Official 2014 Dopey Challenge Thread!

[Figment1990]

I assume they don't have the technology to check your bib for four races in any sort of timely fashion.

And what's to stop someone from handing their bib off to another person each day? (Other than the rules, which we know not everyone follows).

I suppose I'm going to still end up with 3 wristbands on Glass Slipper weekend though - Coast to coast, Glass Slipper challenge, and race retreat....

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

And what's to stop someone from handing their bib off to another person each day? (Other than the rules, which we know not everyone follows).

I assume nothing.

 

[cewait]

So excited for this event--just a few weeks left to go.

Sadly, I hurt my right leg pretty good on a training run on 6 December. Cold weather had me on the treadmill all that week, and something just gave out.

Good news is that there is no stress fracture, bad news is no running until after Christmas. I am almost pain-free now. Biking and doing the elliptical.

Concerned about the weather. Coming from Montana, the heat and humidity will be a killer and basically marginalize the altitude advantage.

A Buddy is running with me, and our goals are to finish and have fun. So the injury is okay with regards to we are running it, not racing it.

I see that some folks have gotten their Corral information--did that come through email?

See ya there!

Corral data is on the runD site under the Runner Info Tab

 

[Diskidatheart]

I think the wristbands are a good idea for several reasons. If you cut your wristband off, it probably disqualifies you because you could potentially have received it from another. That brings me to the point of the bib. They couldn't do the bib because you could essentially run a race, hand it off to someone else, they run the next race, etc.

As far as the 5k, I read elsewhere that the 5k is a timed event for the Dopey runners. They will have mats on the ground to time Dopey runners. I don't believe anyone else will receive a time because their bib won't have a chip in it.

It will be cool to walk around the parks after each race with your wristband on. Each day, you will get the old one taken off and replaced with a new one, so only one band at a time.

Does anyone know if the magic bands are removable? We received them, but I haven't looked at them yet. I would prefer to not have to wear the magic bands during the race too.

 

[Figment1990]

I think the wristbands are a good idea for several reasons. If you cut your wristband off, it probably disqualifies you because you could potentially have received it from another. That brings me to the point of the bib. They couldn't do the bib because you could essentially run a race, hand it off to someone else, they run the next race, etc.

As far as the 5k, I read elsewhere that the 5k is a timed event for the Dopey runners. They will have mats on the ground to time Dopey runners. I don't believe anyone else will receive a time because their bib won't have a chip in it.

It will be cool to walk around the parks after each race with your wristband on. Each day, you will get the old one taken off and replaced with a new one, so only one band at a time.

Does anyone know if the magic bands are removable? We received them, but I haven't looked at them yet. I would prefer to not have to wear the magic bands during the race too.

This is exactly what I was trying to say!

Yes, magic bands are definitely removable.

 

[RunRookie]

I think what has happened since they dropped the Goofy wrist bands was that they were handing out Goofy medals to folks who did not complete the half. I agree that the technology should work but seems like the technology is not hardened enough to perform the check at the line. I know that I was handed a Goofy medal the last couple races with little concern about the previous day. I am certain the 10k is timed but believe the 5k remains untimed. I thought they would string a couple mats for the dopey folks as a double check. While I am not a fan of having to go through a band line after a finish, I do appreciate the added verification(s) before handing out the Goofy or Dopey

They did the wristbands for the Dumbo and it worked out fine. It wasn't time consuming to get the 10K band and then to get the Dumbo medal at the finish of the Half by showing your 10K band (which they removed when you got the medal).

 

[goofeygirl]

I think what has happened since they dropped the Goofy wrist bands was that they were handing out Goofy medals to folks who did not complete the half. I agree that the technology should work but seems like the technology is not hardened enough to perform the check at the line. I know that I was handed a Goofy medal the last couple races with little concern about the previous day.

I am certain the 10k is timed but believe the 5k remains untimed. I thought they would string a couple mats for the dopey folks as a double check.

While I am not a fan of having to go through a band line after a finish, I do appreciate the added verification(s) before handing out the Goofy or Dopey

I had heard a story...rumor actually...that people did receive medals (Goofy or otherwise) for picking up the full marathon at the last mile! I don't know how true it is...

I think the wrist band idea sounds pretty sane. Perhaps last year when all was said and done they handed out way more medals than what crossed the finish line.

 

[miker1251]

The first year of the Goofy Challenge, we had to check-in at the Goofy tent upon finishing the half. It was crowded, slow and overall a miserable experience. I have never had a problem with the wristbands. The volunteers that take care of that have always done a good job.

 

[garner384]

So where do I go to pick up my perfectly Dopey lanyard?

 

[John VN]

So where do I go to pick up my perfectly Dopey lanyard?

Have to wait until 2015

 

[garner384]

Have to wait until 2015

Now I have two things I am mad about...not being able to walk from POR and this discriminatory policy of not handing out "perfectly Dopey" lanyards. This may be my only chance to get one. I want a Lanyard! I want a Lanyard! I want a Lanyard!

