Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

Ariel484 · Jul 6, 2015

SarahDisney said:
Last year it was Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff were off on a platform somewhere I think - they were there and waving, but you couldn't take pictures with them. People seemed to be disappointed with the characters - this was my first event, and even I was expecting better. But it didn't stop my from wanting to go back - the characters can differ every year, and I'm hoping this year they have great characters!
I was in the last corral (but towards the front of the corral). Lines for Minnie and Mickey were pretty long, but the other two were manageable.

That funny - WE were disappointed in the 2014 line-up...would have preferred Mickey, Minnie, etc. But just goes to show how much it could change from year to year!

Dis5150 said:
@inkedupmomma @Ariel484 is the BEST at providing information! You should read her trip reports (they are listed at the bottom of her messages). They are super fun and very informative of things to expect during the different races!

Thanks!! That's so nice of you to say! :goodvibes

SarahDisney · Jul 6, 2015

Ariel484 said:
That funny - WE were disappointed in the 2014 line-up...would have preferred Mickey, Minnie, etc. But just goes to show how much it could change from year to year!

That's funny. I definitely see where you want the "original" characters ... but I guess the people who were disappointed last year (myself included) were looking for some rarer characters.
As Sebastian says, the seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake.

Ariel484 · Jul 6, 2015

SarahDisney said:
That's funny. I definitely see where you want the "original" characters ... but I guess the people who were disappointed last year (myself included) were looking for some rarer characters.
As Sebastian says, the seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake.

Yep, Fab 5 in Royal attire would have been thrilling to me and my 2 BFFs. :teeth:

bumbershoot · Jul 6, 2015

FFigawi said:
A sure-fire way to guarantee warm weather

If it were sure-fire, we wouldn't have frozen this January based on my packing!

puppytrainer said:
I’d imagine these layers are items you don’t expect to get back?

Correct.

Ariel484 said:
During the January 5K there was a windchill warning with temperatures in the 30s, so I feel like I can contribute to this.

I was volunteering that morning. Outside. Woo! I would probably have frozen if it weren't for the life-saving windbreakers they gave the volunteers! So so so so cold. (I was one of the water/powerade givers at the very end of the end...awesome place to be!) Oh and then I ran the Half. Not as cold that morning. But SO cold while waiting for the start.

A friend of mine buys NEW sweats and keeps the tags on for the cold pre-race time, then takes them off and carefully folds them at the start. That way the person who receives them from the charity the race gives them to gets NEW clothing. I thought that was extra sweet of him!

SherryinBA · Jul 6, 2015

mieuxmew said:
Glass Slipper here I come! Booked my flights and have a reservation at Beach Club.

All that is left is to train for the next 7 months! I have been battling a severe case of plantar fascitis for the past few months. Injections, PT, etc. I had a radio frequency treatment 2 weeks ago and finally seeing some relief. Hoping it works.

Good luck everyone registering on July 14th!

I had plantar fasciitis in 2011 about a month before going to WDW. I bought Vionics Orthaheel shoes and I was cured!! They are orthotics, but are so cute. They gave me the support I needed. I would highly recommend them.

SherryinBA · Jul 6, 2015

asbyrneva said:
Anyone stay at Caribbean beach for half? Friend said it was super easy to get to start of race. Im a little nervous since this will be my first half and Ill need getting to the race to be easy. Heck this will be my first long race at all!!! What was I thinking ????

My first too. Although I'm not calling it a "race." I sure won't be racing. We are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter. I think getting to the race will be the easy part. Good luck.

bumbershoot · Jul 7, 2015

For the first-timers, remember that your training will take you (I hope) to and (if you follow Galloway) beyond the mileage of the race!

And I think it's a great idea to get some races (training runs you have to pay for?) under your belt before the big one. That way you know what's going on to some extent. That's my advice.

Keels · Jul 7, 2015

Totally agree with what @bumbershoot said!

Not a runner? That's cool - register for Princess and make that your goal! But make sure you train and test out the distance. Start your C25K, register for a local 5K and then a 10K.

For you first-time half-marathoners ... 13 miles, even at Disney, is STILL 13 miles. I would definitely recommend doing a half ahead of time, unless you're adamant about it being your true first Half. If that's the case, then just make sure you hit 10 or 11 miles in your training.

