2024 Dopey Challenge plus Strength Training Plan

      Here we go again! Dopey Challenge #12, Here I come! I got my hair done today and it gave me life I needed to dig into my new Dopey Challenge training plan! Last year, I posted my first two weeks of training and never posted any other updates after that. Talk about a slacker! However, I did run Dopey Challenge (48.6 miles) and then the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Dumbo Double Dare Challenge (22.4 miles) the next weekend. Dopey to Dumbo was alot of crazy fun! But also crazy expensive! 

In 2025, I will not be running Dopey to Dumbo....only Dopey Challenge! So let's get into it.

The one thing that I will be doing that I always do every year is follow the Hal Higdon training plans. I combine the Half Marathon followed by the full Marathon training and that has always worked for me in the past. The one thing that I will be doing differently this year is that I will be incorporating my friend Runfitmama's strength program into my training. She has some really great training programs that go along the all of the runDisney races. She also sends demonstration videos for her exercises and sends such great motivation along the way! Check her training plans out here!

Here is what I am planning and like every year, I leave room for breaks, pauses and life in general! And with a new grandbaby on the way, I feel like a may need to take a few more breaks this year which is another reason why strength training will be SO very important to me!

I am listing the training weeks below and am setting my running days for 3-4days a week, strength/cross  training to at least two days a week, 2 rest days per week and no more than 20 miles for my longest runs. I also do not do the 4 day in a row simulation plans like some of the other plans that I've seen online. I also know over the course of the upcoming weeks, I will inevitably have to shift my training days around as needed!

WEEK

1.  3 miles, Cross, 3 miles, Cross, 4 miles
2.  3 miles, Cross, 3 miles, Cross, 4 miles
3. 3.5 miles, Cross, 3.5 miles, Cross, 5 miles
4. 3.5 miles, Cross, 3.5 miles, Cross, 5 miles
5. 4 miles, Cross, 4 miles, Cross, 6 miles **4th of July Week**
6. 4 miles, Cross, 4 miles, Cross, 3.1 miles **On a Cruise this week**
7. 4.5 miles, Cross, 4.5 miles, Cross, 7 miles
8. 4.5 miles, Cross, 4.5 miles, Cross, 8 miles
9. 5 miles, Cross, 5 miles, Cross, 6.2 miles
10. 5 miles, Cross, 5 miles, Cross, 6.2 miles
11. 5 miles, Cross, 5 miles, Cross, 10 miles
12. 4 miles, Cross, 2 miles, Cross, 13.1 miles
13. Cross, 3 miles, 3 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 6 miles
14. Cross, 3 miles, 3 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 7 miles **Labor Day Week**
15. Cross, 3 miles, 4 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 5 miles
16. Cross, 3 miles, 4 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 9 miles
17. Cross, 3 miles, 5 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 10 miles
18. Cross, 3 miles, 5 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 7 miles
19. Cross, 3 miles, 6 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 12 miles
20. Cross, 3 miles, 6 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 13.1 miles
21. Cross, 3 miles, 7 miles, 4 miles, Cross, 10 miles
22. Cross, 3 miles, 7 miles, 4 miles, Cross, 15 miles **Halloween Week**
23. Cross, 4 miles, 8 miles, 4 miles, Cross, 16 miles
24. Cross, 4 miles, 8 miles, 5 miles, Cross, 12 miles
25. Cross, 4 miles, 9 miles, 5 miles, Cross, 18 miles
26. Cross, 5 miles, 9 miles, 5 miles, Cross, 14 miles **Thanksgiving Week**
27. Cross, 5 miles, 10 miles, 5 miles, Cross, 20 miles
28. Cross, 5 miles, 8 miles, 4 miles, Cross, 12 miles
29. Cross, 4 miles, 6 miles, 3 miles, Cross, 8 miles
30. Cross, 3 miles, 4 miles, 2 miles, Cross, 20 miles **Christmas Week**
31. **New Years Week--Can makeup any mileage here if i need to 
32. ** Dopey Week 3.1 miles, 6.2 miles, 13.1 miles, 26.2 miles

I am super excited to begin my training. Let me know if you have any questions and I hope to see you all out on the course at some point over the Dopey Challenge weekend!

XoXo, Happy Training!