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

[pxefig]

Wow, you are already so far into your recapsM where have I been?! You leave town for a couple of decades and they change everything!
Nice expo haul- you got some great stuff.
Football Mickey! What a find! That picture turned out sooooooooo cute!

 

[Ariel484]

Wow, you are already so far into your recapsM where have I been?! You leave town for a couple of decades and they change everything!

I don't let trip reports sit for too long...otherwise I forget pretty much everything!

Nice expo haul- you got some great stuff.

Thanks! I thought so too. SO glad I had some gift cards and the AP discount!!

Football Mickey! What a find! That picture turned out sooooooooo cute!

Ahhhh, I know!! That's one of my favorites!

 

[Ariel484]

Day 4: Saturday, January 10, 2015 - Post-Half Marathon

Just like the previous day, I quickly got on a bus and took it to the Swan. I made it to the Boardwalk Bakery, grabbed an egg sandwich with hot chocolate, and headed back to the room.

Once I got back, I took the room trash can to the ice machine and filled the can with ice. I took it back to the room and sat in a tub of ice water for about 10 minutes...I don't REALLY think I needed to, but I wanted to be safe with the marathon the next day. Sitting in that tub was about as fun as it sounds.

After eating and taking a shower, I laid out everything for my final race of the weekend.

Will texted me a little after 11 to let me know he'd landed at MCO!! And I wrote back to tell him that I was going to go to sleep. Oops! But our timing was on point that morning, because when I texted him that I was awake at about 12:15, his DME bus was JUST pulling into the Boardwalk! Yay!!

He found our room and got settled while I cleaned myself up a bit. We had fastpasses for Be Our Guest, but we both decided we just wanted to stick to Epcot for the rest of the day. I was a little sad - LOVE Be Our Guest for lunch - but a low-key day with less walking would probably be a good thing for both of us. Once I decided I was ready to go, we headed out and went to France for lunch! I had the quiche lorraine and Will had a sandwich (I forget which one). We found a table to sit at! Nice.

My legs and feet felt really, really good for the rest of the day. And I found that I was oddly calm, even with the marathon looming the next day. It was almost like it wasn't even happening - I wasn't nervous for it at all. Weird.

We met up with everyone else in Mexico at about 3PM. This was Will's first time meeting Jess, Courtney and Austin. Yay!

The neon green hoodie has been released from the closet!

Austin took this picture for us on his DSLR, so we actually have a good one!

It's always a party with Fiesta Donald!

Once again, we had not coordinated our plans very well. Will and I had Soarin' Fastpasses coming up, so we used those while everyone else had a snack in Sunshine Seasons, and then the whole group went on Spaceship Earth. I ended up riding by myself and meeting my new lady of the future and getting holes blown in my head!

Will, Holly and I hung out at Electric Umbrella while everyone else went on Soarin'. Holly's husband and kiddo joined us!

Continuing the trend of poor planning, we split up at about 6PM. Will and I had reservations at Via Napoli - this is where I always have dinner before whatever the biggest race of the weekend is for me, so I wasn't budging on that. I did feel a little guilty from splitting off from the group yet again, but they understood. Everyone else had a later reservation at Nine Dragons.

I'd made our dinner reservation for 7PM, but I was starting to feel like I wanted to go to bed soon, so we tried to check in early just after 6. They told us to wait a bit and come back. When we tried again closer to 6:30, they took us in and we were seated by 6:40!

Our table was in that little indoor/outdoor side room and I went to use the bathroom, telling Will what I wanted before I left. When I came back I was pretty dismayed to find that they hadn't taken our order yet. This may have been the low point of the weekend for me - I was officially what Will and I refer to as "panicky tired." As in "OH MY GOD I NEED SLEEP NOW NOW NOW." Will was a little concerned at my panicky-ness but I told him that I thought maybe dinner would help.

We put our orders in and got our pizzas a little after 7, per the time stamp on this picture. So everything was really very quick - the panicky tired feeling made it seem a lot longer! Luckily dinner DID help my mood! And it was delicious!

We settled our bill quickly and headed back to the Boardwalk. Will, on a normal schedule, wasn't tired yet, so he headed to the Belle Vue lounge for a very enjoyable evening of hanging out while people watching and enjoying a mojito. As for me, I checked over everything I needed for the marathon and finally got to bed at a decent time...8:15. And I was dead asleep right away...never even heard Will come back in.

