40. Run Disney with Dopey Katelyn

Lace up your running shoes and tune in as we chat with Katelyn, who just completed RunDisney’s Dopey Challenge!  She shares with us the challenges she faced, tips for avoiding the “balloon ladies”, and the unique experiences that made it all worth it. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting to think about your first race, this episode will get you motivated and ready for your own RunDisney journey.

Connect with Katelyn:
Instagram: katelynrunsdisney
TikTok: kikirunsdisney

Download my free guide: 10 Tips for A Luxe Disney Vacation or connect with me on Instagram @michelevisitsmickey.

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This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher.

Transcript

Michele:

Hello, Katelyn. It is so good to have you back on the pod. In full disclosure, she is so kind to me because we actually taped this, like, 3 weeks ago, and Michelle forgot to press record. But it turned out to be the best because the reason Katelyn is here is to talk all about runDisney. So, Katelyn, pleased to tell everyone what you literally just accomplished this past week.

Katelyn:

Yeah. So I completed the 2024 DOPE challenged during the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon weekend. For those of you who are not familiar with what the DOPE challenge is, It is 48.6 miles through Walt Disney World.

Michele:

Amazing.

Katelyn:

You do a 5 k on Thursday, a 10 k on Friday, a half marathon on Saturday, and a full marathon on Sunday.

Michele:

Okay. And for those of us who like me, who it took a long time to figure out the mileage, a 5 k is do it in mileage.

Katelyn:

So 5 k is 3.1 miles.

Michele:

I can do that.

Katelyn:

Yeah. 10 k is 6.2.

Michele:

I'm gonna try and do that.

Katelyn:

A half marathon is 13.1 Mm-mm. And a full is 26.2. So for those, you know, math wizards out there, you are doubling your distance Every single day over 4 days.

Michele:

Oh my god. And now we know why it's called Adobe. Exactly. So when you and I first chatted and I forgot to hit record, I asked you why you were doing this. I wish that this is something that I could achieve and accomplish, but I just don't think that it is. But you told me why you were doing it, but now you've done it. So, a, tell me why you wanted to do it, and tell me what it feels like now that it's done. And, c, would you ever try this again?

Katelyn:

Yeah. That's the $1,000,000 question. So why did I do this? I started running about 9 years ago. My family had a weight loss competition for the month of January. I'm a super, super competitive person. So I went out. I dropped $800 on a treadmill, the treadmill that I'm so used to this day, and I wanted to win. I ended up winning for the month of January, and I just never looked back.

Katelyn:

I saw an ad for the Walt Disney World Princess Office on which we know and love. We love Princess weekend.

Michele:

Sweetie,

Katelyn:

and I made it my goal to sign up for the following year's Princess Health Marathon. So I trained, and that was my 1st taste of Run Disney. And here we are 8 years later being a dopey challenge finisher, which is crazy to say. Why did I decide to do dopey this year? So That started last year, 2023. I tried to do DOPY, and I did the 5 k, the 10 k, the half marathon. I got to mile 22 of the full marathon. I had to pull out. I had some medical issues, and I just wasn't going to be able to continue on at the, quote, unquote, Disney legal pace for the last 4 miles.

Katelyn:

So 2024 was my redemption year. And let me tell you, redemption is sweet.

Michele:

I was gonna say, you redeemed the car. You redeemed.

Katelyn:

Yeah. I am still riding that high of finishing Dopey and crossing those 4 finish lines. It feels amazing. I can't believe that I did it. 48.6 miles over 4 days is quite the undertaking, but I'm on the other side of it now, and I think we all everybody who I've talked to that has done DOPI, you kind of go through these, like, stages of I I don't wanna call it stages of grief, but it's similar. You know, after you're done, you're like, I'll never do that again. And then the day after, you wake up and you're like, well, that wasn't so bad. So maybe I'll do the marathon next year.

Katelyn:

And then the 2nd day after DOPI, you wake up and you're like, alright. Put it on my calendar. I'm totally doing it. So I'm not saying that I'm doing it again in 2025. I would love to get out to Disneyland for the races out there, but I would definitely do Dolby again a 1000%.

Michele:

Wow. It does put you in some rarefied air. There's a lot of run Disney peeps, but I think don't hate me, don't at me when I say this. But I think a lot of the runDisney peeps are like me. They're like, I love Disney. I wanna experience this unique race environment and atmosphere, which it truly is. I've done other races as none other. Nothing like it.

Michele:

There's just nothing else like it, but who aren't necessarily like we're the neighborhood 5 ks fundraising person. That's how I qualify myself. You know, I can do a 5 k pretty easily because I spin, but like I do the fundraising 5 k's like the Bae Oran's. That's my thing. So to say, like, that I could even dream of doing what you just did is, like, amazing. I'm so proud of you and excited for you.

