newbie looking for advice on the Princess half marathon

[misskitkat]

Hello DISers,

I've decided to run the 2012 Princess Half Marathon. Since I am a total planner (who on here isn't btw ) I was wondering if anyone had any tips about the race, where to stay, what I should know about running my first half marathon, or anything else I might need to know. I am super excited and a little surprised at myself but if I'm going to find the motivation to get in shape of course it would be Disney related. My husband thinks its just another excuse to go back, and he's right of course, but now he's excited too.

Thank you!

 

[Honeymooner04]

No advice because I'm a newbie also but curious what other will say. I've found a lot of great information here from just reading old posts and such. Good luck!

 

[Disfan11]

Welcome!
I ran the Princess half this year and it was the best time.
It is a great excuse to both visit Disney and to get in shape.
I followed the Hal Higdon training schedule. It was great to know exactly how to train.
I ran in a pink Skirt Sports skirt with a pink tutu over it. I also wore Mickey Ears that had a crown and vail down the back and I wore a tech shirt that said Princesses don't sweat, they sparkle. Sounds crazy but it was so much fun being dressed up!
Go ahead and read the thread for the 2011 princess run. I got lots of great information/advice from it.
I plan on running it next year with my sisters.
I can't wait!

 

[Saylan]

Hi!

I ran my first half, the 2011 Princess, this year. I was a complete newbie as well. I looked at both the Hal Higdon and Galloway plans and used elements of both. I can provide you with what I did, if you wish.

My running tips:

- Invest in good running shoes. If you don't know if you pronate or suppinate, speak with your local running store and they should be able to help guide you. You'll appreciate it so much more in the end.

- Don't overtrain. I didn't even set a time goal until near race time and it was a very generous one based on my training speeds. You're there to finish, first and foremost.

- Be sure to practice with the things you plan to wear/use/eat on race day, in advance. Try out different fuels (gels, jubejubes, snacks, etc.) because everyone handles things differently and relying on what the race provides might mean an upset stomach. This means also running test runs in any costume items you plan to wear (I didn't do this but I can see why it would help).

My Princess Tips:

- Bring a camera. My family and bf thought I was nuts but I insisted on bringing one and I didn't regret it. I have photos and videos from leading up to the start line (a good 20 minute walk in the dark) to the finish. Many of them are up on the Princess facebook page here. They all agreed afterwards it was a great idea (this also applied to my costume, but they changed their minds when they saw just how many others also dressed up. Mine was very tame compared to many). Posting them on my FB page has motivated a lot of my friends to start running, some even want to run this race.

- When registering, list the fastest, reasonable time for you. I felt I could do sub-2:45 but without a prior race I couldn't list that. I listed as close to it as I could though. I ended up in Corral C or D (I forget at this point) which gives you a much bigger bumper from the sweeper.

- Dress up. I don't mean you have to go full out, but it's not everyday you have an excuse to wear a tutu or tiara. Go with what's comfortable for you, but I recommend doing something because it just makes it so much fun. Plus, you'll find a lot of people are so friendly in complimenting you.

- Wear your finisher medal at the parks that day or the day after. We went to MK after I cleaned up and I had no less than 30 cast members stop me and congratulate me. I was so proud. Plus, in the Main Street Electrical Parade, Cinderella congratulated me from her float. Everyone around me was shocked. The same goes for Epcot where I met cast members who ran it.

- Sign up your spectators (and any long-distance cheerers) for the racer tracking. My bf used it to know when I'd be arriving since I don't have a cell phone and my parents (I live in Canada) used it to follow my progress in my first real race. They immediately sent my bf an e-mail to congratulate me. It meant a lot since I was running alone. Just remember you have to activate it so do it as soon as it's available.

- Use the bathroom before you board the bus and hold off on using it for the first few miles if you can. I'm very serious here:

My trip tips:

- Stay at a host hotel, even if you don't use the runDisney plan. The buses to the expo and the race take a lot of the hassle out of it. Just be sure to be there a little early. I got there at 3:40 and didn't board a bus until 4 due to the fact my stop was one of the last ones and the buses filled up fast. It gave me time to talk and meet other racers though which I appreciated as I was running the race alone.

