2015 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend ** Check-In ** May 7-10, 2015

[Miranda]

If you can stomach it, go with your old ones. If you know that you're going to feel like chopping your toes off by Mile 9 and run the risk of not finishing, then go with your new ones. It sounds like the new shoes haven't been fully broken in yet (which can take weeks), and wearing thicker socks won't do anything (unfortunately). There are special blister prevention pads that you can buy at any old drug store, and those are worth every penny in my opinion (they're honestly miracle workers in preventing blisters).

For me, it depends. Aside from the blisters, are the new ones better on your feet than the old ones? I'm running in my older shoes (Nike Free 5.0) with moleskin instead of the Mizuno Sayonaras, because the short term blister potential is preferable to the longer term knee and shin pain I get from the Mizunos.

Second what people mentioned about the moleskin. And glide! Lots of glide, it really does help. Another thought might be, if they really are old shoes and the mileage is about to go out, maybe cut a hole or 2 in the toe box? I've seen people do that w/ bunions on the inside of the shoe or on the outside where their pinky toes are; it gives you feet a little more area to spread out. That might help a little bit.

Thanks everyone for the opinions! I'm still torn, but leaning towards the old ones. I can live with the bruised feeling toes, but blisters scare me. The blisters that I got were part of what made me cut my last long training run short at 12.1 miles instead of 13. I didn't want them to get worse, and I really don't want to deal with blisters on race day (although now this morning, I'm thinking that it was just old skin from the previous blisters that I saw yesterday, not new blisters).

The old shoes are not really worn out yet, I just started wearing them in January, and even my highest mileage week was only like 19 miles. When I got the new ones I was going to just relegate them to regular walking around shoes or shorter run shoes (this didn't start happening until I got up to like 7+ mile runs, they are ok on short runs). My toes do not actually seem to get bruised, they just feel like it after I take them off. My toenails have never gone black or anything. It's the outer 4 toes... it doesn't happen to my big toes thankfully.

 

[Belle Ella]

Been busy with work trying to make sure I'm covered with everything I need to do before I take the weekend off to run!

For the ribbon/bracelet idea, I love it although I'm normally not a fan of wearing things on my wrists. I agree that green probably won't work seeing as EVERYONE will probably be using that color. How about a blue or something along that line?

 

[VickiHD]

Been busy with work trying to make sure I'm covered with everything I need to do before I take the weekend off to run!

For the ribbon/bracelet idea, I love it although I'm normally not a fan of wearing things on my wrists. I agree that green probably won't work seeing as EVERYONE will probably be using that color. How about a blue or something along that line?

Yes Blue !!!
OK Tinks...put a blue ribbon on your wrist this weekend. I've got some extra Cinderella blue color ribbon and I'll bring it to the meet if any wants some.

Just a question about the meet up.........are we suppose to meet at Tongaroa Terrace or Trader Sams part? Just wondering....so none of us look "lost" trying to find each other.

 

[Chiomaca]

Thanks for asking that! I completely forgot about the road closures. We are staying at the Candy Cane Inn and they have a shuttle and they drop off at the normal hotel/ART dropoff on Harbor. I was going to have her meet me at the family meeting place at 9:30am - I'm a wogger. Maybe we need to rethink this or at the least ask at the front desk. I don't think I want her walking alone to the parks along Harbor otherwise she could walk it.

From the DTD entrance on Harbor, she'd just walk up through DTD, and you're right that going through GCH might be the easiest way to get to the PP parking lot.

How old is she? I've walked and run Harbor alone without incident many times. At that time of day, and with all the spectators that will be on Harbor (The last part of the race runs right along there, which is why I asked about closures), she should be fine. In fact, she could walk up Harbor, see you at Mile 12, then walk up through DTD to meet you at the family gathering area, but she wouldn't make it in time to see you at the finish. Or she could walk up Katella, turn right onto Disneyland Drive and see you right as you leave the backstage area of DCA around Mile 13, then meet you at the family gathering area.

Where is a free spot towards the end of the race that my husband and kids can line up to watch the race? Did I need to buy them all a cheer package or can they easily find somewhere within the last mile?

