Official 2011 Princess Half Thread Part II!!!

[ufwendyo]

You are not alone - I am 14546! My friend that I am going to the race with is in the 7000's - so we are not in the same corral

Waving hi from the 15000's not sure the exact number anymore because once it gets that high I don't think it even matters. To think that when I registered in September I didn't even think I would be able to finish so I put in the max time available. Now today (on a short day) I ran 6 miles! At least the high number takes all the pressure off of even thinking about a certain time to finish and now I can relax and enjoy the race.

I am FINALLY well!!! Nothing bothered me today on my run except my toe. Looking forward to a long run this weekend.

 

[saysay]

Such a sad story but a great way to make good come out of it!

I started running because my best friend went through terrible complications from a heart surgery. She eventually had to have her leg amputated just below her knee. One day we were talking on the phone and she said it was so hard to learn to walk again. Her prosthesis was very painful, but she wanted to walk so badly. She asked me to keep her accountable and then she asked me what I needed accountability with. I told her that while not nearly so difficult I wanted to lose weight and be healthy. She said, 'We will climb our mountains together.' About a month later her health quickly declined and she passed away.

It will be two years the end of March since her death. I was very depressed for a long time and still struggle with it. Some time in May '10 I found out about the Princess half marathon. I decided to honor my vow to Valerie to lose weight and started training in June.

On my runs when it gets so hard that I don't think I can go on I think of her and how hard she worked just to walk. Remembering her courage inspires me to finish (with tears running down my face).

One of the quotes on my shirt is hers and I run in her memory.

Merci

Wow Merci, I teared up also. WHat amazing inspiration YOU are.

ShaBear, its so sad to hear you took a terribly sad year. You really have done great despite it all.

Hoping you both have a fantastic race!

 

[ufwendyo]

So I haven't planned any ADR's for this trip. I thought, Its just me so it should be easy to get a table in most places.. yeah right. My husband said I should a least book a few to make sure I have my favs down. so i planned for a pasta carb up night before the race and it seems all Italian places a booked up No I'm owrried I may be grasping at straws for meals. Have any of you made this mistake in the past? Did it work out?

I know. I just happened to look one day for an ADR for Sunday night after the race and couldn't find one at a couple of restaurants I wanted in Epcot. So I checked Saturday night and realized everywhere was booked then also. I did get an ADR at Tony's in MK for Saturday night before the race.

 

[chop456]

Thanks for taking the time to post that.

Is there anyone out there with a high bib number (I'm 14863), who's still looking for a race buddy? I know it's getting close, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Hopefully there's still someone out there who's like me and doesn't want to run alone!

I am 14546. My friend is in the 7000's. I think she may start in my corral just so we can start together but we do not run at the same pace. What is your pace? I am between 12:45-13:15 minute mile. Slow but steady! If you are running at this pace - I'd love to have a buddy to run with!

 

[SharBear4]

merci - what a beautiful and inspiring story! I wish I could meet all of you!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

wow! you guys! those were some really amazing stories. thank you for sharing. i will think of them when i'm doing the race for sure!

my reason for doing the princess half is not as romantic or inspiring of a story. i just needed a reason to get off my butt and stop being so lazy. plus, it let me go to disney again! lol!

i ran 4 freezing cold miles yesterday. the wind was SO strong along the water and under the throgs neck bridge that i was literally sprinting for a good part of it and going nowhere! it was awful. the tears were flying out of my eyes. i got home and my girlfriend's 13 year old daughter who came over to watch my little guy asked me if i had been crying! lol!

i checked the weather and the temp said 23 but it said the windchill 2! yeah, no kidding!

 

[Kensgirl519]

Such a sad story but a great way to make good come out of it!

I started running because my best friend went through terrible complications from a heart surgery. She eventually had to have her leg amputated just below her knee. One day we were talking on the phone and she said it was so hard to learn to walk again. Her prosthesis was very painful, but she wanted to walk so badly. She asked me to keep her accountable and then she asked me what I needed accountability with. I told her that while not nearly so difficult I wanted to lose weight and be healthy. She said, 'We will climb our mountains together.' About a month later her health quickly declined and she passed away.

It will be two years the end of March since her death. I was very depressed for a long time and still struggle with it. Some time in May '10 I found out about the Princess half marathon. I decided to honor my vow to Valerie to lose weight and started training in June.

On my runs when it gets so hard that I don't think I can go on I think of her and how hard she worked just to walk. Remembering her courage inspires me to finish (with tears running down my face).

One of the quotes on my shirt is hers and I run in her memory.

Merci

Wow - that is really touching..... what a great way to honor your friend and I'm sure she will be watching you every step of the way!!

