Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[westgre]

A belated thank you to Stitchfan18 for answering my taxi question. Now I have another Q, hopefully you all can help me again. Are the park tickets you get through ESPN upgradeable?

I already purchased 2 of our 5 tickets through the ESPN site. You can choose basic tickets, Park Hopper, you can add the water parks, and some other option I can't remember right now. Totally customizable!

 

[Klp]

Thanks Westgre, I was wondering if they can be upgraded at the parks if we want to add hopping later on in our stay or if we decide to be so bold as to upgrade to APs if we decide to do another trip that we are considering next year. If they are not upgradeable then I will hold off on buying them until I know better what we are doing.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Wow!! You must be really moving it. I am running a 1:1 and generally am right on 13 min/mi as Galloway projects for that ratio. I tried 2:1 today and was closer to the 12 min/mi but now I'm more sore too whereas at 1:1 I wasn't. Not sure what I'll try for the 5 miler this weekend.

Thank you all for posting your experiences for it really helps with motivation. Keep running friends!!

I tend to really push it if a lot of people are on the course and I need to get by. It is impossible to follow the intervals to a T in that scenario, so that helps improve my time too. I got sore and a bit more tired doing the longer intervals and at DL in 2010 heard Jeff talk about the 30 second intervals and how great they were so I thought why not try it? (Granted you aren't supposed to do anything new come race day, but I guess it sounded so good, I couldn't resist) It is so much easier to gun it for 30 seconds than for one minute or two minutes! I am faster during the races than with my training too. But, I train entirely on the treadmill which keeps me at an even pace. Plus, it can be pretty boring.

If you haven't tried 30 second intervals, I would recommend just seeing how it works for you. It may end up working out a lot better than you thought it would!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I already purchased 2 of our 5 tickets through the ESPN site. You can choose basic tickets, Park Hopper, you can add the water parks, and some other option I can't remember right now. Totally customizable!

But, just know that you really want to purchase the days you need - don't go over those days because there isn't the option for them to never expire. I think they officially expire two weeks after the last day or something like that? I will be at Disney so much this year that I am biting the bullet and getting Premier Passes. It ends up being a lot cheaper.

 

[JCH]

Hi ladies! I have a gear-related question. I am looking for a pair of running shorts with pockets that can close. I need to store my energy gel, etc. when I run but the pockets I currently have do not close and I'm paranoid about my stuff falling out. I saw Brooks has a couple styles with Velcro pockets, but have never warn Brooks gear. Do any of you have reviews about Brooks or other brands with pockets that can close, either Velcro or zip?

Check out the stuff at old navy. I got some compression capris and a tank for 15 bucks each and they both have zippered pockets. And they are actually comfortable!

 

[4happybogles]

I am getting ready for winter to hit here, knowing that I would rather run outside then inside on a boring treadmill I know it's time to invest in cold weather gear. Anyone have suggestions?? I have found three different kinds of pants by three different brands... Under Armour, Nike and Brooks. Though cost is something to consider, at this point, I am more worried about comfort and warmth, I hate to be cold when I am running, but hate being hot and sweaty as well...

I have a shirt and just ordered the Under Armour extreme cold weather gloves, so I am looking for pants, socks, and a hot/ear muffs.

 

[joan4mickey]

Thanks Westgre, I was wondering if they can be upgraded at the parks if we want to add hopping later on in our stay or if we decide to be so bold as to upgrade to APs if we decide to do another trip that we are considering next year. If they are not upgradeable then I will hold off on buying them until I know better what we are doing.

The park tickets purchased with the princess code can NOT be changed, upgraded etc. Buy what you need, they are only good for a limited time and expire even if they aren't activated.