Your first Half will always be crazy scary and daunting. I don't think anyone here will argue with that!

bumbershoot · Jul 7, 2015

Keels said:
If that's the case, then just make sure you hit 10 or 11 miles in your training.

Definitely.

I think, though, the Galloway plans take you to 14 for a Half, so unless someone literally doesn't want to even hit 13.1 miles before Disney, if they follow the "official" plans, they will go beyond.

Breezy91257 · Jul 7, 2015

Does anyone have any top tips for registration day? I'm desperate to do the GSC but am worried that the places will go (I've read a lot about registration issues) - Do both the 1/2 and GSC sell out really quickly? Therefore, would it be best to just try for the half marathon as it doesn't sell as quickly as the challenge?!

Any feedback would be gratefully received!

Ariel484 · Jul 7, 2015

Breezy91257 said:
Does anyone have any top tips for registration day? I'm desperate to do the GSC but am worried that the places will go (I've read a lot about registration issues) - Do both the 1/2 and GSC sell out really quickly? Therefore, would it be best to just try for the half marathon as it doesn't sell as quickly as the challenge?!

Any feedback would be gratefully received!

- Set up your Active.com account ahead of time
- be ready to go right at noon EST
- have your credit card out and ready...type the number into a Word doc/Notepad so you can copy/paste it

If GSC is really what you want to do, I'd try to sign up for that first. If you don't get in, the half can be your fallback. The half won't sell it as quickly (in fact there are still AP/DVD spots open a week after early registration started)

Ariel484 · Jul 7, 2015

TIP: Check your Active.com accounts! I logged into mine yesterday to pre-order a D&B for Disneyland Half Weekend and my birthdate was off by a day. This is a weird bug that seems to pop up every once in awhile.

If your birthdate isn't entered correctly or your name is typo'd, you won't be able to find yourself when entering proof-of-time and printing out race waivers. And you will panic. :eek:

lovingeire · Jul 7, 2015

inkedupmomma said:
THANK YOU so much @Ariel484 ! Your encouragement is much appreciated. I am NOT a runner. Started C25K and hate it but want ti push myself to do this. Im afraid to not sign up for the 10 k, as maybe i"ll get better but afraid to sign up in case I absolutely do not lol! DD14 is a runner, and will be on her high school cross country team, so I am confident she could easily do all 3 races.

What characters have you met at the 5 k? Im just curious if any are even out?

We only stopped for Mickey at the 5K, but some of our friends were walking and convinced us to start with them so we just felt really behind. But they were running all three races. We'll be doing that this year so we've decided to stop for every character on the 5K course.

When I originally decided to run a runDisney race I was going to sign up for the 5K. I was a non-runner who was literally on the couch. I ended up getting pregnant and knew I wasn't going to train for a race, even though I'm sure I could have completed the 5K, so I pushed it off a year and decided to register for the 10K as well to really challenge myself. Before registering I started C25K. It got me going, but I really struggled with it and the longer run segments. I hated it and wondered how I would ever run 6 miles. I switched to the Galloway training plan/method and had no issues at all completing both the 5K and 10K Princess Half weekend this past year. It works for me. It worked so well I signed up for Wine & Dine (which will be my first half ever - because I really want my first half to be AT Disney since that is what inspired me to take up running.) Then I am signed up for GSC. The Wine & Dine plan takes me to 14 miles before the race. (with a "taper" week between that run and the race). If you dream it, and train for it, you can do it!

Ariel484 · Jul 7, 2015

bumbershoot said:
I was volunteering that morning. Outside. Woo! I would probably have frozen if it weren't for the life-saving windbreakers they gave the volunteers! So so so so cold. (I was one of the water/powerade givers at the very end of the end...awesome place to be!) Oh and then I ran the Half. Not as cold that morning. But SO cold while waiting for the start.

Oh boy. Thank you for doing that...I felt so bad for the volunteers. I couldn't imagine how hard it was to just stand there in the windy cold for a few hours...it was nowhere near as bad for us runners!

keahgirl8 · Jul 7, 2015

Ariel484 said:
TIP: Check your Active.com accounts! I logged into mine yesterday to pre-order a D&B for Disneyland Half Weekend and my birthdate was off by a day. This is a weird bug that seems to pop up every once in awhile.

