Runner Leana

...sometimes with a little swimming and biking thrown in...

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Goofy Challenge Tips and Tricks

January 5, 2015 By: Runner Leana

This weekend I’ll be running my third Goofy Challenge!  I cannot believe it is race week already!!

Are you running the Goofy or the Dopey Challenge at Disney World this weekend? If so I thought I’d share some of my tips and tricks for executing back to back races while you are on vacation at Disney World.

Save your park hopping for after the race

It is really easy to want to cram a lot of Disney into your race weekend. If you can I would suggest saving your park hopping for after the race.

Did you know that from the main entrance gate at Magic Kingdom and making a full lap around the park is 1.5 miles? It is really easy to put a lot of extra miles on your legs on race weekend without intending to.

That being said a little gentle walking around the park can help to flush your legs out, but be careful not to overdo it.

Try not to eat all the food

There are so many delicious treats to eat at Disney World. Dole whips, Mickey ice cream bars, funnel cake, cupcakes…

You might be hungry and stressed but before and during race weekend is not the best time to be scarfing all of those treats down. Stick to your healthy foods and snacks and save it for a reward after the race!

Choose your pre-race meals wisely

There are so many great places to eat at Disney World, but there are a lot of race day pitfalls out there. You know what meals have worked well for you in training and pick a dish that aligns with that. Skip the rich meals…even though the buffet at Germany (and accompanying stein of beer) is very delicious!

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

The tap water at Disney World is a little on the warm side and isn’t the most delicious. Pick up plenty of bottled water so you have no excuse to not hydrate.

Fuel for recovery

As soon as your first race is over you need to start fuelling for recovery. Ideally you want to get your recovery snack within 30 minutes of finishing your race. I plan on putting an insulated bag with an ice pack, chocolate milk and a peanut butter sandwich in my checked bag for all of my races.

You will get a snack box, a banana, a bottle of water and a bottle of Powerade on your way through the finishers’ chute.

Plan your race execution strategy

If you are planning on running back to back (or back to back to back to back) races it is unlikely that you can race them all fast. Decide what your overall goal is for the weekend ahead of time. Is the half marathon your sacrificial race so that you can execute a good marathon? If so have a plan in place so you don’t start out too fast on the half. Are you trying for an overarching goal for the entire weekend? Do you want to set a personal best in character photos?

Whatever your goal is, come up with a plan to help you achieve it.

Are you running any of the races at the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend? What is your goal for the weekend?

I’m linking up with run.geek.run (disney) and Adventures by Katie for Mickey Monday!

I’m also linking up with MCM Mama Runs, Run the Great Wide Somewhere and My No-Guilt Life for Tuesdays on the Run!Tuesdays-on-the-run3

more from Runner Leana

  • A Mental ShiftA Mental Shift
  • Horsing AroundHorsing Around
  • So long blondie…So long blondie…
  • Lunch Swimming?Lunch Swimming?
  • 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Race Report2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Race Report

Comments

  1. 1

    Amy says

    January 6, 2015 at 7:20 am

    How fun! Maybe someday I could run a Disney race, but living in Iowa makes it hard since it would cost so much to travel there.. Right now I just run local races. Less than 2 hours from home. I know how my husband would react if I told him I wanted to go to Florida just to run. He has warned me twice already this month about not planning our whole summer around races… 🙁 He’s suck a party pooper!
    Amy recently posted…Half Marathon Training & Other thoughts {Day 7}My Profile

    • 2

      Runner Leana says

      January 6, 2015 at 1:55 pm

      Luckily my husband is a good sport about Disney races since that means he gets to go to Disney World too. I have to be careful not to plan all of our holidays around races though!
      Runner Leana recently posted…How I Spent My Christmas HolidayMy Profile

  2. 3

    Lesley says

    January 6, 2015 at 9:08 am

    There is no better post-race reward than a Dole Whip 🙂
    Lesley recently posted…2015 GoalsMy Profile

    • 4

      Runner Leana says

      January 6, 2015 at 1:55 pm

      Dole Whip is hands down my favourite treat at Disney World!!!
      Runner Leana recently posted…How I Spent My Christmas HolidayMy Profile

  3. 5

    Lacey says

    January 6, 2015 at 9:28 am

    So excited for the wkend. We definitely plan on doing park on Sunday. That is if we can still walk:) There are so many great restaurants, it’s going to be hard to decide which ones to go to.
    Lacey recently posted…Remembering the Disney World MarathonMy Profile

    • 6

      Runner Leana says

      January 6, 2015 at 1:57 pm

      My hat is off to you for hitting up a park after the marathon on Sunday!! I think a little walking around the park will probably be good for your legs though and will hopefully keep them from stiffening up and getting too sore.

