Four Parks, One Dope: A 2015 Dopey Challenge Trip Report!

[Ariel484]

First off, Congratulations on the Dopey! Next thank you so much for writing such an outstanding TR, it really brought the events of the weekend back to life for me, the Dopey weekend was a complete blur. I wish I could put something together this thorough and entertaining. I am going to have to go back and read your 2013 TR since that was my first marathon.

Thank you so much for the kind words and for reading my report! Congratulations, fellow Dope!

2013...man, that was a hot one. Yowza!!

 

[Neoflynn]

Congrats on Going Dopey, I loved this trip report as The DW and I are currently in the early planning stages of our first RunDisney Trip for Marathon weekend 2016 I am beyond excited as it will be my first Marathon after only picking up running in May of 2013, The wife has also becoming a little bit of a runner herself (she has a liz franc foot injury so her distance is limited) but she is planning on doing the 10k (her first at that distance) and we will run the 5k together our son will also being rockin the kids race so its gonna be a crazy fun weekend now I just have to get through registration come April and then I can really get excited. thanks so much for taking the time to do your report hopfully one day ill join you in being a Dope but gotta get a full under my belt first

 

[Ariel484]

Congrats on Going Dopey, I loved this trip report as The DW and I are currently in the early planning stages of our first RunDisney Trip for Marathon weekend 2016 I am beyond excited as it will be my first Marathon after only picking up running in May of 2013, The wife has also becoming a little bit of a runner herself (she has a liz franc foot injury so her distance is limited) but she is planning on doing the 10k (her first at that distance) and we will run the 5k together our son will also being rockin the kids race so its gonna be a crazy fun weekend now I just have to get through registration come April and then I can really get excited. thanks so much for taking the time to do your report hopfully one day ill join you in being a Dope but gotta get a full under my belt first

Thank you! You picked a great first marathon and I am sure your wife will love the 10K course - I sure did. The 5K is really fun, too!

You should be good on registration! I'd definitely suggest making sure you're ready to go right at noon at registration and that you make sure your wife gets into the 10K first as that distance is super popular for runDisney.

Good luck and happy running!

 

[dta87]

Thank you so much for the kind words and for reading my report! Congratulations, fellow Dope!

2013...man, that was a hot one. Yowza!!

Yes, I am not too sure I want to remember the heat from that weekend. One thing I do remember from that weekend is entering WWOS pretty much dehydrated and not sweating anymore. I just stopped by the sponges and kept soaking myself to try and cool myself down. After pretty much walking all of WWOS and drinking all I could at each water stop I was as good as I could be at the 20 mile point.

 

[Neoflynn]

Thank you! You picked a great first marathon and I am sure your wife will love the 10K course - I sure did. The 5K is really fun, too!

You should be good on registration! I'd definitely suggest making sure you're ready to go right at noon at registration and that you make sure your wife gets into the 10K first as that distance is super popular for runDisney.

Good luck and happy running!

oh for sure we have that date in our minds since they released the schedule Ill be off from work and stationed at the computer at 11:45 ready to go and she will be at work and also ready to go and we will divide and conquer, I already have an active account so im hoping that will speed me up just a bit as long as the don't disappear within minutes im sure we will be fine

 

[Ariel484]

Yes, I am not too sure I want to remember the heat from that weekend. One thing I do remember from that weekend is entering WWOS pretty much dehydrated and not sweating anymore. I just stopped by the sponges and kept soaking myself to try and cool myself down. After pretty much walking all of WWOS and drinking all I could at each water stop I was as good as I could be at the 20 mile point.

YES. Those sponges were so amazing! I'm pretty sure I was just in survival mode at that point.

oh for sure we have that date in our minds since they released the schedule Ill be off from work and stationed at the computer at 11:45 ready to go and she will be at work and also ready to go and we will divide and conquer, I already have an active account so im hoping that will speed me up just a bit as long as the don't disappear within minutes im sure we will be fine

That's what ya gotta do! Pretty insane!! I hope both of you have no trouble getting in.

 

[Adgie128]

Hi Shannon,

From one runner to another, I have to tell you I loved this and read it all in one day! Your journey is amazing and really makes me want to consider a challenge weekend!

I ran Wine and Dine in 2013 and had to defer from Splash and Dash 2014. So I am feeling way overdue for another runDisney racecation! It was so refreshing to hear how you enjoyed every step of the way. Love that!

Funny, I follow your friend Courtney on IG! I made the connection when you posted the screenshot. So cool that you have a great group of friends to run with who get the magic that runDisney is.

I also liked that you addressed the prospect of doing Dopey as a first marathon. I'm starting to think I'm ready for the full but I think maybe I shoild do one closer to home and then go for Goofy when I'm not so nervous. That confidence thing makes sense and totally clicked with me. It's a mental game, this sport!

Thanks for taking us along on the ride!

 

[Ariel484]

Hi Shannon,

From one runner to another, I have to tell you I loved this and read it all in one day! Your journey is amazing and really makes me want to consider a challenge weekend!

