To Infinity and Beyond - Becoming a Better DopeyBadger (Comments Welcome)

[DopeyBadger]

Congrats again. Just wiped off a tear or two. I am so happy for you and your journey and grateful for the joy you bring to others. Thank you for everything Billy and best wishes for all that the future holds.

Thanks! There were some definite tears writing this up. Especially the moment I turned the corner and saw 3:14:00 in mile marker 26. Such a hard moment to write about.

Congratulations, Billy! An amazing write-up about a fantastic performance.

Thanks!

You’re an inspiration, Billy, and I loved reading this (especially the stream of consciousness marathon recap). I hope you had an amazing weekend and that G is over her illness. Thank you for the coaching you provide to me and others.

I know Dopey is out for 2019, but I’m still hoping you make it down for marathon weekend next year. I’ll buy ya a chocolate milk.

Thanks! Once those miles start to count down it's hard to remember anything but keep moving forward. It was a great Disney trip and G is definitely feeling better. Marathon Weekend 2019 is out as well, but runDisney will help again someday. I know I want to do Princess Weekend with G someday and dress as Princesses!

Once again, awesome job! Really enjoyed reading your recaps and meeting you the mornings before the races!

Thanks! OMG, how could I forget you were at the pre-race meet! It was a joy getting to talk to you as well.

 

[Sailormoon2]

Your 1/2 marathon castle shot and finish line photo are some of my favourites!! Just brilliant both of them! Effort and emotion is so clearly shown on your face

no chocolate milk and no peanut butter!

This, my friend, is a travesty!! Thank god it was easily remedied

G’s every Disney trip tradition of a new pearl

What a cool/unique tradition! What is the ultimate end goal? Multiple pieces of jewelry or one really ornate necklace?

she finally understood. It meant a lot for her to briefly attend the DIS meet.

How sweet, and I think, really important for your wife to see/hear/understand the impact you have had on so many of us!

Also congrats to G on her own personal PR!!

 

[Sailormoon2]

I posted then went back to keep reading. So a few more to add:

Finish in the Top 3 of the Dopey Challenge when evaluated by cumulative time for the Male 30-34 age division Haven’t heard yet, but I’m guessing it’s close.

Cheer my mom though her first Dopey Challenge at age 61 Completed!

Both of these are absolutely incredible! Congrats to you both!!!

Don’t eat lunch at Be Our Guest. We really felt burned by the mediocre food. We won’t eat there again for a bit of time.

I have been reading so many underwhelming reviews on here of late. It is so disapointing as the food used to live up to the hype of the decor. Such a shame, and I hope Disney reverts to the quality they were serving before.

A case of 32 bottled water from Garden Grocer was $11

This is exactly what I ordered and it was perfect for the week I was there.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Your 1/2 marathon castle shot and finish line photo are some of my favourites!! Just brilliant both of them! Effort and emotion is so clearly shown on your face

Thanks! It helps being fast because there's no one in the picture then. The effort/emotion was so raw at times.

This, my friend, is a travesty!! Thank god it was easily remedied

What a cool/unique tradition! What is the ultimate end goal? Multiple pieces of jewelry or one really ornate necklace?

Thanks! A pearl necklace.

How sweet, and I think, really important for your wife to see/hear/understand the impact you have had on so many of us!

It was an important time for both of us.

Also congrats to G on her own personal PR!!

She was happy to run together with dad.

Both of these are absolutely incredible! Congrats to you both!!!

Thanks! Proud of her.

I have been reading so many underwhelming reviews on here of late. It is so disapointing as the food used to live up to the hype of the decor. Such a shame, and I hope Disney reverts to the quality they were serving before.

Unfortunate for sure. Some of the places are still worth it, but the quality has certainly fallen at other places.

This is exactly what I ordered and it was perfect for the week I was there.

It's a mega cost saver for those that drink a ton of water.

