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

[dumbo_buddy]

what are singlets?

also, are the running skirts basically just to have a nice feminine look? i've always been a bit of a tomboy so i really hate skirts - just want to make sure they are more about fashion than function.

i didn't think that target and old navy had non-cotton activewear. i will check them out!

my run today SUCKED. i was supposed to do 3 miles but could barely get to 2.25. and i did it in 31 minutes. ugh. granted, i was pushing a crappy jogging stroller but i just felt terrible! the humidity was horrible.

if i can barely get to 2 miles, how will i ever get to 13.1?? i always feel crappy at the beginning too. will i ever feel good when i start running??

 

[es45]

Have you been wearing them during this unGodly heat and humidity in NC???? How are they?

Yep. I run at 5 every morning so I can't state that they'll be comfy in 90+ but as you know, we've had some early mornings in the mid-80s with high humidity and I've been just fine. I'm looking to buy the Gym Girl skirt to wear next month in a 5k just to be certain that I don't overheat. That way, I'll have all the seasons covered.

I'll definitely wear my capris while running in the half.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I have the Lotta Breeze capris. They are fantastic. I first purchased some cheaper skirts and shorts from Target but the fabric riding up and subsequent chafing was unbearable. I've worn the same pair of capris every day for 3.5 months now and they still look fantastic. I can't tell you how many washings they've gone through and there is no fading or shape loss.

Perfect for all kinds of weather too!

I wear my Happy Hour skirt ALL OF THE TIME!!! They are of such high quality, they still look new and i cannot tell you how many times I have worn AND washed them. I also have the Gymgirl and they are awesome in really HOT HOT weather as they are a little shorter.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

what are singlets?

also, are the running skirts basically just to have a nice feminine look? i've always been a bit of a tomboy so i really hate skirts - just want to make sure they are more about fashion than function.

i didn't think that target and old navy had non-cotton activewear. i will check them out!

my run today SUCKED. i was supposed to do 3 miles but could barely get to 2.25. and i did it in 31 minutes. ugh. granted, i was pushing a crappy jogging stroller but i just felt terrible! the humidity was horrible.

if i can barely get to 2 miles, how will i ever get to 13.1?? i always feel crappy at the beginning too. will i ever feel good when i start running??

My hips and upper thighs are "fluffy" LOL and I wear the skirt because it helps hide the fact. I HATE wearing shorts while I run.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

what are singlets?

Tank tops/wife beaters

And you will get to 13.1 if you are patient and diligent about your training. Take it easy out there, one mile at a time.

I almost never feel good until after the second mile.

 

[es45]

also, are the running skirts basically just to have a nice feminine look? i've always been a bit of a tomboy so i really hate skirts - just want to make sure they are more about fashion than function.

The skirt covers my big butt. I'm not ready to run out into the world with just compression shorts.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

The skirt covers my big butt. I'm not ready to run out into the world with just compression shorts.

EXACTLY why I love my skirts!!!

 

[HockeyKat]

I have the Lotta Breeze capris. They are fantastic. I first purchased some cheaper skirts and shorts from Target but the fabric riding up and subsequent chafing was unbearable. I've worn the same pair of capris every day for 3.5 months now and they still look fantastic. I can't tell you how many washings they've gone through and there is no fading or shape loss.

Perfect for all kinds of weather too!

I wear the cheaper skirts and shorts over the compression shorts. They are ASICs that I got at Dick's for $6 on clearance.

I find all built-ins and compression shorts for women to be too short and the chafing begins. The men's are much better. I can't stand capris, period (running or non-running). I think it's a never-able-to-find-pants-long-enough hangup.

what are singlets?

also, are the running skirts basically just to have a nice feminine look? i've always been a bit of a tomboy so i really hate skirts - just want to make sure they are more about fashion than function.

i didn't think that target and old navy had non-cotton activewear. i will check them out!

my run today SUCKED. i was supposed to do 3 miles but could barely get to 2.25. and i did it in 31 minutes. ugh. granted, i was pushing a crappy jogging stroller but i just felt terrible! the humidity was horrible.

if i can barely get to 2 miles, how will i ever get to 13.1?? i always feel crappy at the beginning too. will i ever feel good when i start running??

I am not a girly-girl really but I love my black running skirt. Like others said, it hides the compression shorts but without the extra material (and extra chafe potential) between your legs. I would try both, though, again this is a very individual thing.

Singlets are basically tank tops, usually in mesh/wicking materials. Target has some wicking tanks with higher necklines that work pretty well, and are $10.

