Signed up for the Dopey Challenge? NOW WHAT!

Who else signed up to run the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge in January 2020? ME TOO!! This will be my third Dopey Challenge, so I’d like to share some tips on what you should be thinking about in the coming months to prepare for the big week. To view the video on my Youtube channel just Click here!

Make sure you can get the time off, so put your vacation request in early with your employer. This will guarantee your time off and allow your co-workers to plan accordingly. You’re going to be gone for a least of week, you want to make sure everyone is prepared. 

If you are staying on property, now is the time to look at booking your resort. If you’re like me, I can’t pay the total amount at the time of booking. But secure your preferred resort now and this will give you time to pay it off over the next coming months. It’s so easy to just call in. Payments of any amount can be made with a credit card or Disney gift card. So if you have a birthday or special day between now and the race – ask for Disney gift cards, this will help cover the cost of all your Disney needs. 

This is a great time to go to your local running store and get fitted for a new pair of running shoes. The shoes you buy today will not be the ones you are going to wear for race weekend. With all the training miles you’ll be running they will be worn out before race time, however it will give you a good idea of what type of shoe is going to work for you and then you will be able to purchase two pairs to break in for race weekend. I suggest bringing two or more running shoes with you, just in case it rains or any other malfunction occurs.

Pick your training plan. The runDisney website has some great plans designed by Jeff Galloway. Here is the link if you’d like to take a look, runDisney training programs. His plan is 29 weeks long beginning with 2 midweek runs and your distance work on the weekend, then adding additional runs as you increase mileage. Your training should begin no later than July 1^stto make sure you are ready to take on 48.6 miles. Hal Higdon also has a wonderful training plan. His plan is a little more hard core running 4 to 5 times a week with the first week running 13 miles on your first weekend. YIKS! His plan is 18 weeks long. 

It’s never too early to start working on your costumes. You’re running 4 races and I like to wear a different outfit for each race.  If you’re purchasing from an Etsy site, you’ll want to get your order in early so it arrives in plenty of time especially if you need to make adjustments to the size. If you’re making your costume, it’s never too early to get it done and check it off your “to-do” list. And if you’re planning a group costume with friends, get working on them early

Plan for your PoT (Proof of Time). If you think you will finish the half marathon under 2:45 or the Marathon in less than 5:30 you will need to submit a proof of time prior to October 8^th.  This can be from a half marathon or marathon you ran between January 1, 2018 to October 8, 2019. Be on the lookout for an upcoming race in your area that is a fast flat course to secure good corral placement. My most important reason to have a good corral is the ability to stop for photos along the course without worry about the balloon ladies. Also you get there before the huge crowds so the lines are not has long. 

If you’ve never participated in the Dopey challenge you may want to join a Dopey Challenge Facebook group. This will help you stay motivated and answer questions you have along or training journey. I did this the first year I ran Dopey and they are the greatest group of people ever!

Lastly, follow along with me beginning July 1^ston my YouTube channel “Run Run Rosie” I’m going to start a series of training videos using Jeff Galloways 29 week plan. I’ll go over everything you need to know to be race ready by January 2020. Here is a link to my channel, Run Run Rosie please join me. 

The Day I became a Marathon Runner

I wanted my very first blog post to be one of a day that had so much meaning to me personally. By this time in my running journey, I had run many Half Marathons, but on October 10, 2010 I ran my first full marathon. The Portland Marathon. Below are my thoughts during those 26.2 miles that I wrote several days after completing this race. I hope you enjoy. 

Portland Marathon

My VERY FIRST Marathon. 26.2 miles of rain. It was the best day ever

I knew at the Start line I was going to finish this race. I was 110% mentally prepared but only 85% physically prepared. By the end I knew I had under prepared and over ran this race. What I lacked in physical readiness, I more than made up for in mental determination to finish. As I Stood at the start line waiting for my group to begin our 26.2 mile journey, I realized I would be running the entire race in the rain, a chilly Portland rain. No need to worry about heat stroke or dehydration.

By mile 3, I was warm enough to toss my Mylar cape and that I had wrapped tightly around my torso. As I threw it to the side, I had such a feeling of strength and endurance. I felt as if I could run forever. Mile marker 10 was a bittersweet moment, as this was where the half marathoners split from the full runners. Every race up to now I had always followed the group running the Half. As I watch them veer to the left, I thought WOW they are almost done and I’m still in double digits (16.2 remaining). 

Mile 17 was the only real hill, but I didn’t mind very much as this was the point in the race where I reach single digits. Only 9 miles to go, the countdown has officially begun. So far the race was relatively smooth and enjoyable. In a couple miles I will experience an effect of running that I’ve only read about, the runner’s high. I wanted that state of euphoria to last forever. But alas, as all good things do, this too had to end. 

When I reached mile 24, two miles left to run. I know this lifelong dream was about to come true. My knees were really aching by this point, which forced me to walk part of the last quarter of the race. Although my body was exhausted, there was an inner strength pushing me to the finish.

Mile 25 went by so quickly. During this mile I was thinking back to all the training that I had done over the past 7 months. Every mile I ran, every meal eaten, every cross training exercise I’d done, was to prepare for this moment. When I hit the 26 mile marker, my feet took over and my pace increased until I finally crossed the finish line. On this raining Sunday in October, at age 46, I was not just another person who loves to run. I was a Marathon runner.

Win Sports Detergent Review

As a runner and a mother of a young adult male runner, the one article of running clothes that never seems to regain its “freshness” is our socks (especially those of the young adult male in my house).

I have tried many laundry detergents in the hopes of eliminating the smelling odor of active feet, only to have them come out of the wash still holding that post run fragrance. When I heard other runners raving about Win Sports Detergent I was excited and skeptical to try this new product. The product claims: WIN Sports Detergent removes sweat, oils, bacteria, and salts from active wear and workout clothing, so it feels and smells fresh as new. 

Not available in stores in my area, I purchased a bottle of Win Free & Clear from Amazon for $10.95. You can also purchase on their website at windetergent.com. 

When my bottle arrived in the mail, I grabbed our running apparel that I had been saving all week and headed for the laundry room. I normally wash all my clothes with cold water, however the bottle suggests hot or warm. I decided on the warm setting. The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle is it had absolutely no scent, which is different for me since I always buy fragrant scented laundry soap. I poured the recommended amount in, tossed in the socks with our running shorts and shirts, closed the lid and prayed for a miracle.  

Forty minutes later, the spin cycle ended and that familiar three tone chime notified me that the wash cycle was now complete. I reached in and pulled out a sock and tentatively brought it close to my nose for the sniff test. To my dismay there was still a lingering foot odor. But I must say it was much less pungent than it normally is. This is success in my book. BUT WAIT!!!! once those little guys dried, there was not a hint of odor remaining. I believe a tear may have formed in my eyes. The tech running shirts came out amazing right out of the washer and the underarm sniff test scored an A+. The shirts were like brand new! 

I am in complete amazement with this product and can't believe it worked better than I ever imagined. I am always so happy to find a product that can live up to its bold claims and Win Detergent YOU DO!