WDW Marathon Recap is up next!

Continued in Next Post

 

[rteetz]

I ate at Via Napoli in July and loved it. That kind of sucks that all of your plans were different but it all works out in the end anyways. Can't wait to hear about the full.

 

[Ariel484]

I ate at Via Napoli in July and loved it. That kind of sucks that all of your plans were different but it all works out in the end anyways. Can't wait to hear about the full.

That's my favorite restaurant in World Showcase! I know some people don't like it, but I think it's soooo delicious.

Yeah, a big part of the problem with the planning is that I'm way more OCD about it and everyone else is more laid back...so I just made these FP+ and dining reservations right at the 180-/60-day mark. My friends waited a little longer and were able to line some of their stuff up with my plans, but not everything. It's also something that sort of comes with the territory of being the only one doing multiple races - the schedule is just different with naps, early bedtimes, etc. But it's worth it!

 

[ZellyB]

Woohoo for Will's arrival!!!

I'm totally having regrets for not looking for/buying that Donald hoodie. It's so stinking cute. The pictures with Fiesta Donald turned out great. Love them!!!

I understand about that panicky tired feeling. I'm glad that things actually went pretty quickly with dinner and that you got an early bedtime accomplished.

Ice baths. I've never done one. I know they say they help a lot, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Brrrrr...

Ready to hear more.

 

[RnbwSktles]

That's my favorite restaurant in World Showcase! I know some people don't like it, but I think it's soooo delicious.

Yeah, a big part of the problem with the planning is that I'm way more OCD about it and everyone else is more laid back...so I just made these FP+ and dining reservations right at the 180-/60-day mark. My friends waited a little longer and were able to line some of their stuff up with my plans, but not everything. It's also something that sort of comes with the territory of being the only one doing multiple races - the schedule is just different with naps, early bedtimes, etc. But it's worth it!

I'm this way with planning, too. I almost hate planning trips/big outings with people just for this reason. I want to do what I want and when I want! I'm totally not a team player sometimes.

 

[Ariel484]

Woohoo for Will's arrival!!!

Woohoo!!

I'm totally having regrets for not looking for/buying that Donald hoodie. It's so stinking cute. The pictures with Fiesta Donald turned out great. Love them!!!

When runDisney released the merchandise preview on Facebook, that and the Dopey medal pin were the #1 items on my list. I love that hoodie sooooo much.

I understand about that panicky tired feeling. I'm glad that things actually went pretty quickly with dinner and that you got an early bedtime accomplished.

Me too! That's the earliest I have gone to bed in a very, very long time!

Ice baths. I've never done one. I know they say they help a lot, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Brrrrr...

You know, some people say they help and some say they do nothing. I swore by them for the longest time, but during training for Dopey it was so cold outside during my long runs that I'd come back and most of the time, I just couldn't bring myself to actually take an ice bath. All I wanted was a scalding hot shower. And I found that my legs still recovered pretty well without them. So I'm not sure if I need them as much anymore!

Ready to hear more.

Same to you, missy!

I'm this way with planning, too. I almost hate planning trips/big outings with people just for this reason. I want to do what I want and when I want! I'm totally not a team player sometimes.

I can totally, totally relate to what you're saying. I'm exactly like this...especially when I have a marathon to run the next day, ya know??

 

[sumlee]

Yummy Via Napoli! That's were I ate on Friday night before the Half Marathon! It was my first time, but I think it's definitely tradition-worthy! Good food always makes things better!

I totally felt the the same way on Sunday evening - I need to sleep NOW! We were at Universal that day, so it took some time waiting for the shuttle back to the resort, and I was really dragging and miserable! When we finally got back to the room, I ate a handful of pb pretzels for dinner and fell into bed at 8:00pm. I was dead to the world until my alarm went off at 3:00. Some of the best sleep ever! I woke up feeling ready to conquer the world!

 

[Ariel484]

Yummy Via Napoli! That's were I ate on Friday night before the Half Marathon! It was my first time, but I think it's definitely tradition-worthy! Good food always makes things better!

Yes!! Via Napoli is soooo good. We've eaten there 5-6 times now and it's always been pretty fantastic!

I totally felt the the same way on Sunday evening - I need to sleep NOW! We were at Universal that day, so it took some time waiting for the shuttle back to the resort, and I was really dragging and miserable! When we finally got back to the room, I ate a handful of pb pretzels for dinner and fell into bed at 8:00pm. I was dead to the world until my alarm went off at 3:00. Some of the best sleep ever! I woke up feeling ready to conquer the world!

