2017 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

[bellanotte10]

Ok, who now has the "caution runners, speed bump ahead" playing over and over in their head...

thanks for that. now I do too

 

[hipporina]

I don't use music for runDisney races because I am always running with someone and I never listen to music unless I'm alone. I much prefer conversation. I think music would distract from the atmosphere, but it really is a personal decision.

 

[msmith07101]

Popping out of nowhere to say hello!

This is my first half marathon and my first runDisney event... I am pretty much terrified. I'm painfully, PAINFULLY slow and while I've been able to do 10 miles at a qualifying pace, I'm really worried I'm going to be swept or will finish so poorly that the whole experience will be embarrassing rather than exciting. Anyone else a slow runner? Is it still fun or should I brace myself?

I'm doing this by myself, so I sort of hope I get in the groove with people around me and track with them the whole time. Running alone can be cathartic, but sometimes it's so lonely!

I'm not sure what you consider painfully slow, but I'm slow too. My long training runs have had around a 12-13 mm pace. I'm sure you'll be fine. I've only done one other race ever, last year...Dark Side 5k. I'm doing all 3 for Princess and I'm a little nervous too. I'm sure I'll start in the last corral, and that's really the only thing that bothers me...starting last. But I have no intention of getting swept...we can do it!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

I'm not sure what you consider painfully slow, but I'm slow too. My long training runs have had around a 12-13 mm pace. I'm sure you'll be fine. I've only done one other race ever, last year...Dark Side 5k. I'm doing all 3 for Princess and I'm a little nervous too. I'm sure I'll start in the last corral, and that's really the only thing that bothers me...starting last. But I have no intention of getting swept...we can do it!

Did you submit a POT? My pace is in that range and I have never been in the last corral. Not even in the second to last. You should be good

 

[bumbershoot]

I was looking at those hand held water bottles at the running store. None of them fit my iphone 6 plus which is heavy all by itself. I can't imagine having the weight of that and a water bottle strapped to my hand would be comfy??? That means I still need to use a belt for my phone since I use it for music. I only have one pair of running pants with a pocket that my phone fits in. I just ordered the Fitletic Hydration belt from Amazon. It comes with bottles to hold 16oz of water. I'll just pick up some of those small bottled waters for training at home then chuck it in a trash can somewhere along my route. I can use the water stations during the races.

You need more pants with good pockets! I have shorts and my buddy has pants from sweet spot skirts with a pocket that can hold a 6.

Oh, and for you veteran rD'ers on here - do you listen to your own music or listen to the sounds of the race?

The sounds of the race make me bananas so I listen to music.

If I hear something good I'll pause my music (I run with water bottle in one hand and phone in the other so it's easily accessible) or take out an earbud if I hear an announcement etc.

I listen to my own music, but I will take it out if I see some race course entertainment. also when it gets wicked crowded i'll take an earbud out so I know whats going on around me

Yep.

my first princess someone did trip over the speedbumps after making fun of the warnings... so please be careful!

It's inevitable if you make fun of it.

Should I be concerned that my Magic Bands have been in Davenport, FL since 1/27? It just says "Picked up by shipping partners, USPS awaiting package". I am only in Alabama so it isn't like they have far to travel. Just don't want them to be lost

Same as me. USPS tracking isn't a required thing so I'm not worried.

I'm not sure what you consider painfully slow, but I'm slow too. My long training runs have had around a 12-13 mm pace.

Since these races have a 16 minute req and that's if you're the last off the line 12-13 minutes is hardly slow overall.

I'm sure I'll start in the last corral

No reason to think that especially since you've done a Disney event before. That sort of estimate puts me middle of the pack or just a touch behind middle at most rD events.

 

[WiscRunner]

I'm not sure what you consider painfully slow, but I'm slow too. My long training runs have had around a 12-13 mm pace. I'm sure you'll be fine. I've only done one other race ever, last year...Dark Side 5k. I'm doing all 3 for Princess and I'm a little nervous too. I'm sure I'll start in the last corral, and that's really the only thing that bothers me...starting last. But I have no intention of getting swept...we can do it!

That's about my pace too so that reassures me- I am so hoping to not be in the last corral. The anticipation is killing me though!

 

[msmith07101]

Nope...no POT. Didn't run any races to have anything to submit. Just figured I'll be last.

Did you submit a POT? My pace is in that range and I have never been in the last corral. Not even in the second to last. You should be good

 

[hipporina]

12-13 is not slow at all! That's me on a good day! My first half we finished just under 3 hours, our second half was just over 3 hours (part of the light side challenge and we stopped for a couple of pics.)

I worried and worried about getting swept my first two races and I never even saw the balloon ladies except where the course passed going opposite directions. And we were in the last corrals at both races because we didn't have PoT. If you are not in the 15:30 or slower range, don't worry. My goal this race is to ignore the clock, relax, take lots of pictures, and have a blast without the stress. If I want a personal best, I'll run a boring local race.

 

[hipporina]

Nope...no POT. Didn't run any races to have anything to submit. Just figured I'll be last.

From what I've been told earlier in this thread, if you registered with a time estimate above 2:45 but still not all the way to 3:30, you may be placed in a closer corral. They only need PoT for under 2:45. We don't have PoT either because my last race was too long ago.

 

[msmith07101]

12-13 is not slow at all! That's me on a good day! My first half we finished just under 3 hours, our second half was just over 3 hours (part of the light side challenge and we stopped for a couple of pics.)

