Official Dopey 2017 Thread

[Ariel484]

Yes - LOVE that park guests take time out of their day to cheer! It's so cool of them.

 

[Keels]

Yes - LOVE that park guests take time out of their day to cheer! It's so cool of them.

Sometimes, people you even know will randomly take time out of their park day to come see you at the finish line too!

 

[Ariel484]

Sometimes, people you even know will randomly take time out of their park day to come see you at the finish line too!

OH REALLY?!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

WDW Marathon weekend is amazing. It inspired my wife to try running when she went there with me to run years ago - just so she could participate in a WDW race on Marathon weekend.

 

[Ariel484]

WDW Marathon weekend is amazing. It inspired my wife to try running when she went there with me to run years ago - just so she could participate in a WDW race on Marathon weekend.

Same happened to my husband! He was waiting for me during the Marathon outside of the Beach Club and he was just like, "yep, this is pretty cool." He's done the JJ5K with me and we're signed up for the Wine & Dine 10K. The only way January would work out for him would be to do the half (since he's a teacher) so I'm not COMPLETELY sure that'll happen, but I can hope!

 

[Keels]

WDW Marathon weekend is amazing. It inspired my wife to try running when she went there with me to run years ago - just so she could participate in a WDW race on Marathon weekend.

This! I was in Epcot for the finish of the Marathon in 2013 and it looked SO cool - even my husband (who doesn't like running, or lots of things Disney-wise) thought it would be sweet to run a Disney race. I think that's definitely why he didn't think twice when I said I wanted to do my first half-marathon and I wanted it to be a Disney race.

 

[PrincessV]

+1 for being inspired to race thanks to seeing the WDW Marathon! Watching the tail end of the full go through HS was amazing.
IMO WDW Marathon weekend really is ALL that and a bag of chips!

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I'd love to do Marathon Weekend someday! My ultimate goal is to do the Marathon, but while I think it would be fun, it's a terrifying thought. So I'm not sure if it will happen, but I know I could do the Half.

 

[rteetz]

I haven't done any other weekend except for marathon weekend. I'm almost afraid to because it "won't be as good". I started with just the 10K, then this year ran the 5K and half, now next year I'm doing dopey...

 

[Keels]

Each weekend has something special about it. Of the ones I've done:

Disneyland Half - it's the opening race weekend of the RunDisney season, and the themes for the 5/10/Half change every year, so there's always something new to surprise you with! Plus, you run through Angels Stadium which is packed with thousands of Boy and Girl Scouts cheering for you. It's incredible.
Wine & Dine Half - during my favorite time of the year at Disney: Food & Wine Festival. That said, the real unique part of this race no longer is a factor (night race), but it was pretty cool finishing the race in Epcot at midnight and getting to hang out in the park until 4 a.m., eating and drinking around the world and partying.
Princess Weekend - probably some of the best on-course entertainment of the races I've done. I loved that one of the first stops is all of the Princes, I liked the super-hot guys in tuxedos by the golf course, and of course the carriage and horsemen you can pose with once you get back to Epcot.
Tinker Bell Weekend - Pretty much perfect weather, a fast and flat course, and I really loved so many mom-daughter combos that participated, or seeing so many kids out on the route cheering on their moms during the race. And the Red Hat ladies in downtown Anaheim? Amazing. One even called me over and hugged me because she said it looked like I needed a hug - boy did I! And even though I won't do it again, the Neverland 5K is easily the most unique race RunDisney offers right now and should be a bucket list race for anyone that enjoys RD races. I hope they never change it logistically.

 

[bananabean]

Re: Customer service... Ever notice a lack of "Have a Magical Day" at the end of a phone call these days? I rarely call anymore with the online stuff, but I asked once and she said some people complained that it seemed forced. Who are these people? But at least the Disney VISA people still say it. Odd.

Hahaha. Consider me one of those people! It always seems so awkward to me - especially when my default response is always "thanks, you, too!"

 

[FFigawi]

Sometimes, people you even know will randomly take time out of their park day to come see you at the finish line too!

Or fly over to cheer you on as you finish your first marathon. So I've heard anyway

 

[AmynVal]

Very interesting reading that I have been behind on.

As a coworker and I always refer to Disney as being the magic and the machine. The machine is the dominate side and they are going to make their money. As long as there is just enough magic provided we will continue to spend our money on races. Although that gap seems to be getting closer and closer.

As for all you anti Star Wars racers. I live on the east coast and for one am glad they brought a Star Wars race to us. There are so many diehard fans out there that would have never thought of doing a race until they brought one here. So for all you Sith Lords the April race perfect for you. I've actually saw a post about someone signing up by posting order 66.

 

[Keels]

Or fly over to cheer you on as you finish your first marathon. So I've heard anyway

Well, I didn't want to TOTALLY show off and make everybody jealous.

 

[sammykster]

And for the marathon, in the park ... I know we were slow and were definitely causing delays for people park-touring that day, but to see them all cheering when you pop out on the course across from the Rose & Crown in the UK ... man, I'm tearing up right now just thinking about it. People were so loud cheering, you would think you were in the home stretch to winning the race when really, the winners had crossed the finish line three hours before you.

I love this too! I felt so good knowing all those people were cheering me on when it felt like it had taken FOREVER for me to finish. I needed the motivation to keep moving.

Funny story to add onto this. I did a half in MN last year and there was a full running at the same time. I was going through the last .2 miles and finished in about 2:40 and people were going crazy. I felt really good about myself and was thinking, man this is a great spectator race. All of a sudden out of nowhere the first marathon finisher blew past me and we finished together. Turns out all those people were cheering for him but I'm still going to pretend they were all really psyched to see me

 

[dburg30]

Since I am slow, I doubt I will ever do a marathon outside of Disney. A 1/2 with a full running also, yes, because at @sammykster said, being slow you finish with the top marathoners lol. Love the cheering section at Disney..

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Did a 20 mile trail run today and feel awesome. I was scheduled for 16, but had run 16.25 a few weeks ago so decided to push myself. Oh yeah - and college football season has arrived.

Roll Tide!!!

 

[rteetz]

Did a 20 mile trail run today and feel awesome. I was scheduled for 16, but had run 16.25 a few weeks ago so decided to push myself. Oh yeah - and college football season has arrived.

Roll Tide!!!

Nice!

Since my college doesn't have a football team I can still root for Wisconsin. On Wisconsin!

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Did a 20 mile trail run today and feel awesome. I was scheduled for 16, but had run 16.25 a few weeks ago so decided to push myself. Oh yeah - and college football season has arrived.

Roll Tide!!!

 

[dburg30]

Got my proof of time race in today!! Was miserable... Was like Florida summer and humidity at 9am.... In Ohio.. Isn't it almost September? Anywho.. Was a lot of walking involved by LOTS of people today... But POT submitted..