In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down one of the most confusing questions for slow, back-of-the-pack runners…when should you actually run fast, and when should you slow way down.

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down why consistency is the real challenge for runDisney runners…and why it feels harder when you sign up for a race eight to nine months before you actually start training.

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali Marty explains why January 2026 is not too early to start thinking about Dopey 2027 or Marathon Weekend 2027, especially for slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners who want to finish strong instead of just surviving. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali walks you through exactly what to do after you finish the Dopey Challenge so you can recover without losing fitness or falling into the all-or-nothing trap that leads to injury or burnout. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down exactly how to warm up and stretch during the Dopey Challenge so you can protect your body across 4 straight race days and still feel strong by marathon morning. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down exactly how slow, back-of-the-pack runners should approach fueling and hydration during Dopey and other runDisney races, shifting the focus away from miles and onto time on course. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali walks you through Dopey Race Weekend Part Two…packing and race week prep…with a very specific lens for slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners. 

Instead of rehashing the obvious basics, she focuses on the often-forgotten recovery tools, fueling essentials, and blister-prevention strategies that actually make the difference when you’re racing 48.6 miles over four days. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles one of the most stressful Dopey training questions she gets every year…what to do if you miss your peak week long run. 

She explains why skipping the 20-miler late in training is not only okay but often the smartest choice for slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners dealing with illness, pain, or life getting in the way. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles a belief that keeps so many slow, back of the pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners stuck in fear…the idea that you have to run 26.2 miles in training to prove you can finish a marathon. She breaks down why late-cycle full marathon training runs actually increase injury risk and decrease your chances of feeling good on race day.

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles one of the most common questions she gets from slow, back of the pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners…can you break up a 16-mile long run when training for a marathon or Dopey? 

In this episode of Running to the Castle Dr. Ali answers a listeners question if it’s possible to actually get faster with 5 weeks left before Dopey 2026 race.

Dr. Ali dives into the nuance of yes, it is, and no it’s not, possible to get faster about 1 month before Dopey 2026.

What happens when life, or leg pain, sidelines your runDisney training? In this episode, Dr. Ali explains how to safely catch up after missing runs, when to skip a deload week, and why one-time mileage jumps might be okay... all while keeping your body healthy and your Dopey dreams alive.

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles how back-of-the-pack marathoners can get meaningfully faster before January races so they have a bigger buffer from the balloon ladies and time for character stops.

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali discusses how to continue training for Dopey after a Marathon with 10 weeks to go.

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali discusses how to train after Wine and Dine Half Marathon or 2 Course Challenge and the Dopey Challenge, or other races that include the Marathon in January 2026.

The biggest thing to avoid is overtraining. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, you’ll learn why finishing strong has nothing to do with running more miles. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali dives into the messy overlap of AI, training plans, and social media “perfect” bodies.

She shares how she uses ChatGPT to tidy her own wording, but shows why you shouldn’t trust AI to design your plan: Gemini contradicted its own 10% rule and under-rested runners, while ChatGPT spit out a marathon plan that started at 6 miles and changed structure midstream—red flags for injury-prone athletes.

In this episode of Running to the Castle, you’ll learn what to do when marathon training leaves you with bad muscle pain. 

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn 5 Signs You’re Going to Not Finish Dopey.

In this episode of Running to the Castle you’ll learn the top 3 main reasons RunDisney runners do not finish (DNF) their races: