2017 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

[Ariel484]

Thanks! I have to admit I have read a bunch of your trip reports. They are really inspirational!

Thank you! I appreciate your reading them.

 

[keahgirl8]

Hi everyone!!

I am thinking of doing a runDisney race next year and this one seems to fit in my schedule/be my ideal theme! I am NOT a runner, but need to get into some type of exercise routine. I am always happier when I exercise, and I am also always more motivated when working towards a goal. A Disney race looks super fun and also motivating!

In everyone's opinion, what is a reasonable race to work up to? I am thinking that the 10K might be a good goal for me. Currently, I can run for about 30 seconds before getting winded and stopping. LOL!

A 10K is a great goal! It is actually my favorite distance. As someone else said, having the right shoes is very important. I would recommend checking out the Galloway programs. He is the official training consultant for runDisney and does a run/walk method.

 

[Ariel484]

No kidding! Since I was doing the 5K, I was beginning to wonder if I needed to go ahead and try to pick up my shirt!

Right?! I'm glad they have the deferral option there, and I got the initial confirmation email so I *knew* it had gone through...but I was really sweating it until my credit card was charged. Especially since they still assigned me a GSC bib/waiver. Glad yours came through too!

 

[keahgirl8]

Right?! I'm glad they have the deferral option there, and I got the initial confirmation email so I *knew* it had gone through...but I was really sweating it until my credit card was charged. Especially since they still assigned me a GSC bib/waiver. Glad yours came through too!

Exactly! The waiver scared me a little. Plus, the confirmation said something about how it wasn't complete until my card was charged. Oh runDisney...why do you do these things to my heart?

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

A 10K is a great goal! It is actually my favorite distance. As someone else said, having the right shoes is very important. I would recommend checking out the Galloway programs. He is the official training consultant for runDisney and does a run/walk method.

Thanks everyone! The first step is actually getting myself out there! If I can start running and work myself up to at least 20/30 min of running a time by July, I'll feel comfortable registering for the race.

 

[Ariel484]

Exactly! The waiver scared me a little. Plus, the confirmation said something about how it wasn't complete until my card was charged. Oh runDisney...why do you do these things to my heart?

Yeah...the waiver prompted me to call them. And the guy on the phone was sort of reassuring, but not completely...UGH.

 

[ChiTownZee]

Thanks everyone! The first step is actually getting myself out there! If I can start running and work myself up to at least 20/30 min of running a time by July, I'll feel comfortable registering for the race.

Download the beginners training program for the princess half. It's 18 weeks, which would be just after the registration date, but you reach 12.5 miles week 14. That's what I've been following, in two weeks the long run is 6.5 miles. I'm excited/nervous to see how that one goes for me since it's like the 10k.... I'm definitely going to be checking my time at the 10k mark! There's lots of tips and stuff with the training schedule, too!

 

[courtneybeth]

Hi everyone!!

I am thinking of doing a runDisney race next year and this one seems to fit in my schedule/be my ideal theme! I am NOT a runner, but need to get into some type of exercise routine. I am always happier when I exercise, and I am also always more motivated when working towards a goal. A Disney race looks super fun and also motivating!

In everyone's opinion, what is a reasonable race to work up to? I am thinking that the 10K might be a good goal for me. Currently, I can run for about 30 seconds before getting winded and stopping. LOL!

The 10K is the perfect goal for you and you have PLENTY of time to get from 'non runner' to 10K Power House! The nice thing about the 10K is that it's 6 miles - so it's a little bit longer than a 5K and you get to choose your speed/corral placement. You have about 10 months to go from Couch to 10K, which is fairly easy if you follow the training plans on the apps. You'll condition your body to start to run for longer periods of time and then can build up speed. No one will judge you at the race if you're fast or slow. Everyone is there to have a good time!

YOU CAN DO THIS!

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Thanks for all the helpful responses! Two questions (which might be dumb).

1) Is the race timed? I couldn't find good information on the site- some seem to say that it is and others that it's not! I think a timed race where you have to keep up a certain pace is better for my motivation!

2) Is the race women- only? I'd like to ask my best friend to run with me. He loves princesses and is a runner, but the site is a bit confusing.

Thanks!

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks for all the helpful responses! Two questions (which might be dumb).

1) Is the race timed? I couldn't find good information on the site- some seem to say that it is and others that it's not! I think a timed race where you have to keep up a certain pace is better for my motivation!

Indeed it is! The only untimed races are the 5K races (kids races maybe too, not sure). So yeah, they will sweep and you'll need to keep the 16:00/mile pacing requirement in mind. And you can sign up for runner tracking closer to the race - you can get your 5K split and total time texted/emailed to you in somewhat real time.

2) Is the race women- only? I'd like to ask my best friend to run with me. He loves princesses and is a runner, but the site is a bit confusing.

Thanks!

It is not. It's women-centric, but men are more than welcome to participate (my brother did the Princess Half with me in 2011 - he was outnumbered for sure, but he wasn't uncomfortable or anything). Men cannot start in Corral A though...possibly Corral B, I can't remember. Either way, dumb rule.

 

[keahgirl8]

Yeah...the waiver prompted me to call them. And the guy on the phone was sort of reassuring, but not completely...UGH.

I'm never reassured by anyone on the phone. I've heard too many stories from people who got incorrect information.

 

[baxter24]

Hi Everyone! I stayed at a monorail resort for the 2015 GSC and I was able to take the monorail to and from the races on Saturday and Sunday. I see that this year the monorail wasn't an option to get to the 10K. With this change, does anyone know if 10K participants could take the monorail back to the hotel after they were done? I will be doing the 10K with my daughter next year and I think it would be fun for us to take the monorail back to the hotel after we are finished. We anticipate finishing the race in a little over an hour. Thanks!

My husband and I were in corral B for the 10k and finished in a little over an hour. We had plans to meet family for breakfast at the Poly so we decided to take the monorail back. We got there and some cast members told us the monorail wouldn't be running until 8:00am that morning. Not sure if others were able to take it back that morning before 8:00 or not. We just made our way back over towards the buses instead of waiting.

 

[Ariel484]

I'm never reassured by anyone on the phone. I've heard too many stories from people who got incorrect information.

Yep, right there with you. I had a lot of that last week when I called trying to get information on Wine & Dine (before they finally announced all of the changes).

 

[courtneybeth]

Let's talk... resorts! Are there Moderate or Deluxe level resorts that you recommend to stay at for the races? We'll be booking our bounce back offers for these resorts so we're ready for Princess and Dark Side next year.

I had no idea that Beach club area resorts weren't easy to access for RunDisney races. Enlighten me. Tell me where the best place is to stay

 

[Ariel484]

Let's talk... resorts! Are there Moderate or Deluxe level resorts that you recommend to stay at for the races? We'll be booking our bounce back offers for these resorts so we're ready for Princess and Dark Side next year.

I had no idea that Beach club area resorts weren't easy to access for RunDisney races. Enlighten me. Tell me where the best place is to stay

Lemme see...I've stayed at the Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Boardwalk, French Quarter and Riverside for races. All of them were fine. At the Grand, it was nice to have monorail access to the start/finish area, but it sounds like they aren't doing that for all of the races anymore (example: I think monorail was only available for the half during Princess weekend this year). And for Dark Side you'd still need to take a bus back since it finishes at WWoS. All of the Magic Kingdom resorts shared buses to/from the expo, and there may have been some sharing for race transportation too (I was there in 2013 so I can't remember).

I liked Beach Club and Boardwalk a lot. Bus to/from Epcot for the starting and finish lines was quick, and when you finish at Epcot you CAN walk back through the park if it's open (though you'd need a ticket to do so). Sometimes the Epcot resorts do share buses for the races (and to/from the parks) but I would just get off at whatever stop was first and walk back to my resort since they are close together.

I liked French Quarter too...again, quick bus to/from Epcot. I'd pick that one over Riverside, just because there's 1 stop for the entire resort, where for Riverside there are 4 internal stops.

Right now I'm debating between Animal Kingdom Lodge or French Quarter for Princess.

 

[MinnieMouse28]

My husband and I were in corral B for the 10k and finished in a little over an hour. We had plans to meet family for breakfast at the Poly so we decided to take the monorail back. We got there and some cast members told us the monorail wouldn't be running until 8:00am that morning. Not sure if others were able to take it back that morning before 8:00 or not. We just made our way back over towards the buses instead of waiting.

Thank you for that information! Guess we'll be taking the bus to be safe...or if we finish a little later we can see if the monorail is open.

 

[tksbaskets]

Fresh off of my first runDisney event: the Princess Enchanted 10K. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside (Moderate). I was very pleased with the bus transportation. Be sure to pick up a race weekend flyer when you check in. Things that may have been covered in pages 4-9 (I breezed through them).

When you go to register be already SIGNED IN to your active account (I had it open in another window). DVC and AP holders can register one week early but they sell out lightening fast. I logged on at noon the first day of early registration and the early 10K spots were long gone. I ended up registering the minute it was open on regular registration. For the Star Wars Dark Side 1/2 I was logged into my Active account and clicked the link from DVC right when it became active and registered right away but others minutes later were not able to.