Katelyn:

Thank

Michele:

you. And you're running again like in a week. So again, last time, I was like, I feel like you just ran a race and then you were doing dopey and now you're running again. So please explain, a, when the runDisney season is and your goal in terms of Run Disney.

Katelyn:

Yeah. So the Run Disney season really starts with Wine and Dine weekend. So that is the 1st weekend in November, and that weekend is a 5 k, 10 k and a half marathon. There are 3 races for wine and dine weekend. I will give my little tip that I personally think wine and dine weekend is the best bang for your buck.

Michele:

I was just gonna ask you what your favorite was, but okay.

Katelyn:

That's different because I have a favorite race weekend, and then wine and dine, I think, is the best bang for your buck because if you do the half marathon 4. Every race weekend, you can do a challenge as well. That is doing the 10 k and the half marathon. It's the 2 course challenge for Wine and Dine. You get a free post race party included in your registration fee in EPCOT, where They shut down the park for a couple hours just for runners and their families. You have to pay for the ticket for nonrunners, but it is something special that and offers.

Michele:

It is a lot of fun. I agree.

Katelyn:

And then in the beginning of January, you have the marathon weekend. This is like the big show. This is the only weekend of the Run Disney Year that offers a full marathon. So you have the 5 k, 10 k, half marathon, full marathon, and then you have 2 challenges in January. You can do Goofy's race and a half challenge, which is the half marathon and full marathon, Or you can be don't be, and you can run Sophie Challenge and do all 4 races. So total of 48.6 miles.

Michele:

Yeah. And I gotta say it is a little crazy, but okay. And now you're aiming for the perfect race season. Yeah, which is wet.

Katelyn:

So that is doing every race in the run Disney season. I'm doing a perfect Walt Disney World run Disney season, so I am coming back in the end of February. Michelle and I will be there for Princess weekend. That weekend is a 5 k, 10 k half marathon, And I believe there's yoga that weekend. I could be wrong.

Michele:

There is. There is yoga.

Katelyn:

And then in April, there is the springtime surprise, and that is a 5 k, 10 k, and 10 miler. So I'm doing all of them. So if you're running Disney this year in Florida, I will be there.

Michele:

I would, of course, us Slater, but go ahead and tell us now because you have a really fun Instagram account. And I'm not on TikTok, but I think you are. So tell us where to find you because we can follow you and your runs and this whole season. So give us that information. I will also put it in the show notes.

Katelyn:

Okay. So for Instagram, I am at Katelyn runs disney, k a t e l y n, Katelyn runs Disney. And on TikTok, I am at kikirun disney. Usually, I'm posting more consistently on TikTok right now. I'm just documenting my training and the races and all of that. You can follow along at either place.

Michele:

Yay. And I've tried to get on TikTok actually, like, a week ago in part because, again, we recorded this 3 weeks to go and you gave me that information, but I stick to Instagram. But now let's talk about me because I am X-ray AF as is noted in the title of this podcast, and you already teased into that I am coming in February for the Princess Half Marathon weekend, which was my 1st runDisney weekend ever. It was actually the weekend of my bachelorette party, so it's been more than a dozen years since I've been, and I haven't been back to Princess since. I've done some of the other weekends, obviously because it was my bachelorette party. I have a really fond memory of it, but I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm freaking out. And all I'm trying to do is the 10 k, by the way.

Michele:

I'm freaking out.

Katelyn:

Do not freak out, Michelle. And, also, it is not just a 10 k. In 6.2 miles. Anybody who gets out on the course, anybody who wakes up, and I don't care if you're doing 1 mile for a 100 miles. You are an athlete. You are a runner. You are doing something that not everybody can do, And one day, we're not going to be able to do it. So it's not just a 10 k.

Katelyn:

It's a commitment.

Michele:

Right. And you gave me the training information, which for people who didn't hear the last podcast, we did together because I failed to record it. It was Joey Galloway. Correct?

Katelyn:

Jeff Galloway.

Michele:

Jeff Galloway. And he is the what? Why did you recommend him for me?

Katelyn:

So he is the official training correspondent of Run Disney. So runDisney puts out these great training programs, and they are free for anybody to download on the runDisney website. And for those of you who are not familiar with Jeff Galloway, he is an Olympian, and he developed the run, block, run method. So you can find your intervals, meaning you run for a minute and then you walk for 30 seconds. And the whole idea of his program and his training style is that you can run longer distances, and you can recover faster. So a lot of his athletes that follow his training program and his interval, they report that when they're finished with their wreath, they're finishing standing up. They're not as sore than us today, and they recover faster. So I love Jeff Galloway's program.

