2010 Princess Half Marathon and Flower & Garden Fest Trip!

[Where'sPiglet?]

Once we stepped off, I had a moment where I was thinking I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this! I was in a half marathon! People on the sides of the roads were cheering us on! It was hard to make sure I paced myself, because it was very exciting, and there were a lot of people passing us.
It was not long before we saw this:

Sorry it’s blurry, we were moving and we didn’t want to come to a dead stop for each mile marker, since there would be 13 of them! Also, my camera does not do well in low light, and it was still pretty dark out!

Once we passed Mile Marker 1, I couldn’t figure out why I felt like it was getting a little harder. I knew I couldn’t be wearing out so fast! Morgan had to point out to me that there was a slight slope. Did I mention that the park where I trained is as flat as a pancake?

The day was getting a little lighter, and there was some fog coming off the water. I thought it was pretty:

We just kept moving, and you can see that there were a lot of people participating. I think there were 13,000 people registered for this. My flat little park was also never this crowded!

Our route took us from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom and back. We got to see the monorail pass several times during the route. It was so pretty early in the morning:

For some reason, the 2nd mile seemed a lot longer than the first. I think it was because the excitement of the fireworks at the start had worn off and we had settled into a bit of a routine. But we did come across this:

The times on the Mile Markers are from when the first person in Corral A stepped over the starting mat. We started 14 minutes behind Corral A, so the times on the Mile Markers are not the time that I personally had.

Up next: Just keep moving, just keep moving…

 

[portocall]

Bethany, now you making me want to do one. That does look like fun. Do we get to see all the mile markers??? I hope so.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Those mile markers are pretty cool. That's a lot of people, was it hard to keep the pace you wanted?

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Bethany, now you making me want to do one. That does look like fun. Do we get to see all the mile markers??? I hope so.

Yes, you will! And look closely, some (all?) of them have a symbol you are mighty familiar with!

Those mile markers are pretty cool. That's a lot of people, was it hard to keep the pace you wanted?

It was a lot of people, but fortunately we were all going the same direction! Pacing was not too much of an issue. For the most part, there was room for people to pass, and people were polite about it.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

We kept moving towards the Magic Kingdom. If youd like to see a map of the course, click here. It appears that they are using this same route again for the 2011 Princess. I am currently debating whether or not I'm going to do the Princess again in 2011. I really want to, but money and the timing of it are both issues.

It was shortly after Mile Marker 2 when we started seeing some of the race entertainment. The first thing we saw was a pirate ship. They had the music from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and they were doing some acting on the ship; you can see one pirate climbing the rope ladder in this picture:

It was not much longer before the Magic Kingdom Toll Plaza was coming into view.

Similar to the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot, this thing is deceiving. You think you are very close to the castle, but it always seems to take a lot longer to get there than you expect!

Just before the Toll Plaza, we saw some princes!

I was very happy when we actually GOT to the Toll Plaza!

I think I was so happy partly because it was a novelty, and partly because it meant that, deceptive distance or not, we were getting close to the Magic Kingdom! I was really looking forward to going through the Magic Kingdom!
Mile Marker 3 came shortly after the Toll Plaza.

A half marathon is 13.1 miles, so seeing Mile Marker 3 meant we only had about 10 miles left!

We were running alongside the race car track that they use for the Richard Petty Driving Experience. They had some race cars AND the race car DRIVERS standing around. You could stop and take pictures, but we wanted to keep moving. Something about a finishers medal kept us going&

The miles were starting to roll by&we came upon Mile Marker 4!

Mile Marker 4 means that we were coming up on 1/3 of the way done! Mile Marker 4 was also just outside of the Transportation and Ticket Center, and this is where we started to see substantial crowds cheering us on! It was exciting and gave us a much needed boost of energy and confidence!

Coming up next...um, it's not a mystery at this point. Miles 5, 6, 7, ...etc...

