Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[andie70124]

Loved it!! I can't believe you did all that touring the day before!!



Thanks! I started C25K about 5 weeks ago from a "I HATE running and haven't worked out in the past year" place. I'm pleased with my 5K progress, but still really nervous about longer distances. I am all about saying to myself "Only ______ left to go" and 13.1 seems entirely too long to say that. I know we have time though!

Well, I looked around and found a site with a list of running podcasets and told my DH that lots of guy runners listen to these things while they run- there's even one called Marathon Talk Radio- right up his alley. Hopefully he'll get some good tips from there!

Heading to the gym for the first time today since Sunday. My stomach finally feels settled enough to do some running- I don't mess around with puking .

Happy training everyone!

I feel the same way about running! I used to run a lot but I had shoulder surgery in December and couldn't run for a while. But, I'm back at it!! There is a 5k and a half marathon in October. I think I'm going to sign up for the 5k. I'm afraid if I hate the half marathon or I just get frustrated with it, I wont want to do the princess in Feb!!

 

[Cripey]

Okay, I've made a HUGE mental note to check my medal for tears because it would drive me completely insane if mine was torn!

Believe me, I'll be checking from now on too...and quickly because I noticed it this time while in line to have the back of the medal engraved...which was set up in the parking lot/staging area about as far away as you could get from where the finish line/medal area was. It was tough having to walk all the way back over there...I was sore!!!...and then walk all the way back because I still wanted engraving!!

On another subject...I really tweaked my knee yesterday while at work...just sitting back down at my desk, I have no idea what I did, but I felt it immediately and could barely put any weight on it the rest of the day. Thankfully, it felt alot better today, but still a little twinge in there so I think I'll rest it for a couple more days...don't want any set backs since we just booked our rooms for the DL half on Thursday...and it was a non-refundable rate so we have to go!!!

 

[dthogue]

Good Morning Princesses,

I have my first long run today (well long for me), 4 miles - I'm excited - this will be a first for me, I've never ran that far before - it is so exciting to think that about 12 weeks ago I couldn't run 5 minutes. I'm going to try intervals today - I was thinking 3/1, but I'm just not sure exactly what I should be doing.

We went to the expo at The Washington DC National Marathon on Friday - I bought some body glide (still not sure what to do with it) and a Ifitness pouch as well as some supplements. It was alot of fun, and the excitement in the air was contagious, made me wish I was running!

 

[Cripey]

Good Morning Princesses,

I have my first long run today (well long for me), 4 miles - I'm excited - this will be a first for me, I've never ran that far before - it is so exciting to think that about 12 weeks ago I couldn't run 5 minutes. I'm going to try intervals today - I was thinking 3/1, but I'm just not sure exactly what I should be doing.

We went to the expo at The Washington DC National Marathon on Friday - I bought some body glide (still not sure what to do with it) and a Ifitness pouch as well as some supplements. It was alot of fun, and the excitement in the air was contagious, made me wish I was running!

Attending the expos is kinda what got me thinking about trying to run a half last year too...it IS contagious! Even just being a spectator at the halves my BF ran was really thrilling and made me want to be a part of it.

Good luck with your first long run today! Each mileage increase you get to will be like little victories in themselves so enjoy it and be proud of yourself for conquering each one. I was totally freaked out when my trainer told me to step it up to 4 miles on my weekend runs for a while...I was having a hard enough time getting in 3! But once I did it, it was fine...just one more mile...which eventually was what I had to repeat to myself each and every time I had a mileage increase...all the way up to 11 miles...it was just one more than I already had proven I could do.

 

[Happy Mom2]

Can anyone suggest a good headband? I have lots of bangs and short hair around my face that drive me crazy when I exercise. I've tried store bought headbands but they don't stay in place. I'd like something at least an 1 inch wide, and pretty, if possible - after all, I am a princess (in training)!

 

[HockeyKat]

Can anyone suggest a good headband? I have lots of bangs and short hair around my face that drive me crazy when I exercise. I've tried store bought headbands but they don't stay in place. I'd like something at least an 1 inch wide, and pretty, if possible - after all, I am a princess (in training)!

Bondi bands are great! They look a little silly (imo, don't flame me), but you can get them in fun colors, they sure do the job, stay where they belong, wick sweat, and no wispy hairs anywhere to be found.

http://www.bondiband.com/

I have tried other store-bought headbands and they are okay but never seem to stay where they belong.



Yesterday I planned on doing 8 with about 10-12 folks from my running group (as our official training doesn't start until May), and wound up in a group of 5 with 2 of them being FAST - 5 hour marathoners, which is fast to me!