 

[tinkeramy]

my reason for doing the princess half is not as romantic or inspiring of a story. i just needed a reason to get off my butt and stop being so lazy. plus, it let me go to disney again! lol!

HA! That about sums up my rationale. That, and turning 40 this past summer kinda put a fire under my rear, too!

But I have 3 boys and it really does make me feel good that they see me out and active. They were at the finish line of my first 10K (umm.. only 10K!) and it really meant a lot to see them there cheering and seeing their old mom cross that line - and NOT be the last person!!!

They won't be there this time - girl's weekend! - but I can't wait to show them the medal and the pics. Of course, that's if they are still speaking to me. I kind of haven't told them WHERE I am running.... I'm avoiding dealing with the fallout of telling them I'm going to WDW without them! It just seemed like so much to pack up 3 kids (ages 2, 7 & 9), drive 8 hrs both ways, for 3 days. We're planning on either WDW or Disney cruise next summer, when my youngest is a bit older. I'm hoping that will take some of the sting out of the fact that I'm going now without them!!!
Anyone else dealing with something like this?

 

[UGAFan0829]

OK this is my story: Had a really bad year starting in Dec 09 with an unexpected death of our 17 yo nephew, fell in January and hurt myself, totalled my car in February. The rest of the year was also filled with several deaths - again one totally unexpected of my 49 yo cousin. But in March I happened to be at Epcot when the princess race was finishing. I was smitten. Could I do that? Well to make a long story short, I started walking at the end of May, did a 5K and thought I would die, but kept walking. Lost 20 lbs. Several weeks later, I felt so good, I ran - "Holy moley!!! I didn't know I could do that!!!! Nothing fell off or anything!" Ran a 1/2 marathon in July with a 14:30 m/m....another in September with a 12:50 m/m. This is just amazing to me that I am running races......

So...this is just so amazing to me to be running the Princess 1/2 marathon in a few weeks. Just got my Bib number: 5810! Will be thrilled just to be with all you ladies!

Such a sad story but a great way to make good come out of it!

I started running because my best friend went through terrible complications from a heart surgery. She eventually had to have her leg amputated just below her knee. One day we were talking on the phone and she said it was so hard to learn to walk again. Her prosthesis was very painful, but she wanted to walk so badly. She asked me to keep her accountable and then she asked me what I needed accountability with. I told her that while not nearly so difficult I wanted to lose weight and be healthy. She said, 'We will climb our mountains together.' About a month later her health quickly declined and she passed away.

It will be two years the end of March since her death. I was very depressed for a long time and still struggle with it. Some time in May '10 I found out about the Princess half marathon. I decided to honor my vow to Valerie to lose weight and started training in June.

On my runs when it gets so hard that I don't think I can go on I think of her and how hard she worked just to walk. Remembering her courage inspires me to finish (with tears running down my face).

One of the quotes on my shirt is hers and I run in her memory.

Merci

That's really a beautiful story. Isn't is wonderfully strange how strength can come from adversity? I started this whole running gig because i was telling my dad about this half marathon and how it seemed like it would be fun to do. Two days later, he fell and hit his head on the kitchen tile and never recovered. It will be a year next month, and I always think of him at some point during my running. And that was pretty much the last conversation I had with him, so I told myself that I HAD to do this bc I had told him I would.

WOW! All of these stories brought tears to my eyes. Congrats to all of you for doing something so special. I can't imagine. I will definitely be thinking of all of your stories as I'm running.

Do you do all running or intervals? I am an intervaller and am doing this by myself too and also have a higher bib number.

I wish I could do all running! I'm planning to do 3 minutes of walking with either 1 minute of running, or 2 minutes. I'm not exactly sure yet.

 

[KristinU]

Wow, thanks for sharing the touching stories, guys. Isn't it amazing how one can find so much strength in the face of sorrow? So amazing that you guys were able to channel that energy into something so positive and healthy.

 

[Belle&Boys]

OK this is my story: Had a really bad year starting in Dec 09 with an unexpected death of our 17 yo nephew, fell in January and hurt myself, totalled my car in February. The rest of the year was also filled with several deaths - again one totally unexpected of my 49 yo cousin. But in March I happened to be at Epcot when the princess race was finishing. I was smitten. Could I do that? Well to make a long story short, I started walking at the end of May, did a 5K and thought I would die, but kept walking. Lost 20 lbs. Several weeks later, I felt so good, I ran - "Holy moley!!! I didn't know I could do that!!!! Nothing fell off or anything!" Ran a 1/2 marathon in July with a 14:30 m/m....another in September with a 12:50 m/m. This is just amazing to me that I am running races......

