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

[Keke]

What Amy said.

Keep in mind it takes at least 10 min to check your bag, and another 20 to walk to the corral. If you want a port-a-potty stop in there, add 15 min for waiting in line. They close the corrals at 5:30.

As to the cold, I would recommend getting the following at walmart, target, big lots, dollar store or a thrift store, that you don't care about discarding:
1) a pair of cheap gloves
2) a cheap blanket earmuffs or a headband that covers your ears (bondi bands work, and also work for sweat wicking so you may want it anyway)
4) a zip up hoodie or sweatshirt, and/or sweatpants

They donate all discarding clothing, etc. so you can consider it for a good cause.

Thank you! It helps me to know what exactly we need to do that morning and by what time. This is my first race with corrals, so I'm new to that. I have limited experience in organized runs. For our Komen race you just grab a spot on the street where you can find one. And as long as I'm there before they shoot the gun, I'm good to go. Looks like we'll need to aim for arriving by 4:30 to get in our spot on time. Yikes, that is early!! Hopefully I'll be so excited I can get up on time!

 

[HockeyKat]

Thank you! It helps me to know what exactly we need to do that morning and by what time. This is my first race with corrals, so I'm new to that. I have limited experience in organized runs. For our Komen race you just grab a spot on the street where you can find one. And as long as I'm there before they shoot the gun, I'm good to go. Looks like we'll need to aim for arriving by 4:30 to get in our spot on time. Yikes, that is early!! Hopefully I'll be so excited I can get up on time!

Sure!! That's why this thread exists.

I am pretty violently NOT a morning person. I get up for *work* no earlier than 9 most days.

However, I woke up before my alarm for the Princess 2010, at 3:20, and was almost too excited to sleep the night before. They say to be sure to get a good night's sleep on the 2 nights before the night before the race (so Thurs and Fri nights), since the night you are usually a bit too excited to sleep well.


Now I have turned into some crazy runner/walker type and do my long runs at 6:30 or 7 on Sat mornings (I still get up at 9 for work, though! ), so things are different, but I wasn't like that before 2010's princess!

 

[queen mimi]

I'm sure this has probably been discussed already a bit, however I am still a tad confused. I'm hearing that they require you to be at the race 2 hours before the start. Which would be 4 am. But that then all you is stand around and wait. And last year it was so cold people were really miserable. Is there a real reason to get there so early?

We will not be in a front corral. It will probably be at least 6:30 before we even cross the start line. If we planned to arrive between 5 and 5:15, is that not enough time to get in position, etc.?

Also, the traffic gets to be pretty horrendous the later you arrive for the race. The first year of the princess we were walking to the start line, looking at the very long line of cars still waiting to get into the parking lot. There is a rather long time of standing around. But, I would rather stand around than stress about being caught up in the traffic and worrying about getting there. (For the Donald Half Marathon in January, even our official transportion bus got caught up in the traffic. At least we had a nice warm place to sit for half an hour)!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Also, the traffic gets to be pretty horrendous the later you arrive for the race. The first year of the princess we were walking to the start line, looking at the very long line of cars still waiting to get into the parking lot. There is a rather long time of standing around. But, I would rather stand around than stress about being caught up in the traffic and worrying about getting there. (For the Donald Half Marathon in January, even our official transportion bus got caught up in the traffic. At least we had a nice warm place to sit for half an hour)!

The traffic looks a lot worse than it really is. We thought we would be stuck in a line (we drove) and yet within five minutes we were parked and ready to wait and wait. I was really worried about it but it was fine. I can see some major concerns with the DL half and the WDW Marathon/Half because there are a lot more people but just like others have said, you are so excited/nervous/terrified the night before that as soon as you fall asleep, it is time to wake up. But, you know the cool thing about having to wait? You get to know a lot more about all the runners. I met so many people just in that time that I wouldn't have met otherwise. Most lines (except for when you are actually on the course) are opportunities to meet some pretty fantastic people!

 

[Jeannekay]

I just found some cheap pink gloves at Meijer's! I got a pink wick-away shirt and a cold gear turtle neck from Under Armor to wear under the pink. I also bought a tiara from the halloween store. I will definitely wear my black pants because it's just tooo cold. Brrrr! I hate the cold. Oh, and extra thick running socks.