 

[saysay]

I tend to really push it if a lot of people are on the course and I need to get by. It is impossible to follow the intervals to a T in that scenario, so that helps improve my time too. I got sore and a bit more tired doing the longer intervals and at DL in 2010 heard Jeff talk about the 30 second intervals and how great they were so I thought why not try it? (Granted you aren't supposed to do anything new come race day, but I guess it sounded so good, I couldn't resist) It is so much easier to gun it for 30 seconds than for one minute or two minutes! I am faster during the races than with my training too. But, I train entirely on the treadmill which keeps me at an even pace. Plus, it can be pretty boring.

If you haven't tried 30 second intervals, I would recommend just seeing how it works for you. It may end up working out a lot better than you thought it would!

Hmm, you have me thinking I might give it a go.

 

[Klp]

Thanks Joan and Rupert!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Hmm, you have me thinking I might give it a go.

You may love it, Julie!! BTW - are you doing the Thanksgiving Half Marathon? Your PF is a distant memory?

 

[thotfulspot]

This may have been asked before, but what time is the race done by? I only ask because we will only be there a few days and we have a reservation at 11 for Chef Mickey's as it is our tradition to go and I wonder if we will make it....

No worries, rebapple! The race will be over before 10 am, and they open things as the end of the race passes through. You shouldn't have any hold-ups at all.

 

[italianlover]

The way to increase speed is by increasing your cadence (the amount of times your foot hits the ground in a given time.) Do a You Tube search for Jeff Galloway cadence drill. I think there's also a link on the run Disney website, too.

Thanks for the reminder! I have seen that video but haven't been practicing it so off to try it out

 

[Rose&Mike]

Couldn't remember if I had posted yet or not, but I am doing the Princess again in 2012 (and Mike too.). We had a lot of fun running the race this year. We met lots of fun Wishers, and it was my first race after going gluten free, so I will always remember it as my first race where I didn't get sick afterwards. We are staying at Kidani--for the first time, so we are excited!

Right after the Princess I dealt with a nasty case of itbs, and now I am fighting some pf, a fat pad injury and some lingering ankle pain from a sprain in May--all in the same foot. So my goal for this race is to finish and have fun. My physical therapist is optimistic that I will be able to complete it, so that's encouraging. To borrow a term from some friends, we will be "gallow-stopping" and taking lots of pictures and hoping to finish pain free.

Anyhow, I have been kind of been reading along, but decided to jump on and say hi. Looking forward to getting to know some new Wishers.

 

[Nishmom]

Have any of you had experience with chia seeds? They are supposed to be a runners' superfood. I'm not very brave about trying things but am giving the chia seeds a try, as I have a half in 8 days and will take all the help I can get!

Pattie

 

[DisneyBoyz]

I am getting ready for winter to hit here, knowing that I would rather run outside then inside on a boring treadmill I know it's time to invest in cold weather gear. Anyone have suggestions?? I have found three different kinds of pants by three different brands... Under Armour, Nike and Brooks. Though cost is something to consider, at this point, I am more worried about comfort and warmth, I hate to be cold when I am running, but hate being hot and sweaty as well...

I have a shirt and just ordered the Under Armour extreme cold weather gloves, so I am looking for pants, socks, and a hot/ear muffs.

I purchase all of my training gear at Kohl's and I only wear Fila. I love the summer wardrobe and the winter wardrobe. Granted I've only been testing it in upper 30s through the 50s, that's as cold as our winter's in SC get generally.
Good luck!

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I am getting ready for winter to hit here, knowing that I would rather run outside then inside on a boring treadmill I know it's time to invest in cold weather gear. Anyone have suggestions?? I have found three different kinds of pants by three different brands... Under Armour, Nike and Brooks. Though cost is something to consider, at this point, I am more worried about comfort and warmth, I hate to be cold when I am running, but hate being hot and sweaty as well...

I have a shirt and just ordered the Under Armour extreme cold weather gloves, so I am looking for pants, socks, and a hot/ear muffs.

I know UA tends to be a bit pricey, but I've had the same UA cold weather gear for 8 years and it's still going strong. 6 of those years were in Boston and it got heavy usage in college lacrosse. My coach always said there's not such thing as bad weather.