 

[CherieFran]

Great recap. Congratulations on a great race weekend! It was nice to meet you (briefly) in person. I think I saw you and fam exiting Small World on Monday while we were in line - you were just a bit too far to shout at.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Great recap. Congratulations on a great race weekend! It was nice to meet you (briefly) in person. I think I saw you and fam exiting Small World on Monday while we were in line - you were just a bit too far to shout at.

Thanks! Those pre-race meets are always so short. Sorry we didn't get the opportunity to meet for longer. Oh man, bummer on Small World! Next time!

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Great job on the running, the coaching, the trip report, and the race reports!

I'm not on your list of WDW runners since my plan was for RCM in early December, but your plan got me through Goofy. Due to life events, I only ran about 40 miles total between RCM and the WDW half. I was still in good enough shape from your plan to finish Goofy (no PRs here!)

Thank you and it was great to meet you in person!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Great job on the running, the coaching, the trip report, and the race reports!

I'm not on your list of WDW runners since my plan was for RCM in early December, but your plan got me through Goofy. Due to life events, I only ran about 40 miles total between RCM and the WDW half. I was still in good enough shape from your plan to finish Goofy (no PRs here!)

Thank you and it was great to meet you in person!

Thanks!

I've got you down in the "consulting" section of the coaching recap, just didn't name you outright because officially didn't right a plan for that small gap.

It was a pleasure getting to meet you as well!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Wow! Amazing! My heart was racing just reading along! You're incredible! So humble and kind and I'm pleased to be able to say your my coach!!! Thank you for the kind words and now I'm totally sobbing!!!!

Thanks! It got emotional in those last few marathon miles. I'm so happy to have you as one of my runners!

 

[roxymama]

I refuse to read the final placement until I can thoroughly read it all and the suspense is killing me!!!!!

 

[dmross]

So much fun to read your recap... I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat. So sorry little G was sick and I hope y'all were able to salvage the Descendant's dress!! I love your mom's success, too, and it makes me happy to hear how well she did.

Amazing amazing Coach you are! Thanks for all you've done for us DisBoarders.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I refuse to read the final placement until I can thoroughly read it all and the suspense is killing me!!!!!

So much fun to read your recap... I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat.

So sorry little G was sick and I hope y'all were able to salvage the Descendant's dress!!

Dress is still good! Steph thinks we were able to save it.

I love your mom's success, too, and it makes me happy to hear how well she did.

Very impressive indeed.

Amazing amazing Coach you are! Thanks for all you've done for us DisBoarders.

Happy to help!

 

[jmasgat]

WTG on a great weekend. It was nice to meet you and hang for a few minutes before the 5k.

 

[dis_or_dat]

What a wonderful job! You've helped so many people too. I see a well earned BQ coming!

And your mom is also ah-mah-zing! I can't imagine doing the Dopey Challenge at MY age!

Coincidentally I took an extended break from running on a 5 day Disneyland trip while you guys were running Dopey. I guess it was good that I could rest my calf & hamstring strain since I was visibly limping the past few days (trying to squeeze in 3 mile runs during a 4 month old's sleep regression 25 min naps is hard!). Sadly flu season has hit the West Coast and everyone has returned home with it! So it's fabulous reading your trip report, makes me feel like I'm running again!

 

[Disney at Heart]

Great recap. Congratulations on a great Dopey Challenge. You are so inspirational to all of us! It was good to see you again this year. I wish you had reached the marathon goal, but in the long run, I think your most important race was the one with G! Her precious comment that "we ran together" is a memory that you will both share forever. I am sorry she got sick, and I am glad she is over it. Your family is beautiful. Congrats to all those you coached, too.

 

[DopeyBadger]

WTG on a great weekend. It was nice to meet you and hang for a few minutes before the 5k.

Thanks! It was nice to meet you as well!

What a wonderful job! You've helped so many people too. I see a well earned BQ coming!

Thanks! Here's hoping it comes in October at Chicago!

And your mom is also ah-mah-zing! I can't imagine doing the Dopey Challenge at MY age!

Pretty incredible!

