Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[ColleenG]

It's official! I'm registered!

I'll be coming by myself. Haven't booked a flight or got a room yet either.

I've switched from C25K to 2:1 intervals, and am hoping to up that to 3:1 or 4:1 after a little while.

Welcome aboard!

 

[tiggerunner]

This was my slowest race this year. There were many more hills than I had anticipated or trained for. I am trying hard to feel good about this race, and not managing right now. Once I realized they picked people up who were slow, dropped them off further along the course and let them finish (giving them official times), I was really upset. That is just not fair, and their times should not count

There were crowded busses of people dropped off ahead of me who should have finished after. Plus, they had the benefit of not actually going 13.1 miles, and being fresh at the finish. I ask you, is this fair?!

Ok, there's nothing that can be done about it and I'm probably more upset than I should be -- but I don't see myself doing another RnR with that policy.

My dh was shocked at where I finished within the total race, he said there were clearly more people than that behind me...well, they were behind me until they got that special advantage. The thing is, I wouldn't want a medal I "earned" that way. He said the good news is I wasn't straggling enough to get put on the bus and moved up, so I guess I should look at it that way.

Maria

In all my years of running and racing I have never heard a race dropping people off to finish.
RNR series is actually getting too big and I have stopped doing them because some of them have gotten very unorganized. I did them years ago and LOVED them, but the last few have let people into the wrong time corrals-not nice for people trying to pace-and had walkers in front of me to zig zag around. I am a 2 hour finisher, so not super fast, but like to challenge myself.

I am hoping Disney is good about all of this. I ran the Jan race years ago when they were both run on the same day and had a great time!!

 

[Bookwood]

on the tiara issue- try it before deciding. We were going to run with tiaras this year and ended up buying little ones (about 3 inch diameter) and just wearing our real tiaras in the parks. The little tiara has a comb and I just slipped it under a bun on top of my head, dd just slid hers under the hair and bobby pinned. We both forgot they were even there.

So for 2012 all 4 of us are "double tiaraed" to make it easier.

Just try whatever you're going to do before doing it.

As for the rock and roll marathons - I've done Country Music several times and never saw that happening (although I've not done it in the last few years.)

 

[Worfiedoodles]

In all my years of running and racing I have never heard a race dropping people off to finish.
RNR series is actually getting too big and I have stopped doing them because some of them have gotten very unorganized. I did them years ago and LOVED them, but the last few have let people into the wrong time corrals-not nice for people trying to pace-and had walkers in front of me to zig zag around. I am a 2 hour finisher, so not super fast, but like to challenge myself.

I am hoping Disney is good about all of this. I ran the Jan race years ago when they were both run on the same day and had a great time!!

Princess 2012 will be my 6th Disney Half, and every single one of them (2 in 2011) they have been very careful with both the corrals and placement, and certainly not dropping people off so they can finish. That's why I was so shocked, I had never seen it before. This was my first non-Disney Half. As you know Disney also requires proof of time, and RnR did not.

I would say we have nothing to worry about, the Princess will be the awesome, fun, and all-around good time we are expecting!

Maria

 

[stitchfan18]

In all my years of running and racing I have never heard a race dropping people off to finish.
RNR series is actually getting too big and I have stopped doing them because some of them have gotten very unorganized. I did them years ago and LOVED them, but the last few have let people into the wrong time corrals-not nice for people trying to pace-and had walkers in front of me to zig zag around. I am a 2 hour finisher, so not super fast, but like to challenge myself.

I am hoping Disney is good about all of this. I ran the Jan race years ago when they were both run on the same day and had a great time!!

I'm surprised RNR doesn't require proof of time for corral placement like Disney does. When I registered for RNR St. Louis at the Princess expo the people at the booth encouraged me to write a time faster than I knew I would finish to move up starting corrals. I wasn't sure what to put as a full marathon expected finish time since I'd never run one, so when I asked if my time sounded reasonable given my 1/2 time their advice was that it basically didn't really matter.

 

[tiggerunner]

I'm surprised RNR doesn't require proof of time for corral placement like Disney does. When I registered for RNR St. Louis at the Princess expo the people at the booth encouraged me to write a time faster than I knew I would finish to move up starting corrals. I wasn't sure what to put as a full marathon expected finish time since I'd never run one, so when I asked if my time sounded reasonable given my 1/2 time their advice was that it basically didn't really matter.

Many races just ask what you think your finish time will be, so on an honor code.
I really don't mind as long as we don't get bottlenecked and step on each other-which has happened recently.
It'll all be good I am sure

 

[Cripey]

on the tiara issue- try it before deciding. We were going to run with tiaras this year and ended up buying little ones (about 3 inch diameter) and just wearing our real tiaras in the parks. The little tiara has a comb and I just slipped it under a bun on top of my head, dd just slid hers under the hair and bobby pinned. We both forgot they were even there.

So for 2012 all 4 of us are "double tiaraed" to make it easier.

Just try whatever you're going to do before doing it.

I really wanted to run in a tiara, but I just don't think I could go 13.1 miles without wanting to rip it off my head. So I went ahead and ordered this visor:

I know I can run and be comfortable in a visor.....with my WISH BondiBand underneath of course

I have another tiara alternative I thought I'd share...I really wanted to wear one too, but also knew that it was going to bug the bejeezus out of me if it started moving or sliding, so after some online searching I was able to find a ponytail holder with a rhinestone tiara attached to it...and it was attached in such a way that when I put it in my ponytail, I could kind of stand it up. So it sat upright just like a tiara would...only it was in the back on my ponytail rather than on the top of my head. I think it was super cute! And just to satisfy my craving for all things Princess that weekend, I bought a Bondi band at the expo that had the tiara printed on it...you can see it in my pic below...I wish I would have known it had shifted a bit for my pic though

 

[HockeyKat]

Princess 2012 will be my 6th Disney Half, and every single one of them (2 in 2011) they have been very careful with both the corrals and placement, and certainly not dropping people off so they can finish. That's why I was so shocked, I had never seen it before. This was my first non-Disney Half. As you know Disney also requires proof of time, and RnR did not.

I would say we have nothing to worry about, the Princess will be the awesome, fun, and all-around good time we are expecting!

Maria

I had actually heard that at the Disney Half and Full this year, they were giving out medals to people who didn't finish. I can't imagine taking one.

 

[mickey's miles]

I had actually heard that at the Disney Half and Full this year, they were giving out medals to people who didn't finish. I can't imagine taking one.

I'm not a great runner by any means, but I am training for the Princess and am doing my absolute best to challenge myself and finish - with the best time possible (and have some Disney fun doing it).

Allowing people to sign up and get a ride to the finish doesnt seem like it's treating the event as a sporting event ... just a sign up and you'll get your medal event.

I know runners have bad days and there are injuries, etc ... but there are also people signing up for the Princess to get the medal.

Is it fair? I am new at this ... so I do not have the experience to make a fair call on this ... but I am running with a club, and by myself every other day - in 99 degrees ... to do my best. I'd love to hear the thoughts of seasoned runners!!

 

[HockeyKat]

No, I don't think it's fair to give out medals just because you paid your registration fee. I am not even sure I could wear the t-shirt of a race I didn't finish - it would be too painful. I wouldn't even *want* the medal.

Yes, it's a lot of money, and yes, everyone has bad days, but this is a race. Do you give gold medals to the team or individual that finishes 4th at the Olympics?

Btw, technically the shirts they give you at races are "finishers" shirts and you aren't really supposed to wear them on race day. Exceptions would be charity races like the Komen 5K.

 

[rundisneymom]

I am looking into the RNR San Antonio for this coming November, so that I have a better idea of what time to expect for my Princess in Feb 2012. On the race website, under "pacing requirements", it clearly states there is a min/mile pace to keep, and that if you can't keep that min pace you will be picked up and dropped off further along on the course. I thought it was odd when I read that, and wondered if I misunderstood, but apparently not. I can't imagine accepting a "finisher's" medal if I didn't actually complete the entire distance on my own two feet. And I agree with the poster that said their timing chip should be taken and no officlal finish time recieved.

On another note, I have an unrelated question. My nose runs when I run, and it is very annoying! I do suffer frm seasonal allergies, but with the crazy heat we are experiencing, I have been running on an indoor track now for months. Does anyone else have this problem? Do you run with tissues?? Its crazy, but I don;t know what to do.

 

[HockeyKat]

On another note, I have an unrelated question. My nose runs when I run, and it is very annoying! I do suffer frm seasonal allergies, but with the crazy heat we are experiencing, I have been running on an indoor track now for months. Does anyone else have this problem? Do you run with tissues?? Its crazy, but I don;t know what to do.

Yes, my nose runs. I usually run with a bandana or some sort of towel/rag, for sweat and runny noses.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

On another note, I have an unrelated question. My nose runs when I run, and it is very annoying! I do suffer frm seasonal allergies, but with the crazy heat we are experiencing, I have been running on an indoor track now for months. Does anyone else have this problem? Do you run with tissues?? Its crazy, but I don;t know what to do.

Yes, whenever I run outside. I use my sleeve since that's all I had playing sports (old habits and all). That's why I hold off on doing laundry until that run is done so I can immediately wash the shirt. But with the crazy heat, I haven't run outside in quite a few months.

 

[Cripey]

On another note, I have an unrelated question. My nose runs when I run, and it is very annoying! I do suffer frm seasonal allergies, but with the crazy heat we are experiencing, I have been running on an indoor track now for months. Does anyone else have this problem? Do you run with tissues?? Its crazy, but I don;t know what to do.

Mine ran alot over the winter during my training for this year's Princess. I carried a few tissues but found it to be a real pain...they would fall apart just getting them out of my pouch because my hands were sweaty...or on really cold days my gloves would make it cumbersome to even get to them. So, I'm here to tell you there's an easier way. It's not pretty and it's not very Princess-y, but it gets the job done and you can do it on the run...push one side of your nose, turn your head and blow! (oh and look behind you to make sure no one's coming up beside you first!) Gross, I know, but effective! I was so proud when I blew my first one...couldn't wait to get home and tell my BF! hahahaha! He cracked up! According to him this is common, espeically among the males...and I'm all for equality! Running has taught me alot...I'm also a master at spitting now!

