WDW Fun Run 5K

Before the Fun Run 5k dressed as Elsa from Frozen

The WDW Fun Run 5K was the first leg of the Dopey Challenge! There were 7,000 Dopey runners in a field of 10,000 runners.  I was placed in Corral B for the 5k and the 10k.  Both of these races shared a bib if you were registered for the Dopey Challenge.  The bib was chipped, but it was unclear to me if they were really going to be timing us.  I had never run a runDisney 5k where they timed the runners.  I don't think the other 3,000 runners who were running the 5k and were not Dopey had a timing chip on their bibs.  

In front of the start line before they brought the corrals forward.

Corral B waiting in the corral
(Dark January morning for a 6:15 start)

Anyway...I really did not think much of it and ran the race with a total disregard for my finishing time.  That was until another runner reminded me that Dopey runners were supposed to maintain at least a 16 minute pace.  Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you think about it, I had already blown the 16 minute pace after waiting 20 plus minutes in the Dopey character line. I calculated that if I ran flat out from Remy in France to the finish I would still exceed the 16 minute pace. So I reassured myself that runDisney would not disqualify all those Dopey runners who waited to see him and I enjoyed the rest of my slowest 5k ever!

My favorite picture from the Fun Run 5K

Runners speeding past the Dopey line

Runners waiting for Dopey
(the line went all the way across the front of Germany
 from left to right)

The best part about waiting in line for Dopey
was waiting with Dopey!

After at least 20 minutes I got my chance with Dopey

Still happily goofing off
forgetting the 16 minute pace requirement

Stopped to do a selfie with the medics
they have bicycles - bicycles are cool!

Run buddies on the course

Does pace matter?
I asked the rats, but they did not know!
Neither did any of the Dopey runners in line waiting for pictures.

Run buddies at the finish line
(I beat Santa! I bet he stopped for Dopey as well.)

With Bob Hitchcock at the finish line!
He liked how much fun everyone was having on the course.

runDisney volunteers make the races happen!
Thanks to my volunteer for a great photo finish!

Your questions:

Competative 5ks? At Disney?

Snow Cream and Syrup @SnowCreamNSyrup
@LoveDisneyRun @runDisney is it possible to run a competitive race? They call it a "fun run" and I have heard its not timed.

Well for the first time ever a runDisney 5k was timed, but only because it was part of the Dopey Challenge. There are only 5k times listed for the Dopey Challengers WDW Marathon weekend. There are no 5k times listed for other runners at either WDW Marathon Weekend or subsequently at Tinkerbell weekend.  So I would say runDisney intends to continue with their un-timed 5Ks.  That said, you can certainly qualify for Corral A with a great qualifying time and run your race from the start of the corral. You will find wide open running from the front and the course is gun timed. 

Characters on the course:

@MPStephanie: "@LoveDisneyRun what characters did you spot?"

The only characters that I passed on were Flik and Princess Atta. They were out between the parking lot and the back entrance to Epcot. They have never had character's outside of Epcot on a 5k course that I am aware of so I was caught off guard not even looking. I thought for a brief second about doubling back, but I let them go. All of the other characters are pictured above.

My Elsa Costume:
Amanda Nichols Bumm Do you make all your running costumes? They are just great!
For the love of Disney running I do Amanda! They are functional and fun! Thanks!
Amanda Nichols Bumm Do you use a pattern or just free style it? I loved your Elsa too!
For the love of Disney running I use a favorite running dress that I bought as a pattern for the base and then I let my creative side run wild! My Elsa was just a long version of the running dress with slits up above the knees on the sides.  The sparkle overlay is just one large square of fabric cut into 2 triangles.  The front triangle was safety pinned to the top of my bra in the center and at the sides of my bra to create a bodice effect.  The back triangle was pinned at my shoulders to give a draping cape effect.  Other runners told me the shimmer could be seen at quite some distance.

Dopey Training

"Was this weekend your first full marathon?

Also, you mentioned in a post that the most you trained for your full was the half at Wine n Dine in Nov and you would tell us more about it later. Is it later? 

Great job and thx for sharing so much of your journey! It made me feel like I was there!" - Jerri Mack

This was my 6th full marathon. My first full marathon was on my home course in May 2012.

So why did my Dopey training stall out at 13 miles? The simple answer is that I used a different training method ... a Dopey training method. Last year for Goofy I just trained like it was a real marathon. That worked for me. 

With Mexican Donald after 2013 WDW Goofy Challenge

This year so many Dopey folks seemed to be training simulated Dopey's with 4 days in a row. That seemed like a good idea to me so I gave it a shot. I just never seemed to be able to get the long run done on the fourth day. Either I would end up needing to skip it or would only have time for another 10 or 11 miles. I will go back to more traditional marathon training next time.

Dopey had my back during the WDW Marathon!
(It is important to know you have a support system,
even if it one you construct to keep yourself going!)

So much of racing is finding out what works for you. The first race at any distance is very much a learning race. I learned a lot about myself and back to back races. I am really good at recovery. Like the song I can "Let it go!" I shed the miles and move on! I am also really good at goofing off, but also knowing when enough is enough. My 10k and half paces were 14:18 and 14:20. Same running/photo pace! I knew I had to do less photo across the full in order to go the distance and I cut it back to a 12:30ish run/photo pace. 

Next year I might not take as many pictures. (I always think that!) maybe less over all time on the course would result in a better Dopey Challenge because I would get even more recovery! 

I did cut out all post race photo ops after all four races, opting instead to get cleaned up and to breakfast more quickly! That was my one concerted effort toward increased recovery. The character lines at the family reunion line were way to long for this Dopey runner to physically handle! 

Officially Dopey!  

My only pictures after the Dopey Challenge were right after I got my 3 medals! Shelley Williams was awarding challenge medals and took a couple of shots for me. I went into full recovery mode after clearing the finish line area.  I tried to get fuel back into me and then went to the finish line to watch my sister cross.  After she crossed I was completely spent and headed to the car to get my 5k, 10k and half medals.  The idea of walking back over to the family reunion area for photos was more than I could fathom.  So I sat in the car and took a much needed rest.  I wish I could have mustered the effort, but I was completely drained. 

Back at the resort with my Dopey bling!
Dopey, Goofy, Mickey, Donald, Minnie, and Pluto!