I worried and worried about getting swept my first two races and I never even saw the balloon ladies except where the course passed going opposite directions. And we were in the last corrals at both races because we didn't have PoT. If you are not in the 15:30 or slower range, don't worry. My goal this race is to ignore the clock, relax, take lots of pictures, and have a blast without the stress. If I want a personal best, I'll run a boring local race.

My goal as well...just to have fun. Not looking to have a personal best or anything like that. Just want to finish in the upright position, as the training says. I just worry that we won't have time to stop for pics and characters.

 

[msmith07101]

From what I've been told earlier in this thread, if you registered with a time estimate above 2:45 but still not all the way to 3:30, you may be placed in a closer corral. They only need PoT for under 2:45. We don't have PoT either because my last race was too long ago.

I chose whatever the one was that said something with 2:45... I've seen other people say(not here) that without POT you will be in the last corral. Which in my logical mind can't possibly be true unless a very small number of people don't submit POT. You can't cram a very large number of people all in the very last one...right?

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

From what I've been told earlier in this thread, if you registered with a time estimate above 2:45 but still not all the way to 3:30, you may be placed in a closer corral. They only need PoT for under 2:45. We don't have PoT either because my last race was too long ago.

I found that to be true. For Marathon weekend I registered 3 times (a long mixed up story). I had gotten faster since my POT race so I selected my estimated finish time according to my current pace but still entered my slower POT just in case for all 3. One of them they put me in a corral according to my estimated finish time, the second one they put me in a corral based on my POT (which was over the 2:45) and the 3rd was a corral back from where my POT should have gotten me.

 

[drummerwife]

Magic band arrived today!

 

[Slowrunner20]

What is the lack of appeal with the last corral? I have only run a couple local 5Ks and a 10K and I always started as far back in the group as I could. I prefer to have to weave around people than to have runners trying to get around me right off the bat.

Of course, if the pace is set off the first corral and then the last one is pushing to keep within the limits, THAT'S a different story.

And 12-13 min/mile isn't slow! I'm 13:30-14:00 at the beginning, then slowly start sliding more toward a 15 min/mile. My main goal is finish. Goal+ is under 3:15. Goal++ is under 3.

 

[msmith07101]

What is the lack of appeal with the last corral? I have only run a couple local 5Ks and a 10K and I always started as far back in the group as I could. I prefer to have to weave around people than to have runners trying to get around me right off the bat.

Of course, if the pace is set off the first corral and then the last one is pushing to keep within the limits, THAT'S a different story.

And 12-13 min/mile isn't slow! I'm 13:30-14:00 at the beginning, then slowly start sliding more toward a 15 min/mile. My main goal is finish. Goal+ is under 3:15. Goal++ is under 3.

For me it would be all the standing around and waiting to start, plus longer lines if I want to stop and get photos. And the sooner you start, the sooner you finish. That's all...nothing wrong with being in the last one. For Dark Side 5k last year, I was in second to last, hubby was in last, so I dropped back to start with him. I think it's not as big of a deal for the 5k...shorter race, less people. It's the only race I have done, so I can't compare...just basing my desire to not be in the last for the half on what I've seen other people say.

 

[Slowrunner20]

I chose whatever the one was that said something with 2:45... I've seen other people say(not here) that without POT you will be in the last corral. Which in my logical mind can't possibly be true unless a very small number of people don't submit POT. You can't cram a very large number of people all in the very last one...right?

The way I'm interpreting it, if you say that your estimated finish is 2:45 or under, you must produce proof of time. If you make this claim and then do NOT submit adequate POT, you're automatically moved to the last corral. Anyone estimating a finish after 2:45 doesn't need to submit POT, so they'll be placed in front of the folks who were supposed to submit POT and didn't. I bet this is a great incentive for people to submit proof and get placed appropriately!

 

[smampate]

The hubs is platinum chEAR squad with access to the race retreat. I didn't buy access to the race retreat. Wonder how that will work? LOL

 

[courtneybeth]

The hubs is platinum chEAR squad with access to the race retreat. I didn't buy access to the race retreat. Wonder how that will work? LOL

He'll enjoy the perks of food and places to sit while you run.... and uh, breakfast afterward and you can wait outside

 

[cmarsh31]

So excited! My first 5k - I'm so impressed with all of you running so much farther! I had to slack on my training a bit in the last few weeks, no treadmill and snow/ice meant I was grounded We got a treadmill last weekend, so I'm walking or running back on schedule now. I can easily walk a 5k in under the 16min mile requirements, so I'm not overly concerned, but I want to be comfortable running. We're in the last corral bc my friend's mom is with us... just convince me that it's going to be ok and I'm not going to be stressed about time! (if we have to, we'll leave friend's mom behind... but it'd be so much more fun to stay together!).

 

[run.minnie.miles]

So excited! My first 5k - I'm so impressed with all of you running so much farther! I had to slack on my training a bit in the last few weeks, no treadmill and snow/ice meant I was grounded We got a treadmill last weekend, so I'm walking or running back on schedule now. I can easily walk a 5k in under the 16min mile requirements, so I'm not overly concerned, but I want to be comfortable running. We're in the last corral bc my friend's mom is with us... just convince me that it's going to be ok and I'm not going to be stressed about time! (if we have to, we'll leave friend's mom behind... but it'd be so much more fun to stay together!).

Congrats on running your 1st 5K! I can vividly remember almost every detail of my first 5K and know you will too, especially since it is DISNEY! I hope this is your 1st of many!