Yeah I bet most of the Dopey runners were hitting the wall right around that point! Those wake-up calls were SUCH a killer!

 

[emilyindisney]

Those green sweatshirts look great! How did you ever get Donald to say he was number 2?!?!

I know what you mean about getting panicky tired. I get like that sometimes and go into "I NEED TO GO TO BED RIGHT NOW" mode. Glad you were able to speed up dinner and were out like a light at 8:15. Getting in bed early can be tough, but sometimes having to go to sleep early is even harder!

So pumped to hear your thoughts on the marathon!!

 

[disneyhorselover]

Ahh I've gotten so behind.

Love your half marathon recap-you guys got some great pictures. I was losing patience with the Louis woman just reading about it, haha! I definitely would have made a comment probably the same as you guys did...but maybe she thought he was the peter pan croc? Still strange...

Love your Jack and Sally pic! We skipped them because of the line, which made me sad-but we have met them before during ToT.

You got great pictures of mile markers 4 and 5-I couldn't a get a good shot of either, I may need to save those for my scrapbook if you don't mind!

I totally missed Phineas and Ferb in Epcot! I was not in a great spot physically or mentally by that point so that must have been why. Glad we got them during the full at least!

I'm extra confused, did Fiesta Donald agree to a picture saying he is #2? Maybe he has had a few too many margaritas, I've only seen him holding up a #1!!

That Via Napoli looks delicious! I need to try that restaurant again. The only time I've been was after the PHM, and by the time we sat down to dinner I was crashing so I didn't enjoy it very much, but I think that was much more a result of my illness/exhaustion than the restaurant.

Can't wait to hear about the marathon! However, you are making me feel way behind with my own report...I better get writing! Lol

 

[Miffy2003]

I totally empathise on the sleep thing. I think it was Saturday night it hit me like a truck at about seven o'clock - we practically went to bed and to sleep, didn't even wake up to Wishes going off near our room

Cockney Gary was an older chap from the UK we kept leapfrogging in the half - and then the marathon - he was an inspiration, a lot older than us and looked like he had a back condition - we kept chatting to him off and on - he kept chugging along whereas we were very inconsistent with our pace. I just thought, if it's hard for me, it must be 100 times worse for him.

He had a t shirt on saying Cockney Gary with a long list of races he's doing in 2015

(Anyway, back to your trip report, sorry)

 

[disneyhorselover]

speaking of inspiring runners, did anyone else see the gentleman with the walker? We saw him during both the half and full.

 

[Mom2m&k]

Love your trip report...even more that you update so quickly! I am in awe of anyone that can run that much and your outfits are super cute!

 

[garneska]

I saw the man in the walker both Saturday and Sunday. I hope he was able to complete it.

Shannon I feel you on the ice baths. I swore by them but this Goofy I was staying at ft wilderness with no tub, so I had a kids pool I could use but on Saturday I was so cold after the race, I could not bring myself to an ice bath outside. I took a hot shower instead and was surprised my legs were not too bad on Sunday morning. My knee was a complete wreck but I finished the marathon on Sunday so I can't complain.

Love your trip reports.

 

[Biggie Smalls]

speaking of inspiring runners, did anyone else see the gentleman with the walker? We saw him during both the half and full.

I saw him too! So many inspiring people- like the firewoman in full uniform and full air tanks

 

[Ariel484]

Those green sweatshirts look great! How did you ever get Donald to say he was number 2?!?!

We're just very persuasive like that!

I know what you mean about getting panicky tired. I get like that sometimes and go into "I NEED TO GO TO BED RIGHT NOW" mode. Glad you were able to speed up dinner and were out like a light at 8:15. Getting in bed early can be tough, but sometimes having to go to sleep early is even harder!

Yeah, getting panicky tired is the worst (besides getting panicky hungry)!

I had ZERO trouble getting to sleep that night...really I slept so hard I'm surprised I woke up on time.

So pumped to hear your thoughts on the marathon!!

And I'm looking forward to yours as well!

Ahh I've gotten so behind.

S'alright

Love your half marathon recap-you guys got some great pictures. I was losing patience with the Louis woman just reading about it, haha! I definitely would have made a comment probably the same as you guys did...but maybe she thought he was the peter pan croc? Still strange...

