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

[dumbo_buddy]

I set out to do a 9 mile run this morning. I did 10! I am pumped!!! Just 5 weeks until my half, I am getting there. I am shooting for 11 next weekend.

I was about a half mile down the road, and thought I'd just do a short run because it's so windy. Then I though about how good I would feel if I get the run in today instead of tomorrow, so I did it. I will not do that again. I felt like I was running at an incline most of the run, not really what I wanted for my long run. Oh well, I did it.

trudes!!! that's so great! i'm so inspired! 10 miles! wow!!!!! what was your water/food intake like? i'm still trying to figure out the whole bringing water and food along with me. i've only done 6 miles but i was dying of thirst on that run last week

 

[dumbo_buddy]

I posted this on another thread but haven't heard anything back so I figured I would try here:
Is it ok to add races as your long run? The week I am supposed to do 11 miles, there is the Sugar Land half marathon which pretty much runs through my neighboorhood. I was thinking I would do the 11 miles as I was supposed to and then walk the last two really slowly. And then the week I am supposed to do 12.5 miles, the Dallas half is going on-- that one has a 3.5 or 4 hour cut off. I feel like doing the races will get me into the practice of running the races but also will motivate me to do some of these long runs.

i will let coach take the reign on answering this question but i would think...go for it! don't push too much after the 11 miles you're supposed to do. your biggest point there is that those races would motivate you to do those long distances and i feel like doing ANYTHING to get motivated for those distances is a good thing...right? just don't push too hard and remember it's just a training run and not a "real" race. (and if coach disagrees then i do too)

Welcome, Karen! There are a bunch of us NJ/NY girls here. So we can all complain or cheer about the weather together.

Checking in with my first 12 mile training session today. Finished in 2:12:02, hills and all. I took a chocolate GU at about mile 5.5, which helped a lot, but mile 10 was pretty sad. Mile 2 was my fastest at about 9:40, mile 6 was my slowest at 12:36, but that included my gel break, so I'm not sure how long it really took.

In short, 70 and sunny with a nice breeze is good running weather.

amazing! 12 miles! wow! where did you run? it was absolutely gorgeous yesterday! i took a rest day yesterday since my 6 miler long run was friday. gonna get out today before my little guy's running races

your time was great! i personally am very jealous of it!! woot woot!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I just did two loops around Central Park. It was pretty fun, mostly because of the gorgeous weather. Two hours and 12 minutes is a LONG time to be on your feet, especially with the walk back home across town.

 

[Mbg98]

Morning all, happy Sunday! It is Beautiful here in Md, so I was so excited to get my long run under way it the cool morning weather.. Not sure what it was but I accomplished a big goal today..I set out for 8.5 to 9miles but (still my longest yet) I saw some friends along the way about my mile 6 and they just finished 10 miles so i thought about it and set my sights on a 10miler... Just everything worked for me today..I started slow (which is hard for me) at a 10.20pace and mile 5 I kicked it up to 9.30 pace i then realized at mile 9 i was soooo close to coming in at 1hr 30 min so I took off for that last mile.. so close but I came in just over at 1hr 33minutes for 10.2miles 9.18average min per mile pace..I was soooo Pleased!! I can't believe i ran that far..oh my goodness! Yeahhhhh!
Im loving my accelerade drink along the way and running on an empty stomach definatly works for me!

This week starts my relaxed week cause I am doing my first 5k on sunday..I can't get over how fun running has become, i never would have thought I would get the running bug! Now, im just getting more and more excited for the princess 1/2 marathon!

I hope you all are having wonderful labor day weekends and fantastic runs!

Take care ladies!

Btw, have any of you used the runkeeper app. its my favorite, i just upgraded from the free one but if you havent seen it before check it out..

happy running,
Mgg

 

[chop456]

I set out on my long run yesterday. Last week my long run was 5 miles so this week I just wanted to run ANY distance past 5 miles. Even if it was 5.1 miles, I just wanted to go farther than 5 miles! Well - with the nice cool weather and a motivated self, I ran 6 miles. I ran it in 1:18 at a 13.02 pace. I was pretty happy with that!

I really find it hard to believe that when I started running in June, I could barely make it .5 miles and truly felt like I was going to keel over and now I am able to run for 6 miles non-stop. I am excited to see what the future holds!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Mgg, what a super run. That's awesome. That's a great pace to hold for 10 miles. I'm jealous

I use MapMyRun+. I tried to use RunKeeper but I didn't like it as much. I have MapMyRun+'s settings set to give me my pace, distance and mph every half mile, which works for me.

 

[saysay]

Wow, a beautiful morning down here in ATL also, fall is in the air.

I finished week 6 today of C25k....25 minutes straight run. Ran on a flat trail by the Chattahoochee river, gorgeous morning! I ended up doing a total of 3 miles and with my walking did 3 miles...at a 12.39 pace which makes me happy....actually just happy I made it the 25 minutes. On to week 7.

Anyone here staying at PO? I still need to make my res, but it looks like my BFF won't be coming with me, so need to tell DH its a short family trip! Do you guys think the parks will be crazy crowded? I need to take the plunge and sign up also.....I am so looking forward to it!

