I'm running the Goofy Challenge at WDW in Jan! RUNNING TOMORROW!

[DLR29]

I just officially registered for the Goofy Challenge at WDW for the second weekend in January. For those who don't know what that is, it's a half marathon on Saturday and then a FULL marathon the next day on Sunday.

I know. I'm nuts. This'll be my first official half and full marathons...and they just happen to be back to back. But I've already started running, and I like running in general. There are special training programs for it and they don't seem as rigorous as I thought they would be. It's like 3 times a week with 2 short (30-45 min) runs and 1 long run on the weekend.

I'll be running with 2 of my friends that I met while working at WDW last summer, and we all signed up together at the same time tonight. Now we just have to keep each other accountable. Right now it hasn't hit me how grueling it's gonna be. From the videos I've seen I'm expecting to be at the finish line. In reality, don't be surprised if I get a picture taken looking like

I'm up for the challenge and I'm super excited! I'll make sure to keep my favorite DLR DIS community updated as I go through this crazy next few months of preparing!

 

[kim3339]

I'll see you there! I'm running it too! Good luck with training.

 

[DLR29]

Some updates from last time I posted:

Booked my flight today! Got a great deal! I'll be flying from Norcal to Orlando on Monday, January 7th. I have to fly back on Sunday night right after the full marathon because my semester starts on the 14th. So I'll be flying from Orlando to LAX on Sunday. I scored both flights for $300 total! Flight to Orlando is on United and the flight back to Los Angeles is Southwest.

Also we've upgraded the number of people running together. Me and 3 other friends will be doing the Goofy Challenge, then 2 of our other friends will be joining us for just the half. It'll be a fun little reunion from when we all worked at WDW last summer.

Official training started last week, and so far it's been less rigorous than the unofficial training that I've been doing for the past 2 months. This reminds me, I need to wake up early tomorrow to get in my Thursday run!

Unofficial and very tentative plan for my trip:
Monday, 7th- Fly from SJC to MCO, take Magical Express to hotel???
Tuesday, 8th- Drive down to Miami to watch USC in the national championship game at the Orange Bowl
Wednesday, 9th- WDW
Thursday, 10th- WDW
Friday, 11th- WDW
Saturday, 12th- Run 1/2 Marathon
Sunday, 13th- Run Full Marathon, grab lunch quickly, take Magical Express to MCO, fly from MCO to LAX
Monday, 14th- Spring Semester begins!

I'm exhausted looking at it, but if it all works out it looks amazing!

 

[DLR29]

Update!

So as you may or may not know MK's new Fantasyland expansion is going to include this awesome new restaurant called "Be Our Guest". Well ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) just became available a couple days ago. My friends and I really want to try it.

So I checked this morning (2 days after they opened up online ADRs) and there was NOTHING for any of our dates...I just resolved to continue checking everyday until our trip. I came back this afternoon and snagged an ADR for 4 people on Wednesday, 1/9 at 7:50PM (restaurant only open until 8)!!! I'm so glad that I got something, and I can't wait to try it out.

Also training has been going really well! This Saturday, however, will be my longest run yet...9 miles! I think I'll switch over to a pre-TR on the WDW boards too, so look for that link soon.

 

[bakerudall]

Dude, I don't know what's crazier: back-to-back half and full marathons or starting class the next day! You'll do fine, though. Just pretend there is a fastpass booth at the end of each mile, and it will just be a normal day at the parks for you.

Good luck!

 

[DLR29]

Dude, I don't know what's crazier: back-to-back half and full marathons or starting class the next day! You'll do fine, though. Just pretend there is a fastpass booth at the end of each mile, and it will just be a normal day at the parks for you.

Good luck!

Thanks! I do wonder how much I walk/run on one of my super intense days at DLR. Perhaps, next time I'll wear a nerdy pedometer. And honestly, someone might have to wheelchair me around on that Monday...or maybe I'll just rearrange my schedule to have no Monday class.

Went for a 9 miler today and it felt alright. A little stiffness in the knees but nothing major. Today was the longest run I've done so far, so it felt good to complete it.

 

[goofeygirl]

Okay so I am digging up old posts..because it is new years and the race is just over a week away and I am both excited and nervous as all hell about it...as I am signed up for the Goofy as well.

I was training pretty good for a while then tapered off with the holidays...I did a half at the begining of Dec and haven't done much worth noting since.
At this point I have no intention of doing anything strenuous...other than start drinking a lot of water and eater better.

So my question to the op is this: how is the training going? How do you feel? Nervous? Or do you feel very confident? Are you still going through with it or do you have second thoughts?

Being gungho in summer is one thing but now that we are 8 days away from this...reality is starting to kik' in.

Me? My goal is to cross the finish line. I am seriously thinking of booking a full body massage afterwards...like the next day.

 

[DLR29]

Okay so I am digging up old posts..because it is new years and the race is just over a week away and I am both excited and nervous as all hell about it...as I am signed up for the Goofy as well.

I was training pretty good for a while then tapered off with the holidays...I did a half at the begining of Dec and haven't done much worth noting since.
At this point I have no intention of doing anything strenuous...other than start drinking a lot of water and eater better.

So my question to the op is this: how is the training going? How do you feel? Nervous? Or do you feel very confident? Are you still going through with it or do you have second thoughts?

Being gungho in summer is one thing but now that we are 8 days away from this...reality is starting to kik' in.

Me? My goal is to cross the finish line. I am seriously thinking of booking a full body massage afterwards...like the next day.

It is so soon, and I am getting so excited!!

I am ready. I've been training for 6-7 months now, and I just want to do it. I've run a couple 20 milers and 1 23 one...that one was horrible but doable. I'm hoping that adrenaline from being around a ton of people, being at one of my favorite places, and being around some of my best friends will help me finish!

But I'm done with intense training. I'll probably go on 2-3 more smaller runs (4-6 miles) but I don't want to risk any injuries or whatever this close to the race. I don't think the reality of how difficult this is going to be has kicked in, especially because I'm more excited about seeing my old friends and going to the parks with them the first 3 days of my trip. But at this point we just have to go for it. I will cross that finish line. See you there!

 

[DLR29]

It's 5:15AM and I leave for the airport in about 15 min to go to Orlando!

I'll post lots of pictures and a full report when I get back!

 

[DLR29]

1/2 tomorrow and full on Sunday! It's been an amazing week so far, and I'm really excited to run in the next couple days.