Official 2011 Princess Half Thread Part II!!!

[ban26ana]

I dodged a bullet too. My lovely gift came about 4 hours after the race.

 

[v22wifey]

I looked at my pics too last night and am quite disappointed. The only good one is the one at after the finish line where we posed in front of the photographer on the way to the drinks and fruit and it's sooooo dark!!! With photoshop I'd be able to lighten it, but they don't I might get it anyways. Oh well. I loved the video they have to us crossing the finish line. Next time I'm going to make sure to do something spectacular! lol

 

[dumbo_buddy]

OMG you guys! i forgot to mention this!!

when i crossed the finish line there was a woman who DID A PERFECT CARTWHEEL as she finished! it was AMAZING!!

i could barely shuffle across that line and put my arms up and she was like friggin' nadia comaneci out there! it was awesome! talk about someone who had a great race!

 

[Yogamama]

I was another one with the monthly gift. Which necessitated a bathroom stop around mile 3. After that, I didn't need to stop for restrooms. Great times everyone. My friend from Jacksonville, FL was the last runner to cross the finish line.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Hello, fellow Princesses! Congrats on your runs. It was my first half, and I thought it was an amazing event.

I got a large tech shirt, but I really need a medium. If there is anyone out there interested in an exchange, let me know. I ordered up b/c they said the shirts ran small, but I shouldn't have.

Hope everyone is recovering wonderfully!

 

[UGAFan0829]

If anyone wants/needs an extra Princess bag, let me know. Between my DH and I and the 5K and the half, we ended up with 3 bags, and I know I'll never use all of them.

 

[HockeyKat]

I was another one with the monthly gift. Which necessitated a bathroom stop around mile 3. After that, I didn't need to stop for restrooms. Great times everyone. My friend from Jacksonville, FL was the last runner to cross the finish line.

Does anyone know how many started this race? Did your friend see a lot of people swept?


I feel like someone ran me over with a truck, today. *Awesome* weekend, though!!

 

[haleofafamily]

I got back home last night and it has been fun to hold my kids again. So far everyone is being really sweet to each other. Wonder how long that will last?

For my race - I finished and that was my goal so I am happy! I think my time was 3:35. I need to look it up. It wasn't the fun time that I expected but I am pleased. My sister-in-law and I decided it's like childbirth - during the race and right after I was pretty miserable and beating myself up for even attempting this. A few hours later I was so excited and proud of my medal that I was planning my next race.

I think my problem is that I don't get any 'race day adrenaline' and I've never gotten a 'runner's high'. I keep thinking that I will experience one of those and it will help me through. I also got a horrible blister around mile 8 and had to walk the rest of the way. I went over to a bike medic to get band-aids and I heard women commenting on the blister as they ran by.

I loved, loved, loved running through MK. After that it was beyond mentally tough for me. I was disappointed that I wasn't running my intervals anymore. When I got to mile 12 I tried to start running again but I couldn't. When I saw the finish line I wanted so badly to be running as I crossed it, but felt like I had nothing left. Then I heard a man yell, "Finish strong ladies! Start running now - you'll be so proud that you did!" That was all I needed and I started running and crossed the finish line like I envisioned I would. I wish I could thank that man! I get chills just thinking about what a boost that was for me.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement from all of y'all. This whole experience has been one of the best of my life!

 

[longhorns2]

I think my problem is that I don't get any 'race day adrenaline' and I've never gotten a 'runner's high'. I keep thinking that I will experience one of those and it will help me through. I also got a horrible blister around mile 8 and had to walk the rest of the way.

Oh man--- totally me. The whole race I was waiting for something to spur me on, the adrenaline to boost me, something. It was just flat going for me.

But, a few days later, I am totally interested in trying it again next year. With my family and without a baby on board! lol I would love to be able to run enough to make some stops for pictures (I didn't have any time to spare this go around)

Saddest thing I saw--- about .05 from the finish line was someone on the ground with tons of medical personnel helping her. I was really REALLY hoping when they took her off the course they were able to do so THROUGH the finish line... so she could finish.

I was pretty near the end, and people were finishing pretty strong- it was impressive! When I was going over the overpass going into Epcot (11.5ish) the bike flag guys (guessing the sweeper warning dudes) rode past me. I was like... NO WHAY... you are NOT going to sweep people here, now?! But they didn't--- they were just DONE. At that point I knew that everyone behind me was safe, and we could all just make it to the end as fast as we could safely manage.

So FYI for future folks- the sweeper folks actually left the course at that over pass. The medical folks were still around on bikes and following us, but it didn't look like they were actively sweeping for time any more.

 

[haleofafamily]

Saddest thing I saw--- about .05 from the finish line was someone on the ground with tons of medical personnel helping her. I was really REALLY hoping when they took her off the course they were able to do so THROUGH the finish line... so she could finish.

Right after I finished I heard a women say that her friend passed out right before the finish line. How horrible would that be? I thought the same thing about the medics crossing the finish line with her.

I finished right around 4 hours on the clock. Where you there at that time or did more people pass out at the finish?

 

[longhorns2]

Right after I finished I heard a women say that her friend passed out right before the finish line. How horrible would that be? I thought the same thing about the medics crossing the finish line with her.

I finished right around 4 hours on the clock. Where you there at that time or did more people pass out at the finish?

It was the same person maybe. I finished in a clock time of 4:12.

 

[stitchfan18]

Does anyone know how many started this race? Did your friend see a lot of people swept?


