Dopey Challenge Shoe Strategy

Shoes! When it comes to running shoes, it's hard to say when you have enough. Maybe when you have a full rotation of shoes behind your current rotation of shoes... but no, you really never can have enough. I remember training for my first marathon in the same pair of Brooks Glycerins every single run, including the marathon. Now I have more shoes than I know how to keep track of in Stava.

The running shoe industry is in a fascinating era. Since the running boom during the pandemic, it's been an arms race (or "foot" race) among the major shoe brands. Each company is pushing out their latest midsole foams that give the perfect balance of cushion and responsiveness. When Nike first put out their carbon-plated Vaporfly they began the trend of pairing a super-responsive, bouncy foam with a stabilizing plate to keep runners in control. Now every company has their version of supershoes that combine the latest and greatest midsoles with carbon plates, nylon plates, rods, or stiffer foams. While these shoes won't necessarily make you faster, the combination of responsiveness and geometry typically allow for better running economy for longer. At the other end of the spectrum, shoe companies are also constantly tinkering with max cushion shoes and daily trainers that are lighter, comfier, and suitable for every kind of runner.

All that said, when someone asks "What shoe should I run in for my marathon?" the answer is simply to choose the shoe you can comfortably run 26.2 miles in injury-free. If you're running a goal race, then perhaps you're willing to give up some comfort for the sake of speed. But the Dopey Challenge is different.

If you're running the Dopey Challenge, and especially if you going Ultra Dopey and doing full park days as well, then keeping your legs and feet healthy is paramount. You'll be running 48.6 miles, but you'll also be walking several more miles each day whether you're spending time in the parks or not. While I don't recommend anyone try to blaze for a PR during the Dopey, you'll want to strategize your shoe rotation to make your races a little easier. You can certainly complete the Dopey Challenge in any shoe (or even barefoot if you're a masochist), but a solid rotation can make your Disney runcation all the better.

Nothing new on race day - that goes double for shoes

Everyone knows this advice, but not everyone follows it. Make sure you've put some good mileage on your shoes before racing in them. A good rule of thumb is to get at least one 20ish-mile run in your marathon shoes before running your marathon in them. You don't want to make it deep into your marathon before realizing those top-of-the-line plated shoes really don't work for your feet. If somehow your luggage get lost on the way to Orlando then you'll have to make-do (I always pack my marathon shoes in my carry-on for this reason). With Brooks now putting out runDisney-themed shoes for each race weekend it may be tempting to buy a pair and wear right away, especially if they're a model you're used to wearing (2025 Springtime Surprise were Ghost Max and Andreline 23). This might fly for the 5k, but anything longer and I'm going with what I know will work.

I recommend rotating between two pairs of shoes - a cushioned trainer and your intended marathon shoes

There's a theory that you have to rotate running shoes to allow the foam to "recover". While there are no studies to substantiate this, I'd still recommend alternating shoes for Dopey. How you rotate them will depend on your overall strategy. Personally I like to wear a softer, more cushioned shoe for my easier 5k and half marathon races, while swapping in my more aggressive plated marathon shoe for my faster 10k and the marathon. Weather events like rain or really humid days could alter your plans, or you could decide to go full-send on every race (would not recommend - we can't all be Brittany Charboneau). In any event I would make sure your marathon shoes and fresh and dry when you need them.

You will probably want another pair of shoes for walking the parks

Obviously you are welcome to wear your non-marathon shoes around the parks, or even a pair of Crocs or similar recovery-type sandals. I would steer clear of flip flops or backless sandals as your foot usually takes on different mechanics walking in these types of footwear than in regular shoes. So if you're keeping track, I'm recommending bringing at least three pairs of shoes for your Dopey trip. Preferably your "park" shoes are a retired or semi-retired pair of running shoes to keep you feeling comfortable during your trip.

Pay attention to your socks as well - even on park days

It goes without saying you should bring decent socks for each run. I wish I could say I've followed that advice with park days. During my 2025 Dopey I spent a day in Animal Kingdom after the half marathon in a pair of socks that had worn through a bit on the bottom (to be fair, they were my "Mine Mine Mine" seagulls-from-Finding Nemo socks). As the day wore on so did the ball of my foot where the socks were worn down. I had to throw a blister bandaid on for the marathon and thankfully didn't have any issues, but it's a mistake I won't make again.