Countdown To Dopey Day 2: The Marathon Starts Before the Start Line - Recovery, Pacing, and Fueling

Marathon day during the Dopey Challenge isn’t just about the 26.2 miles — it’s about everything that happens before you reach the start line. In Day 2 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew breaks down how to properly recover after the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon so your body is ready to handle marathon day. With four consecutive early mornings and accumulating fatigue, recovery becomes the most important “race” of the weekend. This episode covers: Why recovery between races must be treated as an active discipline How muscle soreness shows up differently for quad-dominant and glute-dominant runners Practical mobility and stretching strategies to reduce stiffness before marathon morning Why extra walking and park miles can quietly sabotage marathon performance How to think about celebrating without compromising your legs What marathon-morning stiffness really means — and why it’s normal How crowd density and early pacing affect execution on the runDisney marathon course The realities of marathon fueling, digestion, and hydration during long events Why consistency in nutrition matters more than aggressive intake How to avoid falling behind on fuel and hydration when fatigue sets in The Dopey Marathon is not a standalone race — it’s the final chapter of a four-day endurance challenge. Smart recovery, disciplined pacing, and familiar fueling strategies are what allow athletes to finish strong and feel proud of their execution. 🎧 Day 2 of the Countdown to Dopey — listen now and prepare to finish the weekend with intention.