runDisney Costume Couture with DW Burge

Get ready for a whirlwind journey of costumes, running, and inspiration. This episode welcomes the exceptionally creative DW Burge who shares his transformative relationship with running and how costumes became an integral part of his journey. As a runner who found self-expression and motivation through dress-up, DW's story offers a unique perspective on the world of runDisney costumes.

We explore the fascinating intersection of running, costumes, and charity. Hear about his experience navigating runDisney's new costume guidelines and the exhilarating challenge of completing all four Disney Marathon Plus Plus Challenges. He also discusses how his passion for running allowed him to give back to the community through charity bibs. As a special treat, he reveals his upcoming costume plan for the Wine and Dine 5K inspired by the Queen of Hearts. Plus, we delve into the importance of nutrition and share some surprising food facts. So, tune in for an episode packed with inspiration, information, and entertainment.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

Welcome to 321 Go the Podcast. I'm John Pelkey.

Speaker 2: 0:08

And I'm Karissa Galloway, and we're bringing you stories from start to finish to keep the everyday athlete motivated to keep moving towards the next finish. Today we are getting into one of the core beliefs of Run Disney there shall be costumes. We are starting off our costume couture series with a trailblazing DW Burge. Dw is an awesome storyteller, and I think there were more tears than we've had in any other episode in this one. Happy tears, though, because truly, as we know, it's bigger than the costumes, but maybe no costumes are bigger than DW's. We've got a special guest for our chat. Today. We're going to share a listener story from Beverly in strange but true nutrition facts in healthier you, and to all of you, thanks for listening. Subscribe rate, tell your friends let's do this. 3, 2, 1, go. Welcome to 321 Go. I'm Karissa Galloway and you're not John Pelkey.

Speaker 3: 1:10

No, I am Jeff Galloway and sort of proud of it.

Speaker 2: 1:14

We should have played like name that voice. Can you guess today's special host? Truth be told, we had some technical issues today. We're not sure who to blame. Maybe the boogeyman, because we're taping this on Halloween, but Jeff decided to step in for chat. We are one day away from you, heading to set up for Wine and Dine Expo. How do you feel?

Speaker 3: 1:34

Well, it's great to be back. You know, it's been a long time since April and there are so many people that can't wait to get there, to get to the Expo, and I'm one of them.

Speaker 2: 1:46

Yeah, you, we talked about this before. I know you don't listen to all the podcasts You're a very busy guy. We talk about how you really get energy from these Expo's. What does that like for you?

Speaker 3: 1:56

Well, there's nothing like coming together when there are other runners there to bounce your energy off one another. You're going to always be more energized during a race weekend, and so channeling that in a positive direction is what the Expo is all about, and I just draw off the experiences of others and their energy, and I can't wait.

Speaker 2: 2:23

Do you like when people come and want to stop and take pictures with you?

Speaker 3: 2:26

I love it. You know it's a special connection and there are always dozens of people that will show me multi years of pictures. That's really neat.

Speaker 2: 2:37

And some of them, the people kind of you might not even recognize them as the same person in pictures, because there's so many people that have lost, you know, so much weight as a result of starting this running journey.

Speaker 3: 2:47

Oh, that's the best part, I mean. In most of American society, people that get overweight get obese and then everything goes downhill. With a large percentage, relatively speaking, of the run Disney folks who are overweight at first, they go into normalcy and they do things they never thought were possible.

Speaker 2: 3:12

Yeah, it's really. It's really big and really good for them, because it kind of started a new chapter of life, revived energy and all of that. Well, today, as we're taping this, it's Halloween. Jeff, when you were little, did you celebrate Halloween?

Speaker 3: 3:24

I did. It was more challenging for me than most because I went around the country following my father, who was in the Navy, and about every six months we were in a different location. Of course that gives you a different place to get trigger treat candy.

Speaker 2: 3:42

Do you remember any costumes or anything that you wore when you were little?

Speaker 3: 3:45

You know, the ghost costume was the most common because it was so easy. And you know, my mother is the one that really put a lot of this stuff together and there were four of us kids, so she was looking for the simplest thing.

Speaker 2: 4:02

That's true.

Speaker 3: 4:03

And I helped her help the others get their costumes.

Speaker 2: 4:07

Do you remember any of your sister's costumes or things that they always wanted to be?

Speaker 3: 4:11

They were more girl things, so I'll let my mom handle that.

Speaker 2: 4:16

You were just good, good being the ghost. That's correct, you mentioned all the different areas around the world. What kind of candy did you get? I mean, you're in your 70s, 78 now 78. Yeah, what kind of candy did you get?

Speaker 3: 4:29

Well, the candies that are now the basic candies now were around at the time M&Ms the candy, the little candy corn.

Speaker 2: 4:43

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 4:44

And then a few of the classic American candy bars.

Speaker 2: 4:53

Back then I don't know what you would get Milky.

Speaker 3: 4:56

Way, the Milky Way products and so forth, and a lot of people where you went would have options for fruit and stuff, but we never took that stuff.

Speaker 2: 5:13

We were going for the candy.

Speaker 3: 5:14

Oh, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 5:15

And I will tell you anybody coming to our house today, they're going to have a selection of lollipops or Idahoan potato shreds, because John always laments that he didn't love Halloween because he didn't have a sweet tooth. So I want to make sure that the kids, no matter what sweet or savory they, have some options. Speaking of kids, do you remember any Halloween's with your kids, Brennan and Wesson? What did they dress up as?

Speaker 3: 5:37

Well, from time to time they would have some rather interesting choices. Brennan, the older child in our family, wanted to be a pizza man, really yeah. And Wesson had a number of different strange things and just offhand I can't remember, I just remember how I was thinking he really wants to do that. But it turned out to be some of our most interesting situations because we'd go up to a house and the people would have very wild.

Speaker 2: 6:20

Wait, did I order a pizza? Am I giving you candy Like what is?

Speaker 1: 6:23

going on here. That's exactly right.

Speaker 2: 6:25

Well, that's fun. I'll have to ask Wesson, I believe I've seen a picture of maybe some type of cat situation, but he's upstairs so I don't think he's listening to me right now, but I think there was a cat involved somewhere and I know there was a birthday party where they everyone dressed as runners, but not a Halloween necessarily.

Speaker 3: 6:41

That's correct, but there really were some, and we'll just have to ask Barb, who I think he's purposely not coming downstairs, but I don't ask him about that.

Speaker 2: 6:50

All right, you mentioned the wine and dine expo. Since that's going to happen soon, where else will people be able to see you besides the expo? Is there anything else you're going to be doing?

Speaker 3: 6:58

I will be on the course for well, actually doing the 5K, and then I'll be on the course during the half marathon, and it's going to be somewhere near the finish. So I'll be there for that last boost of energy before you hit that stretch, the final stretch.

