I never listen to music when I run…..I think about chocolate cake!!
Today I am flying back to Massachusetts. I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude to my spouse and friends who supported me in this crazy adventure. I appreciate all the runners who cheered me on at the finish line and along the course.
Also.
THANK YOU, HASHEM.
I’m glad I had the strength to keep pushing.
I’m glad Hashem just carried me to the finish line.
Every step I take is a miracle, a gift from Hashem.
I love this, Sport.
This race also marks a place in time.
I am 56 years old.
I have been married for almost 32 years.
Marriage is strong.
My kids are also happily married.
Carrie is married to John. Izzy is married to Bobby. My spouse and I are enjoying our lovely grandchildren. We have two grandchildren, Sarah, age 5, and Isaac, age 2. We also have a grandchild due in June because my youngest daughter, Izzy, is pregnant.
I also ran this race for my brother-in-law, Bernie, 57, who is in hospice. He has Down syndrome, and his life force is coming to an end. Running 48.6 miles is more than race rewards—It symbolizes perseverance, triumph, and growth. It’s a symbol of strength. · It’s a symbol of the heart.
I ran this race to prove to myself and others that I can do hard things.
I am Dopey!!!!! Sunday, 26.2 miles featuring Micky Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Runners ran throughall four parks a Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios
I did it. I am so grateful that I completed 46.8 miles. I crossed four finish lines through 4 Disney World parks over 4 days.
Thank you so much to my spouse for keeping me company this weekend
In the words of Walt Disney, “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!
Running through the parks at Walt Disney World reminded me that I must always believe in myself.
This weekend, I not only conquered the Dopey Challenge but also proved that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and a little faith.
……………… This woman in the pictures is 56 and has reached a big running goal. I just completed my 6th official Dopey! In 2020, I ran my first Dopey. From then on, I challenged myself to run Dopey every year, as my personal goal. In 2020, I wanted to be a Dopey “streaker. Age 56 ….6 Dopeys!!!!! I like to set the bar high for my goals! 2020 DOPEY 2021 COVID canceled 2022 Dopey 2023 Dopey 2024 Dopey 2025 Dopey 2026 Dopey Later in the day, my spouse and I went to the Boardwalk Bakery to enjoy a celebration cake. We sat at an outdoor table, enjoying our snack and the view of Crescent Lake. Afterwards, we went back to Old Key West and had a leisurely dinner of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup, and packed our bags for our flight back to Massachusetts on Monday Morning.
Tomorrow, we will pick up our dogs from Dog Mother Daycare and relax. …………. Thank you, everybody, for the support last weekend. It was a fantastic weekend. I love Disney World Races .
Saturday 13.1 miles Half Marathon featuring Donald Duck and Daisy Duck I LOVED the course so much. The start line was on a road outside Epcot, then ran to Magic Kingdom, along the lagoon back through Epcot, and ended in the Epcot parking lot. My favorite part of the race was turning into Disney Magic Kingdom, where the castle came into view. All in all, another great race.
Tomorrow is the Marathon! My Journey so far has been a very special experience. I am nervous about tomorrow…. It’s 26.2 miles long. It is going to be a bit warm. Hopefully, the sun stays away. The races are almost over. I appreciate all of your support and my spouse’s support. I am ready for the Marathon tomorrow. I spent the rest of today resting. I will let you know how I did tomorrow evening.
10k Friday, 6.2 miles, theme race, Chip and his friend Dale I ran this race extremely slowly. I enjoyed the festivities. Runners ran around the World Showcase Pavilion at Epcot and along the Disney Boardwalk. There are many cute shops and restaurants along the boardwalk. The boardwalk wraps around Lake Crescent.
I ran this race very slowly. I wanted to save my energy for the next three races! I enjoyed seeing all the Disney Characters on the course!
I had a blast running around the lake at Epcot. (World Showcase Pavilion ·
*The World Showcase section travels the globe in one day with enticing recreations of Canada, Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Japan, Morocco, France, and the United Kingdom.
After the race I spent the day relaxing at Old Key West with my spouse.
The Dopey Challenge is a signature event at Walt Disney World, where runners complete four races over four consecutive days: a 5K on Thursday, a 10K on Friday, a Half Marathon on Saturday, and a Full Marathon on Sunday, totaling 48.6 miles. (3.1) (6.2) (13.1) (26.2)miles
My spouse and I flew out early this morning. It was a pleasant flight.
Later, we visited Disney’s Wide World of Sports, where I picked up the running bibs and shirts and just enjoyed the festive running excitement. We are at our favorite place, the Old Key West Resort, and chose a 1-bedroom villa. The rooms are so incredibly spacious that it felt like luxury. There is a lovely patio, a living room, a full kitchen, a bathtub and shower, and even a laundry room. I love it here because it feels like home. We even had groceries delivered. Gatorade, Bananas, Peanut butter, and all my favorite marathon snacks
I am well rested. I did not run in the past 2 weeks because I overpushed my last training run in mid-December, and my feet and lower leg muscles were very sore.
Tonight, Ed and I went out to a lovely Italian meal. Il Mulino My Good Luck Meal. ……..Time to go to bed…. Let the Dopey Challenge Begin
Hi all, it’s been a while I am training for a big endurance run called the Dopey Challenge. For those unfamiliar, the Dopey Challenge is a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon completed over four consecutive days, totaling 48.6 miles.
