Calling all Princesses! (2014 Princess Half Marathon Weekend)- thread #2

[fitmama2e]

After reading the entire blog hop (which I LOVED...thank you for that), I am starting to second guess my pre and post race plans.

On the day before the race, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I are planning to get up around 8:30 and head to Magic Kingdom. We want to have lunch at Be Our Guest, ride a bunch of rides, have an early dinner in the Castle, and then head back around 6:00 for some shut-eye. My initial thought was that we wanted to be tired early, and walking around the park would help us get some sleep; however, now I'm wondering whether we should take it easier that day and rest our feet. We have a Castle reservation though, and that would be tough to get on a different day. Am I crazy to do MK the day before the race?

Also, on the day of the race, we plan to take it easy, head back to the resort for some hot tub time and napping, and then go to Downtown Disney for dinner and the Happily Ever After party. We figured we would probably be tired, and we didn't want to push ourselves too hard; however, now I'm wondering whether we will feel excited and want to go to a park for the day. I'm also wondering if we should book a lunch/ brunch somewhere instead of our dinner. If so, what time would we even book it?

Can anyone who has run this before tell me what you think about pre-race and post-race planning. I am really not sure whether to change our plans or keep them. Also, I really don't want to be changing around fastpasses when I'm there, but I'm totally okay with changing them from home. We only have 2 1/2 days worth of park tickets (the half day is pasta in the park with extra Epcot magic hours), and right now we are planning on going Fri. for pasta, Sat to MK, and Monday to HS.

What would you change/ keep? Thanks!

If this is your first half I would be really careful about how much you are walking the day before. My only other note would be for after the race, you should really soak in cool water not a hot tub, its better for recovery.

 

[Figment1990]

I don't have any advice, but I am right there with you. My heel hurts from plantar faciitis. My last long run was 11 miles on Jan 19. Then I ran in the Race for the Cure on Jan 25th (a 5K) and after that I had a sharp pain in my heel. I ran again on Jan 28th, 4 miles, and then my heel really hurt so I haven't run since.

I have been going to the gym and doing the elliptical machine and the bike. This Sunday we are supposed to run 12 miles. I know I am not going to run 12, and I am not sure if I am even going to try to run 3 or 4 miles.
I think I will be able to complete the PHM with a lot of walking and a little running, I just don't want my heel to get worse before then.

Good luck, Figment!

Good luck to you too Sunshine! And to all princesses out there who are hurting, nervous, and feeling good too....

runDisney fb has finally mentioned Princess weekend but no cover photo update yet...

Even with the foot pain, I'm still getting excited. I am going to stop at JoAnn fabrics tonight and try my hand at tutu making. I've got to do *something related to this race or I will go stir crazy!

 

[McDuck]

Getting so, so, so excited.

Spent a whole day last weekend working on DD7 and DD4's running outfits for the kids races. They tried them on yesterday and I am so happy!

My outfit is just like DD4's Anna costume. CANNOT WAIT!!!

I have to add a little more sparkle to DD7's Elsa shirt, but other than that I think we are good to go!

Edit - sorry the pictures are so big, I don't know how to make them smaller

Very awesome!! Which day are your kids doing the Kids' Races?

My 4 year old decided to be Merida for the 200m. She's running on the Friday. I didn't go this involved though. Just got some aqua running gear for her and then appliqued Merida on the front of the shirt. Also got some red hair extensions for her pigtails.

 

[Mouseketeer Heather]

Since we're at the 2 week point, I decided to take a peak at the extended forecast on Accuweather. In a word: PERFECT!

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lake-buena-vista-fl/32830/daily-weather-forecast/2257551?day=16

Lows in the 50s and highs in the upper 70s...sounds like awesome race weather to me, ladies!

 

[joan4mickey]

Since we're at the 2 week point, I decided to take a peak at the extended forecast on Accuweather. In a word: PERFECT!

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lake-buena-vista-fl/32830/daily-weather-forecast/2257551?day=16

Lows in the 50s and highs in the upper 70s...sounds like awesome race weather to me, ladies!

