Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[fashionista311]

Hi! This is my first post! I did the Princess half earlier this year - it was my first!! Unfortunately, I did not get to enjoy the excitement of finishing. I started feeling a little "out of it" around mile 11. After the race, I couldn't eat (very unusual for me!). In less than an hour, I had a horrible headache and vomitted the entire day. I have never been so sick. My husband nearly took me to the ER.

TRAINING: I live in NC, so the weather was never very hot during my training. I drank a powerade/water mix and would sometimes have a serving of sportsbeans if I was going to be doing a really long walk/run. Never had any trouble.

RACE DAY: I drank water at every stop (but not the powerade) and had one pack of sports beans (which I spread out over a few miles). My time was 3:23, so it was pretty hot by the time I finished.


Did I deplete of something?? What can I do to prevent this from happening again. I am going to do the Princess half in 2012, but I am terribly afraid of the same fate. Any ideas?? Thank you so much!!

Well if you are taking in food/gels (gu, cliff blocks, sport beans, whatevers) the sport drink on course really isn't necessary...if you google you can find exact formulas for your body weight, but the general rule of thumb is around 100 cals/per hour for workouts lasting longer than 90 mins. Now with the sport beans...remember you need an entire packet to give you those 100 cals. I used to use them myself, and then ran into problems with nutrition in my first full marathon because I wasn't eating enough. Nowadays, my personal tragedy is 3 shot blocks around mile 6..but I usually finish in around 2 hours, give or take a few mins. For a 3+ hour finish, I would refuel twice, maybe even a third time toward the end if you felt you needed it (about once an hr)

Also be careful with the sport drink on the course...basically large races dump an entire thing of water, then the powder, and then mix it up in a garbage bag. It's pretty easy for them to get the ratio wrong, and if the gatorade is too strong it can make you sick (especially if you have a sensitive stomach) , and if it's too weak you can be missing key ingredients.

But my guess is that you pushed the pace too hard for the weather conditions and you ended up with some heat sickness. Happens to the best of us.

A heart rate monitor is also a great tool for training/racing in the heat. Maintaining your usual pace is much more difficult in hot conditions than cool so it can be fickle...but your heart rate doesn't lie

Finally just because last year was warm, this year might be chilly...it's Florida at the end of February, the weather can really be anything!

Good luck...I bet you will rock it this time around!

 

[mickey's miles]

I was on vacation for a few days so I apologize in advance .... how can I look at a list of host hotels?

Am signing up soon .... jealous of everyone who has already registered!!

 

[rundisneymom]

Registered today and ready to run!! I'm so stinkin' excited!!!

 

[rundisneymom]

What is the commemorative necklace?? Did they have this last year? Anyone have a picture? I went ahead and ordered it...I'm such a sucker, lol!

 

[Ateam97]

Thanks, everyone!! I so appreciate your thoughts & ideas!! I am encouraged!

Coach - I think you hit the neail on the head. Those symptoms describe me perfectly, and, yes - I am a little plus-sized. Immediately after finishing, I drank an entire bottle of water, which is probably what sent me over the edge.

I felt completely prepared, training-wise, and I don't feel I over-did it. I wasn't a bit sore or tired the next day - just hungry!

Thank you, again!!!

 

[Cripey]

What is the commemorative necklace?? Did they have this last year? Anyone have a picture? I went ahead and ordered it...I'm such a sucker, lol!

There wasn't a necklae offered last year...I would have ordered it! They are offering one for the Tinkerbell Half too...which I did order when I registered. They didn't give any type of description so for all I know I could be getting some plastic mardi gras-esque beads, but I couldn't take the chance that it ends up being really cute and I missed out! I too am a sucker!

 

[kappyfamily]

Yes, I am fairly certain they can. The last Disney 5k I ran I was catching a 10-12 year old when they saw the line and left me in the dust.

that cracks me up coach! Thanks. I know some of these kids are born to run, the last 5k I did an 8 year old finished in a 7 minute pace....

 

[slp1650]

What is the commemorative necklace?? Did they have this last year? Anyone have a picture? I went ahead and ordered it...I'm such a sucker, lol!

It is new, but I'm planning on probably getting one along with one of the commemorative pin. I haven't registered yet, but I will be soon

 

[cewait]

Thanks, everyone!! I so appreciate your thoughts & ideas!! I am encouraged!

Coach - I think you hit the neail on the head. Those symptoms describe me perfectly, and, yes - I am a little plus-sized. Immediately after finishing, I drank an entire bottle of water, which is probably what sent me over the edge.

I felt completely prepared, training-wise, and I don't feel I over-did it. I wasn't a bit sore or tired the next day - just hungry!

Thank you, again!!!

Definitely train with PowerAde for the next event. Generally, the race will mix about 50% strength.

But more importantly, as you train for the next event learn what your hydration needs are. In real simple terms... Weigh yourself pre training run. Dress then go for your training run. Note what you drink on the run. Then once you return and before drinking anythin post run. Strip your wet running gear and reweigh. If all were perfect, you will weigh the same. If you weigh less, you are not drinking enough and if you weigh more, you are over hydrating. A pint of water is about a pound. Adjust according to what your post run weight is.

