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In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn that if you get swept during the Dopey Challenge at Disney you don’t get the Dopey Challenge medal, and what to do to make sure you do finish the race so you can get all 6 medals.

In the Dopey Challenge race you’ll participate in a 5k, 10k, half marathon and full marathon with the opportunity to get rewarded with 6 medals. If you don’t finish all 4 races you won’t receive the Dopey medal.

Listen to learn the best workout to add to your training plan to make sure you are ready for 4 days in a row during Dopey.

If you’re looking for more guidance and support and guarantee you cross the finish line at Dopey 2026, I recommend my training program Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Click here to learn more.

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn why you always get pain around mile 8 when you’re running. 

Ever felt amazing at the start of your long run — only to hit mile 8 and suddenly crash?
 Heavy legs, aching joints, and the urge to stop and stretch mid-run aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signs that your body isn’t adapting fast enough to the stress you’re stacking.

Today, we’re talking about what’s really happening when you break down at 8 miles — and how you can fix it.
Spoiler: It’s not about working harder — it’s about working smarter.
Dip your toe in, don’t cannonball.

Want to stop crashing and start finishing strong?
 The Stronger. Faster. Finisher.™ waitlist is open! 

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you'll learn about the myth of running more automatically making you stronger.

Feel wrecked after your long runs — no matter how many miles you stack?
Today, we're busting the myth that "running more" automatically makes you stronger.
Learn why your body isn't broken — but your training might be — and discover one simple change you can make starting this week to recover smarter and run stronger.

Plus, the waitlist for Stronger. Faster. Finisher.™ is now open — get all the details inside!

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn how to keep your body healthy if you’re a hypermobile runner.

I was asked by a member in my Free Facebook Community on what are ways hypermobility can affect running and make one prone to injury? This question included are there things someone can do to provide additional support or care to affected joints like knees, and are there strength exercises to avoid with hypermobility in their joints?

I answer these questions and give recommendations on ways to support your joints like knees and ankles when running.

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn how to get a faster proof of time as a slow runner or injury-prone runner. For Disney races you can submit proof of time for half marathon, challenges, and Marathon races if you are anticipating you will finish those races in a faster time than 2 hours 29 minutes for a half marathon and faster than 5 hours for the Marathon.

I recommend injury-prone runners run the shortest eligible distance for the runDisney race, and the number rule to actually build speed is to run your long runs slow and your short runs fast. Listen and learn the strategy to use to get faster now so you have a better corral placement.

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn how to be fast enough for photo stops at runDisney races like the Disney Marathon. 

On average runners typically wait 5 minutes or less for character stops during the race and one runner waited for about 30 character stops during the Marathon. 

Strategize how many characters you want to stop for, how long you’re willing to wait, which characters are a must stop at, and know your pacing. 

When you know your pacing you know how your body reacts when you hit a certain pace. If you run too fast and need to walk to recover, if you take too long to recover does that negate all the fast pace you made up and should have just ran a little slower? You don’t want to burn out.

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn how to make your easy pace easier so running doesn’t feel so hard. Some options runners use are conversational pace and heart rate training. Conversational pace may be a good gauge, but not everyone runs with another person.

Heart rate training means you follow your heart rate zones for your run, often Zone 2 for easy runs. In this episode I discuss why I don’t follow heart rate training.

So how do you do this? Test your easy pace and track it. Set your watch to alert you if you’re running outside your easy pace. Test your pace on the treadmill with the exact way I have my clients in Stronger. Faster. Finisher. test it.

Links mentioned in this episode: Episode #118

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn what’s keeping you from getting faster.

If you feel like you’re a slow runner and no matter how much you run and no matter how much you push your limits in every workout you feel like you keep getting slower and slower, this is the episode for you.

You’ll learn the #1 mistake that makes slow runners even slower, when they’re actually trying to get faster. Are you making this mistake?

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn what to do to start recognizing patterns so you can stop getting worse and start to feel better.

One main factor to remember is you can pay attention and write down the information when it happens. Over time take that data and analyze it. If you don’t know how to analyze it, that’s what working with a coach like Dr. Ali is for. Dr. Ali loves analyzing data and information and putting the puzzle pieces together.

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

Send us a text

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn 5 Signs You’re Going to Not Finish Dopey.

These signs include

• Bought 3 new pairs of shoes in the past 6 months
• Something hurts every time you run 8 miles or more
• You’re pushing to keep that 15’30” pace on every run
• You’re setting a new PR every long run
• You’re doing more strength exercises now to fix an injury

I want you to be aware of these signs because you may not have all 5, but if you have 1 or more and it’s early in training season you can quickly adjust to lower your chances of not finishing, and improve your chances of finishing Dopey.

Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. !

Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and injury-prevention strategies designed specifically for slow, injury-prone, and “not really a runner yet” runners. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open!

Free Resources

• Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt
• Join the Facebook Community to get training support
• Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.
• Book a Free 30 minute Call with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense.
  
  Hi, I'm Dr. Ali
  I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.