I started looking at that a day or so ago. Told myself not to look until next week, but did.

On another topic….all the costume chatter is making think about resurrecting an old outfit or two.

 

[PrincessV]

5k shirts!


http://margaritasmilesandmouse.blogspot.com/2014/02/royal-family-5k-shirts.html

LOVE these! Why oh why can't this be a women's fit tech shirt?!?!

If I use an hour of time from the resort to get to the start of the race, that means I need to be leaving around 3:00 a.m. Are the buses going to run at that time?

Yep, buses start at 3am.

When are you doing your last run before the race and how long will it be?

My longest "training" run for Princess was the WDW Half, lol! Since then, I've put in a 10-miler and will aim for 8-10 this Sunday. Planning to walk 2 tonight, walk/run 5 tomorrow, then a long run/walk Sun.

What do you use during a Half to stay hydrated and maintain caloric/blood sugar intake? I am seeing water stations along the way. Do you carry your own drink as well?

I do best sipping regularly, instead of chugging occasionally, so I use a little 10oz handheld bottle - I refill it with either water or Powerade, depending on how hot it is and how much I need in the electrolyte dept., at the race tables. I have to deal with chronic low blood sugar, made worse with exercise, so I'm an eating machine. The high glucose things like beans and GU don't work for me; I alternate fig newtons and salted pretzels, eating every 30 minutes.

I have a what if for you. What if I can do this!! What if my training IS enough.
You so have this in the bag. Look at what you've accomplished in the last year. You are going to rock that tiara!!!

Spent a whole day last weekend working on DD7 and DD4's running outfits for the kids races. They tried them on yesterday and I am so happy!

They're adorable!

Advice?!?! The longest I feel I can push that 12 to is Tuesday before I start to think it will affect my taper.

I don't have any advice, but I am right there with you. My heel hurts from plantar faciitis. My last long run was 11 miles on Jan 19.

Repeat with me: better undertrained than overtrained! You guys have already done the training, had the long runs - you're in fine shape in that regard. #1 priority is getting to race day healthy, or at least healthier. If it helps to hear a real-life story, my last long run, pre-TOT 10-Miler, was 11 miles, a MONTH before the race. Due to an injury, I didn't go longer than 4 miles between that and the race. I rested, went slow and short, and guess what? I rocked my race! I'd already put in the training; I just needed to fix the injury.

I regularly fight the feeling that I need more miles to be "ready", but I'm slowly coming to realize that more mileage isn't always the answer. Staying healthy is key.

 

[pixarmom]

i have a small 8oz Nathan water bottle that wraps around my hand so that I don't have to actively carry it and can relax my hand. i prefer to skip the congestion that is water stations so i only stop when my bottle is almost empty and i need to refill it.

I have this and I LOVE it. I really dislike carrying anything, but I'm OK with the Nathan. Mine has a pouch for sport beans and chapstick. I may also need to put my magicband in there if it gets too bothersome on my wrist.

Getting so, so, so excited.
Spent a whole day last weekend working on DD7 and DD4's running outfits for the kids races. They tried them on yesterday and I am so happy!

I have to add a little more sparkle to DD7's Elsa shirt, but other than that I think we are good to go!

These are awesome costumes!!! Really adorable. And thanks so much for mentioning this and posting, because I have a costume for our youngest for the 5K (he's the beast, our teens are lumiere and cogsworth) but not for the Kids' Races. So I should probably talk with him about a costume for that too!

If I tweeted it would probably be something like GSC two weeks away and my foot still hurts! #panickingprincess

But I don't tweet so here I am with you guys...

My foot is still hurting. I don't think this is a long injury that will keep me from doing the races but I don't know what to do w my last long run which was supposed to be 12.5 miles scheduled for Sunday. I was going to run 3 today (not happening, foots getting better but not totally pain free and don't want to risk backsliding). Then I had a3.5, two 5's and a 3 before the GSC. I went up to 9 last Sunday and was at 13.3 three weeks ago at Tink.

