Official 2014 Dopey Challenge Thread!

[JoeKir]

The Hal Higdon plan is intense, but so is the Dopey Challenge. The one thing that I've felt after training using HH plans is that I really feel ready for the race. To be honest, I thought the plan was going to be a lot worse than it is, so I'm happy about that.

Per the RunDisney website, the 10k, half, and full will start at 5:30am and the 5k starts at 6:15, which means that you will probably have to get up no later than 3am to get to the starting line on time.

The training and the waking up 4 days in a row are going to be the toughest part...the races will be easy in comparison

Thanks for the times; I clearly missed that on the website.

As for waking up; I feel like the adrenaline of bring in Disney will be enough! It's the week after when I have to go back to work that I think I'll feel like a zombie lol

 

[dizdreamer1955]

Does anyone know if there will be pre-order commemorative dooney bags? If so, when can they be ordered? The option was not available when I registered for dopey. And, this is my first marathon weekend. When I did the princess in 2012 there was no pre-order option.

They have not announced any Dooney bags yet. If they do announce it, you will be able to pre-order via Active.com. Last year, we received emails about the purses prior to the races, and it was announced on Disney Parks Blog.

 

[IamTrike]

If you can run the Goofy, the two smaller runs included in Dopey would be nothing but warmups. IMO, running all 4 only presents one greater challenge - the ability to manage sleep deprivation, as you would have to wake up so early 4 days in a row. Physically - no difference.

Sleep deprivation will definitely be a big factor. Last year I did the unofficial dopey and I was definitely tired by marathon time. Adrenaline got me through the races but I was pretty tired during the afternoons. I felt like a zombie because I only averaged 3or 4 hours of sleep a night. I know I should have gotten to sleep earlier, but anxiousness kept my up every night. I can't imagine what it will be like with 4 mornings like that.

The other way I will be impacted is in what I eat. I am usually pretty particular about what I eat the day before a race, which is in direct conflict with my usual desire at Disney to eat all the tasty things. On this trip I'll have 4 days in a row at Disney where I'll have to be particular about food.

 

[babyball]

They have not announced any Dooney bags yet. If they do announce it, you will be able to pre-order via Active.com. Last year, we received emails about the purses prior to the races, and it was announced on Disney Parks Blog.

Thanks! By chance do you remember when they emailed?

 

[cewait]

The Hal Higdon plan is intense, but so is the Dopey Challenge. The one thing that I've felt after training using HH plans is that I really feel ready for the race. To be honest, I thought the plan was going to be a lot worse than it is, so I'm happy about that.

Per the RunDisney website, the 10k, half, and full will start at 5:30am and the 5k starts at 6:15, which means that you will probably have to get up no later than 3am to get to the starting line on time.

The training and the waking up 4 days in a row are going to be the toughest part...the races will be easy in comparison

Honestly, I think HH plan is weaker than the regular plan. I have not set both plans down to do a side by side, but I thought he was taking it easy on the midweek runs. I could be mistaken. His plan seems well thought out, though I think I am putting a couple pull back recovery weeks in. I am looking for more of his thoughts on x-training weekends. My initial thoughts are to cycle for the same time that the prior week’s run took. He seems to point to a reduced effort for these and maybe I am trying to read more into these efforts than he wants. Also on a personal note, I will overlay a time on run for my long runs. I have not really trained to a distance in 7 years (that long since IM – hard to believe) and specifically limit long runs to 3.5 hours.

I would not get laser locked on doing a lot of back to back to back to back runs. I think HH did good in throwing in a couple and then saying good. I kind of like the way he did that.

I agree that the toughest part of the challenge is the 4 x really early wake up calls.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Coach, HH did mention somewhere that since this is the first Dopey Challenge, it's a "we'll see how it works" plan. I agree that I like how he incorporated a few back to back to back to back runs just to get your body accustomed to it and then says that's it. The best part is the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas are recovery/taper weeks. Whew! Couldn't imagine trying to run back to back to back to back after eating 5 lbs of turkey on Thursday

 

[SAHDad]

Coach, HH did mention somewhere that since this is the first Dopey Challenge, it's a "we'll see how it works" plan. I agree that I like how he incorporated a few back to back to back to back runs just to get your body accustomed to it and then says that's it. The best part is the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas are recovery/taper weeks. Whew! Couldn't imagine trying to run back to back to back to back after eating 5 lbs of turkey on Thursday

Meh, back to back to back to back running isn't that bad, even after turkey.

Of course, I saw this prior to (checks log) day 1778 of back to back to back, so my perspective is a little skewed.

The hard part is going to be simulating getting up really early, running a bit, then standing in lines and chasing after the kids all day.

 

[cewait]

Meh, back to back to back to back running isn't that bad, even after turkey.

Of course, I saw this prior to (checks log) day 1778 of back to back to back, so my perspective is a little skewed.

The hard part is going to be simulating getting up really early, running a bit, then standing in lines and chasing after the kids all day.

Glad you are still streaking!