Coincidentally I took an extended break from running on a 5 day Disneyland trip while you guys were running Dopey. I guess it was good that I could rest my calf & hamstring strain since I was visibly limping the past few days (trying to squeeze in 3 mile runs during a 4 month old's sleep regression 25 min naps is hard!). Sadly flu season has hit the West Coast and everyone has returned home with it! So it's fabulous reading your trip report, makes me feel like I'm running again!

Take care of yourself! Glad I could suffice your running fix without the actual running.

Great recap. Congratulations on a great Dopey Challenge. You are so inspirational to all of us!

Thanks! Congrats to you as well!

It was good to see you again this year.

It was a pleasure!

I wish you had reached the marathon goal, but in the long run, I think your most important race was the one with G! Her precious comment that "we ran together" is a memory that you will both share forever.

Truer words have never been spoken. Sometimes G knows how to pull the heart strings.

Congrats to all those you coached, too.

A very determined bunch!

 

[Jules76126]

Loved reading the recap! Great job on a successful Dopey. I hope you get your BQ this year. As someone who lives very close to Boston there is nothing quite like Marathon Monday and that is coming from someone who has only ever been a spectator.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Loved reading the recap! Great job on a successful Dopey.

Thanks!

I hope you get your BQ this year. As someone who lives very close to Boston there is nothing quite like Marathon Monday and that is coming from someone who has only ever been a spectator.

It's been a long and fulfilling journey. I'm eager to get back to training and take that next step which makes it even more feasible to qualify and experience the magnificence of Marathon Monday.

 

[garneska]

Fabulous recap. I have no patience to pull out all the things to quote like you do (btw in awe of all the people who do it, I hate writing it’s horrible), but wanted to drop a few notes. First we went to the Polite Pig on Friday, we were impressed and thought it was really good. Definitely agree on a must do. Second, since you like desserts you might have missed out. The place is expensive but it’s Disney, Amorette’s Patisserie, wonderful desserts. I did cake decorating in November and loved it. Since we leave tomorrow and my bday is Wednesday, I got myself a petite cake to go. Not normally recommended but the way we travel we can keep it cold.

As for WL to the fort. Yes the path from WL to pony rides is just under 1 mile. I know for a fact as we walk to WL for dinner and are usually staying in the 400 or 700 loop which is close to the pony rides. I was really hoping to meet G on Saturday but apparently I was having that sickness so was in bed all day. I feel for G, I hope she is recovered by now.

Can’t wait to work on Chicago. Right now October feels so far away and I am sure it will go by quick.

I am sure you know this but you do have a wonderful wife, who lets you spend your precious time helping all of us on the boards. Thanks for all you do and congratulations!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Fabulous recap. I have no patience to pull out all the things to quote like you do (btw in awe of all the people who do it, I hate writing it’s horrible), but wanted to drop a few notes.

First we went to the Polite Pig on Friday, we were impressed and thought it was really good. Definitely agree on a must do.

Agreed! The pork belly was AMAZING! Behind only the $500 meal I had at Craft Steak in Vegas. It was THAT good.

Second, since you like desserts you might have missed out. The place is expensive but it’s Disney, Amorette’s Patisserie, wonderful desserts. I did cake decorating in November and loved it. Since we leave tomorrow and my bday is Wednesday, I got myself a petite cake to go. Not normally recommended but the way we travel we can keep it cold.

Is that at Disney Springs? I'll be back in May, so you never know.

As for WL to the fort. Yes the path from WL to pony rides is just under 1 mile. I know for a fact as we walk to WL for dinner and are usually staying in the 400 or 700 loop which is close to the pony rides. I was really hoping to meet G on Saturday but apparently I was having that sickness so was in bed all day. I feel for G, I hope she is recovered by now.

Sounds about right. Too bad it didn't work out, but I'm sure we'll cross paths in Chicago!

Can’t wait to work on Chicago. Right now October feels so far away and I am sure it will go by quick.

In the snap of a finger.

I am sure you know this but you do have a wonderful wife, who lets you spend your precious time helping all of us on the boards. Thanks for all you do and congratulations!

Thanks! I think she realizes it more than ever how much my time is appreciated and well spent. Excited to see what comes next for you.