When does a running group become family? The #runDopey  crew joins us to celebrate their sixth anniversary, sharing how they've grown from a small accountability group to a 6,000-member community transforming the runDisney experience through positivity, unforgettable costumes, and what they call "shenanigans."

As official Dopey Challenge training kicks off this week (27 weeks until Marathon Weekend!), their timing couldn't be more perfect. The group's moderators Chris, Paula, Leslie, and Idalis offer invaluable wisdom for both first-timers and veterans facing the daunting training schedule ahead. Their advice resonates whether you're tackling your first 5K or your fifth Dopey Challenge: stay present in each training week, understand progress isn't linear, and never underestimate your own strength.

Beyond training tips, the crew reveals the elaborate planning behind their legendary costumes (including those Soarin' flight attendants that caught Disney's attention), their race-weekend traditions involving green bows and dance floors, and heartwarming stories of how strangers became lifelong friends through shared miles. They even drop hints about an aviation-themed group costume coming for Marathon Weekend 2025!

The episode wraps with our Race Report Spotlight featuring John's experience at the Tom Fleming Sunset Classic, plus a roundup of races from across the country – including a ventriloquist-themed 5K that has Jack and Greg plotting their next costume. Whether you're just beginning your running journey or counting down to your next Disney race, this episode captures the magic that happens when we rise, run, and support each other along the way.

Share your story for Episode 200 by calling 727-266-2344, and join our Zoom call this Thursday!

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Summer is here, and it's time to adapt your running strategy to the heat. Coach Chris Twiggs, Chief Training Officer for Jeff Galloway and Perfect Disney Marathoner (gearing up for his 33rd consecutive event!), joins us to share invaluable wisdom that will transform your warm-weather training.

The conversation goes beyond just beating the heat. Coach Twiggs addresses returning from injuries, fueling strategies for long runs, and the mental challenges of staying motivated when progress feels slow. His most powerful insight? "If you can't find joy in the moment when you're running, then no race result is going to make you happy."

For those tackling Disney challenge races like Dopey or Goofy, Coach shares critical mistakes to avoid, including setting time goals for these multi-day events and walking too much in the parks between races. We also explore the benefits of his customized training approach, which helps runners navigate life's inevitable interruptions without derailing their goals.

In our Race Report Spotlight, we travel to Alaska with Courtney and Lance for the scenic Anchorage Half Marathon, complete with moose sightings and breathtaking landscapes along the airport trail system.

Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or just beginning your running journey, this episode offers practical wisdom to help you embrace summer training while setting yourself up for success in your fall and winter races. Remember, as Michelle from Erie reminds us in our intro: "Your slow summers make for fast falls."

Chis Twiggs’s Links
Hard Talk Podcast
Customized Training

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Professional trail runner Brittany Charbonneau joins us for a heartfelt, inspiring, and fun conversation about her journey through pregnancy, motherhood, and returning to competitive racing. Four months after giving birth to her son Hugo following a 27-hour labor and C-section, Brittany shares the emotional and physical realities of balancing elite athleticism with new motherhood.

What makes this episode particularly special is Brittany's candid discussion about how her sponsor, North Face, defied outdated industry standards by renewing her contract during pregnancy and providing exceptional support for her comeback. "They signed me for multiple years," Brittany reveals, noting that they've even helped ensure her family could travel with her to competitions. This represents a powerful shift in how female athletes are supported through motherhood.

Brittany offers practical wisdom for expecting or new mom runners, emphasizing the importance of listening to your body rather than adhering rigidly to training plans. Her decision to stop running at five months pregnant initially felt like failure, but she now recognizes it as one of her wisest choices. "Having that time off gave me perspective," she explains, describing how pregnancy hiking actually built strength that's benefiting her current mountain racing.

Perhaps most compelling is Brittany's discussion of how motherhood has transformed her mindset as a competitive athlete. After years of "imposter syndrome," she's approaching races with newfound confidence and joy, even planning banana tattoos for an upcoming race as a nod to her "little monkey" at home. Her story reminds us that sometimes our greatest performances come when we release our grip on perfectionism and embrace the journey.

Could you use some inspiration for balancing running with life's challenges? This conversation with Brittany will leave you motivated to lace up your shoes, whatever season of life you're navigating.

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Funnyrunner26.2 Instagram
The Funny Runner Website
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Mix Tape 2025

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What happens when you have nowhere to pee during a 4 a.m. training run? Which runDisney half marathon truly delivers the best experience? And does anyone actually know how to change a flat tire without calling AAA? This packed episode delivers answers to these burning questions and many more as we dive into our listener mailbag.

