Marathon Weekend 2026

[PeppercornElvis]

SAFD: Hoping to accomplish Dopey #6 in 2026...if the "registration day" gods shine on me again this year!

 

[pluto377]

SAFD: Pretty sure I'm going to register for Dopey. 2026 would be my 9th MW weekend overall. I completed Dopey in 2019, but wasn't happy with the experience. I tried again in 2022 but DNF'ed the marathon. I want to finally complete a Dopey that I'm happy with and I'll be 48 so it just seems perfect. But I am constantly going back and forth in my head about whether or not I can actually do this, so I might change my mind by March.

 

[Barca33Runner]

One caution about registering multiple people at once is that any items in your cart are NOT guaranteed until you pay. So a race could sell out before you get everyone's choice into the cart and pay, and then you are all out of luck.

When I have done the registrations for others that I mentioned in my previous post it has always been one person at a time and, usually, one race at a time (even if that person is trying for multiple races). It’s not the theoretical fastest way to do things, but it does give the best chance that I’m not wasting time on registrations that will fill up before I finish them.

My sister and I always have multiple browsers open (and my mom tries ) so we know, generally, who is going to get in first and develop a limited plan around our best browser after things open up. I’ve been fortunate to have one relatively early browser each of the last two years, so registering everyone else has fallen on me (she gets an early link for perfect Dopey, so she’s just helping on registration day with everyone else).

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD: Plan to come back in 2026 for Goofy again. Will be my 5th Goofy (6th I guess if you count Dopey) and is still my favorite. Will probably go back to Pop rather than renting DVC to save a bit of $ and change it up from the prior year. On my way to airport this morning I was already thinking of travel logistics next year so I can make DATW happen on Monday finally even though it’s a busy work time. Already looking forward to it again!

 

[UNCBear24]

SAFD: 2026 will be Marathon Weekend #12 for me and I plan on Disney marathon #10 as part of my 5th Dopey challenge.

 

[SheHulk]

This ^.

SAFD: I’d put the probability of me registering for *something* at 100%, but right now I have no idea what. I’ve got several new shoes coming to try before registration opens, plus a couple long-ish runs, and I’ll see how all of that feels before deciding.

Same same

 

[The Expert]

I so want to do this!! (Not in 25-26).

I think Disney needs to do a perfect season challenge medal!

I also want to do this at some point, but it won't be next year. I'm also trying to decide whether it HAS to include DL or not. I really dislike those HM courses out there.

Hey now, we get a magnet too

AND a membership card! LOL

 

[marty3d]

I also want to do this at some point, but it won't be next year. I'm also trying to decide whether it HAS to include DL or not. I really dislike those HM courses out there.


AND a membership card! LOL

I have the same quandary for pretty much the same reason. I don’t like the DL half at all.

I do think 1 DL weekend has to be part of it to get the C2C though

 

[The Expert]

I have the same quandary for pretty much the same reason. I don’t like the DL half at all.

I do think 1 DL weekend has to be part of it to get the C2C though

Oh yeah... C2C. Do I care that much?? I already have three C2C medals, but one is the stupid suitcase one. Maybe if I stall long enough they'll come up with a 10-miler at DL that will qualify. At least it would be fewer sucky road miles.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD Part 2: An exercise I found helpful: going back through my photos from past race weekends. I really, really love the first 15ish miles of the WDW Marathon! Much more than the 13.1 of the WDW Half. I do not care about earning the “right” medal, and the price difference between the two races is usually $5 or less.

All of which I to say I may just register for the full and see how life goes: if it happens to play out well and I can do the distance, great! If not, I’d honestly be more happy bowing out early on that course than completing the half. These days, it’s all about the experience for me. I’m leaning toward 5K + 10K + full.

 

[rick1zoo2]

SAFD: We are definitely signing up for the Dopey in 2026! I know we could have finished the whole thing but for other events and the entire weekend was one of my best experiences. I can't wait to do it again.

there's that WE thing again....

