Countdown To Dopey Day 4: The 5K Is Not Free Miles - How to Run the First Dopey Race Without Sabotaging the Weekend
The 5K is the most underestimated race of the entire Dopey Challenge weekend. In Day 4 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill breaks down why the runDisney 5K deserves far more respect than most athletes give it — especially if you’re racing all four events. While experienced runners may feel tempted to treat the 5K like a free race, the way you approach this first start line can have a compounding impact on how your legs feel for the 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon. This episode covers: Why the 5K feels deceptively easy at the start of Dopey weekend How racing it too hard can quietly affect later races Fueling and hydration considerations for a short race during a multi-day event Why restraint, not speed, is the real performance strategy Pacing guidance for different experience levels What to do after the 5K, including characters, recovery, and transportation logistics The goal of the Dopey Challenge isn’t to win Friday morning — it’s to show up with fresh legs for the days that follow. The strongest Dopey athletes are the ones who treat the 5K as a controlled effort, not an all-out race. 🎧 Day 4 of the Countdown to Dopey — listen now and set the tone for the entire weekend.
Takeaways
There are only four days left until the first start line.
The 5K is an interesting event for Dopey participants.
Get some glycogen into your body before the race.
Treat the 5K more like a fun run than a race.
You should have plenty of time to stop at all the characters.
The finish line is quite a distance from the exit area.
The weather is looking nice for the marathon weekend.
Consider grabbing a cup of coffee at the food trucks post-race.
If you're expecting to finish super early, consider using Uber.
Jill hopes the information shared was helpful for participants.
If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.
Click here to schedule a consultation
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