The New *Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread*

[longhorns2]

Hello Ladies! I've been reading the board and you are all so awesome I'm not able to do the Princess in 2013 (we're taking a DCL cruise at the end of Dec. for my birthday and doing a trip to WDW 2 months later would be pushing it just a little! ). But my BFF and I are planning it in 2014, but I had a ...sort of training issue and I thought you amazing ladies could help me out!

I currently run in Nike Shox (which I've always LOVED ) but since I've started adding distance and building up my speed they've been falling a little short. They don't seem to have the support I need around the balls of my feet or the arch. Any suggestions on some good running shoes? TIA!

I'd say to go to a running store and get fitted. They can suggest based on your running style what type of shoe would be best. I run in Asics Kayanos, and have for the past couple of years. But I found them based on running store recommendations. HTH!

Hello Princesses

I have been following along. My goal is to do this in 2014. I am not a runner. I hoping to lose more weight and be able to do a combination of walking and jogging. Enough so that I don't get swept. I have questions for those who are doing long distance training. What do you do about bathrooms? Are you sticking to parks where you can find them? Also I am seeing a lot of talking about compression stockings. Do you wear these during the race or just after? How about the energy foods. How do you carry them? Is there a ratio for how much you eat and when? Any advice for this novice is greatly appreciated. Although of the information I have learned has been from the dis board. Thank you in advance.

I run in parks that have bathrooms at certain intervals. But I have been known to run to a bush when needed.

I do run in compression legs sleeves over 4 miles. And during the race and after as well- helps my legs recover! Not sure they help during the race, but it doesn't seem to hurt, so I wear them.

Energy- any run over an hour I bring some type of fuel. Beans or shot blocks usually with water. I carry a water belt for those longer runs. The shot blocks are about 3-4 blocks an hour, the beans for me is about half a bag per hour.

 

[cimrk01]

Hey Ladies,

For those who have family/friends coming along to cheer you on, does the Cheer Squad package (gold,platinum) include access to watching us run along inside Mainstreet at MK or do they have to purchase a regular 1 day park admission?

 

[KristinU]

I currently run in Nike Shox (which I've always LOVED ) but since I've started adding distance and building up my speed they've been falling a little short. They don't seem to have the support I need around the balls of my feet or the arch. Any suggestions on some good running shoes? TIA!

I agree with Longhorns, head to a running store and get fitted. What works great for me might be terrible for you...there is no "good" shoe for everyone, it really has to fit your foot shape, stride/gate, etc. Remember to take along your current running shoes so they can analyze your tread wear and wear something comfortable and plan to run a bit...and bring or wear the socks you run in (though my LRS has many to use and try as well.) Best of luck!

 

[sherekhan]

Where were these when I was marathon training all those years ago!!???!!! Back in the day all we had was GU and a banana and our youth!

Thank you for illuminating me, ladies. I just did a 5 miler today to try one out and we'll see how they work for the longer runs. I thought y'all were crazy talking about real jelly beans. Glad I asked my dumb question.

I also picked up some Honey Stingers to try. We'll see how they go

This was my first day of trying out some new gear: loved the Running Princess tiara visor, like the Nathan hand bottle (I dislike running with belts, but it may still be necessary...just looking for a new solution), optimistic about the beans (we'll have to see how it goes with longer runs), love Charity Miles app that earned sponsorship money toward buying anti-malaria bednets for the Global Fund to Fight, AIDS, TB and Malaria while I was just doing what I do anyway.

 

[sherekhan]

Hello Princesses

I have been following along. My goal is to do this in 2014. I am not a runner. I hoping to lose more weight and be able to do a combination of walking and jogging. Enough so that I don't get swept. I have questions for those who are doing long distance training. What do you do about bathrooms? Are you sticking to parks where you can find them? Also I am seeing a lot of talking about compression stockings. Do you wear these during the race or just after? How about the energy foods. How do you carry them? Is there a ratio for how much you eat and when? Any advice for this novice is greatly appreciated. Although of the information I have learned has been from the dis board. Thank you in advance.

