Marathon Weekend 2023

[The Expert]

I did the half in 2015 (it was my first half. I don’t think I knew what Dopey even was then), and I attempted Goofy this year but got swept during the marathon. So I feel like trying Goofy again is a way to redeem myself… but I know I will have FOMO over the Pluto medal (I did this year).

What if you registered for the in-person Goofy and the virtual 5K? Use a recovery run post-MW to get those 3.1 miles in for the virtual.

 

[PrincessV]

FOMO is going a different direction for me this time...

The 2022 Marathon was SO much fun (except, you know, the parts that weren't - if you know, you know lol), I'm struggling to hold to me self-imposed "no big mileage this year" policy. The sheer volume and variety of characters and live entertainment was fantastic. I'm currently using the justification of "if you 'only' do the 10K and full, you won't have those b2b long runs that swamp your life during training."

 

[Dom497]

Any Canadians here that have submitted proof of times from Canadian races before? I'm curious if you've run into issues before since obviously Canadian races aren't USATF certified.

 

[fatmanatee]

Any Canadians here that have submitted proof of times from Canadian races before? I'm curious if you've run into issues before since obviously Canadian races aren't USATF certified.

My understanding is that the USATF thing isn't actually a concern for RD, despite what they say. If it's a legit race with posted results, you should be good to go.

 

[Bunkie1979]

Any Canadians here that have submitted proof of times from Canadian races before? I'm curious if you've run into issues before since obviously Canadian races aren't USATF certified.

Hi there! Fellow Canadian here.

No issues in the past with using results from a local 10-Miler from 2019 that was chipped (i.e. officially timed) towards proof of time for Dopey 2020.

Received previous guidance from runDisney/Track Shack the importance of having a verifiable web link to your personal results. It did not matter that my local race was not USATF certified. Both DH and I were good to go and placed predictably in expected corrals.

 

[Dom497]

Hi there! Fellow Canadian here.

No issues in the past with using results from a local 10-Miler from 2019 that was chipped (i.e. officially timed) towards proof of time for Dopey 2020.

Received previous guidance from runDisney/Track Shack the importance of having a verifiable web link to your personal results. It did not matter that my local race was not USATF certified. Both DH and I were good to go and placed predictably in expected corrals.

Perfect!

 

[LosAngelesRunner]

In other news, my DH booked the Disney Wish today! I’ve never been on a cruise before. I am excited for the Castaway Cay Challenge… and I also heard that cruises have TRIVIA and BINGO. I love both of those things. Am I 31 or 20 or 97? No one knows

I'll be on the Wish, too! Can't wait for the new ship and... the Bingo!!! I'm a bit peeved the Castaway Challenge is so much money but... at this point... what's another $100??

 

[shellott-hill]

Any Canadians here that have submitted proof of times from Canadian races before? I'm curious if you've run into issues before since obviously Canadian races aren't USATF certified.

I have also had no issues posting Canadian race results. Just post the link to your results and you will be good to go.

No issues in the past with using results

Same.

 

[RunWI1265]

I can't remember, @lookingforsunshine, have you done Marathon Weekend before? If so, you'll have a pretty good idea of whether you'd have FOMO from not doing the four-race challenge. If not, it may come down to your personality and how you feel when surrounded by an atmosphere focused on something other than what you're doing.

A number of folks have reported not having FOMO while doing fewer races or Goofy. I'm the opposite. I ran the 10k, 1/2 and full my first Marathon Weekend (no challenge registrations at all). It was my first RunDisney event and I was floored by how focused everything seemed to be on the four-race challenge. So much so that I didn't feel like I was experiencing everything the weekend had to offer. The next two MWs, I ran the four-race challenges (even though 1 was 2017) and loved being a part of the central atmosphere. In 2019, I thought "been there, done that, have LOTS of shirts" and decided to run Goofy to save on $$$ and vacation days. I absolutely hated that weekend and felt like I wasn't getting the most out of my experience. Now it's just the four-race challenge for me (registration permitting) every year.

YMMV, of course, but I just wanted to throw my experience out there, as the FOMO can be very real.

I’m another one on the opposite side. And I agree with what people have said above. A big part of it is your personality. I registered for the marathon (2021) and in the following months I was already feeling regret about not going for dopey. So I switched and I am so glad I did. But know that’s how I am. Not saying it would’ve ruined my weekend but I know I would have spent the entire time wishing I was doing Dopey so it definitely would have impacted it in some way.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Oh HEY registration anxiety. Nice to see you again.

I am pretty sure I'm going to try to register for Dopey. And DH for the 5k and 10k. And I THINK that my strategy (in addition to being on 3-4 devices with multiple browsers) is going to be registering DH on whichever one gets in first and then using a separate queue thingy for myself for Dopey. Unless that sounds insane and like a good way for me to not get myself signed up for anything (I would really like to run the 5k and 10k with DH.) I know I can do them all at once, but the speed at which the 5k and 10k have sold out recently is making me second guess myself.

