I just sat and pored through this whole thread just to catch up! (Thanks, Bob the Builder, for the peace & quiet!!)
I don't want to sound like a know-it-all since this was only my 1st half, but I was soaking up anything I could get from experienced runners last year, so I thought I would throw in some thoughts on some of the questions I read about:
Shoes: TOTALLY worth the $$ for the running store. And although my shoes were $100 in store, I've found them online for about 65-70 elsewhere. And if you are having some pains, before you ditch the shoes, I would look into cushioning inserts. I bought a pair of Dr. Scholl's Sport inserts at Target, for pete's sake, and they were AWESOME! REALLY made a difference.
Clothes: At first, I was tempted to spend so much on this stuff. NO NEED! I've bought several things cheap from Target - their C9 brand, and they've been perfectly fine. They have the dri-tech shirts on sale for $5-7 periodically. I also ran in their running skirt for the half and it was great - $20. AND, if you start running local races, you usually get a tech shirt with your registration. The only expensive thing I bought was a running hoodie from Nike that was made for 30 degree weather. And I had a $50 gift card for that!
I would agree with reading Runner's World. No need for a subscription, though - a good bit of their content is online and there is even a special page on their site for beginners. Great, encouraging stories as well as tips.
I love GU, but you have to find what texture works for you. My friend prefers the Clif shot blocks, but I tried those and was picking them out of my teeth for a mile!!! But I agree with those that have said you really don't need them except for long runs.
Also, especially to encourage new runners - the first mile (or two) are consistently crappy, no matter how long you have been running!!!!! There was a discussion re this on last year's thread. Don't get discouraged when you start - it still takes me at least a mile, if not more, to get in some kind of a running groove and feel a little more on "autopilot".
Thanks for letting me share all that! I started training for the 2011 Princess in July of last year. (Umm, July in GA? NOT the best timing!) But this board was a HUGE encouragement and source of knowledge.
Finally, I am Amy A from Roswell, GA on dailymile, if you see me friending you! Feel free to friend me, as well!
I would like to second this thought. I have never run a 1/2 marathon or really anything over 6 miles but I can totally relate to this statement. I ran Cross Country from 3 grade through high school and I can remember every time the race first started out thinking, "I hate this! I hate running! Why do I do this to myself every year?!" But then you did hit autopilot somewhere along the way and it's really not as bad. 
And the cheering also helps 
The picture I used is of my son and I very dizzy on the Tea Cups (of course at Disney World). 
I went to the running store as the lady at my DH's work suggested and they helped me find a pair of shoes. I didn't buy them though because I was going back with a Visa Gift card but DH checked and he could buy them through REI sooooo $100+ pair of shoes ended up only costing $50!! 
I believe I found you and friend requested you. And no worries about not being able to find me. I swear no one can ever find me on these social networks things. 
I had just the opposite experience...too many people telling me where to go and trying not to let me go where I WANTED to go! After I found my family, I realized there was a rip in the cloth my medal was hanging from so I had to make the trek back to that area to get another one...was stopped by at least 3 people and told I could not go back...I just held up the medal, pointed at the tear and yelled "I have to get a new one!" and kept walking...I'm really short so I can get lost in a crowd easliy...no one chased me down! 