 

[J-2]

What is the commemorative necklace?? Did they have this last year? Anyone have a picture? I went ahead and ordered it...I'm such a sucker, lol!

I was wondering the same thing. I didn't order one since it gave no description or anything...am I going to regret it?? I wonder if I could order it later even though I already registered?

 

[KathleensKid]

I've also got the endowment problem - DD+, and I've got two recommendations. If you can deal with the uni effect (best way to not bounce anyway) and don't want those girls moving at all, try the Enell bra. It fits pretty snugly around the ribs and is kind of a pain to get into as it has hooks up the front, but you will NOT bounce! Title 9 has them, or you can contact Enell directly for fit information. I used them for years when I owned and rode horses all the time. About a year ago I switched to a CWX bra, don't remember the name but it's the one that zips up the front. Again a uni model, but more comfortable, though slightly less stable, that the Enell. I ran a half in March in it, with no rubbing or irritation. Only those two models will hold me in place. Hope this helps.

Did you buy either locally? I'm in Richmond.

Thanks for the other feedback! I'm going to look into all of them. I'm intrigued by an underwire sports bra since underwire is my breast friend.

 

[TMcDwyer]

I'm so excited & I can't wait to book!!! Just finalising travel plans before I register but I think we're flying in (from the UK) Thursday 23rd and flying home Tuesday 6th it looks like we're gonna be staying at the Springhill Suites near Seaworld - does anyone know taxi costs from that area to Epcot for race day?!
Also any news on the Princess in Training merchandise?!

I am VERY interested in Princess in Training wear!!!

 

[Red Rose]

WHAT!!! They have the packages now!! I am on the call back list but i want to make sure i get a room. I will be on that phone at 8:30am. Right after I swim I WANT MY ROOM lol

 

[lifeasiseeit]

Okay, call me weird, but I'm not allowing myself to register until I finish a major work project. It's going to be my sweet reward!!

Nope, not weird at all. I'm not letting myself register until I can register for my October half - which also means I haven't registered for my October 10k which I will have to do before registering for Princess.

I'm slightly OCD......

 

[MamaWolf]

Haven't been on in a while... super busy and all that. BUT I have registered!!! YEA! Now hubby and I are just trying to iron out all the details (hotel.. fly not to fly blah blah blah).

Anyhoo, question and suggestions on costume. Now some of you I'm friends with elsewhere so bear with me on the repeat of questions ... I'm considering on dressing as Jasmine but my concern is on the puffy/poofy pants. How annoying are these going to be running in and are the costume ones even breathable?? (sigh) If I don't dress as Jasmine then I'll probably just be all girly with a tiara on my head but I kinda want to be a Princess... Disney princess and Jasmine is one of my favs I'm just not sure how to make the costume work for running.

Soooo suggestions are most welcome!

 

[MamaWolf]

I was wondering the same thing. I didn't order one since it gave no description or anything...am I going to regret it?? I wonder if I could order it later even though I already registered?

I didn't order one either and I've been worried I'm going to regret it ever since.

 

[Twingle]

Did you buy either locally? I'm in Richmond.

Thanks for the other feedback! I'm going to look into all of them. I'm intrigued by an underwire sports bra since underwire is my breast friend.

Just saw your post and wanted to say hi - I'm in Culpeper, VA and will be participating in the Princess next year also!

 

[tinkeramy]

Haven't been on in a while... super busy and all that. BUT I have registered!!! YEA! Now hubby and I are just trying to iron out all the details (hotel.. fly not to fly blah blah blah).

Anyhoo, question and suggestions on costume. Now some of you I'm friends with elsewhere so bear with me on the repeat of questions ... I'm considering on dressing as Jasmine but my concern is on the puffy/poofy pants. How annoying are these going to be running in and are the costume ones even breathable?? (sigh) If I don't dress as Jasmine then I'll probably just be all girly with a tiara on my head but I kinda want to be a Princess... Disney princess and Jasmine is one of my favs I'm just not sure how to make the costume work for running.

Soooo suggestions are most welcome!

Actually, that might be one of the least warm costumes. I would think that the pre-made costume pants are polyester and therefore NOT good for this. But if you know someone who sews, I bet you could pick up some kind of sheer, breathable fabric to make the pants out of. I saw people in polyester costumes last year absolutely sweating their hoo-hoos off. I love the costume idea, too, and last year I went for a Tink "look" but couldn't bring myself to add the wings - I just didn't want anything extra on me. Have plenty more time to ponder this for the 2012!

 

[hvivona]

I registered for the 2012 Princess a couple of days ago and just finished makeing my stay reservations. I'm so super excited. Last year was my first princess and first solo trip and I had a blast! Can't wait to do it again!!

 

[kmchisholm]

Just saw your post and wanted to say hi - I'm in Culpeper, VA and will be participating in the Princess next year also!

Hey Ladies - I'm in Richmond too (technically Glen Allen). This will be my first Princess Half - signed up for the Richmond Half in Nov as well as I'm thinking I should probably find out what my body is going to feel like after 13.1 miles. My goal is to run the whole thing - right now I'm only up to 6 miles on my long runs, so have a ways to go. PM if you're ever interested in some training runs before it gets too gross this summer!