Official 2014 Dopey Challenge Thread!

[DEA]

I did a marathon this weekend and noticed that my pace really fell off about mile 18. I think I need to increase my pace a little bit in my long runs. How much of an impact do you all think the prior 3 days are going to have on your marathon race pace? Are you all going to fuel more frequently during the half to try and reduce impact on the full? Will we need to fuel more frequently during the full because of the prior days running? I've done the goofy twice before, but I am more nervous this year.

Anything over 18 or 20 miles and your glycogen stores are going to be pretty depleted (depending on pace), and your brain apparently exerts some control to reduce your fuel-burning in preparation for not having any more stores on hand. That might be happening to you after 18. Tricking your brain involves getting more carbs in contact with the receptors that notice such things (in the mouth and in the stomach) to convince it that you are getting more carbs to burn. So, more fueling during the race might keep your brain in high gear.

I think that I'm planning on going pretty slow on the prior days, so glycogen depletion isn't going to be complete, and I'll use the 2-hour window of time after the half when glycogen is synthesized fastest to really push carbs to replenish the glycogen stores. Fueling more during the race will assist with not clearing out the glycogen stores completely, but I'd still really push carbs after the half because the carbs you take in during the race will not cover the glycogen depletion from the race. So, if there's ever a time for Tonga Toast, it's after the half.

 

[IamTrike]

Anything over 18 or 20 miles and your glycogen stores are going to be pretty depleted (depending on pace), and your brain apparently exerts some control to reduce your fuel-burning in preparation for not having any more stores on hand. That might be happening to you after 18. Tricking your brain involves getting more carbs in contact with the receptors that notice such things (in the mouth and in the stomach) to convince it that you are getting more carbs to burn. So, more fueling during the race might keep your brain in high gear.

I think that I'm planning on going pretty slow on the prior days, so glycogen depletion isn't going to be complete, and I'll use the 2-hour window of time after the half when glycogen is synthesized fastest to really push carbs to replenish the glycogen stores. Fueling more during the race will assist with not clearing out the glycogen stores completely, but I'd still really push carbs after the half because the carbs you take in during the race will not cover the glycogen depletion from the race. So, if there's ever a time for Tonga Toast, it's after the half.

I probably need to think about fueling more. I had done a trail marathon 3 weeks before this one and had likely not recovered completely. Saturday morning Tonga Toast sounds like a plan.

What was your longest LSD training run(s) before your marathon? We're all very different in our training approaches/methods. I have found my training pace has nothing to do with my race day "bonk" point but rather the distance I covered pre-race. I have to run at least 2-20 milers and a 23 to keep my pace/endurance going race day. Keep in mind I run my LSD 2 min/mile slower than race pace. GL in your training.

I had run a couple 20-22 milers but that were averaging about 2.5 minutes slower than my desired race pace. I'm switching up my training so that my long runs are closer to my race goal.

 

[garner384]

So we had made the smart financial decision to forgo the Disney trip this year and see if my friend Craig could List my Dopey bib for me...well we decided screw the financially sound decision and are now booking a week at Port Orleans Riverside. I ran a Half about a month ago and have been running fairly consistently since then but not distance to speak of. Now I need I have 8 weeks to get ready for the Dopey...I think this is gunna hurt.

 

[cewait]

So we had made the smart financial decision to forgo the Disney trip this year and see if my friend Craig could List my Dopey bib for me...well we decided screw the financially sound decision and are now booking a week at Port Orleans Riverside. I ran a Half about a month ago and have been running fairly consistently since then but not distance to speak of. Now I need I have 8 weeks to get ready for the Dopey...I think this is gunna hurt.

Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: Pain!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSPNQ82Sq4E

Your mission is to simply get marathon ready as best you can. Due to injury, I am pretty much in the same boat. It is doable but Monday will not be very fun.

 

[PaGaLaGirl]

Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: Pain!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSPNQ82Sq4E

Your mission is to simply get marathon ready as best you can. Due to injury, I am pretty much in the same boat. It is doable but Monday will not be very fun.

