Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend ** September 2-4, 2011 ** Check-In

[MrsPinup]

Thanks for the registration reminder!

 

[ludari]

I signed up on the first day reservations opened and I'm really excited. I will also be running the Princess 1/2 marathon at WDW later this month so this year I'll complete my C2C award.

Good luck and have fun everyone.

 

[verticalchaos]

DH and I will be heading to Disneyland for the half marathon in Sept 2011. We just completed our very first half marathon at WDW this past weekend. We cannot wait to be able to complete the Coast to Coast Challenge and get our extra medal for completing a half on both coasts this year.

I am not a runner, I run/walk/run. Thanks to Jeff Galloway (Coach for Run Disney) I mad it through my 1st half marathon without being injured. I loved it! I took his advice from the expo the day prior and went out slow. I can honestly say that his run/walk/run method allows everyone to be able to complete a 1/2 if they want to. I had a lot of bumps in the road with my training last year, and my longest run leading into it was only 6.2 miles. I didn't care that my time was 3:19:07 I enjoyed myself, took pictures along the way, and I can celebrate knowing I completed it wanting to do more. My DH is a runner, and he completed in 2:20:47...he wants to complete the DL one much quicker. I would like to shave some time off mine, and am now working my way to faster pace, but I will still slow down, take pictures, and enjoy.

Excuse me, but if you run YOU ARE A RUNNER. So saith even the coach for my running club who runs at elite pace. I was hesitant to approach him and ask anything because as I told him "I'm just a run/walker" and he said "No, you're a runner who walks on occasion. Even if it's set occasions." I use the Bingham/Hadfield method, which is similar to Galloway's, but imho comes off as more human and less robotic. Simply my opinion.

I'll be doing the DL Half for my third half (unless I get talked into doing the Long Branch in May...which I'm thinking no) along with my two running partners (friends of my sister's and now me) after doing the WDW Half for our first.

We're staying at the Portofino ~ found a 2-bedroom suite for 189/night. WOO!! Excited!!

 

[johde]

I also use a Bingham/Hadfield/Galloway Run/Walk method. And I'll admit I still struggle with labeling what I do. When I first started out including running, I would be taking a 4 mile walk that took about an hour and maybe 2 min. of it was running. Each run was maybe 30sec long. I would walk a mile run a little bit and repeat. Fast forward to Oct. and I'm completing my second half marathon with a walk 2/run 1 ratio. I'm now planning on doing my April half marathon with equal portions running and walking. I still have a hard time calling myself a "runner" or an "athlete". I will tell people I'm going running though.

In other news, I was able to make reservations at VGC for Sept 5-9 through DVC. I'm currently waitlisted for Sept. 3-4. I'm going to keep the waitlist for a while before deciding if I want to do PP or DLH.

 

[BealsRwe]

Excuse me, but if you run YOU ARE A RUNNER. So saith even the coach for my running club who runs at elite pace. I was hesitant to approach him and ask anything because as I told him "I'm just a run/walker" and he said "No, you're a runner who walks on occasion. Even if it's set occasions." I use the Bingham/Hadfield method, which is similar to Galloway's, but imho comes off as more human and less robotic. Simply my opinion.

I'll be doing the DL Half for my third half (unless I get talked into doing the Long Branch in May...which I'm thinking no) along with my two running partners (friends of my sister's and now me) after doing the WDW Half for our first.

We're staying at the Portofino ~ found a 2-bedroom suite for 189/night. WOO!! Excited!!

Thanks for the reminder that I am a runner Hope to shave 15-20 minutes off my half time from January when out at DL in Sept. I have been continuing training, doing 3-4 workouts each week...doing 6 miles or so next week for my long run. 6 miles seems like an easy outing after 13.1! I am so happy that even though my training was off track last year, and my longest run had been 6.2, and only a 4 mile run within a month of the half, I managed to finish in time. It was amazing! I was only slightly sore, and not really too sore the next day...I had mentally prepared myself for more soreness. Now we are looking at a few half marathons this year...Definitely DL half, probably Savannah GA, and of course a local one for us...the WDW Wine and Dine half marathon in late Sept.

