Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[stitchfan18]

I saw advice about the "hills" posted somewhere, but can't seem to find it now. If I plan to walk these, should I do so on the left side or right side? I believe I read left side, but want to make sure.

The only hill where it might be advantageous to walk on one side or another would be the trumpet type overpass (after mile 10 I think) where the hill is curving around. I would think staying to the right would be slightly less distance, but slightly more incline, and to the left would be slightly more distance with slightly less incline if that makes sense. On the right side of the road you're walking the inside of the circle, and on the left side you're walking the outside of the circle. The difference between distance and incline is very small though. The other 2 majorish hills aren't curved, so either side would be the same.

 

[Michele325]

If you are here on a Sat AM and want to do 8-10 miles with my running group, feel free to PM me. Visitors/guests are always welcome and we have almost 500 people, in every pace group from 7min miles to 14/15min miles. It's Galloway method so we go 2 minutes slower than "race pace" + added time for heat and humidity, and it's run/walk intervals based on your pace.

Kat, I will be in raleigh visiting my inlaws in august and I am trying to figure out where to run my 6.5 miles I am scheduled for that weekend. Maybe I will join you! I am a galloway runner

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Kat and NeeLyM,

I went out to Lake Johnson this morning because I did underestimate how hot it will be here and so early in the morning. It was a good hilly challenge! Neelym, I will check out Umstead Park. Kat, I am hoping to make it out to the Galloway run group but it was difficult getting out this morning as my family wanted to come with. But I enjoyed running in your beautiful city! Next stop TrySports!!

 

[fashionista311]

I saw advice about the "hills" posted somewhere, but can't seem to find it now. If I plan to walk these, should I do so on the left side or right side? I believe I read left side, but want to make sure.

a running coach once told me it takes more energy to walk up a hill then run up a hill. who knows if it's that's actually true or not, but it's what i keep telling myself whenever i run up big hills!

either way the course is basically as flat as a pancake. a few inclines on the highway but they are no big deal at all...i barely even remember/notice them

 

[slp1650]

I saw advice about the "hills" posted somewhere, but can't seem to find it now. If I plan to walk these, should I do so on the left side or right side? I believe I read left side, but want to make sure.

I would run towards the side, make sure no one was right behind me who might run into me, and then I would walk for however long I need to.

The hills on the course aren't bad. The only real hills are when you're next to the Contemporary and going under the waterway, and then the onramps near EPCOT at the end. I actually ran the onramps, but walked the one next to the Contemp.

I don't tend to run hills in general, but I run a few every once and a while, maybe on a short run.

 

[HockeyKat]

Kat and NeeLyM,

I went out to Lake Johnson this morning because I did underestimate how hot it will be here and so early in the morning. It was a good hilly challenge! Neelym, I will check out Umstead Park. Kat, I am hoping to make it out to the Galloway run group but it was difficult getting out this morning as my family wanted to come with. But I enjoyed running in your beautiful city! Next stop TrySports!!

I'm glad you enjoyed the run even with the heat! Enjoy TrySports!

It's at 7AM on Saturday. Here is the link to the Raleigh Galloway training website: http://www.raleighgalloway.com/ It will give you exact directions to the run. I am one of the group leaders for the 13 min mile group and will be wearing a bright orange t-shirt to match.

The group is HUGE so don't be intimidated! Every group has at least 2-4 leaders and one is holding a sign with that pace. There will be water stops every few miles and the emphasis this week is on SLOW due to the heat and hills - I imagine our pace with the 13s will be close to 16-16:30.


Michele, you are more than welcome!

 

[tinkeramy]

Just had to throw out a gripe....

IT'S JUST SO HOT! Normally, I love the heat and would much rather be hot than cold. However, that was before I started running! I didn't start training for the princess until Aug. last year, and, granted, it was still hot, but not for too much longer. This is brutal! Remember when I was griping about NOT getting into the Peachtree? Be careful what you wish for! B/c now that hubs and I have won entries in, I'm actually kinda bummed - I had just talked myself into maybe taking the summer off and starting "real" training again in August.....Now I'm running a 10K in downtown Atlanta on the 4th of July!!!! So we went ahead and signed up for another 10K locally in June - I'm keeping up my "one race a month" streak since the Princess, so I feel good about that. Anyway, I just have to realize that I need to keep training, but it's going to be a lot more wearing and my times WILL go down. (No access to a TM)
I felt you poor sisters in the North last winter with your reports of running in insane amts. of ice and snow - thanks for letting me gripe now that summer has hit the South!!