Thank you!! Challenge weekends are...challenging...but they are really fun and (I think) worth it.

I ran Wine and Dine in 2013 and had to defer from Splash and Dash 2014. So I am feeling way overdue for another runDisney racecation! It was so refreshing to hear how you enjoyed every step of the way. Love that!

Well I'm sorry you had to defer from Splash & Dash. But if you had to miss one, that was a good one to miss! I hope you get better weather this year than we had!

Funny, I follow your friend Courtney on IG! I made the connection when you posted the screenshot. So cool that you have a great group of friends to run with who get the magic that runDisney is.

Yay!! She's a good one to follow on Instagram (I may be biased though since we are friends). It's been really fun doing the race trips with them, for sure. We already have the next 2 (possibly 3) planned out!

I also liked that you addressed the prospect of doing Dopey as a first marathon. I'm starting to think I'm ready for the full but I think maybe I shoild do one closer to home and then go for Goofy when I'm not so nervous. That confidence thing makes sense and totally clicked with me. It's a mental game, this sport!

It definitely works for some people, but I don't know that it would have for me. It just made the whole thing a lot less overwhelming...that and knowing I had done the training! That was really important for me!

Thanks for taking us along on the ride!

Thanks for reading and for leaving such a nice comment! I appreciate it!

 

[Ariel484]

SHAMELESS PLUG!!

Because I need to think of warm, sunny places to keep me sane right now (February in Ohio = not good), I started a trip report for our cruise (Disney of course) from July 2014! Check it out here.

 

[swade95]

Congratulations on your Dopey! I am doing the Wine and Dine this year as my first runDisney event. I know it's a loaded question but what is the average spending at the Expo? Is there some place that list the items and the prices. Just want to make sure I can get enough race swag if possible.

 

[dta87]

SHAMELESS PLUG!!

Because I need to think of warm, sunny places to keep me sane right now (February in Ohio = not good), I started a trip report for our cruise (Disney of course) from July 2014! Check it out here.

I wouldn't call it a shameless plug. If there is anything that beats a RunDisney event for me, it's a Disney Cruise!

 

[Ariel484]

Congratulations on your Dopey! I am doing the Wine and Dine this year as my first runDisney event. I know it's a loaded question but what is the average spending at the Expo? Is there some place that list the items and the prices. Just want to make sure I can get enough race swag if possible.

Thanks!

I can't remember tons of specific prices...I know pins were about $15, t-shirts were $30-$40, hoodies were $55 and the jackets were $85-$90. Hope that helps!

I wouldn't call it a shameless plug. If there is anything that beats a RunDisney event for me, it's a Disney Cruise!

AGREED! You and I seem to have similar tastes.

 

[pamster]

You are amazing! Congratulations on completing the Dopey challenge. The Dumbo challenge will be a walk in the park for you this September

I don't mean this in a creepy or stalker-ish way, but I love your trip reports!! Your attention to detail and pictures are so helpful as I prepare for my first 1/2 marathon race next January.

 

[Ariel484]

You are amazing! Congratulations on completing the Dopey challenge. The Dumbo challenge will be a walk in the park for you this September

Thank you so much! I am soooo excited for Dumbo.

I don't mean this in a creepy or stalker-ish way, but I love your trip reports!! Your attention to detail and pictures are so helpful as I prepare for my first 1/2 marathon race next January.

Don't worry, I'm not creeped out! I'm glad you find it helpful...if you have any questions let me know!

 

[pamster]

.Don't worry, I'm not creeped out! I'm glad you find it helpful...if you have any questions let me know!

Thanks so much!

I am soooo excited for Dumbo.

I'll be at the 10k race (but way in the back of the pack since it'll be my first race ever)!

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks so much!



I'll be at the 10k race (but way in the back of the pack since it'll be my first race ever)!

I'm so excited for the DL 10K! The course looks great!

 

[Neoflynn]

So I already thanked you once for your awesome trip report but now im gonna do it again as ive just read all of your rundisney trip reports and you do an awesome job I will for sure be using some tips and tricks I picked up from your reports and am anxiously awaiting Marathon registration day so I can really start getting excited once I know we are all set for our races!! thanks again for doing an awesome job and I look forward to all your future reports

 

[Ariel484]

So I already thanked you once for your awesome trip report but now im gonna do it again as ive just read all of your rundisney trip reports and you do an awesome job I will for sure be using some tips and tricks I picked up from your reports and am anxiously awaiting Marathon registration day so I can really start getting excited once I know we are all set for our races!! thanks again for doing an awesome job and I look forward to all your future reports

Thank you so much!! Good luck on registration day!

 

[Ariel484]

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[Karen Barnes]

Hey there!! Finished your TR, it was brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing, I love how much detail you put in these reports it makes a great read and so helpful too.

It sounds like you had a fantastic weekend, your training really paid off and you got the Marathon weekend you deserved. CONGRATULATIONS!!

Our Minnie sparkle skirts arrive... IN LOVE WITH IT!! I can see this becoming a problem!

Looking forward to your next thread...