 

[BealsRwe]

I also use a Bingham/Hadfield/Galloway Run/Walk method. And I'll admit I still struggle with labeling what I do. When I first started out including running, I would be taking a 4 mile walk that took about an hour and maybe 2 min. of it was running. Each run was maybe 30sec long. I would walk a mile run a little bit and repeat. Fast forward to Oct. and I'm completing my second half marathon with a walk 2/run 1 ratio. I'm now planning on doing my April half marathon with equal portions running and walking. I still have a hard time calling myself a "runner" or an "athlete". I will tell people I'm going running though.

In other news, I was able to make reservations at VGC for Sept 5-9 through DVC. I'm currently waitlisted for Sept. 3-4. I'm going to keep the waitlist for a while before deciding if I want to do PP or DLH.

2:1, that's great! I had struggled in my training last year with being a caregiver for my Dad, and his passing 2 months before my 1st half in Jan 2011. I talked with Jeff Galloway at the expo and even though I had trained at a 1:1, he suggested the first 3-4 miles at 20:40 (20 sec run, 40 sec walk). I must admit, it was pretty easy the first 4-5 miles. He mentioned to switch to 30:30 about mile 4-5. He and his wife do races at 30:30. I didn't switch my interval timer, but did try to up the run to 30 seconds. I am so thankful I followed his advice. I did most of the race at 20:40, and took a few extra walk breaks throughout. I can honestly say, I had a great time! I'm hoping to do the DL at a longer interval pace.

 

[mcrabeck]

Really enjoying reading everyone's story. DH and I ran our first 1/2 marathon and WDW in January and are getting ready to sign up for the DL 1/2 marathon so we can get our C2C. Really looking forward to a great weekend!

 

[Belle Ella]

Excuse me, but if you run YOU ARE A RUNNER.

Hey now, I really like that kind of think! It may give me the motivation that I need!!

Another reminder: tomorrow is the last day to register for the 1/2 before the $$ goes up!​

I'm hoping to work on getting a list of participants up on the OP today!!

 

[verticalchaos]

Hey now, I really like that kind of think! It may give me the motivation that I need!!

Another reminder: tomorrow is the last day to register for the 1/2 before the $$ goes up!​

I'm hoping to work on getting a list of participants up on the OP today!!

Glad to be of assistance!

The WDW Half this year was my first ever. Initially I'd thought the DL Half would be my second, then I got into the NYC Half (my "hometown" since I live here now half) via the lottery which shocked me since the odds were so slim. I was very glad I finished the WDW in 2:47:38 since I knew I was not pushing as hard as I could in some places and I walked a little more towards the end because my IT band started flaring (an issue with lack of foot time more than distance - I opted to use a 15K plus a little warm up and cool down jog for my longest "long run" so I was more focused on pace than the time on my feet, so when my legs hit the 2 hour mark they rebelled. I'm planning to avoid that in my training for the NYC Half.). It made me even happier when I realized that with all that going on I still made it in under the 3 hour limit on the NYC Half.

I'm excited about the DL Half though! It'll be my first time to DL as well as the race!

 

[JDBlair]

I will have to check these 2 out! I just found a program that I am hoping will get me ready to run the whole 5K (well, I admit I will stop for photos) and then I'll start prepping for the 1/2 next year. It's called Couch-to-5K and it seems easy enough so far. I just finished my 2nd workout of week 1!

I started the C25K program the end of August 2010. I ran a 10k on Thanksgiving. A 12k in December. And then my first 1/2 marathon in January.

I signed up to run the Disneyland 1/2 marathon the day the registration opened up. I am very excited to run this race. I will also be running the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in San Diego in June. Excited to see if I can shave time off my chip time from the 1/2 in January!

We're staying at the Disneyland Hotel, a dream come true of mine. I've wanted to stay there since I was a kid but could never justify the expense. Easily justified the expense for the 1/2 marathon!!!

Really excited to get to know all my fellow Disneyland 2011 1/2 marathon DISers!

 

[Belle Ella]

We're staying at the Disneyland Hotel, a dream come true of mine. I've wanted to stay there since I was a kid but could never justify the expense. Easily justified the expense for the 1/2 marathon!!!