If your birthdate isn't entered correctly or your name is typo'd, you won't be able to find yourself when entering proof-of-time and printing out race waivers. And you will panic.

This is a VERY common issue.

Breezy91257 · Jul 7, 2015

Ariel484 said:
- Set up your Active.com account ahead of time
- be ready to go right at noon EST
- have your credit card out and ready...type the number into a Word doc/Notepad so you can copy/paste it

If GSC is really what you want to do, I'd try to sign up for that first. If you don't get in, the half can be your fallback. The half won't sell it as quickly (in fact there are still AP/DVD spots open a week after early registration started)

These are great tips - Thank you so much! I'll make sure to do all of that

FFigawi · Jul 7, 2015

bumbershoot said:
I was volunteering that morning. Outside. Woo! I would probably have frozen if it weren't for the life-saving windbreakers they gave the volunteers! So so so so cold. (I was one of the water/powerade givers at the very end of the end...awesome place to be!) Oh and then I ran the Half. Not as cold that morning. But SO cold while waiting for the start.

The half was just about perfect running weather. Much nicer than the days before or after for the rest of the Dopey races. Anytime I can run in shorts, short-sleeve shirt, and a Sport Science hat to move up and down on my head to adjust my body temperature, it's a good day. In general, though, even with the chilly 5k, this year's weather was far better than Disney on Ice in 2010.

A friend of mine buys NEW sweats and keeps the tags on for the cold pre-race time, then takes them off and carefully folds them at the start. That way the person who receives them from the charity the race gives them to gets NEW clothing. I thought that was extra sweet of him!

That's a great thing to do. Good for your friend. I sometimes end up tossing new clothes too when I've got long-sleeve shirts from previous races that are in colors that I am not fond of. Like the orange ones from Disney, for example.

inkedupmomma · Jul 7, 2015

lovingeire said:
We only stopped for Mickey at the 5K, but some of our friends were walking and convinced us to start with them so we just felt really behind. But they were running all three races. We'll be doing that this year so we've decided to stop for every character on the 5K course.

When I originally decided to run a runDisney race I was going to sign up for the 5K. I was a non-runner who was literally on the couch. I ended up getting pregnant and knew I wasn't going to train for a race, even though I'm sure I could have completed the 5K, so I pushed it off a year and decided to register for the 10K as well to really challenge myself. Before registering I started C25K. It got me going, but I really struggled with it and the longer run segments. I hated it and wondered how I would ever run 6 miles. I switched to the Galloway training plan/method and had no issues at all completing both the 5K and 10K Princess Half weekend this past year. It works for me. It worked so well I signed up for Wine & Dine (which will be my first half ever - because I really want my first half to be AT Disney since that is what inspired me to take up running.) Then I am signed up for GSC. The Wine & Dine plan takes me to 14 miles before the race. (with a "taper" week between that run and the race). If you dream it, and train for it, you can do it!

Thank you to you and the rest of the posters for you encouragement. I downloaded The jeff app as C25K does not have great prompts or great volume. How is jeffs app different with the segments? That is what has freaked me out most... already it has me running 90 secs walk 90 and although that isn't a lot, i feel like its the end of the world lol! I appreciate the encouragement. I really want to do the 10k, but feel like that its an impossible goal by feb.

FFigawi · Jul 7, 2015

inkedupmomma said:
Thank you to you and the rest of the posters for you encouragement. I downloaded The jeff app as C25K does not have great prompts or great volume. How is jeffs app different with the segments? That is what has freaked me out most... already it has me running 90 secs walk 90 and although that isn't a lot, i feel like its the end of the world lol! I appreciate the encouragement. I really want to do the 10k, but feel like that its an impossible goal by feb.

It might seem daunting now, but it's certainly not impossible. If you stick with your training, you'll notice that day by day, week by week, an increase in how far you can go and a decrease in the effort it takes to cover the same distance. Running is made for steady and continuous improvement. Stick with it, and you'll see that for yourself.

kpooh · Jul 7, 2015

I also use the Galloway interval method and have successfully finished 5 halfs. I've looked at the Galloway app in the past. Is it worth the money @inkedupmomma ?

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