From Survival to Dopey...
If you’ve already heard about how I got into running, from conversations or my blog, some of this might sound familiar. If not - welcome to my story!
I was never much of a runner. But in June of 2021, I found myself feeling stuck and unsafe in the relationship I was in. My brain shifted into fight mode. I wasn’t ready to fly yet (flight came August of 2021), but something inside me said:
“I don’t have to be good at running. I just need to be faster than him.”
So I went online, bought a pair of Adidas runners, and started running.
Not long after, I discovered that Disney hosts running weekends. I figured it might help bring back some of the magic I had left behind over the years.
The plan was simple: run the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 5km in 2022… and that would be the end of it.
Well… needless to say, that was just the beginning.
At the time, COVID was still a concern, so Disney was offering virtual races. That meant I could run from home and still experience the Disney Magic. And that’s when I discovered the Dopey Challenge—my ultimate running goal.
“But Hannah… what is the Dopey Challenge?”
The Dopey Challenge is where you fly to Disney World, wake up at the crack of stupid for four days in a row with thousands of your closest “friends,” and run four races in four days:
-
Day 1: 5km
-
Day 2: 10km
-
Day 3: Half Marathon
-
Day 4: Full Marathon
All in that order.
Understanding why it’s called the Dopey Challenge now?
So the preparation began.
I continued doing virtual races at home, and then in February of 2022, I returned to the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. This time, I took on the Princess Challenge, which meant running the 10km on Saturday and my very first half-marathon on Sunday.
Princess Weekend quickly became a tradition. But after completing the 2023 weekend, I started to feel like running could be about more than just me.
That’s when I discovered that you can run through charities. In 2024, I was fortunate enough to secure a 5km bib through the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).
Growing up, I was incredibly lucky to have my Aunt Janie. She was one of my grandma’s sisters and was born with Down syndrome in 1953. She lived far beyond what doctors expected at the time.
And she was an absolute light.
I remember her laugh, her love for her family, WWE, and cookies. My cousins and I all cared for her deeply and loved spending time with her.
She was always fun to joke around with, and her sass was out of this world. At family gatherings, she often gave speeches—usually about how much she loved her family—and she always made sure everyone got a hug.
Being able to run in her memory and to raise funds so individuals with Down syndrome can live full and supported lives has been a true blessing.
So, in February 2024, I returned for Princess Weekend, where I met Michelle and several other members of the NDSS team.
We stayed in touch, and in February 2025, I returned again—this time running the 5km, 10km, and Half Marathon with them.
But in the back of my mind, the Dopey Challenge was always there.
I had made a decision to complete the challenge before I turned 36. After that, I figured it would be my “retirement” from Disney races.
If I were going to close this chapter, I wanted to do it right.
So I sent Michelle a text asking when I should reach out about possibly running Dopey with the NDSS team.
Her response: “I’d recommend reaching out to us probably after Marathon Weekend 2026 so we can add you to our list.”
Marathon Weekend 2026 was January 8th to 11th.
I had a reminder set… and an email scheduled… to go to Michelle the morning of January 12.
And on Monday of this week, I received the email confirming that I officially secured my bib.
Which means I now get to complete the running goal I’ve had for years—while running in memory of my Aunt Janie.
But it gets even better.
My mom will be joining me for the 5km, and my dad will be running his first-ever 10km. Together, we’ll all be fundraising for the National Down Syndrome Society.
The Dopey Challenge is January 7–10, 2027. My goal is to raise $2,500 for the National Down Syndrome Society, supporting their important work for individuals with Down Syndrome.
What began as a journey to reclaim my strength has become so much bigger. Now, every mile I run honours Aunt Janie, families like mine, and the NDSS community. Any donation, share, or encouragement means the world to me, and I know Aunt Janie would be cheering the loudest.
If you’d like to donate, you can do so here: https://give.ndss.org/fundraiser/7058880
If you’d ever like to hear more stories about my Aunt Janie, I’m always happy to talk about her.
And if you’d like to learn more about the National Down Syndrome Society or how to get involved, you can visit: