To Dopey or not to Dopey?

[goofeygirl]

I have never been so on the fence for a race that wont happen for a year than this one! That is because the registration will open in April and from there I will probably have only a few days or a week perhaps to make my final decision before its sold out - assuming they are bringing back the Dopey next year.

On the one hand..the idea of a Dopey is awesome. I can do it, I did it and why not continue to do something while I can? Will I regret not signing up for it if I don't? Yesterday I was in a race - a very long distance from Disney World and I wore my Minnie shirt and people were asking me about Disney and I mentioned Dopey and their eyebrow's raised...so this race is well known. It is cool to say I did the Dopey challenge. Because its different.

On the second hand...the price will be higher and the overall cost of the race and extra hotel stays will be a lot - but its Disney. The training is long and hard and takes away any days off I have during the holiday season..meaning my days off are planned around training and that's it.
Back to the cost - if I sign up for a half, its cheaper plus I don't have to stay there as many days...this will allow me to travel and run a race I have wanted to run but couldn't justify the cost.

What to do. One moment I think - I will do the half and then sign up for a race far away and different with the money I save....then I think (after yesterday in a half where others recognize the Dopey challenge) I will do the Dopey because its cool.

 

[Diskidatheart]

I've decided that I am not going to do Dopey again this year. I will be doing Goofy. Even though the training for Dopey and Goofy are very similar, it's the early morning wake up calls on Thursday and Friday that got me. I'd like to get there on Thursday this year and relax on Friday before the race, then we're planning on leaving Tuesday so that we can stay an extra day after the race this year. I do plan on being Dopey again in the future. It turns out that the race after I turn 50 is the 5 year anniversary of Dopey, 5 year anniversary of the 10k, and 25 year anniversary of the Marathon. I will be treating myself to Dopey that year.

 

[goofeygirl]

I've decided that I am not going to do Dopey again this year. I will be doing Goofy. Even though the training for Dopey and Goofy are very similar, it's the early morning wake up calls on Thursday and Friday that got me. I'd like to get there on Thursday this year and relax on Friday before the race, then we're planning on leaving Tuesday so that we can stay an extra day after the race this year. I do plan on being Dopey again in the future. It turns out that the race after I turn 50 is the 5 year anniversary of Dopey, 5 year anniversary of the 10k, and 25 year anniversary of the Marathon. I will be treating myself to Dopey that year.

That sounds like a sane plan.

I am leaning towards doing the half marathon and then returning for the Princess half a few weeks later.

However I too would do the Dopey for a milestone anniversary.

 

[DEA]

I think part of the appeal of Dopey was being part of the inaugural event in January. The other part, though, was not leaving anything "on the table"; I had all the possible medals after the marathon on Sunday. So, I'm going to have to balance the consideration of not doing all the races I know I can against the cost of the thing, the increased training time, and the additional expenses associated with a couple of extra days at WDW. Goofy sounds like a good compromise.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I did Dopey this year, and will be back. Honesty, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, next to meeting my husband, signing on stage at Carnegie Hall, finishing my first marathon and winning an award for my lyrics.

Part of it, to me, is how satisfied I felt with how many training miles I had put in. I peaked at a 65 mile week. And then, getting to know the hundreds of people in the Dopey Challenge Facebook group made the entire vacation really amazing. It was nice to have a huge group support every morning before the race who were going through the same things that I was.

The week was so hard. I was sleep deprived, hungry, dehydrated a bit, and overwhelmed by emotion. And crossing those four finish lines were four of the happiest moments of my life.

 

[wiigirl]

I think part of the appeal of Dopey was being part of the inaugural event in January. The other part, though, was not leaving anything "on the table"; I had all the possible medals after the marathon on Sunday. So, I'm going to have to balance the consideration of not doing all the races I know I can against the cost of the thing, the increased training time, and the additional expenses associated with a couple of extra days at WDW. Goofy sounds like a good compromise.

 

[ANIM8R]

I, too, will be doing the Dopey again.

You know how drug addicts are always chasing that high? The runner's high for me after the Dopey was beyond even the Goofy. The Dopey is like runner's heroin! I am more proud of that medal than even my first marathon medal. I'll keep running Dopey as long I am physically able (pushing 50) AND able to afford it.

 

[lkh]

I'll be doing Dopey again next year, I had so much fun this year! It's definitely expensive but if I know I'd be going for at least one of the races that weekend and probably staying at least 4 nights anyways, the $350 difference between it and the marathon or $200 between it and Goofy and extra hotel nights doesn't seem like that big a difference when I'll already be paying for hotel, food, tickets, flights/gas to drive, etc. I know I'd get there and regret not doing all of the races if I tried to just do one.

 

[goofeygirl]

Financially I am guessing the Dopey might be around $600 this year? I am guessing the half might be around $250..so yeah it would be about a $350 difference. That difference would pay for the Princess half a month later.

The hotel.. I book two rooms so if the room I book are close to $300/nite and multiplied by two...it adds up...and again that extra money saved can be applied to the Princess hotel stay.

The airfare would be the same no matter of course.

Aside from that there was all the training...and part of me says 'yea, do it again' and part of me says 'been there done that and time to do something different'

but then I keep thinking I will regret it if I don't sign up for it again though...

So when the time comes I will just close my eyes and sign up for something and just deal with it!

 

[xCourxCorex]

I don't think the half will be $250... Disneyland half registration was only a month ago, $195 for 13.1, the new Avengers is also $195 (registration end of March), and wine and dine registration opens next week and is $185.

Last year's 1/2 and full price were $160 each. I'm guessing it'll probably be either $185 or $195 come April. I doubt the half/full would jump $90, or Dopey $100+ in just a year, but I'm sure they will increase a little.

 

[beltwaybarry]

I'm already starting to save my pennies in view of the approaching Dopey registration. My experience with it this year is leading me back for more, and I think I learned a few things that I'll try differently next time. Also, the other themed races and the new Avengers announcement just aren't resonating with me the same as getting to explore all the WDW races throughout the four-day program. It's a lot of money, true, but I'll do plenty of other races that don't cost much, so maybe it evens out in the end. I figure we all should go for what attracts us and is the most fun.