 

[DisneyBoyz]

I've been trying to upload a picture of my DH's B Tag Bib from the MCM last weekend in DC. I remember we spoke of it a couple months back. I've attached the link, but sorry there's no picture here as I simply can't figure that part out!

The "chips" are vertical strips located on the left and right side of the bib, between the safety pins. BTW, his time was 4:43 and was his first marathon. THE Drew Carey finished only two minutes in front of him. Way to go hun!

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/wish/p71484-b-tag.html

 

[DeerIsleDisney]

Please forgive me if these have been covered before... I've searched through a few times and not found the answers... but this thread is HUGE, so maybe I missed it.

1) If you stay at a non-host resort, can you get a cab to the start at the early hour? Thinking about whether the Swan/Dolphin might work (we have Starwood points). Do you need to make arrangements with a cab company ahead of time? I really don't want to deal with a rental car.

2) On the discount tickets, how many tickets can you purchase, and how many days maximum? We are a family of 5... trying to decide whether it would work to take the whole family before I register. Can we do 4-5 day park passes for the whole family at the discounted rate? Anyone know what the discount prices are?

Our kids are on vacation for President's day week. I hate to leave during their vacation to head to Disney alone... but not sure we can budget for another family vacation just after our planned late December/early January Disney trip. If we could take advantage of the discount tickets and stay on Starwood points, it might work.

 

[stitchfan18]

Please forgive me if these have been covered before... I've searched through a few times and not found the answers... but this thread is HUGE, so maybe I missed it.

1) If you stay at a non-host resort, can you get a cab to the start at the early hour? Thinking about whether the Swan/Dolphin might work (we have Starwood points). Do you need to make arrangements with a cab company ahead of time? I really don't want to deal with a rental car.

2) On the discount tickets, how many tickets can you purchase, and how many days maximum? We are a family of 5... trying to decide whether it would work to take the whole family before I register. Can we do 4-5 day park passes for the whole family at the discounted rate? Anyone know what the discount prices are?

Our kids are on vacation for President's day week. I hate to leave during their vacation to head to Disney alone... but not sure we can budget for another family vacation just after our planned late December/early January Disney trip. If we could take advantage of the discount tickets and stay on Starwood points, it might work.

You should definitely be able to get a cab from your hotel. They have bell services like the Disney resorts. If for some reason you can't get a cab there, you can take the short walk over to the YC/BC, or the BW and catch a cab there. I've never been asked for a room key to have bell services call a cab for me.

As far as ticketing goes, I'll PM you the information to get on the website with ticket information so you can see what your options are there!

 

[saysay]

Please forgive me if these have been covered before... I've searched through a few times and not found the answers... but this thread is HUGE, so maybe I missed it.

1) If you stay at a non-host resort, can you get a cab to the start at the early hour? Thinking about whether the Swan/Dolphin might work (we have Starwood points). Do you need to make arrangements with a cab company ahead of time? I really don't want to deal with a rental car.

2) On the discount tickets, how many tickets can you purchase, and how many days maximum? We are a family of 5... trying to decide whether it would work to take the whole family before I register. Can we do 4-5 day park passes for the whole family at the discounted rate? Anyone know what the discount prices are?

Our kids are on vacation for President's day week. I hate to leave during their vacation to head to Disney alone... but not sure we can budget for another family vacation just after our planned late December/early January Disney trip. If we could take advantage of the discount tickets and stay on Starwood points, it might work.

We stayed at the Swan last year.

The Swan is completely booked for the weekend as far as I have seen, so you might want to go ahead and reserve your room at the Dolphin.

YES, you can arrange a cab, we drove, but saw a group waiting when we left hotel. Just pre-arrange the day before..... you might find some people on this board to give you a ride, we gave someone a ride last year! Also a friend took a cab back to hotel from race and it wasn't bad at all. I wanted to stay there again this year, but no good discounts for me right now. Oh well, Hello Port Orleans!