It's just the very last bit that is blocked for the Chear Package, if they head down to the race area and follow the fencing, you can find a spot to wait and cheer. The bit just after leaving the park and before getting to the parking lot area is great and will give you a much-needed lift!

 

[Belle Ella]

Yes Blue !!!
OK Tinks...put a blue ribbon on your wrist this weekend. I've got some extra Cinderella blue color ribbon and I'll bring it to the meet if any wants some.

Just a question about the meet up.........are we suppose to meet at Tongaroa Terrace or Trader Sams part? Just wondering....so none of us look "lost" trying to find each other.

The last meet up, I waited by the big fireplace that's just below both areas. I am going to assume Trader Sam's will be busier, so let's shoot for Tangaroa Terrace?

Also Vicki, what day did you say you were arriving?

 

[VickiHD]

The last meet up, I waited by the big fireplace that's just below both areas. I am going to assume Trader Sam's will be busier, so let's shoot for Tangaroa Terrace?

Also Vicki, what day did you say you were arriving?

Tangaroa Terrace --got it !!

We're arriving on Wends. Leave Bay Area late morning. Hopefully without hitting all the traffic hot spots on the 5. Just one more sleep !!!

 

[kelly 1]

The last meet up, I waited by the big fireplace that's just below both areas. I am going to assume Trader Sam's will be busier, so let's shoot for Tangaroa Terrace?

Also Vicki, what day did you say you were arriving?

The Blue shade is like a powder blue? I will make a trip to Michaels. Looking forward to the meet and greet. I am easily recognizable if you see me my right leg is tattooed with butterflies flying up my leg. If you see me around just say Hi! Arriving Thursday afternoon can hardly wait!!

 

[VickiHD]

The Blue shade is like a powder blue? I will make a trip to Michaels. Looking forward to the meet and greet. I am easily recognizable if you see me my right leg is tattooed with butterflies flying up my leg. If you see me around just say Hi! Arriving Thursday afternoon can hardly wait!!

Light blue or powder blue...anything like that will work. Looking forward to the meet and greet too.

Are you going to hear Tinker Bell speak again ??? She'll be there Thurs, Fri and Sat. I can't wait to seeing her again.

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

Thanks everyone for the opinions! I'm still torn, but leaning towards the old ones. I can live with the bruised feeling toes, but blisters scare me. The blisters that I got were part of what made me cut my last long training run short at 12.1 miles instead of 13. I didn't want them to get worse, and I really don't want to deal with blisters on race day (although now this morning, I'm thinking that it was just old skin from the previous blisters that I saw yesterday, not new blisters).

The old shoes are not really worn out yet, I just started wearing them in January, and even my highest mileage week was only like 19 miles. When I got the new ones I was going to just relegate them to regular walking around shoes or shorter run shoes (this didn't start happening until I got up to like 7+ mile runs, they are ok on short runs). My toes do not actually seem to get bruised, they just feel like it after I take them off. My toenails have never gone black or anything. It's the outer 4 toes... it doesn't happen to my big toes thankfully.

I think this will be my first race where I'll be covering 1/2 my foot with moleskin prior to the race. I ran a 1/2 back on April 18th and got HORRIBLE blisters because I was wearing 4 day new shoes and because I haven't been training like I should be. I've been continuing to train during my taper, trying to build up some thicker skin, but I'm afraid I won't be ready in time for this weekend. So moleskin it is. I'm wearing an older pair of shoes for the 10k. I actually ran the WDW 1/2 in them back in January so I should be fine. Then wearing the newer now broken in shoes for the Tink 1/2. Good luck.

 

[2tinkerbell]

I had a blister on my big toe when I was at our running store this past Saturday. The girl there told me to get Target brand blister relief bandages. Wear one over the blister for 3-4 days. When running put some moleskin over the area. Well, it has totally worked! Just offering a suggestion that might help.

Light blue ribbon - got it.

YIKES! Went out last night and did 3 miles. Last training session is tonight. Plan is to bicycle for 7 miles and do a mile of pavement work. Washing all running clothes tonight. Thursday, will have to be briskly walking from the hotel to the Expo.

