Disney Races are truly magical events. After all, where else can you start under fireworks, kiss Prince Charming, joke around with Donald and Daisy, and Let It Go with Elsa, then cross a finish line and receive some serious bling?
However, two to four finish lines over as many days will not be magical if you are not properly prepared. If you’re slogging through the miles and barely able to muster a smile—let alone a bicep curl—for a shot with Wreck-It-Ralph, your Dopey or Goofy extravaganza will be memorable. Just not for the right reasons. With this 24-week, hands-on program starting on July 29, 2024, we’ve got your back and are laying a white-glove-clad, oversize hand firmly on it. The training plan we’ve created emphasizes both muscular and cardiovascular endurance and time on your feet: keys you’ll need to run every mile with a smile. But it's not all about the running. We'll be sure you're fueling properly for all your long runs. We’ll make sure your hips and glutes, typically the weak spots for most runners, are rock solid. We’ll have some fun too, brainstorming costume ideas and ideas. We'll entertain and educate you with podcasts and newsletters, and, of course, hit race strategies so that you not only enjoy your Dopey or Goofy Challenge, you’ll nearly fly during each mile. The end result? You feel primed and totally ready to run either challenge: The Dopey: 5K, then a 10K, then a half-marathon, then a marathon or the Goofy: a half-marathon then a marathon—no pixie dust required.-
BEST FOR: Anybody who is looking to do an epic day hike: Yosemite's Half Dome, a Colorado 14'er (or 13'er!), The Enchantments, or a similar challenge. PREREQS: A regular exercise routine: you workout at least 4 times a week for 30-45 minutes. NUMBER OF WEEKS: 20
Taking a day to head deep into Ma Nature–and away from the crowds—is always a day well spent.
This 20-week program is built to so you can feel strong and capable on a day-long epic hike. In other words, on your target hike, you'll be so prepared, all you have to focus on is taking in the scenery and taking in calories regularly. The program's focus is not on speed, but rather on the endurance and strength necessary for day when you are out on a trail for 8-12 hours (or longer!). We've designed this program to work for all kinds of hikes from Yosemite's Half Dome to a Colorado 14'er to The Enchantments. In addition to plenty of climbing to build lower body strength + endurance during the weekdays, your longest training days will be a percentage of the elevation and mileage you'll cover on your epic hike day. -
BEST FOR: Truthfully, nearly every runner can benefit from an expert coach watching her form and offering feedback; the coach may uncover an injury-in-waiting or an easy way to increase efficiency. PREREQS: Are regularly injured;Are coming back from pregnancy, when alignment has shifted, want to increase speed, know they can be a more efficient runner, or are focused on minimizing the risk of future injury.
A second set of eyes is always a good thing. whether you’re polishing up a work project or wondering if your living room should actually be painted orange.
Your running form is no exception. In fact, except for race pictures, you rarely see yourself running. While you can feel balanced and strong on the run, your body’s subtle movements, which a seasoned coach can see, may be telling a different story. If your right hip drops with every step, or your posture is too upright, or your arms are spaghetti-like, you may be setting yourself up for an inefficient run (at best) or a serious injury (at worst). -
TRAINING PROGRAM: Nine Weeks: February 24-April 25 EVENT WEEKEND: April 26-27 BEST FOR: Anybody and everybody. WHAT: Nine weeks devoted to increasing your cardiovascular base, culminating in a virtual distance challenge and celebration of moving forward. Join us for Go the Distance, a training program and virtual event combo designed to help you build the confidence—and cardiovascular endurance—to step out of your comfort zone and go farther than you ever have. STEP ONE: Spend nine weeks following our comprehensive training program focused on Zone 2 cardio, that lovely level of intensity that allows you to increase your aerobic capacity without flooding your system with cortisol or inviting injury. You can build your cardiovascular fitness in ANY way, including running, run/walking, walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, rowing, ellipticaling, and any other medium you'd like. The training program focuses on your choice of primary activity for most of the weekly workouts, but you'll mix it up with a variety of other cardio workouts, as well as strength and mobility circuits. STEP TWO: Celebrate with the Go The Distance event, the weekend on April 26-27. The event is simple: You choose an activity, choose a distance, and repeat it every 6, 12, or 24 hours. You can run, walk, hike, ride, Peloton, or any other activity you love to do. You can do it solo from your own house; with a posse of friends; or join one of the groups that will form with fellow participants. No matter how you Go the Distance, you'll rack up some significant mileage; be cheered on by—and cheer for—your fellow participants; chart and share your progress; take a step or two outside your comfort zone; and bask in that glorious sense of accomplishment that comes during a full, challenging day of forward movement. Note: We need at least 60 participants to bring our Go the Distance vision to life; if we don't meet the minimum by February 21, we will issue refunds.
