Dopey Challenge - The Fairest Run Of All

In When Jenn LIKES Doing “Just” The WDW Marathon

February 10, 2020August 18, 2021Leave a comment

Just the 2018 WDW Marathon was my favorite race so far! A couple days after the Walt Disney World Marathon, half the people you encounter in Orlando International Airport ran the race. We’re all decked out in our gear, a lot of have on our medals, and we’re all dying to talk about it; it’s one of the only times I ever cheerfully talk to strangers. So there I am, chatting with a nice family from Houston as I wait outside my gate with my subpar airport wrap. Seeing my medal, they congratulate me on completing the Goofy Challenge....

In Which Jenn Isn’t Too Sure About These Race Challenges

January 8, 2019August 19, 20212 Comments

I have made it through two runDisney challenges now: the Dopey Challenge in 2015 (5K + 10K + half + full marathon) and Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge just this past November. Running Disney is my very favorite thing to do, and I adore every race. Which is why I don’t know if I can ever do another challenge again. It’s just too stressful, guys. I’ve talked before about my pathological fear of sleeping through the race, and how I’ve had near panic attacks while trying to fall asleep. I set 4 phone alarms. I program in a wakeup call. Once I accidentally called emergency services while attempting to...

In Which Jenn Is Not Dopey

August 17, 2016September 2, 20212 Comments

For the third year in a row, I am signed up for the WDW Marathon. Hooray! But you may have noticed, for the second year in a row, I am NOT signed up for Dopey. Don’t get me wrong – when I knocked out the Dopey Challenge in 2015, I LOVED it. I was SO happy: running four races, finishing my second marathon, being in Walt Disney World for a full week with my boyfriend. It was AWESOME. About as awesome as it gets. I would kill to do it again. I’d even do that exact week over again if...

In Which Jenn Finally Stops Resenting That Dopey Guy

May 16, 2016August 10, 2021Leave a comment

During my last WDW Marathon weekend, I overheard some people on the Expo bus talking about their preferred approach to the final few miles of the race. Mainly they attempted to make several pit stops in the World Showcase for food and drinks, especially for soft pretzels in Germany and beer in the UK. This, of course, is the sort of opportunity that makes runDisney races amazing and unique. I wholeheartedly endorse anyone and everyone who takes this laid-back and delicious approach to the end of the race. I may even chill out and join you some day. But...

In Which Jenn Is A Meshuganah & More

April 12, 2016August 10, 20213 Comments

Running can come with commentary. “Sometimes I think this is very impressive. Sometimes I think you might be a bit of a meshugana.” – coworker looking at my cube wall of bibs and medals “Maybe you’re running to much. Maybe you should cut back a little.” – my mom, who thinks I could stand to scale back a bit on the mileage “Oh, you ran a half marathon in XX time yesterday? I’d still be running.” – this is a surprisingly popular reaction “You ran a marathon yesterday and you didn’t even tell anyone? I would’ve told everyone. I told...

In Which Jenn Discusses Dopey Takeaways

March 24, 2015August 11, 2021Leave a comment

And now here we are, at the finish line, as it were. My final Dopey trip post. Only took me two and half months to get there! Not that there is, sadly, much more to say on the subject, but I did want to do a quick rundown of my takeaways from the whole Dopey Challenge experience. For those who are new to the runDisney table, the Dopey Challenge is a part of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend where you do ALL the races. The 5K. The 10K. The half. The full. One a day, one right after...

The Fairest Trip Report Of All: The WDW Marathon

January 29, 2015August 12, 20212 Comments

Is it trip report time again already? Yay! I’ll be looking back at my Dopey trip at the beginning of January, with special separate posts for each race and some food experiences depending on how much I have to say about them. You can read all the posts in this particular trip report here. Ready? Let’s go! Believe it or not, my morale the morning of the marathon was infinitely higher than before the half marathon. The great sage Nicole had told me many months ago that once the marathon rolled around, you were just ready to finish this...

The Fairest Trip Report Of All: The WDW Half Marathon

January 26, 2015August 12, 20214 Comments

Is it trip report time again already? Yay! I’ll be looking back at my Dopey trip at the beginning of January, with special separate posts for each race and some food experiences depending on how much I have to say about them. You can read all the posts in this particular trip report here. Ready? Let’s go! I’m not gonna lie, guys – throughout the entire Dopey Challenge, my morale was never lower than right before the half marathon. Prior to the 5K and 10K, I could think to myself, “Well, at least this will be over quickly.” A little...

The Fairest Trip Report Of All: The WDW 10K

January 22, 2015August 12, 20214 Comments

Is it trip report time again already? Yay! I’ll be looking back at my Dopey trip at the beginning of January, with special separate posts for each race and some food experiences depending on how much I have to say about them. You can read all the posts in this particular trip report here. Ready? Let’s go! The weather predictions for the 10K weren’t nearly as horrendous as the 5K the day before, but the early morning was still far from balmy. I scrapped all my earlier clothing plans in favor of putting my long-sleeved shirt on again (don’t worry,...

The Fairest Trip Report Of All: The WDW 5K

January 20, 2015August 12, 20213 Comments

Is it trip report time again already? Yay! I’ll be looking back at my Dopey trip at the beginning of January, with special separate posts for each race and some food experiences depending on how much I have to say about them. You can read all the posts in this particular trip report here. Ready? Let’s go! While packing for this particular trip, I kept a close eye on the weather reports. I noticed that the day of the 5K was predicted to boast highs no higher than the upper 50s. Hmmm, I thought, and I tweeted to my...