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

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Camera a small digital one. I carried it in my spibelt (goggle that it is a great little belt to carry a cellphone or camera), but carried it for about ten miles, it had a wrist strap-after I took my first photo at the pirate ship.

jogging stroller I used to train (before I moved:sad1:) with a friend that pushed one with her two boy-total of 90 lbs. and when she ran an event w/out the stroller she was so fast.
 
Yes. You must be registered for one of the races before you can purchase the tickets.



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! :lmao:

I love taking pictures so I am always the wierdo asking people if they want me to take pictures of them. So I may do the same for you!

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...:laughing: Lucky for him, I was NOT the last person. :woohoo: 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.

Congrats on the 5K! Was it the Galveston one? How was it? I am hoping to do the 10K in November. If you sign up for another 5K, let me know. I have a couple I am planning. If there are the same, it would be cool to meet :)

Otherwise, you are running against yourself. That’s why people talk about their PR (personal record) and not their place. If you are consistently running a 40 minute 5k, and then run a 36 minute 5k, you have knocked it out of the ballpark, to mix metaphors.


This is what I have to keep telling myself. Thanks!

For all of you going w/o kids - I am envious. I had a tough time with the decision to bring the whole family. If they hadn't changed the dates I would be going with just my DSIL. Since ours kids are off from school Pres.week, we decided to bring them along. After reading the comments on the subject I wish I had thought of myself first!

I am with you. After I told DH, he wanted to come. And DD is starting K next year and this will probably be the last time we go for a while-- until DD1 is older. And so I felt kind of bad about not taking her. But I am going to make sure I do some special things for me- like book a massage, or even a whole beauty day!

\
I looked up SW air today to, I am holding out for a sale, rates a little to high.


Me too. I am hoping something good comes along- either with them or with Continental.
 
Meredith, I will definately be a 15 min/miler here!! Would love to meet up at the race if we could. We'd have alot to talk about since we are both pharmacists!! It would be nice to have some people to run with on race day since I am running alone!
 
Meredith, I will definately be a 15 min/miler here!! Would love to meet up at the race if we could. We'd have alot to talk about since we are both pharmacists!! It would be nice to have some people to run with on race day since I am running alone!

That sounds great! You may still leave me in the dust, but I'll be walking my fastest! I'd definitely love to meet up with a fellow pharmacist and whine...I mean...compare notes! :cutie:
 

I didn't carry a camera (except for my iPhone) this year. I was so worried about the 16 min. threshold and never came close to it even though I honestly stuck to a 15 min. per mile pace during my training and am also doing that now. I stopped at nearly every porta potty - okay maybe not every single one but quite a few with lines and still didn't get close to the 16 min. threshold. I walked leisurely the mile 9 talking to a fellow Princess who was having trouble going up the hill back to Epcot. I felt I could encourage her to keep going...and still didn't get close to the 16 min. threshold! I never saw a flag, never saw anyone being swept...so for all you worrying about your 15 min. times...don't! You will be fine!! Maybe this time around I will wait in character lines instead of portapotty lines! :rotfl:

I didn't take pictures until after the race and I am okay with that. The sports people got quite a few pics even though I had my bib covered by my Princess in Training long sleeved shirt (I anticipated I would get warm and dump it but that never happened) and I got my finishing video. Next time I will cross the finish line with more style. It is embarrassing how I was lacking so much enthusiasm at the end. :laughing:

For those of you with running strollers...I am very jealous! It is such a great workout tool!! I don't have any kids to push and frankly pushing my Boston Terrier or Mutt, not to mention my cats, that would put me in crazy lady territory so I just have to accept that I can't push a running stroller. :lmao:
 
So my hubby gave me permission to make the trip across the country and run in the Princess Half :) Since we are vacationing to DL in September for the Half and again in October for Halloween - I am hoping to wait till mid October to sign up. Fingers crossed it is still open! Hopefully I can get a friend to run with me!
 
For all of you going w/o kids - I am envious. I had a tough time with the decision to bring the whole family. If they hadn't changed the dates I would be going with just my DSIL. Since ours kids are off from school Pres.week, we decided to bring them along. After reading the comments on the subject I wish I had thought of myself first!