I got my sister all organized and packed for Greece last night. I will take her to the airport at lunchtime. Made my DD her favorite sweet cereal mix that she can't travel without..lol! Just need to stop at the bookstore to pick up a book for DD and THEN I can work on organizing DD and getting her packed. I will probably start packing me after work tomorrow. Can't believe we are this close.

Chiomaca - thanks for the suggestions. I think we will stick with the family meet area. My DD is neurologically compromised, but, she does really good if she knows what she is doing. Adding the Mile 12 thing would confuse the issue. Last year, I made her stay in the hotel room the entire time. We are trying something different this year. I sent her 2000 miles away to school - I have no idea why I worry...lol!

 

[OctoberDisney]

Been busy with work trying to make sure I'm covered with everything I need to do before I take the weekend off to run!

For the ribbon/bracelet idea, I love it although I'm normally not a fan of wearing things on my wrists. I agree that green probably won't work seeing as EVERYONE will probably be using that color. How about a blue or something along that line?

How are you feeling now that we are so close? I know that you didn't get to train as much you'd hoped.

And I'm bummed to miss the meet up. Although we are now thinking of driving all the way on Friday...so hmmmm.

 

[Belle Ella]

Tangaroa Terrace --got it !!

We're arriving on Wends. Leave Bay Area late morning. Hopefully without hitting all the traffic hot spots on the 5. Just one more sleep !!!

Good luck with traffic! Such a fuuuuuuun drive Were you all planning on being in the Parks Wednesday at all? If so I'm going to try and keep an eye out for some people while I'm working.

The Blue shade is like a powder blue? I will make a trip to Michaels. Looking forward to the meet and greet. I am easily recognizable if you see me my right leg is tattooed with butterflies flying up my leg. If you see me around just say Hi! Arriving Thursday afternoon can hardly wait!!

I have to check with my roommate, a fabric and ribbon hoarder, to see if she has some I can use.

How are you feeling now that we are so close? I know that you didn't get to train as much you'd hoped.

And I'm bummed to miss the meet up. Although we are now thinking of driving all the way on Friday...so hmmmm.

If you make it, drop by. If not, just keep an eye out for light blue ribbons and say hi, anytime!

As for me, I'm nervous. I started to get a couple of maintenance runs in, but got hit by a nasty panic attack that's left me out of it for almost 2 weeks now. I'm going to try and get a couple of short runs in today and tomorrow just to get my legs used to moving again that will have to do. If I run smart over the weekend I should be fine. I just have to remind myself that I've done this before.

 

[kelly 1]

Light blue or powder blue...anything like that will work. Looking forward to the meet and greet too.

Are you going to hear Tinker Bell speak again ??? She'll be there Thurs, Fri and Sat. I can't wait to seeing her again.

A BIG YES! Can hardly wait to see her again! I will close my eyes and I'm sure she will Pringle her Fairy Dust on me!
Fly me to the finish! That's my mantra.
I'm getting so excited!

 

[Chiomaca]

I think this will be my first race where I'll be covering 1/2 my foot with moleskin prior to the race. I ran a 1/2 back on April 18th and got HORRIBLE blisters because I was wearing 4 day new shoes and because I haven't been training like I should be. I've been continuing to train during my taper, trying to build up some thicker skin, but I'm afraid I won't be ready in time for this weekend. So moleskin it is. I'm wearing an older pair of shoes for the 10k. I actually ran the WDW 1/2 in them back in January so I should be fine. Then wearing the newer now broken in shoes for the Tink 1/2. Good luck.

You might try a different shoe style. You shouldn't be blistering in brand new shoes.

As for me, I'm nervous. I started to get a couple of maintenance runs in, but got hit by a nasty panic attack that's left me out of it for almost 2 weeks now. I'm going to try and get a couple of short runs in today and tomorrow just to get my legs used to moving again that will have to do. If I run smart over the weekend I should be fine. I just have to remind myself that I've done this before.

You got this, but a shakeout run might be just the thing for you!