Thanks! You know...you may be right about that woman thinking Louis was the croc from Peter Pan. My brother thought the same thing when we got a picture with Louis during the Princess Half in 2011. I was like..."go home and watch 'The Princess and the Frog.' NOW."

Seriously though, that lady was infuriating.

Love your Jack and Sally pic! We skipped them because of the line, which made me sad-but we have met them before during ToT.

Yeah, that's one that I would have skipped except that Jess wanted to stop (I got a picture with them during the half in 2013). I think this is the 3rd year in a row they've been out for Marathon Weekend!

You got great pictures of mile markers 4 and 5-I couldn't a get a good shot of either, I may need to save those for my scrapbook if you don't mind!

Thaks! Of course, go right ahead!

I totally missed Phineas and Ferb in Epcot! I was not in a great spot physically or mentally by that point so that must have been why. Glad we got them during the full at least!

Oh no! That stinks. I'm glad you saw them the next day!!

I'm extra confused, did Fiesta Donald agree to a picture saying he is #2? Maybe he has had a few too many margaritas, I've only seen him holding up a #1!!

Like I said to Emily, we can be a very persuasive group!!

That Via Napoli looks delicious! I need to try that restaurant again. The only time I've been was after the PHM, and by the time we sat down to dinner I was crashing so I didn't enjoy it very much, but I think that was much more a result of my illness/exhaustion than the restaurant.

The last time I ate at Via Napoli (the day of Wine & Dine 2014) I was unexpectedly sick about an hour before and just got plain crust, so I can DEFINITELY sympathize with what you're saying. You should totally give it another shot!

Can't wait to hear about the marathon! However, you are making me feel way behind with my own report...I better get writing! Lol

Do it!! I want to read!

I totally empathise on the sleep thing. I think it was Saturday night it hit me like a truck at about seven o'clock - we practically went to bed and to sleep, didn't even wake up to Wishes going off near our room

I guess that's what these crazy wake-up times will do to people!

Cockney Gary was an older chap from the UK we kept leapfrogging in the half - and then the marathon - he was an inspiration, a lot older than us and looked like he had a back condition - we kept chatting to him off and on - he kept chugging along whereas we were very inconsistent with our pace. I just thought, if it's hard for me, it must be 100 times worse for him.

He had a t shirt on saying Cockney Gary with a long list of races he's doing in 2015

(Anyway, back to your trip report, sorry)

Ah, no...I didn't see him! I hope he finished!!

speaking of inspiring runners, did anyone else see the gentleman with the walker? We saw him during both the half and full.

I did not see him...wow, some of these other runners are really making me feel silly for EVER complaining about my aches and pains!

Love your trip report...even more that you update so quickly! I am in awe of anyone that can run that much and your outfits are super cute!

Thank you! And THANKS for the compliments on the outfits!

I saw the man in the walker both Saturday and Sunday. I hope he was able to complete it.

I hope so too!!

Shannon I feel you on the ice baths. I swore by them but this Goofy I was staying at ft wilderness with no tub, so I had a kids pool I could use but on Saturday I was so cold after the race, I could not bring myself to an ice bath outside. I took a hot shower instead and was surprised my legs were not too bad on Sunday morning. My knee was a complete wreck but I finished the marathon on Sunday so I can't complain.

All I wanted after these races and most of my training runs was the hottest shower ever. I absolutely think they helped me in the past so it's interesting that I didn't feel crazy ill effects not having them this year.

Love your trip reports.

Thank you, and thanks for reading!!

I saw him too! So many inspiring people- like the firewoman in full uniform and full air tanks

Yes! rteetz just posted a picture of her in uniform in his report, and I definitely remember seeing her at some point that weekend (not sure what race).

 

[Ariel484]

Day 5: Sunday, January 11, 2015

2015 Walt Disney World Marathon! Arriving

An amazing thing happened this morning. I woke up today - and I felt AWESOME. Well-rested, zero headache, legs and feet felt good, and the eerie calm that had come over me the day before had carried over to this morning. I wasn't nervous at all. I was ready.

While in line for the bus, I heard a girl behind me say that sweepers had come through during the half while she was in the Golfer Mickey line, specifically saying that Dopey and Goofy runners needed to pick up the pace or they'd forfeit their challenge medals. Um...what?! I haven't heard or read this anywhere else since, so I'm not sure what to make of it. At the time it didn't make me nervous, just confused. I'm still confused by it.

