I ran the 48.6 Mile Dopey Challenge at Disney World Marathon Weekend – Here’s What It Was Like

For fitness enthusiasts and Disney fans, runDisney race weekends at Walt Disney World are essential experiences that are unlike any other running event. Disney World has four running events each year, including the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend which occurs in early January.

Marathon weekend consists of four races: 5K on Thursday, 10K on Friday, half marathon on Saturday, and full marathon on Sunday. The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend also offers athletes two different challenges. The Goofy Challenge consists of running both the half marathon and full marathon, and the Dopey Challenge challenges runners to complete all four events, totaling 48.6 miles.

I took on the Dopey challenge this year, and below I will discuss the details of each running event, and overall thoughts on the weekend.

Training for the Dopey Challenge

Running 48.6 miles over four consecutive days may seem daunting, however, with proper training and preparation, it is an amazing experience you'll never forget. Although I've been a runner for almost ten years, I knew preparing for the Dopey challenge would be a different experience than any other training cycle. I was lucky enough to train and race the Dopey challenge with a friend, and we closely followed Jeff Galloway's 29 week Dopey training program. Jeff Galloway is a former Olympian and official trainer for runDisney. I highly recommend Galloway's training plan for any race you are training for, especially if you are new to running. In my experience, his plans not only fully prepare runners for race day, but also aren't too extreme which helps avoid burnout and injury.

In addition to simply completing training miles to prepare for Dopey, there are several other things to consider:

• Fuel and Hydration:  I purchased my first-ever hydration vest during Dopey training, and I don't think I could've completed my long runs without it. I also purchased smaller water bottles for the vest that were filled with electrolytes (such as Liquid IV, Nuun, or Gatorade). I also used the pockets in the hydration vest to fill with fuel, BioFreeze, salt tabs, and Tylenol. My fuel mainly consisted of GU gel packets, saltine crackers, and Clif bars, however, it really depends on the person and their preference on how they fuel. Do not wait until race day to find out which fuel you prefer, as it may cause stomach or other issues that could ruin the experience.
• Shoes and Clothing: Proper shoes are a given when it comes to running, especially the Dopey challenge. Also, if you plan to run Dopey, bring multiple pairs of running shoes. It rained during the half and full marathon this year, despite the forecast being a 0% chance of rain for the full marathon. It also prevents wear and tear on your feet if you wear at least two different pairs of shoes throughout the race weekend. Additionally, try to do at least a few training runs wearing the socks and clothes you intend on wearing for the race. This will prevent any chafing or discomfort on race day.
• Sleep schedule: Most people say the worst part about runDisney races is the wake up call. Every runDisney race starts at 5AM, and it's recommended to arrive at least one hour early in order to have time to walk to the start area. Therefore, we usually started our training runs early in the morning to prepare for running at this hour on race weekend.
• Recovery: Throughout your training cycle as well as during race weekend, recovery is extremely important. Foam rolling, stretching, leisurely walks, and ice baths are recommended for each race. This will prevent injury and prepare you for the next race.

Disney World Marathon Weekend – Race Expo

Marathon weekend kicks off with the Race Expo which takes place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex between Wednesday and Saturday. Runners will pick up their bibs, meet and take photos with characters, and shop for merchandise. The expo is very large, so be prepared to be on your feet for a few hours in order to experience all it has to offer. Although they moved quickly, there were also large lines to enter each area of the expo which took additional time.

There are three main areas of the expo: the runDisney merchandise area, bib and race shirt pickup, and the general race expo. The first day of the expo is the busiest, and we had to use Disney's virtual queue system to enter the runDisney merchandise area.

The official merchandise area had a wide variety of runDisney shirts, pins, jackets, and more. There was also additional merchandise specific to each race event and challenge. The only downside to the merchandise this year was the lack of coveted Dopey Challenge jackets. When we entered the expo, most of the Dopey jackets were already gone and were never restocked.

After we made our purchases, we headed to the expo to pick up our bibs and race shirts. Again, there was a fairly long line to enter the bib and race shirt pickup area. However, once inside it was an easy process to pickup our bibs.

Lastly, we headed to the general race expo which was filled with dozens of vendors. The race expo also had various snack and drink booths, including their Raceday Ale for purchase in souvenir runDisney cups.

