The Earful Runner

We are back in the studio with a great wrap up of Springtime Surprise weekend! In this episode we cover: Courses, characters and new post race party at Typhoon Lagoon Corral changes- what to do when you need to move up and who to talk with Important upcoming 2025 registration dates: hint, they are earlier than you think they are Plus, a dive into the new Disneyland Forward plan, which we *hope* will bring course updates to Anaheim in the coming years. Run time: 32:00

This week, we catch up with Kayla Allene Betz-Swope, an avid RunDisney athlete with an incredible story to tell.  Kayla got her start by running the Haunted 5k on her wedding weekend in 2014 and then the Light Side Half Marathon the following spring. To date, her running career has included over 65 races and 20+ race weekends. This would be quite the accomplishment for anyone, but when you consider that Kayla is also a visually impaired athlete who relies on guides while racing, you recognize how huge this accomplishment is.  In this episode, Kayla talks about the challenges of competing, the joy of running with the Run Disney community, and two of the world's best pacers, Sean and Joe.

We have a wonderful story from the RunDisney community to share this week! Meet Mitch and Shanon, who have achieved Perfect/Perfect status at Wine and Dine Weekend. This intrepid duo has raced every event at Wine and Dine weekend for 13 consecutive years and in this episode they dish about their running journey from the very first Tower of Terror 13k, to Wine and Dine, Dopey and beyond. Mitch and Shanon have great stories to tell about the early years of RunDisney: from trail running at Wide World of Sports and navigating the first Expedition Everest Challenge to keeping up their perfect streak in the face of all life's challenges. This episode is a joy to listen to and we can't wait for you to hear their story. Tune in! Run time: 40:25

What does it take to complete the Dopey Challenge AND the Dumbo Double Dare back to back? Tune in to this week's episode, where we sit down with Ryan Teetz (@ryanontherun) to talk about this incredible feat. Ryan is a RunDisney pro, having raced 62 events in total and we talk about everything from training and preparation to what it takes to convince a group of your friends that a costume strategy that includes raccoons and deceased Disney parents is a cool idea. We also deep dive into some of the coolest RunDisney data that Ryan has amassed in his years of running these events. Want to know who the most likely characters on course will be? Or how many people took on the Dopey to Dumbo challenge this year? We've got you covered! Run Time: 43:03

We've been waiting seven years for this! The Disneyland Race weekend has finally returned and with it, the Coast 2 Coast Challenge, where runners compete in events at Walt Disney World on the first weekend and Disneyland Resort on the second. Lots of ground to cover in this episode including: Super rare characters popping up in WDW The benefits of ordering drinks to go in EPCOT The perils of doing just half of a half marathon What happens when you ride Expedition Everest in a rain storm Working out the kinks in Disneyland And more! Run time: 1:08:28

In this episode we deep dive into event weekend previews for both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland races. We cover the courses for each race in detail and talk strategy for each. Whether you are a first time RunDisney athlete or a Dopey veteran, we think you will find these helpful. Plus we debut a new listener mail segment and share a bit more on how we got to be the RunDisney fans we are. Run time 36:29

It's been a minute! Big life changes for Em and M but we are finally back in the studio to record! In this episode we walk through training tips for folks headed to RunDisney this season, especially those humans who will be tackling Coast 2 Coast and how to get plan for race weekend and pro tips for getting the RunDisney merch you have had your eye on. Plus, we talk about what happens when you decide to move your whole family across the country and train for races at the same time. Spoiler alert, things do not go to plan. Run time: 34:45

We're back with the full scoop on WDW Marathon Weekend, from our Dopey Challenge finish to our favorite (and not so favorite) things about the flagship RunDisney event. In this episode we dive deep on the course, the characters, the merch and more. Plus, we talk about how to successfully manage an After Hours event at the Studios that ends just a few hours before the start of a 5k.  If you are already missing those early mornings in an EPCOT parking lot, this is the episode for you!  Run time: 43:02

We're back and celebrating the return of the RunDisney racing season! In this episode we share the fascinating tale of the one and only (so far) Disneyland Marathon, Em and M's thoughts on recent Disney news and a life update from our intrepid co-hosts. Plus, we share our journey to the 2023 Dopey Challenge, where we are running for the incredible team at the National Down Syndrome Society. We have a great IRL event coming up in New York City in just a few weeks and we would love to see you there.  Check out all the details here: https://www.earfulrunner.com/  Run time: 52:12

We're back with a full run down on our favorite moments from Princess Weekend, a breakout of what the Springtime Surprise courses could mean for Marathon Weekend and a deep dive into the 90's nostalgia that inspired the new Marathon Weekend 2023 designs. Plus, we walk through tips and tricks to make sure your Marathon Weekend registration day goes smoothly!  To top it all off, Em has some fun facts from Encanto and M shares what it's like to plan for a solo WDW adventure.  Run time: 50 minutes

