Reading meet runDisney 🤝
When I met my now husband in 2015, little did I know that my that my future mother in law was runDisney famous – you can check out the Joyful Miles YouTube Channel here!
When I was first introduced to runDisney in 2015 – I thought, “there is no way I would ever sign up for this.” Because:
1) Broke college student
2) College student who was not interested in running (Zumba and spin class were my jams)
3) Disney??? Isn’t that for kids??
I seriously got back into running in spring 2018 when I ran my first half marathon with my mother in law followed by my first marathon in fall 2019 (also with my MIL). Still, I could not see myself running a Disney race.
When the theme for January’s 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend was announced in February 2025, I knew I had to sign up. Yes, this is a mainly a book blog, but there is a side of running on my page as well. And the theme fit perfectly!
And if I was going to do a runDisney race – I HAD to go big! Because who knows if I would ever run a Disney race ever again because not only are the races pricy, it takes out a huge chunk of PTO (6 days of PTO to be exact). Which meant I wanted to do all the races – 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon. That means DOPEY CHALLENGE!! But first the real challenge… registration. The runDisney races typically sell out within the hour with thousands of people missing out. Luckily, I had my MIL and her fabulous group of friends. When 10 AM hit on registration day – we were all trying to make sure myself and my MIL secured Dopey bibs.
Luck was on our side! 🍀
Now that we had our bibs the fun part could begin – costume planning. Each race distance has a different theme/character associated with it. The majority of runners dress up in some type of way for each race, with some people going all out wearing gowns and wigs.
5K: Pluto + space inspiration
10K: Pool party inspiration (also reusing an outfit from Frederick Running Festival 5k to save money)
Half Marathon: Daisy Duck inspiration (MIL dressed up as Donald)
Marathon: Dopey Challenge inspiration
Now came the not so fun part – the training. Just kidding I LOVE ME A GOOD TRAINING PLAN!!!! Seriously I live for my excel training sheets.
I was training for the Richmond Marathon (November 15, 2025) which unfortunately I ended up deferring (personal reasons, I was still totally fit and ready to run a fall marathon!). Nevertheless I still kept up with my training, running 2 solid 20 milers before Dopey.
Expo day: This is the day you pick up your bib numbers, find out what corral you are placed in, spend lots of money, and fight people for the coveted runDisney merch. I didn’t personally fight anyone, but getting merch is kind of like the Hunger Games.
I was happy that I was placed in B corral. If you plan on running a 5 hour or less marathon you have to submit a proof of time in the form of a full marathon, half marathon, or 10 miler. My proof of time was from the Rehoboth Seashore Half Marathon, December 2024 (1:54:51).
5k recap: Cue the 2 am wake up call. Seriously, we had our alarms set for 2 am. Buses start leaving the resorts at 3:00 am. We always tried to get on the first bus because the earlier you get there, the shorter the lines were for the 4 character photo ops before the race even starts. You can go and get those same character photos after the race – I like to get pictures both pre and post race when I have my medals.
Even though my corral was B, I started in corral C with my MIL. You are able to move back corrals but cannot move forward. The 5K was very congested and honestly my least favorite race. We only stopped for one character on the course, and that line took 25 minutes to get through. The course is nice and basically just circles Epcot. It is fun to run through the park before sunrise and before the park opens. We didn’t do much running due to congestion (and we have 3 more races and a lot more miles to go!).
Character photo ops on course: Moon Girl, Star Lord, Buzz Lightyear, Captain Gantu, Jumba
Character photo ops pre/post-race reunion area: Space Donald Duck, Stitch, Dopey, Pluto
10k recap: Another morning, another 2 am wake up! The 10K course includes Epcot and Disney’s Boardwalk area. For this race we changed the strategy slightly. I wanted to get more character photos this race (the character photo list is usually leaked the night before/morning of). The plan was that I would run ahead and get in line for the character. Then my MIL would jump in line with me when she caught up. Many people do this – she isn’t cutting the line since we get 1 photo (together) and that is all (no singles). About halfway through the race I began to pull away and met back up with her after the race.
Character photo ops on course: Goofy, Daisy, Agent P., Nick & Judy, Miguel, Darkwing, Rescue Ranger Chipmunks, Donald, Lewis, Jose, Mira, Mirabel & Bruno
Character photo ops pre/post-race reunion area: Duffy, Chip & Dale, Fat Cat & Monterey Jack, Dopey
Half marathon recap: Onto an even earlier wake up because the first bus now leaves at 2:30 am! I was so excited for half marathon day because we get to run through Magic Kingdom and through the castle. I was looking forward to the castle picture the most because it is the most iconic (unfortunately my photo was less than iconic 😩). I cannot describe the feeling of running down Main Street of Magic Kingdom with people lined up and down the street cheering you on and seeing the castle lit up. It is truly magical.
For this race I started in corral B and ran my own race. And wow what a world of difference it is being in an earlier corral! I stopped at every single character photo op and most lines took no more than 2 mins (some even had no line!).
Character photo ops on course: Jack & Sally, Anna & Kristoff, Shang, Queen of Hearts, Woody & Bo Peep, Incredibles, Mickey, Aladdin & Jasmin, Flynn & Rapunzel, Jessie & Buzz, Lilo, Clarabelle & Horace, Clarice, Joy, Carl, Marie, Oswald & Ortensia
Character photo ops pre/post-race reunion area: Flick & Atta, Daisy & Donald, Goofy, Dopey
Marathon recap: Finally we made it to the marathon! All of the other races start at 5 am, but the marathon starts at 4:30 am. Florida gets super hot, so the extra 30 minutes earlier is great for not being out in the heat as long. I decided to start in corral B again and run my own race. My personal goal was to have fun, get a photo at all of the character stops, and ride Escape from Everest. This course is by far the best course because you run through all 4 parks (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios). Which means…. another run through the castle! The entire time leading up the the castle I kept thinking “find your pocket, look at the camera, smile.” And another phot fail…. I got cut off again 😭
By the time you get to Animal Kingdom at mile 17 the park is usually open (unless you are super fast and make it there before the park opens). With the park being open you have the chance to take a quick detour and ride Expedition Everest. This was my favorite park of the entire weekend. Where else can you ride a roller coaster in the middle of a marathon? Sorry to anyone who rode after me and had to sit in my sweaty seat 🤣
I never “hit the wall,” but man did it get hot out there with temperatures in the low 80s by midday. Thank you to all the spectators that were giving runners handfuls of ice! The course closes at approximately 1 pm. However, the race ended up cutting off two miles for some people towards the back of the pack due to unsafe running conditions. I am happy that I was able to finish all 26.2 miles before the course was shortened!
Character photo ops on course: Bert & Mary Poppins, Tweedles, Miguel, Genie, Duffy, Ian & Barley, Judy, Tigger & Pooh, Louis, Donald & Daisy, Goofy, Mickey & Minnie, Jack Sparrow & Barbosa, Peter Pan & Wendy, Mirabel & Bruno, Sparky & Angel and Sample & Reuben, Powerline Max, Stitch, Chip & Dale, Doc McStuffins, Imperial Trooper, Darth Vader, Jawa, Chewy & Rey & Vi, Kylo Ren, Baloo, Mr. Incredible, Anna & Elsa, Oogie Boogie, Russell & Dug, Pluto, Joy, Edna & Frozone, Jiminy
Character photo ops pre/post-race reunion area: Alice & Mad Hatter, Mickey & Minnie, Goofy, Dopey
So what’s my story……
I am officially hooked on runDisney! I love being able to share these races with my MIL and her group of girl friends. I’ll be back on the start line in 2027 for the Dopey Challenge again!
What’s your story? Have you run a runDisney race before? Are you training for anything? Let me know if you like the Disney content, and I’ll be sure to share more!
Happy reading (and running)! ☺️
