could be in-line for the first bus at 2:45 am.  I made some coffee, fixed a small bowl of cereal with banana and granola, and quietly sat in the entry way enjoying my coffee and cereal while pondering Dopey Day 1.   The night before I had laid out everything I needed to wear or take with me. The pre-planning and lists that I had made at home weeks before we left became very valuable.  I systematically went through my checklist for the 5k, packed my drop-bag and arranged my clothes and gear.  After I finished my coffee and cereal and took care of some grooming things, I simply put on my running gear, grabbed my drop bag, and verified that I had my watch, phone, and ID.  Then I quietly exited the room a

Given the late bedtime from the previous night, we slept in and let ourselves wakeup naturally.  Too late for early entry at Animal Kingdom, so we took our time with breakfast and getting ready for the day and then headed directly to the runDisney Expo for the 10:00 am opening.  By the time we got there a little after 10:00 am, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was packed with runners anxious to get their race packets and scoop up Marathon Weekend merchandise.  We had to queue for about 30 minutes to get our race bibs, not bad really.  When we left the bib pickup building the line was out the door and around the corner.  Our timing was pretty good.   We got in and out of the Expo building quickly to get our shirts and checkout the vendors.  I had joined the virtual queue to get into the building with runDisney merchandise, but our time was still 90 minutes or more away, so we left the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and headed to Animal Kingdom.  We needed our Starbucks and what bett