Advice?!?! The longest I feel I can push that 12 to is Tuesday before I start to think it will affect my taper. If im honest i will say i am disappointed. I really wanted to just enjoy these races while running strong. Not limp thru them like I did the wine and dine...

I don't have any advice, but hope your foot starts feeling better! And it helps to read about taper plans, because I don't really have a solid one yet, so it's nice to get an idea of what others have on the schedule.

 

[Figment1990]

Since we're at the 2 week point, I decided to take a peak at the extended forecast on Accuweather. In a word: PERFECT!

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lake-buena-vista-fl/32830/daily-weather-forecast/2257551?day=16

Lows in the 50s and highs in the upper 70s...sounds like awesome race weather to me, ladies!

I know! I keep telling myself that living in the Polar Vortex of the northeast for a little bit longer will be worth it if it means temps in FL around 50 for race morning.....

LOVE these! Why oh why can't this be a women's fit tech shirt?!?!


Yep, buses start at 3am.


My longest "training" run for Princess was the WDW Half, lol! Since then, I've put in a 10-miler and will aim for 8-10 this Sunday. Planning to walk 2 tonight, walk/run 5 tomorrow, then a long run/walk Sun.

I do best sipping regularly, instead of chugging occasionally, so I use a little 10oz handheld bottle - I refill it with either water or Powerade, depending on how hot it is and how much I need in the electrolyte dept., at the race tables. I have to deal with chronic low blood sugar, made worse with exercise, so I'm an eating machine. The high glucose things like beans and GU don't work for me; I alternate fig newtons and salted pretzels, eating every 30 minutes.



They're adorable!

Repeat with me: better undertrained than overtrained! You guys have already done the training, had the long runs - you're in fine shape in that regard. #1 priority is getting to race day healthy, or at least healthier. If it helps to hear a real-life story, my last long run, pre-TOT 10-Miler, was 11 miles, a MONTH before the race. Due to an injury, I didn't go longer than 4 miles between that and the race. I rested, went slow and short, and guess what? I rocked my race! I'd already put in the training; I just needed to fix the injury.

I regularly fight the feeling that I need more miles to be "ready", but I'm slowly coming to realize that more mileage isn't always the answer. Staying healthy is key.

Thank you V... Somewhere in my mind, I know this to be true. I just have to keep reminding myself of that fact. That's why I skipped my run this morning and am trying to decide when/if to do that last long run. As in, if the foot feels 100% by next Monday, maybe I'll do it. Maybe I'll do 10 instead of 12. Maybe just go 5's here on out. I've got to wait and see, and THAT is the problem. I have no patience. I have a high pain tolerance, but no patience. Ergo, running has been a good teacher for me to develop more patience.

But during taper-time, it's REALLY hard to practice that patience! Thanks princesses....

 

[pixarmom]

If this is your first half I would be really careful about how much you are walking the day before. My only other note would be for after the race, you should really soak in cool water not a hot tub, its better for recovery.

This will be my first half, so I'm no expert, but I'm taking fitmama2e's advice! The day before the race, we'll take our youngest to the Kids' Races, use our three Fastpass+ at Epcot, lunch at San Angel and then afternoon at the BWI pool. Dinner at Flying Fish. I'm taking this "not much walking" advice seriously!

I do best sipping regularly, instead of chugging occasionally, so I use a little 10oz handheld bottle - I refill it with either water or Powerade, depending on how hot it is and how much I need in the electrolyte dept., at the race tables. I have to deal with chronic low blood sugar, made worse with exercise, so I'm an eating machine. The high glucose things like beans and GU don't work for me; I alternate fig newtons and salted pretzels, eating every 30 minutes.

Repeat with me: better undertrained than overtrained! You guys have already done the training, had the long runs - you're in fine shape in that regard. #1 priority is getting to race day healthy, or at least healthier. If it helps to hear a real-life story, my last long run, pre-TOT 10-Miler, was 11 miles, a MONTH before the race. Due to an injury, I didn't go longer than 4 miles between that and the race. I rested, went slow and short, and guess what? I rocked my race! I'd already put in the training; I just needed to fix the injury.