Speaker 2: 7:18

Well, it's interesting that you said that because, as we wrap here and go into our interview with DW, he actually mentions that you helped him finish a race because he saw you, on course. So thank you for joining us, jeff. Stay tuned for that amazing story with Jeff and DW. Here we go, guys, and a shout out to our sponsor, katie McBride. With Travelmation, katie can guide your planning for your next vacation. Doing all the work, I'm just giving you the choice to pick everything you want, follow Katie on Instagram at Travelmation, and we've got her website in our show notes. And now let's talk costumes, celebrations of life and more with DW.

Speaker 4: 7:55

Okay, civilians, it's time for the goods let's get on to the interview.

Speaker 1: 8:00

All right, please welcome to 321 Go the podcast, the self-proclaimed fashion queen of Run Disney and races elsewhere. Dw, purge, dw, how are you?

Speaker 4: 8:11

I am amazing. How are you guys?

Speaker 1: 8:15

Doing very well, so happy to have you here. Now. Let everybody know also where are you.

Speaker 4: 8:20

I live in a little town called Laka Vista, just north of Austin, Texas, right on the lake. A little bit of a country boy, but it's home.

Speaker 2: 8:31

Wow, I'm just going to name drop a little bit. Jonathan Van Ness lives outside of Austin near a body of water. Are they your neighbor?

Speaker 4: 8:42

They are not very different neighborhood.

Speaker 3: 8:44

Oh, okay.

Speaker 4: 8:46

But we have been known to see Sandra Bullock walking around. Matthew McConaughey hits the football games. There's a few celebs here.

Speaker 2: 8:55

There's people around. Well, good, and first off, for our listeners, I would like you to know that DW took this seriously and has the tiara on, so it's amazing. I should have thought that through. I love you. We're going to dive into run Disney in your costumes, but tell us a little bit about you and let's get to know you.

Speaker 4: 9:17

So I am the everyday athlete. I am perfectly ubiquitous, Played team sports as a kid, backed out as a teenager and then found running in 2015. And it filled a hole that I didn't even know existed and has kind of become a bit of obsession with me.

Speaker 2: 9:44

In the best possible way. So did running lead to Disney, or did Disney lead to running?

Speaker 4: 9:52

Oh, my family's history is intertwined with Disney. My dad is one of those kids you see running through the Disneyland castle on opening day. My very first job ever was as a cast member.

Speaker 3: 10:10

It's where my husband proposed.

Speaker 4: 10:12

So my friends actually bribed me to run by saying we were going to Disneyland in California. Oh, but by the way, you have to wake up at three in the morning and run a 5k. Little did I know that they were creating a monster.

Speaker 2: 10:32

Amazing. So I do have a follow up question there that I want to know. One amazing about your dad. That's so cool Because I think I grew up in a very intertwined Disney family, but not that intertwined. Are you allowed to tell us where you were a cast member and what did you do? Please tell me. It was like ice cream on Main Street or something like fun like that.

Speaker 4: 10:50

Unfortunately not that cool. I was a Disney store cast member in 1990 when technically we were still under the theme park umbrella. And so because I opened a brand new store in Springfield, virginia three of us Virginians here. They brought the traditions team. We did the full two week cast member training, costume inspections, and then when I graduated high school, disney actually sent me down to Walt Disney World to do traditions in person.

Speaker 2: 11:29

Oh, I love that. As someone who I did not enjoy transition traditions. When I had to do it, I didn't. I didn't enjoy it as a college program.

Speaker 4: 11:37

I remember wearing a three piece gray charcoal wool suit in the middle of June in Orlando, standing in front of the haunted mansion with people coming up and asking do you work here?

Speaker 2: 11:52

And did you want to be like? Yes, yes, I do, pardon me wanted to be the sarcastic.

Speaker 4: 11:58

No, this is how I dress every day. And then part of me was like absolutely just bursting with pride.

Speaker 1: 12:06

That you know, it's so funny. And Springfield, Virginia, of course, my hometown as well. And you should have said graduated from Hayfield secondary school, Hayfield High School, the fighting Hawks.

Speaker 3: 12:18

Yes, I feel that.

Speaker 1: 12:20

I'll take any opportunity to drop one of my very few athletic accolades, because I played football in the Gunston District for what is now John L Lewis High School, which was Robert E Lee, back back in the day, and of the eight points I scored in high school football, two of them were against the mighty Hawks of Hayfield in my final game ever played on a tipped pass for a two point conversion. So shout out to the Hawks, but really shout out to one of the two high school football. You know positive memories that I have. But now, as a Northern Virginia and I'm going to jump off script here for a bit how did you end up in Florida? My parents, my dad, retired and moved to Florida. You know that's the law if you're from where we are, and I followed them there. How did you get there?

Speaker 4: 13:08

So I lived in Springfield, virginia. So I worked at them all there, never lived in Florida. I got to Texas because of my husband he is a native Texan, born and bred was actually in Washington DC for vacation. I went to a bar one night and accidentally kicked him and 22 years later we are still together.

Speaker 2: 13:40

I love that. So there was a little long distance component there in the beginning, or did you just go right away in the suitcase back to Texas?

Speaker 4: 13:49

He went home for about six weeks, came back on Christmas Eve and that was the end of that. We've been side by side ever since.

Speaker 2: 14:00

Have we ever seen him at Disney?

Speaker 4: 14:03

He will run the 5Ks with me.

Speaker 2: 14:06

We're just distracted with you.

Speaker 4: 14:08

Black shorts, black t-shirt, head down. He's the one who's typically taking pictures for me, so and we all need that.

Speaker 1: 14:20

That's great. All right, I want to ask about your first 5K, because I had mine last season. Talk about your first 5K and what that experience was like.

Speaker 4: 14:30

So that was the Tinkerbell 5K 2015. I was so scared so you have to understand my history with sports. Grew up in a military family. Both parents served in the US Air Force.

Speaker 4: 14:48

It is drilled into at a very young age that you need to be a part of something greater than yourself, and for kids that typically means team sports. For me, though, I was always a little flamboyant, theatrical, dramatic. I was never quite like the other boys, and so as I got older, coaches and teammates made it very clear that I wasn't welcome in their world. So by the time I was 14, it became easier to pretend that there was no interest in sports than it was to explain to my parents the bruises, the scars, the black guys. So flash forward 30 years. I'm the guy who refers to the Super Bowl as the Madonna concert with the really good commercials. Like I go out of my way to not involve myself in that world. And three very dear friends of mine said let's go run a half marathon at Disneyland and I said absolutely not. 13.1 miles, nobody could do that.

Speaker 4: 16:06

And they were like okay, then run the 5K.

Speaker 4: 16:10

So my best friend Jen and I get up at three in the morning and the Disneyland 5K back then started on Main Street. There were no corrals, it was first come, first serve. So we get ushered through the gate, we're lined up on Main Street. I have no idea what's about to happen and then all of a sudden, the lights on the castle, the firework, pinker Bell is flying over us and a double decker bus pulls up and pirates and Peter Pan hop out and they do this whole story about Peter Pan losing his shadow and we have to run through the park to try and find it. The rope drops. We go backstage, we see parts of the park that we had never seen before and, as hokey as it may sound, it felt like I was flying.

