Dopey & WDW Marathon Weekend Lessons Learned

[Waddle Girl]

This is something runDisney needs to seriously consider and should have instituted long ago. I’m not naive enough to think that course crowding at Disney races can be “solved,” but a good deal of what goes on is due to ignorance and crowd mentality (if no one else is following etiquette, why should I?)

I refuse to believe that runDisney doesn’t employ people with the ability to write a simple/non-threatening document that outlines some suggestions for making the race safer and more fun for everyone. There will obviously still be issues, but I think some people are nice enough to follow etiquette if they are aware of it.

ETA: The major problem that can never be solved at a rD race, and tends to happen less in other places, is the “I paid a lot of money for this race and I’m going to do what I want” mentality. There will always be some of that regardless of what rD does; but considering what little printed material actually comes with the gear bag now a small piece of paper outlining race procedures and expectations could go a long way to help the issue.

I guess it's probably an unsolvable problem, the "I paid a lot of money..." crowd is somewhat overwhelming (and at some narrow points it only takes one or two bad apples spoil the bunch), but I'm being belligerent because I'm sick and can't get to sleep. These issues seem to be a common refrain from many people who are taking a break from rD or aren't interested in doing another race after experiencing the crowding and atmosphere once. I know they can't enforce anything and I wouldn't want them to, that would lead to many more and much larger problems, but I tend to look at what they're doing as the bare minimum rather than everything that can be realistically expected. Probably being way too much of an optimist thinking that anything would help.

I’m so

The Official Event Guide has sections on Race Etiquette and Race Safety. In fact, I remember reading these sections in every event guide since my first runDisney race in 2013. (Of course I realize not everyone obsesses over the details like I do.) Are you suggesting they need to do more? I have heard some of these tips mentioned during the pre-show while waiting in our corrals too.

I would like rDisney to go back to printed documentation. Their email had lots of info but I’m not a fan of being stuck to a screen to read things. I still read physical books too so I’m giving my age away. Disney used to actually mail out a package prior to marathon weekend and more printed documentation came at packet pick up. I like reading, making notes, underlining things. Old fashioned but it’s worked for thousands of years. My daughter and her friend actually found a discrepancy in the online documentation regarding shuttle times that shouldn’t happen in online or printed documentation. rDisney is saving thousands of dollars by providing only online documentation.

6:30pm. I should have eaten at 4 or 4:30 I think.

 

[Waddle Girl]

Did you email them? I would for them to hear this.

No, I have not emailed them but I recall a questionaire/review coming via email a few years ago. I’m hoping that this will happen again and I will be honest in my reviews.

 

[kywyldcat03]

Just wondering if anyone else had this issue. On the Dopey results, they had my age one year older. For all other results it was correct but not for Dopey. I have e-mailed them but was curious if others had the same issue?

 

[JClimacus]

Such a heartbreaking story and an important lesson learned. I can only imagine how disappointed and frustrated you felt. Are you planning on participating next year?

We are doing Dark Side Weekend in April. Probably not MW next year. This year I wanted the 25th anniversary medal.

 

[Mickey Momma]

Just wondering if anyone else had this issue. On the Dopey results, they had my age one year older. For all other results it was correct but not for Dopey. I have e-mailed them but was curious if others had the same issue?

Yes, my age is listed as one year older on my Dopey results as well, but is correct on the individual race results. No idea why.

 

[CDKG]

We are doing Dark Side Weekend in April. Probably not MW next year. This year I wanted the 25th anniversary medal.

I hope Dark Side is your best runDisney weekend to date!

 

[JClimacus]

I hope Dark Side is your best runDisney weekend to date!

Thank you! Obviously we are very disappointed we missed out on the 25th anniversary, but grasping after some silver linings, there might be some:
1. I've had a knee injury I've been dealing with since October. I'm pretty sure I would have completed Goofy, but I'm also sure my knee would have taken a beating. With the rest in the taper for Goofy, and resting/PTing since then, my knee feels very strong and there is a good chance I'll be healthy for Dark Side.
2. I'm looking forward to a novel experience (haven't done any other race weekend than MW), and being at WDW in warm weather for a change.

 

[Ariel484]

Even running Dopey, it is definitely possible to PR. I started at the front of D and took 14 minutes off my previous marathon time. My Garmin measured 26.5. To keep myself focused, I did try to run the tangents as much as possible. This was my third Disney marathon, and surprisingly each time my Garmin has come out to 26.5.

As far as your expo complaints, I agree with those 100%. The expo on Wednesday was a disaster.

I agree that you can PR running Dopey. I cut 1 hour and 8 minutes off my previous marathon PR after running very respectable 5k, 10k, and half times. It is all about the training. I barely finished last year in the marathon and it was due to lack of training. I also started in the front of D. My only complaint for the entire weekend was that once you were in the corral, it appeared that you could not get out to use the restroom without running into the woods. So since I was stuck in the corral for an hour, I lost several minutes at the first portapotties since the lines were so long.

It just occurred to me that my marathon PR came at the end of Dopey in 2015. So add me to the "yes, you can PR at Dopey" chorus!

