While Im clearly connected to Disney, so is the Thank your early-rising family members for waking up to cheer you on and enjoy the as soon as I heard about it. After all, the concept was perfect—combine a family vacation with a new running challenge. So with my husband and kids in tow, I headed to Orlando to pursue the inaugural race that drew 8,000 participants in 1994.

Right from the start, the excitement of running the first three miles through Epcot's World Showcase as fireworks streaked through the dark sky and “Eye of the Tiger” blared was electrifying. The thrill continued as I passed through all three parks until Cinderella’s Castle, where the scenery suddenly changed, becoming decidedly less magical, and the second half of the marathon took me past nothing but pine trees along lonely concrete roads. Despite the anticlimactic course, I was happy to finish in 3:07:04, taking second place in my age group.

Since that first year, the course has improved markedly. No more lonely paths behind the scenes where you might stumble upon Mickey Mouse taking his coffee break. In 1999, race officials added a tour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In 2013 the course was further enhanced to include a lap around the Walt Disney World Speedway and through the stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, where the Atlanta Braves do their spring training.

The course isn’t the only thing that has changed throughout the years. Themed outfits are encouraged, and these days it’s more common than not to see princesses, villains, and monsters running side by side. In my race, only Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Winnie-the-Pooh donned costumes to cheer us on from the sidelines.

I suppose Disney captivates us all in some way. Through the parks, movies, or games, Disney is embedded into our lives. Growing up I watched Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color on television every Sunday night. I share the same birth month and year with the opening of Disneyland, California. And my daughter makes fun of me for having a Disney credit card that, while other people accumulate airline miles, I use to collect points to spend in the Magic Kingdom. Yes, I am a Disney fanatic!

While I’m clearly connected to Disney, so is the Runner’s World VIP(formerly the RW Challenge) which began in 2013. The ever-evolving program continues to sell out each year. With the Thank your early-rising family members for waking up to cheer you on and enjoy the weekend just around the corner, here are eight insider tips for marathon weekend to help you and your family experience a smooth and memorable race.

—Don't forget to print out your waivers. You'll need one for the races, one for Pasta in the Park, and one for breakfast. 

—Don’t skip the picture line at the expo. It’s required for validation that you’ve run all the required races for the final results.

—If you’re driving, get to Epcot before traffic shuts down at 5 a.m. on half marathon and marathon race mornings. Pedestrians can use the monorail and bus to get around.

—If you want to cheer on your friends or family from inside a Disney park but don’t want to shell out for admission, you can enter the Magic Kingdom at 5:30 a.m. This is mile 5.3 for the half marathon and marathon.

—Easily accessible—and free—spectating spots are at the Ticket & Transportation Center (mile four for the half marathon and marathon), in front of the Polynesian Resort, and near the finish line outside of Epcot.

—All races start and finish in the Epcot parking lot. The half marathon passes through the Magic Kingdom and Epcot; the full marathon passes through all four parks.

—Dopey Challengers participating in all of the events receive six shirts and six medals: One for each of the four races, plus one for Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, and one for the Dopey Challenge.

—These Are the Worlds Fastest Marathoners. If youre driving, get to.

Thank your early-rising family members for waking up to cheer you on and enjoy the Dopey Challenge, What You Need to Know About the Sydney Marathon!

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Lori is part of the Runner's World Challenge (soon to be Runner's World VIP) group headed to the 2016 Dopey Challenge. To learn how you can be part of the RW VIP program, visit runnersworld.com/vip.