I also want to go buy gift cards to pay for the registrations (it'll save me about 10%), but again, I'm nervous about getting stuck with money tied up in DGCs if registration goes as quickly as, say, Everest did for SS and I don't get in to stuff. *sigh*

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

FOMO is real. Last year when I was trying to decide on which race to sign up for my first half marathon, between princess and marathon weekend, I decided princess because I realized that during marathon weekend the half get losts with all the other stuff going on but at princess it is the main event! Bonus I was able to do the challenge too. Soo happy I did it that way.

Now for this race, I am going to have to keep my FOMO in check with not doing the challenge for marathon weekend but when talking with my family I realized that I would be more pissed with myself doing 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon but then not being able to complete my first marathon. Then me being a little sad that I missed out on the challenge but did finish my first marathon. I really just want to be able to say I am a marathoner runner sooo bad and I do not want anything to get in my way of me finish my first marathon so if that means giving up on the chance for more bling I will do it.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

I really just want to be able to say I am a marathoner runner sooo bad and I do not want anything to get in my way of me finish my first marathon so if that means giving up on the chance for more bling I will do it.

I feel this too, especially since I DNF’d the marathon this past year. But that was because I didn’t train enough (and blisters… which may have been an issue I could have resolved through training more).

 

[The Expert]

I am pretty sure I'm going to try to register for Dopey.

You're going to get them all -- just relax. WE GOT THIS!

 

[pluto377]

So I'm pretty set on being team "everything but the full", but I'm considering registering Dopey because it seems so much easier to do just the one registration. Then I would sell my extra shirts on ebay to recoup some of the costs. Someone tell me that's insane and not necessary...

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Additionally, there are animation classes where they have a castmember show you how to draw various characters.

WHAT!!! I am going to be living my dream.

What if you registered for the in-person Goofy and the virtual 5K? Use a recovery run post-MW to get those 3.1 miles in for the virtual.

This is a good backup plan. I prefer in person for 5K but could settle.

and... the Bingo!!!

Let’s do bingo together haha.

 

[kps7795]

WHAT!!! I am going to be living my dream.

This is a good backup plan. I prefer in person for 5K but could settle.

Let’s do bingo together haha.

It's the same thing that they used to have at Hollywood Studios (and I believe that they now have at AK). It's a half hour drawing class where they give you paper and a pencil (sometimes colored pencils as well) and have the animator's canvas on the screens around you so you can following along step-by-step. On our Spring Break cruise on the Fantasy, my wife, daughter and I drew Chip. That is, my wife and daughter drew Chip and I drew something slightly resembling a tea cup. Nonetheless, we had fun drawing.

 

[NewYKRunner]

Perfect!

My friend used his Calgary marathon time with one issue - spelling of his last name. They didn’t contact him to confirm and he had to have it corrected. He ended up in the front (as in touching the gate!) of corral 1 for the half and full as he did Calgary in under 4 hours.

 

[camaker]

So I'm pretty set on being team "everything but the full", but I'm considering registering Dopey because it seems so much easier to do just the one registration. Then I would sell my extra shirts on ebay to recoup some of the costs. Someone tell me that's insane and not necessary...

Do you hold onto your bibs as keepsakes and/or display them? If so, just give some thought to how you'll feel about two bibs for the Dopey Challenge rather than the bibs with the individual artwork for the races you did do.

Also, you might want to consider that approach will potentially prevent someone who actually wants to run Dopey from getting registered.

 

[huskies90]

FOMO - SHMOMO - C'mon Guys!! Really?? There is a reason why Marathon Weekend is "Dopey-centric". It is because doing Dopey is freakin' amazing!!! Where else in the world can you complete a four race marathon challenge in one weekend? Oh and don't forget the fun running routes on Walt Disney World property and through the incredible theme parks. Not enough? How about entertainment, character stops and enough photopass photographers to fill a cruise ship. Still not enough? how about 25K of your fellow runners of all abilities, many of whom are dressed in really cool and creative running costumes? "But Huskies, I will need to get up 4 mornings in a row, and it is so expensive and I might not be trained enough...etc. etc." OMG. Stop with the excuses!! Go for the whole weekend and do all four races and have a blast. I'll see you all there

ETA: This was just a fun sarcastic bit and not directed at anyone. But yes, Dopey is tons of fun and worth doing!!

 

[Herding_Cats]

You're going to get them all -- just relax. WE GOT THIS!

Knowing that I can probably convince you to run with me again has been very calming for the "OMG WHY ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT ANOTHER MARATHON" part of my brain.


And I'm already coming up with costume ideas for me and DH to wear. Priorities, right?