Have a good weekend everyone. 35 degrees and no wind tomorrow morning...can't get much better than that for my 16.

 

[John VN]

Now I have two things I am mad about...not being able to walk from POR and this discriminatory policy of not handing out "perfectly Dopey" lanyards. This may be my only chance to get one. I want a Lanyard! I want a Lanyard! I want a Lanyard!

Have a good weekend everyone. 35 degrees and no wind tomorrow morning...can't get much better than that for my 16.

Not sure if anyone else has done this in the past, but for the last 2 years DW has embroidered a Dopey fabric medal for me. This year she met me in EPCOT, handed the huge 6' medal with lanyard to me and I wore it from that point on and had my finish line photo taken with it on.

It has Donald, Mickey, Goofy and Dopey embroidered on it along with the miles of each race and 2013 in the center. I'm thinking about wearing it for the marathon this year.

McFlurry John

 

[bumbershoot]

Does anyone know if the magic bands are removable? We received them, but I haven't looked at them yet. I would prefer to not have to wear the magic bands during the race too.

go ahead and open the MB box. Then you'll see that they are removable. And no one has to actually wear them to use them at all.

 

[cewait]

Not sure if anyone else has done this in the past, but for the last 2 years DW has embroidered a Dopey fabric medal for me. This year she met me in EPCOT, handed the huge 6' medal with lanyard to me and I wore it from that point on and had my finish line photo taken with it on.

It has Donald, Mickey, Goofy and Dopey embroidered on it along with the miles of each race and 2013 in the center. I'm thinking about wearing it for the marathon this year.

McFlurry John

For 2010 my DW carried the previous 4 Goofies in a fanny pack for me and handed them up at Great Britain. I ran the last 3/4 to half mile with the 4 goodies clanging.

 

[NitroStitch]

Warning - serious pity party ahead:
I'm trying not to have a total meltdown, but I'm not doing very well with it. I've been having calf and lower leg spasms for the last month, and they've gotten much worse in the last week. My massage therapist has tried to work out the spasms and has given me plenty of homework to try to heal. He said yesterday that I may be starting toward Achilles tendonitis, though my worst spasms and pain aren't actually on the Achilles tendon position-wise. He also thinks my shoes may be to blame, though changing them hasn't been helping enough.

This weekend was supposed to be the last 4 day in a row training for Dopey on the Galloway plan. I managed to get through 3 miles Thursday night, but my leg was severely spasming after that run. Friday I spent working on the massage and improving flexibility in my feet and calves and skipped the 5 mile walk. Tonight I was going to try doing as much of the 12 mile walk as I could and include a few 1 minute running segments. After 2 miles, the spasms were getting worse and running was an absolute NO from my leg. I'm back on the heating pad now and will go back to working with the tennis ball, The Stick and the yoga strap trying to work out the spasms.

I had planned to do somewhere between 20-26 miles of running and walking (Galloway calls for 26) tomorrow originally. At this point, I'm not sure if I should go try to see if I can start over at the running store with a totally different shoe, stay home and rest/massage my leg or try to walk as much of the mileage with small shuffles as I can stand. I'm wondering if it would be better to go outside where I can speed or slow or change stride as I go, or if sticking home with the treadmill and therapeutic implements would be better.

Sorry to be so long-winded and whiny. It's just got me terrified and really depressed that I've been training for Dopey since the start of July (as we all have), and this close to time, I may not be able to run at all. Thanks for being a place to vent and whine, among those who understand how hard we've all worked to get to this point!

 

[garner384]

Warning - serious pity party ahead:
I'm trying not to have a total meltdown, but I'm not doing very well with it. I've been having calf and lower leg spasms for the last month, and they've gotten much worse in the last week. My massage therapist has tried to work out the spasms and has given me plenty of homework to try to heal. He said yesterday that I may be starting toward Achilles tendonitis, though my worst spasms and pain aren't actually on the Achilles tendon position-wise. He also thinks my shoes may be to blame, though changing them hasn't been helping enough.

This weekend was supposed to be the last 4 day in a row training for Dopey on the Galloway plan. I managed to get through 3 miles Thursday night, but my leg was severely spasming after that run. Friday I spent working on the massage and improving flexibility in my feet and calves and skipped the 5 mile walk. Tonight I was going to try doing as much of the 12 mile walk as I could and include a few 1 minute running segments. After 2 miles, the spasms were getting worse and running was an absolute NO from my leg. I'm back on the heating pad now and will go back to working with the tennis ball, The Stick and the yoga strap trying to work out the spasms.

I had planned to do somewhere between 20-26 miles of running and walking (Galloway calls for 26) tomorrow originally. At this point, I'm not sure if I should go try to see if I can start over at the running store with a totally different shoe, stay home and rest/massage my leg or try to walk as much of the mileage with small shuffles as I can stand. I'm wondering if it would be better to go outside where I can speed or slow or change stride as I go, or if sticking home with the treadmill and therapeutic implements would be better.