I could not sleep at all the night before a race. Too, nervous! I remember waking up every hour!!! The last race I was in though, the doctor gave me anxiety pills. Just one knocked me out for a good five hours. I wasn't groggy at all - unlike the over the counter sleeping pills can make you. I felt great at 7 a.m. and ready to run.

 

[swim-mom]

I just found some cheap pink gloves at Meijer's! I got a pink wick-away shirt and a cold gear turtle neck from Under Armor to wear under the pink. I also bought a tiara from the halloween store. I will definitely wear my black pants because it's just tooo cold. Brrrr! I hate the cold. Oh, and extra thick running socks.

I could not sleep at all the night before a race. Too, nervous! I remember waking up every hour!!! The last race I was in though, the doctor gave me anxiety pills. Just one knocked me out for a good five hours. I wasn't groggy at all - unlike the over the counter sleeping pills can make you. I felt great at 7 a.m. and ready to run.

As cold as the start was last year, at mile 7 I stripped down to a tank top because I was too warm . I threw away a brand new UA shirt that I just cut the tags off..........lesson learned it gets HOT running for 13.1 miles. I am not fast by any stretch, I finished in 2:46 but the reality is you get HOT!!

So be prepared, its better to strip off the layers than having to stop and undress only to redress if you are wearing a turtle neck shirt as your base coat under the short sleeve shirt. Expect you will be down to a tank so that is your base, better to know you can remove layers than feel HOT and stuck in winter gear when your body is screaming for cold air

 

[HockeyKat]

As cold as the start was last year, at mile 7 I stripped down to a tank top because I was too warm . I threw away a brand new UA shirt that I just cut the tags off..........lesson learned it gets HOT running for 13.1 miles. I am not fast by any stretch, I finished in 2:46 but the reality is you get HOT!!

So be prepared, its better to strip off the layers than having to stop and undress only to redress if you are wearing a turtle neck shirt as your base coat under the short sleeve shirt. Expect you will be down to a tank so that is your base, better to know you can remove layers than feel HOT and stuck in winter gear when your body is screaming for cold air

I would disagree and say this is a VERY personal thing. I kept my long sleeve tech tee and running tights on the whole time and would have frozen solid in a tank top. I started out with a jacket and sweats on top and gloves and didn't shed the jacket or gloves until mile 7 or so.

I have friends that would run in a tank and shorts in weather that I need gloves, long sleeves, tights.

Best thing to do is try out different colder weather scenarios and see what works for you, same as any other running thing.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

I ran this past saturday 5 miles at about 37-40* out, I had on wind pants UA shirt and a pullover lined windbreaker and I would not of taken any of it off. The down side is when you stop running I was freezing. So for me UA did not work, kept the sweat in.

I have a 9 mile run this weekend and it could be low 30's at the start

 

[HockeyKat]

I ran this past saturday 5 miles at about 37-40* out, I had on wind pants UA shirt and a pullover lined windbreaker and I would not of taken any of it off. The down side is when you stop running I was freezing. So for me UA did not work, kept the sweat in.

I have a 9 mile run this weekend and it could be low 30's at the start

Last weekend here was 36 to start, about 45 to finish a ~10 mile training run. I ran in a long sleeve compression shirt (UA equiv), a short sleeved tech tee, running tights, running skirt, gloves, hat, and cotton zip-up hoodie/jacket. About 5 miles into the 10 miler, I shed the gloves into the pocket of my jacket and then tied the jacket around my waist, but other than that I wasn't really too warm.

Did I mention I am a wus in cold weather?

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

As cold as the start was last year, at mile 7 I stripped down to a tank top because I was too warm . I threw away a brand new UA shirt that I just cut the tags off..........lesson learned it gets HOT running for 13.1 miles. I am not fast by any stretch, I finished in 2:46 but the reality is you get HOT!!

