I'm Such A Dope!

Right around November or December of this year if you ask me, "Steve, you're about to turn 40.  What are you going to do?"  I'm going to say, "I'm going to Disney World!"  However, not for the reason you might think.  You might be thinking I'm some insane Disney fan who lives for every Disney movie ever made and wants to meet every Disney character there is while they sign my "official Disney character autograph book."  Nope, I'm insane for a completely different reason.  In fact, you might call me a "dope".

This afternoon I have signed myself up for my first (and probably only) Dopey Challenge for the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend in January 2016.  What is the Dopey Challenge you ask?  If you are not in the running world, Walt Disney World created a great set of races to run through the Disney parks -- 5K (3.1 Miles), 10K (6.2 Miles), Half Marathon (13.1 Miles), and Full Marathon (26.2 Miles) -- which do not all occur on the same day.  In 2006, Disney created the Goofy Challenge which gave you the opportunity to run both the Half Marathon and the Full Marathon all in one weekend.  Not only would you receive medals for finishing both (Donald Duck for the Half, Mickey for the Full), you would also receive a Goofy medal and a hearty pat on the back from your family, friends, and loved ones.  My running "career" was not ready for that challenge at the time, but I knew one day I had hoped that I would be physically able to accomplish this lofty goal.  Then came the Dopey Challenge in 2014 and it had my attention.

The Dopey Challenge is a feat in of itself.  How would you like to finish all four races in four days?  Start with the 5K on Thursday, serve up the 10K on Friday, tee up the Half Marathon on Saturday, and button it all up with a nice Full Marathon on Sunday.  48.6 miles and six medals . . . a 5K Medal, a 10K Medal, a Half Marathon Medal, a Full Marathon Medal, a Goofy Medal, and a Dopey Medal.  Yep, one Dopey Medal.  A Dopey Medal for a dope finishing the Dopey Challenge.  I'm all in.  It's a once in a lifetime chance, but not for the reason you think.  I could see myself doing this several times over.  Yes, I might hem and haw right after about how I will never do it again, but I say the same thing about marathons.  This is my 40th Birthday present.  In other words . . . it's a lot of money!  All to be called a dope(y challenge finisher).

Boston . . . Maybe One Of These Days

I don't consider myself a fast runner.  I don't consider myself a slow runner either.  I'm (pardon the pun) "even Steven".  As much as I love to run and as much as I want to be faster, it's a tough road to travel.  I know what the key is.  I know how to get there.  I just don't put in the effort.  I watched those runners on Patriots' Day cruising through Boston like it was nothing.  I don't necessarily want to be at the front of the pack, but I want to be there.

I have a marathon bucket list and Boston is on it.  Starting next year (I will be in a different age group), I need to shave 20 minutes off my marathon time to qualify.  That's a lot.  I know it can be done and I know I have it in me.  The quote goes, "You can do anything if you put your mind to it."  I believe that.  You should too.  Anything you do in life, dedicate yourself to it and I guarantee you will make it happen.  I am going to make Boston happen -- probably not next year, probably not the following year, but one day I will.  I will be there at the starting line knowing I put my mind to it.