Sorry to be so long-winded and whiny. It's just got me terrified and really depressed that I've been training for Dopey since the start of July (as we all have), and this close to time, I may not be able to run at all. Thanks for being a place to vent and whine, among those who understand how hard we've all worked to get to this point!

I would not try to run until the leg is feeling better. I would be afraid you are doing more harm by trying to push through. Better to toe the line healthy and under trained than train well and injured.

I would stop running.

 

[NitroStitch]

I would not try to run until the leg is feeling better. I would be afraid you are doing more harm by trying to push through. Better to toe the line healthy and under trained than train well and injured.

I would stop running.

Thank you for your input! I did a marathon 12/1, so I know I can (normally) go the distance. Hopefully rest and more therapy will get me to the starting line well enough to finish.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Woo hoo! Who else is following the Galloway programme " just to complete",?i am ,and thanks be, did my longest training run today ( well yesterday)!

It called for 42.2 km (full marathon) but ii just went to 37k, as, i felt like i didnt get the distance i needed during the wine and dine ( 32k on the menu, would say i got in 27k),..... I just put myself back for safety's sake!- don't think its imperative to stick to the training plan 100%
And ever so glad! It was wretched on the roads running! We scrapped our orig route as roads not plowed nor salted in favour of heading to an indoor track .... Got there to find delayed opening for a couple hours.
So we slogged it out on the streets as best we could! Bitter cold running is nowhere as hard as running on the side of snow-covered greasy streets, constantly shifting to a potentially slippery sidewalk!
We figured we expended 42k of effort on the 1st 16k (10miles)!
But proud to say 30k done outdoors and we finished it off on the inside track!
And, so cool, there was a girl with a Princess shirt on, and turns out, she'll be at wdw in January during her first Full!

But, now it's T A. P. E. R.
WOO HOO!!!!

 

[goofeygirl]

Warning - serious pity party ahead:
I'm trying not to have a total meltdown, but I'm not doing very well with it. I've been having calf and lower leg spasms for the last month, and they've gotten much worse in the last week. My massage therapist has tried to work out the spasms and has given me plenty of homework to try to heal. He said yesterday that I may be starting toward Achilles tendonitis, though my worst spasms and pain aren't actually on the Achilles tendon position-wise. He also thinks my shoes may be to blame, though changing them hasn't been helping enough.

This weekend was supposed to be the last 4 day in a row training for Dopey on the Galloway plan. I managed to get through 3 miles Thursday night, but my leg was severely spasming after that run. Friday I spent working on the massage and improving flexibility in my feet and calves and skipped the 5 mile walk. Tonight I was going to try doing as much of the 12 mile walk as I could and include a few 1 minute running segments. After 2 miles, the spasms were getting worse and running was an absolute NO from my leg. I'm back on the heating pad now and will go back to working with the tennis ball, The Stick and the yoga strap trying to work out the spasms.

I had planned to do somewhere between 20-26 miles of running and walking (Galloway calls for 26) tomorrow originally. At this point, I'm not sure if I should go try to see if I can start over at the running store with a totally different shoe, stay home and rest/massage my leg or try to walk as much of the mileage with small shuffles as I can stand. I'm wondering if it would be better to go outside where I can speed or slow or change stride as I go, or if sticking home with the treadmill and therapeutic implements would be better.

Sorry to be so long-winded and whiny. It's just got me terrified and really depressed that I've been training for Dopey since the start of July (as we all have), and this close to time, I may not be able to run at all. Thanks for being a place to vent and whine, among those who understand how hard we've all worked to get to this point!

I know I would rather give it rest than push it as the other poster wrote. Having said that, I remember the idea of me even doing a half marathon at one point was something I thought I couldn't do. My feet would be sore which caused other soreness and lower back pain...geeze...it was depressing. This was even on a treadmill! It did end up being my shoes were totally wrong for me but I didn't know it.
It will be interesting to read what others say and if they have been down this road before.
As for sneakers, I am wearing the Adidas boost...I love shoes that are like pillows and these are good.
Sometimes my right knee bothers me to a point where I limp! Though last year during the whole Goofy challenge it didn't bother me at all..strange.

I hope whatever it is you are experiencing is something as simple as changing shoes...but if it were me I really wouldn't push it.

 

[myweegirls]

So... I'll be okay, right? Over Thanksgiving weekend, I did 5K/5m/10m/24m. Sidelined with bronchitis for a week. On vacation last week and managed three short runs. My ecoaching plan shows 5k/10k/12m/27m this weekend, to which I said oh HECK no. 5k yesterday and 5m today. I was planning on 8-10 tomorrow and up to 18 the morning of the 24th. Holiday scheduling and weather are throwing wrenches into the mix - no treadmill here, and it's supposed to pour all of my free hours tomorrow.

So if I end up bailing tomorrow and just getting the last long in Tuesday morning, I'll be okay, right? Going out Wed isn't an option. After that, I'm thinking 6-8 milers to stay tuned up. There don't seem to be rules for this madness so I ask you, internet, I'll be okay, right?

XO
Liz

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards