Finished up the Virtual Dopey Challenge since I couldn’t be there in person this year (year 5 for me…maybe my last). 48.6 Miles. 324 Laps. Insanity.
Late Night Running
Finished running around 2 AM and grabbed a couple pics of the moon before passing out.
Mid Day Running
Woke up, and headed out to continue running. Ran for a couple hours in the sun (mostly walking), and then it got WAY too hot so I listened to my body and went inside.
At one point I looked up to see the mirrored panels all showing the track curve and I thought I was having a heat stroke and
As I was running, one of my biggest pet peeves happened on the deck.
Anyone that knows me, knows that one of my biggest pet peeved is the lack of common courtesy. Not respecting and cutting in lines (and thinking you matter more than everyone else), talking loudly on the phone in public spaces (no one cares about your little shitpoo dog — ok maybe I care now a little 🤣) and things like not being aware of your surroundings and thinking the world revolves around you, etc.
So we’re on this big ship, it’s a communal experience, none of us owns anything or any part of the ship. We need to share and be considerate of each other.
WELL, halfway through my run, someone decided they just HAD to have a specific chair, drag it INTO the walking track right at a turn and create a tripping hazard. To be clear, I wasn’t the only one running or walking and we each let each other pass, and observed great running etiquette, but this was a literal chokepoint and hazard. there were literally TONs of chairs in all directions that they could’ve taken instead.
It was good to finish amd go inside though. Sat in the shade for a bit to cool off and out of the sun with the breeze was actually quite lovely.
Chilling Before Dinner
Sat in the Pub for a bit watching some sports before moving outside to catch some air. Lovely golden rays out on the deck and some other ships that are kind of matching our speed and course.
Food
Dinner had seafood salad, shrimp and lobster (and braised lamb), then finished with bread pudding. All delish.
The team also put on a reprise of the NYE dancing.
Night Running
Went back out and finished the last of the laps for the Dopey Challenge. It was a rough go this time around without the crowd support and general vibes, but also, not sure if I’ll keep doing it next year. Every single time I run a full marathon I hate it, and I’m getting to the point in my life where I only do enjoyable things 🙃.
432 laps completed. 48.6 miles run. No balloon ladies chasing me.
Final stats. 13:54:12 total time. 17:10 min/mi pace, not bad considering all the weather and craziness.
Finished with enough energy for my celebratory leap over the finish line, which was hilarious, cause I also didn’t want to hit my head, or slip and fall and die, so it was more of a flying leap forward. Finished with the nice moon overhead.
Probably the best I’ve felt at the end of a Dopey Challenge, but my right foot hurts a lot (by the right pinkie), I think with all the turning left, I put a lot of pressure on that part of the foot to turn. Hopefully it’ll heal quickly.
Iguazú Falls Update
One big bummer from today was the news that apparently we aren’t allowed to bring tripods on the Iguazú Falls excursion. Seems like whatever charter airline Royal chartered won’t allow them on the plane. Kind of a bummer for waterfall photography not to have a tripod for stability and the long exposure.
Nowhere on the tour description does it say they aren’t allowed (or I probably wouldn’t have booked through Royal), and it’s too late to cancel. Oh well, guess that means I’ll just have to come back some other time as well.
Vibe Check
3 parts joy
2 parts sadness (for iguazu falls and for my poor legs)
Feedback
Leave a comment or question if you have any thoughts! Anything you want to know about as we go around the world? Any things you want to share as feedback, or any images that particularly spoke to you. I’ll try to read all of them as time permits!
Matti 
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