I did it. I ran the Disney Goofy Challenge — a half marathon followed by a full marathon the very next day. And yes… that means three medals. One for the half, one for the marathon, and one glorious challenge medal for surviving both.
Honestly? The medals alone almost made it worth it. They’re heavy, sparkly, have moving pieces, and include a little crystal Mickey detail that feels extremely Disney in the best way. But beyond the medals, this race ended up being so much more than a physical challenge — it was emotional, chaotic, magical, exhausting, and surprisingly healing all at once.
So here’s the full story: why we chose the Goofy Challenge, how I (kind of) trained for it, how the races actually went, and what I’d do differently next time — especially as a postpartum, breastfeeding mom.
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Why the Goofy Challenge?
Back in early 2024 (or was it 2025? Honestly, postpartum time is fake), Roxanne and I decided we wanted to do a Disney race together. Originally, we were debating between the half marathon or the full marathon — until I casually suggested:
“Why don’t we just do the Goofy Challenge?”
If you’re unfamiliar, the Goofy Challenge is:
A half marathon on Saturday
A full marathon on Sunday
Three total medals
Questionable decision-making 🫠
There’s also the Dopey Challenge, which adds a 5K and 10K to the mix (four races, six medals), but waking up at 2:00 AM four days in a row felt like a crime I wasn’t ready to commit… yet.
Disney race registration is no joke. You sit in an online queue, refresh aggressively, and hope the odds are in your favor. Somehow, I got in first and signed us all up for Goofy — Roxanne, two friends, and eventually even some of their husbands.
We were excited. Optimistic. Delusional.
Then Roxanne got pregnant.
Training… or Something Like It
At the time we signed up, I was about six months postpartum and just getting back into running. Roxanne and I managed exactly one long run together — five miles — before she told me she was pregnant and due the same weekend as the race.
I was thrilled for her… and also quietly devastated.
Not only was I losing my training partner, but we’d also signed up for multiple races together to get a proof of time for Disney corral placement. Suddenly, I was doing everything solo.
I trained hard for a June marathon to get that proof of time and somehow ran sub-4 hours at nine months postpartum, which still blows my mind. That effort landed me in Corral A, which is basically gold at Disney races.
And then?
Life happened.
From June to January:
My husband deployed
I was solo parenting
Training became inconsistent at best
Running turned into “when I can”
Lifting stayed consistent (thankfully)
Was I Goofy-Challenge ready?
No.
Did I still show up anyway?
Absolutely.
My Journey to Running my First Postpartum Marathon!
Disney Logistics, Military Life, and Almost Missing a Birth
We’re a military family, which makes Disney shockingly affordable if you know the tricks (Shades of Green, MWR tickets — I’ll absolutely be making a guide for this).
The plan was to travel January 6–12. My sister Roxanne was due January 7.
You can see where this gets stressful.
After a false labor scare and many emotional conversations, I moved our return flight up to Monday, right after the marathon. I joked that the moment I changed my flight, she’d go into labor.
She did.
But more on that later.
Race Day 1: The Half Marathon (Belle Edition ✨)
Disney races start early. Like 2:00 AM wake-up early.
For the half marathon, I dressed as Belle, complete with a yellow outfit, glitter, and last-minute braided hair thanks to a lucky salon cancellation.
Disney races are truly a vibe:
Character photo ops
Fireworks at the start
Corrals broken into waves
Thousands of runners in costume
I stopped for every princess I loved, skipped characters I didn’t recognize (no shame), and fully committed to running this race for joy, not speed.
Running down Main Street USA at 5:30 AM with the castle lit up?
Instant tears.
The half marathon was magical, humid, and way sweatier than I expected. I finished cold, soaked, and immediately learned my first lesson:
👉 Always pack a change of clothes.
Race Day 2: The Full Marathon (Queen of Hearts Energy ❤️)
Same wake-up. Same nerves. Very different mindset.
This time I dressed as the Queen of Hearts, and honestly, looking cute carried me emotionally for at least 10 miles. Compliments are fuel. That’s science.
I planned my character stops strategically, paced myself intentionally, and focused on staying ahead of fatigue rather than fighting it.
And then… Everest.
Yes, I ran a marathon and rode a roller coaster at mile 18.
Was it a terrible idea for my legs?
Yes.
Do I regret it?
Not even a little.
After Everest, I leaned heavily into walk-run intervals, hydration, and nourishment. When my family finally made it to the finish, I found a second wind and ran the final miles strong.
Seeing my kids at the finish line?
Nothing compares.
Breastfeeding, Running, and Realistic Expectations
I got so many questions about running long races while breastfeeding, so here’s the honest breakdown:
At 9 months postpartum, I needed to pump before and after races
At 16 months postpartum, I could comfortably go much longer
Pumping during a race can be helpful — even briefly — if needed
Comfort > full emptying
Supportive, nursing-friendly sports bras made a huge difference, as did staying hydrated with electrolytes (LMNT is my go-to).
Every postpartum body is different — plan around your feeding rhythm, not someone else’s timeline.
The Hardest Part: Missing the Birth
After the marathon, I slept through:
Texts
Calls
FaceTime attempts
Roxanne had her baby Monday morning.
I woke up devastated — proud of the race, grateful she had a smooth birth, and deeply sad I wasn’t there. Two truths can exist at once.
Thankfully, I was able to be there shortly after and support her postpartum.
Would I Do It Again?
Yes.
A thousand times yes.
The Disney races reminded me that:
Movement can be playful
Fitness doesn’t have to be about times
Joy is a valid training goal
Moms can still chase big, ridiculous goals
Next time, I’ll train better, sleep more, and bring more help with the kids — but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.
If you’re a postpartum runner (or want to be one), this is exactly why we created our Postpartum Return to Running Program and Marathon Training Program — strength + running changes everything.
And if you’ve done a fun race you loved?
Tell me. I’m absolutely looking for my next adventure.