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

[joan4mickey]

just curious why they have you line up so early? is it just because there are so many people running and they need to get everyone there? will we really just need to stand there for 2 hours? i'm getting nervous that the extra time before the race will psych me out! also, and this may sound ridiculously lazy, but the thought of standing for two hours (it'd be ok if i knew i'd be on soarin' at the end of the line, lol) sounds terrible - can you sit anywhere?

You can bring something to sit on...like a towel or blanket. I bring something old as I leave it-actually there is a box to toss into-and it goes to Goodwill or an organization like that. Large garbage bags are good too. I guess we get there early because we have to get 11,000+ people in corrals to start at 6. I think I got the bus around 4:15am and it is only a short ride over, but there is about a 1/2 mile walk to the corrals. If you are by yourself, don't worry, as 11,000+ of your new closest running/walking buddies will be all around you. Most very friendly and ready to chitchat.

 

[MamaCrush]

11,000+ ??? What am I getting myself into?!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

11,000+ ??? What am I getting myself into?!

lol! i was thinking the same thing! hahahah

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

11,000+ ??? What am I getting myself into?!

I just ran a 7 mile race along with 17,000 fellow runners and the experience is awesome. you will never forget it.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

i think i posted earlier that my friend who runs marathons said she would come down with me and run. and i think i also posted that i hoped she wouldn't flake out.

well, she lives in manhattan (i'm in the bronx) and is unemployed. she was supposed to come up here at 9am so we could go for a run together.

it's 9:24 and she texted that she didn't sleep a wink and is getting herself together. i asked if she wanted to reschedule and haven't gotten a response back in half an hour.

i really can't stand people who can't stick to times. it's one thing if something comes up and you let me know but i had to text her!

looks like i'll be alone on race day. i'm actually pretty upset about it. nobody there to talk to afterwards, nobody to take my picture, etc etc. hard to stay motivated about that.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

11, 000 is not so bad.

And we are all there for the same reason.
With having all of us woman there, to talk to I bet the 2 hours would go by very very very fast.

Can't Wait for Feb!!!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

i think i posted earlier that my friend who runs marathons said she would come down with me and run. and i think i also posted that i hoped she wouldn't flake out.

well, she lives in manhattan (i'm in the bronx) and is unemployed. she was supposed to come up here at 9am so we could go for a run together.

it's 9:24 and she texted that she didn't sleep a wink and is getting herself together. i asked if she wanted to reschedule and haven't gotten a response back in half an hour.

i really can't stand people who can't stick to times. it's one thing if something comes up and you let me know but i had to text her!

looks like i'll be alone on race day. i'm actually pretty upset about it. nobody there to talk to afterwards, nobody to take my picture, etc etc. hard to stay motivated about that.

Have you thought about joining New York Road Runners? They put on a lot of really good races, and have training sessions several times a week. And plenty of us New Yorkers (like me) run Disney races.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Have you thought about joining New York Road Runners? They put on a lot of really good races, and have training sessions several times a week. And plenty of us New Yorkers (like me) run Disney races.

i am pretty sure that i'm WAY too slow for nyrr. i can barely shuffle through my workouts! i will look at the website though.

oooo! i'm so steamed right now!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

i am pretty sure that i'm WAY too slow for nyrr. i can barely shuffle through my workouts! i will look at the website though.

oooo! i'm so steamed right now!

There's the Fifth Avenue 1 mile race coming up in September. Might be a good start, if you're worried about speed.

I'm slow, too (9:53/mi). Being in the back is fun.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

There's the Fifth Avenue 1 mile race coming up in September. Might be a good start, if you're worried about speed.

I'm slow, too (9:53/mi). Being in the back is fun.

If 9:53 m/m is slow I would hate to think what my 11:00 m/m is!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

If 9:53 m/m is slow I would hate to think what my 11:00 m/m is!

I run 11 minute miles all the time. 9:53 was in perfect conditions, once, when I felt really good.

 

[jenn-]

11,000+ ??? What am I getting myself into?!

The number seems big, but really it is better to be in a bigger race. You are more likely to have people running the same pace as you. I am looking at running one that has less than 1000 people and I am concerned I am going to be the slowest person by far.

 

[MamaCrush]

The number seems big, but really it is better to be in a bigger race. You are more likely to have people running the same pace as you. I am looking at running one that has less than 1000 people and I am concerned I am going to be the slowest person by far.

Very good point! Also, 10,999 of them will be in front of me!!

 

[buckeyecinderella]

I'm in a different category of slow. I am anywhere between 12 and 15 m/m (lately around 13.5 or so) depending on a number of factors, I guess. I've been having trouble with pace lately, so have just been concentrating on distance and just working in some hils and hope pace will get better eventually.

I've run a couple of smaler races (less than 1000) around the 13 m/m pace and there were always walkers and runners that finished after me. There are so many paces out there and folks at all levels of training and having different situations. I used to worry about being dead last, but I really don't care anymore. I just want to participate and improve against myself at this time.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I'm in a different category of slow. I am anywhere between 12 and 15 m/m (lately around 13.5 or so) depending on a number of factors, I guess. I've been having trouble with pace lately, so have just been concentrating on distance and just working in some hils and hope pace will get better eventually.

