Rise and Run

D23 always feels like a fireworks show for Disney fans, but we watch it with runner brains: What will all these new lands, refurbs, and construction walls mean for runDisney race weekends? Our friend Amanda from Once Upon a Marathon returns for a deep-dive recap of the D23 Parks Panel, and we do the fun thing we usually avoid: a little course speculation. We break down EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth refurb talk, Animal Kingdom updates like the long-awaited Expedition Everest Yeti fix and Tropical Americas progress, and what Magic Kingdom construction could mean for how we enter and exit the park on marathon day. We also talk Villains Land scope, Hollywood Studios’ Monstropolis timeline, and the Figment reimagining that brings Dreamfinder back into the spotlight.

To round it out, we cover race reports from all over and spotlight Brooke’s trip to Alaska for the Anchorage Half Marathon, complete with coastal trails, mountains, and a finish-line spread that will make runDisney runners laugh. Subscribe for weekly runDisney training tips, community stories, and park news through a runner’s lens, then share your biggest D23 takeaway with us and leave a review.

Amanda’s website: Once Upon A Marathon
Amanda’s IG: @onceupamarathon
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You can train for a race and still wonder if you’re allowed to call yourself a runner. That quiet doubt shows up in a lot of places, on long walks that feel endless, on crowded courses where you’re watching your footing, and especially when your watch tells a story you do not like. We get honest about those moments, then share practical ways to keep moving as Wine and Dine training hits week eight, including how to schedule back to back days without burning out and a simple run walk interval that can make long sessions feel mentally lighter.

Then we sit down with Hildee Weiss, author of Embracing My Inner Athlete, whose story will hit home for anyone who started later, felt self conscious, or carried that “I’m not an athlete” label for years. Hildee talks about the turning point that pushed her to prioritize herself, the early fears that kept her from running, and how one 5K can start a chain reaction of confidence. We also dig into imposter syndrome, why adults struggle to claim the word “athlete,” and how comparison can hijack training even when you’re doing the work.

One of the biggest takeaways is a mindset shift that sounds small but changes everything: moving from “I have to run” to “I get to run.” If you’re training for your first runDisney event, worried about pace, or just trying to find joy again, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to the podcast, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave us a review. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received?
Hildee’s Links
Insatgram
Blog
Embracing My Inner Athlete Book
Rise and Run Links
Rise and Run Podcast Facebook Page
Rise and Run Podcast Instagram
Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded

One loop. One river. A whole lot of miles. What happens when a runDisney community takes over a relay event in New Jersey and decides the real finish line is friendship, not pace? We’re joined by Greg, Jack, Chrissie, Ilyana, and Stephen to recap Loopy Looper weekend, where teams rack up loops, tents turn into mini HQs, and every lap feels like a mix of training run and backyard party.

We talk through the details that make a looped relay and ultra event work: simple course navigation, timing-bib handoffs that do not waste energy, and the heat management basics that matter most in August humidity. You’ll hear what people actually ate and drank, why salt and pickle juice became MVPs, and how run-walk-run plus strength training can leave your legs surprisingly OK after big mileage.

Then Stephen drops the kind of story that makes you sit up straight: a first ultramarathon that’s also a 100-miler, finished inside the 30-hour cutoff, with tight aid-station discipline and a clear goal of staying healthy. We also share the glow loop night run, family finish moments, and why so many runners say the solo miles are great but the relay “party” is the point.

If you’re training for runDisney, curious about relay races, or wondering how to keep motivation high in the offseason, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share the show with a running friend, and leave a review telling us: would you ever try a loop event like Loopy Looper?

Rise and Run Links
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Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded

runDisney can look effortless on Instagram: a castle photo, a medal shot, a costume selfie, and done. Then reality hits at 1:30am when the alarm goes off again, you’re juggling corrals and buses, and there are still miles of dark highway between the highlight reel moments. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome back Lisa Dinoto Glassner after four years to talk about her new book, The Run Disney Companion: Your Race Day Guide From Fantasy To Finish Line And Beyond.

We get into what the guide is really built for: helping first-time runners pick a race, register, train, pack, fuel, sleep, and actually enjoy the weekend without feeling overwhelmed. Lisa shares the misconception she wants to correct most often: these are real races, even when there are characters and tutus. Her most underrated tip is also the simplest: protect your sleep, because you cannot out gel bad sleep. We also talk why the history of runDisney matters, how veterans can still find meaning in the “lessons learned” side of the book, and what moments are almost impossible to explain until you experience them, especially cheering the final finisher.

Along the way, we keep it classic Rise and Run: training updates (including Greg’s Wawa-themed 50K plan), a fun “What Would Alysha Do” segment with the Merlin Bird ID app, and a race report spotlight from the Jack and Jill downhill half marathon with its famous tunnel and gravel pacing curveballs. If you’re chasing a proof of time, planning Wine and Dine, Princess, Marathon Weekend, or dreaming about Dopey, this conversation gives you a clearer plan and a better mindset.

Listen now, then subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with a runDisney friend, and leave a review to help more runners find our running family.

Lisa’s Links
The Castle Run
The Castle Runner on Instagram
Rise and Run Links
Rise and Run Podcast Facebook Page
Rise and Run Podcast Instagram
Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop
Rise and Run Patreon
Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded

runDisney didn’t start as a massive, must-register-in-minutes phenomenon. It grew into that, and Jon Hughes was in the middle of the turning points. We finish our conversation with the Track Shack leader who helped bring the Walt Disney World Marathon to life, then watched it evolve into a global runDisney culture where first-timers, costumers, walkers, and marathoners all belong on the same course.

Jon shares when the races first felt “bigger than expected,” why the paper signup era created real confusion about sellouts, and how new weekends and concepts like Wine and Dine’s early night-race vibe reshaped logistics. We also get the origin story of the Goofy and Dopey challenges, including the moment the Dopey name clicked and why well-trained multi-race runners can actually fare better than people who show up underprepared for a single event. Along the way we talk characters, entertainment placement, and the simple reason so many people start running at Disney: they feel safe and welcomed.

Back with the hosts, we bring it to the present with summer training honesty: slowing down in heat and humidity, staying consistent through wind and bad air quality, and holding onto the mindset that your current pace might be someone else’s dream. Plus, Julia joins us for the race report spotlight to celebrate her 50th half marathon at Presque Isle and a strong finish as she lines up an ambitious season ahead.

If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a running friend, and leave us a review so more runners can find the Rise and Run community.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel   
Stoked Metabolic Coaching

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded