Official 2011 Princess Half Thread Part II!!!

[v22wifey]

Do you know how much the discount is?

good question, I'm wondering too!

So, my friend and I got 7.66mi in on Thursday...not quite where we want to be at but we were doing a decent pace of 12:03 mi/min so even if we walk a decent amount we're within the "zone". I'm really amazed at everyone's progress!! woohoo!!!

And anyone have experience in losing toenails?? blah!!! I've never trained for a marathon or 1/2 before and think I've got one going AND I've never lost a nail period, so I'm a bit freaking out. Any advice on trying to keep these babies on???

 

[Keke]

Park tickets can be ordered online. Go to the first email you received when registering and there is a code...It starts with the letter "P"

The trick to LR on the TM for me is visualization. For example yesterday I did 8 miles. A 1/4 mile up followed by a slow run up to one mile...now I'm ready to race...I kick it up a bit and pretend I"m doing the first 3 miles of the race. Usually still darkish and not alot going on yet, then slow down for a mile, the next 3 miles I pretend it's the last 3...coming up on the long sweeping overpass and back toward Epcot and finish line (I even think about that Gospel choir with a tenth a mile to go..I think they are awesome). Last mile slow down and cool down..Good Luck

The prices online don't look right to me. What did you pay for a 2 day hopper? I was quoted $111.83 over the phone, but it's coming up almost $130 on the website.

ETA: nevermind, I think that was the price for a non-hopper. If you take out the hopper, it comes to the $111.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

good question, I'm wondering too!

So, my friend and I got 7.66mi in on Thursday...not quite where we want to be at but we were doing a decent pace of 12:03 mi/min so even if we walk a decent amount we're within the "zone". I'm really amazed at everyone's progress!! woohoo!!!

And anyone have experience in losing toenails?? blah!!! I've never trained for a marathon or 1/2 before and think I've got one going AND I've never lost a nail period, so I'm a bit freaking out. Any advice on trying to keep these babies on???

I lost 2 toenails last summer during my first half marathon training. Just let it fall off when it needs to naturally b/c there will be a new one underneath when that one falls off but it will be very weak and small. I don't think there is anything you can do about it. It will grow back in eventually into a normal strong nail. The joys of running

 

[rnronda]

(I even think about that Gospel choir with a tenth a mile to go..I think they are awesome). Last mile slow down and cool down..Good Luck

Can't wait to hear them!!! Its all so new. Now I have something new to visualize on my LR today.

@Amy, I do the same thing. In fact, I have the course map above my treadmill to motivate me. Although the first 2 miles always seem the hardest and I wonder if that is because that first mile is kind of hidden on the map. Doesn't look like I've gone anywhere.


@ BouncelikeTigger and Trudes on your CW-Xs. I hope you love them as much as I do. Just got my smalls. I'll be trying them out today.

Scheduled for 7 today. I might try to push it a little farther though. I feel nervous about only training up to 10. Anyone remember your first 1/2? Did you train more than 10 before? Was 10 enough?

 

[ufwendyo]

Sounds like a plan! I would love to say count me in, but
I have to figure out the funds first.

-nat

I really wanted to do the Disneyland 1/2 because I have never been to California but didn't think I could figure out the funds. Living in FL I have no excuse not to do the Food & Wine. It is also the weekend between mine and my DD's 4th birthday so I am thinking I can fit in a mini-family vacation then.

Hopefully you can figure out the $$. It sounds cool being a night run with an afterparty!!!

 

[v22wifey]

Can't wait to hear them!!! Its all so new. Now I have something new to visualize on my LR today.

@Amy, I do the same thing. In fact, I have the course map above my treadmill to motivate me. Although the first 2 miles always seem the hardest and I wonder if that is because that first mile is kind of hidden on the map. Doesn't look like I've gone anywhere.


@ BouncelikeTigger and Trudes on your CW-Xs. I hope you love them as much as I do. Just got my smalls. I'll be trying them out today.

Scheduled for 7 today. I might try to push it a little farther though. I feel nervous about only training up to 10. Anyone remember your first 1/2? Did you train more than 10 before? Was 10 enough?

I'm on the same plan as you, I think. Everyone says that if you get the 10 down, you're good to go. Esp with the energy of the surroundings. I hope so!

 

[ufwendyo]

Well, I can now say I've completed 10 miles, but wow, it was NOT easy.

The day started out cold, so Hubby and I were all layered up. By mile 5, we were stripping off everything we could. Luckily we'd gone 2.5 out and 2.5 back to the car and were able to drop off extra clothes, gloves, etc. (For some reason, a lot of the water fountains around the lake where we do long runs are not working right now, so we planned the 10 miler as two legs, with a water refilling stop at the car.)