- Check out other discounts besides the runDisney ones. We ended up using a different one that saved us more money, so browse around before deciding.

Hope this helps! I have many more pictures if there's something specific you want a visual of.

 

[Honeymooner04]

Saylan, I'm not the original poster but THANK YOU for that awesome summary! Now I am even more excited!

 

[Saylan]

Saylan, I'm not the original poster but THANK YOU for that awesome summary! Now I am even more excited!

No Problem!

I was so nervous about doing this I didn't tell anyone for months. I learned a lot from doing this race so I'm glad to share!

On the topics of bathrooms, the real ones in the MK (aka not porta-potties) are open when you go through. I didn't need a bathroom the whole run, but if you do and can hold it, it's usually best to do it there.

 

[FFigawi]

One thing to add to the very well written advice above: be sure to thank each and every volunteer you see before, during, and after the race. They're out there checking you in at packet pickup, helping you with bag check, serving you fluids at the water stops, cheering you on, and handing you your medal at the finish all because they want to help out. Without them, the race wouldn't be the wonderful event it is, so thank them for spending their precious time making sure your experience is as good as it can be.

This really applies to all races, not just this one.

 

[Saylan]

One thing to add to the very well written advice above: be sure to thank each and every volunteer you see before, during, and after the race. They're out there checking you in at packet pickup, helping you with bag check, serving you fluids at the water stops, cheering you on, and handing you your medal at the finish all because they want to help out. Without them, the race wouldn't be the wonderful event it is, so thank them for spending their precious time making sure your experience is as good as it can be.

This really applies to all races, not just this one.

This is great advice too.

On top of that, also cheer on your fellow racers and even spectators. I cheered so much at the people standing the heat for hours and I cheered for the entertainers along the race. I thanked everyone, including the characters (I couldn't stand for hours in the Florida sun in most of those costumes).

Some people cheered back, some didn't, but just cheering helped keep my spirits up. It was an emotional day, and part of me was sad my parents couldn't be there, so any cheering, mine or others, really made it seem less like I was alone.

 

[johde]

There been great advice so far. The stuff I would add that's not princess related but general in nature.

- Start getting ready now.
I would take the rest of the spring/early summer to try to work up to doing at least 3 mile a day 3 days a week.
-explore the different training plans out there. There are a bunch. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. For first time beginners the most popular plans here seem to be.
1) "Marathoning for Mortals" by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield. I think the book is worth picking up (used copies on amazon are under $1.00) even if you don't use the plan.

2)Jeff Galloway He has several plans to choose from between his websites, books, and the Run Disney Website. The princess plan isn't up but Disneyland and W&D are and the Princess plan is normally pretty similar (just modified slightly to allow for doing the January Races in the more advanced plans)

3) Hal Higdon novice plan.

The most important thing in picking a plan is finding the plan that best fits your lifestyle and current fitness level.


If you've never been in a race before, you might want to enter a local race or two. Getting the feel for what happens race day can be a great asset. It's better to make the newbie mistakes in a 5K instead of a half marathon. For example, in my first 5K where I included running, I got started running and it felt great for about .1 miles. I had started out way too fast and by that point my pulse had skyrocketed. It was a rough 3 miles after that. Had I done that in a half marathon I would have needed to come to a complete stop to recover at some point.

And the most important thing.

Enjoy the journey and have fun.

 

[tmbacon]

- Sign up your spectators (and any long-distance cheerers) for the racer tracking. My bf used it to know when I'd be arriving since I don't have a cell phone and my parents (I live in Canada) used it to follow my progress in my first real race. They immediately sent my bf an e-mail to congratulate me. It meant a lot since I was running alone. Just remember you have to activate it so do it as soon as it's available.

Saylan, all such good information, thank you!!! Question - what is the "racer tracking" you are referring to? I will be most likely running the race alone, which I totally don't mind, but I'm curious what the tracker is so that my husband/kids/in-laws will know where I am in the race. I would have just assumed I would need to use my cell phone to call them and let them know where I am, but the racer tracking thingy you are talking to sounds interesting.

