Marathon Weekend 2023

[Barca33Runner]

Wait...you can take a break from the marathon to get on a ride??

Depending on if the park is open when you pass through (I.e. we all pass through MK before it is open so there is nothing to ride; but a lot of the field passes through AK when it is open so riding EE is quite common). If the ride is also open you are free to get in line and ride. The race doesn’t wait for you though so if you don’t have time to do it and stay in front of the balloon ladies, it wouldn’t be recommended.

 

[Livelovedance]

SAFD: I'm in for my first Dopey. This was a long term stretch goal of mine, so I can't believe it's actually happening, and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to do it.

My goals:
- Complete the training
- Finish all 4 races feeling good
- Plan and execute 4 race outfits/costumes in advance that I'm happy with
- Stop for character photos I'm interested in, even if the lines are long
- Get enough rest each day so I can enjoy the entire process
- Allow myself to purchase something special to commemorate my first Dopey Challenge*
- Make time for great medal photos before flying home Sunday

*I always said if I ever ran the Dopey Challenge I'd purchase the huge Lasting Commemoratives framed castle that holds all 6 medals, your bib #, and a photo. Unfortunately that's no longer an option, but maybe I can get a special drawing from Art of Disney or another framed option at the expo.

 

[jpeterson]

SAFD: I'm in for my first Dopey. This was a long term stretch goal of mine, so I can't believe it's actually happening, and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to do it.

My goals:
- Complete the training
- Finish all 4 races feeling good
- Plan and execute 4 race outfits/costumes in advance that I'm happy with
- Stop for character photos I'm interested in, even if the lines are long
- Get enough rest each day so I can enjoy the entire process
- Allow myself to purchase something special to commemorate my first Dopey Challenge*
- Make time for great medal photos before flying home Sunday

*I always said if I ever ran the Dopey Challenge I'd purchase the huge Lasting Commemoratives framed castle that holds all 6 medals, your bib #, and a photo. Unfortunately that's no longer an option, but maybe I can get a special drawing from Art of Disney or another framed option at the expo.

There are often vendors at the expo with frames to display your medals. Might be worth checking out. I plan on getting something from Etsy to display mine. *fingers crossed*

 

[bryana]

SAFD: my first Dopey! Honestly, my main goal is the same as every rD event: have fun. I’ve never cared to set time goals for rD events so I’m not going to for this either. I just want to finish standing up (with a Margarita in my hand, preferably) lol. I’m going to take the 5K and 10K super easy so I think I’ll probably stop for all of the pictures, even if I don’t care for whatever characters are out, lol. Figure it’ll help slow me down.

I also really like all of the posts that include completing training as a goal. That’s a good one and while it’s on my “list” of goals, I wouldn’t have considered including it in my post.

 

[NYC_MW]

SAFD: Lucky enough to snag a Dopey registration. Goals are:
-finish all four races with a smile
-figure out some good, recognizable costumes
-either jump on a ride or finish with a drink at the marathon (i always hear about this and it sounds so cool)
-get to meet some of you all at the meetups

 

[RuntheMouse]

SAFD: I’m in for my first Dopey and I wrangled my DH into it too. My goals are:
1. Have the BEST time ever.
2. Have the discipline to go easy the first 3 races so I am strong for the marathon.
3. Get DH a beer in EPCOT to thank him for coming along for the ride.

 

[Ariel484]

SAFD

- Stick to the training plan as well as possible to arrive at the starting line as prepared, confident and healthy as possible. This is something I’ve been good at in the past, but I have a toddler now…training for a marathon with a kid at home seems like a whole new ballgame

- Related to the above: leave the mom guilt at home when I’m at WDW without my husband (who is super supportive and excited for me train for this and to go on the trip) and kid (who would probably be less supportive and excited if he knew where I was really going that weekend!)

- enjoy the marathon. I was in pain at points during my last one and thought I’d need to drop out: I don’t want to feel that way at all this time!

 

[The Expert]

Wait...you can take a break from the marathon to get on a ride??

May I present my all-time-favorite Garmin track. Everest during the 2020 marathon! I so hope my time lines up to ride it this year now that it's back open.

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: I'm in for my first Dopey. This was a long term stretch goal of mine, so I can't believe it's actually happening, and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to do it.

- Allow myself to purchase something special to commemorate my first Dopey Challenge*


*I always said if I ever ran the Dopey Challenge I'd purchase the huge Lasting Commemoratives framed castle that holds all 6 medals, your bib #, and a photo. Unfortunately that's no longer an option, but maybe I can get a special drawing from Art of Disney or another framed option at the expo.

We have gotten a sketch from every trip we've taken to WDW, so I have some tips on this for anyone who is not familiar with them.

Go to Art of Disney EARLY. Like on your first or 2nd day. Look at all of the "in-stock" pictures because different artists definitely have different styles. (Monica Willis is my absolute favorite because she uses a lot more "force" on her colors so they pop a lot more instead of just light shading with the particular color.) They have a big 3 or 4in binder of ALLLLLLLL of the drawings they can do AND there are special "race weekend" drawings they can do as well (I'll come back and add my Goofy pic that is not in the regular fab-5 section as an example) on a page or 2 toward either the very front or very back of the binder. There are a TON of options for framing. I haven't done the big race-medal thing (yet) but we did get some framed sketches there in the past.

You can buy the in-stock sketches if you like one OR you can get a custom sketch done (you pick out the particular sketch, the colors, if you want it personalized, etc.) Art of Animation resort also usually has some sketches in their shop area since they have an artist working there daily. During MW weekend this year they shipped our drawings to us when they were complete since there is such an enormous demand for them.

Sketches fit into an 11x14 frame when they are on their own.