Because of the date change, our plan for a couples weekend turned into a family trip too. I am not sure how it will work out since I expect the parks to be really, really crowded this week. We're staying at SOG and my parents will have a DVC room at the Beach Club. They've offered to take the kids with them for at least 2 days so hopefully I'll still be able to get my training runs in before the race. I'm envious of those who will be able to do this "by themselves" but I figure I'll eventually get to the point in life - it just won't be this time!!
 
For those of you with running strollers...I am very jealous! It is such a great workout tool!! I don't have any kids to push and frankly pushing my Boston Terrier or Mutt, not to mention my cats, that would put me in crazy lady territory so I just have to accept that I can't push a running stroller. :lmao:

If you are really jealous, I can definitely loan out one or both of my children. Shoot, I'd even go buy you a new jogging stroller :rotfl:
 
If you are really jealous, I can definitely loan out one or both of my children. Shoot, I'd even go buy you a new jogging stroller :rotfl:

Deal...I have a feeling that you aren't close to Atlanta though. :( It would be a great training business though - babysitting/running training. Great upper body and lower body workout and break for Mom!! :) My nephew is too big for his stroller otherwise I would have trained earlier pushing him!
 
I'm in a different category of slow. :lmao: 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 in the same range as you. I am doing M4M run/walk program and my overall pace has been anywhere between 12:30 and 14:05. Of course the 12:30 was on a short run and the 14:05 was a long; I am hoping to get my long run down to the 12 to 13 range by Feb.

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.

If you do the Seawall 10k in Nov let me know. I would love to meet you while we are there. . . of course that is as long as I do it. LoL Right now I am planning on it, but I haven't signed up yet or anything.

None of you are slow...
Umm Hello 15 min mile here! And I did a 4 mile race in April, 1 week after my 1st 5K and I was DEAD LAST! There were only about 50 runnners total.
I came in to the finish and started to cry, I was sad I was dead last, but LOTS LOTS LOTS of people standing around were so kind, and they were all very very supportive.

I don't want to be the very last person to cross at the half, but I just want to finish. So If I come in last O Well. As long as I finish.

I hope you are not last, but if you are at least you finished it and were not picked up by a sweeper.

I know a lot of things will/can change between now and December, but I'd really like to know who was 'planning' on being in what pace group. It might help us plan on who to hang out with!

I'll definitely be at 15 min/mi since I'm walking and I'd love to know some people around me. Especially since I'll be there alone. It would be really nice to go in knowing that I'll be around someone who can help me with photos, etc. I want to get the maximum level of enjoyment out of this experience, and for me that means about a gazillion and one photos! :rotfl:

I am currently about 13 to 14 min/mi. I am hoping by Feb to be more in the 12 range. It is possible since I am already there in my short runs; I just have to work on those long runs.

jogging stroller I used to train (before I moved:sad1:) with a friend that pushed one with her two boy-total of 90 lbs. and when she ran an event w/out the stroller she was so fast.

Hmmm that almost sounds like motivation to take ds on my short runs with me . . . maybe once it starts cooling down a bit.

Congrats on the 5K! Was it the Galveston one? How was it? I am hoping to do the 10K in November. If you sign up for another 5K, let me know. I have a couple I am planning. If there are the same, it would be cool to meet :)


Me too. I am hoping something good comes along- either with them or with Continental.

If you do do the Seawall let me, I am hoping to do it too.

I haven't even really checked Continental. I am hoping to us ff miles so I will be flying them, but maybe I should start shopping around in case that doesn't work out. (DH is flying out to Ca next month and I hope he leaves me some miles)
 
Keep to the time it takes you to run the 2-3 miles for now. add 10 minute increments at a time and only every few weeks. The stroller is helping leg and aerobic strength. You really do not need those kind of miles for a beginner or just for fun half. I would max out my week day runs in the 30-45 minute range when pushing your stroller.

How are you doing on the weekend runs? Distance? Pace? , etc Well enough to be confident in completing the half?

Hang in there. If you are otherwise doing great consider this quality time.

thanks coach - my highest run on the weekend (without the stroller) so far has only been 4.6 miles and i did it in exactly an hour. so what's that, a little over 13 min miles? slow, i know. but i'm not looking to win, i'm just looking to not get swept!

when you ask if i'm doing well enough to be confident in finishing...well...now i'm scared. i don't know! if i had to do it right now then i wouldn't be able to finish! but i still have a few months to get going and i think i can do it.
 
