Just a little Dopey drivel

Are you crazy? Why? That sounds hard! I didn’t know you could run that far. I didn’t know you were a runner!

This was the craziest and most painful race of all time!

These are just a few responses I have gotten when explaining what my goals are in early 2024. I have been training with the Jeff Gallaway, marathon Olympian, plan. He coined it as his Run-Walk-Run method, which allows your legs to be saved for longer than just slogging out a run.

My thoughts so far is, yeah, it’s much more doable, and slower is faster in some cases. And while I am still figuring out my RWR ratio, I am finding my body is holding up much better overall than it did during my last challenge in 2018 in DisneyLand Paris, during the 36k challenge.

The proud feeling after my first Disney Challenge, and the kids first RunDisney race ever. DisneyLand Paris 2018 36k Challenge.

I always wondered what would keep me entertained, and while I thought it would be music, or books, but instead it’s been podcasts! I never knew how amazing they are, and before you think that I enjoy running trails while listening to muder stories, that’s further from the truth than you can imagine. I actually love to listen to running podcasts while running, it somehow keeps me motivates, helps me feel connected to others doing this with me.

This entire process is daunting, but I am not alone! Race day is electric, all 4 of them! Yep, you read that right! The Dopey is made up of 4 races in 4 sequential days. It all starts with an Expo opening up Wednesday, followed by the 5k race the following morning, the 10k on Friday and the 1/2 Marathon and full Marathon is the culminating event on Sunday! For my non-math loving friends, that's 48.6 miles!

Disney Running Motivation shirt

And there it is, that circles back to the first few sentences, if you repeated any of the aforementioned reactions you aren’t alone either! Emotions and reactions vary and they are all valid! With over 100,000 spectators last year, thousands of participants in the weekends events and hundreds of Dopey Challenge finishers, I find it extremely motivating to hear their stories of overcoming adversity, pushing through mental and physical challenges and I hope to call myself a Dopey Finisher come Jan 8, 2024.

It’s not just a crazy dream, it is a mental challenge, where I hope to find clarity, purpose and fulfillment in finishing something that takes months to train for. And has many days filled with many hours of training per day. In addition to simulations for the race. And so far, it’s going well!

Shoes matter when you’re running, make sure to get fitted at a running store!

I guess, I’ll have to report the after the race to fill you in on how it went.

I want to include more information on my mental struggles through the process, my physical hinderences and my costume themeing, and race plans. All of this is new to me, and as a total newbie, I feel the fresh and raw perspective is something that another person considering a challenge that seems beyond them right now.