Disney World Marathon Weekend – Race Day Transportation

Disney World provides free transportation to the start line for runners staying at Disney World resorts. Since I stayed at the Polynesian Resort, I took advantage of the transportation each day and it ran very smoothly. There are informational signs throughout each resort detailing the transportation schedule to and from the races each day. Runners are also able to drive themselves and park at EPCOT, however, you must arrive early enough to avoid traffic in the parking lot.

Every start and finish line is located on the far side of the EPCOT parking lot. Therefore, once you park or are dropped off by Disney's transportation, be prepared to go through security and walk another half mile. There were never any backups within the security line, however, it was about a 15 minute walk to the starting area.

There are several sections of the starting area including the main stage with a DJ, gear check, medical, and plenty of restrooms. If you arrive early you can also take photos with characters or grab a coffee or pretzel from the food trucks. I always like to arrive as early as possible to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of the crowds before each race. The DJ announcers will let you know when you can head to your assigned corral and wait for the race to begin.

Thursday – 5K

The 5K was filled with excitement and anticipation of the first race and the start of the Dopey challenge. My friend and I walked this race to avoid burning out too quickly before the longer races. We met the ugly duckling before the start of the race and enjoyed the overall atmosphere.

The race course started in the backstage area of EPCOT and led into the World Showcase. There were several other character stops along the way, however the lines were very long. The 5K race is not timed, and therefore many participants in this race take their time to enjoy the course.

Friday – 10K

Friday's 10K race was a beautiful course that primarily weaved through the BoardWalk and EPCOT. The first three miles took place on Disney World's main roadways which are relatively boring but served as a good warm up before heading to the BoardWalk. The sun was just starting to come up as we headed into the World Showcase, and it was a very special and unique way of seeing the park.

Saturday – Half Marathon (Modified to 7.1 Miles)

On Friday evening, Disney announced the half marathon course would be shortened from 13.1 miles to 7.1 due to forecasted weather. Although we were extremely disappointed by this news, we understood the need to prioritize everyone's safety. Although we did complete the remaining six miles on our own, this race felt somewhat incomplete. Additionally, some runners were not able to finish the 7.1 miles as the rain started earlier than expected. Around mile 5, race personnel started sweeping runners at the back of the pack to avoid the storms.

Despite the modification, we tried to enjoy the race as much as possible. We met one of my favorite characters, Marie from Aristocats, and made the best out of an unfortunate situation that was beyond Disney's control.

Sunday – Full Marathon

Despite Saturday's disappointment, we were ready and excited to finish the Dopey Challenge with Sunday's full marathon! The full marathon course goes through so many areas of Disney World, including all four theme parks. Although a lot of the course runs through Disney World's backroads, there is plenty of entertainment on course. This included characters, choirs, marching bands, spectators, and cast members cheering on the runners.

The course starts off with a partial loop around EPCOT, and then enters Magic Kingdom around mile 7. Unfortunately, the rain came back shortly before we got into Magic Kingdom despite the forecast which predicted a 0% chance of rain. Thankfully it stopped after about 30 minutes, but unfortunately, we did not have a change of clothes or shoes. After a short break and quick pep talk, we proceeded into the Magic Kingdom, which was a cool experience to run through the park in the rain.

After Magic Kingdom, runners take back roads into Animal Kingdom around mile 14. Animal Kingdom was a fun park to run through as guests were starting to enter the park at this point so we had more spectators. We also took photos with goats, and had the option to ride Expedition Everest (we refrained, but many runners took advantage!).

The stretch between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios is arguably the hardest part of the race. This occurs between miles 19 and 23, which are already very difficult miles during a full marathon. Additionally, the race course during these miles is extremely boring stretches of back roads as well as a random loop in the parking lot of Blizzard Beach.

However, once you enter Hollywood Studios around mile 23, the rest of the race is pretty incredible. There are so many spectators and park guests watching and cheering on the runners, and it truly is an indescribable feeling. When we entered EPCOT's World Showcase at mile 25, we both grabbed a drink for the finish line and celebrated being Dopey Challenge finishers.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the Disney World Marathon weekend and Dopey Challenge. It was such a well orchestrated event, especially due to the amazing cast members and volunteers at the expo and on course. There were frequent food, water, and medical aid stations throughout the courses which alleviated a lot of stress. I personally used each water station and several medical tents for extra Tylenol and BioFreeze which was incredibly helpful during the marathon.

Additionally, the runners were extremely friendly and had a great attitude each day. Despite waking up at 1:30 AM every day to run, everyone was excited to be there and had fun running through the Disney World parks in a different way.

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