Lol every time I am on a long run now and something doesn't feel quite right this movie quote pops into my head and I start cracking up. It's a good one. Thanks for the laughs!

 

[SAHDad]

Well, Monday I did something stupid - speedwork when I was already twingy and sore, and wound up with a soft tissue injury. (My diagnosis is either serious strain or small tear.) Ran my daily mile on Tues (which HURT!!), as well as Wed (where it was merely profoundly uncomfortable). Easy 1 mile per day until it is completely without pain, and then I'll build up slowly from there again.

 

[rachlovestv]

This weekend I did back to back 8 and 18 mile runs. The 8 went great, and the 18 went ok, so I feel like I'm on track to not die during the Dopey Challenge. Lol. I'll admit that I've been having a hard time fitting in my mid-week runs, so I've gotten a little nervous.

The weather here in Seattle has taken a turn for the cold, but I don't mind it, because it's actually been sunny, too. When it's 35 degrees out,, like it was when I started on Sunday, I'm cold for maybe the first mile, but warm up into a comfortably temp pretty quickly, especially in the sun. This would be my optimal race-day weather. One can only hope!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Pretty sure I'm the most behind on the dopey training front. I ran the NYC marathon and then didn't run for three weeks. First I had blisters so bad I couldn't put a shoe on. Then after two visits to podiatrists found I had a stress fracture. I wore a boot for about two weeks and stayed off of it. We have spent the last two weeks on Maui and I swam a bunch and finally got a four miler and 6 miler in. Foot feels ok. A little sore but not bad. I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do between now and then. No way I'm going to do another 26 miles before the races.

Thoughts? I know my first thing is to realize that I will be doing a lot more walking than I already had planned!

Side note: commemorative dopey necklace? For $20? That just screams cheesy!

 

[ironz]

Pretty sure I'm the most behind on the dopey training front. I ran the NYC marathon and then didn't run for three weeks. First I had blisters so bad I couldn't put a shoe on. Then after two visits to podiatrists found I had a stress fracture. I wore a boot for about two weeks and stayed off of it. We have spent the last two weeks on Maui and I swam a bunch and finally got a four miler and 6 miler in. Foot feels ok. A little sore but not bad. I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do between now and then. No way I'm going to do another 26 miles before the races.

Thoughts? I know my first thing is to realize that I will be doing a lot more walking than I already had planned!

Side note: commemorative dopey necklace? For $20? That just screams cheesy!

Oh, girlfriend...I have you beat. No injuries, but not consistent training, either. Only up to 13 miles in one outing so far. Thank goodness I have experience with various races to know I can make my body keep moving.
I've got lots of decent excuses (family, work, etc)...but running just hasn't been the priority unfortunately. I'm gonna do a few more weeks of "build" and then go on guts.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Oh, girlfriend...I have you beat. No injuries, but not consistent training, either. Only up to 13 miles in one outing so far. Thank goodness I have experience with various races to know I can make my body keep moving.
I've got lots of decent excuses (family, work, etc)...but running just hasn't been the priority unfortunately. I'm gonna do a few more weeks of "build" and then go on guts.

At least there are cocktails afterwards!!!!

 

[Figment1990]

Pretty sure I'm the most behind on the dopey training front. I ran the NYC marathon and then didn't run for three weeks. First I had blisters so bad I couldn't put a shoe on. Then after two visits to podiatrists found I had a stress fracture. I wore a boot for about two weeks and stayed off of it. We have spent the last two weeks on Maui and I swam a bunch and finally got a four miler and 6 miler in. Foot feels ok. A little sore but not bad. I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do between now and then. No way I'm going to do another 26 miles before the races.

Thoughts? I know my first thing is to realize that I will be doing a lot more walking than I already had planned!

Side note: commemorative dopey necklace? For $20? That just screams cheesy!

Not in training for dopey (probably not ever!) but just wanted to say that this year's wine and dine commemorative necklace was so much cheaper looking than last years w&d. Same design for the charm but its on this weird ball chain now. Makes me wish I hadn't pre-bought the princess one!

