Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[saysay]

How do you sign up for this?

You can also sign up at the expo...but the number you sign up must confirm it when a test text is sent out at registration of that number to the text program. Its what I did last year.

 

[Carolina Blair]

http://www.raleighgalloway.com. We do our long runs on Saturday mornings at different places in the Triangle area. The group has close to 500 registered members, at different pace groups.

Thanks Kat, I'll definitely hold on to that.

 

[Disneychix]

Hi Everyone! First time poster on this thread! Today is decision day whether or not my mom and I will sign up for th 1/2. We have never ran in races before but we do run for exercise currently. My mother is very concerned with getting swept for not maintaining the 16min mile. Can anyone experienced with the races let me know how often this occurs and what is the best strategy to keep this from happening? obvisouly we will train for better than a 16/mile but should we try and get a 10K in before december in order to be able to move up in the corrals?
Thanks for any advice/encouragment.

 

[HockeyKat]

Oh yeah, I've had shin splints. I had them when I first started running in both legs. The right side seems to have gone away but the left is lingering. When I went to the doc he also said I need new orthotics. I'm hoping the new orthotics will help. I over pronate A LOT!!

Have you tried calf sleeves? I had really bad shin splints/stress fracture in my left shin last year, and with new shoes for overpronators, and calf sleeves I have had very few problems this year.

Mine are by Zensah. They are not cheap and they look kind of silly, but I think they really help.

Hi Everyone! First time poster on this thread! Today is decision day whether or not my mom and I will sign up for th 1/2. We have never ran in races before but we do run for exercise currently. My mother is very concerned with getting swept for not maintaining the 16min mile. Can anyone experienced with the races let me know how often this occurs and what is the best strategy to keep this from happening? obvisouly we will train for better than a 16/mile but should we try and get a 10K in before december in order to be able to move up in the corrals?
Thanks for any advice/encouragment.

The best strategy for not getting swept is to train for a 15mm and to be sure to go up to at least 10 miles in training, although 12-14 would be better. I would really concentrate on improving your walk speed, as well, in case something happens and you have to walk part of the race.

Moving up a corral will definitely help, and making sure that you are toward the front of your corral for the extra cushion. I think the 10K is also a good idea to get you used to a race, getting ready for one, and the overall atmosphere.

My two friends and I started toward the back of corral C (corrals were A-F), and due to recovering injuries, a 10 weeks post-partum mom, and wanting to stay together, we walked about 90% of the race. We finished just over 3:30 and never saw the sweepers at all, even when we went up over the overpass and could see all the runners stretched out behind us.

 

[kmchisholm]

Watch the hills in the Richmond Half - DH and I drove the course and decided to spend the $$ to go to the Outer Banks that weekend to run a half. However the Richmond finish is a long wonderful downhill!! Good luck!

Thanks for the advice! I've heard it's a good idea to run ahead of time.

 

[kmchisholm]

Are you flying or driving? If you are flying I would strongly recommend arriving on Friday sometime to ensure that you don't have any delays that cause you to miss packet pickup since there is no race morning pickup. If you know someone else that could pick up your packet in case of flight delays, then flying in on Saturday wouldn't be horrible, but If you end up with an early morning flight you'll have to keep in mind that you will be having an early morning again on Sunday.

As far as touring the parks, I would recommend only being on your feet in the parks for 1/2 a day on Saturday. You could send the kids back to the hotel and hit packet pick up after lunch on Saturday. It will be crowded, and there are no strollers allowed, so I wouldn't bring the kids unless it's a last resort. After packet pickup and expo shopping you could head back to the resort and relax by the pool, or do something mellow. Last year since the temperature was so warm I was able to spend the day at Typhoon Lagoon, and it was the
perfect balance of lounging around and being on my feet. It won't be the end of the world if you end up in a park longer on Saturday. Many people who are running will have been in the parks for a week before the race, so you won't
be the only one running on tired legs.

My friend and I are flying in Sat am as it was cheaper in points to go Sat - Tues. Going for an early am flight, but as we get closer is there any thought to getting a "buddy" who could get our packets if our flight was delayed (and vise-versa). Do you just need a copy of their license & race registration? Any Richmonders interested......

 

[Disneychix]

The best strategy for not getting swept is to train for a 15mm and to be sure to go up to at least 10 miles in training, although 12-14 would be better. I would really concentrate on improving your walk speed, as well, in case something happens and you have to walk part of the race.

Moving up a corral will definitely help, and making sure that you are toward the front of your corral for the extra cushion. I think the 10K is also a good idea to get you used to a race, getting ready for one, and the overall atmosphere.

My two friends and I started toward the back of corral C (corrals were A-F), and due to recovering injuries, a 10 weeks post-partum mom, and wanting to stay together, we walked about 90% of the race. We finished just over 3:30 and never saw the sweepers at all, even when we went up over the overpass and could see all the runners stretched out behind us.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[stitchfan18]

Hi Everyone! First time poster on this thread! Today is decision day whether or not my mom and I will sign up for th 1/2. We have never ran in races before but we do run for exercise currently. My mother is very concerned with getting swept for not maintaining the 16min mile. Can anyone experienced with the races let me know how often this occurs and what is the best strategy to keep this from happening? obvisouly we will train for better than a 16/mile but should we try and get a 10K in before december in order to be able to move up in the corrals?
Thanks for any advice/encouragment.

