Marathon Weekend 2027

[The Expert]

there’s still DATW!

...the most dangerous time of them all to be talked into something!

I’m not doing the marathon. I will do the half since it’s a “local” race for me. But I need a break.

Totally valid! I need a break from marathon training, which is why I switched to every other year for Dopey. I'm seriously considering whether I start swapping 10K/Full and 5K/Half instead.

(spectating and cheering today was so much fun and rewarding! .. that I will do again for sure)

Sylvia you do the happy challenge and help us cheer at the marathon next year.

I can't wait until we have a DIS cheer squad so big that it needs its own spreadsheet!

 

[camaker]

Ummm... I may have already told the charity that I've been running with that I'd like another Dopey bib next year.

 

[garneska]

Ummm... I may have already told the charity that I've been running with that I'd like another Dopey bib next year.

Of course you did!

 

[camaker]

Of course you did!

Somebody had to break up this retirement party

 

[azrivest]

I didn't have it in me to train for another marathon this year so I skipped Marathon Weekend.

But for sure trying out for Dopey 2027! I already wrote to my TA to prebook my resort.

 

[Stitch&Co.]

So for the last few months I have been slowly taking myself into signing up for Dopey. It sounds great right and I had a really good training season. But after today I don’t think I want to do it. I’ve done the 10k and the full for the last 2 years and that seems to be a good combo for me. I also am not a fan of the half course. Out and back to MK just doesn’t do it for me. So I think I’ll just stick to my current plan but maybe go and spectate for the half. I’m sad to say I didn’t even think about doing that this year.

 

[StarGirl11]

SAFD: I was going to migrate to this thread my request for an rD trail race, but I just rewatched the POTC movies recently for the first time in years and I’m totally on board with @camaker’s Pirate theme!

Also…

PLEASE BRING BACK STAR WARS RACES!!!

So I’m going to be the Debbie downer to your idea and say runDisney probably won’t do it. Why? Sure lack of accesibility.

Wheel devices cannot go on trails without risking damage.

There’s a reason why I have a bunch of photos that looks like this:



And the lack of the backdrop in the photos RunDisney has set up isn’t for ****s and giggles. We physically cannot go into the grass/trail situations for long periods without damaging our equipment

Now is their equipment available for trails? Yes. But that’s a whole other piece of equipment that we’re talking again several thousands of dollars.

A few people have it. But the vast majority of them have road equipment since that’s what most races allow. And that’s what they want to spend up to 20 grand on. (No joke about the price tag there were bikes this weekend in that cost range.)

And some people have money to drop on extra equipment. But a lot of us get it through grants or in the case of the really fast people, sponsorships.

And to be honest depending on the equipment navigating it over distance is not fun. (I’ve tried the trail chair before. It’s two levers on the side with a push mechanic. Do not recommend for distance.) Handcycles have a gravel one that’s not that much different. Pushrims…not so much.

And again sheer level of cost

Like you try telling the 10 time Dopey winner and Paralympian to get new equipment and see how well that goes.

There just wouldn’t be a field. And Disney does like its optics.

Plus there is a safety element arguably. Even if some people were willing to push through it. We cannot gain speed like normal and it’s already a safety hazard the slower you are because as much as I love RunDisney. The runners here aren’t the most observant lot at times beyond certain things

There is almost always a story of someone getting into an accident with a runner. Because the runners did something and we can’t react on a dime. And then the runners get annoyed. Which is fantastic /s when there’s a chance we’re the ones with the thousand dollars piece of equipment that is now damaged and us hurt. I mentioned this in the running thread a couple years back. One of ours actually ended up in the hospital after the race weekend due to the injuries from them trying not to hit a runner.

Heck as far as I’m aware I’m the one this year. And I got off light. The runner

Also if you’ve ever tried to push a chair through gravel you know how you know it’s a nightmare. No amount of training will overcome that.

 

[lhermiston]

So I’m going to be the Debbie downer to your idea and say runDisney probably won’t do it. Why? Sure lack of accesibility.

Wheel devices cannot go on trails without risking damage.

There’s a reason why I have a bunch of photos that looks like this:

View attachment 1037839View attachment 1037840
View attachment 1037845
And the lack of the backdrop in the photos RunDisney has set up isn’t for ****s and giggles. We physically cannot go into the grass/trail situations for long periods without damaging our equipment

Now is their equipment available for trails? Yes. But that’s a whole other piece of equipment that we’re talking again several thousands of dollars.

A few people have it. But the vast majority of them have road equipment since that’s what most races allow. And that’s what they want to spend up to 20 grand on. (No joke about the price tag there were bikes this weekend in that cost range.)

And some people have money to drop on extra equipment. But a lot of us get it through grants or in the case of the really fast people, sponsorships.

And to be honest depending on the equipment navigating it over distance is not fun. (I’ve tried the trail chair before. It’s two levers on the side with a push mechanic. Do not recommend for distance.) Handcycles have a gravel one that’s not that much different. Pushrims…not so much.

And again sheer level of cost

Like you try telling the 10 time Dopey winner and Paralympian to get new equipment and see how well that goes.

There just wouldn’t be a field. And Disney does like its optics.

Plus there is a safety element arguably. Even if some people were willing to push through it. We cannot gain speed like normal and it’s already a safety hazard the slower you are because as much as I love RunDisney. The runners here aren’t the most observant lot at times beyond certain things

There is almost always a story of someone getting into an accident with a runner. Because the runners did something and we can’t react on a dime. And then the runners get annoyed. Which is fantastic /s when there’s a chance we’re the ones with the thousand dollars piece of equipment that is now damaged and us hurt. I mentioned this in the running thread a couple years back. One of ours actually ended up in the hospital after the race weekend due to the injuries from them trying not to hit a runner.

Heck as far as I’m aware I’m the one this year. And I got off light. The runner

Also if you’ve ever tried to push a chair through gravel you know how you know it’s a nightmare. No amount of training will overcome that.

The SAFD prompt literally said to disregard realism.

 

[jrsharp21]

Ummm... I may have already told the charity that I've been running with that I'd like another Dopey bib next year.

I just did the same thing. I was thinking this would be my last year after doing coast to coast. But just couldn’t resist. lol.

 

[StarGirl11]

The SAFD prompt literally said to disregard realism.

I didn’t see that. Like I’m not in the other thread.

Look I wasn’t trying to be mean just educational. People don’t realize how inaccessible trail racing is to us.

 

[PrincessV]

People don’t realize how inaccessible trail racing is to us.

Respectfully, I think people do realize that - I certainly do, anyway. Trail races do exist in large numbers, though, despite being inaccessible to many for a variety of physical and non-physical reasons.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

How have the last few months gone? Is Dopey 2027 still in your sights?

Poorly, actually. Injuries have kept piling up and a lot of resistance within my family to keep at this. So I’ve relented and won’t be doing it next year after all. Plus this year’s experience and all the poor word of mouth would’ve really soured my enthusiasm TBH. Good luck to those of you doing it!

 

[dobball23]

I am planning to be in for Dopey for 2027. I've done it every even year (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026) since 2018. But I DNS the half and full this year due to injury. So I'd like to break my streak and return next year healthy. Hopefully we can make it fit in the budget!