So...this is just so amazing to me to be running the Princess 1/2 marathon in a few weeks. Just got my Bib number: 5810! Will be thrilled just to be with all you ladies!

That is an awesome story! I’m so happy for you. I’m so sorry you’ve had a rough few years. I’ve had a tough few years with medical issues, DH’s layoff, etc. and I completely understand the “holy moly” feeling of working up to a half marathon. That is so cool that you’ve already completed 2 half marathons. This one will be my very first, and I’m so excited it brings me to tears. My co-worker ran it last year and showed me the pictures. It sounded/looked like so much fun, I started training last March. I’m down over 25 lbs. My last long run will be 13 this weekend, and then it will be taper time!

I’m 5917, so we’ll be coral buddies!

 

[JDruns]

I also noticed we don't have to wait till the expo to sign up people for the notifications

Really?! Where and how, if you please. Would love to get this set up.

 

[JDruns]

Really?! Where and how, if you please. Would love to get this set up.

Found it!!!

Princesses, click here to be tracked

 

[ban26ana]

I'm not telling my kids where I'm going wither. My oldest is 4 and she keeps begging to go back to WDW. We are taking them in the fall. I just don't feel like dealing with the fallout of her whining lol.

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

If you looking at RunningPrincess.com for gear - For those of us who look like complete dorks in visors, they have baseball hats

I bought a baseball hat as well as Running Princess hoodies for me, my sister and niece. Running Princess is AWESOME to work with if you want things shipped. I know they will be at the Expo. I love everything we got from them.

We are wearing our hoodies on the flight down!

I am sooooo sick of winter. Yesterday was the first day in over 2 weeks when it was sunny and the ground was dry, but I still ended up running inside because the wind chill was 2 below

My 10 miler on Saturday was also inside since it was sleeting when I got up. 120 laps and 2 hours and 15 minutes later I was done. I distracted myself by checking out the little kid swim classes every time I went past the set of windows facing the indoor pool and the little kid basketball classes when I got to the windows facing the gym. The little ones are such fun to watch as they try to learn new skills.

Hopefully this weekend will be warmer. Can't believe I am in taper now and I have my outfit ready to roll!

 

[Saylan]

Found it!!!

Princesses, click here to be tracked

I'm having a lot of difficulty with the site. I registered myself and three others to get notifications:

Person 1: got the e-mail, got the code, confirmed, and done.
Person 2: got the e-mail, got the code, site accepted it and showed confirmed, but now keepts reverting back to pending.
Person 3 (me): got the e-mail, got the code, confirmed, and when I go back, I've disappeared entirely.
Person 4: got the e-mail, but doesn't display at all in the summary of trackers so can't enter the code.

I've e-mails the support e-mail but based on how long it took them to help me before Christmas, I'm sure I won't hear back for a while. Anyone else having difficulties?

 

[Jeannekay]

Found it!!!

Princesses, click here to be tracked

I'm not sure how to do this, when it asks for password, do I make up one now?

Haleofafamily and Shabear4 - I am so sorry to hear about your tragedy's. It is wonderful how you turned a negative into a positive.

I started running in 2009 because my dog and my mother-in-law past away. The running has helped with the sadness. I started jogging just to get rid of the blues, then I challenged myself to see if I could run maybe 7 miles, then maybe 13.1. I was so shocked that I ran 13.1, that I did it again and again and again!!! It's funny, my dad & mom told me not to run the princess 1/2 because I might get hurt. Now that I am signed up, they are supportive.

I jogged 5 miles (TM) this morning around 7 a.m. Got to get used to running early!! lol

 

[SummerIrmoma2_3]

I jogged 5 miles (TM) this morning around 7 a.m. Got to get used to running early!! lol

That is my issue too. I use to be a morning runner but then my sister wanted to start running with me and she liked to run later in the day and since we have 6 kids between the 2 of us child care was an issue and she ended up winning. As the runs got longer I have tried to do them in the morning but then I have been struggling with getting up and getting enough to eat before I head out.

 

[KristinU]

Just got back in from my 3rd day in a row running outside! I overdressed because the windchill sounded more threatening that it actually was...but I decided that running hot was good training since the temps will be way warmer in FL than I'm acclimated to.

 

[Saylan]

I'm not sure how to do this, when it asks for password, do I make up one now?

I used the same one I use for everything so it would have matched anything I gave active. I'd try making up just a password. If that doesn't work and you made one for Active (I can't remember if we were prompted to when we registered or not), use that.

The whole system seems horribly buggy and not user-friendly.