I usually feel like crap for the first 20 min of any run. If I still feel like crap after 20 min of a short run then I am allowed to consider cutting it short. Long runs, because I go with a group, I usually push myself to finish no matter what, even if it means walking in the last mile or two.

 

[joan4mickey]

MamaCrush We are neighbors-I live in Cabarrus county too!

Running early is all I can do right now. I love the heat, but the humidity is killing me. I have been out for long runs at 5:40am. I tried a shorter run Friday morning around 7:30am and it was killer. I currently training for the DL Half in less than 3 weeks.

 

[MamaCrush]

MamaCrush We are neighbors-I live in Cabarrus county too!

Running early is all I can do right now. I love the heat, but the humidity is killing me. I have been out for long runs at 5:40am. I tried a shorter run Friday morning around 7:30am and it was killer. I currently training for the DL Half in less than 3 weeks.

Hey there, neighbor! We live not far from the Speedway...

I only started running for the first time in my life around the end of this past June. My first race will be the Oct 2nd 5K at the MK (one month before my 51st bday!), with an eye toward the 2011 Princess Half. I ran for a couple of weeks outside, then when it became unbearable (and probably unsafe) I joined a gym so I can use a treadmill. I'm hoping to get back outside come September... I wish I could run before I head for work! I work in uptown Charlotte and begin at 7:30, so I would have to get out of bed around 4:30 a.m.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

We'll hope that the humidity is non-existent at the DL half! I can't run outside these days...too hot, too humid and too many Orange pollution warnings. I can honestly say that I strongly dislike running - but I have a goal as part of my bucket list and I just push myself. It doesn't mean that I don't ever take an extra few days off but I jump right back in to whatever the schedule is telling me I need to run/jog/walk. If I didn't have access to a treadmill, there would be no chance of me even trying to achieve my bucket list goals. I would just pretend that they never existed!

 

[HockeyKat]

Wow there are LOTS of NCers on this thread!!

es45, I work in Morrisville.

 

[jenelope]

My singlets are all the Target C9 "DuoDry" polyester thingies. I think I have five of them now. They're solid in the front and back with mesh sides, which is great for keeping cool. I don't have a running skirt yet because I'm between sizes, as they say. (I hate the idea of spending a substantial amount of money on something that's only going to fit me for a short period of time.) I've been running in men's mesh shorts with bike shorts under them. I've found that men's shorts are longer, better made, less expensive and they have *pockets*! I expect to buy my running skirt around the end of next month. The weather is going to start cooling down and I predict I will be in a happy place, size-wise.

I just ordered four Bondi Bands, including a silver tiara on magenta! If that doesn't put me in the Princess mood, nothing will.

 

[es45]

Wow there are LOTS of NCers on this thread!!

es45, I work in Morrisville.

And I work in Durham! I bet we pass each other heading to work each morning!

What running store do you frequent? I'm fairly new to the whole running thing so I've purchased almost everything online.

 

[MamaCrush]

I just ordered four Bondi Bands, including a silver tiara on magenta! If that doesn't put me in the Princess mood, nothing will.

Let me know how you like the Bondi Bands... I'm using Halo Headbands, which I love, but am curious about the Bondis and their "absorption power". I need all of that I can get!

Anyone else have any thoughts on the Bondi Bands??

 

[HockeyKat]

And I work in Durham! I bet we pass each other heading to work each morning!

What running store do you frequent? I'm fairly new to the whole running thing so I've purchased almost everything online.

I usually buy things online or hit the discount stores (Ross, TJ Maxx, etc.).

Haha! I barely live in Durham, it's about a mile to the line between Raleigh and Durham.

I joined the Raleigh Galloway training group in May and we start our Sat AM long runs from various running stores each week, so I have been to quite a few of them. They are good if you need to see something in person, but I have found the prices to be pretty outrageous. Worth it for say, fitting a good pair of shoes, but not so much for some other things.

How far have you built up your mileage? If you are at 10, or when you build up that far, let me know and you are welcome to join the group some Sat AM! It's a for-pay group, but the first couple of runs are free.

 

[jcwishes]

Love my bondi bands they work great.

Very excited about the free dining our TA is working on booking us at the Poly for the race. We have not been to the World since 07 and I am so excited!

 

[joan4mickey]

Mamacrush I don't live far from the Speedway either, but closer to the mall Hope you have fun at the 5K an you can do the Princess!

Shelby I have been checking the weather in Anaheim and the last week or so it is 60 with 75% humidity in the morning. I trained for the 2010 Princess on a TM-I much prefer to be outside.

Kat Go NC runner girls. My DD is a student at Elon.