 

[FFigawi]

Question - what is the "racer tracking" you are referring to? I will be most likely running the race alone, which I totally don't mind, but I'm curious what the tracker is so that my husband/kids/in-laws will know where I am in the race. I would have just assumed I would need to use my cell phone to call them and let them know where I am, but the racer tracking thingy you are talking to sounds interesting.

Racer tracking is a service offered by Disney (and most other big races too) where your friends and family can receive text messages letting them know when you've crossed the timing mats at various points in the race. When it works properly, they receive the text within seconds or minutes of you crossing a mat. Some of these services, and I can't remember if Disney is one or not, will also provide your pace and predicted finish time in the message so people will know when to expect you at other parts of the course or the finish. It's a great service and sure beats having them stand out there for hours without knowing when you'll be running by.

 

[tmbacon]

Racer tracking is a service offered by Disney (and most other big races too) where your friends and family can receive text messages letting them know when you've crossed the timing mats at various points in the race. When it works properly, they receive the text within seconds or minutes of you crossing a mat. Some of these services, and I can't remember if Disney is one or not, will also provide your pace and predicted finish time in the message so people will know when to expect you at other parts of the course or the finish. It's a great service and sure beats having them stand out there for hours without knowing when you'll be running by.

Excellent - thanks John, very helpful info. I initially thought Princess would be my very first half, but I'm ready to do my first half this fall instead - so I'll check and see if any of the races I am thinking about doing offer this (thinking about Thunder Road here in Charlotte, Myrtle Beach Mini, or Columbus, which is my hometown).

Thanks again - and sorry, I just realized I hijacked this post. Please carry on....

 

[Saylan]

Racer tracking is a service offered by Disney (and most other big races too) where your friends and family can receive text messages letting them know when you've crossed the timing mats at various points in the race. When it works properly, they receive the text within seconds or minutes of you crossing a mat. Some of these services, and I can't remember if Disney is one or not, will also provide your pace and predicted finish time in the message so people will know when to expect you at other parts of the course or the finish. It's a great service and sure beats having them stand out there for hours without knowing when you'll be running by.

Disney does provide that. They also do e-mails (texting to Canada would have sucked!). There's one for every 'split' (about 5 kilometres) so you get a 5K, 10K, 15K, and finish. It says what your pace is and what your anticipated finish time will be. I was about 2 minutes off what it predicted. lol

Here's a sample below:

"<NAME> @ 10K in 01:13:56 (NET). Pace: 11:53. Predicted: 2:35:58. Disneys Princess Half Marathon, Disney Destinations LLC, Presented by Lady Foot Locker"

It'll really help those who are there with you but not running know when you'll be where, approximately.

The e-mails were pretty much right on-time, too. My Dad's got a little delayed on the splits (he got my finish on time but two of the splits came a couple hours later), but everyone else got them almost instantly.

 

[FireDancer]

The only thing I can say specific to the Princess is to stay at a host resort. It makes travel much easier. All the WDW races with the exception of marathon weekend in January limit the hotels which provide buses to the expo and races.

My advice for a first half, much of which has already been stated, is:

Go to a proper running store and get a shoe fitting. They will take multiple measurements of your foot, make recommendations based on your gait, and let you A/B the shoes so you get the best fit.

When you first start out adhere to the 10% rule. Basically it states not to increase your weekly mileage by more than 10% or your longest run by more than 10%. After you have gotten a good base this rule is less important and you can listen to your body as far as how long or fast to go. Which brings us to actual training:

Have a plan. Even if you just develop it on your own have a weekly training plan so you get not only the total mileage in but the long runs at the proper times.

Just as important as having a plan is being flexible. If you have to move around days or shorten a run because of your schedule or a nagging injury do it. Just make sure that you are generally within the plans totals.

Cotton is the enemy. Nothing you wear on a run should be make of it.

