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thedavesnews · 27 days ago

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Dave Is Dopey

The long (in every sense of the word) awaited running weekend has come and gone, leaving me with aching toes, six medals, and memories that will last a lifetime. It was a joke bucket list item when I started doing runDisney several years ago and one I never thought I would attempt until registration last year. Excitement followed the initial sign-up followed by the realization that the training was going to be fairly rough and I would have to get myself more in line with regular early mornings. I was resigned to my fate and I even started training earlier than planned to build my base cardio back up as the last run I had was Disney Princess back in February. This challenge was going to take everything I had. I was prepared to be all-in.

The training started strong. So much so that I was deciding which plan to stick to. I ultimately chose the plan of the person I've done for years as Galloway has never failed me in years past. Ultimately, I trained to 15 miles before a planned vacation to Paris and never did any of the 4 day back to back training that I should have. Not blaming the travel as I could have easily done some running in the most beautiful city on the planet. We saw people doing it daily while there. I just happened to not be one of them.

Since Disney brought back their races after Covid I've done every single weekend that I wanted along with a Space Coast Half. It's 4 race weekends a year, the Disney weekends being 10k/half challenges. Doing back to back days of distance racing isn't new and even the last season or two I added a 5k to the challenge so I could do some runs with my wife. Couple costumes can be kind of fun.

Race weekend 1 of the season was Wine and Dine which came and went with one memorable race. The 5k was Muppet themed and it was chaos but in the best way imaginable. How is that possible you ask? The Swedish Chef was responsible for the corral start countdown. Enough said. One of the more enjoyable runs I've ever had. I truly hope Disney does it again or something similar.

Race weekend 2 (or really just a morning) was Space Coast. My goal was to get my race pace back to a good form and I did so. 2:38 for the half was respectable compared to my recent times. It was 20 minutes off my PR. To say I was feeling pretty good about Dopey is an understatement.

Sadly, I lost momentum post Space Coast and the training was not even remotely up to par. The closer I got to Dopey the more I wondered if I could finish 4 races in 4 days. My plan was to do a slow and steady pace for the first 3 races followed by whatever distance I could muster to start the marathon knowing I would end up walking the end.

Prior to the runs themselves there is an expo with bib and shirt pickup. There is a fun mental game on which corral you'll end up based on the bib number you get via email. It's not possible to know before actually getting the bib the day before the 5k. Various chat groups do enjoy playing the guessing game. Not sure why exactly because you can't fully plan out your race until you know which corral. For me, being in E for all 4 races gave me an advantage in that I had some space between me and the balloon ladies (sweep pacers). D would have been better but I'll take any non-last corral.

5K – A Magical Start with Snow White and Dopey It's 38 degrees as Therese and I enter our corral, dressed as Snow White and Dopey (very apropos), respectively. Despite the chill, the 5K has a welcoming, community vibe. There’s no sweeping pressure, just runners sharing laughs, admiring costumes, and soaking up the magic only runDisney can create.

Having my wife by my side to start the Dopey Challenge was truly special. Seeing her excitement as we lined up made the moment even sweeter. She wasn’t just there to cheer me on—she was part of the journey, helping me take the first steps toward 48.6 miles. This memory is going to stay with me forever, not just as the beginning of a monumental challenge, but as a shared adventure we got to experience together.

10K – Freezing with Russell in the Wilderness It’s freezing again. Honestly, I’m not sure which day was colder—the 5K or the 10K—but this morning felt relentless. The forecast teased us with the hope of warmer temperatures, but the reality was different: it never even hit 40 degrees before I crossed the finish line.

As I made my way to the corral, I was determined to stick to my plan of maintaining a steady pace. Being in the next-to-last corral added a layer of pressure because there’s no time to relax when the sweep pacers aren’t far behind. That thought stayed in the back of my mind, blending with the sting of the cold and the buzz of the crowd.

When the race began, the adrenaline of the start and my position near the front of the wave took over. I found myself flying through the first mile, almost clocking in at just under 9 minutes which was a pace I hadn’t planned for and knew I couldn’t sustain. The cold air burned my lungs, and I had to remind myself to pull back. It’s only day two, I thought. There’s a long way to go.

Despite the brisk pace and biting cold, the course had its moments of magic. Russell was in full explorer mode, “scouting the wilderness” and collecting the second medal of the weekend. By the time I crossed the finish line, I was both chilled and exhilarated, knowing I was one step closer to the ultimate goal.

Half Marathon – Rainy Roads to Moana’s Medal The morning started with a promising temperature but was quickly overshadowed by rain. Thankfully, I came prepared with a throwaway poncho, ready to brave the damp conditions. What I wasn’t prepared for, however, was the curveball that hit just before the race: I forgot my phone in the car.

It wasn’t until my watch buzzed with the dreaded “out of distance” alert that I realized the mistake. The sudden panic was like an electric jolt. I couldn’t imagine running 13.1 miles without music, my tracker, or the mental safety net my phone provides. With no time to lose, I sprinted back to the car, weaving through the crowd halfway to the security line. By the time I retrieved it and made my way back, my heart was racing, and not in the good pre-race kind of way.

