Official 2011 Princess Half Thread Part II!!!

[marathonmommy]

Lauren...I was a little behind you, finish-wise, but I remember the DJ with the Fresh Prince comment! haha!

Ha ha! I was there, too! Ladies were belting out the lyrics to that one. Fun!

 

[marathonmommy]

Anyone on here that was towards the back of the pack and notice they had some of us slow ones come into Magic Kingdom differently - over by the exit to Buzz Lightyear and not down main street? I wonder why they did that - could it be for rope drop purposes? I was bummed to not run down main street but it was still fun. I just want to have more training next time so I am faster and can take pics and enjoy it all more rather than constantly be worrying about where the balloon lady is!

What?????!!!!!!!!!! You didn't get to run down Main Street? How could they go and just change the course DURING the race? That's crazy! They measured out an alternative route beforehand?

 

[tink2007]

I'm having Princess Marathon withdrawls! A week ago today, I was headed for Florida. I've been so sad all week. I miss the excitment of preparing for the Princess 1/2. I don't want to wait a whole year to do it again. As hard as it was, I can't wait to do it again.

 

[Cripey]

So who all is in for the Food & Wine? I need a new goal to motivate me.

Wendy

Definitely registering for the Wine & Dine half....and possibly the DL half. I want something out there to motivate me too! I'm participating in an event called "Warrior Dash" in a couple of weeks with my trainer and bootcamp class so that has my attention right now, but I know after that I'll be itching to start the planning process for the next big event!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

can't believe a week ago this time i was on a plane heading down to florida! it came and went so quickly!

i haven't run at all since the half but plan on getting out today for a little. probably won't do a whole lot. my usual short runs were 4 miles but not sure i can/want to do that!

i have my sights set on the full in january! i never thought i'd be able to run 13.1 miles. i feel that way about 26.2 but now that i know i can do 13.1, then, why not!??

i mentioned wanting to go down and to the princess half again next year to hubby and i'm not so sure he's on board again. it IS a pretty expensive weekend and we will be there at the beginning of january for marathon weekend. still, i'd love to swing it. need a get rich quick scheme!

 

[UGAFan0829]

It's so nice to hear everyone had a good time for the most part. I woke up Thursday (the day before we were leaving) with a sore throat and high fever. Started antibiotics and whatever over the counter medication I could find. While the fever broke before race day, I was still feeling awful. COuldn't breathe, had terrible coughing and wheezing. It was, for me, a terrible racing experience except for my running partner who was the epitome of encouragement.
But I feel so frustrated and discouraged. I didn't enjoy the race; actually, I don't even remember much of the race. And my time was so much worse than any of my training runs. We got back yesterday, and I still feel horrible. I am still having shortness of breath with any little bit of exertion-- it made park touring a little difficult. But I saw my doctor today and he gave me some inhalers to try to see if that would help.
If nothing else, I feel encouraged to try another half to see if I can do better. But I am not sure if I want to do a Disney half. And coming from me, that's almost blasphemous

Sorry to hear that you haven't gotten any better. I sure hope the new meds will kick in soon and help do away with the crud. I know it was super hard for you to finish, but I am so very proud of you. You could have very easily given up, but you didn't! I do feel bad that your first Disney race experience wasn't a good one, but I hope that maybe you'll give it another chance. I promise that it can actually be fun. And I know that if you hadn't been sick this time, that it would have been much better!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Just wanted to share my trip. These are part one and part two. I'll add part three in the next day or two and link up to that as well.

Part One

Part Two

I added Part Three this morning. Thanks to all of you who are sharing your links as well. It makes me feel like it's not over when I get to read the stories.

Also, to all of you who were sick. I am so sorry. I can only imagine how devastated you felt. I am so impressed that you ran the race despite your fevers, sore throats, and coughs. How amazing.

 

[TandJMac]

I have to say that I am hooked! This was my first Disney race, as well as my first 1/2 marathon and it was great! I didn't stop for pictures, as I was concerned about finishing. (finished in 3:09) I tried to soak it all in, and a week later, I keep remembering bits and pieces. My husband was all over the place, trying to make sure I had support in the various spots. He said next time, he is running with me! He feels like he ran just as much as I did! LOL We won't make 2012, but I am considering going Goofy in 2013!

 

[saysay]

I love seeing all your race reports. I am working on mine...BUT here are the first 2 entries out of 4.....I am a bit wordy.

TOTAL WITHDRAWL! Last week at this time, i think I just got my big ole beer after arriving at the swan and was about to head over to the expo. What a great weekend! Can't wait til next year!

http://julienandy.blogspot.com/2011/02/disney-princess-half-marathon-part-1.html

 

[v22wifey]

I'm having Princess Marathon withdrawls! A week ago today, I was headed for Florida. I've been so sad all week. I miss the excitment of preparing for the Princess 1/2. I don't want to wait a whole year to do it again. As hard as it was, I can't wait to do it again.

