Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[jreeves628]

I currently use the clif gels that Disney hands out on the course. I tried them at Disney for the first time, and really liked the mocha flavor. QUOTE]

Do they give them out throughout the entire course or just at certain points?

 

[tetney12]

I currently use the clif gels that Disney hands out on the course. I tried them at Disney for the first time, and really liked the mocha flavor. QUOTE]

Do they give them out throughout the entire course or just at certain points?

it was only by mile 8...by the race track....i remember becuase the floor was super sticky in that area....

 

[My4Men]

WOW You are totally awesome!! I'm doing a happy dance for you. I am blown away and totally impressed by you. I'm not kidding when I say you should make a video and put it up for others to see. Tell your story and give others inspiration. I am in awe of you and I wish some of my girl friends and your strength and belief in themselves. ..... ok am I gushing enough

Thank you all so much! I still walk down the street & think to myself, I actually did it, I ran a half marathon -- that scary word "marathon."

I try all the time to get friends who say "I don't have the time" to realize about anyone has the time but you have to MAKE the time for yourself and your health! I probably drive them crazy with it but I try to stress how much better you feel afterwards! I am so jazzed about the Princess now.

Thanks for answering my question. I will definitely do a 10k in the fall after working on my time over the summer. To know I can submit an actual time is great, but I know it wasn't a best time for me so I'm going to see how I can improve it over the summer.

Anyone out there reading these thinking about trying: I am LIVING proof you can SO do it with determination!!! I'm coming to my obsession Home with 3 Besties and my DH, all who helped me through it and gave me the push when I didn't want to and we are all going to have a BLAST running!

Oh, as a bragging point for my sis, who isn't on the DisBoards but she ran the half marathon 2 1/2 months after having a baby and ran an 8k one month post-baby to the day! And my family is not the naturally healthy fam. But she has that determination. We're going on the Disney Dream Cruise in September and we're dead set on having our final pounds off by then!

During my run this weekend I ran into a lady who did the Princess this year and she had a blast and talked about it and got me even more pumped!! I will register the day they open it because now I know I can do it! I

 

[MamaWolf]

How about sport beans? Are they good?

Most people have answered the question about when to take them but I wanted to add that my DH and his friends say the Vanilla (CLIF Shot Energy Gel) taste like a cookie. I will try it myself on my first long run (maybe this weekend ) and report back.

 

[My4Men]

Congrats on your accomplishments - its very motivating for me to read - I'm trying to lose weight (37 pounds down so far, about 50 more to go) and am training for my first 10K in June and first 1/2 in July.

And you can SO do it too! You have about the same amount to lose I did. I've hit walls and plateaus but when I started I decided I wasn't quitting til it was done and now I realize it's a lifestyle. I am working hard on the last 15 pounds that are being very stubborn but can be lost! You can do it too! Good luck on the upcoming races!! What I had to teach myself when running with folks in better shape, younger and faster, Don't let it ruin what I'M HERE TO DO! Which for me was keep the heart rate where it as true aerobic exercise but don't let myself burn out. I've had to tell my partner to leave me in a few races because I was getting very discouraged trying to keep at her pace. And I returned to enjoying it but still work to push for improvements!

YOU CAN and WILL do it!!!

 

[monte]

Ok, I signed up on Daily Mile and requested all of the people below:

Julie F. Sandy Springs GA
Kelly C Dahlonega, GA
Taryn S from PA (No city?)
Jessica Marie Chicago, IL
Michele S Kalamazoo, MI
Kathryn J in NC
Julianna V Fairview, TN
Susan K in Tallahassee, FL
Sara M Delaware, OH
Angela W. Lebanon, OH

If there is someone not on the list, feel free to copy/Paste with your info at the bottom so we'll have a current list for people who continue to join this thread

Monica M. Copper Mountain, CO.
Not sure what this is, but I'm in!

 

[fashionista311]

on the topic of gels...

it was only by mile 8...by the race track....i remember becuase the floor was super sticky in that area....

Just wanted to chime in and say that if you are depending on what they have on course - mile 8 is TOO long to wait to start taking in carbs! You should be taking in something every hour, so unless you are running at about a 7 1/2 minute mile, mile 8 is too long! I'm usually in the 9:30ish minute/mile so I'll take something around mile 6. If you are planning to be out there for longer than 2:30, you definitely need to take in something twice - and you might even want something if you're in the 2:15ish range. I'm definitely guilty of wanting to shortchange myself of food/sport drink because of the calorie count..but like my running coach has said, long runs are NOT the time to diet.

As I am a beginner I dont have any long runs under my belt. Can someone suggest an energy gel or like product for when I start my long runs? Are they taken before or during the run? Would you use them on a shorter run, like 3 miles, or just for ones longer than this?

How about sport beans? Are they good?

Touching on what I just said - you don't need a gel for anything longer than an hour. Fueling with real food, not supplements, is always going to be the best source of energy. If you are going to be out there for JUST an hour, or even an hour and 10, maybe even an hour and 20, you are probably fine to just finish out your run and go eat a real breakfast after. But anything over that, you definitely should be taking in something.

When it's cold out I sometimes do my long runs at oddish hours (combination of sleeping in a bit, eating breakfast, waiting for it to digest - and then first going out). So if I feel like I need a snack before I go out, I will take in a packet of of sport beans or chomps (it's easier on the stomach to digest) but generally, you don't need to take them during your longer runs.

Sport beans are what I've been using for the past three years. I like the taste a lot, and the consistency doesn't freak me out like the gels do. I find they are easier to chew than the gu chomps because they are smaller. But - I think they do add some time, since I need to slow to chew, and you can't take them all at once. I'm thinking I need to try and switch over to the gels to save precious minutes...but yeah, not sure how I feel about the gels.