Speaker 4: 17:04

It was a piece of me that I didn't know was missing was magically returned and we all got together the next day, the four of us to run the 10K. Very begrudgingly. That seemed ridiculous to me. To run six mile, little would I know. And we all did it in costume, and it was the first time that I saw everybody showing up in two, twos and hats and it was a giant party. And that was it.

Speaker 2: 17:36

I was hooked, oh my God, I'm almost crying just having you tell that story, because I feel like that's the goal, right. That's why Disney, at its core, was created for Walt to be able to create that magic and then run. Disney allows people to have that magic and, john, I'm going to say it, disneyland you just heard a story from him, not from me Does it differently. They do it. It's a lot of effort, they do it differently and they do it beautifully, and I'm so excited that we're going to get to go back there because they really take that storytelling seriously. So you did that first race. I was going to ask about the 5K. What did you wear?

Speaker 4: 18:16

I was so scared to reenter the world of sports. I did my best to dress as butch as I could Basketball shorts, half zip, I wore a du-rag. It was almost like a comical version of what somebody thought Napoli was. I just wanted to blend in and hide away and looking back at the pictures I looked ridiculous. I had no idea what Napoli looked like, but I got over that.

Speaker 2: 18:51

And then the next day you did dress up. So what were you then in the 10K?

Speaker 4: 18:56

So I was Michael, so we had the three darling children and Peter Pan.

Speaker 1: 19:05

To me that's an ad campaign for Run Disney right there, the before and the after First race, magically Second race. Now you've completely given into it and it's fabulous. And it's so great too because I'm making the point about taking something that is important is physical activity, is for people and not just setting it down in the place where it's oh, take part in these team sports. You can do this, express who you are and do yourself a whole lot of good, and in fact, you've been pretty open about that. Run Disney really changed your life.

Speaker 4: 19:43

Riley asked me once what Run Disney meant to me and I was shocked by the answer. It kind of just fell out at me, but I will own it to this day. I attribute Run Disney with being alive today. I'm not a skinny guy. I've got a little extra around the middle. Yet when I go for my annual physical they keep looking for something that's wrong with me, because there's no way a 50 year old carrying 30 extra pounds can have perfect cholesterol and a perfect pulse and perfect blood pressure. And finally, it has solved so many problems for me, because when you run a 1330, 1430 minute mile and you're running 48 miles over the course of a couple of days, you spend a lot of time on the course with yourself and you were sort of forced to face the voices that play in the back of your mind and you either resolve the issue or you succumb to it, and I just don't give up.

Speaker 1: 21:01

So, yeah, I want to follow that up too, because on social media you're so relentlessly positive and it's so inclusive. You know I there you talked about, you know, the quote elite runners and the non elite runners and how that it's really sort of a misnomer. Can you put into words really what your philosophy is about, about running and what it, what it does, give you?

Speaker 4: 21:26

So I have a mantra If you can't run fast, run fabulous. And because I am known for my costumes, people sort of associate it with that piece of it, but it really is just about showing up as the best version of yourself, whatever that version is Like. I said I got hooked immediately, 2015, by running. My only reference point for how an athlete acted were the bullies, were the wrestling coach who used me as bait for the big kids, and so once I decided this was going to be a part of my life, my brain sort of went in a very dangerous direction and said you need to do whatever you can do to maintain your spot in this board, and I became a bully myself. I would find the biggest, meanest person on race day on social media and start mimicking their behavior.

Speaker 4: 22:39

In 2017, so about two years into this, I actually had a group of people who I didn't even know approach me and say we don't know who you are, we don't know what your drama is, but if this is how you're going to act, you're not allowed to play with us. And it really was a point where I reset my whole life. I dropped off social media, I quit running for about a year and a half, I became a bit of a hermit and decided OK, you need to figure out who you are first, and I believe there is a lot of darkness in this world. We have to see it, we have to recognize it, but we don't have to give in to it. There's a great quote from RuPaul of all people, that you have to create spaces where people can sing and dance and be joyful, and I just decided that space for me is the race course, and so anything I can do to bring love and happiness and inclusivity to race day, that's my mission.

Speaker 2: 24:01

Wow, that's quite an arc. It's a credit character arc there, but I love that you shared that we're going to jump into costumes in a minute. But I do have a question Since you made that shift and you are, we as announcers we lurk on social media groups. We don't really jump in a lot because it's not our place and we really don't know as much about some things as you guys know. Do you feel like, because you made that arc, because you now bring this light and this positivity both to race day and in representing Run Disney, that you have allowed other people to come in and feel that inclusivity and go to a race and say this is a place I can be myself and I don't have to be embarrassed of who I am and how I want to look or act or run or do whatever?

Speaker 4: 24:47

Absolutely so. I will tell you, the very first time that I dressed up in costume intentionally running by myself was my first race back, which was Princess 2019. And the reason I put on the Tutu in the New Orleans T-shirt was because I was looking at pictures of other runners and I wanted to again blend in. I wanted to hide. I didn't want anybody to see me and go oh, you're the mean guy who used to do this a couple of years ago. Very interesting, I think, story. It worked. I got through the 10K, I got through the half marathon. I immediately signed up for Disneyland Paris that fall in September. Same idea T-shirt, massive Tutu. I felt like a million bucks and there was a woman who took the elevator downstairs with me, very high-end British accent, looked at me and went is that what Americans think is appropriate for race day? I was like oh OK, disneyland Paris much like Disneyland in California. You walk to the starting. There was a group of security guards who started laughing and cat-calling me. I have this beautiful picture from that day of me running through Discovery Land, both feet off the ground, tutu's bouncing smile on my face. What I remember is the photographer laughing so hard. After taking that picture. They dropped the camera, doubled over and laughed and I went oh, I'm so confused, right? I can't be a bully. I can't be this costume guy. Maybe there's not a place for me in sports. And so my next run Disney event was actually Dopey in 2020.

Speaker 4: 26:59

And to give you a little insight into how twisted my brain is, I decided to show up in costume. But I have this massive rainbow skirt made with a five-foot hoop skirt that went underneath of it. The idea was that I would fill up the entire elevator, that on the bus nobody could sit next to me in the growl. I had a three-foot bubble ring and it worked like a charm until we crossed the starting line. We were maybe a quarter of a mile into the race and a younger athlete 11, 12, runs up to me and goes.

Speaker 4: 27:41

May I ask you a question? I went sure, do you know that you look really pretty this morning? And then just ran into the crowd Little bit further in. We're over by test track. And this mother pulls on my shoulder and says do you mind if my family takes a picture with you? And I went oh, ok, sure, we take the picture. We hop back on the course. And the mother thanked me. They were actually running the 5K because their son had just come out of the closet and they wanted to show him that life doesn't change. They're still going to go on vacation, they're still going to go on runs. And that was when the light bulb went off and went. Not only can I be myself, but I can bring something to this sport by dressing up, by being authentic.