I couldn’t help but wonder, What else did I forget? The brief panic had me second-guessing everything, and expending energy like that before a half marathon? Definitely not my smartest move. The rain didn’t help either; it turned the morning into a soggy, “meh” kind of vibe that threatened to overshadow my focus.

But as I finally settled into my corral and tuned in to the pre-race entertainment, the magic of the moment started to come back. The music, the crowd, and the Disney spirit all worked their charm. By the time the fireworks went off and the race began, I had found my rhythm again.

Moana joined me on this 13.1-mile journey, her spirit guiding me through the rain-soaked course. Medal #3 was hers, and by the finish line, it felt well-earned...not just for the miles, but for the mental reset it took to get there.

Full Marathon - Judy's Hops and Hustle Another cold morning, but I’m there early, making my way to the front of the corral. It’s my only shot at a good start—get in the right pace and go as far as I can before the walking takes over. I’m about to run a marathon. It’s surreal standing at the starting line, a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. There’s so much to take in—the lights, the runners, the energy in the air. I take a deep breath and remind myself that I’ve trained for this.

Around mile 6, the pain starts. A small twinge in my foot, nothing major at first, but it’s there. Still, I’m feeling good. I’m in a solid pace group, and for the first time, I’m starting to think, “If I’m going to finish this, I might as well get a good PR.” It’s not just about crossing the finish line anymore. It’s about pushing for something more. Anything I do will be a PR, but why not aim for something truly satisfying?

By the time I hit the half marathon mark, the pain is no longer a small twinge. It’s real, and it’s getting worse. The blister on my toe is causing more pain when I walk than when I run. My feet are screaming at me, but I stay with the pacers as long as I can. Around mile 18, it’s clear: I can’t keep up. I’m tempted to give up. It feels like the race is over, but I don’t want to be the one who quits.

I turn up the music, trying to drown out the pain and focus on the costumes around me. There’s a strange comfort in seeing other runners dressed up—like a shared experience of pushing through the absurdity of it all. Mile 20 arrives, and I remember a quote from the start: “Marathons are just 20 miles of warmup and a 10K to finish.” I can do a 10K. I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

The mental shift helps. I still feel the pain, but I have a bit of spring in my step. I jog every so often just to remind myself that I’m still in the fight. The next few miles are a mix of walking and jogging, 10-15 seconds of running here and there, but the goal is simply to keep moving.

Mile 24 is the dreaded Fantasmic hill in Hollywood Studios. Honestly, it feels like a dick move to marathon runners to go up a massive hill...at the END miles of the race. My legs feel like lead, but the thought of the chocolate cookie at the top pushes me forward. It’s exactly the kind of distraction I need. Once I reach the top and take a bite, something clicks. I’m not just walking through this anymore. I’m finishing strong.

By mile 25, I have a tear or two in my eyes. It’s surreal, emotional. Just one more mile, and I’ll have done it. I’ve run a marathon. For the first time in my life, I’ve completed 26.2 miles. I’m crossing the line.

The finish line is coming up quickly now, and I can barely hold it together. Arms raised, I cross it. The weight lifts. It’s done. I am no longer just a challenger. DAVE IS DOPEY.

The lenses on my glasses are in dark mode, and they hide the tears well in my post-run medal selfie. It’s an emotional moment, but it’s not over yet. I hobble through the finish area, get my water, Powerade, and a Mickey ear hat. But there’s still the final part of the journey: the medals. I line up for my Goofy and Dopey medals. And then, the real test begins: I have to make it to the car. My feet are furious, but I know I’ve just completed the most monumental race of my life. It’s longer than the marathon itself but I’ve made it through.

Overall, I'm uber proud of myself for undertaking something that less than 1% of the population has ever attempted. I haven't ruled out doing it again but I think it's pretty close to 0%. A marathon on the other hand is not out of the question. I'd like to think that without the extra miles and bodily wear and tear I could get a more respectable time. Either way, I still have a marathon PR and that is something that can never be taken away from me.

When I first started doing the Disney races the distance that scared me most was the full marathon. I don't know if it's because of how few people try it or if it's because it's an Olympic distance and those who run it are hyper elite but I it just seemed like one of those things I'd get to see done but not complete myself. After a few years of watching Dopey runners who looked similar to me and hearing that some of them literally did no training but were still crossing the finish line I was intrigued.

This is not to say I would recommend doing this without at least having the ability to run some length of time without being fully winded. Unless you're lucky to get an early corral I don't know that the marathon is walkable from start to finish. 16 minute miles isn't a normal pace of walking for most. If you're contemplating a marathon or Dopey I cannot recommend enough finding a training that works for you and stick to it the best you can. Don't read this and see that I didn't go past mile 15 and think maybe it's not that bad. This wasn't my first run and even with the base I had my toes blistering still almost took me out.

I love doing runDisney as it seems to be the only real exercise I seem to stand doing on a regular basis. The plan is to continue doing as many race weekends as I can for as long as I can. Who knows how far I'll go next time?

-Dave

It's kind of fun to do the impossible

#running #dopey #rundisney #5k #10k #halfmarathon #marathon #goofy #daveisdopey

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