That’s So Dopey!

Rebecca Adams

Initially, Rebecca Adams had her doubts about the whole running thing. That’s understandable, because running can challenge your will, both mentally and physically.

Those doubts surfaced before Rebecca ran her first Disney half-marathon in 2020 and again when she ran a Disney full-marathon a couple years later.

“There’s very much a feeling of, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’” says Rebecca, who lives in Winter Garden. “With any type of endurance event, whether it’s mental or physical, you usually reach a point where you hit a wall and you really have to push yourself to stay positive in the process.”

Rebecca, 40, finds the strength to push on by looking at the supportive faces of those who are cheering on the runners. The Disney characters and other fun visual distractions along the race route help, too.

She completed her first Dopey Challenge in 2022 and repeated the experience last year and again this year. For Rebecca, the hardest part is no longer the cumulative miles she has to run.

“Half the battle of Dopey are honestly the wake-up calls,” she says. “It’s four mornings in a row of 2:00 a.m. wake-up calls. It’s a lot.”

Rebecca grew up in Tampa, Florida, with parents who weren’t big Disney fans. Now, she has a yearly pass and enjoys all the accompanying perks with her two sons, ages 11 and 14.

“I tell people one of the reasons I love to run Disney races is that we live in Disney’s backyard,” she says. “We’re so spoiled, right?”

Ryan Kopf

Ryan Kopf and his friend Thomas Andreano had one goal in mind when they entered this year’s Dopey Challenge.

“We decided we were not going to run for time,” says Ryan, who was a Dopey newcomer. “We were going to run for fun.”

The buddies were running at a brisk 8:30-mile pace, yet still allotting time to stop and take pictures with Disney characters along the course. As they approached Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, they took a detour. Because Dopey races start so early in the morning, there are no long lines for the rides. So, Ryan and Thomas decided to hop on the Expedition Everest roller coaster.

Although it seemed like a good idea at the time, there were repercussions once they rejoined the race.

“Thomas said, ‘That was the worst idea ever,’” says Ryan, who lives in Altamonte Springs. “We both ride roller coasters, but we were both a little queasy.”

Everything worked out, though. Dopey is all about the experience and isn’t defined by who finishes first.

Ryan, 48, has been running since 2022, starting with 5Ks and making incremental progress. He has competed in the New York City and Boston marathons, qualifying by raising money for charities. Because Ryan has a son with special needs, he chooses organizations such as Special Olympics as his charities of choice.

Ryan is already looking forward to next year’s Dopey Challenge, but there is one thing he wants to do differently.

“Thomas and I were disappointed in ourselves because we were not dressed up for any of the races,” says Ryan. “We had no costume accessories whatsoever. We were just in our usual racing gear, and we were probably among the few who were not dressed up.”

Ilana Robinson

Ilana Robinson’s Dopey journey began because of a bunch of other moms.

A bit of a Disneyholic, Ilana would often get together with mom friends who shared a passion for Disney – and for posting pictures on Instagram from their visits to the theme parks.

“Some of them were runners,” recalls Ilana, who lives in Orlando. “I saw that they were dressing up in costumes and running a 10K [early in the morning]. And I said, ‘Ooh, that sounds fun.’”

At first, Ilana couldn’t even run a half mile. But she persisted, getting serious by using the training method established by the late Jeff Galloway, an Olympian and run-walk pioneer. She began making progress, and in 2024, she ran Disney’s half-marathon. When January of 2025 rolled around, Ilana decided to go big and take on the Dopey Challenge for the first time.

“My kids were at the finish line,” says Ilana. “It meant a great deal to me that they saw me take on a challenge and finish, which I did.”

She came back for more this year, completing the Dopey Challenge for a second time. Her family has been supportive of Ilana’s newfound passion for running. Ilana’s son and daughter are her biggest fans, and her husband holds down the fort at home while Ilana trains.

Now 45, Ilana reflects on her Disney race experiences with pride. She had never been much of an athlete before, other than competing in cross-country in seventh grade and playing a little tennis.

“I’m not going to say I’m the strongest I’ve ever been,” says Ilana, “but I have the bug now to continue down this path and see where it leads me. There’s no pressure. The best part is I’m enjoying it and I want to keep enjoying it.”