Speaker 2: 28:38

I think that's beautiful. I think it's beautiful what that family did for their child and I think it's beautiful that you can bring your own authentic self in a way that is uniquely you, that no one else can do, because your costumes are your costumes, they are not an Etsy costume, you are not bounding, you are truly yourself. So what inspired you to take your costumes to that level?

Speaker 4: 29:02

physically, you know, figuratively- Believe it or not, it was COVID, so I get through Dopey 2020, a little bit of an asterisk on it, but I completed all four races. I came back and I cheered Princess and I was all set to run Star Wars half marathon costume everything and the world shut.

Speaker 2: 29:30

So we were all set for that.

Speaker 4: 29:33

We had 18 months where, literally, my brain just started churning costume ideas. If the theme is this, then I can wear that. I was very optimistic that we were gonna come back, so even had a couple of costumes made ready to go. And then, all of a sudden, you know, it was 2021 when we got to start running again and I had this costume closet full of tutus and gowns and tiaras that I could just start picking and choosing from and I didn't think it was gonna be a thing. I thought it was just a cute little silly thing. But it kind of took off and it resonated with a few people.

Speaker 1: 31:47

Well, more than a few people, and I have to know.

Speaker 2: 31:49

Because this was a poll. This was who are we gonna talk about costumes with? Because we didn't want to let our personal people we know some people better than others, you know we see them more. We didn't want our personal feelings to impact it, so you were chosen. Yes, you were.

Speaker 1: 32:06

And you know what, and you were to tell that story and that most at the same time humorous and heartbreaking comment ever is somebody saying is that what you Americans think is proper to wear to a race? It just it really kind of encapsulates so very much and I love that. It's one of those things that Spurdy won to just this positive thing about people. I mean, honestly, can we step back and take a look for a moment? Is it possible for you to come up with a favorite of your costumes at this point? Oh, and you can say the next one, because that's you get a lot. Oh, it'll be the next one, but at this point, do you have a favorite?

Speaker 4: 32:47

I do and it was the one that almost got me in trouble. So life lesson there. The Cocoa 5K Last Wine and Dining. Disneyland, california, has this amazing daytime parade called Magic Happens and there is a Cocoa float that is inspired by the Miracle Bridge and I just knew the first time I saw the parade. I'm gonna run as that float if I ever get the opportunity it comes along, and I had a corseted wedding dress made out of orange organza, individual rosettes, cathedral train, which is a big no-no, nothing that tracks on the ground. That was just spectacular.

Speaker 2: 33:43

It was too. Was it too spectacular or just spectacular enough?

Speaker 4: 33:47

It was so. I knew the rules. The rules were nothing could drag on the ground, and so I actually have the tailor sew in straps so that I could wear the train like a backpack, the idea being photo ops. I could drop it, I could get the beautiful picture. I'd load it back up on my arms and run. Morning of the race. I get through the first gate no problem. I get pictures with the characters no problem.

Speaker 4: 34:16

I'm heading towards the corral and two cast members walk up and say those infamous words hi, friend, which is Disney 4, we need to talk. They pulled me aside and this is why I will defend Disney cast members until the day I die. They complimented the look. They specifically called out everything I had done in an effort to be compliant, and then expressed their concern If you drop your arms, if you get tired, this could fall. It may not be safe for other rushes, it may not be safe for other runners.

Speaker 4: 34:59

And so my brain immediately went to all right, who am I gonna get to start unstrapping me? Because it truly was a corseted wedding dress with rows and rows of binding. Just then they literally pull out like two handfuls of safety pins, and the cast members name was Grace and she is the epitome of her name. And they said if you allow us to pin your dress to our satisfaction, we'll let you run. And Grace stood there for 15 minutes with 10,000 people heading towards the corral and people trying to rush into me up, and they let me run and I have some of the most beautiful like horse photos because of it.

Speaker 1: 35:52

That's really remarkable and we do shout out to those folks, but we really can't say it enough that for all the fun that we get to have and that you folks on the course get to have, they're those people who are out there for very long days dealing with a lot of people. So what a great story.

Speaker 2: 36:08

I do have a follow-up that I wanna ask. When they came up to you, it seemed like you possibly had anticipated this could happen Was your reaction to them and I'm assuming it was like a calm and cordial reaction?

Speaker 4: 36:23

Absolutely right.

Speaker 2: 36:25

That's what I assumed, and my follow-up is not to interrupt you is do you think the outcome was what it was because of the way? Instead of you know what I mean, I'm just trying to educate other people that if someone comes up to them at Disney and is questioning something, the best option forward is a cordial conversation.

Speaker 4: 36:41

Absolutely. It's the cast members who work those run Disney events, the volunteers who work those events. They want you to have the best time ever. They are not gonna say or do something to take the magic away. They are gonna go out of their way to help you find a solution. Work with them. They're amazing people. They took the time to help me when there was literally 10,000 people. They found a way to make it work.

Speaker 2: 37:19

Yeah, and I think you gave them the opportunity to be like no, I did this and I just think that's important because I know in the moment, especially when something matters to us and it's stressful, we cannot be our, our Disney guy.

Speaker 1: 37:30

Well, and most particularly when it's a safety issue. Yeah, and I think anybody who's pushing back after the safe it's been pointed out it's a safety issue. I can't help you any further now. You're being unreasonable.

Speaker 2: 37:41

So so you mentioned it a little bit. You talked about your steam stresses. So do you make any of your costumes, or are you more of like the Cruella de Vil and you're sketching them and then you're, you're, you're past, you're Emma Stone, you're Emma Stone, you're not you're, you know you're, you're the good version.

Speaker 4: 37:57

The fact is, oh, I'm a hundred percent Emma Stone. Right, I am obsessed with fashion, not going to the mall and finding cute clothes, the history, the designers, very much like Cruella was in that movie. I typically come up with a concept, an idea, something I want to do. There are a number of people I work with. I know their strengths, I know what they're willing to do and not willing to do, and then we try and piece it all together and you can't always get to the desired end result, but you can typically get really close.

Speaker 2: 38:38

What's the timeline like for you from creation, you know, are you doing in-person fittings, like how you know where are we on? What is what happens?

Speaker 4: 38:46

I work with a small group of people, so they have my measurements, they know what works. I know that. They know me. But just to put things into perspective, we are four weeks out from Weinendine and I am stressed because my springtime surprise 10-mylar costume isn't here yet. Wow, it's supposed to be on a mail truck right now. We'll see if that really happens. That what?

Speaker 2: 39:13

No one's even thinking about our springtime surprise costume, by the way.

Speaker 4: 39:19

John's gonna be Thomas O'Malley, right Like is there any other so.

Speaker 2: 39:22

John's Kumba.