I feel like someone ran me over with a truck, today. *Awesome* weekend, though!!

I was wondering how many started as well. I saw that there were 13,000 finishers, but I thought 17,000 were supposed to run. Surely 4,000 people weren't swept...

 

[stitchfan18]

Hello, fellow Princesses! Congrats on your runs. It was my first half, and I thought it was an amazing event.

I got a large tech shirt, but I really need a medium. If there is anyone out there interested in an exchange, let me know. I ordered up b/c they said the shirts ran small, but I shouldn't have.

Hope everyone is recovering wonderfully!

You might try emailing Disney to ask if they have a medium to exchange with you.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I was wondering how many started as well. I saw that there were 13,000 finishers, but I thought 17,000 were supposed to run. Surely 4,000 people weren't swept...

Could be a bunch of them never showed up for whatever reason. Registered months ago, couldn't train, got injured/sick/family issues/money issues. 13,000 out of 17,000 is more than 75%, which seems the right percentage of people who would show up for a race that they are registered for. The NYC Marathon has thousands and thousands of bibs for people who never show.

 

[Lovemy3rs]

I think the heat was just too much for some people. I am local and am used to it but still found the lack of shade, heat and physical activity to be really challenging.
I was so worried about it being cold leading up to it that I never considered it being sooooo hot. A few days prior I switched to a sleeveless shirt and I was so happy that I did.
Today I am only feeling sore going up stairs. I love the analogy to childbirth. I did get the runner's high and it was so intense emotionally that I want to do it again. Now that I know I can finish, I want to tutu it up next year and do some pics with characters.

 

[natale1980]

Best. Day. Ever!!!! I had a blast. My friend busted her knee around mile 4 but still finished. She was upset at her time, but we were proud she was still able to finish.

I can't wait until my next one and the crazy thing is I still hate running!! All I have to say is.... 'Thank you Mickey for helping me fit into smaller pants because if it wasn't for you I would have never started running!'

-nat

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

You might try emailing Disney to ask if they have a medium to exchange with you.

Thanks. I just sent an email to the address on the Disney Princess page. Maybe they'll respond. I should've asked at the expo, but since the race packet said they wouldn't exchange sizes, I didn't ask. I am so nonconfrontational, but now I wish I would have stepped up. It was my first half, so I want to wear the shirt proudly. Also, I've lost 15 pounds, so the last thing I want to do is wear a baggy shirt!

ETA: runDisney is sending me another shirt. Hooray!!! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[ironz]

Congrats to all the Princesses!!

I had a blast! And it was fun to meet a couple of DIS-ers. Thanks also to the WISH members who were on the side of the road.

Was VERY happy that at least where I was in the race, there were not lines of people walking 4 abreast and blocking the road. But I started at the front of Corral B, which helps. I hope I didn't block anyone myself, with my run/walk pattern, but I did try to check behind and announce when I was walking.

Ended up running with a friend of mine, and we were aiming for about 2:30...did 2:31 and I am quite happy with it! Negative splits, baby!
Didn't stop for any pics, but my race pics actually turned out well...which almost never happens. It's weird what this race did....I almost never buy race merchandise (been running and doing triathlon for 12 years...I have plenty of merchandise), but I did. I almost never buy my pics, but I did.

I've been trying to put into words how cool this event was. I don't tend to love "women's" events...sometimes they are too "woohoo" and "go girl" and I don't know how to say it...more enabling rather than empowering, maybe? But while this race certainly had the supportive atmosphere, it also allowed for people to strive for their athletic goals. And more importantly, it was a celebration of friendship. I met many new friends this weekend, esp since I was on my own. And got to hang out with some old friends. It was quite wonderful. I know I'm not quite expressing how I feel about it just right...but it was amazing. And I am probably going to try to get some of my girlfriends to go have a girls weekend out there next year.

P.S. for those of you who were dealing with Auntie Flo...if you're on the pill, you can totally move that around your events, so as to not have that to deal with.

 

[HockeyKat]

I did the race with two friends and we did walk abreast at times.

However, there is an easy way to get through that... TALK!! If someone says to me, on your left/right, I will *always* move and thank you for asking me to do so.

I had one or two people be really pissy about us, but they only spoke up after the fact and not before. I can't see you behind me, but you have a voice that I can hear.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

I've been trying to put into words how cool this event was. I don't tend to love "women's" events...sometimes they are too "woohoo" and "go girl" and I don't know how to say it...more enabling rather than empowering, maybe? But while this race certainly had the supportive atmosphere, it also allowed for people to strive for their athletic goals. And more importantly, it was a celebration of friendship. I met many new friends this weekend, esp since I was on my own. And got to hang out with some old friends. It was quite wonderful. I know I'm not quite expressing how I feel about it just right...but it was amazing. And I am probably going to try to get some of my girlfriends to go have a girls weekend out there next year.
.

i know what you mean betsy! it wasn't too "girly" of a race or weekend. it was very empowering. i felt pumped up pretty much the whole time!

it was so so so fun hanging with you!!

betsy and i saw each other at epcot while we were both enjoying our celebratory margarita! LOL! i knew it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship when we both went straight for the margaritas and guacamole after running 13.1 miles!

*****************

anyone buying any of the race pictures?? i want the picture of me running in front of epcot and the one of me holding my medal at the end. but it is SO expensive!!! $40 just for the digital pic?? gah!