Official 2012 Princess Half Marathon Thread!

[jenjacobs]

Just finished the Wine and Dine Relay 1/2 marathon this weekend and signed up for the Princess 1/2 at the Expo. We are arriving Saturday 2/25 and leaving Thursday 3/1. Enjoyed the Wine & Dine 1/2 very much, they do a great job making beginner runners such as myself feel at ease and enjoy the race.

 

[graceful96]

Hi ladies!! I'm a newbie from Florida. I registered for the Princess last weekend and I've been getting caught up on all the posts for the last week. You ladies are amazing and your determination is unbelievable!!!

I am NOT a runner....never have been and thought I never would be. So what do I do? I signed up for this half marathon. For me it's a personal goal that I want to achieve while getting into shape too! Saturday I did my first mile just to get an idea of where I was and I couldn't believe it....I did my mile in 13:07!!! I was so proud of myself because I thought for sure I was at least a 16 min. mile. I'm starting my training on Tuesday using Jeff Galloway's plan.

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!!

Ashley

 

[tinkeramy]

Hi ladies!! I'm a newbie from Florida. I registered for the Princess last weekend and I've been getting caught up on all the posts for the last week. You ladies are amazing and your determination is unbelievable!!!

I am NOT a runner....never have been and thought I never would be. So what do I do? I signed up for this half marathon. For me it's a personal goal that I want to achieve while getting into shape too! Saturday I did my first mile just to get an idea of where I was and I couldn't believe it....I did my mile in 13:07!!! I was so proud of myself because I thought for sure I was at least a 16 min. mile. I'm starting my training on Tuesday using Jeff Galloway's plan.

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!!

Ashley

Sounds like you have a plan and a great starting point! It's been said here before, but the BEST thing you can do (if you haven't already) is go to a specialty running store and get fit for a good pair of shoes. If the cost is too high, you don't have to buy them there - you can look for sales on the internet. However, I wouldn't just go to a generic place like Sports Authority. It can make a HUGE difference in keeping injury away!
Galloway is a great plan for beginners and experienced. Welcome!

 

[Namsupak]

Hi! I've read through the first couple pages and am amazed at how many races some of you have done. My SIL and I decided that we want to sign up for the 1/2 marathon and are going to begin the galloway training program on Tuesday. She runs 2-3 miles all the time while I do a boot camp on Mon and Wed so I'm not sure how we'll do training together. It should be fun though because we tend to support each other in our workouts. I really have never been a runner but this is something I've decided I wanted to do to get in shape and as a personal triumph before I have another baby.

Besides shoes is there any other advice you have? Or is there a place within the thread I can find it? What are the DVC resorts that we can get shuttles from? TIA!

 

[ColleenG]

Congrats to all who have just signed up for the Princess Half! Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom Lodge are DVC host resorts. We are DVC members and are staying at Saratoga Springs for the half. Hope everyones weekend runs went well. I am so sore after the 5K I did yesterday. I ran it at a much faster pace than I normally do. Tuesday I'm going to try for 5.5 miles. I need to get up to 6 quick. I'm doing a 10K on Oct. 16.

 

[gules]

So maybe not the smartest thing to do, but I decided to go for the Princess Half. And I'm not a runner. Or even a walker.

I am impressed by the person with the 13 minute mile. It took me 20 minutes and I almost fainted, lol. I am very out of shape, but this is my motivation to get fit. Am I totally nuts? I'm still in my 20s, so I definitely have resilience on my side...

And I don't need to actually RUN the whole thing, right? As long as I can average the 16 minutes / mile?

 

[italianlover]

<-----Let me start by saying PLEASE don't mind the name. I couldn't change it and it's old!!!
Now that I got that out of the way, this is my first time posting here and I can say I have been training for 2 weeks!! (I've been lurking for a month I REALLY have doubt in myself and my husband wanted me to sign up tonight for the discount but I am really scared I ran 2 1/2 miles this A.M. in 28 min and I'm not even a runner. I guess now I can say I am as of 2 weeks ago (I do work out at the gym religiously 5 times a week to help me mentally)Everything is falling into place and I REALLY want to do this for ME! It lands on my 30th birthday and I think I am really up for the challenge I just need to get over this doubt.
I live in FL so I won't have to fight snow and cold all winter like some of you (my heart goes out to you!) but I do really enjoy doing it once I'm out there "in the groove". So besides the running store that I'll be going to on Wed any other advice for first timers? Do you drink coffee and let it settle before you run? Hope you don't mind the dumb questions in the future I'll probably have. You all seem like such a well informed group of people and I'm excited to be "here"

 

[JCH]

So maybe not the smartest thing to do, but I decided to go for the Princess Half. And I'm not a runner. Or even a walker.