Speaker 1: 39:24

Kumba Someday. Someday I will be Thomas O'Malley, but probably not soon enough. Do you have any folks out there on the course costume creators that inspire you? Because you know we do have. As we said, you were the most voted for, but we had a bunch of people on that list because we have a lot of really, really fun folks out there who inspires you.

Speaker 4: 39:51

It really is fashion history, right, and it's the Disney movies. And yet every time I get to the starting line, there's always somebody in a costume that makes me wanna like punch myself and go oh, I should have thought of that concept. The two-two guys, cece, who's one of the Galloway Pacers they surprise you every now and then with these sort of brilliant, cheeky ideas and you're like I should have done that. But, like I said, I'm a bit of a planner and so you know I kind of have to roll with what I planned.

Speaker 1: 40:36

I think we lost Carissa there for a second. All right, well, I wanna talk about this too, because oh, she's popping back in here. Do you have a favorite costume that you've seen while out on the course? Just maybe somebody didn't know because we get so surprised. You'd be surprised how many we miss at the starting line that we get to see at the finish line. Anyone ever just blow you away.

Speaker 4: 41:00

I love the costumes that come out of left field right when somebody shows up for a run Disney event dressed as Harry Potter. Or there were so many people who came to this last season directly from the Taylor Swift concert and they were dressed as Herma Carissa. We're probably gonna have to get with John after this and explain the song references. I know he's not much of a swiftie.

Speaker 1: 41:26

I'm not, I'm, he's getting mad. I turned the corner on that due to the television show the Bear. We talk about it on another episode.

Speaker 2: 41:33

I've turned the corner on her. She's brilliant. The girls who had the skirt where you was like. You probably saw this the Buzz Lightyear mashup of the skirt where the faces where you're shooting at her ex-boyfriends.

Speaker 4: 41:44

Oh, my word, I didn't.

Speaker 2: 41:47

Yeah, like it was like literally like Jake Gyllenhaal's face, like John Mayer's face, like all around their skirts, in the way that it is for Buzz Lightyear's space rage. That was See, I love the they were at the back because I think they were a little hungover. But what is it?

Speaker 4: 42:00

There's still a few runners who are bitter that we no longer run the Star Wars themed race, and so this last Monsters Inc 10K. They came up as Stormtroopers mashed up with different Monsters Inc characters, so you have like the Sully Stormtrooper and then like Buzz Lightyear's Stormtrooper, and you know, it's that sort of brilliance and cheekiness that I will never match, so I just go for sparkling glitter.

Speaker 2: 42:31

And they all have their place right. We all have our place in the great circle of life. All right, let's talk about your dopey 2023 journey and the amazing moment that just happened, where I, you know you're finishing and I must have gone to hot. I don't know what I went to do and I got to see you finish that. What did it feel like for you? I know you said there was an asterisk, but it's the complete dopey 2023, your first uninterrupted 26.2 mile journey on the heels of many more miles.

Speaker 4: 43:04

What was that like? So we got 37 minutes into this before you made me cry. Okay, let me see if I can tell this story. No, so I do refer to dopey 2023 as my second attempt. My first was 2020. I completed all four races, but if you remember that January was, quote unquote, the hottest on record and then Mother Nature said, hold my drink. But the marathon course was actually cut short. I was one of the first people sort of diverted away from Blizzard Beach, cutting a couple of miles off, still got my medal when I would never try to be again. I was good. It nagged me that that they cut the course short. I wasn't a true marathoner.

Speaker 2: 43:58

I feel you on that. It sucks, but I do understand.

Speaker 4: 44:01

I do not question their decision to cut the course short. It was the right thing to do. But a couple of years later I decided I was going to go back to prove to myself that I could do a full marathon ran the 5K, ran the 10K, ran the half, all in costume, had a great time. I woke up the morning of the marathon and I was terrified. The monkey brain, the dark thoughts kicked in, and so I actually didn't even dress up that day. I just put on like running shorts and a shirt and I didn't want to be the guy carried off a bus in some crazy costume. I think I quit the race three different times. If it wasn't for the Galloway Pacers, I wouldn't have made it to the finish line. We get to Epcot and my third wind, my fourth wind kicks in and I just run through Epcot. I get to the end, I grab a beer over by test track and I cross the finish line.

Speaker 4: 45:14

I am exhausted, I'm dehydrated, I can smell myself, I've sweat through my clothes because I've been on the course six hours 53 minutes and 27 seconds. That will be my tattoo, because it's my first marathon. I look up and the very first person I see is Chris at Galloway. I am literally three steps across the finish line, john. You know this.

Speaker 4: 45:43

Rissa has a smile that lights up a stadium. It is the equivalent of a Taylor Swift concert. And there she is. She's walking towards me, she's smiling, and social convention dictates I say something, anything, and so I spit out the only words that I could get out, which was I'm a marathoner, and she gives me this great big hug, which, ew, because I was gross and wet and smelling, and she grabs me by the shoulders and looks me in the eye and says no, you're dopey, you are marathon plus plus, plus. And it was sorry. It was the first time in my life that I was seen as an athlete and it has forever changed me. It's who I want to be on the course now. I want to be the person who, whether it's at the third mile or the 26th, looks at the person next to me and goes you got this, let's go.

Speaker 2: 47:00

I think you're making us all cry.

Speaker 2: 47:01

But and that's that's again the power of run the power of running in general is that it brings out something in us that we didn't know we could do, because when you were out there and you were quitting so many times, no one was forcing you to keep going.

Speaker 2: 47:14

There was no bad grade if you didn't finish, there was no job demotion or like it was just something you alone could do and you pushed yourself through it, knowing that you were scared and that every, every reason for something to go wrong in six hours and 53 minutes could and things did it and you kept going. And that journey changes people and it changed. It changed me when I did it, it changed you, and now you want to go back there and make sure that if you can just touch one person right and get them to that finish line and that's kind of the power we feel like at the start we want to remind people like Jess, don't give in, don't don't give up, fight for it, because the finish line and how you can feel in it is 100% worth it.

Speaker 4: 47:55

And I think that truly is the magic of run Disney right? John? I can tell you exactly where I was standing when the camera turned around and revealed that you were going to run the 5K. There was literally shock waves that went through the crowd. There was electricity, and it wasn't disbelief, it was this excitement of he finally gets to experience what we've experienced. And you had 10,000 people on that course who are going to get you to that finish line. You saw people who were scared become calm, people who were tired become awake Just because you stepped up to that starting line. And that's what happens every time. It's not unique.

Speaker 1: 48:50

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 48:51

And John was nervous.

Speaker 1: 48:52

Oh, he was.

Speaker 2: 48:53

And then he hit all the same nerves you probably had running your marathon or any race, and so we're very proud of you, john, we're still very proud of you, and we're very proud of you. Do you know what I mean?