I regularly fight the feeling that I need more miles to be "ready", but I'm slowly coming to realize that more mileage isn't always the answer. Staying healthy is key.

All great advice. I'm thinking I'll throw in a couple pretzels with my sport beans because I really need salt. I have not yet trained running while eating a pretzel, but I think I can do it! (Took a piece of chocolate from a volunteer while running a quarter marathon last Halloween and that was not easy to eat!)

I'm having difficulty with the taper because I usually run 5 times/week and try to get in at least 20 weekly miles total. I've never tapered before 10Ks. This week, I ran 4 miles Monday, 4 miles Tuesday, and 13.3 yesterday and now think it's time to transition to taper mode. But I can't quite figure out exactly how much to run for the next two weeks. Maybe three 4-mile runs next week, one 4-mile run and the Cinderella 5K the week before the race? Any advice?

 

[Figment1990]

This will be my first half, so I'm no expert, but I'm taking fitmama2e's advice! The day before the race, we'll take our youngest to the Kids' Races, use our three Fastpass+ at Epcot, lunch at San Angel and then afternoon at the BWI pool. Dinner at Flying Fish. I'm taking this "not much walking" advice seriously!



All great advice. I'm thinking I'll throw in a couple pretzels with my sport beans because I really need salt. I have not yet trained running while eating a pretzel, but I think I can do it! (Took a piece of chocolate from a volunteer while running a quarter marathon last Halloween and that was not easy to eat!)

I'm having difficulty with the taper because I usually run 5 times/week and try to get in at least 20 weekly miles total. I've never tapered before 10Ks. This week, I ran 4 miles Monday, 4 miles Tuesday, and 13.3 yesterday and now think it's time to transition to taper mode. But I can't quite figure out exactly how much to run for the next two weeks. Maybe three 4-mile runs next week, one 4-mile run and the Cinderella 5K the week before the race? Any advice?

I'm bringing pretzels this time too. I really needed a little jolt of energy around mile 11 of Tink and the shot bloks I had just weren't cutting it. I think that pretzels might be the final piece of my fueling/hydration puzzle.

From what I've read, tapering usually involves lowering your weekly mileage 25-50% so it sounds like you have a good plan.

 

[appleorchard]

Thanks for the reminder, Princess V! My blister under the big toe turned into an infection around the toenail, so I'm really trying not to stress it. My long run last week(when I injured my toenail) was over 11 miles and that's going to have to stand as my "long" run before the half. I've done two 3.5 milers this week and will try and get in at least a 6 miler tomorrow, then a few 4s next week.

Anything is better than getting thrown out of the game at this late date!

 

[DVCFan1994]

If I tweeted it would probably be something like GSC two weeks away and my foot still hurts! #panickingprincess But I don't tweet so here I am with you guys... My foot is still hurting. I don't think this is a long injury that will keep me from doing the races but I don't know what to do w my last long run which was supposed to be 12.5 miles scheduled for Sunday. I was going to run 3 today (not happening, foots getting better but not totally pain free and don't want to risk backsliding). Then I had a3.5, two 5's and a 3 before the GSC. I went up to 9 last Sunday and was at 13.3 three weeks ago at Tink. Advice?!?! The longest I feel I can push that 12 to is Tuesday before I start to think it will affect my taper. If im honest i will say i am disappointed. I really wanted to just enjoy these races while running strong. Not limp thru them like I did the wine and dine...

I am still a new runner, so I am not sure I have any advice, but I share the same struggle. I hoped to get one more 12 miler in this weekend, but my injuries are stopping me. I have pain in both knees due to IT band issues, and plantar fascitis in one foot. After being okay for a couple of months, I went back to my physical therapist this week and she said that she I should not run long anymore before the race. She said that it would be best to not push through the pain for me because there is a chance I could make things worse. So, I am doing other cardio exercises, plus shorter, easier runs. I tried to do 12 miles last weekend but the pain was so severe I had to stop after 10. It is very frustrating to know I won't come close to what I think I am capable of, but at least I should finish by combining a mix of walking breaks whenever the pain gets to severe to run. Strangely the pain is almost completely non existent when I am walking so I am concentrating on being fairly sure (barring some disaster) I can finish which is a very significant improvement over what I could have accomplished at this time last year.

