Marathon Weekend 2016

[Disneyland_emily]

After 7-8 am the contemporary won't be bad as it's the first few miles of the race so will clear earlier than other areas, and transportation runs via fort wilderness area so I wouldn't expect more than a 20-30 max delay from usual times at worst..

 

[Simba's Mom]

I
Anyone other then me planning that far ahead?

Kim

Yes, DH is already training for the Dopey challenge. He's really nervous about getting in because the F&W half marathon sold out so quickly, though. He started training for it already-on his 64th birthday a few weeks ago.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm soo glad (also DH is!) to have found this group. Since he's a Dopey "rookie" (and has only run one other Disney race-the F&W half-marathon), we don't even know if there's early/discount registration-for APholders, DVC members-we're both.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

early registration= yes, 2 weeks prior
discounts=nope those dried up when things sell out

 

[Disneyland_emily]

opps forgot to add- early registration is limited supply(usually about 10% of race capacity) so will still sell out super quick..

 

[Neoflynn]

Yes, DH is already training for the Dopey challenge. He's really nervous about getting in because the F&W half marathon sold out so quickly, though. He started training for it already-on his 64th birthday a few weeks ago.

I too freaked out a little when Wine and Dine went so fast but what we have to remember is that race has a much smaller capacity than Marathon Weekend as long as you are ready to go at noon on registration day it shouldn't be an issue

 

[DOOM1001]

I too freaked out a little when Wine and Dine went so fast but what we have to remember is that race has a much smaller capacity than Marathon Weekend as long as you are ready to go at noon on registration day it shouldn't be an issue

You can't ever tell anymore,if I recall the 5K,10K,half and the Dopey challenge sold out super quickly last year,I expected Goofy to go right away with it being the 10th anniversary but it ended up lasting forever,the marathon also lasts for a long time but that's expected.I'm only doing the full this year so I'm not stressing like I was for Wine and Dine,for anyone doing Dopey however I would try to be at your computer before noon ready to go,there seems to be a solid group of runners who appear to want to be perfectly Dopey really bad.

 

[Keels]

I'll still be online, ready to go 15 minutes before launch time for the full. That said - I anticipate it will take a long while for the full to sell out. Unless it's a lottery/time restricted full (NYC, Boston, Marine Corps, etc.), most sit with open spots for a long, long time. And it's the same price as the half - so ... two runs for the price of one!! #AmIRite??

The challenges? Yeah, those are going to go within minutes - especially Dopey. The price at the onset seems outstanding, but considering all the swag you get (six medals, six shirts). I would advice if you want to guarantee Dopey entry, buy the moment a travel agent starts selling bibs. Most have payment plans, and they have started selling the day of AP/DVC registration.

 

[derekleigh]

You can't ever tell anymore,if I recall the 5K,10K,half and the Dopey challenge sold out super quickly last year,I expected Goofy to go right away with it being the 10th anniversary but it ended up lasting forever,the marathon also lasts for a long time but that's expected.I'm only doing the full this year so I'm not stressing like I was for Wine and Dine,for anyone doing Dopey however I would try to be at your computer before noon ready to go,there seems to be a solid group of runners who appear to want to be perfectly Dopey really bad.

According to Runner's Guide to Disney (Facebook account) the 10K sold out in just over 2 hours. The 5K, Half, Dopey within 4 hours. I remember leaving work around 3:45 and reading a post about them being sold out and was glad I signed up at noon-ish because otherwise I wouldn't have made it home in time to sign up.

The Full didn't "sell out" until almost fall and by that point I think they simply closed down registration. The Goofy was surprisingly open until about August when they split most of the remaining spots left to strictly half or full. Very surprised Goofy didn't sell out sooner especially given it was the 10 year anniversary!

 

[FFigawi]

The Goofy was surprisingly open until about August when they split most of the remaining spots left to strictly half or full. Very surprised Goofy didn't sell out sooner especially given it was the 10 year anniversary!

I think that's because most of the traditional Goofy runners have switched over to Dopey. It's the challenge of multiple races over multiple days that attracts many of us, so it's only logical that we'd step up to Dopey. Plus, many Goofy runners arrived on Thursday in prior years, so adding one more day to the trip wouldn't be that much of a stretch. I think Dopey will go well before Goofy again this year.

 

[mmtwinmama]

Hi- does anyone know if you can sign up more than one person if you have an AP? Two of the four of us have AP's and we want to stay together so I'm just trying to figure out if I can register all of us early with the AP.

 

[IamTrike]

I think that's because most of the traditional Goofy runners have switched over to Dopey. It's the challenge of multiple races over multiple days that attracts many of us, so it's only logical that we'd step up to Dopey. Plus, many Goofy runners arrived on Thursday in prior years, so adding one more day to the trip wouldn't be that much of a stretch. I think Dopey will go well before Goofy again this year.

I think you're right about Dopey going first and about the reason why. We did the inagural dopey and I had done the unofficial dopey prior to that, but for our group it's hard to need to spend so much time there in Early Jan. Most of our kids are in school then and several of us have fairly busy times at work at that point. As a result we have taken to using this a short adults only getaway, Fri-Mon with most people running Goofy or the Full. At this point I think running Dopey is the "bucket list" challenge at Disney, but Goofy is the one that makes the most sense to do repeatedly.

 

[austin&pipermom]

I have a question for the runners that have done the Dopey/Goofy. I have done 5k, 10ks and Halfs. I run 3-5 days a week for 3-5miles each time. I really want to do the Dopey/ Goofy. Do you think that is too big of a goal since I have not done a whole marathon yet?