 

[miztigg]

so exciting im am looking so forward to this race Ive never been a runner till i started training for this race. Looking forward to more

 

[DisneyTiger]

Wow, I am so impressed. I wish so much that I could run like that. I think I may look into that couch 2 5K program. Ever heard of it?

Can't wait to hear how it all turned out!

 

[portocall]

This is really cool. I am enjoying actually picturing the route, rather than just hearing about it. Mile 5.. I am tired already Another great update

 

[ljcrochet]

I can't wait to hear about the rest of your race.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

so exciting im am looking so forward to this race Ive never been a runner till i started training for this race. Looking forward to more

Thanks! Good luck to you!

Even after this, I don't even consider myself really a runner, because I walked most of this. This was the first endurance event I've done. Growing up, my family did some local "fun runs" and things, but the longest was 5K (3.1 miles), and I think the last time I did one of those was in about 1998.

Wow, I am so impressed. I wish so much that I could run like that. I think I may look into that couch 2 5K program. Ever heard of it?

Can't wait to hear how it all turned out!

Thanks! I didn't run...we alternated walking and jogging. I liked doing that because I don't have the stamina to run that much, and I can't really walk that fast for that far. Also, walking and jogging uses different muscles in your legs, so when you change it up, your legs kinda get a break. Well, as much of one as they can get in a half marathon.

I have heard of the Couch to 5K (C25K) program. I thought about doing it to build up my endurance for the jogging stretches. However, I didn't follow through with doing it. I still might later, when it cools off a bit down here. And when the EPA says the air quality is good again...I have asthma and they are saying the air quality is not all that great because of the oil, and sensitive populations (asthma) need to be careful outside.

This is really cool. I am enjoying actually picturing the route, rather than just hearing about it. Mile 5.. I am tired already Another great update

Thanks! Mile 5 was a good one...one of my favorites, actually!

I can't wait to hear about the rest of your race.

Thanks, and

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

By the time we got to the Transportation and Ticket Center, the sun was up and the sky was blue and there were many people there and it was great! Some of my favorite pictures from the race are from around this area.

While we were running past the TTC, there were two drum groups! I love drums. They had a group of Japanese drums that had a similar sound to the group that plays at the Japan Pavilion. They had many more drummers and it was fun to run to their music.

Not too far from those drums was another drum group, but this was a drum line from a marching band or drum corps. Totally different sound from the other group, but I liked them both! Sadly, I do not have pictures of either!

As we moved away from the TTC and the drumming groups, we neared the Contemporary as the monorail came by. I love watching the monorail, especially when it goes into the Contemporary!

The weather was so nice this morning. It had been cold at first, but once we got moving and the sun came up, it was quite pleasant. It was the perfect morning for a hot air balloon ride! This isnt the best picture, but there are four hot air balloons off in the distance. You can see them between the trees and the monorail beam.

I was very happy that this course was mostly flat. There were a few slopes, and for the most part, they were very gradual and would be barely noticeable to people in a car. However, there was the tunnel that the bus takes on the way to the Magic Kingdom. This was not all that gradual.

Once we came out of that little tunnel, look what came into view! The picture is a little blurry&I must have been excited!

As we moved past the Contemporary, the Bay Lake Tower came into view. The last time I was in WDW was in December 2008 and the building was still under construction. It was my first time seeing it completed. Im not sure I like how it looks next to the Contemporary, but the Bay Lake Tower does look great by itself. Morgan owns DVC at BLT and I do believe she yelled Theres my house! as we went by.

Here is an example of some of the fun people were having this morning:

And, if anyone reading this was part of the ChEAR Squad (what Disney calls the crowd watching and cheering&you can even buy various ChEAR Squad packages), I just want to say THANK YOU!! The encouragement, from strangers, was awesome. Since our names were on our bibs, some people even cheered for us by name!

These signs were awesome. Aside from being cool looking, I got so excited to see each one, because that meant we were one more mile down, and one mile closer to our goal! Mile Marker 5 was not too far outside of the Magic Kingdom.

