Disney Running adds Dopey Challenge

Funny this came up today.  I will be turning 50 next year (2014) and was thinking of something big to do.  Even though my birthday is in September, I was seriously considering the Goofy in 2015.  This adds a definite plus.  So would it be a 5K Thursday, 10k Friday, half Saturday and full Sunday?

You may have some company Andy!

Having done the unofficial Dopey 2 years in a row, (5k on Friday followed by the Goofy) getting up that early is a pain.  Just kind of ruins the rest of the trip.  That is the downside to this, since you are racing every day you really don't enjoy the parks like you could.

Nice way for Disney to get more hotel nights.  You'd need to be there on Wednesday and stay 5 nights.  I don't even want to try and figure out the cost per mile

enjoy,

Duane

Yeah, don't add it up. It's crazy.

Just doing my first half, I had trouble enjoying the parks for two days. But it was my first big race. I'll go into this one well-trained, not doubting the ability to finish. The early rising is a bit annoying as you say. Maybe we'll do afternoon naps with night shows, dinners. We have friends to stay with in Orlando, so maybe skipping a day at the park would work anyway. The nice thing about staying on property for races is the shuttle system. We have so much to consider.

The first time (2012) my wife and I did the half, the kids did the kids races. 200m dash and Mickey Mile respectively. This time they'll be doing the family 5k (at $60 a head) and my daughter may even want to do the 10k by then. (She'll be 11.) i think a Minnie medal will be attractive.to her. My wife has no interest in Goofy or Dopey, so logistics with the kids won't be too hard. My parents will likely be there as well.

Ironman will either wait until after 2015 or at least definitely end up being a non-WTC brand. Either chesapeakeman or B2B.

And as if this wasn't enough, BTW, there was mention somewhere, not sure if it was an official source, hat they are going to do a half-marathon at EuroDisney, half in the park half in the French countryside. So, the next logical step is the go beyond the coast-to-coast medal and introduce the intercontinental medal.

meanwhile, top ultra trail runners still sleep in a van, run in worn out shoes, and run 100 miles with no fireworks or lines for signatures with anthropomorphic giant rodents or waterfowl.

For me it would be saying "screw you 50".  Sure the mornings will be early, but Thursday and Friday could still get some good park time with a break for a nap somewhere.  Not a night owl anyway.   Friday night early to bed.  Saturday after the half nice relaxing pool day.  Sunday same and Monday and Tuesday at the parks.  They rent wheelchairs right??

Thinking about 2 friends of mine who just did a 50 miler in the freezing rain and snow, I think it is more than doable.  Will it be $$$?  Yes, but you only go around once!

For at least one of the shorter races, look for my backpack of balloon Buzz Lightyear wings. I have two years to come up with at least one other costume I can make. I like backpack based balloon stuff, you dn't notice it running as much, but the hat thing, that's a 5k limit. I am on a FB group of disney running addicts where one person is already talking about packing hour costumes for this thing.

They made it easy with this one.  You just sign up for the Dopey Challenge, not 4 seperate races.

Registration opens April 9th.

You know, I only find that to really be the case for the 5k, 10K and half.  The kids races are a real value and the marathon isn't that overpriced either.  The fact that the half and full and I think 10K now too are the same price is just ridiculous.  BUT, to some, the 10K is their "marathon".

It's amusement parks, they are all tourist traps...thats what they do, attract tourists.  As far as expensive, Disney isn't any more expensive than cruises.  You might not like that style and may prefer single destinations, off the radar exploring and less "structure", but it isn't really that expensive. My wife, daughter and I just went for 9 days, deluxe resort, all food, spending money, alcohol, gratuities and airfare was right around $4,300.

It's extremely absurd.  The entire area is set up for the half and full marathons anyway, so they are not setting up just for those shorter races.  And other than the excitement of racing through Disney, you don't get much of anything.  Their shorter races are just insanely priced.

I like the analysis that the kids runs and the marathon are decent value. It's the middle stuff that is ridiculous. But I'm saying anything groundbreaking by oticing that the running events boom is really based on venue and overall experience much more than courses, or something a serious runner thinks of in terms of racing.

as for a 10k being someone's marathon, you got that right. A friend of mine did her first 5k in Disney. Pretty far way to go for a 5k, but I had tons of nearby half-marathons to pick from near me too. For us both it was all about the family experience.

Disney running is a whole other dimension. The medal collecting, the costumes, it's all on a level way beyond anything else. We were so psyched to watch our kids do the runs, even if Jack's was just a 200m dash. Next time we get to run the 5k as a family. We've done other 5ks together, and have more to come, but being able to do that and then do Jedi training again the same week, meet the REAL Buzzlight yearmand eat with the princesses wearing all our medals, it's a big deal for us. Is it worth another $240 on our trip to do that? Good question. If it were a local 5k, probably not unless the fundraiser aspect was strong. But put into the economy of a theme park vacation, it is almost normalized.

As I type this, I wonder if the avergae Disney runner is a lot ike me in this way: they are a late-starter for whom running is part of a major life change, and they want to be healthier for their family. Sharing that emotional connection in the Magic Kingdom, it just all fits together. RunDisney people really know what they're doing in producing these events and finding a growing market.

Actual I used to complain about the half, full and Goofy prices until I started doing tri's

I did the Inaugural in 2006, and also made it a Dopey Challenge as well. I like the idea they are doing an official Dopey, I might have to do it, to say I've done both. 

It's Disney. Their stuff is always expensive. I think they could/should have done the 5k & 10k on the same day. One in the morning, one in the afternoon. However, that's one less day in hotels and the parks for them to get your money. 

I'm not a fan of these big road races anymore, but I'm going to have to give it some serious thought.

You will never see an afternoon race. They only do them before the parks open for the day. (or with the rare night races, after they close.) Hat's why yu have to get up before 3am to get on a shuttle bus to do a half marathon a few miles from your hotel. Get it over before the other guests come into the park. The nice thing about the kids races is the venue where they can be done at a reasonable hour.

$495 entry fee.  I'm thinking of still doing it but just in my backyard, still training for it and all that.  That's quite the entry fee and I just can't justify it.  Plus the airfare from Vegas, hotel, etc ....

I'm thinking of doing it the same weekend and everything, self-supported.  Same distances on the same days.

If you are still wearing your triathlon finisher's medal when you get to your car to drive home, you get eye rolls and the tri-hipster mafia will make fun of you. (i exaggerate only slightly.)

But if you do a Disney running event, you get to wear your medal(s) in the park for days, and all the way through your flight home.

Edited by TheClaaaw 2013-03-26 6:06 AM

I did my first goofy this year and had a blast, was planning on doing it again in 2015 for the 10 year aniversary.. But now they go an do something like this which makes me want to do it in 2014!

Did the un-official Dopey this year and had an absolute blast.  Yes you get up too early and it is way expensive (hello?? its Disney), but I would love to do it again.  Maybe 2014...

By the way, what I did this year is I got up early for race, came back after and took a short nap and then went to a park in the afternoon.  The walking around the parks between races actually helped my legs.  (I didn't go too crazy and was back at hotel by 7pm or earlier)

Pretty pricey.
But it's 4 races... let's see if I signed up for 4 equal distance races in my region they'd average:

5K: $25
10K: $30
Half marathon: $80
Full marathon: $120 

Total: $255

Disney: Double 

Sounds about right?