Calling all Princesses! (2014 Princess half marathon board)

[afnaechiquita]

I got it from runDisney direct - I wanted to defer my WDW Half reg to Princess... nope. Starting with the 2013 Disneyland Half, you can only defer to the same race the following year.

Oh thank you that is a pain though. I am striving for 2014 but 2015 is likely a definite no-go. I was hoping to rely on deferment if something happens that I can't go in feb. I guess I'll just watch the registration % and hope for the best.

 

[longhorns2]

10k they ask for an estimate of time. They provide 5 different time frames, you pick one. I think it will be loosely corralled like the 5k has been recently. Not super restrictive like the half corrals are

 

[Enchanted10k Mom]

10k they ask for an estimate of time. They provide 5 different time frames, you pick one. I think it will be loosely corralled like the 5k has been recently. Not super restrictive like the half corrals are

great, thanks for the quick reply!

 

[Enchanted10k Mom]

have any of you ONLY walked the PHM? Is it really truly possible to just walk it??

 

[TravelbyKJ]

Welcome! This will be my first half! Is it yours? I start training in a week or so. Have you gone to a running store to be fitted? They may be able to help you with that pain. My local running store changed my life!

This is my first half. Infact all I have done is 1 5k ever. I plan on going to a running store closer to when I am going to all out train. For now I just got some comfy shoes to wear. Do you do much running?

 

[TravelbyKJ]

My heel hurts right in the middle. It is very painful at times. I do need to do a lot of walking in the next couple of months. I sure hope the heel seats work.

 

[swimfly]

have any of you ONLY walked the PHM? Is it really truly possible to just walk it??

There are definitely people that walk the PHM but I would be sure to have a seated spot before the last corral. The 16 min/mil pace is based on the start of the last corral so any corral you move forward builds in a cushion.

My heel hurts right in the middle. It is very painful at times. I do need to do a lot of walking in the next couple of months. I sure hope the heel seats work.

Please don't postpone your trip to the running store. Wearing proper shoes is so important to running and you can avoid injuring yourself further. Running isn't a cheap sport and good shoes are an investment. You may have to postpone training for the PHM if your injury worsens. All this said with love and the heart of a runner.

 

[SuperHappyFunTimes]

Please don't postpone your trip to the running store. Wearing proper shoes is so important to running and you can avoid injuring yourself further. Running isn't a cheap sport and good shoes are an investment. You may have to postpone training for the PHM if your injury worsens. All this said with love and the heart of a runner.

I second this. And it might be worth a quick trip to the doctor too. If it is plantar fasciatiis there are exercises and inserts that can help. I had it in one foot from zumba and getting fancy flipflops with arch support and icing it really helped a lot.

Good luck and I hope it feels better soon!!

 

[Enchanted10k Mom]

There are definitely people that walk the PHM but I would be sure to have a seated spot before the last corral. The 16 min/mil pace is based on the start of the last corral so any corral you move forward builds in a cushion.
.

Thanks! I probably wouldn't be able to get a seated spot though if I was only training for walking...

Still going back and forth about this.... 10k vs PHM! Goodness, I WOKE UP thinking about it!

 

[keahgirl8]

This is my first half. Infact all I have done is 1 5k ever. I plan on going to a running store closer to when I am going to all out train. For now I just got some comfy shoes to wear. Do you do much running?

I agree with what everyone else said. I would suggest still going to the running store and maybe the doctor. Even if you are walking (even just every day walking), you still need proper shoes. It has made such a huge difference for me, not only for training, but for every day. When I originally was fitted, I wasn't planning to run at all and they still were able to help. Just tell them exactly what you will be doing and they should be able to figure out what you need.

As for me, I have run one 5K. I am starting 10K training soon, and I am looking for one in my area to submit a time for the PHM.

 

[nervous1sttimer]

Can we talk about where those of you who stay onsite will be staying? When I ran the W&D last year, it was amazing to run down the Boardwalk and thought that my family would have loved to be staying there for convenient cheering! But the route doesn't look like it goes near the Boardwalk for PHM, so are there hotels that are the best in terms of convenience for the runners and the spectators? Since we start at Epcot, do you want an Epcot hotel? We'll be going for 8 days, so we are weighing more than just the race, but the race gets the biggest vote!

 

[keahgirl8]

Can we talk about where those of you who stay onsite will be staying? When I ran the W&D last year, it was amazing to run down the Boardwalk and thought that my family would have loved to be staying there for convenient cheering! But the route doesn't look like it goes near the Boardwalk for PHM, so are there hotels that are the best in terms of convenience for the runners and the spectators? Since we start at Epcot, do you want an Epcot hotel? We'll be going for 8 days, so we are weighing more than just the race, but the race gets the biggest vote!

I would like to know this too, but I also need the most affordable! So I guess I am asking for the best I can do convenience-wise for the price!