 

[rizzobob]

Hi! I am new to this thread but am running the Wine and Dine in October to "practice" for this race. I was there last year the day of the race and everyone was very inspiring! I can't wait!

 

[Cripey]

Just had to throw out a gripe....

IT'S JUST SO HOT! Normally, I love the heat and would much rather be hot than cold. However, that was before I started running! I didn't start training for the princess until Aug. last year, and, granted, it was still hot, but not for too much longer. This is brutal! Remember when I was griping about NOT getting into the Peachtree? Be careful what you wish for! B/c now that hubs and I have won entries in, I'm actually kinda bummed - I had just talked myself into maybe taking the summer off and starting "real" training again in August.....Now I'm running a 10K in downtown Atlanta on the 4th of July!!!! So we went ahead and signed up for another 10K locally in June - I'm keeping up my "one race a month" streak since the Princess, so I feel good about that. Anyway, I just have to realize that I need to keep training, but it's going to be a lot more wearing and my times WILL go down. (No access to a TM)
I felt you poor sisters in the North last winter with your reports of running in insane amts. of ice and snow - thanks for letting me gripe now that summer has hit the South!!

Giiiiiirrrrrrl, I feel you! We hit 100 here yesterday and I was out in it for 4 miles and they were nothing short of brutal...and reminded me that I NEED to find a good visor for running. I normally just wear sunglasses and a Bondi band or something similar, but when I'm on a stretch that's not in the shade, the sun beating on my face just makes me want to cry! I got through it though...1+ minute(s) off of my normal pace overall and a couple of extra walks in there (those I contribute to the crazy-hard bootcamp I had on wednesday though...I don't remember when my calves have been this sore from that class!) My mom happened to be in the area that I was running yesterday at the same time so she stopped by the park and waited on a bench for me to come around so that gave me a little pep...I slowed down to give her a hug and she said "Gross! you're so sweaty! EW!" DUH MOM!

 

[cewait]

a running coach once told me it takes more energy to walk up a hill then run up a hill. who knows if it's that's actually true or not, but it's what i keep telling myself whenever i run up big hills!

either way the course is basically as flat as a pancake. a few inclines on the highway but they are no big deal at all...i barely even remember/notice them

While not me I have barked it several times. However, putting my "Professor Chuck" cap on .....

There is no energy savings from either walking or running up a hill. In a simple explanation - you are expelling energy to move a mass (you) up from elevation a (the bottom) to elevation b (the top).





Thanks....

Coach back.... You may/will feel defeated if you break on a hill which can zap mental focus and make you feel like it took more energy.

When slowing for a walk.... You will can go to either side - just make sure you are not stopping when you have a tail gater.

 

[disneyfreak1]

While not me I have barked it several times. However, putting my "Professor Chuck" cap on .....

There is no energy savings from either walking or running up a hill. In a simple explanation - you are expelling energy to move a mass (you) up from elevation a (the bottom) to elevation b (the top).





Thanks....

Coach back.... You may/will feel defeated if you break on a hill which can zap mental focus and make you feel like it took more energy.

When slowing for a walk.... You will can go to either side - just make sure you are not stopping when you have a tail gater.

Thanks so much!

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Giiiiiirrrrrrl, I feel you! We hit 100 here yesterday and I was out in it for 4 miles and they were nothing short of brutal...and reminded me that I NEED to find a good visor for running. I normally just wear sunglasses and a Bondi band or something similar, but when I'm on a stretch that's not in the shade, the sun beating on my face just makes me want to cry! I got through it though...1+ minute(s) off of my normal pace overall and a couple of extra walks in there (those I contribute to the crazy-hard bootcamp I had on wednesday though...I don't remember when my calves have been this sore from that class!) My mom happened to be in the area that I was running yesterday at the same time so she stopped by the park and waited on a bench for me to come around so that gave me a little pep...I slowed down to give her a hug and she said "Gross! you're so sweaty! EW!" DUH MOM!

While not as hot up here (about 2 degrees cooler) I realized I need a couple more Under Armour tank tops yesterday. My Bevo tank was chaffing my arms and I had to hold them out away from the shirt. I almost felt like a bird flapping my arms while running. I may be getting use to the TX heat now that this is my 3rd summer but not when I'm working out.