So be prepared, its better to strip off the layers than having to stop and undress only to redress if you are wearing a turtle neck shirt as your base coat under the short sleeve shirt. Expect you will be down to a tank so that is your base, better to know you can remove layers than feel HOT and stuck in winter gear when your body is screaming for cold air

I wish I had your body temperature during the Princess this year! I was in all my layers even at the end of the race. The only layers I took off were my gloves. I think it is important to really take into consideration how far along on the course you are before you start removing layers. Remove them too early and you may freeze the rest of the way - especially considering that there are quite a few spots on the course where it gets really windy. To me, I would rather sweat a little than risk being too cold. It is best to just watch the weather trends as we get closer and hope that we are in the 60's instead of the 40's. Bring a couple options when you do travel to the race because most likely, you are going to have to make a snap judgment the night before. I was so grateful I brought my capri's and wore all my layers.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

ok i SWEAR i'm not a complainer but...WAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

i ran yesterday with my little guy in the jogger. he was bundled up beyond belief. i only did 2.8 miles because it was my first day back after my three day break because of my foot. the run felt pretty good. but today my foot hurts a little. not too bad though.

but of course i wake up and i totally have strep throat. waaaaah! i'm going to head to urgent care to get on some antibiotics. i'm not going to run while sick. that's just not smart.

so here's to more time off. poo.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Sorry to hear that you're sick, Nancy! If you aren't feeling well, don't run! However, if the antibiotics kick in, you're good to go. The general rule of thumb is that you can run as long as the germs stay in or above your throat (head cold/strep). Once it's in your chest, it's time to sit out.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Sorry to hear that you're sick, Nancy! If you aren't feeling well, don't run! However, if the antibiotics kick in, you're good to go. The general rule of thumb is that you can run as long as the germs stay in or above your throat (head cold/strep). Once it's in your chest, it's time to sit out.

oh that's good to know!i actually do have strep but i have a 103.5 fever and there's just no way this body wants to move! spent THREE hours in urgent care. and all that time spent touching every single thing in there will certainly call for a nice sickness from my son, too. blah!

i have antibiotics though so hopefully they will kick in ASAP!!

 

[Belle&Boys]

oh that's good to know!i actually do have strep but i have a 103.5 fever and there's just no way this body wants to move! spent THREE hours in urgent care. and all that time spent touching every single thing in there will certainly call for a nice sickness from my son, too. blah!

i have antibiotics though so hopefully they will kick in ASAP!!

So sorry to hear that you have strep. I hadn’t had it since I was a child, and last year I felt like it literally knocked me on my rear. I have had a heinous sinus infection that won’t go away. It stinks to take time off from the workouts.
I just have to say I completely understand about the kid in the dr. office thing… I took my kids in Sept for their annual well checks and spent the whole time telling them “Don’t touch anything! Not even the arms of the chairs in the waiting room!” (perhaps overkill??) It is tough because I’m a working mom, and it is difficult to take time off when they are sick. Oh no, here I go again with the mother’s guilt! Luckily my boys are 9 and 5, so they were pretty good about it. Can’t imagine a 3 hr visit. Hope he stays healthy.
Get well soon!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Ran another 5 mile race today. My legs are mad tired.

 

[Trudes]

Ran another 5 mile race today. My legs are mad tired.

Good job! I have GOT to get my running groove back on. I have been a slacker since my half marathon. I have a 5 miler on Thanksgiving. I want to do it and feel good about it. I will get out for a run today......

 

[Jeter02]

Okay so I sadly I hit a runner's block pretty much last month. I really think it's being drained from work (elementary school teacher), and was unable to squueze in my week day runs. Anyways I have been sticking to my Saturday long runs and have been feeling great.

Today I completed my first 10.06 mile run. The weather here in South Florida was absoluetly beautiful at 50 degrees this morning. I did go out last night before the running store by my house closed for the day, to pick up a long sleeve shirt to amuse my family members. The shirt did come in handy, as I also wore my shorts (don't like running long runs in my capris).

I finished my ten miles in 2hrs and 4min. roughly a 12:30 pace. about a minute slower than my short runs...not complaining. I felt so good afterwards, I was considering to just do an additional 3.1 miles and just say I have completed a half marathon

 

[Trudes]

Jeter~Good job getting your long runs in.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

My first big race is done 9.3 Miles in 2:14, not fast but done!
Now I am on to train for the Princess!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Great job to everyone doing long runs this weekend. I'm still on the "lazy as heck" training plan. Hopefully I will get it in gear soon.

Just got back from volunteering at the NYC marathon expo; I'm working mile 25 tomorrow. I happened to run into the runDisney folks at the expo. They were giving away these SUPER cute shoulder bags to people who were registering for the January marathon weekend. Damn.

I did talk to the woman there about why there was no Princess merchandise. She said she's been trying, that she knos that we are a market who will BUY stuff, and she will mention it to the merchandise team that we are looking for more stuff.