Welcome to planDisney, Elizabeth! I'm so excited to hear that you're thinking about signing up for the 2023 Dopey Challenge; I've been tossing around the same idea myself! as Walt Disney once said, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
The Dopey Challenge is the pinnacle of all runDisney races, and it consists of four consecutive days of running and 48.6 miles. If you complete all of the races, you will receive six medals- that's a lot of bling, so save some room in your suitcase! What has gotten me hooked on runDisney races is getting to see the parks in the wee hours and having the experience of running through Cinderella Castle. After all that training, there's no better feeling!
According to the
runDisney website, if you believe you will finish the Half Marathon in 2 hours or less or the Marathon in 4 hours or less, proof of time is required for start placement. This will place you in one of the front corrals (now called starting groups); you'll be placed in the last starting group if you do not submit an official race time. Proof of time is unnecessary for the 5K and 10K races. You will select your "Anticipated Pace Per Mile" for these races when you register.
I like to run a few local races throughout the year to ensure a better corral placement. Being closer to the front of the race means shorter lines for character photos and bathroom breaks. General Registration opens for the
2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend on April 19, 2022. I usually register for my races on the day registration opens and then go back later to insert my proof of time; a deadline will be posted on the registration page explaining when you'll need to submit it (usually a couple of months before the races, so you will still have time if you want to run a local timed race later this year).
Good luck training for those magical miles, Elizabeth! I highly recommend checking out the
Jeff Galloway runDisney Dopey Challenge training plan; I know many finishers who swear by it. I hope to see you out there!
Eean