I am impressed by the person with the 13 minute mile. It took me 20 minutes and I almost fainted, lol. I am very out of shape, but this is my motivation to get fit. Am I totally nuts? I'm still in my 20s, so I definitely have resilience on my side...

And I don't need to actually RUN the whole thing, right? As long as I can average the 16 minutes / mile?

Not crazy! That was me two months ago before we decided to do a 5k. I'm still not fast by any means, but now can do 4 miles at a 14 min pace. Check out the Galloway plan on the rundisney website. Run/walk works for slow people like us!

 

[ColleenG]

You can totally do it!! 2.5 miles in 28 min is awsome! You are off to a great start! You have plenty of time to get to 13.1! Hang here. There is so much support and encouragement here.

 

[TiggerAllie]

Just registered tonight!! Got in under the wire for the "discount".

Today was our longest run so far-- 10K! --completed in 1:10, which was shockingly faster than I expected.

Since we are going to WDW on Friday, we'll probably not do such a long run this weekend, but I feel like today was a double milestone, 10K and registration!

We are also DVC and have booked SSR-- planning on getting in sometime on Friday.

 

[gules]

Not crazy! That was me two months ago before we decided to do a 5k. I'm still not fast by any means, but now can do 4 miles at a 14 min pace. Check out the Galloway plan on the rundisney website. Run/walk works for slow people like us!

Thanks! That makes me feel more confident, actually! I looked at the plan and even that beginning bit seems rather steep to me! But I like that it's explained how to get a prediction and general formulas on how to run without killing yourself. I'm definitely going to adjust my current schedule based on this. Thanks!

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

OK, so i'm trying out the Hal Higdon 10k plan for Novices, and I just did a 3.5m run. 3. . . 5! A year ago if you'd told me I was even going to attempt running 2 miles i would have looked at you like your head was struck by lightning. Next week is the 4 miler.... here's hoping that goes well.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I just did 4M of intervals (ok, my intervals are I alternate 5.0 and 5.5 mph every time the song changes on my ipod, so not "true" intervals, but manageable for me). I haven't done them in months, and I feel really accomplished. I definitely have to get back into doing these once a week. I know they will make me faster, it's just a mental trial to actually do it because I know it's a challenge...

So, my point is, now is a good time to challenge ourselves! I don't mean go all crazy and end up injured, I mean push yourself a little more if your the type that has to make a big effort to do it (like me!). I guarantee you will be happy you are in that habit when the Princess gets here I ran the Princess leaner and better trained than any other race to date, and I felt so good running it. I'm trying to remember that feeling to get myself trying a little more now. You know, the 1% principle -- do 1% more each day, and it won't feel like much, but in the end you will be amazed with the results!

Maria

 

[msufan]

My dad was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. I know the Princess 1/2 benfits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I'd love to raise some $ as part of my efforts to race, but don't want to go all out for the Team In Training. I'll call the organization on Monday, but just thought maybe someone here may know something.
My family has had a rough time lately. DH's best friend died last week. He'd been sick for a long time, we knew it was coming, but it still made it no easier to go through. My grandpa has been in the hospital for the last 3 weeks, slowly fading day by day. And then the lymphoma diagnosis for my dad. I honestly was reconsidering the Princess 1/2, as it is a strain on our budget and I felt a little guilty planning for all the fun of Disney. But then I realized the charity it benefitted and it just seems like I have been drawn to it for a reason. So, onward with training and planning.

I am sorry to hear that your family is going through so much right now. And I just want to tell you how inspiring it is that you are using all of that as a catalyst, not an excuse to get going. Next time I am whining about not wanting to run for the day, I will think of you. Thanks for the inspriration and good luck!

 

[plutolovr]

9 Miles this morning in 1:31. I felt great and probably could've run 10 but didn't want to push it too much. I like the pace I'm running at especially where I run it's somewhat hilly, I can't imagine what my times would be if I was running on a flat, but I do enjoy the downhills. I only burned 807 calories.

 

[AliceSpark]

Well, for the first time my long run this weekend was not the longest run I have ever done in my life - the previous weekend was a 5 mile run and this weekend was 3.5 miles - what a difference I could run all of the run intervals and really just enjoy being outside - the cooler weather was nice too! Next weekend I am back to 5 miles but now I think it will be easier. Hope others and a nice long run.
Martha

 

[tinkeramy]

So maybe not the smartest thing to do, but I decided to go for the Princess Half. And I'm not a runner. Or even a walker.

