Calling all Princesses! (2014 Princess half marathon board)

[Figment1990]

I got there at 4:30, I stayed in Windsor Hill and I woke up at 3:45ish. I found it pretty easy to do. Leaving after the race was a little congested but I was at least able to get off my feet and not wait for the bus. Bus lines were LOOOOONG!!! So, I personally found it easy being dropped off and picked up for the race.

Thank you!

Has anyone stayed at a monorail resort and would like to share their transportation experiences?

 

[calihannah]

You have to call, but beware.... it is $pricey$ right now. If you say anything about the races you will get transferred to event booking (at least I did). I am not really happy with the price they gave me, but wanted to be sure that I got a room so I put down the deposit. Hoping that the AAA discount for next year will come out soon so I can call and try to get a better deal.

Thank you both for the info. Does anyone know if the Dolphin/Swan will have race transportation? They always seem to be grey area...not off property but not fully WDW... But we have Starwood points to redeem, and hey, free is free! ...but only if the transportation part works

(We know it works for the parks -- but what about race morning?)

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thank you both for the info. Does anyone know if the Dolphin/Swan will have race transportation? They always seem to be grey area...not off property but not fully WDW... But we have Starwood points to redeem, and hey, free is free! ...but only if the transportation part works

(We know it works for the parks -- but what about race morning?)

This is listed on their events page so I would assume so. I hope so because I'm staying at the Swan.

DISNEY PRINCESS HALF MARATHON WEEKEND

(February) Assemble your fellow princesses for Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend. The royal affair will bring women of all ages together for a half marathon, a 5K, kids' races, and a health & fitness expo. Every woman is a princess, which princess are you?

 

[kappyfamily]

Well, fast is all relative! I don't know my official time but my watch showed 3:12! My daughter finished in 2:55 so she was closer to you.

I'm a walker trying to learn to run

Very true! Good job! I'm still feeling those hills!

 

[MRS AR]

Thank you!

Has anyone stayed at a monorail resort and would like to share their transportation experiences?

We stayed at CR last year and even though the race was congested, the monorail transport was seamless. Very short wait. I did get turned around looking for the monorail after the race but that usually does happen to me

We're staying Poly this time. It's DH favorite and he's coming thus year.

Hope this helps.

 

[calihannah]

This is listed on their events page so I would assume so. I hope so because I'm staying at the Swan.

DISNEY PRINCESS HALF MARATHON WEEKEND

(February) Assemble your fellow princesses for Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend. The royal affair will bring women of all ages together for a half marathon, a 5K, kids' races, and a health & fitness expo. Every woman is a princess, which princess are you?

Nice Very reassuring!

 

[arihillfarm]

This is my first time doing a Run Disney race. Do most people like to stay on Disney property? Where have you found the best deals for booking a room? We are planning on getting park tickets 1 or 2 days as well.

Any tips appreciated!

Disney may release general public room and package discounts later this year. If not, some Disney specialist travel agencies get discounted room blocks for the runDisney race weekends. My agency has had past WDW marathon and Princess 1/2 weekend room block discounts ranging from 20-35% off of rack rate at Disney resorts, however our room blocks for 2014 runDisney weekends are being set up but aren't finalized yet.

I've read through most of this thread (that's a lot of reading!) and am really getting excited about possibly running (and walking) the PHM. I started C25K about 4-5 months ago (with some time off for knee and PF injuries) and am now working on a 10K training plan. I have yet to enter my first 5K, just need to get up the nerve to do it! There's one in 2 weeks and another on the 4th of July, I just need to decide! I'm 40, need to lose at least 50 lbs. and love running but don't look anything like or move as fast as a typical runner, so the thought of being left in the dust at a local 5K and coming in last is not sitting too well with me. All of the past PHM stories and photos are so inspiring though and I really want the PHM to be my first and hopefully not only, 1/2 marathon. It's going to be a race between training to see if my body can hold up to long distance running and the PHM selling out. My max so far has been 4 miles running at a 13:20 pace but I felt like death warmed over the next day. I ran two miles today with a 1/4 mile walk break in between and did that at a 12:00 pace but had to take Motrin and soak in the hot tub tonight before I felt normal again. Oh to be 10 years younger again.

-Astrid

 

[arihillfarm]

Not sure where we're going to stay yet. It'll just be DH and I this time. The first without kidlets (aside from our honeymoon). We always stay at POR, but we want to stay someplace different this time without breaking the bank.
Suggestions?
I'll check out bondibands! Thanks!

POFQ! Smaller and more "romantic" than POR, but still a moderate resort and you can share the POR amenities.

-Astrid

 

[arihillfarm]

don't go through the rundisney.com use this https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
it will let you book

now everything on the site that I tried for value resorts 2/22-2/24 no available rooms think I'll try something DTD area Palm Pkwy something close

For Feb. 2014, you'll have to call in to check availability and book a room-only reservation. You can book 499 days in advance for a room-only but until 2014 pricing and packages are released, you can't book a room-only online. The general public WDW site is showing unavailable when that's not really the case. Now AoA LM rooms may be booked full, but there should still be rooms at the other Values.

-Astrid

 

[arihillfarm]

Hotel help!

I am currently talking to a travel agent about staying at the POP hotel for princess weekend. However, last time we stayed at All Star Movies. Since the prices aren't released yet, does anyone have any experience iwth these two, are they similar in price? Between the two which would you recommend?

Pop is generally $10-20 more a night than ASMovies, depending on whether or not you want a preferred room at either resort.