 

[kappyfamily]

I stayed at BLT two years ago for the princess and loved the convenience of the monorail after the race. Remember if you stay at an Epcot resort you will either have to take a bus after the race to the hotel or enter into epcot(race ends outside of Epcot) and walk out thru the international gateway, which for some can be a hike after doing 13 miles.

 

[keahgirl8]

I stayed at BLT two years ago for the princess and loved the convenience of the monorail after the race. Remember if you stay at an Epcot resort you will either have to take a bus after the race to the hotel or enter into epcot(race ends outside of Epcot) and walk out thru the international gateway, which for some can be a hike after doing 13 miles.

That would be awesome, but all of those are devices, unfortunately.

 

[PrincessV]

Oh thank you that is a pain though. I am striving for 2014 but 2015 is likely a definite no-go. I was hoping to rely on deferment if something happens that I can't go in feb. I guess I'll just watch the registration % and hope for the best.

I *think* they've allowed ppl to defer twice in the past, but I'm not sure if that's changed, too.

have any of you ONLY walked the PHM? Is it really truly possible to just walk it??

For sure - lots of folks strictly walk the half! It's not going to be a relaxing stroll - definitely more of a speed walk to maintain a 16:00/mile pace or less. I was injured leading up to this year's PHM and wound up walking a lot of training and much of the first few miles of the race - I definitely could have walked the whole thing at around a 15:30 pace... and I am NOT a naturally fast walker.

I plan on going to a running store closer to when I am going to all out train. For now I just got some comfy shoes to wear.

Please don't postpone your trip to the running store. Wearing proper shoes is so important to running and you can avoid injuring yourself further. Running isn't a cheap sport and good shoes are an investment. You may have to postpone training for the PHM if your injury worsens. All this said with love and the heart of a runner.

I second this.

I'll third it - get the right shoes before anything else! Putting inserts into the wrong shoes could make things much worse.

Can we talk about where those of you who stay onsite will be staying?

I stayed at AKV this year and CSR last year- both were perfectly fine. As mentioned, staying at an EP resort won't get you near the start or finish; you'd still have to bus to the start and either walk or bus after the finish. I drove to the 5K in 2012 and bussed from AKV this year; both were quick and easy. Go with what your budget and tastes dictate and don't worry about race logistics - all will get you to the race!

 

[longhorns2]

Easy access to watch runners- my vote would be poly or GF. Watch racers at ttc, then go over to the GF. Then hop monorail to Epcot to see them finish!

Stay off main st- it's hard to see runners I hear. But if you go that might be the only place to catch runners, then head to Epcot

Best place to catch 3 times is the first option.

 

[swimfly]

That would be awesome, but all of those are devices, unfortunately.

The closer the resort is to the parks the higher the category. All resorts on property will be able to provide race day transportation to the start. Near the Boardwalk, Swan & Dolphin will often have amazing rates (Florida Resident, Teacher, Nurse, AAA, etc.) which you may qualify for. The rates are often less than a value Disney property. But... not sure there will be providing race day transportation. You would have to walk over to Boardwalk or BC/YC.

Easy access to watch runners- my vote would be poly or GF. Watch racers at ttc, then go over to the GF. Then hop monorail to Epcot to see them finish!

So glad someone mentioned this question. I'm so use to being at Disney for the January marathon weekend. IMO the Epcot resorts are the best b/c your family catches you at the end and I love keeping my legs loose and walking back to the resort (after grabbing a drink in Epcot). But.... Epcot resorts definitely aren't the best option for the PHM.

 

[fashionista311]

The closer the resort is to the parks the higher the category. All resorts on property will be able to provide race day transportation to the start. Near the Boardwalk, Swan & Dolphin will often have amazing rates (Florida Resident, Teacher, Nurse, AAA, etc.) which you may qualify for. The rates are often less than a value Disney property. But... not sure there will be providing race day transportation. You would have to walk over to Boardwalk or BC/YC.

really? my fiance is a state of CT employee since he teaches mentally ill children in a pysch hospital...how do i take advantage of his job and get in on these rates

 

[swimfly]

really? my fiance is a state of CT employee since he teaches mentally ill children in a pysch hospital...how do i take advantage of his job and get in on these rates

It's all posted on S&D's website. http://www.swandolphin.com/offers/index.html
Look at the column on the left. The rates are released throughout the year. I haven't been able to figure out the release dates for each month/quarter/etc. Just keep checking.

 

[littleangie]

Hey everyone! i am going to be running the Princess half marathon for the first time in 2014. I am really excited. Started running last july. I am planning to run a 5k in August and a 10k in September. These will be my first official races. I am doing the jeff galloway run/walk method, right now my pace is anywhere from 11:00-13:00 mpm. I am nervous cause i have never done anything like these races and i am doing them alone. So please any advice or motivation would be very helpful.

Hopefully i will meet a lot of you at Princess half marathon. We should try and get some people to meet up sometime that weekend.