 

[lkh]

Not sure if I should post this in the dining forum or here, but I thought this group might better understand the timing of race weekends:

I'm running the Dopey Challenge, my friend is running the marathon, but we're hoping to get a before-park opening reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table. We fly in early Wednesday morning, but not early enough to get to a park before opening. Thursday is out because there are extra magic hours that morning at MK and Saturday and Sunday I don't think I'll be done fast enough to make it in time. That leaves Friday, the day of the 10K. A usual 10K for me is a little over an hour, around 1:05-1:10, but being a Disney race, I'm more interested in running for fun and character stops than time. I don't know what to expect for my actual race time or how long it'll take to cross the start line and get through the finish area, but do you think I could make it to an early reservation at MK? If not for the races, we would hope for the earliest possible reservation at 8:05, but I don't know if I'll a) be able to snag the best reservation time and b) make it on time.

I know it's hard to predict since it's the first 10K, but it seems like I might be able to make it since MK and Epcot are on the monorail, though I know it gets backed up during races. I'm not concerned about making it back to the room to shower or change before, I'll probably just throw on a clean t-shirt if it means we can make the breakfast!

 

[WhereInFlorida]

I think doable... have stayed at the monorail resorts and it is about a 45 minute trip after the race to make your way back to the train and board. Never had any delay on the way back because of too many people.

May be a little stressful to have to think about that instead of enjoying any post-race fun. I have not done a pre-opening reservation before, what is so special that you would not do it on Thursday?

Not sure if I should post this in the dining forum or here, but I thought this group might better understand the timing of race weekends:

I'm running the Dopey Challenge, my friend is running the marathon, but we're hoping to get a before-park opening reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table. We fly in early Wednesday morning, but not early enough to get to a park before opening. Thursday is out because there are extra magic hours that morning at MK and Saturday and Sunday I don't think I'll be done fast enough to make it in time. That leaves Friday, the day of the 10K. A usual 10K for me is a little over an hour, around 1:05-1:10, but being a Disney race, I'm more interested in running for fun and character stops than time. I don't know what to expect for my actual race time or how long it'll take to cross the start line and get through the finish area, but do you think I could make it to an early reservation at MK? If not for the races, we would hope for the earliest possible reservation at 8:05, but I don't know if I'll a) be able to snag the best reservation time and b) make it on time.

I know it's hard to predict since it's the first 10K, but it seems like I might be able to make it since MK and Epcot are on the monorail, though I know it gets backed up during races. I'm not concerned about making it back to the room to shower or change before, I'll probably just throw on a clean t-shirt if it means we can make the breakfast!

 

[swimfly]

Not sure if I should post this in the dining forum or here, but I thought this group might better understand the timing of race weekends:

I'm running the Dopey Challenge, my friend is running the marathon, but we're hoping to get a before-park opening reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table. We fly in early Wednesday morning, but not early enough to get to a park before opening. Thursday is out because there are extra magic hours that morning at MK and Saturday and Sunday I don't think I'll be done fast enough to make it in time. That leaves Friday, the day of the 10K. A usual 10K for me is a little over an hour, around 1:05-1:10, but being a Disney race, I'm more interested in running for fun and character stops than time. I don't know what to expect for my actual race time or how long it'll take to cross the start line and get through the finish area, but do you think I could make it to an early reservation at MK? If not for the races, we would hope for the earliest possible reservation at 8:05, but I don't know if I'll a) be able to snag the best reservation time and b) make it on time.

I know it's hard to predict since it's the first 10K, but it seems like I might be able to make it since MK and Epcot are on the monorail, though I know it gets backed up during races. I'm not concerned about making it back to the room to shower or change before, I'll probably just throw on a clean t-shirt if it means we can make the breakfast!

It's doable. Are you checking a bag? Will you go straight there without changing? Do you want to dine at CRT in your sweaty running clothes?

 

[mickeycoffee]

I believe sleeping & eating will be the most difficult to manage while in Disney World. I'm going to try to eat dinner nightly around 4:30pm and go to bed early. Given that, I just booked my tour of Italy for the Dopey Challenge.

Wednesday - Via Napoli
Thursday - Tony's Town Square
Friday - Mama Melrose
Saturday - Tutto Italia

What are your plans?

 

[PaGaLaGirl]

I believe sleeping & eating will be the most difficult to manage while in Disney World. I'm going to try to eat dinner nightly around 4:30pm and go to bed early. Given that, I just booked my tour of Italy for the Dopey Challenge.

Wednesday - Via Napoli
Thursday - Tony's Town Square
Friday - Mama Melrose
Saturday - Tutto Italia

What are your plans?

Very similar to my plans
R via Napoli
F Tony's
S Mama Melrose's
Sun BOG to celebrate

All weekday ressies at 5pm then back to AoA to sleep.

 

[SAHDad]

I believe sleeping & eating will be the most difficult to manage while in Disney World. I'm going to try to eat dinner nightly around 4:30pm and go to bed early. Given that, I just booked my tour of Italy for the Dopey Challenge.

Wednesday - Via Napoli
Thursday - Tony's Town Square
Friday - Mama Melrose
Saturday - Tutto Italia

What are your plans?