-Astrid

 

[arihillfarm]

I know that some princessess are starting their training early (I've only done the EE Challenge with 6.2 miles so far so ive got quite a distance to go) and I was wondering - what is on your training playlist or PHM playlist?

I started to put mine together yesterday and its quite a variety of different styles of music... Just wondering what the rest of my fellow princessess are running too...

In case anyone is curious ive listed mine below (41 songs = 2hr 18min):

You drive me crazy – Britney Spears
I just cant wait to be king – Lion King
Anything could happen – Ellie Goulding
Zero to Hero - Hercules
Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
Under the Sea – Little Mermaid
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey )
I’ll Make a Man Out of You – Mulan
Sweet Nothing – Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch
One Jump Ahead – Aladdin
Bulletproof Remix – The Outfit
Somewhere I belong – Linkin Park
Be our Guest – Beauty and the Beast
Good Feeling – Flo Rida
When will my life begin – Tangled
Call me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
Celebrate You – Corbin Bleu
Firework – Katy Perry
Go the Distance – Hercules
You cant hurry love – Phil Collins
Black and Gold – Sam Sparro
I Kissed a Girl – Katy Perry
Supercalifragilistic – Mary Poppins
Rumor Has it/Someone Like You – Glee
Ever Ever After – Enchanted
Stronger – Britney Spears
Bleed it out – Linkin Park
A dream is a wish your heart makes – Disney remix
Survivor/I will Survive – Glee
Touch the sky – Brave
The Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga
Friend Like Me – Aladdin
Fighter – Christina Aguilera
Mob Song – Beauty and the Beast
Numb/Encore – Linkin Park/Jay-z
Part of Me – Katy Perry
Survivor – Destiny’s Child
Good Life – One Republic

I love this playlist! I'm currently listening to 80's Cardio on Pandora, but really need to create a playlist.

-Astrid

 

[Gryhndmom]

Thank you!

Has anyone stayed at a monorail resort and would like to share their transportation experiences?

DH and I too stayed at CR and had absolutely no problems with the monorail. Hopped on 1st train of the morning and waited no more than 5 min after the race to go back. I just think staying at a resort on monorail is faster and easier than having to take a bus.

 

[longhorns2]

DH and I too stayed at CR and had absolutely no problems with the monorail. Hopped on 1st train of the morning and waited no more than 5 min after the race to go back. I just think staying at a resort on monorail is faster and easier than having to take a bus.

My sister decided to go to PHM with me- and she's having me book CR !!! So excited- first time to stay there!

 

[steph0808]

I plan on staying on the monorail this time. I stayed at POR for the marathon in January and the buses were horrible. I know my experience was probably not the norm, but it has turned me off from non-monorail resorts for future runDisney events.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I've read through most of this thread (that's a lot of reading!) and am really getting excited about possibly running (and walking) the PHM. I started C25K about 4-5 months ago (with some time off for knee and PF injuries) and am now working on a 10K training plan. I have yet to enter my first 5K, just need to get up the nerve to do it! There's one in 2 weeks and another on the 4th of July, I just need to decide! I'm 40, need to lose at least 50 lbs. and love running but don't look anything like or move as fast as a typical runner, so the thought of being left in the dust at a local 5K and coming in last is not sitting too well with me. All of the past PHM stories and photos are so inspiring though and I really want the PHM to be my first and hopefully not only, 1/2 marathon. It's going to be a race between training to see if my body can hold up to long distance running and the PHM selling out. My max so far has been 4 miles running at a 13:20 pace but I felt like death warmed over the next day. I ran two miles today with a 1/4 mile walk break in between and did that at a 12:00 pace but had to take Motrin and soak in the hot tub tonight before I felt normal again. Oh to be 10 years younger again.

-Astrid

13:20 is an awesome pace!
Don't worry about being Dead last! I was dead last in our school run in March. And while it sucked being last, I lapped all those people who didn't run at all. And I PR'ed too.

WISH motto:
DLF>DNF>>DNS (Dead Last Finish is better than Did Not Finish which greatly trumps Did Not Start)

 

[keahgirl8]

13:20 is an awesome pace!
Don't worry about being Dead last! I was dead last in our school run in March. And while it sucked being last, I lapped all those people who didn't run at all. And I PR'ed too.

WISH motto:
DLF>DNF>>DNS (Dead Last Finish is better than Did Not Finish which greatly trumps Did Not Start)

That's right! No matter how slow you are, you're lapping people on the couch!

 

[kappyfamily]

My sister decided to go to PHM with me- and she's having me book CR !!! So excited- first time to stay there!

Lucky you! I stayed at BLT last time I did princess and got soooo spoiled. Something nice about being able to walk 7 minutes and get to MK!

 

[JamieLM]

I am trying to get some information on breakfast the morning of the 1/2 marathon. The buffet is on Friday and I don't want to pay $120 for a bagel and banana at VIP tent. Does the resorts open the dining room, or offer food for runners the morning of? Runners will have to leave early from the the resort by 4am. Thank you.

 

[jmasgat]

During marathon weekend, resort food courts/quick service places would open as early as 2:30 am to sell a variety of items. Can't recall if it was the whole menu and don't know if this is the case for Princess, but you should be able to get something.

I have brought instant oatmeal and used the microwave in the quick serve/food court to cook it. That plus a banana--which you can get the night before--work for me.

 

[JamieLM]

Great thank you! I sure hope they offer the same, I will need to have a good breakfast before the run.