Walt Disney World Marathon--Dopey Challenge 2015 (Part 1)

Well, it's been a week since I finished the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World. While compiling experiences that will last for several posts, I want to initially discuss the merits of Disney racing vs. the less than positive aspects of their runs. Up front disclaimer--I initially decided to run my first Walt Disney Marathon in 2006 as a kind of gimme to my kids. I figured I was spending time and money racing, training, traveling which took away from their potential vacations, etc. so if I ran Disney as my Florida marathon, it would be an offering to them. When we ran in 2006, it was the first year of the Goofy Challenge--well, stupidly, I thought, maybe I could do that someday. Well, 2010 was someday, so me and my husband and daughters piled onto a plane and flew down to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Goofy. It was not the best experience and I swore never again. Never say never. In 2014, Disney unveiled the Dopey Challenge--5k, 10k, Half marathon, and Full marathon. Despite my earlier protestations, I thought about how in 2010, I had done the 5k along with the other two races and just got a hardy handshake at the end. With this challenge, I would get some recognition as to how insane I might actually be. Besides, who doesn't love Dopey. The girls were ready for another Disney vacation, my husband was sick of winter, so off we went.

The Walt Disney World Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k take place on successive mornings--Thursday through Sunday. There were also Mickey Mile runs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but I didn't really pay attention to them. The 5k starts at 6:15 a.m., the other races start at 5:30 a.m., with transportation to the start, if you stay on property leaving no later than 4:00 a.m. each morning. I stayed off site for the Thursday and Friday races, so I drove from approximately 10 miles away and slept in until about 3:30-4:00 a.m. those mornings. On Saturday and Sunday, because there was no way to walk to the start (in previous years, my husband and I had walked down Bonnet Creek Parkway to the start from our hotel, Port Orleans--French Quarter, sleeping in an extra hour or so), I awoke at about 2:45, showered, breakfasted, and headed over to the lobby of our hotel to board buses to the start. I was kind of irritated that I couldn't walk over as I had in years past, but under the circumstances, I understood. Disney likes to maintain control of situations both for themselves and in case something should happen, for the participants and especially in light of the Boston bombing, the staff was vigilant about checking satchels and trying to limit access to the start. Better safe than sorry.  The logistics of moving thousands of runners and spectators to the start line, etc. is mind boggling to many race organizers, but Disney has proven itself time and again capable of coercing people to stand in lines, pay for and enjoy the experience. Their runs proved the truth of this--while it took me between 45-1 hour each morning to reach the start line, I was able to occupy myself and while, not "enjoying" the experience, it did not drive me to madness. So, if you've never done a Disney run and are staying on property, expect an early morning for the run.

The crowds. These races are crowded. I was in the next to last corral for all the races, so I dodged a lot of walkers and parents with kids during the 5k and the 10k. At first,I started to get irritated, then, I settled down and enjoyed what running in Disney offers--fantastic views without all of the crowds that would be at the parks when they're open and numerous photo ops with characters. One of the reasons these races are so popular is that many of us love Disney and to see the parks up close in a run is truly a dream come true. I worried a little bit about not being allowed to complete my race on Sunday, but I decided to take advantage of what I could, while I could. It was great seeing Wreckit Ralph and Chip 'n Dale and the Army Guys. When I realized I had plenty of time available, I truly stopped my anxiety attack and enjoyed myself. I wasn't out to set any PR's during these races and as it was, I finished the marathon and the half marathon faster than in 2010.

The cost. It was very expensive to run this Challenge--over $500 and I know that it is an indulgence that seems rather extreme. I read some of the complaints of runners that for that amount of money, there should have been space blankets and better food, etc. The space blankets are, for me, an nuisance and a litter problem. The food, though not haute cuisine, has steadily improved I love the box lunches and the fact there was plentiful bananas on the course for the marathon, along with chocolate miniatures at mile 21 was fantastic. I don't know how they could accommodate the huge crowds that come to these races any better. The boxes are an attempt to ensure fairness among the runners.

The swag--for my four races, I received 6 shirts and 6 medals. One shirt and one medal per race plus a medal and shirt for the Goofy Challenge (completing the Half marathon and the Full) and a medal and shirt for the Dopey Challenge (completing all four races.) Five of the shirts were technical shirts from Champion, with a cotton blend tshirt for the 5k. Five of the medals were metal, with the 5k medal being rubber. They are Disney characters, with this years Goofy Challenge medal having a spinning Goofy in the middle of the medal to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the challenge. I really like the medals, in fact, it is the other, major reason why I chose Disney as my Florida marathon.  While other races provide bigger medals and nicer shirts or fleece or other nice apparel--they're not providing Disney characters or the runs through the parks or Disney characters on the finishing medals. It is just one more thing that sucks people in.

After I finished the marathon and had showered and met up with my family, I was talking to my husband about the races. I've decided that I am pretty much done with the Rock 'n Roll series (the other large, national running series)--they, too, are expensive and I don't feel like the experience is as nice as the Disney experience. Disney works to make their parks "The Happiest Place on Earth" and their runs share that ethos. You aren't going to have to worry about angry motorists or courses changing or races being cancelled. You might get swept, but that happens with Rock 'n Roll, too. I guess I felt a more positive vibe from the RunDisney crowd this time than I felt the last time I ran Rock 'n Roll (last March in Washington, DC.)

I'll be writing more about Disney in the next few days--it was hard this time recovering from the races, partly because of the longer days with travel to the parks as well as getting up earlier for the starts, I think. I have run longer distances on consecutive days and could function, but I really was rundown all this week. I am going to be writing on a new training program I am going to try and I also want to write about the new exercise program I have started with my Zumba instructor, Nikki. Carry on.