 

[IamTrike]

I have a question for the runners that have done the Dopey/Goofy. I have done 5k, 10ks and Halfs. I run 3-5 days a week for 3-5miles each time. I really want to do the Dopey/ Goofy. Do you think that is too big of a goal since I have not done a whole marathon yet?

I think a lot of that depends. How fast do you normally run? If you are normally a 10mm pace or faster, you have a lot of cushion to slow down and walk if you are tired. If you are at a 15mm pace for your halfs now then this might be a stretch goal. I don't think it's unreasonable to sign up and have Dopey be your first full, although I would suggest trying to run a different full before Dopey. You will have to up your training milage in order to successfully complete Dopey, but you have plenty of time between now and then to do that, if you are disciplined.

 

[Ariel484]

I have a question for the runners that have done the Dopey/Goofy. I have done 5k, 10ks and Halfs. I run 3-5 days a week for 3-5miles each time. I really want to do the Dopey/ Goofy. Do you think that is too big of a goal since I have not done a whole marathon yet?

I know people successfully do Goofy/Dopey as a first marathon. Physically I'm sure you'd be fine if you stick to a training plan - you have plenty of time. It's a lot more mileage though - you'd be look at maxing out at 3-4 hour long runs at your peak, and would be wise to throw in a few back-to-back days as well. It's a lot more hours per week of running than what you're currently doing - which is fine, just something to think about.

The mental aspect is big though, both for the training and the weekend itself. The training is months of building up to those long runs, which for me was the hardest part - especially in Ohio winter. As far as actually doing the races, confidence that I'd done the distance before was huge for me. I could have never done Goofy or Dopey as my first marathon - I needed to know I could finish a marathon before Goofy, and doing Goofy before Dopey gave me a ton of confidence. If Goofy/Dopey were my first marathon I think I would have been terrified. But for some people it's fine.

I think the only person that can answer the "am I ready?" question is you.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I have a question for the runners that have done the Dopey/Goofy. I have done 5k, 10ks and Halfs. I run 3-5 days a week for 3-5miles each time. I really want to do the Dopey/ Goofy. Do you think that is too big of a goal since I have not done a whole marathon yet?

From your description I would say that you would likely be able to finish the Dopey or Goofy. I have run each of the Dopey's so far and the inaugural Dopey was my second full marathon and my first multi-race event, so it is certainly achievable without extensive experience. There are people of all skill levels and paces running the Dopey, so if you want/need to take it easy for a mile or two (or a race or two) that is certainly an option.

I don't know that anyone is ever truly "ready" to run their first marathon. It is a daunting distance and gives you a lot of time to be in your own head thinking about the questionable decisions that have led you to your current predicament (at least it does for me), but it is an incredibly rewarding experience when you cross the finish line. The Goofy/Dopey as a first marathon would probably be a different experience than doing an individual marathon, as the multiple races means that you likely aren't at your peak performance for the final race. I don't think the Goofy or Dopey would be too daunting for a first-time marathoner, but I'm not sure for some people if it would be their ideal first marathon experience either.

 

[IamTrike]

I don't know that anyone is ever truly "ready" to run their first marathon. .

Amen to that. I've run about 10 marathons so far, and even with consistent training I never know what's going to happen. Every marathon seems to be different. Last year during the NY Marathon I started out feeling great, but by mile 18 I was in a lot of pain and was almost ready to quit. Everything seemed to be bothering me and I wound up walking a good portion of the last 8 miles. A couple months later at Goofy everything felt fine and the race went great. By mile 20 of most any marathon I am usually wondering what made me decide that this was a good idea and thinking that I need to find sedentary friends.

 

[Neoflynn]

I have a question for the runners that have done the Dopey/Goofy. I have done 5k, 10ks and Halfs. I run 3-5 days a week for 3-5miles each time. I really want to do the Dopey/ Goofy. Do you think that is too big of a goal since I have not done a whole marathon yet?

I know for me personally I feel like a I could do Dopey/Goofy as a first knowing that I would just need to take it very easy in the first race (or 3 if dopey) but I want the confidence that I know I can do 26.2 first before I would attempt a challenge, much like @Ariel484 said knowing that I could do the distance first would give me the boost to complete the challenge so this year im doing the 5k (to run with my DW) and the full only perhaps ill tackle a challenge weekend in 2017. but as everyone said it really depends on you and your body if you do a long training run now do you feel it the next day? that would tell you a lot about how you would feel during a challenge

 

[roxymama]

Today I saw big ribbons all over the trees in front of my house and realized the 5k this weekend in my town has a course that runs past my house for the first time. The course is mapped online and the whole route is one I could easily use for my training going forward. I just signed up for the back corral for 9am this Saturday and if all I do is run/walk or even take my toddler with me in her stroller (its stroller city for this 5k based on all the pictures online) then at least I can say I've been baptised into my race schedule for this year and I'll have some more confidence about my ability. No goals other than to just do it to get a feel for distance.
And so the addiction begins.

 

[Kathymford]

Hi- does anyone know if you can sign up more than one person if you have an AP? Two of the four of us have AP's and we want to stay together so I'm just trying to figure out if I can register all of us early with the AP.

All I will say is that no one checks if you actually have an AP after you have given your money. They don't check at bib pick-up or anywhere else. It's just who has access to the links...