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

[SarahDisney]

Great trip recap!
I will admit, I was one of those people who was hoping to see you BQ at the marathon, but after reading your recap ... I think this is almost as good. You went out there and gave that race everything you had, despite having some things working against you. Coming in 20th overall in Dopey and 2nd Perfect Dopey ... that's pretty incredible. (And training for all this while at the same time coaching 20+ other runners ... that's insanely impressive). Great job and congrats on a successful last ( ) Dopey!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Great trip recap!

Thanks for reading!

I will admit, I was one of those people who was hoping to see you BQ at the marathon, but after reading your recap ... I think this is almost as good. You went out there and gave that race everything you had, despite having some things working against you.

It was ambitious for sure. I was running on fumes there at the end and am very happy with the final results.

Coming in 20th overall in Dopey and 2nd Perfect Dopey ... that's pretty incredible. (And training for all this while at the same time coaching 20+ other runners ... that's insanely impressive).

Thanks! Seeing those faces of excitement and exasperation come across the finish line makes all that coaching worth it. Just pure raw joy.

Great job and congrats on a successful last ( ) Dopey!

Not last ever, I've still got to get that Sextuple PR. But certainly the last consecutive. I'll be back to Dopey someday. I've just got some other things on my plate that dictate that a January 2019 Disney vacation isn't in the cards. Plus, when I'm running Boston 2020 I really want to focus on that and not have the 48.6 mile weight on my training in January. So, I knew the consecutive was going to have to end eventually. No better time than now.

 

[FredtheDuck]

Read your entire recap over the weekend and WOW, what a weekend! As always, I really appreciated you kind of sharing your mental process, especially when it got a little tough during the marathon and the immediate aftermath. I think it's good to see that mental toughness and how someone as elite as (I consider) you goes through those ups and downs and mental gymnastics.

I also wanted to say that I really appreciated you including the section on runners you coached. I was away during the marathon weekend, so it was kind of a nice place to see a round up of how everyone fared (super well, so much to be proud of!!!). I'm so glad that your wife got to meet some of the people you've helped and see firsthand how grateful we all are for your time. I'm personally really grateful to her, too, for supporting you in your hobby of helping everyone here (me included) - I know it takes sacrifice and patience on her part, too.

A couple of other random things: HUGE congratulations to your mom! Dopey is such an amazing accomplishment, and it sounds like she had to really knuckle through a couple of things and was able to tough it out across those finish lines... good for her!! Congrats to G on her new PR (and, adorable that you guys have matching medal racks), and so glad you're both feeling better. Finally, love that confidence about Boston 2020... excited to see you attack this next chapter.

 

[SarahDisney]

Not last ever, I've still got to get that Sextuple PR. But certainly the last consecutive. I'll be back to Dopey someday. I've just got some other things on my plate that dictate that a January 2019 Disney vacation isn't in the cards. Plus, when I'm running Boston 2020 I really want to focus on that and not have the 48.6 mile weight on my training in January. So, I knew the consecutive was going to have to end eventually. No better time than now.

Ah. That makes sense. All streaks come to an end eventually ... but I look forward to reading all about the Sextuple PR in 2021!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Read your entire recap over the weekend and WOW, what a weekend!

Thanks!

As always, I really appreciated you kind of sharing your mental process, especially when it got a little tough during the marathon and the immediate aftermath. I think it's good to see that mental toughness and how someone as elite as (I consider) you goes through those ups and downs and mental gymnastics.

Sometimes it's not just what happens, but how you react.

I also wanted to say that I really appreciated you including the section on runners you coached. I was away during the marathon weekend, so it was kind of a nice place to see a round up of how everyone fared (super well, so much to be proud of!!!).

Happy you enjoyed it. I was probably most excited to write that section given the across the board experiences. And I didn't want to be cherry picking. So I included everyone's experiences with my plans as a full spectrum of results. Overall though I'm very pleased.

I'm so glad that your wife got to meet some of the people you've helped and see firsthand how grateful we all are for your time. I'm personally really grateful to her, too, for supporting you in your hobby of helping everyone here (me included) - I know it takes sacrifice and patience on her part, too.

Like I said, it was an important moment for her. We've certainly had discussions about the time I spend on here. But immediately after the HH meet up, there was an even better understanding of what I'm trying to do.

HUGE congratulations to your mom! Dopey is such an amazing accomplishment, and it sounds like she had to really knuckle through a couple of things and was able to tough it out across those finish lines... good for her!!

Thanks! It certainly wasn't as easy as she would have hoped. But I'm proud of her dealing with those things and getting through it.

Congrats to G on her new PR (and, adorable that you guys have matching medal racks), and so glad you're both feeling better.