Me too!!! Withdrawls are awful I tried to run this past week (6 mi) but I'm still sore in areas, lol. How depressing! So I'm back on on monday for a 1/2 in Va Beach for st. patty's day. But I'm just not as thrilled as I was about the Princess. *sigh*

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I love seeing all your race reports. I am working on mine...BUT here are the first 2 entries out of 4.....I am a bit wordy.

TOTAL WITHDRAWL! Last week at this time, i think I just got my big ole beer after arriving at the swan and was about to head over to the expo. What a great weekend! Can't wait til next year!

http://julienandy.blogspot.com/2011/02/disney-princess-half-marathon-part-1.html

Thanks for posting your link. I'm so sorry about the battery. I would have cried, too! Can't wait to read the rest!

 

[v22wifey]

I love seeing all your race reports. I am working on mine...BUT here are the first 2 entries out of 4.....I am a bit wordy.

TOTAL WITHDRAWL! Last week at this time, i think I just got my big ole beer after arriving at the swan and was about to head over to the expo. What a great weekend! Can't wait til next year!

http://julienandy.blogspot.com/2011/02/disney-princess-half-marathon-part-1.html

I have to wonder, did you take the Mears bus to the airport early Monday morning? my friend and I rode one with a lady (she was solo to the airport) who looks just like you There were a bunch of other ladies on it too (but we weren't with them).

 

[TeresaZ]

I had a great run and a wonderful mother/daughter trip with my 5 year old! My only "complaint" and it really isn't a complaint but I though the "medals" they gave out for the kids run were really cheap. I mean, I wasn't expecting a medal like the adults got but I wasn't expecting a piece of rubber either. I thought Disney would do better for the kids.
But everything else was perfect. We just got back Wednesday and I'm already planning next year!

 

[s_atl]

I think the end in general was confusing. I was by myself and not sure where to go. I never saw princesses at the end for photos...then again I was hobbling with sore feet so focused on finding my friend!

I didn't see any princesses at the end either. And I was looking.
I had stopped everywhere in the route and finished a full hour behind my expected time, so maybe they were gone by the time the last bunch of girls crossed the line? Which I think sucks. ... Finishers with a 15:59 pace deserve to meet princesses at the end as much as finishers with 9:00-11:00 pace.

 

[marathonmommy]

Keep the photos and trip reports coming!

 

[stitchfan18]

Funny thing happened to me today. I'm finishing up my last year of school, and am student teaching right now. I showed up to school in my I did it shirt, and Princess hoodie since it's always casual on Fridays. Well today was class picture day! Now my class will always remember I ran the princess 1/2 marathon this year

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

I'm in withdrawal too. I am doing the Summerlin Half on April 9. Shooting for sub 3 hours since there won't be any distractions on the course like pirates and princes

I took the big plunge at the Expo and signed up for the Disneyland Half. I am really excited about getting the Coast to Coast medal!

Never thought I would be in this kind of shape at 50 to be able to do this kind of stuff. I'm lovin it!

 

[slp1650]

The only reason I'm not in withdrawals is because I'm heading back in about 2 weeks for my graduation trip with my friend (minimal running, lots of food, and lots of fun).

I have some comments about the race, although not a lot on my blog. My blog is mostly for the Disney College Program and Professional Internships process, but it's become everything Disney. The link is:
wdwcp11.blogspot.com

As for the runners who went through the park differently towards the back of the pack... I'm guessing that since they had to open the park they had you enter differently so they could get the park ready for the opening. I really wouldn't be surprised if that was it. Disneyland has everyone run through the parks first so the entire race is over by the time the parks open. However, they also don't have spectators IN the parks, they're only outside of them...

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I didn't see any princesses at the end either. And I was looking.
I had stopped everywhere in the route and finished a full hour behind my expected time, so maybe they were gone by the time the last bunch of girls crossed the line? Which I think sucks. ... Finishers with a 15:59 pace deserve to meet princesses at the end as much as finishers with 9:00-11:00 pace.

The princesses were kind of away from the finish area, in the far back left from the finish (maybe 10 or 11 o'clock if the finish is 6 o'clock). You had to walk past the family meeting areas to get there. The only reason we knew it was there was that we saw the backdrop screens before the race, and we wondered if they were for pictures, so we walked over to check it out afterwards. They were right next to the place where the man was talking and giving instructions prior to the race.

 

[LKMang]

Julie – love reading your blog!!! Can’t wait for the rest! I felt so bad for you about the camera battery. Happens to all of us in the most inopportune moments! On a trip to New York, I realized I forgot my battery right as we got to the top of the Empire State Building! And I totally cried!

All of your stories are so inspirational! So proud of you all!