I expect to cry through a significant portion of the race. Looking at the pictures and videos of past races makes me tear up. I don't know if anyone's read Bill Burke's "Mousejunkies" book, but I'm the girl who cries going under the train station and arriving on Main Street. (Which evidently makes a lot of readers cry, themselves.)

i will have to pick up this book! i absolutely cry all the time, especially at the opening ceremony of MK! i was nervous that becoming a disney travel agent was going to sour me a bit to disney...yeah, no. i pretty much signed up for the princess half JUST so i could get back down to disney! lol!

i will absolutely take pics of you!! :)
 
I was reading some of the blogs on line about the princess and I am getting so exctied.

Someone asked about crying while running the half. OMG. I start to get teary when I think of crossing that finish. So I know for sure I will be crying like a baby. :rotfl2:
 
I was reading some of the blogs on line about the princess and I am getting so exctied.

Someone asked about crying while running the half. OMG. I start to get teary when I think of crossing that finish. So I know for sure I will be crying like a baby. :rotfl2:

we can all cry together!!!

note to self: get a pair of sunglasses so it's not so obvious that i'm bawling while i'm running!
 
thanks coach - my highest run on the weekend (without the stroller) so far has only been 4.6 miles and i did it in exactly an hour. so what's that, a little over 13 min miles? slow, i know. but i'm not looking to win, i'm just looking to not get swept!

when you ask if i'm doing well enough to be confident in finishing...well...now i'm scared. i don't know! if i had to do it right now then i wouldn't be able to finish! but i still have a few months to get going and i think i can do it.

Really a normal feeling. 19 marathons, slightly fewer halves and who knows how many others - I still am a bundle of nerves at various points in training. It is a very human emotion and a very important one if channeled correctly. If you freeze with this emotion it becomes a self fulfilling fact. When I get the little fear pangs I use that as a need to review where I am and where I have been. For you. Look at your training plan. I know you have a little discomfort with the mid week runs so take this time to modify if needed. Look at where you are and where you have come from. 4.6 miles is a long way if you never took the first step. You are doing great. A 13 minute pace will quicken some once you are in the Florida winter weather and have completed your training. It gives you 39 minutes to goof around in the MK and Epcot, to take an extra break, to tie a shoe or pull your shoulders back hold your head high and take in a deep cleansing breath.

I have a mile by mile report on the half. http://disneyrunning.com/halfreportcw.html
You may want to read to calm your nerves. I would look at the map and put these spots in your mind as you make your long runs.

Start. – Merge point of Vacation Club Dr and Epcot Dr.
Mile 1 – We approach the overpass over the Epcot exit from our direction. Look left at the overpass from the parking lot to the exit on the other side of the road and you see the last hill. Ominous but doable. Look harder left in the first mile and you can see glimpses of Space Ship Earth shimmering in the morning fog.
Mile 2 – Entering World Drive from Epcot Drive. – Just passed under the Monorail and the view is opening.
Mile 3 – Just passed the Tool Booth for MK parking and starting a left bend in the road. The Disney Race Track is on the left.
Mile 4 – Just crossed under the Seven Seas Dr on the tram road and entering TTC. The first big crowd presence of the race.
Mile 5 – Having survived the under pass under Seven Seas Lagoon and passing the Contemporary Resort we hit the u-turn onto the cast member service road. Looking ahead you see Space Mountain.
Mile 6 – is in Frontierland and passes way too quick. We came into MK at Tony’s and took a hard right into Main Street USA. The crowd is on the left and this is truly the most exciting stretch of road in the race. Dare to not get pumped. As we approach the park hub we head right into Futureland and go past the Indy Cars, tea cups and make a left at the carrousel. Trumpeters wait as we approach the castle and pass through the castle. Smile coming out as it is the red carpet treatment with numerous photographers taking shots. It’s a hard right, a left bend and a hard right and we clear the castle. Look left and you will see the Main street crowd again. It gets quiet as we approach the mile post.
Mile 7 – Quiet. Things quiet down as we head for the cast member exit near Splash Mountain. It’s downhill chute past the waiting steam locomotive and you are back stage. An aid station waits. Then over a steel grated bridge and onto Floridian Way. You are at the northern most point of the course head south for home.
Mile 8 – just after mile 7 marker GF is on the left. Followed quickly by the Poly. We pass Seven Seas Drive again just after the poly and the crowds disappear.

