Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread - Take 2

[sunnygal041]

it's funny. two weeks before marathon weekend the boards were lighting up about the weather. everyone was freaking out about the temperature.

and here we are two weeks out from the princess and i haven't seen anyone thinking about it. instead, we're all thinking about our costumes! LOL! we princesses know what's important

i finally got a WISH shirt! yay! lisaH sent me one in the mail and i've been wearing it all day. i'm going to wear it to the race. i wasn't planning on doing a costume but now that i have the WISH shirt i feel ready!

....nevermind that i haven't run in a week. hey, i ran the marathon a month ago. i need to re-taper

Yup, it is too funny about the non-weather talk. I think we are looking around 80 as a high and 60 as a low. We have been having unusually hot weather down here.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Like a few others, I think we will start towards the back of C so all the men who would normally be in a earlier coral don't have to weave around us.

I wouldn't yield too much here. There are only 13xx or so men. How many of them want to be in Corrals A & B? A better strategy is to know where the pace groups are for your expected finish time. Seed yourself by pace appropriately. You are right the front of corral is likely to be squirrely.

Small Rant to follow....

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Yup, it is too funny about the non-weather talk. I think we are looking around 80 as a high and 60 as a low. We have been having unusually hot weather down here.

after the heat of marathon weekend, i feel like i'm ready for anything. that, and the fact that i won't need to cover as long of a distance. hopefully all of us being early will help with that.

i don't think i will even bother with throw away clothes.

 

[PrincessV]

How much would it suck to get hit by a car or step on a gator after all this training?

(Bolding is mine) That would be my fear - at least you can see cars coming! I live on a golf course in FL and run the cart path regularly... I see gators hanging near and in the water hazards all the time.

it's funny. two weeks before marathon weekend the boards were lighting up about the weather. everyone was freaking out about the temperature.

and here we are two weeks out from the princess and i haven't seen anyone thinking about it. instead, we're all thinking about our costumes!

Hee hee, weather's been the #1 topic amongst my Princess running group! I'll say this: it's been a WARM winter down here in central-ish Florida. No guarantees, since it only takes one cold front to drop the temp into the 40s (or 30s, or even 20s), but we've had very few of those this year. A front came through last night... we dropped from a high of 80+ yesterday to a high of 73 today. Perfect for this Florida Princess, but my northern sisters are a little worried.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Did I say small rant?

I need a strategy for Corral C running. My training partner is a solid A Corral runner. She is unlikely to move to A without me, although she would have a better run up there. We thought we would be in Corral B when we signed up. Our plan, originally, was to place ourselves between the Galloway 2:10 pace group and the 2:15 Clif group from the start.

We can average 10 minute miles Gallowalking or not. We are considering a bit up-tempo from the front of C with lots of walking breaks, then using a slower constant pace during the crowded choke points. After Polynesian/ mile 8.5 we might open the throttle a bit, and see what happens on the ramp and overpass hills.

To quote the line from Marathon Man, “Is it safe?” Putting fast runners in Corral C opens the race to more shenanigans by design. Most of the dudes in this race are there for support of their female running partners.

I think the reason that the males are seeded to Corral C is so that no male is likely to break the tape first; they were getting close last year. Maybe a solution would be to have a male only finish chute; male winners could finish on the right. This chute could be “dissolved” after the first female finisher(s) crosses the line.

What would happen if you don't identify with a specific gender at Race Relations with a Valid proof of time for Corral A?

 

[Danhockey04]

First - LOVE this!
Second - you look soooo familiar, Dan... have you ever lived in the Tampa Bay area?

I lived in Tampa only to go to USF for a semester. The other two semesters, I commuted from home in Orlando. I do go to Busch Gardens occasionally. But I never lived in Tampa full time.

 

[Danhockey04]

I think the reason that the males are seeded to Corral C is so that no male is likely to break the tape first; they were getting close last year. Maybe a solution would be to have a male only finish chute; male winners could finish on the right. This chute could be “dissolved” after the first female finisher(s) crosses the line.

That is the exact reason. Males were before left to B and back, but the first 3 years, men have been the first to cross. Last year was the first year to move to C and back. I thought last year a guy still went first across, but guess I heard incorrect.

 

[VickiHD]

Thanks... I'm getting so stressed out about the time. I'm planning on getting a bus at 3 from POR. If we have to be in the corrals at 4.30, I need to leave Race Retreat at 3.30. That doesn't make any sense That will only give me 5 min at Race Retreat What time does others with Race Retreat plan on leaving for the corrals???

We are leaving CBR at 2:30 to drive over. I really would like to enjoy the race retreat more than a couple of min.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I thought last year a guy still went first across, but guess I heard incorrect.

There were guys close at halfway last year. I guess they won

 

[the_princess]

We are leaving CBR at 2:30 to drive over. I really would like to enjoy the race retreat more than a couple of min.