Watch out Florence Griffith-Joyner!

Finally, love that confidence about Boston 2020... excited to see you attack this next chapter.

All about that mindset. No more complacency. Attacking is certainly the correct term.

Ah. That makes sense. All streaks come to an end eventually ... but I look forward to reading all about the Sextuple PR in 2021!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I've updated the recap with new pictures from runDisney. Some of my favorites!

5k Finish





10k Finish



10k Finish



Wonderful shading





HM Finish



Mile 25 (someone looks tired)



The end of an era....





Something I noticed quite frequently in my running pictures is that I have that elusive double float in my gait at many of my paces. There are actual periods of time where neither of my feet are on the ground during my gait. It's something I've never noted before, but I've never had so many pictures of me running before. Pretty cool!

 

[rootbeerkid]

Question Mr. Badger - I've reviewed your diet. Is it pretty much the same everyday? How does this diet effect family meals - do you all eat the same at family meals or are separate dishes served? I'm looking to improve my diet and wondering how this will work with the family.

 

[dis_or_dat]

Love the pictures! I almost cried looking at the picture of you crying and knowing all the emotions you were going through. By the way, your family is gorgeous! Steph is a great partner and I'm so jealous of her braiding abilities!

 

[GollyGadget]

I've updated the recap with new pictures from runDisney. Some of my favorites!

5k Finish

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10k Finish

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10k Finish

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Wonderful shading

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HM Finish

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Mile 25 (someone looks tired)

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The end of an era....

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Something I noticed quite frequently in my running pictures is that I have that elusive double float in my gait at many of my paces. There are actual periods of time where neither of my feet are on the ground during my gait. It's something I've never noted before, but I've never had so many pictures of me running before. Pretty cool!

Congrats on a great weekend! I came across some advice last week..."Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." I know you we're aiming for that marathon PR, but I have no doubt you'll gain something from this training cycle and earn your BQ soon.

I just hope next time I run Disney I can be as fast as you so I can get an awesome castle shot. Like you, I think the price is too high but would probably bite if I got a good pic running through the castle. This year, I found a bit of a gap to settle into and then a couple runners jutted in front. So now I just have a picture of me giving them a dirty look, haha.

Not worth the $$

 

[DopeyBadger]

Question Mr. Badger - I've reviewed your diet. Is it pretty much the same everyday? How does this diet effect family meals - do you all eat the same at family meals or are separate dishes served? I'm looking to improve my diet and wondering how this will work with the family.

This was the last time I officially updated my diet regimen:

Diet change in March 2017 to prepare for sub 3

In October 2017 (after my marathon), I realized I had gained 10-13 pounds from March 2017 to October 2017. So I re-evaluated in Oct 2017 using myfitnesspal and ended up dropping the quinoa and almonds from the lunch. I slightly increased the chicken at lunch as well. We also started using Hello Fresh for dinners (3 meals for 2 people for $60 a week).

With that being said, yes - my breakfast and lunch is very consistent on a daily basis. Eggs, oatmeal, chicken sandwich, spinach salad with avocado. The Hello Fresh has introduced a lot of variety into my dinner. It saves Steph a ton of time cooking and shopping for groceries. We've had only a small handful of bad meals and have been extremely pleased with the value. It helps that it is portion controlled for 2 people. I highly recommend it.

So, I eat breakfast and lunch the same nearly every day. Post-workout shake is consistent. Dinner is a family meal (that 3/7 times is Hello Fresh). The non-Hello Fresh meals are general things that both Steph and I like.

Hope that helps!

Love the pictures! I almost cried looking at the picture of you crying and knowing all the emotions you were going through.

Thanks! So many different emotions on display and thoughts going through my head.

By the way, your family is gorgeous! Steph is a great partner and I'm so jealous of her braiding abilities!

Thanks! I'm a lucky guy in more ways than one.

Congrats on a great weekend!

Thanks!

I came across some advice last week..."Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." I know you we're aiming for that marathon PR, but I have no doubt you'll gain something from this training cycle and earn your BQ soon.

Absolutely. I try to never lose sight of the big picture. Every training run and all the time I have spent in the last 5.5 years is to reach that "A" goal. Everything that happens in between is part of the learning process to help get me there. The 2018 Dopey Challenge training cycle was highly successful. I got my weight back where I wanted it. I also reinforced to myself how valuable the Daniels T training was from Spring 2017 (and incorporated it in Dopey 2018 training). Those were two important learning lessons moving forward. Outside of a side stitch in the 5k, there was literally nothing I could have done differently for the 2018 Dopey race experience. The plan was executed as planned throughout.