 

[SummerIrmoma2_3]

All my morning runs ran into the same "empty gas tank" wall, even with a couple pieces of peanut butter toast an hour before my run (and I am talking 45 minute runs).

I have ran into this exact same problem. Surprisingly I switched to cereal for a couple of mornings and that actually stuck with me longer.

Wow, the board was BUSY today. I enjoyed everyone's posts from today. Just out of curiosity sake.... what do you predict your finishing time to be? For those of us who have registered they ask what you think it will be so that you can be placed in the right corral. I'm just curious. I put 3 hours. I am very comfortable at a 14-14:30 min/mile. Hope to get comfortable in the high 12's to 13's until raceday.

I put down 2:55. I used one of the online calculators that predicted my HM time to be 2:56 based on my 5k time. I know that a 5K is not really a long enough distance to get a good gage, but I also figure I have 6 months to work on it too. I am currently at 12:30ish on short runs and in the low 13's for my long runs so I think it should be pretty accurate.
My goal is to finish under 3, but of course my first goal is to finish period.

Wow, you shaved 20 minutes off your time, I say that's admirable. Good job. As I ran my 6 miles yesterday, I couldn't help but think that it wasn't even half the distance I need to do to complete the HM. 13.1 miles is a long ways, whether it's walking or running, completing it is admirable.

ITA. I am doing my first 5 mile run tomorrow and to think that that will not even be half way there 13.1 miles is seeming a bit more scary.

i definitely want to stay at a host resort. while i would like to save money, i think the little extra for the all stars or POR would be worth it for the busing to the race. i will already have enough jitters that i want to know that i won't have to worry about getting there, esp since it sounds like we need to get there so early!!

disney just announced some great deals and one of them is free dining for the race. carbo-load at via napoli anyone!?!? i wonder if i will have any princess half marathoners asking me for quotes? it'll be fun to see who i'll be running with! (i'm a disney TA)

the day before race day, what kind of activity do you plan on doing? i'm used to hitting the parks early and walking around until closing but i don't want to exhaust myself! what do you all do? maybe if it's warm enough i should just hang by the pool? will you go out to eat? make your own food?

I just booked POR for my mom and myself with FD. We pretty much always get the dining plan so for us it made more since to go that route then to take the resort and ticket discount.

This will be my first race so you can take my plan for what it's worth, but I plan to take it pretty easy. Probably some shopping at DTD and an early dinner at EPCOT or POR. I want to keep semi-busy so I don't get too nervous and have too much time to worry, but I also don't want to do too much where I will be too tired for the race.

gear - what does everyone run in? i don't want to go out and spend tons of money on gear since i'm such a beginner but, ehem, my thighs are chafing so badly! (i know, tmi). my marathoner friend said that i need better shorts as i'm just running in baggy mesh shorts. she even mentioned not running on cotton underwear!

what's your running uniform??

I actually run in a lot of no nos. I don't wear shorts because I get chafing issues so I always run in capris. Some are yoga capris (yes cotton, that is what I have) and some are the older style of "jogging" capris that are the mesh on the outer layer and a nylon type fabric lining. I want to get some compression capris to run in, but I haven't picked any up yet. My tops are about the same, racer back yoga tops or other tank tops. I would like to get more "running" clothing but so far I just haven't been able to come up with the money for it. I saw a Nike top I would love to have but it was like $40 and with 3 kids getting ready to go back to school I just couldn't justify the cost right now. I guess maybe my Christmas list will be filled with running gear.

runner's lube - oh god that just sounds embarrassing! i'll check it out. i need to get some non-cotton clothing. it's all i own! luckily right now i'm not at the super high miles yet so it's not too bad. but once i hit higher miles i'll need to definitely wear better gear.

for those who have talked about the chilly weather on race day, what do you do for gear? i'd imagine once you start running it's not cold - do you just toss your outerwear? i'd hate to just throw something out!

I most have cotton too. I am not huge on synthetic fabrics, but I guess I better learn to embrace them.

I got a light weight Dance Skin jacket from Walmart for $5. It has zip off sleeves. LoL I figure I can use it for some of my training and take it to the race with me. By then I am sure I will have gotten my $5 worth out of it and wont think twice about tossing it.

 

[MamaCrush]

Where, when and what does everyone plan to eat the night before the race??? I know everyone is different and there is a need to experiment before the actual event. But I really don't have anywhere local that would simulate eating at the World! Especially since this will be my first race above a 5K (and my second total), I'm not sure how to plan and I'd like to think about an ADR. Thoughts???