Mil9 9 is at the Hess Service Station. Just before the mile post to right you see a road head off into the woods. It is Bear Island Road and is the mile 13 point of the full.
Mile 10 – pretty much the same as mile 2 but in reverse and on the other side of the road There is a gel stop just before the water stop in this mile. Do not be tempted to take the gel too early (if you take one at all).

Mile 11 – The Hill Country. As you pass mile 10 you cross under Epcot Dr. You see other runners up on the bridge. Wave. This mile is all about getting through a 270 degree clover leaf style exit. It is banked and climbs 30 feet over the mile. (In numbers it does not seem bad so remember how small it sounds on paper during the race) I coach my runners to start on the low side of the exit and attempt to take the short path around the loop. If you find that you are passing lots of folks start to slide up the slope – or if you are having ankle/leg issues with the slope then slide all the way up to the top. You add a couple hundred extra feet but the earth id flat and smooth just off the roadway.

Mile 12 is in the parking lot – Oh you do come over two more hills since the mile 11 marker. You are starting the first at the marker and the last is the entrance to Epcot Parking. You saw the hill earlier in the day. It looks really bad since you see the side first. It is a 35 foot climb. It starts with a sharp left turn then up the slope. See if you can run the hill. I know you are tired but it is the last hard thing you have to do and it will be an on course victory to charge the hill….yes you can walk down the back. As you approach the Mile 12 marker you see the crowds again.

Mile 13 is just before the finish. Between the two mile markers is Epcot. You enter in a cast member entrance right of the main entrance and enter the park near the front restrooms just before Space Ship Earth. There is a small slope up to the bottom of Space Ship then down to the lake. You circle back up past the fountain and under Space Ship Earth once again and exit the park to the right.

Passing mile 13 backstage – we pass out of the park and into the finish chute area. The crowds are yelling. Celebrate and take in the noise and excitement. You did it.
 
Congrats on the 5K! Was it the Galveston one? How was it? I am hoping to do the 10K in November. If you sign up for another 5K, let me know. I have a couple I am planning. If there are the same, it would be cool to meet :)

.

Yep, it was the Galveston Sand Crab 5k...really cool experience running at night and being on the beach (the headlamps were fun!), but a very unorganized race. It was the first one though, so I'm sure it was a learning experience. I did get an email this morning from the race organizers with an apology for the unorganization and a promise that all aspects would be scrutinized and corrected for next year. Most of the problems stemmed from the on site pre-race packet pick-up...not enough volunteers and a HUGE turn-out. (race started 30 mins. late and still TONS of people in line to get bibs and timing chips...I was handed mine just as the gun went off and I waited for an hour in line!) I did see the 10k that starts from Moody Gardens in November and was thinking about doing that one. I need to get with my trainer though and find out from her what my mileage schedule looks like that far out and see if she can tailor it so that I'll be ready for a 10k then...who knows, by that may be too short of a run for me to stay on my training schedule...that's so hard to imagine at this point! :scared1: What 5k's are you doing?
 
really a normal feeling. 19 marathons, slightly fewer halves and who knows how many others - i still am a bundle of nerves at various points in training. It is a very human emotion and a very important one if channeled correctly. If you freeze with this emotion it becomes a self fulfilling fact. When i get the little fear pangs i use that as a need to review where i am and where i have been. For you. Look at your training plan. I know you have a little discomfort with the mid week runs so take this time to modify if needed. Look at where you are and where you have come from. 4.6 miles is a long way if you never took the first step. You are doing great. A 13 minute pace will quicken some once you are in the florida winter weather and have completed your training. It gives you 39 minutes to goof around in the mk and epcot, to take an extra break, to tie a shoe or pull your shoulders back hold your head high and take in a deep cleansing breath.

I have a mile by mile report on the half. http://disneyrunning.com/halfreportcw.html
you may want to read to calm your nerves. I would look at the map and put these spots in your mind as you make your long runs.

