Valley View Administrator Completes Disney 'Dopey Challenge'

Submitted by Valley View School District:

Amy Paris, Valley View School District 365U director of pre K-5 literacy and social studies, is back on the job after successfully completing the four-day Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge.

Runners from throughout the world gather annually in Orlando to participate in a 5K run through Epcot on Thursday, a 10K run through Epcot on Friday, a half marathon through Epcot and the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and a marathon through Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and ESPN Zone on Sunday.

“I’m a jogger,” said Paris, who took up running a few years ago when she and her husband, Doug, sought a healthier life style. “Let’s just say all of my times were below the requirements to medal in all four events.”

Paris pointed out that time really isn’t an issue in the Dopey Challenge because the race path is not only crowded, but also filled along the way with Disney characters and fun activities for runners to stop, take pictures and have a little fun.

All that really matters, the former B.J. Ward teacher said, is that you finish within the time limits set by event organizers.

This isn’t the first Disney event in which Amy and Doug have participated. Their first official effort was a few years ago at the 10 mile Disney Run. Because of their love for the Disney theme parks, they have since done other Disney running events as well as half marathons around the Chicago area. Their children have also started joining in the fun.

For her efforts, she not only received medals for the four individual events but she also received the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge Medal for completing both the half and the full marathons, as well as the Dopey Challenge Finisher Medal for finishing all four events under the required time.

“I’m really proud that I was able to do it. This is the first time I’ve done a full marathon,” Paris said. “But now it’s done and I can move on to something else that is not quite as taxing. I’m going to scale back to only halves.”