-
BEST FOR: Anybody who is looking to do the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike. PREREQS: A regular exercise routine: you workout at least 4 times a week for 30-45 minutes. NUMBER OF WEEKS: 20
If standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon is breath-taking, hiking down, through, and up the Canyon is absolutely magnificent—and way less crowded.
This 20-week program is built to get you away from the crowds and down into the Canyon and back up again, feeling strong and capable. The program's focus is not on speed, but rather on the endurance and strength necessary for a successful hike. Depending on your direction and route, you'll cover 20+ miles and climb and descend between 4,000-6000 feet of elevation, do you need to be physically and mentally ready for a long day as you go down, down, down before climbing up, up, up. Want more specifics? Check out Grand Canyon: Training + Logistics from Dimity, who hiked rim to rim in 2018. -
This running hat is part of our GO collection, emblazoned with a colorful GO + our shoes logo on the front. It's a versatile graphite gray with a front panel in fun, bright shades of pink, blue, and orange—the same rainbow-esque coloring as the word GO. On the right side, it reads "another mother runner" in white. A fun surprise? The underside of the bill is bright pink. This hat is performance headwear designed by BoCo Gear: the Elite Hat model. Its 6-panel design, constructed in wicking woven polyester, and Velcro back closure provides a sure fit. We love this hat paired with our custom Knockaround sunglasses. (Model Brianna is wearing The Sarah style.)
-
BEST FOR: Beginner to intermediate triathletes ready for a 70.3 (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) PREREQS: The ability to swim 500 meters or yards in a pool without touching the bottom or hanging on the edge; being injury-free; and ideally, you have completed an Olympic-distance triathlon—or at least run a half marathon NUMBER OF WEEKS: 22
-
BEST FOR: Beginner or intermediate runners looking to try a new distance beyond the 5K PREREQS: Consistent running or briskly walking for 20-30 minutes 3 days of the week for at least 8 weeks. Injury-free. No previous experience necessary in racing or in running by heart rate. NUMBER OF WEEKS: 15 Heart + Sole: 10K, Level 1 is a 15-week program suitable for all runners wanting to take on 10K—or 6.2 miles. You’ll learn—or continue—to train by heart rate, using your individual zones, calculated by regular testing, to moderate your effort appropriately. You’ll spend plenty of time in the lower zones, building your endurance base; you’ll also spend some time climbing hills, finding different gears with pick-ups and intervals, and practicing your race pace so that you’re ready to thrive on race day.
-
BEST FOR: All levels of runners who want to use heart rate to guide their training. Whether you are coming off the couch, returning from an injury, finding your post-pregnancy groove, or simply wanting to take your fitness to the next level, this program is a healthy, sensible, and fun next step in your running journey. PREREQS: No running experience, fitness level, or specific athletic background is necessary; this program meets you exactly where you are fitness-wise and helps you become a more fit, efficient runner. NUMBER OF WEEKS: 8 In this Introduction to Running by Heart Rate, you’ll calculate your personal zones with one of two heart rate tests, and use that data to guide your training. You’ll test twice more during the eight-week program so you’ll be familiar with the process and be able to adjust your individual zones appropriately as you gain endurance and work up to a 75-minute run.