Speaker 1: 49:02

Well, it's just such a great metaphor, too, that you have to get to the finish and, like you said, you quit a couple of times but then worked through that, and you did that on your own, but there were so many people around lifting you up at that same time. It's just a great metaphor, for, boy, wouldn't that be a great way to go about our lives being positive influences on people and lifting them up and going about and doing our business as we should at the same time. But maybe I'm asking for a lot, I guess, sadly. All right, well, now let's jump forward, because now that you've done this, now you're looking at improving your time this year. Talk about that. That's very exciting. I think this is really cool.

Speaker 4: 49:47

I am so completed dopey last year that was the pinnacle Was never going to do it again. You couldn't make me. And two weeks later I was reaching out to a charity to secure my bib. There's a beautiful quote that goes around on social media when somebody tells you you're not capable of doing something, do it twice and take pictures. And so that's what I'm doing. I'm coming back for my second dopey. My goal is to reduce my marathon time from 6.53 to 6. But at the end of the day, crossing the finish line is going to be the satisfaction.

Speaker 2: 50:31

I don't know how long the line was for the beer, but you got a couple minutes there. But I don't know if you want to take that out. I mean it's pretty, You've heard that.

Speaker 4: 50:42

I have a bad habit of leaving the course to go use the good bathrooms, like Pinocchio and Fantasyland. They're clean and they're air conditioned. I also had a couple of issues where my costume didn't fit inside a port-a-body so I had to go use the good bathroom, stopping for a character visit. I'll see them in the park afterwards. I know I can get there. I just have to keep the mindset you can and I'm sure you're training diligently and you've got the mental fortitude.

Speaker 2: 51:17

You mentioned that you went to look for a charity bib, which we always applaud. We know it's hard to get into rendisney races and especially in the park. You didn't have to run Disney races and especially if you decide later after registration. I know one of the organizations you worked with are Kelsey's Hope. Can you tell us about them and maybe any other charities that you've had the opportunity to be involved with?

Speaker 4: 51:38

Kelsey's Hope is this amazing organization, very much like Make-A-Litch, where they grant a family's desire as they're struggling with a cancer diagnosis. What I didn't know, and it's I'm not slamming them Make a wish. You only get one wish per family. Kelsey's Hope they seek families where maybe there was a relapse or that the diagnosis the second time around isn't as good. Volunteer led, nobody takes a paycheck Pediatricians Just some of the kindest people you will ever meet, with so much money going back just to give families that final memory or that happy time together. I was really proud that for the first time this season I completed all four challenges. All four were run on charity bibs and that's part of the way I can give back to this community. So hopefully, going forward, that'll be the way I do it.

Speaker 2: 52:55

We really applaud you for that and we know Kelsey's crew. They do great work but their energy they're so loud and they're so present and they're at the finish. From John and I at the 5K we're barely at the finish at all and we'll get there and Tracy and Riley will be like Kelsey's crew. They've been going and they got the things and the cowbells. I applaud them not only for the work that they do, but the energy they put out to support the runners too, because it's like they're showing up, they're being present where the people are and they're loving doing that. We really love them. I don't know if you're going to be willing to answer this next question, but are there any costume plans that we can have? Like any preview, not preview but like a little teaser.

Speaker 2: 53:38

Yeah, teaser is the word there.

Speaker 4: 53:41

After the orange dress. I'm very conscious of the rules. We've all gotten the emails this season from Rin Disney. It's very clear that they're going to be enforcing them differently or more stringently. I had to rethink the way that I do this. A lot of fabulousness in a little bit smaller canvas. We have Alice in Wonderland coming up for the Wine and Dine 5K. My dress will be inspired by the Queen of Hearts, rose Bush. So left field Marathon. You have these really loosey-goosey themes. Hey it's Mickey, hey it's Donald. I've decided I'm going to run as Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, for no other reason than I can't. That's awesome.

Speaker 2: 54:37

One year. Maybe you could be a different heroine every day. You could. Miranda for the 5K. Samantha might need the 5K. She's got a lot going on that would be trying to channel each personality. That's a lot, I'm sorry. I just want to section that.

Speaker 4: 54:53

So do I. I'm a bit of a junk.

Speaker 2: 54:54

I miss it, I miss it. I totally see you, carrie Bradshaw, running after the bus in the opening. That's what.

Speaker 4: 55:02

I feel From the movie. It's the Dior t-shirt with the big Zac pose and ball gowns. No Louboutin, I'm not ready to run in a heel yet. I know a couple of people have, but I'm not that much.

Speaker 1: 55:20

I think we've seen some heels come on, like the last 15 yards or something. Just to get the picture in the heels. I haven't seen any coming around the corner at the quarter mile pole. They're usually within the first 20 yards or so, which, if you can run 20 yards in high heels, having worn them in plays before, believe me, I'll give you a second medal. No, it's not worth it.

Speaker 4: 55:44

Yeah, let's not encourage that.

Speaker 2: 55:46

For that one, the feet got to be good. You mentioned the new costume guidelines. You are more of an expert than we are, so for someone listening, is there anything that they really need to take note of that's different from before, or because we don't know? We know nothing.

Speaker 4: 56:01

The rules are not really different. The bottom line is your costume has to be safe, functional and adaptive. So nothing attached to your costume that could physically injure yourself or another athlete who accidentally ran into you, Nothing that can drag on the ground. The advice that most people ignore your costume has to be well made. We are running in the dark in Florida. The concrete is wet. If a piece of tool or something falls off of your costume, it becomes a slip hazard for the person behind you. It's just not worth it to put somebody else's safety at risk and use common sense. It's hot. Don't wear suede. I made that mistake once. Cover your face. Security is going to want to see you.

Speaker 1: 57:07

Again, it comes down to safety. When people complain about things that are safety, the reasons for them are safety. I can't really help them any further than that. Folks, it's a safety hazard and you are going to be equally as upset if somebody's costume piece falls off and you trip over it. Be good to the people. Thank you very much for that, d-dub for pointing it out. As an adult because they don't listen to us anymore I always say that on this stage, when you start to get to all of the safety tips and everything they're like, okay, we're getting closer, we're not going to pay attention to them. Listen to the professionals out there on the course. Folks, we have some standard questions when we wrap up that we give to everybody. The first is this one when you get yourself to a hard place in a race, in a workout, in a moment in life, how do you motivate yourself to keep going?

Speaker 4: 57:57

Don't make fun of me. I sing. I sing out loud. One of the first tips a coach gave me when I got into running was if you can sing, you can breathe. If you can breathe, you can move forward Simultaneously. If you sing a song that you love, be it something on your playlist, something Disney's playing, your brain is automatically going to trigger all the happy memories you associate with that song. So both physically and mentally, it grounds you.

Speaker 1: 58:35

I love that.

Speaker 2: 58:36

Any songs that you've sang on course of Disney that you can share with us.

Speaker 4: 58:39

Oh, pick one.

Speaker 2: 58:41

Disney songs or are they like Gaga?

Speaker 4: 58:44

All of the above. Anybody who ran Marathon Weekend this year for some reason, madonna's Vogue was. Every other song, like every second song, was Vogue. I'm assuming Dick Tracy 90s. So we did that one a lot so I removed it from my playlist.