The debate gets heated when discussing whether Wine and Dine or Marathon Weekend offers the superior half marathon experience. Some hosts champion the festival atmosphere and after-party of Wine and Dine, while others can't deny the magic of running through Cinderella Castle during Marathon Weekend. For first-time marathoners, we offer tailored advice on choosing races that accommodate back-of-pack runners, with unanimous agreement that Disney provides one of the most supportive environments for debut distances.

We tackle the very real issue of imposter syndrome in running, sharing personal experiences of feeling out of place on the course. Whether it's being the only interval runner among continuous runners or questioning if you belong in a race at all, our conversation provides reassurance that your running journey is uniquely yours—and equally valid.

Disney Vacation Club members in our crew offer insider advice on securing rooms during race weekends, revealing the crucial difference between 11-month and 7-month booking windows and why "buy where you want to stay" remains the golden rule. For Disneyland runners, we highlight key differences from Disney World races, from sound ordinances to bag check logistics.

Between serious running topics, we detour into delightfully divisive debates about whether the chocolate toppings on ice cream are properly called "jimmies" or "sprinkles," confess our favorite ice cream flavors, and share hilariously desperate tales of bathroom emergencies during training runs.

Join us for this journey through running wisdom, Disney insights, and the everyday moments that connect us as a community of runners. Whatever your pace, distance, or running style—you're home here.

Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through links on our site or social media channels , we may earn a affiliate commission.

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What can marathon training teach us about effective leadership? In this thought-provoking episode, we're joined by Celia, Executive Director of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, who draws fascinating parallels between conquering 26.2 miles and navigating the challenges of executive leadership.

Celia shares how she transformed from someone who "loathed running" during her time at West Point to a four-time Dopey Challenge finisher, and explains how this journey equipped her with crucial leadership skills. Her framework comparing her first month as Executive Director to the stages of a marathon offers brilliant insights into perseverance, mental toughness, and strategic thinking.

"It's 100% mental," Celia explains about both running and leadership. "The hardest barrier to overcome is in your head." From battling imposter syndrome to finding creative solutions during uninterrupted runs, her experiences demonstrate how physical discipline builds professional resilience.

We also welcome back Matt Bowen, known for carrying the American flag during runDisney races. Matt updates us on his fundraising efforts for Operation 300, supporting Gold Star Families, and shares moving stories of connections made along the race course. His passion for honoring military families through running inspires participants and spectators alike.

In our Race Report, we spotlight Tiffany's creative two-state challenge weekend, featuring races in Indiana and Illinois. Plus, we discuss the newly announced Princess Weekend themes for 2026 and explore whether they influence registration decisions.

Whether you're a runner seeking leadership insights or a professional looking for new performance strategies, this episode offers valuable lessons on turning physical challenges into professional strengths.

Matt’s Fundraiser Operation 300
The Most Magical Virtual Race on Earth.

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What does it take to create a race experience so special that runners travel from across the country to participate? Lowell Ladd, race director of the Bird in Hand Half Marathon Weekend, joins us to reveal the behind-the-scenes magic of organizing this beloved event in Pennsylvania's Amish country.

From handcrafted horseshoe medals to running past actual camels at mile 12, this race offers experiences you simply won't find elsewhere. Lowell shares how the local Amish community embraces this event so completely that they regularly turn away volunteer help – a rare challenge in the racing world! We learn about the massive pre-race festival, the beloved community picnic with legendary BBQ that begins cooking at 3:30 AM on race day, and why this event has earned its reputation as "runDisney North" among our listeners.

As summer heat intensifies across much of the country, we discuss essential strategies for adapting your training. We share practical advice for adjusting expectations, modifying workouts, and staying safe while building that valuable heat adaptation that will pay dividends when temperatures cool in fall.

Thomas Stokes drops by to announce the winners of his special scholarships and details about his upcoming transformation challenge starting July 7th. In our race report, we travel from Houston to Ottawa, where Marina shares her experience completing not only the 5K and 10K races on Saturday, but following them with a half marathon PR on Sunday – and capping off her weekend with a surprise King Charles sighting! Plus, we hear from runners in Argentina, Scotland, and across North America completing their Memorial Day weekend races.

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Have you spotted the hats and shirts with "Pelkey Running Club" at recent runDisney events? What began as a one-time costume joke has blossomed into a global running phenomenon, and we're bringing you the full story straight from the source.

We sit down with Grant, the club's founder, and John Pelkey himself—the beloved runDisney announcer who went from joking about runners' early wake-up calls to having his name on gear worn on all seven continents. Their chemistry is infectious as they share how a spontaneous gift of four embroidered hats at the 2023 Princess Weekend sparked something neither could have anticipated. As Grant puts it, the Pelkey Running Club is defined by one word: "community."

Ravi joined us for the Race Report spotlight, and we wrapped up this week's episode by drawing inspiration from our friends Tomi and Chad who completed the grueling Keys 100 race, this weekend.

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Instagram: @pelkeyrunningclub
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What if injuries aren't inevitable, but predictable events with upstream warning signs we can actually address? Henry Abbott, award-winning journalist and founder of True Hoop, joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance" that challenges everything we thought we knew about athletic durability.

Abbott shares fascinating insights from his research at P3 (Peak Performance Project), where cutting-edge biomechanics analysis is revolutionizing how athletes train. Most surprisingly, he reveals how mental limitations often precede physical ones. Through a remarkable personal anecdote about holding his breath for over four minutes after minimal instruction, Abbott demonstrates how our brains frequently create barriers our bodies haven't actually reached.

For runners specifically, Abbott provides practical wisdom on proper landing mechanics, identifying injury risk factors, and strengthening the often-neglected muscles beneath the knee that create efficient "bouncy" movement. Rather than obsessing over form while running, he suggests building capability through targeted training, then allowing your body to naturally implement improvements.

In the Race Report Spotlight, we hear from 11 runners across four countries who completed the London Marathon. They share their experiences with punishing heat and incredible crowd support. They also describe the emotional highs of crossing Tower Bridge and finishing near Buckingham Palace. Their stories capture both the challenge and the magic of completing a World Major Marathon.

Whether you're battling recurring injuries, seeking performance improvements, or simply wanting to run with less pain, this episode offers invaluable insights that might just transform your relationship with running. Subscribe now and join our Rise and Run community as we explore the cutting-edge science of injury-free athletic performance.

Henry Abbott’s Links
Ballistic Book @henryabbott.com
True Hoop Website
Peak Performance Project

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"Why did I ever think this was a good idea?" That 3AM alarm for Disney races is something we all question—but then the magic happens. This episode, we're joined by Vern (@RunsOnPizza), whose vibrant interviews with costumed runners have become a beloved fixture of runDisney events.

Vern shares her journey from nervous first-timer in 2018 to the unofficial sideline reporter of the Run Disney community. What began as a simple desire to give creative runners a platform has evolved into something truly special. With her broadcast journalism background and genuine love for the community, Vern arrives on the first bus (before 3:15AM!) to capture the stories behind the elaborate costumes that make runDisney races so unique.

"When I started in 2018, I don't remember seeing half of what I see today," Vern reflects on the evolution of race costumes. From foam constructions to motorized elements, the creativity continues to push boundaries—and Vern is there to document it all.

The training lull between Disney seasons can be challenging, but Greg reminds us that finding local races is key to maintaining motivation. Meanwhile, Alicia celebrates two years of her run coaching business, specializing in first-timers and marathon training with personalized weekly plans.

We spotlight the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon with Sarah and Ashley, who take us through the unique experience of running through Churchill Downs. Plus, our extensive race reports from Flying Pig Marathon, Indy Mini, and races across the globe showcase our community's incredible accomplishments.

Whether you're planning your next costume or searching for summer race motivation, this episode captures the heart of what makes our running community so special—the creativity, support, and shared experiences that keep us rising and running.

Runs On Pizza Instagram
Go Fund Me for Jen’s Husband Dan

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Have you ever wondered if you're a "real runner" because you take walk breaks? Dr. Michelle Quirk, pediatrician and running coach, sets the record straight in this episode, sharing why walk intervals are not only acceptable but beneficial for all runners. Her thoughtful advice for beginners—remember your "why," start slow, and focus on effort rather than pace—offers a refreshing foundation for anyone lacing up for the first time.

The conversation with Dr. Quirk delves into practical wisdom that both novice and experienced runners will appreciate. She explains how to distinguish between normal muscle soreness and potential injuries through timing, location, and relieving factors—information that could save you from sidelining yourself unnecessarily or pushing through a genuine problem. For parents, Michelle offers sage advice on introducing children to running in a healthy, sustainable way that keeps the focus on fun rather than competition.

Following our expert interview, we're treated to emotional firsthand accounts from three Boston Marathon finishers, including two who completed their Six Star journey at this iconic race. Their descriptions of the overwhelming crowd support and the profound feeling of turning onto Boylston Street for the final stretch will give you goosebumps. As one runner put it: "If you ever want to feel like a rock star, run the last half mile of the Boston Marathon."

The episode wraps with our comprehensive race report, highlighting achievements from runners across the country and around the world—from PR-breaking performances at the London Marathon to the quirky "Reverse London Midnight Marathon" where participants run the course backward starting at 12:01 AM. Whether you're training for your first 5K or your sixth major marathon, this episode offers both practical guidance and the inspirational stories that make our running community so special. Join us as we continue to rise, run, and celebrate each step of the journey together!

Dr. Michelle Quirks Links
Mindful Marathon Web site
Mindful Marathon Instagram
Mindful Marathon Facebook
Mindful Marathon You Tube

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