In addition to a Dad, I’m a runner. A slow runner, but a runner none-the-less. Encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle for our daughters is important to us as parents. Our oldest daughter swims, but Evie, our youngest, hasn’t quite found her athletic niche yet. Therefore, in the past, I’ve invited her along for runs. These invitations are usually met with… “I don’t want to!!!! Noooooooo!!!”
Exercise is a tough sell when competing with the internet, television, reading and sometimes even homework. Then it hit me. Evie and I should train for a race together, and what better event to motivate an 11 year old girl than running at Walt Disney World? We planned on signing up as a 2 person team for the 2013 runDisney Expedition Everest Challenge as soon as registration opened, but needed a name for our team. What should it be… what should it be? Continue reading for more details on the Expedition Everest Challenge as well as our official Daddy/Daughter team name.
This year’s Expedition Everest Challenge is on May 4, 2013, and registration is currently open. The runDisney event is a nighttime adventure held in Disney’s Animal Kingdom that includes an obstacle-laden 5K trek followed by a scavenger hunt inside the theme park. Most entrants compete in teams of two, but individual entries are also allowed. Once the racers complete all the challenge, there’s an exclusive post-race party inside Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland, U.S.A. until the wee hours of the morning (1:00 am). Guests can ride attractions including the Expedition Everest roller coaster, DINOSAUR, Dinoland U.S.A., and Kali River Rapids (may be a good way to rinse off after the race). I completed the inaugural edition of this race in 2008, dressed in my adventurer finery, and it was possibly the most fun I’ve ever had during a race. It seemed like a perfect race to train for and run together as a team with Evie.
I broached the idea with Evie, and she was all for it. We started training runs together on and off since the beginning of the school year, and on Tuesday, December 11th, registration for the Expedition Everest Challenge opened. During our training run that evening, I told Evie we could now sign-up for the race. Her excited reply was, “did you sign us up?!?” I said no, I wanted to make sure she was committed to training for it, and we also needed a team name. She quickly agreed to put in the necessary running and exercise, and then grew quiet. She was thinking carefully about our team name – that monicker to establish our competitor identity.
I threw out suggestions… the Billy Goats, Snowman Parfait, Surefooted Sherpas, Nocturnal Ocelots… all were shot down with a quick and resounding, “Nah!” The conversation continued into dinner. We were growing desperate when Evie threw out, “we could be the Prancing Pink Powerful Princess Ponies!” I replied, “why don’t we just be the Facebook Kitten Photos?”
GAAASPPP… Oh no, what have I done? Was it too late to take it back? My words hung in the air as Evie and Maggie’s eyes grew wide. What have I done? They opened their mouths, and at the same time shouted out…
INVISIBLE CHEESEBURGER!!!
Excuse me??? What?!? I wasn’t familiar with the phenomenon of the “invisible cheeseburger,” but, apparently, pictures of cats and kittens are sweeping the internet with the caption “invisible cheeseburger” or “invisible cheezburger.”
And it’s not just limited to kitten photos either. Here’s New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in his “invisible cheeseburger” pose.
Picture me now, and insert face in palm… the name stuck. I completed our registration form, hit send, and (due to character limitations) Team InvisblCheezburgerz was born. Evie was thrilled. We even came up with our own fist bump, complete with Invisible Cheeseburger hand gesture, to celebrate the end of each run. Hey, whatever gets her moving is fine with me.
Follow along with our training as Team InvisiblCheezburgerz gets ready for runDisney’s Expedition Everest Challenge on May 4, 2013. We’ll post updates on our training (click here for Part 2), and maybe Evie will share her thoughts on the race as well. If you’re running the Expedition Everest Challenge yourself, make sure you say hi to the InvisiblCheezburgerz at the starting line. Hopefully we’ll see you at the finish too, and give you a celebratory InvisiblCheezburgerz fist bump. For more running adventures, family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.
Love the team name and the father/daughter aspect! (I never heard of Invisible Cheeseburger either!) Got me thinking of running this with my daughter, who will be 12 by the time this rolls around….
You totally should run with your daughter Kristen! It would be great to meet up down there too. Evie will also be 12 by raceday. Be careful about asking her to come up with a team name though.
I think this is going to be a Great “Daddy-Daughter” Adventure, Dave. Good luck to you and Evie
Thanks Mike! I appreciate it. We’ve already been having lots of fun on our training runs, and just having that time to talk with one another.
That’s awesome!! So cool that Evie is doing it with you
Go get ‘em!!
Thanks Jessica, it’s really fun to have this dedicated time with my daughter. We’re looking forward to it.
The 2012 Expedition Everest was an absolute blast!!! I am looking forward to the 2013 running as well.
Go Team InvisiblCheezburgerz!!!!!
See you at the start!
Thanks Todd, was 2012 your first EEC? I’m looking forward to running it again. I’ll see you at the start, and finish… (hopefully).
Good Luck Team InvisiblCheezburgerz!
Thanks Tracey!
Love the name! I am going to try to make it to as well in 2013. This race looks to be a good one for me and my wife.
Thanks Chad, it’s definitely a fun race. When I ran, I did it solo, so I’m looking forward to doing it with a teammate. Should be a fun shared experience.
Can’t wait to see you at the finish line! Great name!
Thanks Tracy. Looking forward to seeing you and Bill at the event too. Now we all just have to get the training in, right?
so excited to be following this! we are running also, team name TX Relo
my daughter is 7 and we are doing the family run ealier in the day. Shes exicted to be following this with me
Hi Kim, thanks for the comment. We’ll be sure to look for TX Relo at the finish line. Definitely continue to let us know how your training is going. Have fun running with your daughter! Dave
Hey hope you enjoy the race. My Hubby and I REALLY wanted to do this race but unfortunately when we went to sign up it was booked full. So disappointed. Guess we will look foreward to next year. If you know anyone that can’t make it we would be more than happy to fill their place!!
There may be a way we can get you into the race. If you’re interested send me an email.
My hubby and I had just returned from Marathon weekend and decided we would love to return for Everest with the kids.Got online the next week and it was sold out.
Our trip is already booked and we are so disappointed. If you know of anyway to still get in please let me know. I really enjoy your blog! Thanks!
Thanks for the reply Audrey. Sorry you got shut out of the Expedition Everest Challenge. I just sent you an e-mail. Glad you like the blog! Keep reading (and tell your friends…)
My husband and I were really looking forward to this race. My mother told me about it a week after she registered she and my dad. If anyone is looking to transfer their registration I’d be very eager to buy 2!!!! They were sold out for us!
Hi Tana, thanks for reading. We were trying to see if we could get some additional spots from runDisney in order to create a group. Unfortunately, we just weren’t able too. Best of luck finding a spot.
My husband and I will be running this race, too! Team Langatang (from Syracuse) wishes you the best–what a great father-daughter activity!
Hey that’s great, you’re just right down the road from us. We’re in Rochester. Maybe we’ll see you down there.