4 Days 4 Runs

The three biggest challenges of running the Dopey Challenge are:

1. Mileage
2. 4 Consecutive Running Days
3. Early Mornings

The mileage I'm working on with each run, both short and long.  I've been building up my strength and endurance in the last few weeks and the changes are starting to show.

The early mornings I'll push through and help with naps the weekend of the races.  Luckily I'm used to early mornings for work and also from morning practices still.  Unfortunately I suffer from the inability to sleep in.  Seriously, sleeping in for me is like 7:30AM, maybe 8:00 if I'm lucky.

So the consecutive days of running.  That's the only challenge I haven't really faced yet.  Well hadn't until this week.  Friday through Monday I made sure to get some sort of cardio in. 

The first two days were on the elliptical, one after a killer weight workout and the other just focused on the elliptical run.  On Sunday I hit the pavement and felt ok.  My knees weren't the happiest, but I got through the few miles I needed to before work and then made it through the rest of my day.  I was still feeling positive from my run by the end of the day, that I had decided to run again on Monday morning before work.  So I set my alarm and got out there for a slightly longer run.

As crazy as it sounds the last run, my 4th day, felt the best out of any of the other runs.  That has probably made me the most excited about what I had done.  The mileage was no where near what I'll need it to be for the actual challenge, but I haven't done that much running in that many consecutive days ever really.  It made me pumped for my training and my success with the Dopey Challenge.  Yes it's still two years away but I'm taking these minor wins because they'll add up to the overall win!

What I've decided to do now is for the rest of 2016 I am going to do a 4 day/4 run mini-challenge every other month.  In 2017 I'm looking at boosting it to every month.  It should make sure I'm as ready as I could ever be for the Dopey!

Step 1- Talk About It... A Lot

It's only been a day since I really decided on my goal of the Dopey Challenge, but the training and the preparation started as soon as I told myself I could do it.

I had already started running again because the weather has been so nice recently.  It's a bit on the chilly side for me, but that makes the runs that much better.  Considering I know that the summer will be here soon and the heat and humidity will be back with a vengeance, I'm trying to get my base runs back to a solid 3-4 miles before the weather becomes an issue.

However, right now the physical part of training is not the most important for me.  Right now, the most important part is getting the word out there and telling people that I'm going to do it.  I've told family, friends, coworkers, and other people I've met and struck up running conversations with... really anyone who would listen, I've told.

It's important to me, and I think anyone who has a challenging goal, to get the word out there.  It gives you a sense of responsibility to the goal, more so than just a personal one.  Now people are waiting to see you complete it.  It's a little bit more pressure, but it prevents you from creating excuses to yourself and quitting when times get hard.  It also sets up a support group to help you get through those tough times.  That's part of the reason I went back to writing a blog about this process... to make sure I finish it and find support along the way.

Most people have been encouraging and supportive.  A close friend of mine, who inspired me to complete the challenge by completing it herself this year, told me she'd be my cheerleader this time. She's also someone I'll probably lean on quite a bit as a I train for advice and opinions.  A few coworkers are also trying out some 10Ks and half marathons this year so we're all getting together and supporting each other for whatever our goals are.

Some friends are definitely thinking I'm crazy though, which I have to agree with.  Of course, you have to be a little dopey to do the Dopey Challenge... that's practically a requirement.

2 Years Till Dopey!

2 years...

That's how long I have until the 2018 Dopey's Challenge during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

I never thought I would be able to run long distances.  Then, in 2010, I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon.  I thought that would be it, that I would be done.  I definitely wouldn't run a marathon.

Three years, 7 half marathons, and a number of 5ks later I ran my first and what I thought was my last marathon at the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon.  I thought that was all I needed.  I had fun, I finished, that's all I needed.

Apparently not.  I thought I had retired considering I haven't run a race since the marathon.  But the itch became unbearable and I finally had to scratch yesterday.  I have to do it... I have to do the Dopey Challenge.

I've had a few friends compete in the challenge, and finish, and I knew I could do the same.  I think a piece of it is the endurance athlete in me as well telling me I could do it.  I just have to be smart about it.  Which is why I'll be doing my challenge in 2018.  It'll be the 5 year anniversary and it will give me plenty of time to get my body and mainly my knees in shape to survive the challenge.

Join me as I train and get ready for this challenge.  I'll post about the successes and the challenges.  The pretty and not so pretty.  Overall, this should be another interesting challenge, that's for sure.

731 Days...

I can do this...