Advice from Dopey Runners?

Let it be known that I feel like I'm being forced into this torture... I'd much rather drink beers and eat chicken tenders with Jeff Haslam.

for our anniversary I gifted my wife a bib to the Wine & Dine HF last October so we could run together. We had both started running together last year. We were already signed up for the 5k. And I thought she would like it. Yeah that gift was a dud. Flowers would’ve been acceptable. One early wake up time was enough. Her words. So take pride in doing it together. Only advice I can give is to pivot to some session IPAs during those 4 days and then switch to the real ones after the Marathon. My favorite session IPAs are made by Founders..

Haha, the gift story made me laugh. Tell your wife I totally understand the pain of having to wake up for those mornings.

I understand that thought. My wife signed me up for the ten miler this weekend.

I haven't run Dopey, but talking to other runners Princess weekend they said the hardest part was getting up that early four days in a row!

You guys will have a great time, enjoy it all. DH did Dopey with me (a bit against his will) the year I did it and we’re still married!

We tried to get a routine for nights going so we were doing the same thing 4 nights in a row too. Back at the resort by 5, grab dinner and try to be in bed by 7. Also make sure you have different shoes at least every other race!

Hey! Dopey is a blast! I’ve done it for the past 3 years and I’m signed up for 2027 as well. (Along with all the other races between now and then. I’m one of those people that bought DVC mostly for runDisney 😅)

As for advice, I’ll second the comment to use more than 1 pair of shoes - especially go for something different between the half and the full. And pacing yourself is more important than normal - any effort saved on the 5k, 10k, and half will definitely get used up by the full. I tend to go for a 0:30-1:00 slower pace/mi to try to conserve for the full.

But since y’all have done the full a couple times and several halves, you’ll do great! It’s a fun journey!

Looking forward to hopefully seeing you during Marathon Weekend! I am doing Dopey as well. I also did it in 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2026 (missed half and full due to injury). This is my redemption year.

My biggest advice is to do your training. It will make the weekend that much more enjoyable.

I follow a customized training plan, but Galloway works for many. Less than nine months until the start line!

This will be my 5th Dopey. My last one was in 24. I use the Galloway plan and slow intervals. Do as much walking in the 5 and 10 as possible.

Even if I train for a 1:00/30 I reduce those intervals for the half and full. Maybe 30/30 for the half and like a 20/30 for the full. I'm in no hurry,

my PR's are all well behind me and I know I'm no where close to the shape as I was when I ran my first. I just want to finish in one piece and upright.

Def. rotate shoes, get your legs up a wall as soon as you can after the 10-full for like 10 minutes at least. I try not to nap more than like 30-45 minutes after

each race so I make sure I can fall asleep easier/quicker at 7 or 8 each night. I know training sucks but it will get your prepared.

Good luck and hope to see you guys!!

Dopey is a blast!! Here’s what got me through mine:

In general: hydrate, hydrate, HYDRATE (I started really beefing up my water intake about a month before), bring all the running shoes, early to bed (I brought my pillow from home and that made all the difference for falling asleep).

5k: Mosey (and I do mean MOSEY) the 5k, I did this right about the same pace I would wander around the World Showcase after stopping in Mexico for a margarita….if you’re doing a park after the 5k be sure to change your shoes (different shoes have different pressure points on your feet and will help reduce foot fatigue).

10k: Speed up just a bit from your 5k speed, but go no faster than a conversational pace…change the shoes again if you’re doing a park afterward

Half: This is the make-or-break race, a good half marathon sets the stage for a good full marathon….No parks after the half, straight back to the hotel to relax, then to Terralina’s (or Maria & Enzo’s) for a pasta dinner.

Full: whatever it takes to cross the finish, trust your training…I broke the marathon up mentally (in my mind I ran 26 one mile runs with a quarter mile chaser at the end), which helped me out a ton… 🏅

Have fun and good luck!!

This is all great everyone. Thank you!

Here are my thoughts based off what you said and what I was already thinking. Open to any criticism.

• Definitely walking the 5k- just enjoying it, stopping for characters, taking out time.

• Slow jog/walk 10k- basically just enough to not get swept.

• Run/walk half in our normal 1/1 intervals, but slowing the pace.

• Marathon- our normal run/walk intervals, whatever pace is comfortable- goal is to finish!

• I’m actually going to work from our hotel room Thursday and Friday after the races and we don’t need to go to the parks because we’re local so will be chilling each evening, getting food, and going to bed early.

• Two pairs of shoes- one for 5k and half, one for 10k and full so I’m switching every other day.

I would highly recommend getting a set of what I call "leg squeezies" which are those inflating leg compressors that they always sell at the expo. We bought a set from Amazon last year for around $300 (still that price) and we use them regularly. Last year we did a half and used them repeatedly after while we relaxed. The next day my legs felt amazing! Barely any soreness, none of that walking down stairs backwards thing you do after a big race.

This year we brought them with us to Disneyland. We did the 5k, 10k, and Half and used them after each race and before going to bed. My legs felt like a million bucks! We brought them with us for the Springtime surprise and followed the same pattern, use immediately when we get back to the room and before bed. Today my quads are a tiny bit sore. Truly leg savers! My scientific guess (I am a biomedical engineering professor) is that they help to flush out the lactic acid (like legs up the wall) and get blood flowing for recovery. Seriously worth the investment of $300 we made and I am totally willing to invest more when these decide to stop working.

Jeff just bought these actually and Paul and I have been eyeing them up. Appreciate the information. We’ll probably have to bite the bullet because they sound necessary!

SLEEP. like legit get some rest and make sure you hydrate enough, both water and electrolytes. I did dopey this year and it was warm and I don't think I had enough salt, by he marathon my fingers and toes were swelling 😮‍💨.

I used Galloways training as well, it worked great! It'll be so fun. I opted to do Goofy in 2027 versus the Dopey. This past Jan, the entire trip was dedicated to surviving dopey with enough rest and it wasn't super fun fun like a normal trip.

But my goal was to not look miserable like most dopey runners do on Sunday and I was successful. 🤷

Dopey was a blast! I completed it the year before last while doing the parks after every race except the half. I do not recommend that. I was laying in bed by 7pm every night, as I am not a person who can take naps. I used my Normatec leg compressions. I bought them for myself after I registered because I needed the help, I have plantar faucitis and it really helps. I use salt tabs for every 5 miles I run and a gel pack for every 4 miles i run for the energy boost. The salt tabs are great for ensuring your hydration makes it to your muscles. You lose so much sweat on 4 back to back races in Florida, especially coming from Indiana. Rotating 2 pairs of running shoes that are already worn in. I wear a hydration belt that stores my salt, cellphone and food, plus 1 container of water. I took the first 3 races extremely slow and I still woke up sore to start the marathon. The star wars section around mile 13-15 is really cool when its dark outside, if you can somehow push yourself to get there fast then you can take the rest of the race super easy and have plenty of time to ride the rides and drink beer. How much you train is really just a barometer for how much you'll enjoy the race vs dread it.