I just hope next time I run Disney I can be as fast as you so I can get an awesome castle shot. Like you, I think the price is too high but would probably bite if I got a good pic running through the castle. This year, I found a bit of a gap to settle into and then a couple runners jutted in front. So now I just have a picture of me giving them a dirty look, haha.

LOL! Dirty looks. I have no doubt that you can and will get that fast if you want to. It's a nice benefit of running faster having solo glamour shots.

 

[Sailormoon2]

Incredible finisher shots!! I love the happiness on your face in the 10K, and of course ALL THE EMOTIONS at the end of the marathon!
Her is my favourite (marathon finish) OH so happy!

 

[rootbeerkid]

This was the last time I officially updated my diet regimen:

Diet change in March 2017 to prepare for sub 3

In October 2017 (after my marathon), I realized I had gained 10-13 pounds from March 2017 to October 2017. So I re-evaluated in Oct 2017 using myfitnesspal and ended up dropping the quinoa and almonds from the lunch. I slightly increased the chicken at lunch as well. We also started using Hello Fresh for dinners (3 meals for 2 people for $60 a week).

With that being said, yes - my breakfast and lunch is very consistent on a daily basis. Eggs, oatmeal, chicken sandwich, spinach salad with avocado. The Hello Fresh has introduced a lot of variety into my dinner. It saves Steph a ton of time cooking and shopping for groceries. We've had only a small handful of bad meals and have been extremely pleased with the value. It helps that it is portion controlled for 2 people. I highly recommend it.

So, I eat breakfast and lunch the same nearly every day. Post-workout shake is consistent. Dinner is a family meal (that 3/7 times is Hello Fresh). The non-Hello Fresh meals are general things that both Steph and I like.

Hope that helps!

Thanks. It does help.

Dietary discipline is a challenge and one of the factors is associated with family meals. They're important together times and trying to integrate nutrition with the standard family menu is often incongruous.

 

[steph0808]

Finally finished the marathon recap - so awesome! I love reading about all the things to do at Disney that I have no idea about - new places to eat, pony rides, etc. I need to start a list.

I love the shorts you wore for the Minnie 10k! haha. Fashion is always first

Like you, I would have similar conflicting emotions at the end of the marathon based on that incorrect clock time.

Now let me get to my PMs so you can have another training plan to work on this weekend!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Incredible finisher shots!! I love the happiness on your face in the 10K, and of course ALL THE EMOTIONS at the end of the marathon!
Her is my favourite (marathon finish) OH so happy!
View attachment 295971

That's a nice one!

Finally finished the marathon recap - so awesome!

Sweet, thanks for reading!

I love reading about all the things to do at Disney that I have no idea about - new places to eat, pony rides, etc. I need to start a list.

All the off the beaten path options!

I love the shorts you wore for the Minnie 10k! haha. Fashion is always first

For sure! Same company has some pink flamingo ones, or taco ones, or scary bats ones. Lots of interesting choices.

Like you, I would have similar conflicting emotions at the end of the marathon based on that incorrect clock time.

Now let me get to my PMs so you can have another training plan to work on this weekend!

Gotten through ~20 plans in the last week or so. On a roll! 11 more formally requested to go! Plus, I've got to finish my own!

 

[Sailormoon2]

~20 plans in the last week or so.

You are a machine!

 

[GollyGadget]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'm still figuring out my goals for the rest of the year. It's a delicate balance between work/running/life that I'm trying to determine how much time I can spend running long term. I always viewed the WDW Marathon as a one time thing so it was easier to make sacrifices elsewhere. Now I need to figure out what that balance looks like going forward.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'm still figuring out my goals for the rest of the year. It's a delicate balance between work/running/life that I'm trying to determine how much time I can spend running long term. I always viewed the WDW Marathon as a one time thing so it was easier to make sacrifices elsewhere. Now I need to figure out what that balance looks like going forward.

It's a very critical step moving forward. Set your goals and determine what is a realistic amount of time you have available to train. I'll always say that a well written and well executed 4 day plan can out perform a well written but spotty executed 6 day plan. My training plans have proven that to me time and again. There are many ways to be successful.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Two more goals checked off: 3/102 complete!

73. Run a sub 40 minute 10k - Completed 1/5/2018 in the Walt Disney World 10k (39:54)
77. Run a sub 20 minute 5k (in a race) - Completed 1/5/2018 in the Walt Disney World 10k (5k split of 19:36, Strava of 19:27, and total time of 39:54 for 10k)

 

[DopeyBadger]

Also, an updated career racing chart for Half Marathon, Marathon and Dopey pace:

 

[Anisum]

Gotten through ~20 plans in the last week or so. On a roll! 11 more formally requested to go! Plus, I've got to finish my own!

Oh man, good thing I'm waiting until I finalize my race schedule.