Do a race before you do any destination race. You don't have to do another half but I would recommend at least a 5K and in reality a 10K before you travel to do a race. Race days are different then training days not only in logistics but in atmosphere, adrenaline, and depending on how you train maybe even time of day. You will make rookie mistakes so do them at the local race that cost you $20 not at the destination race that cost you a grand.

Lastly, if you like running and racing get into the culture of the sport. Do local races, join a running club or group if you like training with people, look for races to do in cities you want to see. Want to go visit Nashville? Do it the weekend of the Country Music Marathon (and half). It is a great sport and the culture surrounding it makes it even better.

Good luck.

 

[kappyfamily]

There is an official 2012 princess thread going with tons of advice! Come on over and join us!

 

[ban26ana]

Stick to your training! I used every excuse in the world to not train. Because of that, I went in totally under-prepared. And I definitely felt it! My goal was to finish, and I did. But I seriously felt like I was hit by a truck for 2 weeks afterward. I could barely walk. 13.1 miles is a long way! Don't just think that you can do some runs here and there, cut them short, and you'll just use race day adrenaline to pull you through the rest.

Don't start too fast! I listened to everyone say it, and I thought I would be too fine. I had trained around a 15 minute mile (what training I did lol). My first mile was done in 11 minutes exactly! Needless to say, I was exhausted by the end of the race. Just putting one foot in front of the other was completely draining.

Join the Princess thread and keep up with other WISHers. They have some great advice.

I was completely overwhelmed by the number of porta potties. LMAO! Just looking at them in the parking lot before bag check was amazing. And they still had long lines. And then to see how many more porta potty sections were set up, and all with long lines. IDK, for some reason the toilets intimidated me. I picked what I thought was a short line, and I still waited about 20 minutes before it was my turn. I went once during the race too, and it was around a 5 minute wait. (I probably could have held it, but I was afraid of, well, you know. lol)

 

[rundisneymom]

Hello DISers,

I've decided to run the 2012 Princess Half Marathon. Since I am a total planner (who on here isn't btw ) I was wondering if anyone had any tips about the race, where to stay, what I should know about running my first half marathon, or anything else I might need to know. I am super excited and a little surprised at myself but if I'm going to find the motivation to get in shape of course it would be Disney related. My husband thinks its just another excuse to go back, and he's right of course, but now he's excited too.

Thank you!

2012 will be my first Princess Half Marathon (my first half, period!) too! Tons of great info here from veteran racers. Thank you!!

 

[rundisneymom]

I wore a tech shirt that said Princesses don't sweat, they sparkle.

That sounds like a great shirt! Did you have it made or did you buy it at the expo?

 

[FFigawi]

Excellent - thanks John, very helpful info. I initially thought Princess would be my very first half, but I'm ready to do my first half this fall instead - so I'll check and see if any of the races I am thinking about doing offer this (thinking about Thunder Road here in Charlotte, Myrtle Beach Mini, or Columbus, which is my hometown).

Thanks again - and sorry, I just realized I hijacked this post. Please carry on....

I'll continue on with the hijacking by saying that Thunder Road is a great race. I ran it the first year it was offered and had a great time. Not sure if they've changed the course much since then, but the first half was gorgeous - lots of neighborhoods with big trees and big houses to look at.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming....

 

[johde]

Stick to your training! ... Don't just think that you can do some runs here and there, cut them short, and you'll just use race day adrenaline to pull you through the rest.

Don't start too fast! I listened to everyone say it, and I thought I would be too fine. I had trained around a 15 minute mile (what training I did lol). My first mile was done in 11 minutes exactly! Needless to say, I was exhausted by the end of the race. Just putting one foot in front of the other was completely draining.

More good points. One thing I did in my first 2 races was start the training plan a couple of weeks early. That way I could miss a couple of long runs, or cut them a little short and not completely derail my plan. In my first race, I used them to put a 9 mile long run between the 8 and 10. In the second one, I was able to do 2 10s before the race. My third race was much hard to get the runs in because of the snow this winter.

Too help keep me from going out too fast, I splurged and bought a Garmin before my first half. I actually set a pace alarm that will beep at me if I'm going faster than I intended those first few miles.