First welcome to the world of running.
Advice.....
Get to your local running store for a pair of fitted shoes. WallyWorld, Dick's Academy mean well and have great pricing, but you seriously need a pair of shoes fitted to your stride. A good running store can offer you a selection of shoes that will fit your body style. The selection should have relatively cheap shoes all the way up.
Start a log. I use an electronic log that pulls data from my watch as soon as I walk into my study. The auto upload includes miles, course taken and heart rate. I then go back and put in weather data, feelings, or other notes that I think about. Some of these other notes are things that may have pulled me through a run, dogs (i track where I see 'mean' dogs), and various other weird things.
From you log track shoe miles. once you hit the 350-500 mile range, its new shoe time. Alternate shoes in the summer - it will help them dry and allow the foam to more fully recover.
Tech clothing. Cotton is just bad, especially in the summer. The fabric retains water and the fibers are abrasive to sensitive parts.
I would look for races through the summer. There is nothing like running a race. You will become a better runner just through the race. You will see everyone from the local elite to the most common runner. Run these races against YOURSELF. never worry about the other runners. Just make sure to line up nearer the back. That way you are not getting passed by hundreds and getting discouraged.
Do enter the Princess early. This is not mandatory, but if you do enter, place a copy of the map on your fridge along with your training plan your motivation will become your mission. I use my iCal also. I put my training plan in as appointments. You have to acknowledge the appointment in some way if they are there.
Find a training plan. For a true beginner, I cannot say much bad about the Galloway training plans. Look at the DL Half for a view of the plan. Simply copy that plan and place the appropriate dates in for the Princess. Or you can wait until the Princess plan is released. Though I find having the plan early helps me plan.
Finally, good luck. I am coming over to run a couple SA races. For sure I am running RnR again this year as well as the MS 150 ride.
Just remember, to stay within your self. Do not build miles too fast. As you run, remain conversational. That is run at an effort that would allow you to carry on a nearly normal conversation if you were talking. If you are only able to say a couple syllables per breath, slow up.
There is another group of Princesses that are planning on running it in 2013 as well. Please join us over there. Folks have answered lots of my questions and it is a really supportive group. Here is the link to that thread.
