The dream moment for the Dopey

[goofeygirl]

This year I did the Goofy. It was Goofy of me because not only was it my first Goofy but my first marathon too. Talk about insane! I really had this idea in my head that when I got to Epcot center, that final mile, I would really enjoy it. I would be so happy its almost over...and I would stop in some country and buy a beer or a frozen drink or even a coke!
I remembered in the previous year, when I did the half but not the full I would cheer the runners on as they entered Epcot from the resorts side...and I wanted to be like those happy runners who would wave and smile and act like they just began the race one minuet ago...but it didn't happen that way for me.
By the time I got to Epcot I was so over the race, everything. I just wanted to cross the finish line. My head was down
, my music was blasting , I couldn't wouldn't even think of stopping for anything because it would drag the race on even longer. I was sick of it by then.
I had lost my mojo around mile 21...which was pretty decent but the last 5 miles were hard...mentally, yes physically but mentally moreso. It went on and on and on and on from there.


So.

This year I want to be mentally better for this. I really want to try to enjoy the whole race...not to lose it...I want to get through Epcot like those other runners in the past with happiness and I want to stop and grab something...a beer, a soda or even a water...just cause!

What was it you didn't do for Goofy or the full or the half this or previous years that you want to do this up coming year? - Aside from a better finish time.

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm going to seriously try to get on Everest,I was running right by it at 9am and I'm still kicking myself for at least not going to see if I could get right on,which at that time there was probably a very good chance I could have.Aside from that maybe grab a frozen margarita at Epcot and get my finish line pictures with me sipping that multi colored fiesta margarita.This year I'm doing just the full again but I am very likely to give Goofy a try in 2015 for the 10th anniversary,I just don't know about Dopey,having to get up at 2am that many days in a row will be harder than actuallly running the marathon.

 

[cewait]

For the first time in over a decade I hit Epcot after the World Showcase opened. I HAD a beer. I would not have stopped but a spectator had purchased a large brew and had split it into three cups. She was looking to hand it up to someone so I took care of it for her. My brother caught a great photo of me chugging the last 2-3 swallows at the medal line.

WIth regard to Everest...

If you passed at 0900 ish, you really could have hopped the ride. I did not think that it lined up well for most folks but I hear that many had the chance. CM's make an effort to get runners on and off quickly.

 

[FFigawi]

I stopped and had a beer with friends & spectators going past Boardwalk. A great way to celebrate the end of the race.

 

[goofeygirl]

The best I can hope to do would be to grab a beer/frozen drink/soda or even water at Epcot's world showcase.

I would never be fast enough to get into A.K. to go on that ride...though what a story to tell if I could! How nuts would that be to say....I ran the Disney marathon, took a rollercoaster ride in the middle of it, continued with the marathon.

I don't know if I would ever be fast enough to have the time go trot down to McDonalds around mile 15 I think....and get a McFlurry and John 'McFlurry' does every marathon. By the time I get there, I really don't have the time to spend.

If I can mentally get through that last mile, in Epcot with my head up and smiling and taking a sip of something refreshing....that would be reaching my goal for 2014.

The photographers didn't even waste their time taking my photo in Epcot, seriously, that's how miserable I looked. My head was down and my legs were going and I was thinking....where the f. is that f'in finish line!!!!!

 

[John VN]

This year I accomplished what I wanted to do during the Marathon....

1st-was to airplane up and down the banks at the track after entering

2nd-slap the top of the wall before we exited the track and come down off the bank really fast without falling on my face

3rd-purchase my M&M McFlurry

4th-and most important, get the hand made by DW Dopey medallion from DW shortly before exiting EPCOT and finishing the race with it around my neck while holding it up for the Finish Line Photo

For 2014, have lots of fun and another M&M McFlurry, just hoping it will be a little cooler next year. Oh, I might just stop for a beer also.

McFlurry John

 

[MightyDuck001]

This is probably because I only did the marathon not goofy and was by no means pushing myself or going at a speedy pace (I just barely missed being able to ride Everest), but from when we left the backstage area at Hollywood Studios to the finish was my favorite part of the entire race. I was high fiving every single person I passed and while I did indeed feel exhausted I remember just being so excited thinking, "I'm seriously doing this!!!" In fact, I saw someone I had met in my starting corral walking and I was that obnoxious person yelling, "we're almost done!!!! NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO WALK!!!"

Wide World of Sports on the other hand was where I died a little and from there to Hollywood Studios I was miserable, but once I saw the geodesic sphere there was no containing my enthusiasm. Which kind of explains why I signed up for Dopey. And I continue to feel incredibly happy and accomplished whenever I walk through the parking lot at Epcot. It's just a thing now.