Our guest this week is Brian Siemann, a SIX TIME Dopey Challenge champion! Brian is an adaptive athlete and a 3x Paralympian who has competed in the World Championships and is currently training for the World Marathon Majors. He has an incredible story, a fervent love of all things Disney and a passion for the RunDisney community. In this episode, you will hear from Brian about his journey in sports, from high school track and field, to competing on a global stage, to his epic multi-year Dopey streak.  We want to thank our keen listeners for encouraging us to connect with Brian and we can't wait for you to hear this story.  Run time: 48:57

Professional athlete. Olympic Trials Qualifier. Gifted Improv Teacher. Talented Artist... all of these describe Brittany Charboneau well but this dynamo cannot be categorized so simply. This weekend she managed to do what no one else in the history of the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend has done: win every single race she entered! Brittany absolutely crushed the 2022 Dopey Challenge and she did it all in costume and with a huge smile on her face. In this episode, we talk in detail with Brittany about her record setting wins, her focus on finding joy in each run, performing with Second City, her Disney favorites and more. You don't want to miss this episode! Want to follow along with Brittany? You can catch her here on IG and here on Mercuria Running!  Run time: 58:38 

Our first trip to Disneyland together was epic! In this episode we walk you through our adventure including some incredible character meet ups ( hello Ironman and Black Widow), dozens of rides including Haunted Mansion Holiday and Mission Breakout, where we made it through exactly 50% of the songs and an unforgettable night at Disney’s Very Merriest Christmas party. If you ever wanted to hear what a first trip to Disneyland sounds like, this is the episode for you! Run Time: 37:27

We are so excited to be back in the studio recording! After a busy fall racing season, we are back in action and ready to share a whole host of runderful stories with you.  In this episode, we catch our listeners up on the return of RunDisney at Wine and Dine weekend and recap with M about her finish at the NYC Marathon this year.  Run time: 25 minutes

With registration for the 2022 WDW marathon weekend right around the corner, we have collected our top ten tips for registration day! We talk through all the ins and outs of getting into your goal race and what to do if you can't snag that coveted bib in time. From getting into your first 5k to racing for a charity partner, we walk through it all.  Run time: 24:00 min. 

We are so excited to share our conversation with Devon Harp, co-founder of Zip A Dee Tees with you! Devon is a triple threat: a talented designer, entrepreneur and creative behind @FitFabDisney, who also happens to be a personal trainer. In this episode, we talk with her about her fitness journey, her favorite Run Disney experiences and how she built a successful Disney-inspired business with her best pal Carrie.  If you have ever wondered what it might be like to start your very own shop or take on your first race, this is the episode for you! Run time: 53:20

Our favorite races are back in action this fall, we have all the details for you! RunDisney has announced four race weekends, starting with Wine and Dine this November to a brand new "Springtime Surprise" Weekend in April. From key registration dates to our take on the new themes and events, we cover it all, very enthusiastically. Plus, we have up to the minute travel tips from Meg Keenan at Magical Vacations Travel to help making planning your run-cation a breeze. If you plan on racing in WDW this year, this is the episode for you.  Run Time: 27:12

What does it take to complete the very first run from Disneyland in Anaheim to Walt Disney World in Orlando, a journey of 2,761 miles? Grit, determination, a love of community and a very good sense of humor! In this week's episode, we finish up our interview with Don Muchow, the first ever finisher of the Mouse 2 Mouse run. We cover all the details from his fueling strategy and course design right up through his epic arrival at the Magic Kingdom.  Don is a seasoned ultrarunner, Ironman triathlete and Type 1 diabetic. He's the founder of Type 1 Determined, an organization devoted to connecting and empowering people with Type 1 diabetes to walk, run, ride and play with confidence. Even more incredible, this run was completed within a larger Run Across the US, with a total of 2,845 miles, which Don completed on April 7, 2021. Run time: 40:00

Happy Global Running Day! When we think about the runners that inspire us, our guest for this episode is at the very top of our list. His endurance accomplishments, strength of character and generosity of spirit truly inspire us and we are so excited to welcome Don Muchow to the show. Don is a seasoned ultrarunner, Ironman triathlete and Type 1 diabetic. He's the founder of Type 1 Determined, an organization devoted to connecting and empowering people with Type 1 diabetes to walk, run, ride and play with confidence. This spring, Don captivated our Run Disney community by completing the first ever Mouse2Mouse, a run from Disneyland to Walt Disney World, a journey of 2,761 miles. Even more incredible, this run was completed within a larger Run Across the US, with a total of 2,845 miles, which Don completed on April 7, 2021. We were so excited to talk with Don about his history, his record setting run and his deep love of Disney. This episode is part one of a two week series.  Run time: 46:00 min

In this week’s show we have a full recap of M’s adventures in WDW, a discussion of the Star Wars Virtual Run Medals and in our main segment, how building a lightsaber and a training plan are very similar. Run time: 24:43