Hubby completed the WDW marathon 2 weeks ago and has been struggling a bit getting back into training. He had a cramp during his first 3 miler early this week and had a severe cramp at 6.5 yesterday (cramps usually aren't an issue for him till after mile 18). So I went on without him.

We both have Garmins. We'd been using his for our intervals and mine for overall pace and time, so without the interval alarms, I ran "too much" and too fast. This is consistently my problem. I have NO sense of pacing. What feels right to me is too fast for endurance running. 3 miles, yes. 10 miles, NO.

So I blew through mile 7 and into 8 and about 8.5 started sucking wind. And my right calf was threatening to cramp. I've never had that before. And I even ate during this run--I don't usually bring anything to eat, but I tried out the GU Blocks (I like 'em. I'll buy them again)--and Hubby spiked my water with Gatorade. So the near-cramp was nerve-wracking, and it didn't help that after that point the wind picked up (cold again!) and I was running into the wind after I'd pushed myself too hard. So I had a nice 1.5 mile mental whipping session back to the car. I did get a chill when I saw 10 miles on my Garmin, but it didn't come with a second wind and I just had to schlog on.

The first thing I said to Hubby when I got to the car was: "I have no business doing this." He said, "get out of the car and stretch." Tough love. So I complained into the car while I stretched and he pep-talked.

The thing he said that got me was in response to me saying (wailing, really), "I don't have 3 more miles in me." He said, "in 5 weeks, you will!" AHA moment: Again, I'm pushing too hard too fast. "Training." I am in training, it is a process, not a single moment. Follow the plan. Work the plan. Don't skip steps in the plan.

Anyhoo, Hubby talked me down Later, I scrolled through each mile of the run on my Garmin and was happy to see I was under the sweeper's pace each and every mile (13-14). So that also helped.

This was a HARD run. Glad it's behind me. Hoping next week is less "eventful." Last week's 9 was a physical effort but mentally easy; there were long stretches when I wasn't aware of time passing, was just enjoying the scenery, telling myself, "keep going till you see the car."

I think the mental aspect of endurance running is hardest for me.

Today I feel pretty good. No aches or pains. The knees complained a bit yesterday afternoon/evening when we met up with friends. But they're quiet today.

Hope everyone has a happy, easy week and lots of feel-good miles!

Oh I'm so sorry you had such a tough 10 miles. I also attempted it and only got to 9.5 with much of the same experiences. Except I don't think I did as well. I walked about 1.5 miles which I have never done. Started out too hard with too many layers, except I had to get to mile 6 before I could start stripping. When I got done I said the exact same thing, "I have no business doing this, this was a crazy idea, I can not find 3.5 more miles." But after I rested I realized that my overall pace was a 13 min mile and even if I walked it in I wouldn't get swept. Considering that was my only goal when I started this, I can be happy.

Hang in there and you still have plenty of time! You will do amazing!

 

[Princess13.1]

Scheduled for 7 today. I might try to push it a little farther though. I feel nervous about only training up to 10. Anyone remember your first 1/2? Did you train more than 10 before? Was 10 enough?

For my first half my longest run (walk) was 10 miles. For me there was just too much of a jump from 10 -13, more mental physical. I did 5 halfs last year and for each one of them my longest run was 11-12 miles, made a huge difference to me mentally.

 

[ingefan]

I got in 7.5 miles today and it was just about as ugly as one of the previous posts. I also was thinking that I could have been having a mid-life crisis when I signed up for this, except for that I didn't make it under the sweeper pace. Very frustrated today!Hope this weekend and next long walk/run goes better, PLEASE!!!

 

[ingefan]

I got in 7.5 miles today and it was just about as ugly as one of the previous posts. I also was thinking that I could have been having a mid-life crisis when I signed up for this, except for that I didn't make it under the sweeper pace. Very frustrated today!Hope this weekend and next long walk/run goes better, PLEASE!!!

I meant, this week and next weekends long walk/run go better . . . I'm so distraught I can't even type!

 

[koolgirl]

For my first half my longest run (walk) was 10 miles. For me there was just too much of a jump from 10 -13, more mental physical. I did 5 halfs last year and for each one of them my longest run was 11-12 miles, made a huge difference to me mentally.

I have to agree with this somewhat. The first half I did, I also only went to 10in training and only once. I finished fine and you will too. However, I promised myself at about mile 11 that next year would be different. In 2010, I went to 11 and shaved off 10.5 minutes and this year I've already done 11.25 (ok was supposed to do 12 but the treadmill was killing me!) and plan to do two 13's. I'm not all stuck on the time but know I can do a bit better and want to feel stronger at the end. I seem to get a mental block around 8-9; I can even picture that looooong mile at Disney. I'm believing that it will feel easier if I've sailed past that mileage several times. Yes, we all know this is such a mental game...ugh!

