Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[bethan92]

Completed my mock Princess weekend and feel great! 5K Friday, 10K Saturday and a half today! A little sore, but totally ready! Bring on the bling!

Just saw this on Instagram when I was having my daily scroll through the princess half tag! Love the headbands and glad you had a good practice run.

I think I'm going to have to forgo the costume trial run: our home treadmill bit the dust (proud to say that I burned out the motor doing a 20-miler before Marathon last year! But haven't had funds to replace yet). My options are do it at the university gym on the treadmill in front of dozens of college students, or outside. I think my Maleficent horns and cape might attract more attention than I'm willing to accept, so I'm just going to have to hope for the best!

Speaking of which, does anybody have any tips for comfortably running in a waist-length cape??

I don't blame you! However if you do decide to have a trial run, please report back on the reactions!

Your costume sounds awesome though, I'll have my fingers crossed it works out for you.

 

[Kail]

I think I'm going to have to forgo the costume trial run: our home treadmill bit the dust (proud to say that I burned out the motor doing a 20-miler before Marathon last year! But haven't had funds to replace yet). My options are do it at the university gym on the treadmill in front of dozens of college students, or outside. I think my Maleficent horns and cape might attract more attention than I'm willing to accept, so I'm just going to have to hope for the best!

Speaking of which, does anybody have any tips for comfortably running in a waist-length cape??

I feel the same way! I live in a condo building where I am by far the baby (at 31), I can only imagine the looks I would get running in my costumes

So I've decided I'm going to run the 10K in the snow white costume (I'm worried about chafing and figure 10K isn't too bad), and the 'pink princess' for the half. Bring on the tutus!

I'm in corral E, anyone else?

 

[pangyal]

I am a bit confused about whether the monorail from any of the MK area resorts is even a viable option. What do you all think? Better to take the bus to the half or...?

 

[Enchanted10x]

just finished my last long training run, 13 miles with an 11:46 pace. a year and a half ago when i first started running i didn't think i could even keep the 16 minute pace. interval training definitely changed my life! i was happy with my run, mile 5 was entirely uphill and that was no fun, but that's what i get for living in a hilly area. anyone know what the elevation is like on the princess course?

 

[GBBTomorrow]

just finished my last long training run, 13 miles with an 11:46 pace. a year and a half ago when i first started running i didn't think i could even keep the 16 minute pace. interval training definitely changed my life! i was happy with my run, mile 5 was entirely uphill and that was no fun, but that's what i get for living in a hilly area. anyone know what the elevation is like on the princess course?

You so rock! Congratulations! I became a Galloway Girl this year, and it has changed my whole running life. I'm running as fast or faster than I did when i only ran, and I'm having a lot more fun and a lot less trouble with an injury I was fighting. I'm a convert. Glad to hear you like intervals too! Way to go on your run!!

Elevation on Princess is very mild. (Keep in mind, I run in upstate South Carolina, mountain foothills, so I'm used to roller coaster hills throughout a run.) For me, this WDW route is just about perfect. You'll have a couple of overpasses/on ramps (some people don't like these because they are banked), plus going under the water bridge before the Contemporary. That hill is a little bit steep, but it's short (at least from my perspective). Traffic bunches up there, so depending on your corral, you may have to walk it even if you don't want to. Sometimes people go to the sidewalks on the edges there to get around, but be careful with that. I've seen people fall there. Depending on how tired you are, you may also notice little hills in the parks that you don't notice on a regular park day.

I like this amount of hills. A 100% flat course wears me out too fast. The addition of the few small hills on this course give muscle groups a break, which is refreshing. If you hate hills, here's a tip: my daughter's cross country team used to yell, "I LOVE HILLS!" in practice. Sounds crazy, but it works!

P.S. My comments here are from doing the half on Marathon Weekend. If the Princess route is different, my apologies! I'm thinking it's supposed to be the same.

