Ok – so I just got done my 2nd snow shoveling of the day and I was put in mind to put a quick video to discuss what to take for the Dopey Challenge and how the weather plays into that.
To start with the full Dopey Challenge packing list is here: http://biggoofyrunner.com/to-take-lists-for-goofy-and-dopey-challenge-races/to-take-list-for-the-dopey-challenge/
There has been a fair bit of trial and error go into this list – so some history might be in order to understand why I have what I do on the list.
I have run the Walt Disney World Marathon races – or at least have done races at the event 8 times. With those races, I have run into all sorts of weather – good, bad, and bloody awful!
I remember one year it was so hot for the full marathon that the DNF (did not finish) percentage was super high. I was at the 2017 half marathon that was cancelled due to lightning. And I have been there when it has snowed….
Yeah, snow. See Lee Hoedl’s 2010 Walt Disney World Half-Marathon – All Along The Entire Route video for some video of that race.
Now – I am from Winnipeg, Canada and it get cold here and I have run in some truly cold weather (did a half marathon race one year where it was colder than -40) and I find it to be truly awful to run in Florida when it is cold there.
The trick with Florida is when it is cold (say near freezing), the humidity is still up – this isn’t necessarily that bad a thing when you are actually running. But with the runDisney races you can have a few hours standing out in the cold waiting to start the race. And with that humidity that cold will sink into your soul.
So long story short, I pack for both cold and warm weather.
See the linked list for the full list (I also have one for the Goofy Challenge – http://biggoofyrunner.com/to-take-lists-for-goofy-and-dopey-challenge-races/to-take-pack-list-for-the-goofy-challenge/).
Here are some highlights for cold weather:
- Emergency foil blankets – these will help retain your body heat on those cold mornings – the 2018 races were a sea of silver mylar before the races
2. Large garbage bags – I precut holes for my head and arms and will wear these over the mylar blanket – they really cut the cold wind.
3. Spare sweaters, sweat pants, etc – that can ditch right before the race or as get warmed up – discard them on the side of the race course and Disney will collect them, clean them and take them to places where they can help people in need
4. Running gloves – a couple pairs – I bring two so that I wear one pair and clean them after a race and I will still have a pair for the rest of the day and the next race if the first pair aren’t dry yet.
5. Running toque / fleece cap – same deal as the gloves
Some other general things I will bring:
- Baby wipes – a baggie full in my pocket – I am way too familiar with the porta-potties at the WDW races.
2. Rain poncho
3. Phone gimbal – I started using this during the 2018 WDW Marathon races – I’ll link a playlist: Phone gimbal – I started using this during the 2018 Dopey Challenge:
4. Phone – music, gps tracking, video taking
5. Battery bank – special one that screws into a standard tripod mount
6. Headphones – I have a bluetooth set that I will use for most of the races but I don’t think the batteries will last through the full marathon. So I will have a wired set too.
7. Hydration backpack – I mentioned in a previous video how much liquid I need – this will be used on the full marathon
8. Nipstrips – nipple chafing sucks
9. Race bib belt – saves time and frustration pinning down the race bib
10. Small running belt – for the races where I don’t have the Hydration backpack
Special Items:
- Pieces of magic – special tokens to keep me moving forward – http://biggoofyrunner.com/disney-world-pieces-of-magic/
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