Bus ride was short as usual and I was heading through security at about 4:25 behind a very legit-looking Dopey.

As far as throwaway stuff for this morning I had on the pair of leggings I'd worn during the 5K (OMG EW GROSS), a long-sleeved t-shirt and was wrapped in an old mylar blanket from a past Disney race. Today was supposed to be the warmest day of the weekend, but it was still a bit chilly out now. I was thinking the temperature wouldn't be TOO bad later on - a little warm for running, but manageable. All week there had been a thunderstorm icon on this day in the weather app I use, so I was just glad that the chance of t-storms went away - because thunder and lightning may have canceled the race. Right at that moment the temperature was in the low 50s, but it was humid...chance of rain later.

I made my first porta-potty visit of the morning and after I was done, someone came up to me..."Are you Ariel484 on DISboards?" It was dlbwright!! Yay! She had some very, very kind words for me and I was so happy to meet her! We wished each other luck and I made my way through the No Bag Check area after grabbing a picture of Sarge.

Once I got through here I met up with Courtney, Austin and Jess' husband, Bill - my first time meeting him! They were in another porta-potty line...once everyone was done we started the walk to the corrals. Bill split from us once we reached the corral area...he was in Corral M (I think), Courtney and Austin were in J, and I was in I again. Courtney and I decided we needed another porta-potty stop before getting into the corrals, so we got in line again. And who should I see in the line next to me?? Why, it was Gisele (ZellyB) and her husband, Chris! She got my attention and I was so surprised I don't think I managed to get many words out! But I was very happy to see Gisele as we've been "chatting" here on the DIS for a couple of years now.

I wish I would have pulled myself together a little better for both of these DISmeets - I was just so surprised that someone recognized me and was nice enough to say hi. Great start to the morning!

If I remember correctly, the National Anthem and the start of the race happened while we were still in that porta-potty line...oops!

Once we were done we headed up to the corrals and split up when Courtney and Austin went into J. I walked up a bit further and settled into I...still very relaxed, still very calm. And unlike yesterday and the day before...I was thinking about Dopey #2!! The runDisney addiction is strong in this one...

I tried to make my way further up to the front of the corral, but I didn't get up as far as Jess and I had the previous morning.

Continued in Next Post

 

[Ariel484]

2015 Walt Disney World Marathon! Miles 1-5

My corral got the go-ahead at 6AM again.

3-2-1-GOOOOO!!!

The first 8 miles of the half marathon and marathon course are exactly the same, both in where the course goes and (for the most part) what characters are out - at least that was my experience while running Goofy in 2013. I'd decided the previous day that I was hoping to run this marathon a little faster than my previous ones (mostly because of weather and feet concerns) so I was more than okay with this. I knew I could just cruise through the first 8 miles, likely without many stops, since Jess and I had met so many characters the previous day.

My best long run of training was my 18-miler in mid-December, and during that one I'd used intervals of running 3 minutes/walking 1 minute. So that's what I did this morning. I did run the first mile straight through with no walk breaks, but after that, I stuck to the intervals for the remainder of the race.

Stilt walkers were out again during the second mile. One very, very notable part of this course was just before Mile Marker 2 - mile 1.9 to be exact. Why?? Because that's halfway Dopey, people!!

Pirate ship was out again on the left side of the road during the third mile.

And we're back at the gates!

Ralph and Vanellope were out again during this mile, as were Jack and Sally - all in the exact same spots as yesterday. Banking all kinds of time here!

Back to the TTC!

Um...really, sir?? Could you not???

Right around this point I remember feeling like I had a very, very small pebble in one of my shoes. I felt like I was in a pretty good rhythm though and didn't want to stop just yet...so I told myself that whenever I was in line for a character meet, I'd fix the shoe issue.

Back under the water bridge! So, so poorly lit in here!!

I'd been hoping to make it to Main Street while it was still dark out and it looked like I was going to do that this morning! Darker than yesterday, anyway. Wheeeee!

The splits for the marathon are different from the half, and my first one was sent out at Mile Marker 5: 5 miles in 1:00:59, 12:12/mile pace. Estimated finish time was 5:19:45 (11:23AM). I think I remember just glancing at my phone to make sure the split came in, but I didn't actually look to see what the time was - I didn't want to freak out about my time at all today.

Continued in Next Post