 

[DVCFan1994]

I am a bit confused about whether the monorail from any of the MK area resorts is even a viable option. What do you all think? Better to take the bus to the half or...?

You probably will get different opinions, it has a lot to do with personal preference. The monorail will run for the half. Not for the 10k or 5k. I like the monorail, I find it easy. I took it in 2014 for all 3 races from Bay Lake Tower @ Contempory resort. Hopped on, went to TTC, transferred to EPCOT line, and was there pretty quick. The one drawback some people cite is that it's a longer walk to the start staging area from the monorail, as opposed to the bus drop off which is close to the staging area. Personally I don't mind it, but some people don't like the extra time on their feet.

I am also just generally anti-bus, so that clearly affects my opinion. I will drive a rental car to the 5k and 10k, and take the monorail to the half.

 

[pangyal]

You probably will get different opinions, it has a lot to do with personal preference. The monorail will run for the half. Not for the 10k or 5k. I like the monorail, I find it easy. I took it in 2014 for all 3 races from Bay Lake Tower @ Contempory resort. Hopped on, went to TTC, transferred to EPCOT line, and was there pretty quick. The one drawback some people cite is that it's a longer walk to the start staging area from the monorail, as opposed to the bus drop off which is close to the staging area. Personally I don't mind it, but some people don't like the extra time on their feet.

I am also just generally anti-bus, so that clearly affects my opinion. I will drive a rental car to the 5k and 10k, and take the monorail to the half.

Thanks! i guess there is no cutoff time like there is for the buses that way either...

Sorry for the dumb questions, but how long is the walk from the monorail to the start area? I know that bus drop off is about 20 minutes, correct?

 

[DVCFan1994]

@pangyal The staging area is where bag check, lots of portopotties, a few vendors and a pre-party is. From there to the half start is I'd say a 15 minute walk. The walk from the monorail to that staging area is still another 10-15 minutes, plus whatever wait (if any) you have getting through security. The buses are just a few minutes from the staging area. So, they are definitely closer to the staging area than the monorail. The event guide does say you need to board a monorail by 4 am, just like the buses. To me the plus of the monorail is no waiting in line, and not being on a bus. It is not necessarily a time saver, just my preference.

 

[sidrich]

Last long run finished! 13.3 miles. And not a minute too soon either- looks like we are going to have 16 degree temps and high winds next weekend. I may end up just skipping that run. I hate to do it, but the inevitable frostbite might put a wrench in my vacation plans! Florida can't come soon enough. The break we've had in the weather all year seems to be closing...

 

[Panikim]

Just finished, literally at 11:02pm, my last long run before the GSC AND my longest run ever. 14 miles in 2:37:10. My 13.1 was 2:25:59. Last 51 weeks ago was my first half marathon with a 3:06:45 finish. I know it isn't as fast as many of you guys but I am super excited as it is amazing for me!!

 

[keahgirl8]

Just finished, literally at 11:02pm, my last long run before the GSC AND my longest run ever. 14 miles in 2:37:10. My 13.1 was 2:25:59. Last 51 weeks ago was my first half marathon with a 3:06:45 finish. I know it isn't as fast as many of you guys but I am super excited as it is amazing for me!!

That is a great time! Faster than I've ever done! Don't worry about how fast anyone else is, and don't take anything away from your accomplishments.

 

[Planner2012]

For those still looking for an on course fuel, I tried peanut butter chocolate gu on my long run yesterday and it was really good. I've tried a few of the other flavours & have found them all pretty gross, but peanut butter chocolate...yum!!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I think some people just have to keep trying til they find something that works.

The only gu that really works for me is Salted Watermelon. I used to use Watermelon Sport Beans but I've moved to the small square Jolly Ranchers as well for the other pick me up in the race.