Speaker 2: 59:07

Okay, so it's playlist driven a little bit A little bit.

Speaker 4: 59:10

Yeah, I love a good Taylor, I love a good Beyonce. If you don't believe that I actually do this, pull up my photo path. Every other photo is me doing a fully choreographed routine to Taylor's love story. Or Beyonce all the single ladies Makes love, love story is the song.

Speaker 1: 59:36

That's the one that got me Love story in the bear. I heard that song, any sort of reference to Shakespeare. I'm your uncle Barry generally for a song, great, great stuff and I am fully on board with the singing thing. It's my favorite thing to do.

Speaker 2: 59:50

Well, john, maybe if you were to run a 10K this year, you could try singing and I'm singing, and I'm running and I love it, I love it Now again multitasking, not among my skills, but if any breath left I'll sing at the end in happiness, absolutely. Okay, fantastic, dw. The other thing we want to ask you is what is the most inspiring thing that you have seen at a race?

Speaker 4: 1:00:19

It actually involves Jeff Galloway and it takes place over two weekends, so the inaugural springtime surprise 10-miler, I had injured my right eye at some point during the 10K.

Speaker 4: 1:00:35

Got suntan lotion in it rubbed it wrong. Something Woke up the morning of the 10-miler, seriously debating whether or not I should run the race. Physically I was fine, I was hurt. I decided I'm not going to run the race. But I'm going to put on my costume, go to the pre-show, take a couple pictures and then grab the first bus back to the hotel. What they don't tell you is that the first bus leaves three or four hours after the start of the race because you're running on the course. So I get into the corral and I begrudgingly move myself from one milestone to the other. I'm constantly thinking about quitting.

Speaker 4: 1:01:20

I get back into EPCOT right around Test Track, which is half a mile, three quarters of a mile from the finish line, and I'm still looking for a golf club to pull myself. There's a gentleman on the side of the course Black pants, black shirt, baseball cap, no cast members, no cameras, no entourage. He is there fist pumping and cheering everyone on. I get a little bit closer and I realize it's Jeff Gallipoli. So I step off the course and I ask if I can take a picture with him and he says yes and I get ready to step back on and he gives me this great big hug out of nowhere, looks at me and says I'm so proud of you. Now go finish strong and off. I go on my merry way and that moment is actually what got me through my dopey training for the following year. Jeff Gallipoli is proud of you. That's huge.

Speaker 4: 1:02:26

I had the opportunity to see him again at the princess half marathon expo. He was in the booth, it was lunchtime, he wasn't really doing meet and greets, and so I asked if I could tell him the story of that. I woke up, I didn't want to run. I kind of forced myself. I was going to quit at mile nine and there he was. And Jeff smiles and he says probably the most profound thing I've ever heard before he goes running, never lies. It's incapable of it. I saw you in that moment and I knew that's what you needed. I was just lucky enough to be the one to give it to you. That's from Disney, right there.

Speaker 2: 1:03:20

What's amazing about that is that I see Jeff Gallipoli a lot more than a lot of people. This is, I've said this this is where he sleeps when he's here. I've never heard him say that, I've never heard him phrase anything that way. So the fact that it's what amazes me about him is that he can touch people, and it's not a tagline, it's not a can thing. Him saying that to you was because that's genuinely what he felt in that moment. It wasn't a spiel that he gives people. He said that to you because that's that connection that you guys had in that moment.

Speaker 4: 1:03:51

Again, it's one of those moments when I think about not only who I can be as an athlete, but who I want to be as an athlete. That's it. I will never have his athletic resume. I will never run an Iron man. I dream of running a world major. Maybe one day I can get in. But in a sport that is competitive, I can compete to be the kindest, the most, giving the most aware, and I can continue the legacy that he has created at Run Disney.

Speaker 1: 1:04:32

Beautifully said. Well, thank you so much for spending some time with us. This has been great. Now people want to follow you on. This is when I get to be the old guy I am on the social media. Let them know where they can follow you. As I said, it's relentlessly positive and fun stuff that will lift you up if you're having one of those slow days. Where do they need to go?

Speaker 4: 1:04:56

Thank you, John. That's a very kind way of saying. He posts a lot of pictures of his dogs.

Speaker 1: 1:05:04

No, no downside to that ever.

Speaker 4: 1:05:07

You can find me on Instagram. I am not a princess, fair warning. You get a lot of dog pictures. You get my random dinners. Someday you'll get 50 pictures, some weeks you'll get none, but I'm there.

Speaker 2: 1:05:25

Well, thank you, dw. This was amazing and we look forward to seeing you in the corrals at the photo ops all through the rest of run Disney season. It's like we're itching for school to start. We're so close. Thank you so much for the time and the stories. I think this is one of our best podcasts we've done. Thank, you. Thank you, Sarge. All right, let's talk about absolutely random nutrition facts. There's a lot of weird stuff with food.

Speaker 1: 1:05:53

Yeah, yeah, and you can read in 100 different places 100 different things.

Speaker 2: 1:05:58

So Do you know any random food facts besides the one that you might have already read in our show notes?

Speaker 1: 1:06:03

All right I well, I know.

Speaker 3: 1:06:05

Time to shape up your diet. I believe in strawberries Give them a good I'm actually

Speaker 4: 1:06:09

a berry.

Speaker 1: 1:06:10

Am I correct with that or am I wrong?

Speaker 2: 1:06:12

I think you are right. You're right. That's number two on the list. I'm going to just let you give you credit for not looking at it ahead of time. First fun food fact Carrots were originally. You didn't really look, I didn't really. I was like too old for the list. You're smarter than me. Carrots were not originally orange.

Speaker 1: 1:06:33

Okay.

Speaker 2: 1:06:33

Carrots were purple the modern orange carrot as a result of selective breeding and they were cultivated for medicinal purposes rather than taste. Did I blow your mind?

Speaker 1: 1:06:47

Wow. So basically we just sort of dumbed the food down. It was probably better for us when it was medicinal.

Speaker 2: 1:06:53

I mean baby carrots. If we really think about baby carrots, they're just carrots made smaller. Why can't we call them that Tiny, tiny baby carrots? You?

Speaker 1: 1:07:03

know longer on the packaging might have something to do with it. Baby carrots a little bit easier, but I just you know vegetable breeding. It just seems like it's a science fiction thing, but I just think of Gregor Mendel.

Speaker 2: 1:07:17

Gregor Mendel and the peas right.

Speaker 1: 1:07:19

All right, look at you.

Speaker 2: 1:07:20

The big green on.

Speaker 1: 1:07:21

There.

Speaker 2: 1:07:22

I liked that. I liked that one. All right, here's yours. Strawberries aren't berries, but what good post-race food is a berry.

Speaker 1: 1:07:32

Well, I can see it now, but I did not know this.

Speaker 2: 1:07:35

I'm aware of that.

