Official 2011 Princess Half Marathon Thread - Link to new thread Post 3703!

[Jeter02]

LOl The characters have me motivated as well, which is why I figured the Disney would be the perfect place for me to start my first racing experience ever.

 

[tjcrabb]

Is anyone else having trouble booking a room? I tried calling tonight to see what the price would be but was unable to book. The CM that was helping me (he was hilarious) and told me that they don't really have prices available but they could book my room with a dummy price and that it would change once they had packages available. I chose to wait but now I am rethinking it. Anyone know how fast the value resorts fill up? I know the dates are not available for the general public so that helps. Also does anyone know how much the discounted park tickets are? Thanks guys!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Is anyone else having trouble booking a room? I tried calling tonight to see what the price would be but was unable to book. The CM that was helping me (he was hilarious) and told me that they don't really have prices available but they could book my room with a dummy price and that it would change once they had packages available. I chose to wait but now I am rethinking it. Anyone know how fast the value resorts fill up? I know the dates are not available for the general public so that helps. Also does anyone know how much the discounted park tickets are? Thanks guys!

Did you try to book by calling the Disney Endurance people? WDW-IRUN or whatever it is? It's possible the CM just didn't know that marathon bookings are different than normal ones. If you're just going to WDW in 2011, you can only book a room only at top rack rate until August.

 

[tjcrabb]

Did you try to book by calling the Disney Endurance people? WDW-IRUN or whatever it is? It's possible the CM just didn't know that marathon bookings are different than normal ones. If you're just going to WDW in 2011, you can only book a room only at top rack rate until August.

I called the IRUN number. He did seem to know that he needed a special code to book but he was having trouble with it. He then put me on hold and told me that they were just dummy rates and that they would change sometime. I just thought that we could book actual rates based on what the wwos site was saying. I must of misunderstood. Thanks for the clarification.
Tricia

 

[SummerIrmoma2_3]

I would like to join here too. Ever since I found out about the Princess 1/2 in Dec I have been planning on running it. I figured I didn't have time to get ready for this year so I set my goal for next year. I plan on registering in a couple of weeks when I get paid again.
This will be my first 1/2 marathon. I have walked some 5ks several years ago and I will be walking another in Nov. I was hoping to throw a 10K in there this fall too but I haven't found one to commit to yet.
I am currently at a 12ish pace but my longest run so far is 4.5 miles. I am hoping as long as I can add mileage and keep my same pace I am good to go. Ideally I would like to get down to 10 or 11 minute miles, but my main goal right now is to get the mileage up and then I will worry about speed. This run is pretty much just to finish and give me a starting off point to set time goals on in the future. If this one goes well I would like to do the Disneyland 1/2 next September to get the coast to coast medal.

 

[Jeter02]

I know there are different corrals, which means different start times. Becasue of the the different start times (first one starting at 6am, and the last roughly around 6:28am) Does the timne start when your corral begins or when the first corral beings?

In other words those in the last corrral do they lose out on the first 28min?

 

[ljcrochet]

I know there are different corrals, which means different start times. Becasue of the the different start times (first one starting at 6am, and the last roughly around 6:28am) Does the timne start when your corral begins or when the first corral beings?

In other words those in the last corrral do they lose out on the first 28min?

From reading trip reports with reviews of last years Princess, it seems the official time is when the first foot in corral A goes. But your time is based on when your chip that is tied in your sneaker passes the timing mats. But hopefully some of the ladies who did it last year can answer better.

 

[Jeter02]

So my 3 1/2 hours begins once I pass the actual starting line?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I know there are different corrals, which means different start times. Becasue of the the different start times (first one starting at 6am, and the last roughly around 6:28am) Does the timne start when your corral begins or when the first corral beings?

In other words those in the last corrral do they lose out on the first 28min?

Are you talking about the pace you have to maintain to stay in the race? If so, the answer is no. the 16 min/mile starts when the last person from the last corral goes over the start line.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what you mean by losing first 28 minutes.

 

[HockeyKat]

Roomthreeseventeen is absolutely correct. The 3.5 hour cutoff time for when the sweepers start taking people away is judged from when the last person crosses the start line.