 

[saysay]

I set out on my long run yesterday. Last week my long run was 5 miles so this week I just wanted to run ANY distance past 5 miles. Even if it was 5.1 miles, I just wanted to go farther than 5 miles! Well - with the nice cool weather and a motivated self, I ran 6 miles. I ran it in 1:18 at a 13.02 pace. I was pretty happy with that!

I really find it hard to believe that when I started running in June, I could barely make it .5 miles and truly felt like I was going to keel over and now I am able to run for 6 miles non-stop. I am excited to see what the future holds!

You should be so proud of yourself! Way to go. Huge accomplishment from June.

 

[Mbg98]

I set out on my long run yesterday. Last week my long run was 5 miles so this week I just wanted to run ANY distance past 5 miles. Even if it was 5.1 miles, I just wanted to go farther than 5 miles! Well - with the nice cool weather and a motivated self, I ran 6 miles. I ran it in 1:18 at a 13.02 pace. I was pretty happy with that!

I really find it hard to believe that when I started running in June, I could barely make it .5 miles and truly felt like I was going to keel over and now I am able to run for 6 miles non-stop. I am excited to see what the future holds!

YEAH!!!! Way to go! I can feel the pride coming from your post! Great job!

 

[Trudes]

trudes!!! that's so great! i'm so inspired! 10 miles! wow!!!!! what was your water/food intake like? i'm still trying to figure out the whole bringing water and food along with me. i've only done 6 miles but i was dying of thirst on that run last week

Thanks! A few times yesterday, I found myself thinking, wow, I ran 10miles.

I am still working on the whole water/food thing. I have never taken any kind of nutrition to eat with my runs before, but I never ran this much either. With cooler temps now, it is much easier. I took water in my hand held. I was out of powerade, otherwise I would have taken that. I tried my sample Gu chews. I think there were 5 in the pack. Had my first one at about 30 minutes and one about every 15 mintues after that. They are soft, but kind of a mouth full to chew on while trying to run and breath. Did I need it to complete the run? I don't know, but the run went well. It was the wind that made it so tough. My Dh even commented that when I got home, I didn't look at all like I had just ran that far. By looking at me, he thought maybe I had done a short run. I guess some days I looked pretty rough after my running.

I'd like to try sports beans next time, and I am also thinking of trying a mini Cliff bar or something. I am still learning.

 

[Trudes]

Mgg and roomthreeseventeen~GREAT run ladies!!!

 

[cewait]

I posted this on another thread but haven't heard anything back so I figured I would try here:
Is it ok to add races as your long run? The week I am supposed to do 11 miles, there is the Sugar Land half marathon which pretty much runs through my neighboorhood. I was thinking I would do the 11 miles as I was supposed to and then walk the last two really slowly. And then the week I am supposed to do 12.5 miles, the Dallas half is going on-- that one has a 3.5 or 4 hour cut off. I feel like doing the races will get me into the practice of running the races but also will motivate me to do some of these long runs.

Yes, it is more than acceptable to run races as part of training. I would caution that you need to prioritize your races. Traditional thought would be to make the ‘training’ races a B priority while keeping your goal race an A priority. Since these may be your first races it is hard to say that a runner will know their A and B efforts. So run the Sugarland half and Dallas half as though they are training runs. Push yourself back a little in the appropriate corral to keep you slow at the start. Check you pace early and often and do not go faster than what you have been training at. In answer to the 11 mile versus 13 mile week, I would go ahead and just run the entire distance in the race. No worries about movning up from what I would assume is a 10 or 10.5 mile effort the week prior. Make sure to get a few hilly workouts in before Dallas. While not a hilly race – it is significantly hillier than Sugarland or Disney.

You talking the USAFit Half? It will be a great run. I train on occasion on parts of the course and know it will be a fun race – as long as the wind cooperates. If I do not jog the half I may work the race.

 

[MeredithRX]

For Coach, and those of you with lots of Disney race experience,
How do you think the sweepers will be set up at the Princess this year? At which mile markers did they historically start 'looking' for people in the past? I'm trying to figure out how the earlier opening of Magic Kingdom that morning may affect the push to get people off the course faster too.

And yes, I know, I just need to keep training and get faster, but I'm in this more for the fun than the speed (which is good since there isn't a lot of speed to be had ) and I really need to keep an eye on how much 'cushion' there is when considering photo ops and potty breaks, etc. Apparently I'm also a sweeper hypochondriac who needs constant reassurance and information about this particular item.

Any ideas on whether there will be any significant differences this year?

 

[annhad4]

Hi Everyone, I've been reading all of your posts - very inspiring!
My son and I registered for the Princess a few weeks ago and I am so excited! I am not a runner and I have a lot of weight to lose in the process, but I can't think of a better or more fun way to get in shape than training for the Princess with my son (he's 17).
Here's my question. We'll be at BLT and I'm trying to plan lunch and dinner for our family, but there is so much that I don't know. Please help. How soon do you get hungry after a run that long? And, when will the awards ceremony take place? He really wants to see the winners get their awards and I don't want to schedule anything that will conflict.
Thank you.