Katelyn:

I have used them religiously to train for runDisney races. I used it for Dopey. Like I said, they're free for anybody to use and download on the Rent Disney website. So highly recommend checking that out.

Michele:

I did say that I would post this in the Making Memories Insiders group, which I will, this training program that you gave me. But here's the thing for the quote unquote, not just a ten k, although compared to Dobie, I feel like the just was justified. It's an 18 week training program. And my calendar says that we're, like, basically 3 weeks away, 4 weeks at the most. I feel like it's already the end of January. So, yeah. I know. I'm freaking out.

Michele:

I know you told me not to, but I am.

Katelyn:

So I told him that you should freak out because the reason that I love Run Disney so much in they are so inclusive in who participates in their races. I think I mentioned this a little bit earlier in the recording, but To be quote unquote Disney Weebel, you have to keep a 16 minute mile pace, and that is from the time that the last person, the blues ladies who we know and love. From the moment that the blue ladies start to race is when the 16 minute mile clock starts ticking. So during DOPY, I saw so many people walking, jogging, running. It's really a very inclusive and welcoming race. I think that I heard somewhere that runDisney has the highest number of first half marathoners and marathoners that participating and finished their 1st races because of that inclusivity. So I don't think you should freak out, but I would recommend maybe trying to get in 3 miles, 4 miles this weekend to get the body moving.

Michele:

Yeah, well, I do move my body. I do spend probably 6 days a week. But yeah, I probably should put feet to pavement starting now. So please define the we love and hate the balloon ladies for us, please. For anybody who hasn't actually done a runDisney saying oh, and the hack about how to stay as far away from them as possible.

Katelyn:

Okay. So the balloon ladies, they are a lovely group of ladies. I have met them in some races. Princess, I think, 3 years ago. I had kind of fallen off of my training, and I got to chat with them a little bit on the course. But The Balloon Ladies, they are members of a local running club in Orlando, and They hold a pretty perfect 16 minute mile. We will know them because they have big Mickey balloon tied to their back. In what happens is when they start the race, they will clock a 16 minute mile.

Katelyn:

And at certain point, if you fall behind the balloon ladies, you will have to get on a bus and they will escort you to the finish line. Honestly, like, speaking from experience on that, I, DNF, did not finish. That's what DNF means. So, obviously, Dopey last year, which was at mile 22. I DNF'd the marathon in 2021. Admittedly, I did not train an out for that race. I just really wanted the medal, which is horrible. That's a whole another story.

Katelyn:

And then I DNF'd the princess, I believe, in 2021 as well. Again, like, I had fallen off training. So I have been on that this sweeper bus three times, and what I always say is the comeback is always greater than the setback. So use that as motivation to try again. Don't let that be your defining moment. But something that you can do if you're really worried about the balloon ladies, which I still am every single race, Disney offers a runner tracking program. So before the race, you can log in to your Track Shack account, with there's instructions in the expo guide that Disney sends out a few days prior to the weekend, and you can track the balloon ladies. It's all over Facebook.

Katelyn:

Their bib numbers, so what their race numbers are, you can put them in there, and then you can check to see, hey. They're at mile 7 and oh, no. I'm at mile 7.2. Like, they're catching up to me. Or there at mile 7, and I'm already done with my race. You can get a good idea how much of a buffer you have. I do that for every single race.

Michele:

I didn't actually know that. That's news to me. The hack that I was talking about is to be one of the 1st people in your corral because I have always February will be the 1st time, always actually been at the back of my crawl because I'm always so shy, insecure, and nervous that I'm like, oh, I want all the real runners to be in front of me and that's actually the exact wrong thing to be doing, I learned.

Katelyn:

Yes. So run Disney races start very, very early in the morning. Yes. That is one of the hardest parts not running dopey because you are up at 2 AM for 4 days in a row, and then you're in the parks after the race. And it's just long, zooming days, but I believe the corrals open around 3:45 for a 5 o'clock start. So if you're nervous about the balloon ladies, get into the corral as soon as it opens and sit at the front and make friends with the people around you. That's what I did at Wine and Dine. There are a bunch of Facebook groups out there as well.

Katelyn:

Two of my favorites are the Run Disney Independent Princesses Facebook group. You can meet a lot of people in there who run Disney solo, and you can meet up with people in the corral who are also running Disney by themselves. And I also really love the hash tagged run dopey Facebook group, and that is this is a year for running dopey, but they do talk about just runDisney in general as well. Those are my 2 favorite groups, and you can find people who are in the corral with you. If you're nervous about being there, If it's your 1st time, you don't really know what to do. There will be people around to help make it easier for you and help get you where you have to go.