But...just to reiterate...if you finish 10 in training, YOU WILL finish the race!!

We really are getting close ladies---great job getting the miles in

Have a great week.


~~~Jennifer~~~

 

[s_atl]

Those of you who are running alone - do you ask nearby runners to take you picture at times or near the mile markers?
I desperately wants millions of pictures but don't know what the Disney etiquette is

 

[Yogamama]

Hi everyone! I've been MIA for a week or so. The kids school schedules were insane with homework and field trips and so on.

I'm following the Jeff Galloway 1 min run/1 min walk and it's been great for keeping me at a 13 min mile. The longest distance I've done has been 8 miles so far, so I have to get moving. My long run this week is Thursday since I'm off work that day.

I worked on my outfit today and when it's done I'll post a picture next week.

I turned 35 today.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Hi everyone! I've been MIA for a week or so. The kids school schedules were insane with homework and field trips and so on.

I'm following the Jeff Galloway 1 min run/1 min walk and it's been great for keeping me at a 13 min mile. The longest distance I've done has been 8 miles so far, so I have to get moving. My long run this week is Thursday since I'm off work that day.

I worked on my outfit today and when it's done I'll post a picture next week.

I turned 35 today.

HEY I turned 37 today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

[haleofafamily]

I turned 35 today.

HEY I turned 37 today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

[ufwendyo]

Those of you who are running alone - do you ask nearby runners to take you picture at times or near the mile markers?
I desperately wants millions of pictures but don't know what the Disney etiquette is

I was kind of wondering that. I hear people say that people just fall into a rhythm with other single runners, but that concerns me a little bit. While not typically shy, I am certainly not assertive in these type of situations(uh hello, read the thread for 5 months before I finally posted) I too want lots of pics.

Wendy

 

[ufwendyo]

Hi everyone! I've been MIA for a week or so. The kids school schedules were insane with homework and field trips and so on.

I'm following the Jeff Galloway 1 min run/1 min walk and it's been great for keeping me at a 13 min mile. The longest distance I've done has been 8 miles so far, so I have to get moving. My long run this week is Thursday since I'm off work that day.

I worked on my outfit today and when it's done I'll post a picture next week.

I turned 35 today.

Happy Birthday!

 

[ufwendyo]

HEY I turned 37 today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday!!

 

[JDruns]

I lost 2 toenails last summer during my first half marathon training. Just let it fall off when it needs to naturally b/c there will be a new one underneath when that one falls off but it will be very weak and small. I don't think there is anything you can do about it. It will grow back in eventually into a normal strong nail. The joys of running

Yikes! This has been one of my fears since taking up running, so I trim my toenails quite short. So far, no problems.

I wonder, too, if the shoe might be a bit small and so toes/nails are catching in the toe box? When I was fitted for my shoes, I was told to buy one to one and a half sizes larger to allow for swelling on long runs.

Sorry, chickies; just paint the other 9 a very princess-y pink (or royal blue ) and wait it out....

 

[JDruns]

Oh I'm so sorry you had such a tough 10 miles. I also attempted it and only got to 9.5 with much of the same experiences. Except I don't think I did as well. I walked about 1.5 miles which I have never done. Started out too hard with too many layers, except I had to get to mile 6 before I could start stripping. When I got done I said the exact same thing, "I have no business doing this, this was a crazy idea, I can not find 3.5 more miles." But after I rested I realized that my overall pace was a 13 min mile and even if I walked it in I wouldn't get swept. Considering that was my only goal when I started this, I can be happy.

Hang in there and you still have plenty of time! You will do amazing!

Agreed (and thanks!!)! My two goals for this one are: 1) don't get swept, 2) cross that finish line.

I'm trying to reframe the "bad" parts of any runs into what they really are: learning experiences. For instance, now I have some experience dressing in layers for a cold start and having to shed layers on the move and what it feels like when I begin to overheat. Ddefinitely bringing some extra throwaway layers for race day!!!) These are all good things to know BEFORE race day, so better they happen in training runs.

And I keep going back to what Hubby said, "in 5 weeks, you will be ready."

After 5 more weeks of training, I will have run 13.1 at least once, I will be better prepared, I will be better conditioned. In 5 weeks, I WILL run better.
In 5 weeks, I'll be at Disney, running with Princesses! Whatever the outcome, even if I am swept, what a journey I'll have had, what amazing things I'll have learned, what amazing memories I'll have!

Hang in! We're doing it. One run at a time. One lesson at a time.