Ours aren't quite as involved - Wed night is dinner at Chef Mickey's (since we are staying at the Contemporary for the first time.)

No ADRs for Thurs, then ADR on Friday morning for CRT. Nothing else, though I may make one for Raglan Road on Sunday night. The current plan is for DW to take the kids to the parks when I am stuck in expo or running, and then I join them as often as possible.

 

[rpcvpanama]

My sister and I have signed up for the Dopey. Haven't done a Disney race since the infamous freezing rain of 2011!!! Here's to better weather in 2014!

 

[rachlovestv]

I believe sleeping & eating will be the most difficult to manage while in Disney World. I'm going to try to eat dinner nightly around 4:30pm and go to bed early. Given that, I just booked my tour of Italy for the Dopey Challenge.

Wednesday - Via Napoli
Thursday - Tony's Town Square
Friday - Mama Melrose
Saturday - Tutto Italia

What are your plans?

I booked our meals yesterday, all between 4:30 and 5 pm. Luckily my parents don't mind eating early!

Wed - Le Cellier
Thur - Yak and Yeti
Fri - Coral Reef
Sat - Mama Melrose's
Sun - Crystal Palace

I ate at Coral Reef before the Wine and Dine last fall and that seemed to go well, and Mama's seemed like a good choice for pre-marathon eating. And where else would I eat after a marathon but an eat-all-the-things buffet?

 

[boxmaster]

I believe sleeping & eating will be the most difficult to manage while in Disney World. I'm going to try to eat dinner nightly around 4:30pm and go to bed early. Given that, I just booked my tour of Italy for the Dopey Challenge.

Wednesday - Via Napoli
Thursday - Tony's Town Square
Friday - Mama Melrose
Saturday - Tutto Italia

What are your plans?

Wow. Only Italian all week? And I hope Via Napoli has improved since I went there in 2011 -- it was dreadful at that point in time (for everyone in my party of 6).

Wed: Landscape of Flavor (lunch) and 'Ohana (dinner)
Thu: Mama Melrose lunch Fantasmic package (grab a snack close to show time)
Fri: Tangierene Cafe (lunch) and Kouzzina (dinner)
Sat: Tony's (lunch) and Be Our Guest (dinner -- mmm...)
Sun: Sunshine Seasons (lunch) and Katsura Grill (dinner -- I'll have used up my table service on Sat)
Mon: Be Our Guest (lunch, final meal)


It's very much an eclectic mix in the context of this races. However, what I've learned over the last several races that I've run (Disney and otherwise) is that the meal itself the night before a race, for me, isn't as crucial as I've always been led to believe. So long as I am not over-eating (which is what is far too easily done at, say, a buffet) and what I am having isn't overly greasy, a normal, healthy meal is all that's needed. That and my usual hydration/food on the course that I've trained with will do me just fine.

I'm just ticked that the schedule of the races is such that getting my Tonga Toast is going to "cost" me being at Epcot for park open. But I gotta have me my Tonga Toast! (with bacon, of course)

 

[lkh]

I think doable... have stayed at the monorail resorts and it is about a 45 minute trip after the race to make your way back to the train and board. Never had any delay on the way back because of too many people.

May be a little stressful to have to think about that instead of enjoying any post-race fun. I have not done a pre-opening reservation before, what is so special that you would not do it on Thursday?

I'm hoping for a pre-opening reservation because the only people in the parks then are those with dining reservations, I think at Magic Kingdom the only pre-opening restaurants are CRT and Crystal Palace. It gives you the chance to see a nearly empty Main St and take your castle pictures without the crowds of people you usually see in the background. The restaurants open an hour before park opening, but don't open any earlier for morning EMH so even with an 8 AM reservation on an EMH morning, you lose the "exclusive" Main St/Castle benefit. I guess if you eat fast enough and have an 8 AM reservation you could make it to a big ride to be one of the first to ride before the park even opens.

It's doable. Are you checking a bag? Will you go straight there without changing? Do you want to dine at CRT in your sweaty running clothes?

I probably won't check a bag since I'll be meeting with everyone at the finish line so they can hold onto whatever I'll need (I usually end up carrying a purse or wearing a bookbag all day at Disney so it's my boyfriend's turn!). While some sweat seems inevitable running in Florida, I'm planning to run for fun and take it very easy with 2 more races to go so hopefully a hairbrush and a quick shirt change will be good enough, I usually end up wearing a tshirt and running shorts to the parks anyway.

My friend who really wants to eat there is going on this trip for her first marathon so I want to make sure we do something special for her and CRT is on her wish list!

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm going to be obsessively checking for dining reservations and may look for one of the 8:30 or so times to give a little extra cushion just in case.

 

[dizdreamer1955]

Thanks! By chance do you remember when they emailed?

I found the email - it was dated Nov. 30.

 

[babyball]

I found the email - it was dated Nov. 30.

Thanks so much for checking! I'm thinking this is going to cost me so I wanted to budget ahead of time! Lol. I hope they stick with the pre order...at the princess in 2012 they were sold out in about 15 mins! When I asked the security guard where the dooneys were at about noon he actually laughed at me! Lol.