Having a proof of time to submit would be great, but you can also move up a little by simply putting your estimated finish time as 2:46. That is one minute behind the estimated finish time limit that requires a proof of time, and has historically put people at least one (sometimes more than one depending on the range of finish times) corral ahead of the last corral. I second the idea that you should train for a 15 min/mile, and make sure you get in at least one run of 10+ miles.

It's such a fun race, and would awesome to run with your mom. I hope you decide to do it!

My friend and I are flying in Sat am as it was cheaper in points to go Sat - Tues. Going for an early am flight, but as we get closer is there any thought to getting a "buddy" who could get our packets if our flight was delayed (and vise-versa). Do you just need a copy of their license & race registration? Any Richmonders interested......

I hear you about flights being more expensive on Friday! I'm dealing with trying to find cheaper friday flights right now.
That would be a great idea to coordinate closer to the race for people who are flying in late and worried about missing packet pickup. Hopefully flying in that morning won't be an issue, but I know that in my area we got pounded with a couple snow storms that delayed flights by several hours and sometimes until the next day.

 

[krn82259]

It seems like renting points might be an even better option than booking through IRUN! I know this has been asked before (sorry!), but any recommendations on who to rent points through?? We haven't done that before, so any advice would be helpful! Thank you

 

[stitchfan18]

It seems like renting points might be an even better option than booking through IRUN! I know this has been asked before (sorry!), but any recommendations on who to rent points through?? We haven't done that before, so any advice would be helpful! Thank you

I sent you a PM with some info about how to rent

 

[Nishmom]

My friend and I are flying in Sat am as it was cheaper in points to go Sat - Tues. Going for an early am flight, but as we get closer is there any thought to getting a "buddy" who could get our packets if our flight was delayed (and vise-versa). Do you just need a copy of their license & race registration? Any Richmonders interested......

DH and I are arriving on Friday and would be glad to be a backup for you. We're on southside but near 288 so can meet you pretty much anywhere. Don't know where we are staying yet, but are considering Port Orleans French Quarter. Let me know if we can help you out.

 

[tetney12]

I sent you a PM with some info about how to rent

would love this info too....be debating on where to stay....

 

[Princess 1/2 Hopeful]

I sent you a PM with some info about how to rent

I would love this info as well!!

 

[kmchisholm]

DH and I are arriving on Friday and would be glad to be a backup for you. We're on southside but near 288 so can meet you pretty much anywhere. Don't know where we are staying yet, but are considering Port Orleans French Quarter. Let me know if we can help you out.

Thanks! We'll touch base closer to verify. I work off 288 at Cap One so can always meet up after work. Would love to catch up for training once this heat breaks!

 

[kmchisholm]

I would love this info as well!!

I'm sure her PM has a ton more (and probably easy to forward). While you wait, I recommend googling mouse owners forum. Apparently this forum doesn't like other web addresses. Anyway, they have very helpful info in their forums. I had a very successful and easy transaction by working with another DVC member.

 

[stitchfan18]

would love this info too....be debating on where to stay....

I would love this info as well!!

I forwarded the info to you guys!

Im sure her PM has a ton more infor (and probably easy to forward). While you wait, I recommend ****************. Had very helpful info in their forums. In had a very successful and easy transaction by working with another DVC member.

I usually go with one of a couple options, but neither of them is the endorsed DVC rental company of the DIS, so they don't like posting links 'advertising' these sites. Where did you end up booking? Last I heard there were still studios at AKV which is one of the host hotels, but that might not be the case anymore.

 

[Disfan11]

Also, has anyone done 2 half's fairly close together (i.e. 2 mons apart)? Training tips on that?

Thanks

I ran the San Diego Rock & Roll 1/2 at the beginning of June and then the Seattle Rock & Roll at the end of June.
I just continued with my training of 3 - 4 miles a day during the week. But I did the countdown of long runs on the weekends so that the weekend before Seattle I did 12 miles. I follow Hal Higdon's training schedule for intermediates.
Good luck!

 

[kmchisholm]

I forwarded the info to you guys!



I usually go with one of a couple options, but neither of them is the endorsed DVC rental company of the DIS, so they don't like posting links 'advertising' these sites. Where did you end up booking? Last I heard there were still studios at AKV which is one of the host hotels, but that might not be the case anymore.

I booked a few months ago at Boardwalk. My parents are members so I was able to transfer points into their account, then "borrow" their Boardwalk home points so we could get a studio before the 7 months windrow opened up. It's not a host hotel, but I love the location.

 

[kmg148]

I wish you could pick your bib later! Such a crucial decision!

 

[stitchfan18]

I booked a few months ago at Boardwalk. My parents are members so I was able to transfer points into their account, then "borrow" their Boardwalk home points so we could get a studio before the 7 months windrow opened up. It's not a host hotel, but I love the location.

We stayed there last year and it ended up being perfect! Not super crowded with runners, but TNT was there so we could use their transportation. I love the BW area as well. DH and I had our wedding reception there, and we stay there every time we get the chance.

I wish you could pick your bib later! Such a crucial decision!

Tell me about it... I delayed registering partly because I couldn't decide what color bib I wanted