This weekend was a big running weekend. I ran 3 miles on Wednesday. 6 miles on Thursday 13 miles on Friday 17 miles on Saturday
It was my last Dopey Simulation weekend!
Today, I am officially in taper town!!!!!
The training runs were hard, especially the 17-miler.
Now I am going to rest!! My feet are sore!!!!!! Lol but its worth It
In less than three weeks, I will be at Walt Disney World.
I also had a very nice Chanukkah. Family fun …….. I had lots of yummy potato pancakes and goodies. It was a very full week. I need a long nap !!!!!
I finished! This Bubbie, Grandmother, Still Has IT!!!! I had a good race.
Number 3 New York Marathon is done!!!!!!!!! Team for Kids! Improving the life of children through running!
Ed, Thank You for keeping me company this weekend and being my cheerleader. Love ya!
Saturday
Saturday, my spouse and I flew from Boston to New York.
We took the early 7:30 flight.
I had a delicious breakfast at the American Airlines Lounge, and then we boarded our flight.
It was a quick one-hour flight.
Once we landed, we took an Uber to our hotel.
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Midtown Manhattan hotel.
It is very welcoming.
The room was clean and spacious with a nice king-size bed, a lovely bathroom, and a large vanity area.
Once we checked our bags, we strolled around the city.
We also decided to do a “practice run” on the New York MTA red line train to familiarize myself with the transportation system on Marathon Sunday.
Once we were on the train,
I was counting all the train stops from our hotel’s nearest train station to the closest train stop located near the marathon finish line.
My goal was to be familiar with how to get back to our hotel once I crossed the marathon finish line.
Later in the day, I went to the Javits Convention Center to pick up my bib number.
I also wanted to double-check that I am registered for the ferry to take me to Staten Island for the start of the New York Marathon.
My spouse and I walked around a bit, and then it was time for dinner.
We had dinner at our hotel.
After dinner, it was time to head back to our room and sleep.
Sunday
The next morning, I was on the way to the Marathon!!!!
I met up with the (Wave 4) Team for Kids runners, and we all boarded the 8 am ferry to begin our trip to the start line. Once we arrived in STATEN ISLAND, we all boarded buses for a 15-minute ride to Fort Wadsworth, the starting village of the 2025 New York City Marathon.
I love being part of Team for Kids because we had our own private tent at the starting village that provided us with coffee, tea, bagels, and bananas.
Around 10:15, our team coaches lead us in a warm-up stretch.
Then all the runners headed to our Wave 4 corral.
Time to get excited, nervous, anxious, and feel all the emotions as we stood at the start line of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
The National Anthem played, and then thousands of runners were on our journey to Central Park, New York.
We also heard Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York playing in the background.
My plan for this race is to use Jeff Galloway’s “The Run-Walk-Run Method”
The course goes through the 5 boroughs of New York (Staten Island/ Brooklyn/ Queens/ Bronx/ Manhattan).
Staten Island Mile1 and 2
The first 2 miles were awesome. I love running on the Verrazzano Bridge. THE scenery from the bridge is epic.
Miles 3-10 Brooklyn
I love all the cheering fans on the course.
Running through Brooklyn is like a big party on the course, especially downtown Brooklyn.
I was having a really good time on the course.
The fans are dancing, drinking booze, and are amazingly happy. I had so many fans giving me high fives.
I honestly felt like a superstar. Luckily, no one high-five me to hard!
Miles 11 and 12
This part of the course has a very different vibe, but I still love it!
Runners pass through the Hasidic Jewish enclave.
It is very quiet.
No one is cheering us on.
Marathon Sunday is not a holiday in this stretch of the race!
Peace and quiet at last!
Trust me, the silence is so refreshing after running through the noise from the previous miles.
I love the quiet!
The men go about their regular Sunday business. The women enjoy walking with their children to Hebrew school or around the neighborhood.
Miles 11 and 12 are also known as the modesty miles; people living here look away in modesty as runners pass.
Mile 13 and 14 Queens.
The fans are very cheerful.
For the first 13 miles or so, I felt awesome. I kept up with my plan of walking and running.
Yeah, I am halfway there!
Miles 15 and 16.
I absolutely hated this part of the course. Crossing the Queensboro Bridge is the most dreaded part of this race for me. The race started to get tough mentally.
The Queensboro Bridge seems to go on and on and on forever. The scenery is ugly, and there are no spectators.
Mile 17 – 19 Manhattan
I finally made it to the Mile 17 marker! 9 more miles
I just kept on putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying myself.
Mile 20 – 22, Bronx
The race enters the Bronx at mile 20.
6 miles to go.
Mile 23 to 25 Back to Manhattan
We are now heading to Central Park.
I am enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Marathon.
It is dark now because of Daylight Saving Time!
I am officially in
Manhattan.
The last 3 miles of the course are lit up for our safety with so many glowing lights! Its beautiful.
I can see Central Park, the location of the finishing line.
New York City at night is truly magical, with all the city’s lights from the tall buildings.
Mile 26 Central Park.
I entered Central Park.
The marathon finish line was lit up for a dramatic visual effect.
I crossed the finish line.
Best feeling in the world. My time was………. 07:10:20
After the race, I manage to find my way back to the hotel. My hotel was just 5 red line train stops away from the finish line!
I had a few nutrition runners’ bars for dinner. I got into my pajamas and snuggled up in bed as I wrote this post.
Middle Age Slow Runner Robin's Running Stories 