Episode 12 Podcast – Are You Dopey?
The Dopey Challenge has become the Holy Grail for Disney race fans. The four-race series held in January includes a 5K, 10K, half marathon and finishes with the Disney Marathon for a total of 48.6 miles! And to commemorate the achievement of finishing, participants earn six medals and six race shirts.
When I first heard about both the Goofy and Dopey challenges, my first thought was, “Why would anyone do that?”
In January of this year, a group of 5 women from Ohio entered the Dopey Challenge – with one friend who did the Goofy. Recently I talked to two of them – Karen Edwards and Stephanie Waterman – to find out what the attraction to this race series is.
Highlights include:
- Registration is about a year in advance.
- The Dopey Challenge sells out quickly, the Goofy Challenge takes a little more time to sell out.
- The Dopey Challenge registration fee is over $500 — not including travel expenses.
- You have to be in the corrals by 5:00 a.m. race morning.
- The courses don’t change from day to day, and neither does the after race food.
- There are always long lines for port-a-johns in every race.
- It’s a great challenge.
- Participants enter Disney races for the Disney experience.
- After the Dopey participants finish the marathon, they receive the marathon medal, Goofy medal and the Dopey medal – a lot of weight!
- Finishers of the Dopey have walked 48.6 miles over 4 days.
- The 2016 Dopey and Goofy challenges have already sold out.
- http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/#dopey-challenge
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Comments
I I actually completed the First Dopey Challenge in 2014. As a woman who race walks and competes in Triathlons, I thought this to be a challenge of endurance and strength. I had a mission to complete each race successfully and then move on to the next. When the goal of 48.6 was accomplished I felt such a sense of self worth that I could do it but, do it feeling strong and confident. It was truly an awesome experience. It certainly helped build a lot of character!
Bravo to Karen and Steph for also completed the Challenge.
I felt that same sense of accomplishment with my first full marathon. Still, I can’t imagine doing 48.6 miles over four days!
They mentioned you several times during the interview. You definitely were an inspiration!
Thanks, Larry!