I know I chose to move here to get away from the ice and snow but Dallas still got ice and snow the past two winters

 

[fashionista311]

While not me I have barked it several times. However, putting my "Professor Chuck" cap on .....

There is no energy savings from either walking or running up a hill. In a simple explanation - you are expelling energy to move a mass (you) up from elevation a (the bottom) to elevation b (the top).





Thanks....

Coach back.... You may/will feel defeated if you break on a hill which can zap mental focus and make you feel like it took more energy.

When slowing for a walk.... You will can go to either side - just make sure you are not stopping when you have a tail gater.

maybe they mean it will take longer to walk then to run? plus if you slow to a walk, you need to find your running groove again and that could suck too? who knows...science (and math) have never been strong points of mine

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Kat,

Thank you for all your help!! Loved loved Trysports. They know there stuff!we have a couple of good running stores here in Atlanta but I must admit that Trysports has some really good shoe selection!

My family wants to go the Lake tomorrow so I got out voted on my run, but we will be back in October and the group you lead is right where I run at the 13:00's. Thank you thank you again and I am so glad that i was able to continue running while visiting my family. My hubby never gets that I have my Dis family everywhere

 

[cewait]

maybe they mean it will take longer to walk then to run? plus if you slow to a walk, you need to find your running groove again and that could suck too? who knows...science (and math) have never been strong points of mine

Definitely mental..... Plus if you gut a hill out the surge-like feeling you get as the effort goes from climb to down is beyond description.

One of the 'issues' with hills on mostly flat races is that folks will stop on the ups. I was actually injured on the half part of the 06 Goofy due to the crowd in the Seven Seas Viaduct (lake underpass). I started in a late corral to force an easy half. I was a little frustrated with the crowds and when we came to the viaduct was trying to push the hill. Fortunately I was looking up when the sea of folks parted and a runner was swimming upstream. Apparently they had lost something in the viaduct as were determined to go back to pick it up. To avoid the mess I jumped up on the sidewalk (course left) and stress fractured the bottom end of the tibia. I ran in hard thinking it was a sprain and that the half may be the only race of the weekend. Fortunately, I was able to run the next day; again thinking high ankle sprain. It was only when recovery took forever that I found the real injury....

 

[AliceSpark]

I think I am officially going crazy - I woke up this morning after the heat wave broke in the Washington DC area and thought "Gee, I wish this was a running day." I am training with the Galloway method and he recomends only three running days a week - I don't want to deviate from the schedule as I am concerned about getting hurt, but I actually wished I could go running this morning - I never thought that would happen.

Oh, well tomorrow is my long (for me) running day -hopefully I wake up with the same feeling.

 

[lock3130]

We can't decide which jogging stroller to purchase. Our daughter will be just over a year when we do the race. My husband and I are for sure doing the 5K and are hopefully doing the half. He wants to push our daughter in a stroller for the half but I think he's crazy. Either way, we need to buy a jogging stroller. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Also, we really wanted to bring down our regular stroller verses the jogging stroller because we love our regular stroller. However, we are flying and really don't want to check 2 strollers. Has anyone come across this problem?

Thanks!

 

[Qltrgrl2]

You may want to find out if strollers are allowed at the Princess Half marathon race. The only ones I saw this year were people who were there early to see off their friends/relatives. I was in corral B, and maybe there were strollers at the back of the race. It would be disappointing to plan to use one and find out on the day that they are not allowed.
Happy Running!
Pam

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We can't decide which jogging stroller to purchase. Our daughter will be just over a year when we do the race. My husband and I are for sure doing the 5K and are hopefully doing the half. He wants to push our daughter in a stroller for the half but I think he's crazy. Either way, we need to buy a jogging stroller. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Also, we really wanted to bring down our regular stroller verses the jogging stroller because we love our regular stroller. However, we are flying and really don't want to check 2 strollers. Has anyone come across this problem?

Thanks!

Strollers are definitely not allowed on the Princess Half course, I just looked at the final instructions from this year to make sure. By the way, you can't bring your stroller into the Expo, either, they have a parking area for them.

Considering how much waiting there is beforehand and how the sun comes up etc., it's probably best to have a little one comfortably waiting rather than out on the course.

Good luck choosing a great stroller for your training!
Maria

 

[lock3130]

That's good to know that strollers aren't allowed for the half. I wasn't crazy about the idea anyway. However, she will definetely be coming with us for the 5K, so we still need to zero in on what kind of stroller to get.