 

[nancytoby]

Though I'm not reading back through this enormous thread! Just finished getting my 5k costume (Pocahontas) ordered, will be working for a while on the antique sewing machine to get my half marathon costume (Rapunzel) prepared! Looking forward to it very much! I ran the inaugural edition (see my Snow White costume to the left) and looking forward to going back, it's the FUNNEST RACE EVER!

 

[Ateam97]

I'm not a great runner by any means, but I am training for the Princess and am doing my absolute best to challenge myself and finish - with the best time possible (and have some Disney fun doing it).

Allowing people to sign up and get a ride to the finish doesnt seem like it's treating the event as a sporting event ... just a sign up and you'll get your medal event.

I know runners have bad days and there are injuries, etc ... but there are also people signing up for the Princess to get the medal.

Is it fair? I am new at this ... so I do not have the experience to make a fair call on this ... but I am running with a club, and by myself every other day - in 99 degrees ... to do my best. I'd love to hear the thoughts of seasoned runners!!

I am not a seasoned runner, but I did the Princess half this year. I remember reading in several places that if you did not finish, you would not receive a medal - "no exceptions". I think the race shirt is fine if you registered, but I feel they should stick to their own policy when it comes to the medals. As for my own medal, it doesn't really matter to me what anyone else does. I know what it took for me to get it. It represents an amazing accomplishment for me, and I am continually inspired by it!

 

[schmass]

This was my slowest race this year. There were many more hills than I had anticipated or trained for. I am trying hard to feel good about this race, and not managing right now. Once I realized they picked people up who were slow, dropped them off further along the course and let them finish (giving them official times), I was really upset. That is just not fair, and their times should not count

There were crowded busses of people dropped off ahead of me who should have finished after. Plus, they had the benefit of not actually going 13.1 miles, and being fresh at the finish. I ask you, is this fair?!

Ok, there's nothing that can be done about it and I'm probably more upset than I should be -- but I don't see myself doing another RnR with that policy.

My dh was shocked at where I finished within the total race, he said there were clearly more people than that behind me...well, they were behind me until they got that special advantage. The thing is, I wouldn't want a medal I "earned" that way. He said the good news is I wasn't straggling enough to get put on the bus and moved up, so I guess I should look at it that way.

Maria

I had no idea that this was going on - totally doesn't seem fair! I think that if they are going to pick people up and drop them off further along the route, that at the very least they should take the person's timing chip.

The race also made me appreciate how Disney requires proof of time. It is just better for everyone to start in the proper corral.

 

[fashionista311]

Wow, that's crazy about the RnR vans picking ppl up and giving them medals anyways! I wonder if that happened in when I ran New Orleans this past Feb, or if its a new thing? There are lots of competitive runners (especially those who race often) who don't think very highly of RnR races...once this gets out, I bet it will discourage ppl away from their races even more. I'm surprised Disney does this as well...I thought they were very strict about their medals/sweeping. Without the accomplishment...a medal is just a piece of metal. Why would you even want it anyways if you didn't earn it?

For the stuffy nose complaints....I definitely can understand! I ran through a nasty cold for the most part the past few weeks (yeah do as i say...not as i do) and yeah, the congestion wasn't fun. Kleenex started packing wallet-sized tissues packs that seem to fit well in a pocket that I keep my iPhone in on my fuelt belt for dire emergencies...but yeah, the tricks everyone had mentioned are kind of the way to go. The unglamorous side of distance running

 

[fashionista311]

Something else I just thought of...

So let's say they do the same thing for Vegas, transport ppl who can't keep up and they finish. Get an official time and medal and everything. Suppose some folks end up with a finish time of 4 hours that they didn't earn.

Well - for some age brackets....that 4 hour is a BQ time.

So now on top of a false placement and false medal....someone might be racing Boston with a BQ they didn't earn.

Someone close to me knows several members of the BAA....I think I just might let them know this is going on with RnR races.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Something else I just thought of...

So let's say they do the same thing for Vegas, transport ppl who can't keep up and they finish. Get an official time and medal and everything. Suppose some folks end up with a finish time of 4 hours that they didn't earn.

Well - for some age brackets....that 4 hour is a BQ time.

So now on top of a false placement and false medal....someone might be racing Boston with a BQ they didn't earn.

Someone close to me knows several members of the BAA....I think I just might let them know this is going on with RnR races.

Not to dissuade you, but I don't think it's the people who could qualify for Boston who need to worry. My dh and another WISHer who did Boston also did this race, and finished an hour ahead of me -- and they did not have anyone dropped off in buses in front of them. I think it's just the slower people, who usually take 2:45 and over for a Half who were affected by people being dropped in front of them. They're just trying to clear the course, so if you had a chance at BQ, I don't think you would be slow enough to get picked and dropped

Maria