2014 Walt Disney World Half Marathon - Dopey Challenge Race Three

Again I woke up before my alarm, and was out the door at 3am. The logistics for the Half and Full marathon were very different from the 5k and 10k. For one thing, instead of 10,000 runners, there were closer to 25,000 in each race. It was a lengthy walk between the bag check area and the starting corrals. Everything just seemed “bigger.”

Like all four races, the starting line was in the Epcot parking lot. We would run up World Drive, through Magic Kingdom, then back down to Epcot. Quite a few highway miles, but with the joy and excitement of Cinderella's Castle and a fair amount of entertainment along way it would be a ton of fun.

2014 Walt Disney World 10k Race Recap - Dopey Challenge Race Two

The 10k start was at 5:30am, so I set my alarm clock earlier than the day before, but still woke up well before it went off. I checked Twitter to see if anyone was already up and posting (they were) and got up and showered. I still had a dull headache but it was much improved over the morning before. 

I arrived at Epcot about 3:15am and hung out in the car for about half an hour before making my way over to the Bag Check area where I would be meeting up at 4am with some fellow Team Studios Central members. On the way I saw the legion of volunteers breaking up and heading to their posts.

Thank you, volunteers!

Unlike the morning before, we were immediately directed toward the corral area, so I headed over there and passed by racks and racks of the inaugural 10K medals.

My precioussssss...

2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Expo and 5k Race Recap - Dopey Challenge Race One

No stopping.

I woke up early on Wednesday morning, checked out of my one-night hotel and headed over to Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, slowing down (but not stopping) for the ubiquitous photo of driving under the Walt Disney World sign.

I had been to the complex before, for the Wine & Dine expo, but was told to expect a much busier race expo. Boy, were they right. Even arriving about half an hour before the expo opened, the place was hopping.

All of the Dopey Challenge runners had to pick up their bibs on Wednesday, and there were 7,000 of us. Plus all of the people (runners and non-runners) who wanted to get in line early for the first opportunity to buy the 2014 New Balance runDisney shoes were starting to line up.

I stopped on the walk from the parking lot to the Field House and bib pickup to get a picture with this banner of the Dopey Challenge medal. In just a few days, if everything went according to plan, it would be mine!

After picking up my two race bibs and five of my race shirts (all but the 5k) I took a quick peek at the expo floor from above before making my way across the field house to pick up my 5k shirt, and then get in line to buy the New Balance shoes.

THANK YOU!

Look who I found at mile 25 of the marathon.

I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who helped provide me with encouragement in running the Dopey Challenge and who helped provide financial support to Give Kids The World. Collectively we've raised close to $1,000 - almost double my initial goal, and I was able to complete the 48.6 miles in the upright position, with a smile on my face, and wanting to do it again!

I was graciously invited to a pre-race dinner and tour of Give Kids The World. After receiving a huge grant from a major hotel chain, they are in the process of completely renovating the 140 guest villas where the families of kids with life-threatening illness stay.

Look at all the bling!

I was so moved by talking with some of the alumni Wish families who had stayed there in the past. I was frequently brought to tears as I heard what an important impact spending a week at Give Kids The World Village had on their families. It gave them a week free from hospital staff and reminders of illness. It provided the magical experience of  having a wish come true.

On Friday, January 24th, the Extreme Village Makeover will be featured on Good Morning America. I hope you'll tune in or DVR it and see for yourself the huge improvements going on there.

Actual size.

After spending time at GKTW I knew that I had a massive reservoir of inspiration to draw from to help me cross the finish line Sunday. There was no way I wasn't finishing the marathon strong! I had an incredible experience personally and together we made a meaningful impact on these kids' lives.

As I already stated, your support and encouragement is overwhelming. Thank you so much!

My Appeal

In less than a week, I’ll be running the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World in Orlando. It consists of running four races in four days: a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon. That’s 48.6 miles, including my first marathon.  Dopey is probably an understatement.

I spent all of 2013 training for this unique event, logging nearly 800 miles in the process. In fulfilling one of my dreams, I’m also hoping to help make the dreams of some special kids come true.

I’m raising money for Give Kids The World, a 70-acre, nonprofit "storybook" resort in Orlando, where children with life-threatening illnesses and their families are treated to weeklong, cost-free fantasy vacations. It was founded about 30 years ago by an Auschwitz survivor who wanted to build a place for Make-A-Wish kids and their families to stay. This short video demonstrates the impact Give Kids The World is making.

I hope you’ll consider sponsoring me for this very worthwhile cause. It costs ahout $5,000 per week to host a family at Give Kids The World. My goal is to raise $500 by the time I cross the finish line on Sunday, January 12th. You might consider the following levels, but I’m so very grateful for a donation of any amount to help these kids and their families: 

•  A dollar per mile = $50
•  $0.50 per mile = $25
•  A quarter per mile = $12
•  A dime per mile = $5

Click here to give through a simple and secure website. If you prefer to make a contribution using cash or check (made payable to “Give Kids The World”), please contact me directly. Every dollar you donate goes directly to this organization. Not even a penny is used to offset any of my expenses or race entry fees – I am paying all of them myself.

Whether or not you choose to contribute, you can follow my progress next week – I’ll be posting live in-race updates on Twitter (@DopeyForTheKids). 

8 Stages of Marathon Running

Is this really what I have to look forward to?

Race Recap: runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon

After the early morning running the 5k, I woke from my afternoon nap, had a few snacks, got changed into my race gear and caught the shuttle bus from All Star Movies over to the Wide World of Sports about 7:15. It took about 30 minutes to get there, and I met up with some other Team Studios Central members for a group shot.

I was amazed by how well runDisney handled the logistics – more than 14,000 runners were gathering along with hundreds if not thousands of supporters. There were countless porta-a-potties and with about 20 minutes before corrals opened the lines were long and growing.

The DJ was still going strong and leading group dances when the corrals opened just after 9pm. I promptly moved to the front of Corral D.

I didn’t want to sit on the concrete so I ended up standing the entire time, talking a little with the people around me, including the husband of a bird trainer cast member at Animal Kingdom. He was running his second half marathon and we joked about the start is so exciting it’s hard not to get caught up and running too fast.

The Wine and Dine Half Marathon course runs through three theme parks: Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Only the Magic Kingdom is left out.

At 10pm sharp the first wave of runners started to fireworks and cheering. Every few minutes another corral would start and ours would move closer to the starting line. As we got closer I noticed bubbles floating around, and then it was our turn to go.