Marathon Weekend Half or Princess Half?

[hotblooded]

I've decided to train for a half-marathon in early 2012, and what better place to run my first one than Disney World? However, I'm having trouble choosing which race to run. I'm in it for the experience and fun, so I'd appreciate any input on your preference! Here is a short list of my considerations so far for each:

Pros of the WDW Half:
- 15th anniversary of a legendary event
- takes place during college break
- popularity - good crowd support & guarantee of similarly-paced runners the whole way through
- cheaper resort rooms

Cons:
- size of the event - parks will be crowded?


Pros of Princess Half:
- camaraderie in female-dominant atmosphere
- fun theme
- would be a nice weekend away from school

Cons:
- might be inconvenient to fly down on a weekend when I'll have classes the following Monday
- more expensive resort rooms


I apologize if this has already been discussed in-depth. I couldn't find anything in the search function. Thanks for reading!

 

[John VN]

Post over at Events/Competition and ask, I think you should get more responses.

 

[hotblooded]

Post over at Events/Competition and ask, I think you should get more responses.

Oops! Thank you. I PM'd a moderator to see if it could be moved.

 

[NewRunner]

Wow, you could have been speaking for me. I have these exact same questions, and am trying to decide which to do. I am new to running (hence the username ) and am trying to lose some weight/get healthier. I figure if I have something to work towards, it will be great motivation. And what better than a trip to Disney World!

I have a question for you...why do you say the hotel rooms will be cheaper for Marathon weekend? I assumed they would be the same since it will be busy weekends both time? And the Princess weekend will be more expensive?? Won't the parks be busy the Princess weekend as well, or not so much? What are the parks like the week before and after marathon...and Princess? I haven't been to DW since 1996, so I would love to go back.
Thanks!

 

[hops&dreams]

op:
The week after Marathon weekend is historically the lowest crowd levels at DW. We went in 2010 for vacation (I did NOT participate in any running, I just started running this past summer, and I'm a sporadic runner at best). We arrived the Friday before Marathon weekend, and stayed until the Friday after. It was WONDERFUL!!! We walked right onto every ride until our last day. Most of our vacation, it took more time to walk through the empty queues than the time we spent standing still waiting to get on the ride.

That being said, we are planning to go back the same week in 2012. Because I'm insane, I am hoping to participate in one or both of the races this year. I am starting a new training plan April 1st, and going from there. I figured, by the summer, I will know what I'm seriously, REALLY going to be capable of, and I will register for that race (half, full, or Goofy - I'm hoping for goofy, but I think I'm setting my sights too high). DH is not a runner, and is very skeptical that I wll stick with the training - he knows me well.

I am hoping though, that he will train enough with me so that we all (me, DH, and 7yo DD) will be able to do the 5k together on Friday, and that DD will do the kids race.

Lodging aside, I think they are expensive races (I'm talking Marathon Weekend, here). Especially if you add up the Race Retreat, ChEAR Squad, Pasta Party... I don't know if I'll be doing any of that because is it really needed??? (I've never run a race before, so I don't know).

Hope that helps???

Oh goodness, what am I getting myself into?!?! We'll already be there for vacation, I might as well accomplish something while I'm there and really EARN my relaxing, magical vacation, right???

 

[verticalchaos]

I've only done Marathon Weekend and the Half there. I personally LOVED it!

Runners are a unique community regardless, and I found plenty of support during the January Half - even being a female there was plenty of cheering and support from other runners.

In terms of crowds...a lot of non-college schools will already be back in session for the January weekend, so crowds are actually a bit lower. The Princess weekend this year and if the dates stay the same next year comes at the end of Presidents Day week, where a lot of schools have the week off. My family was there that week a couple of years ago and the parks were packed.

I think the All-Stars are usually in the host resorts for the Princess, but I'm not positive. But in terms of host hotels (those that provide transportation), yes you are more limited in your options for the Princess whereas for Marathon Weekend ALL resorts are host hotels.

For me, Marathon Weekend was the right choice. I'm not girly-girl and as I've said, runners are generally supportive of each other anyway.

edit: I did NOT do any of the extras. Pasta party? Not even down there yet. Plus my running partners, my sister and I did our own pasta party MUCH cheaper at one of their apartments. But even without that, you can still find much cheaper pasta if you insist on clinging to the carbo-loading myth. CHEAR Squad? Nope. My sister was quite capable of getting herself around and into good spots for cheering and much easier locating of us afterwards. Race Retreat? No way. We don't get stuff like that at NYRR races. You're out in the elements. You're going to be running in them, might as well acclimate. Just MHO, but I don't think any of them are worth the extra.

