Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[saysay]

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 bought a windbreaker at Kohls last year - LOVE IT. Just a FILA shell. Made all the difference last year when it was low 30's and below...though that doesn't happen too often down here. It wasn't too hot either.

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.

Hey Rose! WB! I am sorry to hear about your foot, I might be in the same boat as far as just trying to finish painfree. My stupid PF lingers and its still tight in my ankle. So over it, but didn't stop me from signing up again. On a positive note...I finally got my eating in order. Eliminated most processed stuff from my diet and drinking lots of fresh juice i make and eating sensibly. Down 9lbs so far in 3 weeks! Feeling good too other than the stupid foot.......thinking about going back to doctor. Anyhoo, wanted to say HI!

 

[kmchisholm]

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.

I'm sure you could walk over and meet a group at the BC or BW. Think they're 3-4 of us at BW and know at least two of us (myself & friend who's going) would be happy to share a cab.

 

[TiggerAllie]

Anyone on here trying the barefoot running-type 5-fingers shoes? I've always been curious, and just saw this article in NYT about efficient, injury-free running:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/running-christopher-mcdougall.html

 

[DeerIsleDisney]

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!

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!

I'm sure you could walk over and meet a group at the BC or BW. Think they're 3-4 of us at BW and know at least two of us (myself & friend who's going) would be happy to share a cab.

Thanks so much for all the help! This is great information. Once I settle on a plan, I'll post where I'm staying to try to connect on cabs, etc.

 

[Rose&Mike]

I'm sure you could walk over and meet a group at the BC or BW. Think they're 3-4 of us at BW and know at least two of us (myself & friend who's going) would be happy to share a cab.

You all might have already talked about this, but this year we stayed at bwv and took the team in training/run disney bus. There was some confusion about whether or not there was going to be a bus there or not, but in the end no one seemed to mind extra folks on the bus. Actually the bellhops at bw told us to get on the bus rather than take a cab. Not sure if/where team in training is staying this year, but it worked out well for us in 2011.


Julie--I'm sorry about your foot bothering you. My physical therapy is so painful, but I am starting to see some progress. I just hope my itbs stays in check. Sometimes I really question why I keep doing this, but I really do love running. Congrats on the weight loss and figuring out the food! That's awesome!

 

[Cindyrella22]

All signed up and definitely VERY nervous !! But im very excited too Signed up with a friend from town so no backing out now! So far my longest run is the Tufts 10k, which took me 70 minutes. I was so glad to find this forum.. I've been lurking here for a bit while I was making my decision and you all convinced me!! This is my second year running. Up until recently 3.1 miles was my max. I live in Boston and stop running altogether in the winter cuz it's so cold and I hate being cold and i hate the treadmill!! I'm hoping signing up for the princess will keep me motivated. Hubby brought my treadmill upstairs so hopefully that helps. I'm doing the galloway plan to end standing up. Are most of the newbies doing this? Ummmm I hadn't realized there were sweepers.. Ahhhhhh now that is scary!! I feel some sweeping nightmares in my future Anyway, thanks for your stories !! They really inspired me to do this!! Now I gotta figure out how to out one of those countdown things on my calendar!!

 

[slp1650]

It's getting nice and cool so I've been able to run outside more which is making me excited. I was planning on running on the treadmill again this morning, but when I stepped outside it just felt like a great day to run outside so I did. I probably could have gone a bit longer than I did, but my knee's been acting up these last few days so I decided to hold back a bit. I definitely enjoyed running outside again though!

 

[SummerIrmoma2_3]

Hi Everyone. This will be my first half marathon....and I am so scared!! I have been overweight and out of shape for many years, and have been on weight watchers since March. I have lost 40 pounds so far. I am a huge Disney fan and this half marathon is one of my incentives to continue my journey for better health. I have never been a runner so this is very new to me. I have someone coaching me on a training plan and I am slowly jogging more and more.

I am **VERY** nervous about the race. It seems like almost an impossible dream considering I am not a runner. However, I have come a long way since March, and I am doing and feeling much better than before I lost my weight. I just pray I can do it, and that I haven't taken on too big of a challenge.