I'm finally looking at the weather. Hopefully those morning lows in the 50s are real, that's just about perfect weather. It's been in the mid-80s here and I've missed my window to run today, so will need to get my last run in tomorrow morning. I fly in Thursday, assuming that weather doesn't sink me in Texas...

My costume is mostly cut out and hopefully will be complete this evening. I'll be running the 10k as Silvermist, complete (I hope) with fluttery skirt and top.

 

[VickiHD]

Good luck with traffic! Such a fuuuuuuun drive Were you all planning on being in the Parks Wednesday at all? If so I'm going to try and keep an eye out for some people while I'm working.
.

Will try but depends if we're sitting on the 5 in stop and go traffic for hours. We should hit LA hopefully around 5 or 6. Then traffic to Anahiem. Talk about needing Pixie Dust!

Think positive about the race!!!

 

[mousecrazy]

Hi There.
I have a couple questions and I can't figure out how to search this awesome thread...so, sorry if these have been asked/answered before.
1. How do the Disney photos taken on course work? Is it PhotoPass or something different?
2. Is there a place where I can see all the exclusive Tink items that will be available for purchase onsite? And which ones are the most likely to sell out quickly?(I can't get to the Expo until Friday morning)
3. Will the Jeff Galloway run-walk-run vibrating timer be available for purchase at the Expo?

TIA!

 

[bobbx5]

Hello, I'd like to ask about the meet-up. I've been listening in on the Creative DISign board for several years (I try to learn and do my own) and have been reading here since I decided to do the PDC. Is the meet-up a closed thing or is it okay for folks to come? Since I'll be in California by myself, it would be fun to meet some of you in person. (Don't mean to put anyone on the spot - it's fine to say it's not an open event!)

 

[kim3339]

Hi There.
I have a couple questions and I can't figure out how to search this awesome thread...so, sorry if these have been asked/answered before.
1. How do the Disney photos taken on course work? Is it PhotoPass or something different?
2. Is there a place where I can see all the exclusive Tink items that will be available for purchase onsite? And which ones are the most likely to sell out quickly?(I can't get to the Expo until Friday morning)
3. Will the Jeff Galloway run-walk-run vibrating timer be available for purchase at the Expo?

TIA!

The photogs on the course are a company contracted through rD, not photo pass. They're at various parts through the course and then a day or 2 later, you should get an email and can go online to check out the pics to order. My mind is blanking right now, but the company might be marathon photo; they're at a lot of races I just can't remember right now for sure. Heads up though, they're kinda pricey, a lot of people also run w/ their phone or something and do run by selfies w/ characters ~ it'll be cheaper and faster.

Usually rD will post some of the merch items before Thursday, but it's rD and they've haven't exactly been on top of things the past couple of races. They'll post it on the Disney parks blog and the fb page. Fastest to go would be the dooney & burke stuff, pdc stuff (I did It type), sometimes the jackets and the sweaty bands (b/c they don't make very many).

The timer might be available at the expo. I know friends who have bought it at WDW, but never looked at DL. But I know he usually has his book for sale at the rD booth at the expo so that might be the 1st place to check out.

Hello, I'd like to ask about the meet-up. I've been listening in on the Creative DISign board for several years (I try to learn and do my own) and have been reading here since I decided to do the PDC. Is the meet-up a closed thing or is it okay for folks to come? Since I'll be in California by myself, it would be fun to meet some of you in person. (Don't mean to put anyone on the spot - it's fine to say it's not an open event!)

Open to anyone!

 

[VickiHD]

Hello, I'd like to ask about the meet-up. I've been listening in on the Creative DISign board for several years (I try to learn and do my own) and have been reading here since I decided to do the PDC. Is the meet-up a closed thing or is it okay for folks to come? Since I'll be in California by myself, it would be fun to meet some of you in person. (Don't mean to put anyone on the spot - it's fine to say it's not an open event!)

Like Kim said.....yes everyone is welcome !!!!
We're also wearing light blue ribbons on our wrists so we can recognize each other this weekend. See you at the meet.

 

[mousecrazy]

Thanks Kim3339. And good luck to all the Tink racers this weekend!