I've run a couple of smaler races (less than 1000) around the 13 m/m pace and there were always walkers and runners that finished after me. There are so many paces out there and folks at all levels of training and having different situations. I used to worry about being dead last, but I really don't care anymore. I just want to participate and improve against myself at this time.

Your pace WILL pick up with time...I promise you. I started over a year ago at about 13 m/m and I just ran my time trial m/m (running all out) at 9:30 m/m. Not bad, huh? Trust the process!!! Be patient!!! Have fun!!!

 

[es45]

did you get that quote when you called (407) WDW-IRUN ? do they offer discounted tickets for runners?

Yes. You must be registered for one of the races before you can purchase the tickets.

looks like i'll be alone on race day. i'm actually pretty upset about it. nobody there to talk to afterwards, nobody to take my picture, etc etc. hard to stay motivated about that.

I know that one of us will be happy to take your picture. I feel a camaraderie with all of you already who are posting and planning to run.

There will be plenty of us to talk to post race as well. I'm happy to talk to you, you just might need to wait a while for me to catch up and cross the finish line!

 

[Cripey]

The number seems big, but really it is better to be in a bigger race. You are more likely to have people running the same pace as you. I am looking at running one that has less than 1000 people and I am concerned I am going to be the slowest person by far.

It's comforting to know there are so many people out there that have the same concerns as I do when I'm feeling like I must be the only weirdo worried about this stuff!!! I just ran my first 5k on saturday (my first "official" race ever) and made my BF promise that if he saw me coming in dead last that he would create a diversion so no one would see me... Lucky for him, I was NOT the last person. I was about 2.5 total minutes slower than I normally run that distance, but this race was on the beach (sand is hard to run in!) and a pretty good head-wind coming in after the turn-around. But what a fun experience! My trainer ran the race as well and after pumping me up before the start told me that there would always be someone ahead of me and always someone behind me so don't worry and just have fun. Now I'm looking for another 5k to do and plan on asking her when in my training I'll be up to a 10k to try.

 

[NCrunner]

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.

WOW! love the NC crowd too! We should all meet up in Charlotte for the Thunder Road run in Dec...the 3 hr time limit is a little scary for me but I might give it a shot....Active just sent an email with 10$off the registration for it too.
And....its all relative....I read the threads about 6m not even being half of the HM and people being bummed..... I was dancing when I finished my 5m this weekend thinking---OMG I'm almost half way there!!!! Cup 1/2 full.....
Its also funny---I can take the heat and I'll be heading in for the TM when all yall are heading out for the cold...cant take that cold weather!

 

[HockeyKat]

There's the Fifth Avenue 1 mile race coming up in September. Might be a good start, if you're worried about speed.

I'm slow, too (9:53/mi). Being in the back is fun.

If 9:53 m/m is slow I would hate to think what my 11:00 m/m is!

Haha! I am slower than both of you, and have still finished 2 half marathons and not DL (dead last).

The saying goes, DL > DNF (did not finish) > DNS (did not start).

I'm in a different category of slow. I am anywhere between 12 and 15 m/m (lately around 13.5 or so) depending on a number of factors, I guess. I've been having trouble with pace lately, so have just been concentrating on distance and just working in some hils and hope pace will get better eventually.

I've run a couple of smaler races (less than 1000) around the 13 m/m pace and there were always walkers and runners that finished after me. There are so many paces out there and folks at all levels of training and having different situations. I used to worry about being dead last, but I really don't care anymore. I just want to participate and improve against myself at this time.

I'm with you. My fastest time trial one mile is a little under 11 min, but I am in the 12-14 range on longer runs.


I believe that there were about 12,000 starters last year. I finished in 3:11 (14:34 mm) and I was like 8700ish in the finishers (chip time), so there are plenty of people in all spectrums.

Disney is really a stickler about showing up on time, partially because there is about a 20 min walk from gear check to the starting corrals.

The half I did in Chicago had 20,000! Strangely enough, though, it felt less crowded while running. They had a LOT more corrals (30 instead of Disney's 5).

 

[saysay]

I'm in a different category of slow. I am anywhere between 12 and 15 m/m (lately around 13.5 or so) depending on a number of factors, I guess. I've been having trouble with pace lately, so have just been concentrating on distance and just working in some hils and hope pace will get better eventually.

I've run a couple of smaler races (less than 1000) around the 13 m/m pace and there were always walkers and runners that finished after me. There are so many paces out there and folks at all levels of training and having different situations. I used to worry about being dead last, but I really don't care anymore. I just want to participate and improve against myself at this time.

This is me also. I am 40something and in the past I hated running as I was never one of the top finishers. Now I am just happy to be out there getting some exercise. I did my first 5k in 10 years over the weekend and did better than I thought I would...and I was wasn't dead last at 13m/m doing a combo walk run. Couch 2 5k is getting me up to being able to jog the 5k distance. At the race I did this weekend, I was in the top 75%, which to be honest had me thrilled as my goal was to just finish feeling good.

Keep it up! We slow peeps will finish strong, that is all that counts.