 

[fashionista311]

Here are my thoughts on both races - I've done 2 Donalds and 1 Princess. I love the girlishness and princess themed (I didn't dress up for Princess but I did race in pink!) Also I'm definitely in the minority here, but I don't really stop for pictures at a race during the races. I keep my headphones off and enjoy and smile at the course entertainment and I definitely appreciate it all...but I'm there to race and give it my 100 percent all. But anyways, here are my thoughts...

Donald
-The weather in Orlando is always a crap shoot, but I think January you do have better chances of cooler weather
-course is VERY crowded (I found it worse than the NYC Marathon which is notorious for bad crowds)
-More "runner" vibe throughout the weekend - almost everyone is there for the races
-Course entertainment is diminished compared to the full in recent years (I've never run the full but that what others in my party who have fun both many times over the course of their "career"
-Harder to "behave" during the final weeks of training when it falls right by the holidays

Princess
-Hands down my favorite theme of any race of I've run
-Medal is GORGEOUS
-Weather can be iffy - when I ran it two years ago it was ideal but heard it was warm this year
-Hotels were a bit more expensive
-No full, so you are the super-star of the weekend
-It is a smaller-scale event, so not everyone in the park is there for the race
-Course was much emptier...no crowding problems whatsoever and was able to set a PR at the time
-Course entertainment was so much fun - LOVED seeing all the princesses and princes out, and Mickey & Minnie in their royal gear

I probably won't run Donald again unless I'm doing Goofy...but I'm dying to run Princess again

 

[NewRunner]

Thanks for the responses! I didn't realize the week after marathon was so slow...but I'm happy to hear. That makes me want to go even more, I would like to visit when the parks aren't packed so I can see more in the time I am there.

I would love to be ready to do the full by then (and secretly hoping for the goofy....) but I am not so sure about that. Haven't ran since high school (over 10 years) and even then didn't run more than 2-3 miles...which in the marathon world is NOTHING!

I am going to start training for the half and wait until late summer to see how things go to register. I also have 3 kids under 3, so I'm not sure how much time I can really get away to train....the half marathon might be more realistic time-wise. But, I would LOVE to run a full marathon the year of my 30th birthday. I feel like I would like to do something "special" for my birthday year and losing weight and running a marathon (of any sort) seems like it would fit the bill!

 

[hotblooded]

Hey NewRunner, I'm glad this thread was helpful to you too. I took a look at the rack rates for value resorts in 2011 to get an idea of how expensive each would be. Marathon Weekend has its own price point, but it's cheaper than February's peak period.

Thanks for the replies, hops&dreams, verticalchaos, and fashionista311! Both weekends sound amazing. I loved Presidents Week when I was a kid on my first Disney trip, but I think I'm leaning toward the Donald. The atmosphere of the race sounds like just what I'm looking for: I love crowded races and empty parks.

That said, the Princess Half sounds so fun and inspiring. I hope I can swing it in 2013 when I'm finished with school.

Good luck on your training, everyone!

 

[stitchfan18]

I had a whirlwind princess weekend this year because of school. I had a blast at the race, but the whole weekend was so quick that I don't think I enjoyed the disney race experience as much as I could have. I'm looking forward to marathon weekend when I'll have time to spend a full week at Disney after the races. I don't care as much about running a fast race at Disney. I do all the character stops, and take my time, so the number of people running doesn't make much of a difference to me.
I say go for Donald. You can always run the Princess when it celebrates its 5th running in 2013!

 

[marathonmommy]

I am going to start training for the half and wait until late summer to see how things go to register.

In SOME years (I don't think lately but not sure) the Half is closed by late summer or earlier. I had to go through a charity twice to get in. The Full stays open much longer. If you have your heart set on getting in, just carefully monitor the capacity %. It is usually listed on the website.

The Princess was open late this year. I had two friends register in January!

 

[verticalchaos]

I am going to start training for the half and wait until late summer to see how things go to register. I also have 3 kids under 3, so I'm not sure how much time I can really get away to train....the half marathon might be more realistic time-wise. But, I would LOVE to run a full marathon the year of my 30th birthday. I feel like I would like to do something "special" for my birthday year and losing weight and running a marathon (of any sort) seems like it would fit the bill!

I second marathonmommy ~ keep a close eye on the percentage to which the HM is filled (they'll start it when it hits 50%) because with this being the 15th anniversary of it, it may well fill quicker than past years. I'd definitely anticipate a jump around April 24 as the price goes up on the 25th.