Speaker 1: 1:07:37

I didn't know this part of it. I only knew the strawberries thing because it was somewhere in a nutrition thing. I got online at some point and it's stuck in my head but bananas are berries, is that true?

Speaker 2: 1:07:49

Botanically speaking, bananas are classified as berries because they develop from a single ovary, have seeds and come from flowering plants. On the other hand, strawberries, which many people think of as berries, are not true berries, since their seeds are on the outside.

Speaker 1: 1:08:06

I think, I might have seen that on something on the food network that I was watching.

Speaker 2: 1:08:10

But bananas are berries.

Speaker 1: 1:08:11

I did not know that.

Speaker 2: 1:08:12

So weird. So when I write nutrition plans and I tell people to have more berries, I'm not meaning bananas, because glycemicly they're very, very different. How about this? Nutmeg can be hallucinogenic.

Speaker 1: 1:08:24

Yes, it can.

Speaker 2: 1:08:26

No, we don't recommend this. It's toxic. So.

Speaker 1: 1:08:29

I don't know who discovered this?

Speaker 2: 1:08:32

It's a compound called Maristacin. But just when you're a mate, you know, when you have the little nutmeg and mother, you're putting it in like a bechamel. Is that something people do? I?

Speaker 1: 1:08:41

believe so Sure.

Speaker 2: 1:08:42

Pumpkin bread. Don't overdo it. All right, we're going to move on. I had a couple more. I don't know how many you want to do, john, but this one, I think, is fascinating.

Speaker 1: 1:08:50

No, let's keep going, this is fun.

Speaker 2: 1:08:51

Okay, peanut butter and turn into diamond. Peanut butter can turn into diamonds, john. How is that a true statement? Peanut butter can turn into diamonds under extremely high pressure. Carbon atoms can rearrange into crystalline structure forming diamonds, and some scientists have used peanut butter as the carbon source and experiments to create synthetic diamonds.

Speaker 1: 1:09:14

Mind blowing Is your mind blowing? Yeah, that one. It did not need the nutmeg to blow my mind on that one. That's pretty mind blowing. Wow, didn't see that coming. No, did not see that, no.

Speaker 2: 1:09:25

Did not see that one coming during my research. All right, couple of quick ones. I always tout this one. This is one I know Vitamin C there's more in bell pepper than oranges. Again, things like oranges and banana get all the credit for vitamin C and potassium. There's other fruits and vegetables in the sea folk. This one is more of a nutrition nugget. Popcorn is a whole grain, so it's one of the few snacks it's a whole grain in its natural form. So if you're looking to upgrade your snack, how about popcorn? And then again, and the confusing vegetables and fruits watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable.

Speaker 1: 1:10:03

Now, how is that allowed?

Speaker 2: 1:10:05

I think, because when I was little, I had a garden and we need to get back to gardening, we need more gardening. She had the cucumbers and they grew up the vines and she would place them on the vines. That's similar to how pumpkins grow because, virginia, we went to real pumpkin patches, not the ones in Florida where you just like put pumpkins in the field and pretend it's a patch. Like these were actually on the vines, like boys okay.

Speaker 1: 1:10:28

Just dump the pumpkins out of the truck in the back and move them around. The morons won't know the difference.

Speaker 2: 1:10:35

Put up a social media photo. Op the flock, they'll just come and drop.

Speaker 1: 1:10:40

Wow, it's just nicked, it's true, though.

Speaker 2: 1:10:43

It's sad.

Speaker 1: 1:10:44

Naked money grab, it's just a naked money.

Speaker 2: 1:10:46

I know, but in Virginia we would go and you would have to pull them off the vine. My point being is that, knowing how cucumbers and pumpkins grow and watermelons grow similarly, they just are all one big happy produce family. Now, I can't promise you great nuggets like this in healthier you. I can add them in, they can be parts of chat. But if you do want to upgrade your nutrition, my 12 week course it's fun. It's got video components, it's got recipes. Use the code podcast to save $150. There's weight loss, nutrition education, diabetes management. We can help you out. All right, enough about YouTube, let's talk about somebody else.

Speaker 1: 1:11:29

All right, guys, we love hearing your stories. We hear a few each race weekend and Carissa and I are really, really enjoying getting to know more of these stories. Today's Carissa comes from our friend Beverly.

Speaker 2: 1:11:39

Yeah, and Beverly starts off saying she wants to let us know how much I enjoy this podcast. So thank you, beverly. She says she first heard about Run Disney in 2016 when her friend with a new Parkinson's diagnosis joined Team Fox for Marathon Weekend to cheer. When she posted pictures, I thought that looks fun and even though I was a lifelong hater of exercise, I turned to my husband and said I would like to do a half marathon at Disney. So after he picked himself up off the floor, he said sure he would do it with me. They signed up for the half marathon in 2017 to participate with Team Fox.

Speaker 1: 1:12:13

All right. Beverly goes on to say she was overweight and working hard at the Weight Watcher Plan and having success, but once she started training thank you, jeff Galloway I was able to get past some of the plateaus and have more successful weight loss. Too Long story short even though the half was canceled because of weather in 2017, I and most of the rest of Team Fox did endless loops around our glass lake to earn our medal and hats off to those folks. We found out that was happening. That was amazing, which led me down to much better health. I've reached my lifetime much better health than I'd reached in my lifetime with Weight Watchers, and I've now even inspired other family members to do run Disney races.

Speaker 2: 1:12:57

And we always talk about as we talked about with DW Kelsey's Hope people who run for charity. So Beverly says that Team Fox is full of many inspiring members, but one of the standouts is John Colwell. John is a perfect dopey and has young onset Parkinson's. His wife Susan is at each race supporting her newest creation of shirts, supporting John and being his support team at important intervals. John continues to race and runs and bikes daily to keep up with his Parkinson's disease, to keep it in check, and he ran last year's dopey after having deep brain stimulation. You guys never, never stop inspiring us.

Speaker 1: 1:13:35

Beverly finished by saying that she's looking forward to hearing 321 go again in person at the Wine and Dine 5K, where she'll be participating with her sister and her first 5K at 66. Come on, great stuff. Thanks for listening, beverly. And wow, we need to get John on the podcast Again. We don't have the time for the number of stories that we could be telling.

Speaker 2: 1:13:59

Well, we do, john. We'll just do this podcast for the next 30 years, but I have heard things in research with Parkinson's in terms of the brain stimulation and the movement, so I definitely would love to get John on, to hear about Team Fox, to be able to celebrate him. Thank you guys, thank you to DW such a warm, heartfelt episode and someone who has changed his life and changed others by just finally getting to a point where you're comfortable to be yourself, and that's really not easy to do. So thank you to DW, thank you to all of you for listening. Share your story, share your questions for the mailbag for Health. Air you 321gopodcasts at gmailcom. Bye, bye, bye, bye, long pods, bye, bye, see you later, guys. Thanks for listening. 321go.