Full vs. Half vs. January Half (need advice please!)

[roomthreeseventeen]

OK, long story short. I've been running for 19 months, completed 5 half marathons, and about 25 other races.

I was training for the Marine Corps Marathon over the summer, and was injured. I took about a month off (right after Labor Day), went to physical therapy, and am a lot better now.

Initially, I had registered for the WDW Full, thinking I would do it VERY slowly after racing MCM. My base before I was injured was 30-35 mpw.

I ran 20 miles last week. Two four mile runs, and a 12 mile walk run, using 3:00/:30 ratio.

I could hop on to week 6 of Hal Higdon's Novice 2 marathon program at this point, and go into the January full with no expectations other than to finish. My slowest pace for a half ever was 11:35, so I'm not terribly concerned about the sweeper unless I blow up.

I could also transfer to the half, or the Princess Half, and try to get the sub-2:10 that's been eluding me for the past year.

Is the Disney full ALL THAT, so much so that it should be my first marathon? (I am running NYCM 2012 next November, so that's my other option, since I live three blocks from Central Park.) Or should I take the opportunity to run the Princess, since I've never done it before, and it was that race that inspired me to start running in the first place?

 

[ChimneysweepGeorge]

So, you have a good base, some experience and are back up to 20 miles/week with a 12 mile long run. I don't see any reason not to run the race, assuming the injury is FULLY rehabbed.

I go back and forth about RunDisney events. They are crowded, they are chaos and it can be frustrating to move through the pack. They are also very well organized, a lot of fun and an experience you'll remember...in short it is a LOT like WDW.

I guess that also tells you that transferring to the half or running the Princess for a PR is folly. Unless you are in one of the fast moving corrals, it's like trying to get a PR in the middle of a block party. When you RunDisney, if you aren't in the front, plan on relaxing and enjoying the spectacle.

If this is the race that inspired you to start, that's something worth doing. The difficulties in getting any serious speed would actually work to your advantage given the shortened training period you have to work with.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

If I ran the Princess, I would be submitting a 55 minute 10k, which I think puts me near the front.

 

[ChimneysweepGeorge]

If I ran the Princess, I would be submitting a 55 minute 10k, which I think puts me near the front.

That 10k finish predicts a 4:15ish marathon. Since it's a 95% women's race, that might put you in the top third, that still won't put you in the first couple of corrals.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

That 10k finish predicts a 4:15ish marathon. Since it's a 95% women's race, that might put you in the top third, that still won't put you in the first couple of corrals.

My friend who submitted a 1:01 10k time was in Corral A. You're telling me that my time that's 6 minutes faster is only in the top 1/3?

 

[ChimneysweepGeorge]

My friend who submitted a 1:01 10k time was in Corral A. You're telling me that my time that's 6 minutes faster is only in the top 1/3?

Then I apologize.
I made assumptions since I've not (obviously) run that particular race based on my own seeding (almost always in the middle) since I'm about 30 second behind you.