Running: a Family of Scuba Divers -

Running: a Family of Scuba Divers

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Running is just putting one foot in front of the other in a pace that is faster than a walk. That is a very simple definition for an activity that carries a love/hate relationship and can take a significant physical toll on the human body.

Running isn’t for the faint of heart and requires both a physical and emotional embrace that only a few people can muster. Whether it be for sport and recreation or exercise and health, running is a lifestyle choice. Asking friends, family or co-workers to go for a run isn’t easy as many will chuckle and walk away or emphatically say, “no, thank you.”

However, for friends and co-workers Brian Carney and Jason Meany, the sport has taken on a very different and emotional meaning as they will be running to honor the memory of their good friend Jared Hires, who tragically passed away in April 2024.

Carney, the President/CEO of Scuba Diving International, and Meany, the Director of Education at SDI, decided in October to start training for the Dopey Challenge, a four-day, four-race challenge covering 48.6 miles and all four of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks.

The first day of the Dopey Challenge will start on Thursday, Jan. 9 with a 5K. That is followed by a 10K on Friday, a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon (26.2 miles) to cap the weekend on Sunday.

“I called Brian and said we have to complete this challenge for Jared,” said Meany. “We have to bring his memory back with us and we have to take on this challenge for him and his family.”

A year ago, Hires was training for the 2024 version of the Dopey Challenge and that inspired both Carney and Meany.

Brian Carney and Jason Meany

“Jared decided to undertake running and training to make himself healthier and that inspired the two of us to do the same,” said Carney. “While he was trying to work on his health, he wanted a bigger challenge and that came in the Dopey Challenge.”

The connection between the three had always been their love for scuba diving and running. Carney has been the CEO of SDI since 2004, Meany was owner of Deep Stop Scuba shop and a diving instructor since 2010, while Hires was the General Manager of diving equipment company Dive Rite.

Years ago, Carney, Hires and a few of their friends were doing technical dives in Bonaire in the Caribbean for two weeks. Following the conclusion of the dive, the group met at a local restaurant for dinner and Hires and a friend challenged Carney and Flemming Elleboe, SDI’s Chief Technical Officer to a game of darts and the losing team would have to pay for dinner and drinks. Carney and Elleboe easily won the game of darts and didn’t owe a dime for the entire evening.

Fast forward a year, the four men find themselves at the same dart board in the same restaurant following two weeks of diving. This time, Hires and his friend won the game of darts. Unbeknownst to Carney, Hires and his friend bought dart boards following the previous year’s loss so they could practice.

Two months after Carney returned from the Bonaire dive, he received a package in the mail as Hires had mailed him a dart board so Carney could practice for the next round of darts.

“Jared was always up for a challenge and he would commit to making himself and his skills stronger to complete the challenge,” said Carney. “He showed that by practicing darts for a year to be able to kick my butt that second time.”

Jared Hires at Dopey Challenge 2024

“I’m glad that Jared got to challenge me one more time with the Dopey”.

Out of the water, Carney has been a runner for over 40 years and was a three-time All-Atlantic 10 award winner for the Univ. of Rhode Island. Meany was a five-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference runner for Clemson from 1999 to 2003. The duo will now carry on Hires’ passion for life and devotion to his family by entering the nearly 50-mile race in his honor.

“Watching him complete the challenge really inspired me to get out and run again and work on improving my health,” added Carney. “Jason and I thought what better way to honor Jared than take on this challenge.”

While their tale of training for this year’s Dopey Challenge is filled with honor and love for their friend, it almost didn’t happen in the first place. It took another personal touch to seal the deal.

The first hurdle came with just how popular the Dopey Challenge has become as it sells out nearly as soon as Disney makes the registration available to the public in April.

The pair received some good news when Team Red, White & Blue, an organization dedicated to veteran’s health and active lifestyles, had two of their fundraising registrations available for Carney and Meany.

Team RWB was founded by Mike Erwin, a high school friend of Meany, and served as the organization’s Executive Director for its first three years. Erwin is a graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was commissioned as an officer and went on to serve three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group.

“Mike started this charity to support veterans’ health and wellness through getting them physically active,” said Meany. “In 2012, I reached out to Mike trying to figure out a way that scuba diving and Team RWB could find some way to work together. Finally, 12 years later, we are running in support of Team RWB and bringing Jared’s memory back to the Dopey Challenge.”

“While we are sad to have lost a friend, we are looking forward to taking on this challenge and follow in his footsteps,” said Meany. “Although Jared is not with us anymore, we know in spirit we will be following him around the course over those four days.”

Along with running in Hires’ honor, Carney and Meany will be helping to raise money for Team RWB and donations can be made through SDI’s nonprofit organization Clear Currents.

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2025 Dopey Challenge Schedule

Thursday, Jan. 9 – 5K | Starts at 5:00am

Friday, Jan. 10 – 10K | Starts at 5:00am

Saturday, Jan. 11 – Half Marathon | 5:00am

Sunday, Jan. 12 – Full Marathon | 4:30am

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