Oh! You'll absolutely love it! My BF and I just stayed there one night for his birthday at the end of January. I hadn't been there since 2006 and the newly remodeled rooms are just to die for. I don't know if you've seen photos of them but here's a few that I took (mostly of accent pieces than the whole room, but still):

 

[Belle Ella]

Today is the last day to register for the 1/2 before the price hike!!​

 

[JDBlair]

Oh! You'll absolutely love it! My BF and I just stayed there one night for his birthday at the end of January. I hadn't been there since 2006 and the newly remodeled rooms are just to die for. I don't know if you've seen photos of them but here's a few that I took (mostly of accent pieces than the whole room, but still):

Your pictures are amazing. I've read a lot of reports on Trip Advisor about the rooms, some are remodeled and some are not. Do you know, by chance, when the entire renovation of the hotel is set to be over? I would love to get a room like yours!!

 

[kim3339]

Oh! You'll absolutely love it! My BF and I just stayed there one night for his birthday at the end of January. I hadn't been there since 2006 and the newly remodeled rooms are just to die for. I don't know if you've seen photos of them but here's a few that I took (mostly of accent pieces than the whole room, but still

Those pictures made me laugh... I stayed there last year for the 1/2, and I did the exact same thing!! I even turned the music channel on and flipped the fireworks and little of the WOC with the music. Those rooms are so nice now.

 

[Belle Ella]

Your pictures are amazing. I've read a lot of reports on Trip Advisor about the rooms, some are remodeled and some are not. Do you know, by chance, when the entire renovation of the hotel is set to be over? I would love to get a room like yours!!

Thank you! The remodel currently isn't done and I don't know how long it will take to get it finished completely, but if not by September I would think the vast majority of them. We were in the Dreams tower and got the remodeled room. If I can find any more information on it I'll be sure to pass it along.

Those pictures made me laugh... I stayed there last year for the 1/2, and I did the exact same thing!! I even turned the music channel on and flipped the fireworks and little of the WOC with the music. Those rooms are so nice now.

Oh man, I was mesmerized by the firework lights. I would just turn it on and sit and stare at it!

 

[Padstack]

IWe're staying at the Disneyland Hotel, a dream come true of mine. I've wanted to stay there since I was a kid but could never justify the expense. Easily justified the expense for the 1/2 marathon!!!

This will be my 3rd year running the Disneyland 1/2 and our first year staying at the Disnyeland Hotel. We have stayed at a motel across the street the last 2 years. This year we decided to splurge so that we don't have as far to walk and so we can experience the pool area with our kids. The other hotels pools leave a lot to be desired. The travel company through runDisney has rooms for $250/night incl tax.

 

[MaryJ]

We're staying at the Disneyland Hotel, a dream come true of mine. I've wanted to stay there since I was a kid but could never justify the expense. Easily justified the expense for the 1/2 marathon!!!

This will be my 3rd year running the Disneyland 1/2 and our first year staying at the Disnyeland Hotel. We have stayed at a motel across the street the last 2 years. This year we decided to splurge so that we don't have as far to walk and so we can experience the pool area with our kids. The other hotels pools leave a lot to be desired. The travel company through runDisney has rooms for $250/night incl tax.

I have also made reservations at the Disneyland Hotel. DH and I stayed there for two nights on our honeymoon in 1976. This trip is as much to celebrate our 35th anniversary as it is the race, so even though we have DVC and might have been able to get a room at VGC, I used our points for a room at the Disneyland for nostalgia's sake! Can't wait!

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Has anyone ever stayed at Paradise Pier? That is the cheapest of the 3 on-site hotels.

 

[kim3339]

So here are some of the backstage pictures from the 5K. And one of a family that was dressed up as the 7 dwarves.


These are the homes for the monorails and the trains at night!!



Hope you guys like them! I took pics of the medals for the past 4 years and I'll post it tomorrow.

 

[kim3339]

Here are pictures of the medals. This one is from the 1/2's. It's been the same except for last year when it was a special "5" one for teh anniversary. Other than that, the only thing that changes is the date and the ribbon for the medal.


This one is of the medals for the 5ks. I don't have the 1st year, but it was POC theme and the skull and crossbones were on the medal.