Hope this helps!

 

[Qltrgrl2]

I tried the Gu during the Princess Half this year. It was my first 1/2 marathon and my first time with anything of that texture. Actually, it was not bad and I think it is far easier to take then the Protein bar that I had been using for long training runs. I did eat a protein bar during the race after about one hour and those are hard to eat/swallow without water. I will use two gu's during my next 1/2 marathon (at Disneyland-need that C2C medal!)....one at one hour and the other at two. I hope to finish in 2:10.

 

[stitchfan18]

I'm thinking I need to try and switch over to the gels to save precious minutes...but yeah, not sure how I feel about the gels.

While I can stomach the other flavors I really love the chocolate ones! They taste like a melted candy bar or some Hershey's syrup (maybe not quite so sweet.) I run a little faster knowing I'm getting a treat at a certain distance into my long runs!

 

[fashionista311]

While I can stomach the other flavors I really love the chocolate ones! They taste like a melted candy bar or some Hershey's syrup (maybe not quite so sweet.) I run a little faster knowing I'm getting a treat at a certain distance into my long runs!

Thanks - I'll have to try that one. One of these days I'm going to buy a bunch and hold a taste-test. It's not the flavors that worry me as much as the whole consistency - I don't really like pudding, either. (I'm a very picky eater)

But I really think the beans are costing me some minutes, and I'm so freaking close to breaking 2 hours...It's killing me that my food is wasting time.

 

[kmg148]

Yes, you just log whatever you have done and you can keep track of your friends. It's fun and at least for me it keeps me accountable.

I agree! It's also a great way to keep a track of the miles. I was having a hard time tracking my progress!

 

[kmg148]

Monica M. Copper Mountain, CO.
Not sure what this is, but I'm in!

Kristin G, Philadelphia PA!

 

[HockeyKat]

Monica M. Copper Mountain, CO.
Not sure what this is, but I'm in!

I couldn't find you?

Daily Mile is a www.dailymile.com.

I am Kathryn J, Durham, NC.

 

[saysay]

Well if my foot every feels better I will start to run again...grrr...BUT wondering if I sign up early say in July when its first posted can I use time from a race I ran on Thanksgiving of last year? I am so wanting to start running again, pesky Plantar Faciitis is still lingering and just sick of the pain, so trying to rest up as much as possible. AND I am starting my cardio eliptical training next week so you should see me on Dailymile for you DM princesses!

Thanks!

 

[emacek]

Ok, I signed up on Daily Mile and requested all of the people below:

Julie F. Sandy Springs GA
Kelly C Dahlonega, GA
Taryn S from PA (No city?)
Jessica Marie Chicago, IL
Michele S Kalamazoo, MI
Kathryn J in NC
Julianna V Fairview, TN
Susan K in Tallahassee, FL
Sara M Delaware, OH
Angela W. Lebanon, OH
Elyn M Atlanta, GA

If there is someone not on the list, feel free to copy/Paste with your info at the bottom so we'll have a current list for people who continue to join this thread

Julie F. Sandy Springs GA
Kelly C Dahlonega, GA
Taryn S from PA (No city?)
Jessica Marie Chicago, IL
Michele S Kalamazoo, MI
Kathryn J in NC
Julianna V Fairview, TN
Susan K in Tallahassee, FL
Sara M Delaware, OH
Angela W. Lebanon, OH
Elyn M Atlanta, GA

 

[mla1977]

Can you add me to the Daily Mile list?

Megan A. Philadelphia Suburbs (at least that is what I entered - don't know how to search yet)

 

[Cripey]

Well if my foot every feels better I will start to run again...grrr...BUT wondering if I sign up early say in July when its first posted can I use time from a race I ran on Thanksgiving of last year? I am so wanting to start running again, pesky Plantar Faciitis is still lingering and just sick of the pain, so trying to rest up as much as possible. AND I am starting my cardio eliptical training next week so you should see me on Dailymile for you DM princesses!

Thanks!

If I remember correctly from registration last year, below the box where you put a time there was a note that gave a specific date and your proof of time race had to be from that date or later. It may have even been on the website in the "event details" too, but I'm not sure. I hope you are healing quickly! I was just released yesterday as OK to resume running...I hadn't run in a little over 2 weeks because I twisted my knee. Evidently I now have runner's knee, IT band issues, and snapping hip syndrome (it's actually called that!!! ) but I'll be going to PT for 6 weeks to help strengthen and help these issues. I did 3 miles yesterday and I'm pretty sore today! I'm glad I'm ok to run again though...I have a 5k on sunday

 

[MamaWolf]

Can you add me to the Daily Mile list?

Megan A. Philadelphia Suburbs (at least that is what I entered - don't know how to search yet)

I couldn't find you. hmmm

 

[MamaWolf]

If I remember correctly from registration last year, below the box where you put a time there was a note that gave a specific date and your proof of time race had to be from that date or later. It may have even been on the website in the "event details" too, but I'm not sure. I hope you are healing quickly! I was just released yesterday as OK to resume running...I hadn't run in a little over 2 weeks because I twisted my knee. Evidently I now have runner's knee, IT band issues, and snapping hip syndrome (it's actually called that!!! ) but I'll be going to PT for 6 weeks to help strengthen and help these issues. I did 3 miles yesterday and I'm pretty sore today! I'm glad I'm ok to run again though...I have a 5k on sunday

Glad to hear you got the OK to run. And good luck on your 5K Sunday!

 

[Cripey]

Glad to hear you got the OK to run. And good luck on your 5K Sunday!

Thanks!