We wound up doing 10.5, and man did they push the pace. It was hilly, too, but a gravel trail run. My training plan has me training 2min/mile slower than my fastest short run pace (~12:30-13 right now), so have been averaging more in the 15-16mm for long runs, and this was in the 14mm range.

Wow am I feeling it today!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

 

[Happy Mom2]

Bondi bands are great! They look a little silly (imo, don't flame me), but you can get them in fun colors, they sure do the job, stay where they belong, wick sweat, and no wispy hairs anywhere to be found.

http://www.bondiband.com/

I have tried other store-bought headbands and they are okay but never seem to stay where they belong.

I agree - they do look silly, but if they work I guess I'll have to look silly. Ugh...

Anyone know of any cuter ones?

 

[stitchfan18]

Can anyone suggest a good headband? I have lots of bangs and short hair around my face that drive me crazy when I exercise. I've tried store bought headbands but they don't stay in place. I'd like something at least an 1 inch wide, and pretty, if possible - after all, I am a princess (in training)!

I second the bondibands comment, they are awesome!

 

[verticalchaos]

I agree - they do look silly, but if they work I guess I'll have to look silly. Ugh...

Anyone know of any cuter ones?

Just make sure you have that little bump in the back of your head that helps them stay on properly. My sister and I are missing them - at the Marathon weekend expo we tried on some "guaranteed to stay on headbands" (don't remember if it was at the Bondi booth) and they slid right off. I can wear them, but I have to pin them on with so many bobby-pins it's not worth it. Ponytail and cap for me.

 

[saysay]

Sweaty Bands work for me......http://www.sweatybands.com/

I like this for the gym more than running outside though as I also usually wear a hat to have some protection from sun and/or rain. I have worn it when running and it stays in place.

 

[Tinker82]

Hope you don't mind me joining in - I'm in the UK & looking forward to the Princess Half next year as part of our family holiday - my 3 kids will be running the kids races & I can't wait!
I ran the Up & Away 5K in 2010 & soooo wanted to be a princess this year but needed another year to save up as also hoping to do coast to coast if I can convince DH - but will leave the kids at home for that one!
I've run 3 half marathons one in september (2 hours 16), one in november (2 hours 5) and one on sunday 27th feb (2 hours 12) at roughly the same time as the princess half!

 

[stitchfan18]

Just make sure you have that little bump in the back of your head that helps them stay on properly. My sister and I are missing them - at the Marathon weekend expo we tried on some "guaranteed to stay on headbands" (don't remember if it was at the Bondi booth) and they slid right off. I can wear them, but I have to pin them on with so many bobby-pins it's not worth it. Ponytail and cap for me.

I don't think bondiband makes the 'guarantee to stay on' claim that like sweaty bands does. I'm not a fan on the sweaty bands because they slide on my head too, but the bondibands are so thick that they don't. Plus, they are worn right on the hairline and absorb sweat great!

 

[Happy Mom2]

Now these are cute!!! That's what I was looking for.

 

[johde]

Good Evening Princesses, I hope you don't mind a Prince storming the castle. I'm not doing the 2012 princesses, but I lurk on here from time to time because you have such good information.

I have my first long run today (well long for me), 4 miles - I'm excited - this will be a first for me, I've never ran that far before - it is so exciting to think that about 12 weeks ago I couldn't run 5 minutes. I'm going to try intervals today - I was thinking 3/1, but I'm just not sure exactly what I should be doing.

If your thinking about doing walk/run for the Princess, I would really look into the work of Jeff Galloway. He is the one who designed the plans for rundisney.com. He has recommended run/walk intervals to use as a starting point and at least for me, he's been spot on. I trained for my second half marathon using John Bingham/Jenny Hadfield's "Marathoning for Mortals" walk run plan. They recommended going to a run 2/walk 3, from a run 1/walk 3. Doing a run 2 slowed me way down but I could drop the walking from 3 to 2 no problem. So I finished my half marathon run 1/walk 2. Towards the end of my training I looked at Galloway's chart, for my goal pace he recommended a run 30sec./walk 60 sec. The same ratio I was using cut in half.

Like you, I've been training to run longer distances without walking. I've been doing a run 3/walk 2 once a week, and every so often running a mile or 2 without walk breaks. Based on my current goal pace, Galloway recommends a 1/1, Guess where I'm my fastest, run 1:15/walk 1:00, real close again. For me, when I run more for long distances I need to run slower and that slows me down overall. Experiment with different run/walk intervals to see what feels best to you. But, I would try at least once Jeff's recommended intervals.

Good luck in your training.

 

[verticalchaos]

I don't think bondiband makes the 'guarantee to stay on' claim that like sweaty bands does. I'm not a fan on the sweaty bands because they slide on my head too, but the bondibands are so thick that they don't. Plus, they are worn right on the hairline and absorb sweat great!