But seriously, we will do the Dopey Challenge again and this time with another year of preparation, plus we learned so much this time (beyond not trying to get around traffic cones at speed) about pacing, nutrition, clothing choices for weather, the need for Imodium, etc.

 

[dobball23]

SAFD: I hope to run my fifth Dopey in 2026. It would be my sixth Disney marathon and seventh overall. I've done Dopey in all even years since 2018.

I haven't figured out my race schedule for this year yet, although I do have the York Half Marathon scheduled for May.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: I also wish we had more time to decide. I did just the 10k this time, and that was the right call for this year, given my recent medical history. I am torn between doing just the 10k again, or going back to the half. My marathon days are behind me, and I’ve made my peace with that. If I never do another half, I can retire from the distance knowing that I’ve done 50, and that’s a satisfying number. I’m not sure that I’m ready to give up the half distance, though, so I’m a bit torn.

DH plans to do the marathon again. If I decide on the 10k, he’ll probably do it, too. If I decide on the half, he’ll probably register for Goofy. He plans to run the Space Coast Marathon in late November (it’s a series, and he’s done the first three of the four in this series). After that, he can do a maintenance plan for MW, which is what he’s done in other years.

To this point, I’ve always managed to get the registrations we wanted for rD. I guess we’ll see if that streak continues.

 

[KCO5988]

SAFD: I will be doing my first true Dopey and second marathon weekend in 2026. Last did it in 2013 which was the year before the 10k started so I did 5k plus goofy which people we're calling Dopey at the time. W&D 2024 was my first rundisney since that marathon weekend and now I'm addicted hahaha.

 

[StarGirl11]

Might as well say I'm planning to be back for another round of Dopey. This time with me making sure to actually tighten the backrest so I don't spent 18 miles of the marathon with my ability to pedal compromised.

Because I just realized today it wasn't 11 miles. It was 18.

Never underestimate how stubborn I can be when I want to apparently...

 

[Fenway1970]

SAFD: Current thinking is that I plan to do my third Dopey in 2026, but I will leave the final decision up to the registration day gods. I've already put in a vacation day for March 11 and will make every effort to get in, but now that I've been lucky enough to do it twice I won't be TOO disappointed if I don't make it in a third time. (I say that now but ask me again at noon on Reg Day if my efforts failed. )

Not having to worry about 20+ mile runs in PA in December doesn't sound THAT bad...

 

[dobball23]

Not having to worry about 20+ mile runs in PA in December doesn't sound THAT bad...

I live in PA, too! I have done five WDW marathons (four as part of Dopey) and I did really enjoy doing a November marathon this past year (and no MW) so the weather didn't impact my training quite as much as January races.

 

[sandam1]

SAFD - I'm fairly certain that I am doing Marathon Weekend, but I'm still not sure what races. I might do the "Happy Challenge" of the 5K, 10K, and half or just the 10K and half. I really enjoy doing the 10K distance and the half is a given because of Main Street and the castle. The 5K depends on what my best friend/travel partner wants to do and if/what the Rise & Run group decides to do about a group costume. I really enjoyed being a puppy this year so that might tip the scale towards another early morning wake-up. But I'm definitely not doing the marathon and I'm really looking forward to spectating for that.

 

[Fenway1970]

I live in PA, too! I have done five WDW marathons (four as part of Dopey) and I did really enjoy doing a November marathon this past year (and no MW) so the weather didn't impact my training quite as much as January races.

Nice! Which marathon? Philly? I’ve been kicking around signing up for that. So far WDW Marathon as part of Dopey is my only experience with that distance and I’m likely always going to treat Disney events as “fun runs.” But I might want to do a “serious” marathon one of these days and Philly is the one I’m considering.

 

[dobball23]

Nice! Which marathon? Philly? I’ve been kicking around signing up for that. So far WDW Marathon as part of Dopey is my only experience with that distance and I’m likely always going to treat Disney events as “fun runs.” But I might want to do a “serious” marathon one of these days and Philly is the one I’m considering.

I considered Philly, but ran the Harrisburg Marathon. It was a good experience. Two laps of the half course. Very flat, near the river.