Tips for Your First Dopey Challenge

The first time I even heard about the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, I remember thinking it was a crazy thing to even consider. What would possess someone to run a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon for four days in a row? This was long before I ran my first Disney Marathon, when it quickly became evident that I was only running the marathon amidst a sea of Dopeys. Even though that first Disney Marathon nearly broke me, I was still hooked and came back the next year ready to tackle the Dopey Challenge.

By the time I got to the start line of my first Dopey Challenge, I had a few marathons under my belt and went in well trained for the distance. However, there were still aspects of the weekend I underestimated while I attempted to tackle the Dopey Challenge with a full Walt Disney World vacation. Like any endurance event, the Dopey Challenge is very much a physical and mental challenge. Above all else - make sure you've trained to at least run a marathon if you're tackling the Dopey Challenge. If you've completed a marathon training block, then you should be in good enough shape to finish Dopey. Going into the weekend well-trained is a great, but a lot can happen in the course of four straight days of running and parks. Here are my top tips for completing a successful Dopey Challenge.

Don't neglect your Disney World vacation and/or family time

The first thing I tell anyone looking to complete their first Dopey Challenge is to make sure they enjoy their Disney World vacation. Even though your main focus may be completing the endurance running event, you're still at Disney World. If you are a frequent Disney World visitor (read: several times each year), then I would totally get going solo and prioritizing the races more than anything else. But for me it isn't Disney World unless you're there with family. You can truly never get time back with your kids, and you should definitely be with your family in the parks. The instinct will be for you to want to rest and take naps and spend your non-racing time off your feet. But I think the opposite is true - moving around and trying to maintain normal waking hours (minus waking at 2:30am) will keep you in better shape to finish the weekend. One caveat: recognize if/when you're hitting your "wall" - if you feel like you're getting tired and cranky by mid- to late-afternoon, you're probably better off heading to the resort or just finding a quiet spot to rest a bit. Finish off your day refreshed and ready to watch a nighttime show with your loved ones.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

This seems like an obvious one, but if you're running early in the morning and spending all day in the parks then it's easy to let hydration get away from you. I'm big on coffee to get me through the days, but between the long days and constant moving you need to have a plan to keep water and electrolytes flowing. For whatever reason I always hit a point in the afternoon after the 5k (literally after none of the other races) where I hit a wall and need to rest. The solution is typically a water with a Nuun tablet and I'm back on my feet. Keep a water bottle on hand throughout the day with the occasional electrolyte supplement and you should be good to go.

Bring your own breakfast and racing fuel

This is advice partially for familiarity and partially for saving money. The Disney World resorts will be closed in the mornings before race days, but they do all typically offer a runner box for purchase the night before that consists of a bagel, banana, peanut butter, and water bottle. These are all easy items to bring from home or order via grocery delivery for less money. Disney World resort rooms also include coffee/hot water makers as well, so it's easy to make instant oatmeal and coffee as well. If there's a particular item you like to have before a race, it's better to bring it yourself. Same goes for fuels for the half marathon and marathon. Don't rely on the meager Sport Beans runDisney typically provides. Whatever fuel you train with should be packed for your Dopey Challenge trip.

Shoes for the park days are just as important as shoes for the races

I learned this lesson during my first Dopey Challenge, as I figured I would be fine with my flatter, less-cushioned Adidas sneakers for my park days. By the half marathon day my feet were starting to get sore and swollen with the sudden change in footwear. I switched up to wearing my Brooks Glycerin 20's (which I wore for my 5k and half marathon) and was thankful for the extra cushion. As with any park day, be mindful of your shoes. Also socks! Make sure you are wearing comfortable socks to prevent any blisters during running or park walking.

Throw away the notion of anticipated finish time for your marathon

As I mentioned earlier, there's a lot that can happen over the course of four straight days of the Dopey Challenge. Making plans for breakfast reservations or rope dropping on marathon day is an easy way to get frustrated when you start to feel the accumulation of miles and long days on your feet. During my first Dopey Challenge I was sure I could finish the marathon in about four hours and meet my family back in Epcot for Early Entry. After the half marathon, though, I was wearing down and knew a 4-hour marathon was a long shot. I told my family to push on without me and I'd meet them when I finished. (As it happened, I caught them entering Epcot just as I crossed over from the Boardwalk for my last couple miles so it worked out okay). Pulling back my expectations let me take my time and enjoy the course without any self-imposed pressure.

Finally, have fun and enjoy the runs!

The Dopey Challenge can seem intimidating and daunting, but at the end of the day you get to run through Disney World with lots of character interactions, music, and good vibes from the runners and volunteers alike. Keep your head up and take in your surroundings while you get to see the parks from a whole new angle. Again, with a good training block you've already put in the work. Take advantage of everything runDisney has to offer and enjoy the ride.