 

[Nole95]

Just wondering if anyone else had this issue. On the Dopey results, they had my age one year older. For all other results it was correct but not for Dopey. I have e-mailed them but was curious if others had the same issue?

Yep. Both my wife and I are one year older on the Dopey results.

 

[Nole95]

I agree that you can PR running Dopey. I cut 1 hour and 8 minutes off my previous marathon PR after running very respectable 5k, 10k, and half times. It is all about the training. I barely finished last year in the marathon and it was due to lack of training. I also started in the front of D. My only complaint for the entire weekend was that once you were in the corral, it appeared that you could not get out to use the restroom without running into the woods. So since I was stuck in the corral for an hour, I lost several minutes at the first portapotties since the lines were so long.

Agree with the restrooms out at the corrals. On Saturday I walked by all the restrooms assuming there would be more up near where we were in D. Once I saw there were not, I knew I needed to go ahead and go. Wife and I staked out our spots and set up shop. I then hustled all the way back to the restrooms for what I knew would be the last time before the race started. On Sunday, I made sure to stop at the restroom before heading into the corral.

In the long email I sent to rD a couple days ago, I mentioned this as being the only thing I really did not like about the corral area.

 

[FFigawi]

Agree with the restrooms out at the corrals. On Saturday I walked by all the restrooms assuming there would be more up near where we were in D. Once I saw there were not, I knew I needed to go ahead and go. Wife and I staked out our spots and set up shop. I then hustled all the way back to the restrooms for what I knew would be the last time before the race started. On Sunday, I made sure to stop at the restroom before heading into the corral.

In the long email I sent to rD a couple days ago, I mentioned this as being the only thing I really did not like about the corral area.

I don't see them doing anything to change this. I can't remember ever having porta potties in the corrals for the half and the full. The last ones are always where you make the left turn into the corral area and need to go left or right for your corral entrance.

 

[Keels]

My only lesson learned ... knowing I have a beer in my future absolutely makes me run faster.

 

[Nole95]

I don't see them doing anything to change this. I can't remember ever having porta potties in the corrals for the half and the full. The last ones are always where you make the left turn into the corral area and need to go left or right for your corral entrance.

Now I know why it seemed so far of a walk to the bathrooms this year. The last time I was out there was 2015. Back then, they did not have the later corrals all stacked up next to the early corrals. Looking at my program from 2015, M-P were all the way back by I-L. I was able to just walk out of the corral, across Epcot Center Drive and use the bathroom.

This year they had the very large G and H corrals on the other side of the road. While there was a large bank of bathrooms over there, the only way to get to them would have been to walk all the way back to the split, where the first bathrooms were, and then walk forward. If there had been an easy way out the other side of my corral, I would have just gone in the woods, but that was not possible.

 

[courtneybeth]

Some wisdom to share:

Race Retreat was the best $240 I spent. Having a warm tent with a chair and food was wonderful on the last two days of the race. Having early access to the expo rocked - I was done in 30 mins. No lines!

Packing for all types of weather was a great idea - it was a real feel of 27 degrees on the morning of the 5K and we finished the marathon when it was 65 degrees. Layer, layer, layer!

This isn't simply a 5K, 10K, half, and full marathon over four days. It's a 4 day endurance challenge with early mornings and double mileage each consecutive day. I in no way prepared for that type of challenge and I'm trying to not beat myself up over my performance during the full. I was about 30 mins slower than usual, but I have to remember: 22.4 miles three days before, it was cold, and i was tired!

Have realistic expectations. PR in FUN! Enjoy the course.

 

[CDKG]

My only lesson learned ... knowing I have a beer in my future absolutely makes me run faster.

Great motivation tip! I ran a half marathon once where everyone received a glass of champagne at the end. As I sat in the grass sipping I immediately decided all races should end with a drink!

 

[JeffW]

One more key learning, after loading up my Garmin data. The miles accumulated through walking to/from the races and around parks can really add up. My total racing distance for the 4 days of Dopey was 49.8 miles. But my total estimated distance (based on steps in and out of the races) was 91.1 miles So I was putting in about 10 extra miles each day walking around...no wonder my arches were sore by Monday

 

[dta87]

Just wondering if anyone else had this issue. On the Dopey results, they had my age one year older. For all other results it was correct but not for Dopey. I have e-mailed them but was curious if others had the same issue?

The preliminary results (5K and 10K) had my age off by a year but the final results with all 4 races had it correct

 

[dta87]

On the PR question for the 2015 Dopey I lowered my marathon PR by 57 minutes and for the 2018 Dopey I lowered it by 29 minutes (which included a couple photo/character stops). So I think obtaining a PR is a combination of the training you put in and the weather you are given.

 

[kywyldcat03]

I e-mailed them and they corrected my age on the Dopey Challenge results document. Just thought I would let you all know.

 

[The Expert]

I don't see them doing anything to change this. I can't remember ever having porta potties in the corrals for the half and the full. The last ones are always where you make the left turn into the corral area and need to go left or right for your corral entrance.

I think it was Anaheim where they had smaller sets of two or four porta potties near the entrance to each corral on the side of the road. There were constant lines but at least there was somewhere to pop over and go without having to trek all the way back to the entrance area. It wouldn't be that tough to set up the same type of thing in Orlando.