Michele:

Awesome. Anne, you already said we would both be there at Princess, so you can also message us. I am at michelle visits mickey, and that will be in the show notes. And Katelyn's information will be in the show notes, and you can also always DM us. Also even though the race is completely sold out and it does it within hours of straight and opens for all the runs as any races. There is a thing called the cheer squad, c h e a r, cheer squad and you can always register to be in the cheer squad. So if there is anybody who is like, hey, I wanna experience runs as need, but there is no way I'm getting up that early or it's too cold or I have a train or any of the other excuses that I tell myself, you can always come and cheer someone else on. And Katelyn tells a story about her half marathon, and I don't know if it also applied to the marathon, the full marathon, but about your mom and running through a very special place.

Michele:

So would you tell that story?

Katelyn:

Absolutely. So I run Disney for myself. I have only ever run 1 race with my mom, and she did the 5 k with me. And she had a great time, and she said, not for me. You do you. I will cheer you on, but I don't wanna do another one of these. So what our routine is, our tradition, is once I get to Magic Kingdom, which is typically around mile 5 or 6 in the half marathon and mile this year, it was, like, mile 8 or 9 in the full marathon. She is standing on Main Street with a diet coke for me to take a quick sip of, and it just powers me through the rest of the race.

Katelyn:

Unfortunately, this year, we had some strong storms in the area for a half marathon for dopey weekend, so they actually shortened the half marathon course. So we did not get to run through Magic Kingdom on the half marathon day, but a bunch of us dopey people did stay in the parking lot. I actually got there earlier than usual, and I ran 6 miles around the parking lot before the race actually started, and then I ran 7.1 miles in the course, so around the Epcot. So I didn't get my diet coke on the half marathon goal. And then for the full marathon, my husband and my mom got caught up in some transportation issues. So they didn't make it to Magic Kingdom on marathon day either, But I did get my diet Coke at the finish line, and it tasted absolutely incredible.

Michele:

That you have to talk about running on Main Street because the park is closed to regular traffic. Like, there are not day guests in the park yet. You have to talk about that because I don't think I'll ever get to experience it again because the 10 k's don't usually go through the Magic Kingdom. And so I should back up that for last year. So 2023 is marathon weekend. I wanted to do the 10 k, but it was sold out. So I went ahead and I registered for the half, but knew that I was gonna pull out after for the 10 k, which I did do. I could have gone probably a little further, but I chose not to.

Michele:

So that course did go through Main Street, and so I got to experienced what that was like. So can you just talk about that for a second? What that must have felt like, especially knowing you were doping it. I can't even imagine what that must have felt like.

Katelyn:

Running down Main Street towards Cinderella Castle is one of the main reasons I run Disney. There is nothing like running down Main Street USA, and you have the whole side by the emporium is just jam packed with spectators yelling, screaming. They have signs. You obviously woke up and you paid to run and and you're there and you're doing it, but They have no skin in the game. They still wake up and they are packed like sardines. Your bib has your name on it. So they're saying, go, Katelyn. Go, Katelyn.

Katelyn:

They don't know me, but they are there, And they're motivating me to keep on going. You get to see Magic Kingdom as the sun is coming up.

Michele:

I'm getting chills just remembering it.

Katelyn:

Not many people get that opportunity. And this marathon was special because we got to run through Tron, the Tron area in Magic Kingdom for the 1st time, and that was really cool. I was curious to see how they were gonna connect it in to get us then through the castle. So then you do get to run through Cinderella's Castle, and you get to come out and you just see the whole view of main street in the whole park and it's something really special.

Michele:

And you could just take a picture. My picture of me running, like, as soon as I finished through the castle was my everything for that race. It made it so worthwhile.

Katelyn:

There's nothing like it. I love it.

Michele:

Yeah. There really is nothing like it. But if you want to come be on Main Street, really for Katelyn's cheer squad because mine will be running through up hot because I'm on the 10 k. We would love to have you, and we are gonna celebrate with the VIP tour. And we would love, love, love for you to join us that weekend, and either one of us can help you with that, and we will put that information in the show notes. And, again, Katelyn, congratulations on achieving your goal. I loved the picture of you with all of your medals. So we're so proud for you and of you, and I can't wait to see you next month.

Katelyn:

Thank you so very much. It was a labor of love, and I'm so proud of myself. It was definitely the hardest thing I've ever done mentally, physically, emotionally. There were definitely some peers dead crossing the finish line of the marathon, but it's definitely worth it. I say this all the time, but if anybody about Run Disney in general or if you're nervous about your race and you just need some motivation, Please don't hesitate to reach out to either Michelle or me. I'm happy to talk to anybody about Run Disney. I love it so much. And thank you, Michelle for having me.

Katelyn:

I really appreciate it and I can't wait to see you next month.

Michele:

Always, always. And I hit record this time too, so we're good.