Mickey Magical Mondays: Tips for doing the Dopey Challenge

It is Monday so we are linking up with another Magical Mickey with John at run.geek.rundisney and Katie from Adventures by Katie.With AP/DVC sign ups tomorrow, I thought I would post some Dopey trips.

Sadly I will not be returning to Dopey but wish I could. and we can also take a moment that this is the first Disney race I will not be signing up for since Dopey 2014!! yeah, i have a problem!  It was hands down the greatest running experience of my life. This year I'm focusing on really enjoying Star Wars in prep for the LA Marathon. I even signed up for the New Years race that will be a 10k following by a half!

Anyways, here is a list I've kept over the past months since returning from Dopey. Please comment on other tips and I will add them to the list!

TRAINING

• make sure you do at least 3-4 simulations and do 1 full simulation (4 back to back running days in the morning). It's not about the miles, it's about the recovery and refueling and you need practice. This is where I learned to fuel more often while running as well as that I needed to be carbloading more after the 10k and half than I am used too.
  
• Make sure your training plan works for you. Pick a plan that works with the number of days you want to run. That's the reason I picked jeff Galloway's plan-mostly 3 days of running and it fit with my schedule.
  
• Be mindful of the 4 day simulations. For those to be on time I had to do them the week of thanksgiving and the week before Christmas, which mentally was crazy.
  
• Weight train-whether it's body resistance or free weights, it will help your body get strong for the challenge
  
• Stretch and roll-do it every day. It makes a huge difference
  
• Put it in your calendar now. Yup, find your plan and but it in your calendar NOW! You want to make sure you plan for it correctly.
  

PLANNING

• fly in on mon or tues especially if a weather delay could be an option-you do not want to worry about weather delays. Plan an extra day or two buffer just incase.
  
• Book your room early-check travel agents because we got our rate for Pop for 100 dollars with all taxes included (we used Jenn from Destinations in Florida and I booked with her for wine and dine as well!)
  
• Think about getting a room for just runners. I know for us we were 2 runners with 4 rollers and 4 costumes and about 10 pairs of shoes between us. You may need a lot of space and all of the early mornings can be rough on spectators if they want to sleep a bit more.
  
• Plan to go to the Expo on weds morning. If you want merchandise, GO! We took a cab from Pop and were in line for 30 min and got our bibs and then headed into the expo to KT Tape (no wait!), got our shirts and did merchandise. Even though the line was long, it went fast! Read my full expo recap here
  
• Plan your trip around your meals. You will need to do dinner around 5 to get back to your hotel around 7 so you can be ready to go to bed around 830 to get at least 6 hours of sleep. So lunch at 11, dinner at 5 and pick your park based on that. It's crazy to do dinner at 5 but it will help your sanity and also help make sure you get enough sleep.
  
• Keep the park hopping to a minimum-you gotta save your legs but walking is great for recovery. Pick your FP+ close together and plan with meals.
  
• Book your meals 180 days out-you want to make sure you have your dinners locked in before the half and the full for sure as there will be lots of people looking for food as well. Make sure you are ready for meals at 6AM Eastern online or 7AM on the phone. If you want Be Our Guest, make sure to have a backup. It books up fast so make sure to have a few days that will work.
  
• Plan on napping after each race, we didn't after the 5k and were struggling. Even an hour of laying down and being quiet will do you a world of good.
  
• Prep all of your stuff at the beginning and re prep the morning before. We put out all of our dopey outfits and accessories and then as soon as we got back from our race- recharged iPods, watches and cameras for the next day and laid it out with our bibs.
  
• Put everything in your checked bag as well as soon as you finish the race. Recheck all of this before going to bed.
  

PACKING
I wrote a full packing list but a few of the great tips:

• Extra extension cord-you need to charge all your crap (tablets, camera,watch, iPod, etc)
  
• Bag for your stuff at the expo-I brought a drawstring bag for my shirts and it fit everything in the bag I got at the expo. You will need your clear bag to be in good shape as you get 1 for 4 races!
  
• 4 pairs of shoes-incase it rains you want to be prepared.
  
• Throw away jacket for every race as well as a long sleeve, short sleeve, shorts, pants and gloves-I've always done this and this was the first race I really needed it! You may also want to pack old Mylar blankets as well-you can buy a set on Amazon. They are great for sitting on too.

EXPO

• We got our bibs immediately and were able to shop there for the small things and headed straight for the shirts in the large store.
  
• If you're doing a challenge, make sure to stop and take a picture
  
• If you like to get KT tape, head there too! We waited 2 people then went to the store.
  