 

[cewait]

I am not feeling so bad here..

I find myself running sub-minimal mileage for 2014 as well. Mine comes from a chronic knee issue that may never resolve itself without the knife. I am having a knee boot camp in February to work through a non-knife solution.

My longest run has been a 13 miler. I will push that out to 16 miles x 2 and will call that good for the race. In my mind, the Dopey is not really any tougher than Goofy; its having the legs for a marathon plus an understanding of the nutrition behind recovery. Case in point, I already run 5-6 on the Friday pre-Dopey with a couple of those miles at a faster than half mary pace.

I think the bottom line is if one has a few marys under their belt they know how to survive a race. From there it's all about getting enough miles on your longest run.

Good luck to Betsey and Nancy

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I feel like I'm doing an okay job. After running Hartford (full) and NYCM, I've done a few weeks at about 50 miles, and a cutback week last week. My only real consistency is doing the 4-in-a-row/5-in-a-row days to try and simulate a little bit of what Dopey will feel like, without the sleep deprivation of course.

I have my first 20 since NYCM coming up on Thursday. Gah.

 

[cewait]

I feel like I'm doing an okay job. After running Hartford (full) and NYCM, I've done a few weeks at about 50 miles, and a cutback week last week. My only real consistency is doing the 4-in-a-row/5-in-a-row days to try and simulate a little bit of what Dopey will feel like, without the sleep deprivation of course.

I have my first 20 since NYCM coming up on Thursday. Gah.

Careful, the weather looks frightful

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Careful, the weather looks frightful

In New York? All forecasts say clear and low 30s.

 

[ironz]

I am not feeling so bad here..

I find myself running sub-minimal mileage for 2014 as well. Mine comes from a chronic knee issue that may never resolve itself without the knife. I am having a knee boot camp in February to work through a non-knife solution.

My longest run has been a 13 miler. I will push that out to 16 miles x 2 and will call that good for the race. In my mind, the Dopey is not really any tougher than Goofy; its having the legs for a marathon plus an understanding of the nutrition behind recovery. Case in point, I already run 5-6 on the Friday pre-Dopey with a couple of those miles at a faster than half mary pace.

I think the bottom line is if one has a few marys under their belt they know how to survive a race. From there it's all about getting enough miles on your longest run.

Good luck to Betsey and Nancy

Thanks, Charles!
I'm behind the eight ball right now, and I bet close to your situation. Relying somewhat on a base and past experience. I think I'm just going to "build" into the Dopey weekend. Travel, changing jobs, life, etc, etc, etc....have not been friends to my training, and I just haven't put it as high priority. I have done up to 12.xx in one day, and had a very strong 10 miler a few weeks ago at much faster than Dopey pace. I never run more than 18 before an Ironman, so I think I can manage as long as I get some consistency in this month, some solid back-to-back-to-back days, and maybe aim for a 14, a 16, and an 18 this month. Trail run in Huntsville this weekend...signed up for 20K (next option was 50k...too far) and will do an extra 10k after. Then staying consistent.
Good luck!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I was able to run 60 miles this week, including a 20/4/10/10.5 combo. I am still EXTREMELY worried about finishing the marathon part of it (it'll only be my 4th marathon), but we'll see.

 

[SmartGuyCEO]

It's almost time. Maybe this week??? A runner in a group I belong to beat me to the punch and found it. Safe training everyone. http://www.trackshack.com/disneysports/w14wdw/verify.php

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It's almost time. Maybe this week??? A runner in a group I belong to beat me to the punch and found it. Safe training everyone. http://www.trackshack.com/disneysports/w14wdw/verify.php

Doesn't seem to be active yet. There's no submit button.

 

[SAHDad]

I'm still on the injured list. I'm up to 1.5 per day, and its getting better. My stride is still really messed up, so I am hoping that I am not doing muscle or tendon damage elsewhere as I compensate for the current injury.

OTOH, this is not my firs time at this, and I have done it undertrained before. As long as I can get to the start line uninjured, I can finish it.