I couldn't remember which one did. I just know neither of them stays on my head without bobby pins.

 

[kappyfamily]

I have a really nice Lucy headband that I got at their store (if you have never heard of Lucy before it is an all womens athletic store that is owned by ex Nike executives, so they know their stuff). It is black with a "gummy strip" in the inside so it doesnt move and it also has a ponytail "hole" in the back of the band so you can wear a low pony with it. Super cute.

I didnt see it on their website, but i just got it. May be worth a call to the store if you have one in your area or call the Washington Square store in Oregon and they can give you product #'s or info. Hope this helps!

 

[tinkeramy]

Hope you don't mind me joining in - I'm in the UK & looking forward to the Princess Half next year as part of our family holiday - my 3 kids will be running the kids races & I can't wait!
I ran the Up & Away 5K in 2010 & soooo wanted to be a princess this year but needed another year to save up as also hoping to do coast to coast if I can convince DH - but will leave the kids at home for that one!
I've run 3 half marathons one in september (2 hours 16), one in november (2 hours 5) and one on sunday 27th feb (2 hours 12) at roughly the same time as the princess half!

We welcome princesses from near and far! Keep checking in!

 

[Larrabe]

Sweaty Bands work for me......http://www.sweatybands.com/

Ooo, I love these!! So much cuter than the boring Goody stay-put ones I bought at Wal Mart.

Believe me, I'll be checking from now on too...and quickly because I noticed it this time while in line to have the back of the medal engraved...which was set up in the parking lot/staging area about as far away as you could get from where the finish line/medal area was. It was tough having to walk all the way back over there...I was sore!!!...and then walk all the way back because I still wanted engraving!!

On another subject...I really tweaked my knee yesterday while at work...just sitting back down at my desk, I have no idea what I did, but I felt it immediately and could barely put any weight on it the rest of the day. Thankfully, it felt alot better today, but still a little twinge in there so I think I'll rest it for a couple more days...don't want any set backs since we just booked our rooms for the DL half on Thursday...and it was a non-refundable rate so we have to go!!!

Aw, I hope you feel better soon, and best of luck with the DL Half! And how much was the engraving? I'm starting to figure out my Disney budget. Yikes.



Oh, and speaking of yikes. After reading all the great advice, I went to a running specialty store for new shoes, seeing how my size eights haven't been feeling that hot, lately. Well, after the treadmill test and a measurement, I find out that not only do I over-pronate, but I should be wearing a size nine narrow! Yikes, no wonder the inside of my arches have been aching!

I bought the first pair I tried on - the Brooks Adrenaline, that I love, love, LOVE!!! They feel so fantastic. I wanted to try them out after we got home from dinner, but two beers and a treamill is not a good combination.

 

[dthogue]

Good Evening Princesses, I hope you don't mind a Prince storming the castle. I'm not doing the 2012 princesses, but I lurk on here from time to time because you have such good information.



If your thinking about doing walk/run for the Princess, I would really look into the work of Jeff Galloway. He is the one who designed the plans for rundisney.com. He has recommended run/walk intervals to use as a starting point and at least for me, he's been spot on. I trained for my second half marathon using John Bingham/Jenny Hadfield's "Marathoning for Mortals" walk run plan. They recommended going to a run 2/walk 3, from a run 1/walk 3. Doing a run 2 slowed me way down but I could drop the walking from 3 to 2 no problem. So I finished my half marathon run 1/walk 2. Towards the end of my training I looked at Galloway's chart, for my goal pace he recommended a run 30sec./walk 60 sec. The same ratio I was using cut in half.

Like you, I've been training to run longer distances without walking. I've been doing a run 3/walk 2 once a week, and every so often running a mile or 2 without walk breaks. Based on my current goal pace, Galloway recommends a 1/1, Guess where I'm my fastest, run 1:15/walk 1:00, real close again. For me, when I run more for long distances I need to run slower and that slows me down overall. Experiment with different run/walk intervals to see what feels best to you. But, I would try at least once Jeff's recommended intervals.

Good luck in your training.

Thanks for your input Jeremy - I am following Galloway's training schedule, and I have his 1/2 marathon book - according to his chart, I should do a 1/1 interval for a 13:30-15:30 mile - that seems like alot of starting and stopping, but maybe I should listen to the expert and give it a try next week on my long run.

 

[dthogue]

it was just one more than I already had proven I could do.

Thank you for your support - its funny, this is exactly what I did when my GPS hit the 3 mile mark, kept repeating just one more mile, just one more mile, then I went to just keep swimming, just keep swimming. I felt so good about myself when I was done - who would thought I could do 4 miles!