Up next&.the race takes us through the MAGIC KINGDOM!!

 

[Shannon84]

So glad I found your TR ... I am running the wine and dine half marathon in October and I love to read about the disney race!! I think i might have to check out the princess one next year!

 

[DisneyTiger]

This is so cool! I just printed out the Couch To 5K program so maybe, just maybe one day I can do this! And I love how you took pics along the way. I'm impressed I can't wait to see what i twas like to run through MK!!!

 

[lori1043]

We had fun seeing you and I am sorry we didn't get pics either. I do remember you taking that picture of your food b/c me and Lori and my girls were sitting with you! You know, that looks REALLY yummy. I may have to get one of those next time I am down there. When we don't bring our lunch.
Lordy, living here you NEED to bring your lunch everywhere you go b/c it's not like going to the food court at Lakeside for some chinese or Raisin' Canes. Although I simply refuse to bring my lunch when I am shopping. Only when going to the parks.

I hope to do Princess next year. I REALLY wanted Paul and I to do the Wine and Dine half marathon October 1-2, but no one will be here to take care of our kids while we do this together- the weekend of our anniversary. I thought it would a be a fun and different thing to do for an anniversary.

Loving the report and craving beignets- umm, hey! I think I have some mix.......

Lori

 

[portocall]

Now you have me really wanting to do this. Will try to talk dh into giving it to me as a birthday/christmas present and go in 2012. What do you think I will have to buy him so he would consider it to be even Any ideas are welcome.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

You tease! Showing us Space Mountain and making us wait til the next update to get inside MK. That's pretty cool that they could cheer for you by name. Sounds very motivational.

 

[UsMcWifeForever]

OK I am all caught up now....can't wait to read more. Thanks for sharing

 

[miztigg]

excellent update cant wait to read more

 

[Twingle]

SO FUN! Thanks for sharing your experience - can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

So glad I found your TR ... I am running the wine and dine half marathon in October and I love to read about the disney race!! I think i might have to check out the princess one next year!

This is so cool! I just printed out the Couch To 5K program so maybe, just maybe one day I can do this! And I love how you took pics along the way. I'm impressed I can't wait to see what i twas like to run through MK!!!

Oooh, the C25K! I'm impressed! You shall not wait much longer...that post is (finally) about to be posted!

Sorry for the delay...my in-laws came into town for a few days, then my computer crashed!

We had fun seeing you and I am sorry we didn't get pics either. I do remember you taking that picture of your food b/c me and Lori and my girls were sitting with you! You know, that looks REALLY yummy. I may have to get one of those next time I am down there. When we don't bring our lunch.
Lordy, living here you NEED to bring your lunch everywhere you go b/c it's not like going to the food court at Lakeside for some chinese or Raisin' Canes. Although I simply refuse to bring my lunch when I am shopping. Only when going to the parks.

I hope to do Princess next year. I REALLY wanted Paul and I to do the Wine and Dine half marathon October 1-2, but no one will be here to take care of our kids while we do this together- the weekend of our anniversary. I thought it would a be a fun and different thing to do for an anniversary.

Loving the report and craving beignets- umm, hey! I think I have some mix.......

Lori

What kinds of food do you bring for you park picnics? And where do you usually eat?

Did you get your beignet craving taken care of?

Now you have me really wanting to do this. Will try to talk dh into giving it to me as a birthday/christmas present and go in 2012. What do you think I will have to buy him so he would consider it to be even Any ideas are welcome.

Hmmm....I have no idea. A new car?

You tease! Showing us Space Mountain and making us wait til the next update to get inside MK. That's pretty cool that they could cheer for you by name. Sounds very motivational.

It was very motivational. I would have had this update sooner, but I was busy re-living February 7th.

OK I am all caught up now....can't wait to read more. Thanks for sharing

You're welcome!

excellent update cant wait to read more

Thanks!

SO FUN! Thanks for sharing your experience - can't wait to hear the rest!

You're welcome! I am having fun writing it and looking through my pictures again.