I'm hoping that at the end this time I don't want to drown myself in the Seven Seas Lagoon during the marathon and can make it to the finish and still be really happy to see that geodesic sphere.

 

[Haas4Concern]

I would love to ride Everest this time around. I did cross the finish line this past january with a margarita. Ill probably try to do that again.

 

[SAHDad]

I wish I had stopped for a beer in Epcot, but I did stop and get photopass pics taken with several of the princesses.

With any luck, that won't be happening on the Dopey this year, but I'm actually training this time. . . .

 

[goofeygirl]

This is probably because I only did the marathon not goofy and was by no means pushing myself or going at a speedy pace (I just barely missed being able to ride Everest), but from when we left the backstage area at Hollywood Studios to the finish was my favorite part of the entire race. I was high fiving every single person I passed and while I did indeed feel exhausted I remember just being so excited thinking, "I'm seriously doing this!!!" In fact, I saw someone I had met in my starting corral walking and I was that obnoxious person yelling, "we're almost done!!!! NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO WALK!!!"

Wide World of Sports on the other hand was where I died a little and from there to Hollywood Studios I was miserable, but once I saw the geodesic sphere there was no containing my enthusiasm. Which kind of explains why I signed up for Dopey. And I continue to feel incredibly happy and accomplished whenever I walk through the parking lot at Epcot. It's just a thing now.

I'm hoping that at the end this time I don't want to drown myself in the Seven Seas Lagoon during the marathon and can make it to the finish and still be really happy to see that geodesic sphere.

I wish I could have enjoyed Hollywood studios and that final Epcot mile. Its the best part of the whole race. Its entertaining and the end. I was really over it. Going through H.S. was hard...because I wanted to get out of there and get it over with.
When you think about it, from H.S. onward, its a nice race. You are no longer bored with endless road....you go through the Epcot resorts area...its all good.
I just wish I could have enjoyed it more.
I want to be that person too..the high fiver and whoo hooing...that sort of thing...stop for a beer and raise my hands as I cross the finish line.

 

[MightyDuck001]

I wish I could have enjoyed Hollywood studios and that final Epcot mile. Its the best part of the whole race. Its entertaining and the end. I was really over it. Going through H.S. was hard...because I wanted to get out of there and get it over with.
When you think about it, from H.S. onward, its a nice race. You are no longer bored with endless road....you go through the Epcot resorts area...its all good.
I just wish I could have enjoyed it more.
I want to be that person too..the high fiver and whoo hooing...that sort of thing...stop for a beer and raise my hands as I cross the finish line.

Next time, you can run the last three miles with me and I will share my enthusiasm with you! I'll even offer to pick up your beer. Though since it's Dopey this time I think if we just need someone to lean on to get through Epcot without falling over that's enough...

 

[ZellyB]

I was also just spent by the time we got to HS and Epcot. I still tried to enjoy it and smile and wave, but it was hard. I'm hoping to feel much better this time around when we run the full again.

We could have ridden Everest, but my husband really doesn't do well with the backward portion so we skipped it. He told me later he would have happily waited for me, so if the opportunity is there again this year, I'm going to do it.

I also just wanted to finish once I saw the finish line, so I didn't stop for a character photo before crossing the line. I plan to do that this time around.

 

[goofeygirl]

Next time, you can run the last three miles with me and I will share my enthusiasm with you! I'll even offer to pick up your beer. Though since it's Dopey this time I think if we just need someone to lean on to get through Epcot without falling over that's enough...[/QUOT

Well thanks! You will probably be long finished before I will but I need to do something to keep the motivation going beyond 21 miles. One of the things I think is to just have a better finish time.

I remember in 2012 I did the half and the following day (I was staying at the Epcot resorts) I walked up to back entrance to Epcot to cheer the runners on...and I loved their happy attitudes! Some were miserable (like I was) of course...but I remember a fellow wearing a Tinkerbelle outfit and waving his wand at everyone and shouting out 'thanks' for the cheer crowd...and an older fellow staggering along wearing his Goofy bib and shouting out something like 'I can't believe I did this!' with a smile on his face.
They were amazing! They were happy because they knew the race was at its end...and it was the best part of the whole thing.

Me? I too was miserable in HS. I should have loved it. I loved MK (but that was the beginning) and AK. I really want to have a different attitude this time.
I need to make sure I have beyond great music to listen to...and have a better time to cross the finish line sooner...and wear a costume (I didn't for the full) that is funny yet practical. These images are the images that will get me through the training I will have to do for the next five mos.