Use parks like you suggest. Also McDonalds or other fast food places are easy places to duck in and out quickly if you can stand the smell of fried food mid-run. Sometimes Starbucks, but I feel more guilty about that.

Get a running belt with some mesh pockets to tuck your energy foods. I'm experimenting with a hand waterbottle that has a tiny pocket that fits a few beans. For past long distance races, I've planted my family along a couple spots so that I can re-stock from them and not have to carry everything. Of course, this didn't work so well my first race when I gave everyone a baggie of supplies including powergel, wet paper towels with ice, and some cut-up dried apricots. My mother ate the apricots thinking that I nicely put them in there for her!

As you can see in my last post, I'm experimenting with sports jelly beans and honey stingers to see what will work for me. Seems like a good solution and not as bulky as packets of gel.

You'll have to work out yourself what the best ratios of energy food & water & miles are. Just remember this is not like regular food. You must drink several swallows of water when you take in something, so many people like to take them during walk breaks. I used to take in something very small every few miles after 5 or 7, but that's 1990's me and I'm still learning who 2012 me is and what I need now. Things are very different now.

I hope this helps.

 

[sau418]

Hey Ladies,

For those who have family/friends coming along to cheer you on, does the Cheer Squad package (gold,platinum) include access to watching us run along inside Mainstreet at MK or do they have to purchase a regular 1 day park admission?

From what I read earlier... No one needs park admission to watch the race within the Magic Kingdom. Those with certain chEar packages get "preferred viewing" areas along the race route.

 

[Jubilee]

Hey all,

I'm looking forward to doing this race again and looking to see if there is a Disboards group in the works for it. I won't be there with any friends and would love to have some goofy fun and dancing beforehand with a group from here!

I ran this race last year in 2:35:44. Pace: 11:53 min/Mile. and I'm actually hoping to do it in under 2 hrs. this year which requires a lot of training for me, but I hope I'm up for the challenge. I hope the medal will be extra special since it's the 5 year anniversary. Can't wait

 

[EpicBilynn]

I'd say to go to a running store and get fitted. They can suggest based on your running style what type of shoe would be best. I run in Asics Kayanos, and have for the past couple of years. But I found them based on running store recommendations. HTH!

I agree with Longhorns, head to a running store and get fitted. What works great for me might be terrible for you...there is no "good" shoe for everyone, it really has to fit your foot shape, stride/gate, etc. Remember to take along your current running shoes so they can analyze your tread wear and wear something comfortable and plan to run a bit...and bring or wear the socks you run in (though my LRS has many to use and try as well.) Best of luck!

Thanks! That does help. I've always just gone to the local sports shop and picked some out So I'll definitely look up and visit a running store near me and see if they can put a smile on my feet haha! I definitely look forward to gathering more tips from all the Princesses on the Dis so I can tackle the PHM in 2014

 

[MouserQ]

Thanks! That does help. I've always just gone to the local sports shop and picked some out So I'll definitely look up and visit a running store near me and see if they can put a smile on my feet haha!

Running store visit = totally worth it! When I started running regularly this summer, I was using the shoes I'd been using at the gym. When I bit the bullet (decided I was *actually* serious) and went to the running store near my house -- they looked at my gait and were horrified that I'd been in those shoes for so long. I got myself a nice pair of Mizunos and boooooy-howdy! My knees don't ever hurt anymore, I feel stable and awesome and I'd swear I even run faster (maybe that's just the training, though...).

Good running shoes = good running.

 

[sau418]

I went one of our local running stores this past weekend and I think the lady who worked with me was nuts. I was not comfortable in the shoes she was pushing even after I asked to try others she still pushed the first ones. I am hoping to make it to a different running store tomorrow evening and see what they say. I know the shoes I am running in are not helping me at all and are probably the reason my legs hurt.

 

[VickiHD]

Hey all,

I'm looking forward to doing this race again and looking to see if there is a Disboards group in the works for it. I won't be there with any friends and would love to have some goofy fun and dancing beforehand with a group from here! Can't wait

I'm also runnig by myself. I did get the race retreat for myself but I am up for some silly fun and dancing before the race. I really want to have fun and experience everything.

