Introduction
It’s finally here!! runDisney’s 2025 Marathon Weekend kicked off this morning with the Marathon Weekend 5K–a Pluto- (dog, not former planet) themed race around EPCOT on a new course that turned out to be a blast.
runDisney 2025 Marathon Weekend 5K Course Map
If you’re running other races this weekend, you can find my detailed guides to all of them right HERE. But if you’re ready for recaps, stick around.
I’ve done the Dopey Challenge every year since moving to the area in 2018, but so far this year feels really special for some reason. The vibes are just very much on point.
Section 1: What is the Dopey Challenge?
The Dopey Challenge is taking on and completing 4 individual races over the course of 4 days at Walt Disney World. A 5K (3.1 miles) starting at 5am on Thursday–that was today(!), a 10K (6.2 miles) starting at 5am on Friday, a half marathon (13.1 miles) starting at 5am on Saturday, and a full marathon (26.2 miles) starting at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. So over the course of 4 days, you run a total of 48.6 miles. And because of travel and arrival times you’re usually waking up sometime between 1:30am and 2:30am to get ready and get to EPCOT for the start of each race. So there’s a sleep deprivation element too that you have to watch out for.
And that’s before your family drags you to the theme parks during the day!!
Section 2: Leading Up to the Weekend
This year I used Hal Higdon’s plans again to train. Both he and Jeff Galloway (and many others!) have great training programs for these races. I like long heavy mileage and don’t love intervals, so Higdon works really well for me. This year, rather than do his specific Dopey Challenge plan, I mixed it up a little and did his Intermediate II 18 week marathon training program. I usually build it out a bit just for some structure earlier in the summer—you can find a sample of my approach to that right HERE.
I’m not going into this weekend expecting PRs. This year’s focus so far has been all about building strength and staying injury free–lots of slow solo runs and listening to my body. I’m excited to see where I can go with a base that feels stronger than ever, but this weekend will be more about enjoying the ride after doing the slow and steady work.
That said…I’m also running in the Nike Alphafly 3 and they are absolutely giving me wings. Not sponsored by any stretch. Bought them with my own money. They are powerhouses.
Section 3: 5K Race Day Experience
We knew going into this weekend that it was likely to be cold and Florida is delivering on that promise so far. This morning was bitter with temps around 38 degrees F and real feel much lower with the wind. Lots of pre-planning saved me during the long wait between arrival and starting to run–I had a coat from Goodwill to drop, along with cheap gloves. I’d even remembered to cut off the tips of the thumbs and right index finger so that I could still use my phone. I had a winter hat. I had Hot Hands and that big stick on body warmer than Hot Hands also makes. I had the Walmart blanket (of course).
The pre- and post-race characters were Pluto, Dopey, the Big Bad Wolf, and Clara Cluck switching with Ugly Ducking. (The theming this weekend is Disney Through the Decades and this was the early years.) Lines got long quickly but I’d arrived super early–parked at around 2:45 a.m.–and was able to grab the Big Bad Wolf, Pluto, Clara AND the Ugly Duckling (did that line twice) before heading to the porta-potties and corral.
We don’t usually use gear check for the 5K or 10K but you can find my guide to that process and what to bring HERE.
Headed to Corral and ended up in the second wave of A, so we were able to start about 90 seconds after the clock started running. As soon as we started moving, the layers started coming off. It’s always funny when my pictures show that progression from freezing cold to warm run.
Characters on the course were: Director Mickey (so cute), The Hag, Pinocchio, Miss Bunny (who I think was switching with Thumper), and Panchito with José. Lines were already starting to build when we were on the course but they were moving really efficiently! We ended up doing all five character stops AND this amazing new photo op in front of Spaceship Earth and finished in around 43 minutes.
I was back in my car a little after 6 and picked my kids up for school (they’re staying at Boardwalk with my mom and Sam for the weekend while I run but I’m mean and still make them go to school lol).
Section 4: And that’s a wrap on race #1
This experience, including the cold, made me so excited for the next few days. I also LOVED running in the Alphafly 3 and am curious to see how they handle the next few days with me.
I always love this 5K–it’s such a cool mix of people with novice 5K runners and so many others taking it on as day 1 of Dopey and it really goes to show you how much this sport is about the journey and not the destination. When you’re out there, you’re not thinking about beating anyone or anything beyond what you did the day or race before–or better yet, just having a good time. And that’s how it should be.
What were your thoughts on today if you ran? The weather? The course? The characters? Will you be there for the rest of the weekend?
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If you’re running more races this weekend, you can find my complete guide HERE.
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And that’s a wrap on the recap!! Continue to watch here and on my Instagram @thecastlerunner over the weekend for live updates on the races and recaps after each event. I try to start near the front of the race and provide coverage throughout, especially for the 5K and 10K.
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Please join me on Instagram for my day-to-day adventures living a mile from the magic.
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Planning a run while you’re here? You can find my complete guide to running trails on Walt Disney World property RIGHT HERE.
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If you’re missing home (or love someone who is) and are looking for a way to bring the magic home, I’d love for you to check out my photography prints over at Thousand Circles Images.