Start. – merge point of vacation club dr and epcot dr.
Mile 1 – we approach the overpass over the epcot exit from our direction. Look left at the overpass from the parking lot to the exit on the other side of the road and you see the last hill. Ominous but doable. Look harder left in the first mile and you can see glimpses of space ship earth shimmering in the morning fog.
Mile 2 – entering world drive from epcot drive. – just passed under the monorail and the view is opening.
Mile 3 – just passed the tool booth for mk parking and starting a left bend in the road. The disney race track is on the left.
Mile 4 – just crossed under the seven seas dr on the tram road and entering ttc. The first big crowd presence of the race.
Mile 5 – having survived the under pass under seven seas lagoon and passing the contemporary resort we hit the u-turn onto the cast member service road. Looking ahead you see space mountain.
Mile 6 – is in frontierland and passes way too quick. We came into mk at tony’s and took a hard right into main street usa. The crowd is on the left and this is truly the most exciting stretch of road in the race. Dare to not get pumped. As we approach the park hub we head right into futureland and go past the indy cars, tea cups and make a left at the carrousel. Trumpeters wait as we approach the castle and pass through the castle. Smile coming out as it is the red carpet treatment with numerous photographers taking shots. It’s a hard right, a left bend and a hard right and we clear the castle. Look left and you will see the main street crowd again. It gets quiet as we approach the mile post.
Mile 7 – quiet. Things quiet down as we head for the cast member exit near splash mountain. It’s downhill chute past the waiting steam locomotive and you are back stage. An aid station waits. Then over a steel grated bridge and onto floridian way. You are at the northern most point of the course head south for home.
Mile 8 – just after mile 7 marker gf is on the left. Followed quickly by the poly. We pass seven seas drive again just after the poly and the crowds disappear.

Mil9 9 is at the hess service station. Just before the mile post to right you see a road head off into the woods. It is bear island road and is the mile 13 point of the full.
Mile 10 – pretty much the same as mile 2 but in reverse and on the other side of the road there is a gel stop just before the water stop in this mile. Do not be tempted to take the gel too early (if you take one at all).

Mile 11 – the hill country. As you pass mile 10 you cross under epcot dr. You see other runners up on the bridge. Wave. This mile is all about getting through a 270 degree clover leaf style exit. It is banked and climbs 30 feet over the mile. (in numbers it does not seem bad so remember how small it sounds on paper during the race) i coach my runners to start on the low side of the exit and attempt to take the short path around the loop. If you find that you are passing lots of folks start to slide up the slope – or if you are having ankle/leg issues with the slope then slide all the way up to the top. You add a couple hundred extra feet but the earth id flat and smooth just off the roadway.

Mile 12 is in the parking lot – oh you do come over two more hills since the mile 11 marker. You are starting the first at the marker and the last is the entrance to epcot parking. You saw the hill earlier in the day. It looks really bad since you see the side first. It is a 35 foot climb. It starts with a sharp left turn then up the slope. See if you can run the hill. I know you are tired but it is the last hard thing you have to do and it will be an on course victory to charge the hill….yes you can walk down the back. As you approach the mile 12 marker you see the crowds again.

Mile 13 is just before the finish. Between the two mile markers is epcot. You enter in a cast member entrance right of the main entrance and enter the park near the front restrooms just before space ship earth. There is a small slope up to the bottom of space ship then down to the lake. You circle back up past the fountain and under space ship earth once again and exit the park to the right.

Passing mile 13 backstage – we pass out of the park and into the finish chute area. The crowds are yelling. Celebrate and take in the noise and excitement. You did it.

thank you so so so much for posting this
 
I expect to cry through a significant portion of the race. Looking at the pictures and videos of past races makes me tear up. I don't know if anyone's read Bill Burke's "Mousejunkies" book, but I'm the girl who cries going under the train station and arriving on Main Street. (Which evidently makes a lot of readers cry, themselves.)

i will have to pick up this book! i absolutely cry all the time, especially at the opening ceremony of MK! i was nervous that becoming a disney travel agent was going to sour me a bit to disney...yeah, no. i pretty much signed up for the princess half JUST so i could get back down to disney! lol!

Someone asked about crying while running the half. OMG. I start to get teary when I think of crossing that finish. So I know for sure I will be crying like a baby. :rotfl2:

we can all cry together!!!

note to self: get a pair of sunglasses so it's not so obvious that i'm bawling while i'm running!

Adding to the race day packing list: sunglasses and tissues!;)
 
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