Eta: somehow my second paragraph disappeared. You have experience in multiple races, so clearly you know your abilities better than anyone. But it seems to me, since you've fine the distance multiple times, skipping that last long run in favor of either total rest on the hurting foot or going for a shorter run would get you to the starting line in better health. Good luck deciding!

 

[sunshinecruise]

Repeat with me: better undertrained than overtrained! You guys have already done the training, had the long runs - you're in fine shape in that regard. #1 priority is getting to race day healthy, or at least healthier. If it helps to hear a real-life story, my last long run, pre-TOT 10-Miler, was 11 miles, a MONTH before the race. Due to an injury, I didn't go longer than 4 miles between that and the race. I rested, went slow and short, and guess what? I rocked my race! I'd already put in the training; I just needed to fix the injury.

I regularly fight the feeling that I need more miles to be "ready", but I'm slowly coming to realize that more mileage isn't always the answer. Staying healthy is key.

Thank you Princess V. I appreciate the advice and the real-life story. We can do this!

 

[ut*disney]

I found a FB group for the race. I requested to join but have not received a response yet.

Is anyone here staying at Pop Century?

 

[joan4mickey]

I found a FB group for the race. I requested to join but have not received a response yet.

Is anyone here staying at Pop Century?

Check this thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3125358

 

[ut*disney]

I have not done a 10 mile run yet. I was supposed to do a 6 mile Wednesday, but it was 9:15 p.m. and 32 degrees outside (without the windchill). I did 4 miles before I gave up. My body was warm, but my face and hands were frozen!

I'm really worried about me being swept. I have not trained like I should have been. Yes, I started training way back when I first registered for the race. But not consistently each and every week.

I plan on doing 10 miles either Saturday or Sunday, then 4 miles 2 times next week. Should I do another 10 mile run on Sunday Feb. 16? Or is that too close to the run on Sunday Feb. 23?.

 

[kappyfamily]

I have not done a 10 mile run yet. I was supposed to do a 6 mile Wednesday, but it was 9:15 p.m. and 32 degrees outside (without the windchill). I did 4 miles before I gave up. My body was warm, but my face and hands were frozen! I'm really worried about me being swept. I have not trained like I should have been. Yes, I started training way back when I first registered for the race. But not consistently each and every week. I plan on doing 10 miles either Saturday or Sunday, then 4 miles 2 times next week. Should I do another 10 mile run on Sunday Feb. 16? Or is that too close to the run on Sunday Feb. 23?.

If you are doing one ten already then you are fine. If you are not as trained as you should be you also don't want to add too many long runs and hurt yourself. If you can make it to ten in under a 16 min pace the you are good to go!

 

[poohfriend9]

Look at your bib number then look on the Run Disney site, under runner info, and then corral and bib numbers.



The corral placements aren't available for the 5K, but you should be able to see your bib number. I put 5 of the 6 of us in the 13-16 mm pace group and our bib numbers are in the 9500's. DS17 is in the 7mm pace group and his bib numbers is in the 100's.
Check your registration info and see if they spelled your name wrong or got you birthdate wrong.

Our bib numbers are in 7900's. So does that mean there will be groups after us?

 

[joan4mickey]

Our bib numbers are in 7900's. So does that mean there will be groups after us?

7937-9592 in corral "K" so there will be 5 corrals behind you

 

[appleorchard]

Aggh, just tried on my custom-made shirt for the half-- had it made by the same people who did my shirt for the 10k-- and this one is way too large. It looks like the man's version instead of the woman's. I just emailed them for a replacement, pronto, so hopefully they can do it. I hate to wear a plain shirt after planning out my outfits ahead of time. Which brings me to another question-- is anyone doing all three races in the same skirt or pair of shorts??? I only have one sparkle skirt--at those prices lol-- and don't know if it will make it through all three races! I might just wear shorts for the half.