• Go into the expo with a plan. They usually preview the merchandise on Twitter and Facebook so decide what you tentatively want before going in. I saw people drop 700 bucks on things. It's all so cute and you don't want to freak out and spend on everything.
  
• If you're with someone, split up and take turns waiting in line. It took us about 15 min to get through the line
  
• Use your time in line to try on shirts and put back what you don't want
  
• Have your discounts and payment ready-it will make everything go faster

5K

• There aren't as many people running and the corrals are right by the bag check. There's no reason to get on the bus at 430 for a 615 race. Next time I would head out around 5 or 515 and you can definitely be in your corral by 6.
  
• You probably won't need to check a bag unless you bring clothes or something you don't want to throw away.
  
• For dopey, take this race very slow and have fun!
  
• The parking lot is short and before you know it, you're in world showcase
  
• If you need to use the restroom, the one in Germany isn't too bad. A backup one is the UK one or the one in front of The Land
  
• Check out the characters in the parking lot after the race. You can get some fun pics!

10K

• Get on the bus around 415 and you will be fine.
  
• Be in the corral by 5. Corral A starts moving about 10-15 min before the start time
  
• The beginning is boring on service roads but they space everything out so the course isn't crowded.
  
• Make sure to take it easy and have fun!
  
• If you need to use the restroom, the one in Germany isn't too bad. A backup one is the UK one or the one in front of The Land

Half

• Leave by 330/345. This day will start to have a lot of traffic so pack your food on the bus and if you are on a charter bus, use the restro before you get off
  
• This is where the 15-20 min walk to the corrals so you will want to get there, check your bag, and head to the corrals by 445.
  
• There are ports potties by the corrals, go to the ones farthest down for smaller lines.
  
• I always aim to be in my corral by 515
  
• Hold back as much as you can. This year the photoshops were the exact same for miles 1-7 so keep that in mind for photo stops.
  
• The real restrooms are TTC, and multiple ones in Magic Kingdom

Full

• You will be sick of waking up but the prospect of getting three medals will keep you going!
  
• Same thing as before: expect traff heading there
  
• Leave by 345/4 and do the same routine: check bag and head to corrals
  
• Take in the experience! Dopey is truly awesome
  
• You don't have to watch your pace as much but keep in mind 26.2 miles is a long way!
  
• Real restrooms at TTC, MK, in Ak-use the set right before you exit, Studios has a few-we used the ones connected to the old American Idol Experience, Epcot has many in world showcase
  
• Try and hold back and ride Everest at Animal Kingdom-it usually opens at 9am-best experience ever in a race
  
• After the halfway point, the lines for photos seems to be much less.
  
• Take a grave diggers picture after leaving animal kingdom, it's great
  
• Wide world of sports seems to go on forever but it's really a beautiful place
  
• For your victory lap around world showcase, grab a drink! I crossed the finish line with a margarita
  
• Cross the finish line with a smile-you did it! 48.6!!

RECOVERY

• make sure to celebrate with good food
  
• Make sure to do an Epsom salt or ice bath soak. Doesn't need to be long
  
• Compression socks pretty much all of the time you aren't running to help with recovery
  
• I would suggest flying out Tuesday night-Monday night so you can actually sleep in, have a late breakfast and get in some slow park time (I would recommend Epcot so you can drink around the world but also walk around world showcase)
  

IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN

• I would definitely have a room just for runners again
  
• I would nap after every race. Just rest for an hour and try and nap for an hour
  
• I would splurge on Race Retreat-after the half and full, having food right then would have been great!
  
• I would make all of my dinner reservations at 5 or earlier-you will be seated right away, can give time
  
• To talk to the chef (yay for being gluten free) and then gives you time
  
• To wrap up and head back to the hotel and do your nightly routine (check your bag, roll, etc) and be in bed by 8. Those 3am wake up calls come early!
  
• Set expectations with he rest of your party-if you're traveling with people that aren't running or aren't running all of the races, be realistic. You can't go commando or spend all of your time with them. Encourage them to stay in the parks later
  
• Have a plan. Every night have an exact plan on when your spectators will get on the bus and how they will get there and what time (buses only run until 4! Monorail resorts are easier to deal with). Also have them set up an assigned meeting place and discuss outfits so you will be able to spot them
  
• Plan a place to meet up after. Outside of your last name letter tent can be a good spot
  

Now when I will do this again? For sure 2018 because it'll be the 25th anniversary for the Marathon and 5th for Dopey! Not going to lie, I'm debating doing either goofy or just the marathon in 2017. I think just the marathon would be AMAZING but it would mean giving up a lot of medals but we will see!

Any other tips?
Anyone planning on signing up for WdW marathon weekend?