I wanted to join the thread to get some insight from other participants. I apologize I haven't had time to read this full thread as it is HUGE. I am hoping that it is possible to walk/jog this and not have to jog/run the entire distance. I am sure it is answered somewhere in here, but if not, can anyone give me advice about walking/jogging?

Good luck to everyone training!

A lot of us here have never been runners. I actually hated running. I was the girl in Jr high who write my own notes to get out of the timed mile. LoL
This years princess was my first race ever and now I doing the Tinker Bell in Jan and Princess again in Feb and am planning a few more in the next year or two. I found signing up for the princess was the best motivation I could give myself. I decide since I already shelled out the money and booked the trip there was no way I wasn't going to finish. It just wasn't an option.
I jog/ walked the whole thing and finished with a 13:30 pace. So you definitely don't have to run the whole thing. For my training I just tried to keep my walking pace as close as I could to 16 min/mil and that way any running I did just gave me that much more of a cushion.

GL! You will do just fine.

I had one of those last week, but my training's been going on since June. I hadn't missed the start, but the course itself was only in the Magic Kingdom, the MK was about 5x its real size, and all of sudden I was passed by the sweepers. I know it's just a dream but I would like those to not happen again

I had those quite a bit last year too. My favorite was I got to the start line and I didn't have my shoes even though I left the room with them and so they wouldn't let me go to the corrals to start the race.

Eliminated most processed stuff from my diet and drinking lots of fresh juice i make and eating sensibly. Down 9lbs so far in 3 weeks! Feeling good too other than the stupid foot.......thinking about going back to doctor. Anyhoo, wanted to say HI!

WTG. I don't eat many overly processed foods to begin with but I am trying to get rid of them all together and go mostly homemade so I can control the ingredients.
DH is getting me a jucier for Christmas and I want to add juicing to my regimen too. Right now I already have a 100% juice/ puree smoothie for breakfast and I want to add that to my lunch and dinner as well.

Anyone on here trying the barefoot running-type 5-fingers shoes? I've always been curious, and just saw this article in NYT about efficient, injury-free running:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/running-christopher-mcdougall.html

I read that article recently and found it interesting. I am intrigued by the idea, but I moderately overpronate so I don't think it would work for me. But on the other hand a pair of stability shoes I was fitted with hurt me up and down my entire legs so it might be worth a shot.

 

[Tabetha]

My husband and I are still going strong doing our training on the ship. We learned a valuable lesson last night, and that is to NOT start running as the ship is leaving a port. The ship moves around a LOT and its like half your body is running up a hill made of jello, and the other half is supporting the rest of the weight. Tough going.

We had to delay a couple of days this week because of bad weather - we don't want to get injured bouncing around a treadmill in rocky seas - but we're making up for it. I start to get a little antsy if I miss a day, so I know I'm in it for the long haul! No giving up!

It's been very encouraging to check in here when we get somewhere with internet, and see how others are doing.

We have a MM coming up (following Galloway's program) in a couple of weeks, so we have to try and find a track somewhere. It'll be interesting - because it's pretty darn HOT down here in the Caribbean. (Sorry to all our cold weather compatriots).

We're staying at the AKL DVC - anyone else staying there?

 

[flgirl36]

I made my hotel reservation this morning. Caribbean Beach

FYI, as of this morning there are still rooms available at the special half marathon rate at Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans Riverside if anyone is looking at the moderate category. I didn't ask about the value or deluxe.

Julie

 

[saysay]

Got my 4 miles in today with new intervals. Did 1/1 and have to say, I liked it. I tried to push myself on the runs which is easy to do when you are running on a treadmill, its run the pace you programmed or fall off!

Thinking about going back to sports med doctor as I have tight calves and shins, esp on the side with my Plantars Faciitis which is mostly better. I really don't want to get injured again and have to sit out. I am trying to be conservative in my running and slow down some....not that I was ever a speed demon, its just if I try to do too much, I will surely hurt myself again.