Proof of time - you don't have to put it in right when you register. If you do put it in and you have a better time before the deadline you can update it. I've done both.

I was a walker. I swear by Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk/Run method for mentally and physically preparing if you are a new runner. I will NEVER (yes I meant to use caps) run any race continuously. I am a runner. I use intervals. I'm a runner. I've had several friends ask if I've worked my way up to running continuously....sigh.

Random musing -
The Expo: My first and it was a ZOO. I hear it was the worst one ever. Lines for bib pick up and getting into the expo building for shirts criss crossing outside the ESPN building - never have I seen such a thing at a Disney anything. Way over an hour in line just to get into the expo building to pick up our shirts. Let alone the snatch and grab going on in the runDisney booth. I felt like I was attempting to get the last Tickle me Elmo years ago. Shuttering to think of it still.

The course: Unless you're a serious runner and in the first couple of corrals don't plan on running a runDisney race for a PR. For the 10K my cousin and I put down that we'd run a 14 minute mile (I currently run just under 13/mile for a 10K and was nervous when I signed up). We were in the second to last corral. All the runDisney literature says 'walk or run no more than two across, pass on the left'. HA! It was wall to wall people running/walking talking, paying no attention to anyone around them. I've participated in numerous organized races and never have I seen such chaos. We spent 10K dodging and weaving "I'm on your left and her right". When my interval timer buzzed it was a challenge to find a path to run. It was really pretty frustrating. Just know that in advance.

(Please note that the time displayed is the time from the start of the race until I reached the marker - not how long it took me to run 4 miles!)

The balloon ladies - they are a BIG motivator to train and train well. There were thousands of people between me and the dreaded ladies

That said - it was a blast! Never have I run in such festive and fun surroundings. I'm signed up for two more races this year and my cousin and I are plotting the Star Wars Dark and Light for 2017.

 

[keahgirl8]

Let's talk... resorts! Are there Moderate or Deluxe level resorts that you recommend to stay at for the races? We'll be booking our bounce back offers for these resorts so we're ready for Princess and Dark Side next year.

I had no idea that Beach club area resorts weren't easy to access for RunDisney races. Enlighten me. Tell me where the best place is to stay

I love staying at POR. It is my favorite resort anyway, and it is a very short ride to Epcot. The bus lines are not nearly as long as they are for values. They do have more than one stop, so if that will bother you, then you might rather stay at POFQ. It's never bothered me, but some people prefer staying there for that reason.

Fresh off of my first runDisney event: the Princess Enchanted 10K. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside (Moderate). I was very pleased with the bus transportation. Be sure to pick up a race weekend flyer when you check in. Things that may have been covered in pages 4-9 (I breezed through them).

That is where I always stay (just got back from my third PHM weekend). I have heard stories of bus issues, but I have never had any.

I was a walker. I swear by Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk/Run method for mentally and physically preparing if you are a new runner. I will NEVER (yes I meant to use caps) run any race continuously. I am a runner. I use intervals. I'm a runner. I've had several friends ask if I've worked my way up to running continuously....sigh.

Yeah... I've heard people say it's great for beginners. It is, but I'm not a beginner and don't intend to run continuously.

 

[courtneybeth]

@Ariel484 - I think it may be Port Orleans, if the EPCOT centric hotels are too pricey. I don't know what the offer will be in two months when we stay at Port Orleans Riverside, but we may fall in love with it when we stay there. I've heard so many wonderful things about the hotel.

Like.... what @keahgirl8 just said:

I love staying at POR. It is my favorite resort anyway, and it is a very short ride to Epcot. The bus lines are not nearly as long as they are for values. They do have more than one stop, so if that will bother you, then you might rather stay at POFQ. It's never bothered me, but some people prefer staying there for that reason.

I'm staying in the Royal Room in May so I'll see if I like it. I'm down for something not top-tier but not at the value level... so I may book it if we love it. It's in close proximity but just far enough away for privacy. That was my main complaint for Contemporary: it was great that it was so close to MK but it was a little TOO close and busy for my liking.

 

[keahgirl8]

@Ariel484 - I think it may be Port Orleans, if the EPCOT centric hotels are too pricey. I don't know what the offer will be in two months when we stay at Port Orleans Riverside, but we may fall in love with it when we stay there. I've heard so many wonderful things about the hotel.

I'm staying in the Royal Room in May so I'll see if I like it. I'm down for something not top-tier but not at the value level... so I may book it if we love it. It's in close proximity but just far enough away for privacy. That was my main complaint for Contemporary: it was great that it was so close to MK but it was a little TOO close and busy for my liking.

If that's what you're looking for, I think you will LOVE it.