      Best of luck this weekend!
      Runner Leana recently posted…How I Spent My Christmas HolidayMy Profile

  4. 7

    Smitha says

    January 6, 2015 at 9:31 am

    Heading up for the Dopey Challenge 🙂
    Smitha recently posted…Word of the Year for 2015My Profile

    • 8

      Runner Leana says

      January 6, 2015 at 1:57 pm

      Best of luck on the Dopey Challenge!!! My mom is running that one too. Have a great time at Disney!
      Runner Leana recently posted…How I Spent My Christmas HolidayMy Profile

  5. 9

    John says

    January 6, 2015 at 11:24 am

    Great list of tips! All important things to remember. Hard not to eat all the delicious food, but perfect for reward post-race. Thanks for sharing and joining the linkup. Look forward to reading more of your blog!
    John recently posted…New Balance runDisney 2015 Shoes | Mickey MondayMy Profile

    • 10

      Runner Leana says

      January 6, 2015 at 1:59 pm

      Thanks John! I definitely want to enjoy vacation and eat all of the delicious treats…but then running might be a little less fun. I am sure there will be a Dole Whip with my name on it for after the race though!

  6. 11

    Lisa says

    January 6, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    This event looks like alot of fun! Good luck!
    Lisa recently posted…From “Recovery” To “Training”: The Base-Building PhaseMy Profile

    • 12

      Runner Leana says

      January 6, 2015 at 1:59 pm

      Thank you Lisa!!
      Runner Leana recently posted…How I Spent My Christmas HolidayMy Profile

  7. 13

    April says

    January 6, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Great tips!! I usually walk over 9 miles a day when we visit Walt Disney World and I definitely try to save my park visits until AFTER the race(s)! I didn’t do that on my one trip to Disneyland (for Tink) and really really paid for it! Thanks for linking up with us!

    • 14

      Runner Leana says

      January 19, 2015 at 2:12 pm

      Wow, 9 miles a day of walking in the parks?! I’ve often wanted to wear my Garmin to see just how much walking we do there.
      Runner Leana recently posted…Race Report: 2015 Walt Disney World 5KMy Profile

  8. 15

    MCM Mama says

    January 6, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    I love chocolate milk after a race. They had it at the RNR USA race and I had it finished in a matter of seconds. Thanks for all the tips – I have several back to back races coming up this year.
    MCM Mama recently posted…Tuesdays on the Run: Goals for 2015My Profile

    • 16

      Runner Leana says

      January 19, 2015 at 2:13 pm

      Best of luck with your back to back races this year!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Race Report: 2015 Walt Disney World 5KMy Profile

  9. 17

    HoHo Runs says

    January 6, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    OH, how I wish I was doing a Disney race! I did my first two half marathons there and it holds a very special place in my heart! I hope you rock this Goofy Challenge!
    HoHo Runs recently posted…Back to Normal (Tuesdays on the Run)My Profile

    • 18

      Runner Leana says

      January 19, 2015 at 2:14 pm

      Thank you so much for your comment! There is definitely something very special and magical about running at Disney!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Race Report: 2015 Walt Disney World 5KMy Profile

  10. 19

    Crystal says

    January 9, 2015 at 10:07 am

    GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!
    Crystal recently posted…The Cold That Shagged MeMy Profile

    • 20

      Runner Leana says

      January 19, 2015 at 2:14 pm

      I’m sorry my response to your comment is so late but thank you!!!
      Runner Leana recently posted…Race Report: 2015 Walt Disney World 5KMy Profile

who is runner leana?

6 x Ironman Finisher, 11 x 70.3 Finisher, geeky engineer and recent MBA grad.

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2020 SOAS Racing Ambassador

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blogging since April 2007

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