My husband uses Tropical Punch Clif Blocks

 

[Luv2Run]

I did my last long training run yesterday. 10.3 miles at 9:40/mile pace. It felt so much better than my 9-miler the week before. It was also about 20 degrees coolor outside so that could have been it. All that's left is a 5K race tomorrow at work, 5 miles Thursday, 3 miles Saturday, 6 miles Sunday, then 3 miles on the 16th. After that, it's race weekend, yay! I feel so much more prepared this year than I did last year. With all the snow we got last year, the longest run I was able to get in was 8 miles, so I'm feeling pretty confident.

I had another Disney dream last night, lol. Somehow, the 16 year-old version of my brother (he's almost 27 now) came with us to Animal Kingdom and all he wanted to do was ride Kali River Rapids even thought it was, like, 50F in my dream. I remember I kept yelling at him because I was scared he'd get hypothermia, but he wouldn't listen to me, haha.

 

[IrishMel21]

Completed my mock Princess weekend and feel great! 5K Friday, 10K Saturday and a half today! A little sore, but totally ready! Bring on the bling!View attachment 150002

Congrats!!

 

[Mil leech]

You probably will get different opinions, it has a lot to do with personal preference. The monorail will run for the half. Not for the 10k or 5k. I like the monorail, I find it easy. I took it in 2014 for all 3 races from Bay Lake Tower @ Contempory resort. Hopped on, went to TTC, transferred to EPCOT line, and was there pretty quick. The one drawback some people cite is that it's a longer walk to the start staging area from the monorail, as opposed to the bus drop off which is close to the staging area. Personally I don't mind it, but some people don't like the extra time on their feet.

I am also just generally anti-bus, so that clearly affects my opinion. I will drive a rental car to the 5k and 10k, and take the monorail to the half.

Last year for the 10K I was at beach club. Out in line at 3:45. the line was so long it almost stretched back to the lobby. First bus came, not enough room. Almost last two seats in the second bus and there were a lot more people behind me. So I am also anti-bus. I was getting stressed about not making it as the second bus didn't come until 4:30.

 

[IrishMel21]

Everyone is doing so well! I got two runs in this weekend - 3.1 on Saturday and my last long training run yesterday (13.8 miles) on the treadmill. I went with the treadmill as I wasn't going to risk running on snow/ice, especially with all the fallen branches we have potentially adding an injury this close to go. I definitely feel prepared for GSC, I'm getting so excited. I have to figure in when I'm going to get a couple more runs in to keep my legs fresh.

I also started packing yesterday - wow, I am potentially packing a lot of stuff. I even broke out my larger suitcase. It's getting so close! I can't wait.

 

[Dis5150]

Just finished, literally at 11:02pm, my last long run before the GSC AND my longest run ever. 14 miles in 2:37:10. My 13.1 was 2:25:59. Last 51 weeks ago was my first half marathon with a 3:06:45 finish. I know it isn't as fast as many of you guys but I am super excited as it is amazing for me!!

That is awesome! I was happy to get a half time under 3:00. But I have managed to knock 2 minutes off of my mile time this year so I am very happy with that.

 

[pixarmom]

Just wanted to second all the advice to do a trial run with your PHM costumes! Trial runs for my previous races have gone well. But this time, my sparkle skirt from etsy is just too long and has too much fabric. I ordered the same size and sent the same measurements as previous orders with this seller, but this one doesn't fit the same way. I can use it for a St. Pat's 5K next month with tights underneath, but it's not going to work for a half in the Florida weather. So at (what I would consider!) the last minute, I've changed from Ariel colors to Flounder colors. Recycling a yellow sparkle skirt that I love from the same etsy seller, bought a blue tank from athleta, a yellow headband from sparklysoul and a flounder bow from a seller on etsy with express shipping. I'm not a big princess fan and was only in Ariel colors because my son is running as Sebastian. But I'm much happier as Flounder!

P.S. If you see a teen boy running with a Sebastian hat during the half, please give him a "Go Sebastian!" He's a dancer, not a runner, so I know he would appreciate the encouragement!

 

[BriarRose59]

Has the list of speakers been announced for the Expo yet?