 

[saysay]

Hi Karen,
Wow, 6 miles on your first run back, thats great.

I'm Jo and I am new to this, over weight and slow, but working on it.

Welcome Jo....slow is a relative term. The great thing is you are working at completing a half marathon, how many people can say this. Good job. I have some lbs to lose as well, and have found the running is really helping.

Happy Training.

 

[cewait]

For Coach, and those of you with lots of Disney race experience,
How do you think the sweepers will be set up at the Princess this year? At which mile markers did they historically start 'looking' for people in the past? I'm trying to figure out how the earlier opening of Magic Kingdom that morning may affect the push to get people off the course faster too.

And yes, I know, I just need to keep training and get faster, but I'm in this more for the fun than the speed (which is good since there isn't a lot of speed to be had ) and I really need to keep an eye on how much 'cushion' there is when considering photo ops and potty breaks, etc. Apparently I'm also a sweeper hypochondriac who needs constant reassurance and information about this particular item.

Any ideas on whether there will be any significant differences this year?

I would expect to see a hard point in the neighborhood of Mile 3 - just before or after TTC. It is a point before getting onto Floridian which will have a hard re-open time.

They have had a hard sweep point for the half in the cast member area just before entering the park. I have not heard of this being the case in recent years....since this current layout. Note that the early park opening for MK would not be in effect on race day.

Expect a hard point near the Hess Station and then around mile 10. Other than that, I know of no other points.

 

[DisneyRN51207]

Mgg, what a super run. That's awesome. That's a great pace to hold for 10 miles. I'm jealous

I use MapMyRun+. I tried to use RunKeeper but I didn't like it as much. I have MapMyRun+'s settings set to give me my pace, distance and mph every half mile, which works for me.

I didn't like runkeeper that much either. I tried it once will do it again tonight to make sure it wasn't some weird fluke thing. I started it and it ended my race after 3 seconds and told everyone I earn 13 miles/hour. I was very disappointed. Glad that happened though before I paid for Run Keeper Live.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I didn't like runkeeper that much either. I tried it once will do it again tonight to make sure it wasn't some weird fluke thing. I started it and it ended my race after 3 seconds and told everyone I earn 13 miles/hour. I was very disappointed. Glad that happened though before I paid for Run Keeper Live.

That's totally what what mine did, too. I programmed a 4 mile run and it stopped after 1.06. The next time I tried it, it announced my pace every 10 seconds. AND it was the paid program app.

 

[disneyaway]

Yes, it is more than acceptable to run races as part of training. I would caution that you need to prioritize your races. Traditional thought would be to make the ‘training’ races a B priority while keeping your goal race an A priority. Since these may be your first races it is hard to say that a runner will know their A and B efforts. So run the Sugarland half and Dallas half as though they are training runs. Push yourself back a little in the appropriate corral to keep you slow at the start. Check you pace early and often and do not go faster than what you have been training at. In answer to the 11 mile versus 13 mile week, I would go ahead and just run the entire distance in the race. No worries about movning up from what I would assume is a 10 or 10.5 mile effort the week prior. Make sure to get a few hilly workouts in before Dallas. While not a hilly race – it is significantly hillier than Sugarland or Disney.

You talking the USAFit Half? It will be a great run. I train on occasion on parts of the course and know it will be a fun race – as long as the wind cooperates. If I do not jog the half I may work the race.

Thanks! It is the USAFit half-- I am looking forward to it. It runs by my daughter's school and down on our streets. So I run parts of it during my long runs anyway. I think I will go ahead and register for that one since i am not worried about the time. And maybe I will see you there I am not sure yet about the Dallas half, though. I am afraid I will do that one in more of a race mode bc of the time cutoff and such. But I have some time to register for that one.

I would expect to see a hard point in the neighborhood of Mile 3 - just before or after TTC. It is a point before getting onto Floridian which will have a hard re-open time.

They have had a hard sweep point for the half in the cast member area just before entering the park. I have not heard of this being the case in recent years....since this current layout. Note that the early park opening for MK would not be in effect on race day.

Expect a hard point near the Hess Station and then around mile 10. Other than that, I know of no other points.

Thanks for the info. Although, Magic Kingdom is listed as being open at 8 that morning. Do you think they will change it as it gets closer to race time?

 

[MeredithRX]

I would expect to see a hard point in the neighborhood of Mile 3 - just before or after TTC. It is a point before getting onto Floridian which will have a hard re-open time.

They have had a hard sweep point for the half in the cast member area just before entering the park. I have not heard of this being the case in recent years....since this current layout. Note that the early park opening for MK would not be in effect on race day.

Expect a hard point near the Hess Station and then around mile 10. Other than that, I know of no other points.

Thanks Coach. That's exactly what I was looking for. I like to map things out.

And, actually, according to the Disney Park Hours calendar, they do still have MK opening at 8am even on race day instead of the usual 9am. So, that still may be interesting (especially with traffic into the park, etc...) I have confidence in Disney's ability to put together events like this, so I assume they know what they're doing!