I am impressed by the person with the 13 minute mile. It took me 20 minutes and I almost fainted, lol. I am very out of shape, but this is my motivation to get fit. Am I totally nuts? I'm still in my 20s, so I definitely have resilience on my side...

And I don't need to actually RUN the whole thing, right? As long as I can average the 16 minutes / mile?

Oh, my gosh - if you are a total beginner, don't even worry about your time! I started out last summer doing total babysteps - almost literally! I would walk a minute, run a minute, and do that for 30 minutes. Then, a couple of days later, I would run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute. Go up from there. The goal was to get me to where I could run 30 minutes without stopping. However, when I got to 5 miles, I just didn't think I could do it without intervals (walk breaks). Check out the Jeff Galloway training plan on the RunDisney page - a good place to start is just walking one minute, running one. You can do this!!!!! Just don't get bogged down in comparing yourself to other runners. Some people are brand new, others have been doing this for years. Running is great b/c you are really only competing with yourself!

<-----Let me start by saying PLEASE don't mind the name. I couldn't change it and it's old!!!
Now that I got that out of the way, this is my first time posting here and I can say I have been training for 2 weeks!! (I've been lurking for a month I REALLY have doubt in myself and my husband wanted me to sign up tonight for the discount but I am really scared I ran 2 1/2 miles this A.M. in 28 min and I'm not even a runner. I guess now I can say I am as of 2 weeks ago (I do work out at the gym religiously 5 times a week to help me mentally)Everything is falling into place and I REALLY want to do this for ME! It lands on my 30th birthday and I think I am really up for the challenge I just need to get over this doubt.
I live in FL so I won't have to fight snow and cold all winter like some of you (my heart goes out to you!) but I do really enjoy doing it once I'm out there "in the groove". So besides the running store that I'll be going to on Wed any other advice for first timers? Do you drink coffee and let it settle before you run? Hope you don't mind the dumb questions in the future I'll probably have. You all seem like such a well informed group of people and I'm excited to be "here"

No doubts! You've got plenty of time to train properly. And the thing that got me off the couch in the first place was a looming 40th birthday last year, so if I can do it, you can do it! As far as the eating before thing, that's really so individual. Some people don't like to eat anything before a run; I have blood sugar issues so there's no way I can go out and exercise without something to eat but I do let it settle for a little bit. Today, I threw on my running clothes, ate, dropped my kids at school and by the time I passed the park I was ready to run. (Oh, and I don't mind the name. I'm Italian and I feel the love!)

I just did 4M of intervals (ok, my intervals are I alternate 5.0 and 5.5 mph every time the song changes on my ipod, so not "true" intervals, but manageable for me). I haven't done them in months, and I feel really accomplished. I definitely have to get back into doing these once a week. I know they will make me faster, it's just a mental trial to actually do it because I know it's a challenge...

Maria

Before I got my smartphone, I actually would find songs that fit my time intervals and put them on my ipod in order so that I knew when to stop / start! For the shorter walk intervals, I downloaded some comedy bits, so that at least got some laughs out of me!

Since we have gotten an influx of new runners lately, I wanted to let y'all know about the website Daily Mile. It's kinda like facebook for runners! You can post your runs and "friend" other runners to keep up on each other's progress. It's fun, and I like to be able to go back and track my runs - it saves all your info and graphs it out for you. I'm Amy A. on dailymile, and I think I just used "atlanta" as my location. It's been great to get encouragement from fellow princesses!

 

[tinkeramy]

Oops - just checked and I am on DailyMile as Amy A in Roswell, GA, not Atlanta.

Another thought to new (and experienced, I guess!) runners - one crappy run doesn't mean you suck! I went out yesterday on a relatively flat trail, ran my fanny off for my middle of 3 miles, and still had what I considered a crappy pace for the conditions. Today, I was pushing 50 lbs. of stroller / kid and I actually got FASTER as I was running! The pace was still longer than yesterday, but considering that I went a mile longer than yesterday's run while I was pushing my 3 y.o., it went really well. This will be just over a year of running for me, and I still have good days and bad days and some of them have no rhyme or reason. So, do what you can do and keep your eye on the prize. As others have said on here, it's the same medal whether you finish with a 9 min. pace or a 14 min. pace.

 

[shellbelle76]

Oops - just checked and I am on DailyMile as Amy A in Roswell, GA, not Atlanta.

I'm on dailymile, too! Shelley C. in State College, PA.

 

[flgirl36]

I'm on dailymile, too! Shelley C. in State College, PA.

I'm also on dailymile. Julie P in Port St Lucie, FL


Julie