I would caution against using marathon (or half marathon) training as a weight-loss tool. Yes, running is cardio and can lead to weight loss, but when you're training for a distance event you also need to make sure you're fueling your body. I've noticed that the more I'm training for a HM, the more my weight plateaus. It's a trade-off I'm willing to make though. I'm not really increasing...more maintaining. And yes, I'd love to lose a little more, but I'm using my "off-season" (which is this period for me right now before I start officially training for the DL Half) to try and take off a little more by adding in more cardio and some strength training in addition to my running.

Good luck!!

 

[Bookwood]

Having done at least 6 January marathon weekends and one Princess I vote Princess! have a different situations as I have to take off school for either (but as a sub I just don't accept jobs) To me the weather is way better in Feb and the race is tons more fun. I may never do another January weekend (it would take alot of my friends deciding to do it for me to reconsider.)

 

[liznboys]

I've done the January Half twice and Princess once. I prefer the January Half. Although that doesn't mean I disliked the Princess...and I'm doing both again next year.

I found the January weekend to be more exciting because there are more runners there, more crowd support too. I remember running down Main Street at the Princess and thinking, wow, there aren't that many people cheering?! It was so quiet compared to January. A lot of the people who were there were obviously ONLY cheering for their runner, or a certain running group. Which is certainly their choice, they don't have to cheer for anyone else...I don't expect anyone to cheer for me. But I couldn't believe how many faces I looked at on Main Street who had no expression whatsoever and were just staring blankly. It was actually quite strange. I'm definitely not doing the Princess again based on crowd support. LOL I am doing it again because two of my friends want to do it with me so we're making it a girls weekend.

 

[hops&dreams]

Hotblooded & New Runner -

To give you an idea of pricing... In Jan 2010, we arrived Fri night (the night before the 1/2)at about 10pm and left the following Friday at 6pm. It was me, DH, and DD (6 yrs old). We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, with a pool view, had a 7 day park hopper, and had Disney Dining. We paid about $3,200, INCLUDING airfare from Indianapolis. Without airfare, it would have been about $2,700. We brought $300 in cash, and came back with about $150 of it. Seriously, that's all we spent. Quite a bargain, in our eyes. Completely worth every single penny!

DH and I were talking last night and he told me he's apprehensive about me running any Disney events - Especially since I haven't run any locally yet (my first will be this summer). So I told him I wouldn't register for a Disney event until I run one locally. He seems to think that running at Disney would be a waste of our time at Disney, when I can just run a race here at home. I tried to explain to him that running there isn't about the race, it's about the atmosphere, about the course, about the encouragement, the FUN! I don't think he gets it, or will for that matter. maybe I'm just not as SELF-motivated as he is (he's not a runner, either... but heck, I don't think I can officially call myself one either!).

Ugh! So, I'll be looking to this board for that encouragement to keep outting one foot in front of the other and build up those base miles! I'm glad I'm not the only one out there who wants to set those lofty goals, but is also afraid to set them too high. NewRunner, I'm SO with ya! I'd LOVE to do the goofy, but that seems daunting! Everyone tells me I have enough time to properly train... That thought alone got me out the door yesterday for a 2 mile run in sub-40° weather!

 

[20thingamabobs]

My boyfriend and I ran our first half marathon during Marathon weekend this past January and I LOVED it! My boyfriend isn't a Disney fan and even he said it was more fun than he had expected! I've never done the Princess half but am hoping to try it in 2012. That being said, I thought all of Marathon Weekend was amazing! We had short trip just Fri-Sun but I know some other DISers that stayed longer and the crowds were really low. If you want to read about my experience, you can check out my TR below.. I took a lot of pictures and videos:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2631069

I absolutely thought it was a great choice for my first time. I ran the ESPN 5k in March and it didn't operate quite as smoothly so having a great first experience make all the difference. I've already signed up for the Disneyland Half to get my Coast to Coast medal and ten will return to WDW for the Wine & Dine

 

[MikeofRose&Mike]

To me the weather is way better in Feb and the race is tons more fun.

I second the better weather, I have no interest in going to WDW in January. Princess weekend this year was fun, planning on going back again next year.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

If you are not from the south, January is almost always a better option. It's FAR easier to race in conditions similar to ones you have trained with than to be dropped into a race 30-40 degrees warmer than you are used to.

 

[tmbacon]

I was so glad to see this post - I was also trying to determine which half-marathon to do! I have not yet done a half-marathon, but it is my goal, and I can't think of a better place to do it than at WDW. Besides, we're overdue for another trip to WDW, so this will turn out to be a nice combo deal.

I think after reading these threads I'm going to try for the Princess - weather will be warmer, and the atmosphere sounds a little less daunting and intimidating for a "newbie" half-marathoner like me. Plus, I have 2 boys, so it will be nice to get my "Princess fix"!!!