‍What is the Dopey Challenge?

The Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge is a four-day running event that takes place each year at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.  The Dopey Challenge challenges runners to take on all four races of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend:

• The Walt Disney World 5K (3.1 miles)
• The Walt Disney World 10K (6.2 miles)
• The Walt Disney World Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
• The Walt Disney World Marathon (26.2 miles)

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Over the course of four days, runners taking on the Dopey Challenge cover 48.6 magical miles at Walt Disney World.  (The Dopey Challenge also includes Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, a two-day running challenge that totals 39.3 miles and includes the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and the Walt Disney World Marathon.)

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While all four races of the Dopey Challenge start and end at Epcot, each race’s course is different from the others.  The 5K takes runners on a tour of Epcot.  The 10K loops through both Epcot and Disney’s Boardwalk.  The Half Marathon makes its way up to Magic Kingdom before coming back to Epcot.  And the Marathon course goes through all four Walt Disney World theme parks (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) plus ESPN Wide World of Sports and Disney’s Boardwalk.

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All four courses are quite flat, though there are some (very) small inclines when runners transition onto the highways of Walt Disney World to run in between the theme parks during both the Half Marathon and the Marathon.  The course surface is primarily a mix of asphalt and concrete, though there are short sections of soft surface and boardwalk.

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Whether you’re looking for a completely dopey and unique running experience, seeking to run your first multi-day running event, seeking to finish your first half marathon, seeking to finish your first marathon, to experience Walt Disney World in a completely novel way, or to have a fun-filled running race experience, the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge is a magical choice for any runner.

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What are the race distances included in the Dopey Challenge?

The Dopey Challenge is made up of four running events that are all different lengths: A 5K, a 10K, a half marathon, and a marathon.

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A 5K is a running event that is 3.1 miles long.  A 10K is a running event that is 6.2 miles long.  A Half Marathon is a running event that is 13.1 miles long.  A Marathon is a running event that is 26.2 miles long.  Any of these types of running races can take place on any surface - the road, on trails, or even on a track.

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Why might a Dopey Challenge Training Plan be right for you?

Running 48.6 miles over the course of four days is a pretty significant undertaking, and it’s not something that you can just hop into and expect to gut out to complete successfully.  In order to actually be successful and to reduce your probability of injury, following a specific training plan designed to prepare you for this unique challenge is a very good idea.  

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One of the most important elements to get used to while training for the Dopey Challenge is the sensation of running on tired legs.  By the time you are at the start line of the Walt Disney World Marathon on Sunday, you will already have covered 22.4 miles in the races over the three previous days.  In short: you will feel at least some (if not more!) than a little bit of soreness and fatigue in your legs before you’ve even begun the marathon.  Our Dopey Challenge Training Plans gradually introduce you to running multiple days in a row so you can build up the durability and resistance you need to be able to do this successfully on race weekend.

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We want you to do more than survive the Dopey Challenge: We want you to thrive during all four races and to have the magical experience you expected when you signed up to take this on.  A Dopey Challenge Training Plan is an excellent option if you want to follow a structured plan to race weekend at Walt Disney World, whether you are a beginner preparing to run an event like this for the first time, you are an experienced athlete wanting to take the next step in your running journey, and/or if you want to get a taste of what coaching can offer you. (If you are seeking a more personalized training plan, we invite you to learn more about a Custom-Built Training Plan and/or to contact us.)

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Will a Dopey Challenge Training Plan help me be ready for race weekend?

Our Dopey Challenge Training Plans are written specifically for athletes preparing for all four races of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend by an experienced, professional coach who has coached hundreds of athletes to successful finishes and personal best times, who has coached many athletes to success at the Dopey Challenge, and who also has personal experience running both the Dopey Challenge and the Walt Disney World Marathon.   You can trust that the plan you follow will prepare you well for race weekend!

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How does a Dopey Challenge Training Plan work?

We offer Dopey Challenge Training Plans on two different training platforms: Final Surge and TrainingPeaks.

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You can browse our library of Dopey Challenge Training Plans on Final Surge and on TrainingPeaks to see which plan suits you best.  Once you select and purchase your Dopey Challenge Training Plan, it is delivered to you via Final Surge or TrainingPeaks (depending on which platform you choose/prefer).  You then follow the Dopey Challenge Training Plan independently until the end of the plan. 

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How long will my Dopey Challenge Training Plan be?

Each athlete is different in terms of how long they have to prepare for the Dopey Challenge, what their running training background is like, etc.  For this reason, we offer several different durations of Dopey Challenge Training Plans:

• 16-Week Dopey Challenge Training Plans
  
  • Special Note About 16-Week Dopey Challenge Training Plans: This duration is best suited for athletes who have at least three months of running training experience and who can run at least a half marathon.  16 weeks is NOT a sufficient amount of time to prepare safely for the Dopey Challenge for someone who is new to running or who has not been recently running.
• 20-Week Dopey Challenge Training Plans
• 26-Week Dopey Challenge Training Plans
• 30-Week Dopey Challenge Training Plans
• 40-Week Dopey Challenge Training Plans

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What if I have questions about my Dopey Challenge Training Plan?

A Dopey Challenge Training Plan is an independent training product, which means that there isn’t any communication or feedback included.  If you have questions or decide that you would like some more feedback that a Dopey Challenge Training Plan offers, you can add on other coaching services such as Consultations.  Consultations are billed in quarter-hour increments.  

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You may also upgrade to a Custom-Built Training Plan or Running Coaching for additional charges.  Your current fitness level, abilities, goals, and schedule are accounted for with a Custom-Built Training Plan or with Running Coaching to build a training plan just for you, making either of these options much more individualized services.  Please contact Coach Laura if you would like to purchase additional services or upgrade.

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How much does a Dopey Challenge Training Plan cost?

Pricing varies based on the duration of the Training Plan, but plans start at $39.  Please visit our library of Dopey Challenge Training Plans on Final Surge and on TrainingPeaks to learn more.

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