Also need to do yoga....anyone got a good runners dvd?

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

Hello Princesses!
I have not checking in for a while, I have just been to bummed about being sidelined with my injury.
Today I did a 5K with not alot of pain, it felt so good to run, I was slow but I finished. Here is hoping I can get back to princess training without anything else getting injured.

I can't belive the princess is only 4 months away. Boy time is going by fast.

 

[stamot]

I did my long run today at the treadmill because the snowstorm destroyed my community and everything is still a mess. Ran 5 miles with intervals 1/1 and I think I did good. I finished the 5 miles in 1:14:20. I cant believe we are sooo close to the race.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

I did my long run today at the treadmill because the snowstorm destroyed my community and everything is still a mess. Ran 5 miles with intervals 1/1 and I think I did good. I finished the 5 miles in 1:14:20. I cant believe we are sooo close to the race.

Great job getting the run in, so very sorry about the snow storm

 

[tinkeramy]

Hey, Princesses! Found something new that might be helpful. In Real Simple mag they had a blurb about a website called jog.fm. You plug in your pace and they will give you a list of songs whose beat match that pace! I've seen things like this before but it was all electronica, Chinese torture-type songs that would have had me on my knees in under a minute. This site has a pretty good mix of 70's - recent songs. If you are really trying to up your pace just a little bit, maybe having some of the faster songs on your playlist could help!?!?! Conversely, I always have to struggle to slow down on my long runs so I'm not dying at the end, so maybe I could make a list of slower songs that might help me pace it a bit better on the longer runs. In any event, you could discover some new music that you like!

 

[Namsupak]

Ran my 5 miles yesterday on the treadmill. It took me 82 min and my hip is pretty sore today even though I stretched really well. I'm happy because I never thought I would be able to run that long but I'm hoping that I can make some huge improvements on my time because my time was 1:22. I guess that's why I'm training :good vibes

Also a long while ago someone mentioned getting good socks. I went to our local running store and they had a whole bunch of them. I tried them yesterday and they were great. I really think they made a difference.

 

[JCH]

Ran my 5 miles yesterday on the treadmill. It took me 82 min and my hip is pretty sore today even though I stretched really well. I'm happy because I never thought I would be able to run that long but I'm hoping that I can make some huge improvements on my time because my time was 1:22. I guess that's why I'm training :good vibes

Also a long while ago someone mentioned getting good socks. I went to our local running store and they had a whole bunch of them. I tried them yesterday and they were great. I really think they made a difference.

You are doing fine!! Galloway says you train about 2 minutes per mile slower than your predicted pace on long runs. So doing 16:40 is where you should be if your goal is to finish with a 14-15 minutes mile.

I still can't believe I ran 5 miles yesterday, and more importantly, ran 5 miles and still felt like I wasn't going to die!

Now to get to 6 for the Turkey Trot 10k!

 

[flgirl36]

Getting ready to tackle my 5 miles. Wish me luck.

 

[kmchisholm]

You all might have already talked about this, but this year we stayed at bwv and took the team in training/run disney bus. There was some confusion about whether or not there was going to be a bus there or not, but in the end no one seemed to mind extra folks on the bus. Actually the bellhops at bw told us to get on the bus rather than take a cab. Not sure if/where team in training is staying this year, but it worked out well for us in 2011.


Julie--I'm sorry about your foot bothering you. My physical therapy is so painful, but I am starting to see some progress. I just hope my itbs stays in check. Sometimes I really question why I keep doing this, but I really do love running. Congrats on the weight loss and figuring out the food! That's awesome!

Thanks for the update - my plan is to ask at the front when we get there - worse case is we'll have to take a cab. When it gets closer I'm sure we'll start coordinating rides.

 

[Nishmom]

So excited - ran a really good 6 miles this morning at 11:55 average pace! This is the last longish run before my half marathon next weekend. Having only done one half, it seemed like a good idea to run another one before the Princess, just to make sure that the first wasn't a fluke! A couple short runs this week, get another half on my running resume, and Disney here we come!

Pattie