However, your official time is from when the chip on your shoe crosses the start line to when it crosses the finish line.

So, yes, you do lose that up to 28 or more minute "cushion" addition on the 3.5 time limit if you are the last one to cross.

Therefore, depending on when you start, you could definitely finish the race in more than 3.5 hours and still be allowed to finish. We started toward the front of corral D, and someone from my group finished in 3:45 due to some medical issues. I saw official times up to 4 hours.


Every mile marker has the "gun" time on it (time from official race start of 6AM on it, so make note of the time you cross the start line, and then you can use that to help you pace if you don't have a pacing watch or other device.

Also, from my understanding, getting swept is not like a big hook comes out of nowhere and snatches you away! They give you notice that you are behind and give you a chance to catch up.


The objective is to open the roads back up to let people into the parks.

I have also heard, but have no proof, that if you make it into Epcot (mile 12-13.1, or so) and are still moving, they will let you finish.

 

[Jeter02]

I think you have answered it. I guess my question was when does the 16 min/mile begin. Thanks! Does that mean people in the earlier corrals technically have more time in maintaing the 16 min/mile pace?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I think you have answered it. I guess my question was when does the 16 min/mile begin. Thanks! Does that mean people in the earlier corrals technically have more time in maintaing the 16 min/mile pace?

Yes. Technically, if the first runner leaves, say 30 minutes before the time limit starts, they have four hours to get to the finish line.

 

[Jeter02]

Awesome! Thanks for your help!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Kat, this is great info and THANK YOU so much!!!

 

[Jeter02]

Thank you as well Kat very helpful!

 

[jenn-]

Just remember, everything I have seen says those in the first few corrals will "prove" their times and they will be faster runners than those in the back of the pack. Odds are they won't be the ones at the 4 hour mark unless something happens during their race.

 

[HockeyKat]

Thanks!! I know I was a nervous wreck last year when I registered for this race, so anything you want to know, just ask!


Also, to speak to the faster runners at the back comment, you can always move back a corral. Some of those in our group were assigned corral A with time proof around 2:20-2:30, but moved back to C to start with friends.

It seemed to settle out around mile 2 or so... faster folks moved on ahead. I recommmend moving as far to the front of your corral as you can, if you are in a later corral and are worried about the sweepers.

I know that some faster runners might be irritated by this recommendation, but honestly, if you are really a faster/veteran runner and want to PR this course or not start with slowbies like me laughing, your proof of time should be putting you way past Corral E.

You can always show proof of time on race packet pickup day and get your corral moved up. They even have computers on-site and the race services people can look it up for you.


This is so far the only half I have done, but it seemed to be a very supportive race. Our 2 race-veteran friends said that it is a beginner-friendly course, as well.


FWIW (and this feels a bit like posting my weight!!), I had no proof of time and estimated my finish time at 3:30, and was in corral D (of A-E). I finished in 3:11 and was 8765 out of 11,359 finishers. The last place finished finished in 4:03 and the clock time was 4:11. It looks like that was about the cutoff for the sweepers... a good 40 min from 6AM.

Since I posted that, I guess I can be brave enought to say that I was 220 lbs when I started training for this race and had never really run/walked before, except a few charity 5Ks. I supposed I was in moderate-to-not-so-good shape. I was 195 when I did the race.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Can anyone comment on how they assign corral if you don't have anything longer than a 10k time to go by?

 

[HockeyKat]

Can anyone comment on how they assign corral if you don't have anything longer than a 10k time to go by?

I am not sure if we even know how they assign corral based on proof of time of a half marathon!

That being said, there are a lot of calculators and methods that predict your half time based on a 5K, 10K, etc. They may use one of those?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I am not sure if we even know how they assign corral based on proof of time of a half marathon!

That being said, there are a lot of calculators and methods that predict your half time based on a 5K, 10K, etc. They may use one of those?

Hah, thanks. Duh .

I guess I meant, if your predicted HM time is 1:20, does that automatically put you in Corral A, or is each corral a good mix of different times, unless, say you predict to be a 4:00 HM'er.

McMillan currently predicts me at about 2:17, so my goal is 2:15 for Wine and Dine, and closer to 2:05 for Princess.