 

[christinascreative]

Question for those of you who have run this before and have stayed at an off site hotel: How bad is the traffic/how much time do you leave yourself to park? I'm kind of torn between booking either an All Star through runDisney or just an off site by naming my own price on Priceline.

The thing that gets me is the parking aspect-- if I'm offsite and they offer a shuttle.. surely they wouldn't shuttle me at THAT hour so I'd have to drive and park. And I'm worried that I'm going to have "Late to the race" dreams (like Late to Work, Late to School for a test dreams) from now until Feb

How bad is it, exactly?

 

[AJackson09]

I have a question as well. My sister and I are running the half and staying at the Boardwalk Villas. Is it feasible to walk from there to the start for the race, or do we just need to take a bus?

Thanks!

 

[misskitkat]

For those looking for costume ideas; I ran last year and didnt decide to dress up until about a month before the race. Since it was around Valentine's Day I got a cute purple skirt in the little girls section of Target. It had an elastic band and fit comfortably. I usually wear a size 12 ladies but the little girls XL fit fine. They had other colors like red, pink, and black.

Also, I found a great web site for ideas. Just search for Disney Bound and it’s a whole website devoted to fashion inspired by Disney characters. Some are even athletic outfits.

 

[longhorns2]

Question for those of you who have run this before and have stayed at an off site hotel: How bad is the traffic/how much time do you leave yourself to park? I'm kind of torn between booking either an All Star through runDisney or just an off site by naming my own price on Priceline.

The thing that gets me is the parking aspect-- if I'm offsite and they offer a shuttle.. surely they wouldn't shuttle me at THAT hour so I'd have to drive and park. And I'm worried that I'm going to have "Late to the race" dreams (like Late to Work, Late to School for a test dreams) from now until Feb

How bad is it, exactly?

I hear that as long as you get there REAL early (like in the parking lot around 3-3:15) it's a piece of cake. It's getting OUT of the parking lot that is a nightmare. So I'd consider hanging out in Epcot for a while before trying to go to the hotel and change if it was me.

I have a question as well. My sister and I are running the half and staying at the Boardwalk Villas. Is it feasible to walk from there to the start for the race, or do we just need to take a bus?

Thanks!

I do not think it would be feasible to walk to the start of the race, but if you have tickets you can walk back from the race through Epcot. The only hotel I have heard people walking TO the corrals was POFQ.

 

[Princess on the Run]

I'm also runnig by myself. I did get the race retreat for myself but I am up for some silly fun and dancing before the race. I really want to have fun and experience everything.

I'm running by myself too. My DH and 3 DS's will be manning the chEARsquad for me but I'll be on my own before and totally up for some dancing and silliness too!

 

[christinascreative]

I'm running by myself too. My DH and 3 DS's will be manning the chEARsquad for me but I'll be on my own before and totally up for some dancing and silliness too!

Count me in for silliness My DH is on the sidelines and am running by myself.

 

[VickiHD]

I'm running by myself too. My DH and 3 DS's will be manning the chEARsquad for me but I'll be on my own before and totally up for some dancing and silliness too!

Yeah Another Princess for some early morning silliness. Did you also get the race retreat?


DH and DS will be my ChEAR Squad. They have the Platinum Package to make life easier for them on race morning.

 

[VickiHD]

Count me in for silliness My DH is on the sidelines and am running by myself.

Yeah !!! Another Princess for some early morning silliness

 

[Princess on the Run]

Yeah Another Princess for some early morning silliness. Did you also get the race retreat?


DH and DS will be my ChEAR Squad. They have the Platinum Package to make life easier for them on race morning.

I sure did! Mine all have the platinum squad too. I figured it was the least I could do for DH having to watch 3 boys while I prance around the Magic Kingdom in fairy wings and running shoes.

Maybe we need a big sign or something so we can all find each other that morning. I would say to look for the one with a big mop of red curly hair dressed like Tinkerbell, but I have a feeling that's not going to narrow it down very well that day.