Customized goofy (race weekend specific sketch and I requested the race weekend title and year)



As opposed to an in-stock sketch

 

[fatmanatee]

Wait...you can take a break from the marathon to get on a ride??

Everest seems to be by far the most popular to do this for, since it’s close to the course and has been quick on, quick off. I’ve seen chatter about people going on ToT or Aerosmith but both of those are higher risk due to the amount of time it takes to get through it and honestly i can’t imagine doing either since they’re at the tail end of the race. The last thing I want to do at mile 23 is sit down, I have no confidence in being able to get up again.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of people doing epcot rides during the race, but i have heard of people getting epcot beers.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: Got in for my second Dopey!

My goals:
- Stick to the training and start the weekend uninjured.
- Finish all 4 races feeling good.
- Four epic race costumes that get me on at least one rD social media posting or gallery.
- Take advantage of the placement that comes from my upgraded Club rD and get as many character photos as possible.
- Ride Everest during the Full.
- Join all the pre-race meetups, HH and DATW!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

SAFD: This will be my very first 5K, at 55 years old Pluto is my favorite character and my DD is running the 5K and her first half, so I decided to run the 5K. I am not a runner or even an athlete of any kind, so I'm not sure what I was thinking!

My goals:
Train to be faster than the 16 minute/mile Disney sweep pace, even though I know the 5K isn't timed and people aren't usually swept.
Not hurt myself
Finish and not be last
Support my DD and enjoy every moment with a 19 year old who generally enjoys hanging out with me
See Pluto

 

[jpeterson]

Everest seems to be by far the most popular to do this for, since it’s close to the course and has been quick on, quick off. I’ve seen chatter about people going on ToT or Aerosmith but both of those are higher risk due to the amount of time it takes to get through it and honestly i can’t imagine doing either since they’re at the tail end of the race. The last thing I want to do at mile 23 is sit down, I have no confidence in being able to get up again.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of people doing epcot rides during the race, but i have heard of people getting epcot beers.

During the half marathon last year I rode in the first car at Test Track with a runner doing the half. Probably because Everest was down. But at least last year they were doing Epcot rides!

 

[cdlafl]

*I always said if I ever ran the Dopey Challenge I'd purchase the huge Lasting Commemoratives framed castle that holds all 6 medals, your bib #, and a photo. Unfortunately that's no longer an option, but maybe I can get a special drawing from Art of Disney or another framed option at the expo.

There are often vendors at the expo with frames to display your medals. Might be worth checking out. I plan on getting something from Etsy to display mine. *fingers crossed*

For 2020 Dopey, I purchased a custom chalkboard bib and medal hanger from York Sign Shop on Etsy. They provisioned a slot to write in times for the 5k, 10k, Half, and Full.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: I’m only in for the half this year, which is strange, as I’ve never been down for MW without signing up for more. I did the marathon in 2016, 2019, and 2020. Last year, DH and I signed up for Goofy, but it didn’t work out on Sunday, and I had my first ever DNF. He’s in for Goofy again, but I decided I’m not. Our DS24 agreed to do his first marathon, so DH and I will run the half together, and DH and DS will run the full.
My goals:
—Have fun, and finish feeling good
—Come up with a costume that I’m happy with, and finish making it well ahead of race weekend
—Make it to the meetup at HH. We finally got to one at PW this year, and it was so much fun! The timing on MW has never worked out, but we’ll make it work this time.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I’m not participating MW (I can’t with work so I didn’t even try to register). My goals are more for Princess. My cousin and I want to do it thru a charity, and I’m hoping to sign up for the 5k and 10k. My goal is to continue to get stronger as I work more with a running and strength coach, get faster, and have fun. I live northwest of Denver and I like to push the speed whenever I’m at sea level. Local races are fine but nothing compares to the big races.

 

[GreatLakes]

SAFD: I am not running MW in 2023 because I'm hoping my time at MW 2022 will get me into Boston. My only goal between now and then, assuming I do get in, is to run a sub 40:00 10k and sub 1:30 HM at W&D this fall and then manage to train through winter for my first ever spring marathon in Boston. I don't care about running another BQ there since Boston will be a one and done for me. If my time isn't fast enough to get me in I'm not sure what 2023 will look like. I have a big project that will be finishing up at the end of 2023 so running another full aiming for a faster BQ is likely not in the cards so I'll need to decide if I want to train in the winter for another shot at a BQ. I'm really hoping I don't have to make that decision.

 

[sandam1]

SAFD - To toe the line for Dopey healthy and well-trained/prepared. If it still doesn't happen, for whatever reason, I will be okay with it. No "what ifs" this time.

 

[accm]

SAFD: I got into Dopey for MW, and my goals are to finish all the races injury free, and feel good enough to be able to enjoy the parks afterwards. Oh, and PR the marathon (which shouldn’t be hard considering it’ll be my first marathon)

 

[Barca33Runner]

Everest seems to be by far the most popular to do this for, since it’s close to the course and has been quick on, quick off. I’ve seen chatter about people going on ToT or Aerosmith but both of those are higher risk due to the amount of time it takes to get through it and honestly i can’t imagine doing either since they’re at the tail end of the race. The last thing I want to do at mile 23 is sit down, I have no confidence in being able to get up again.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of people doing epcot rides during the race, but i have heard of people getting epcot beers.

I know some here have done ToT and RnRC during the Marathon in the past. With how Disney is jam-packing people into HS, Genie+ is cramming the queues and increasing the wait times I’m not sure how possible it will be to do so in the future. There are definitely those who can make it there quickly enough to absorb a 30+ minute wait for one or both; I’m just not sure how appealing that would be. I’ve heard stories of runners being shown kindness by others in the queue and given the chance to bypass some or all of the wait, but I don’t think that should be expected.