A new era begins for endurance athletes at Walt Disney World in January 2014. The ever popular Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend just got a little bit bigger and a little bit crazier. In the past Disney has offered many events throughout the weekend to create a family friendly environment that encourages family fun thru movement, while also trying to cater to the crazy serious endurance athletes with longer and more grueling events. Starting in 2006 they gave athletes the opportunity to test their limits with the Goofy’s Race and Half Challenge. This “race” required participants to run the half marathon on Saturday, then turn around and run the full marathon on Sunday. Goofy, right? Absolutely! However, I have friends who are “perfectly Goofy” having ran the Goofy Challenge every year since its inception.
For 2014, they upped the ante and are offering for the very first time, the Dopey Challenge. Sir Dopey is a series of 4 events over the same amount of days. 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and FULL Marathon.
From the runDisney website:
Run 48.6 miles of fun in the Dopey Challenge!
Are you ready for the ultimate endurance challenge? Then take part in four days of fun for a total of 48.6 miles in the all-new Dopey Challenge! Participants will run the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon, and if you complete all four races within the pacing requirements you will be awarded the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge medal and the brand new Dopey Challenge finisher medal for a total of six pieces of “bling.”
The Dopey Challenge will feature:
- Four courses through Walt Disney World® Theme Parks totaling 48.6 miles
- Disney Characters and Entertainment on-course
- Event Weekend Transportation for Walt Disney World® Resort Guests
- Family Reunion Area with entertainment and characters
- Indulge and unwind at the Downtown Disney® After Party (Sunday evening)
Race participants in the Dopey Challenge will receive:
- Champion® Women’s or Men’s cut*Long-Sleeved Tech Shirts for the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge & Dopey Challenge, and 5K cotton Unisex T-Shirt*
- Special Dopey finisher medal, along with the commemorative medals for the Marathon, Half Marathon & Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, 10K finisher medal and the 5K finisher medallion*
- Official Race Program Guide*
- iGiftBag
- Personalized bib (Must register by November 1, 2013 for name to appear on bib)*
- On-course and post-race refreshments
- ChronoTrack B-tag timed race
- Personalized results website
So the real question is, are YOU Goofy or just plain ole Dopey? Apparently, I must be Dopey! This will be my first Disney race ever and I generally live by the “go big or go home” philosophy anyhow so I’ll be registering for Sir Dopey on April 9th when it opens. I won’t be “racing” the series but enduring. The plan is to run the miles, all 48.6 of them, and endure. No more, no less.
** Go Big OR Go Home ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **
TooTallFritz 
You will have an AWESOME time!! Disney knows how to support a race like know one else!! The whole experience was amazing, and I ran it, but did not race it. Good Luck!!
I ran just the Disney Marathon one year and I guess it was enough for me! I know some that have run that Goofy numerous times and I suspect they will go to Dopey-dom. I suspect it just would mean spending more time in money in Florida-land, and might be ok if that was the only race event I did for the entire year. Yikes…6-blings….I don’t need anymore blings to hang on the wall…LOL! One thing about Disney running is it can be a nice escape from Chicago winter! You will be smart not to race all those races and just run them easy to “endure” as you denote….and probably enjoy it a lot more than trying to run them for fast finish times. Enjoy it!
I like how you said you won’t race it, but endure it. That’s exactly how you get through a crazy series of races like this. I don’t think I’ve ever run four days in a row let alone RACE in such a time period. At least the marathon is the last event — ending it with a bang!
It was fun meeting you yesterday — here’s to future Chicago Runner events!
Absolutely! I had fun last night. As for ending the series with a bang, yeah, I’ll be crawling to the airport begging to get on the first flight out of town. This will be a one and done for me but the story will last forever.
On Wed, Apr 3, 2013 at 11:03 AM, TooTallFritz
Disney Marathon is in my bucket list. *crossing my fingers!
That just looks so much fun! Who wouldn’t want to sign up to something like that!!! 🙂
I’m so jealous!! I would love love LOVE to do that!!!
I would so love to do this. And I will! Someday. Hate to sign up for anything until I know if I will be okay running again.
Wow this looks interesting. It is my first time to hear such a thing. And with Disney no less! I am not sure if I can run that long though…
I’m so jealous!! I want to try this but my husband thinks it’s a waste of money!