If I had a car, I would go at 2.30 as well. Someone pointed out that we have to be at the corrals around 5. That gives me 45 min at RR (Hopefully it only takes 45 min to walk to the start) Then I'll have time for a very quick breakfast, some stretching, potty and then go... I'll be stressed out before the race starts

 

[Cripey]

it's funny. two weeks before marathon weekend the boards were lighting up about the weather. everyone was freaking out about the temperature.

Oh, I'm freaking out...on the inside! I REALLY am hoping for cool weather. I'm already in a sad state with the back problems and PF so I don't need warmth and humidity to slow me down any more!

 

[mamacate]

Mamacate, At the full marathon we did not have the congestion like princess did! Its the same walk to the corralls. No port-a-potties with line across the road! but plenty of them between the waiting area and the corrals. Just better placed.

That's awesome! I'm glad they finally figured it out!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Oh, I'm freaking out...on the inside! I REALLY am hoping for cool weather. I'm already in a sad state with the back problems and PF so I don't need warmth and humidity to slow me down any more!

not that it's going to help but....in november i hurt my knee really bad. like, couldn't walk for two weeks bad. i had PT and a cortisone shot and after 4 weeks i finally stopped limping. but i couldn't run for more than 15-30 seconds at a time. i think that perhaps the heat helped me a little. my knee was warmed up from the start rather than me going out in the cold and trying to get through the pain until it warmed up. i don't know. maybe it was just the adrenaline.

the point is, don't feel too down yet. you'll be surprised what your body and mind will let you do when the time comes. i really thought i was out for the race and still managed to finish with a smile on my face.

i hope those aches heal soon. like, now!

 

[VickiHD]

If I had a car, I would go at 2.30 as well. Someone pointed out that we have to be at the corrals around 5. That gives me 45 min at RR (Hopefully it only takes 45 min to walk to the start) Then I'll have time for a very quick breakfast, some stretching, potty and then go... I'll be stressed out before the race starts

I'm with you !!! I don't want to be stressed out before the race...really want to enjoy the race retreat and not have it be a stress retreat. Maybe even take a cab over or get on the first bus. Then you will have more time retreating before we head out to the corrals.

 

[mamacate]

(Bolding is mine) That would be my fear - at least you can see cars coming! I live on a golf course in FL and run the cart path regularly... I see gators hanging near and in the water hazards all the time.

LOL, I've thought about this. Thing is, I've NEVER seen a gator at Disney, and I always look for them because I've seen them all over Florida. There are a lot of places at Disney that seem like natural gator spots--little swampy areas by the highway with brush around, flood areas along roads. NOTHING. I've also never heard of anyone else seeing a gator. I suspect some sort of highly-professional animal control operation, sort of a Blackwater security for gators. Anyone else ever seen a gator at Disney? Anyone know how they pull this off?

It's true there are no sidewalks for part of it, but there's a big shoulder and a large grassy verge. I dunno. My biggest worry is Disney security, not gators or cars.

 

[TiggerAllie]

I've definitely seen gators in some of the "ponds" at the resorts (SSR, CSR). I do know that Disney will relocate them once they get past a certain size (which I know they've had to do at CSR).

 

[Maddies Mama]

It is in the program that there will be bus transportation from Shades of Green (woohoo!).

Thank you! (and everyone else with the info too ) I read through the entire program yesterday but I must have skipped straight over that part. It's a miracle we even got a room, I think someone may have canceled because last week there was no availability, then yesterday availability and now no availability again. Glad to not have to worry about transportation

Finished a full 13.1 in my practice costume, minus the socks, this morning. All systems are go! Not thrilled with how disgustingly sweaty my bandana gets, but it is what it is. Keeps sweat from running onto my face I guess. Anyone else dressing like Izzy from Jake & the Neverland Pirates?

 

[annmarieda]

I am wondering if I made my breakfast ADR way too early. From the time one crosses the finish line, how long will it take to get through to leave. All I plan to do is maybe get my medal engraved and pick up my goodies (ie. banana and water bottle...or whatever else they hand out to the runners) I had thought that I would be able to just walk through epcot to the international gateway... hadn't thought about a shower...and had not realized that we finish in the parking lot and thus would need a park ticket to do that when I made my ADR. I won't be checking a bag and plan to now take a taxi....

 

[dis-happy]

HELP! I've clicked on the links posted but can't figure out how to see my bib number. Am dying to know our corral start. What am I missing?

 

[sherekhan]

LOL, I've thought about this. Thing is, I've NEVER seen a gator at Disney, and I always look for them because I've seen them all over Florida. There are a lot of places at Disney that seem like natural gator spots--little swampy areas by the highway with brush around, flood areas along roads. NOTHING. I've also never heard of anyone else seeing a gator. I suspect some sort of highly-professional animal control operation, sort of a Blackwater security for gators. Anyone else ever seen a gator at Disney? Anyone know how they pull this off?

It's true there are no sidewalks for part of it, but there's a big shoulder and a large grassy verge. I dunno. My biggest worry is Disney security, not gators or cars.

I guess I was saying the gator thing kind for for real and kind of for humor, but I've seen them before on property and I'm sure I will again. The last one I saw was in the water along side our boat in the Seven Seas Lagoon last year on the way to the Poly.