*Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Runners' Thread!*

[McDuck]

My hubby and I are planning on the Half Marathon Jan 2013, and hopefully my best friend will also... I'm a total running newbie still trying to get through my Couch to 5K training....got sidelined with a nasty cold that turned into bronchitis. We've signed up for the Crescent City Classic 10K Easter weekend....likely will be walking a lot of it, but I feel like I'm moving forward towards our goal--well, my goal...DH is supporting and joining in! LOL

 

[PrincessV]

Thank you so much!

Thanks for sharing!!

My pleasure! I was very, very excited to see that info. in our bags

Which of the resorts are host resorts for the Princess half?

I haven't seen anything official for 2013 yet, but for 2012 they were:
All Stars - all of 'em
Pt. Orleans - Riverside and FQ
CBR
SSR
AKL
BC
BW
Poly
YC

That said, I got a better deal than the runDisney package rates using my AP discount at CSR. No race transportation, but I prefer to drive, anyway.

 

[mroa1031]

Thank you for the info

 

[trainerfrank]

Does anyone know when the registration will open for the 2013 Goofy Challenge (1/2 & full Marathon in January 2013)?

My mom & sister ran the Princess 1/2 this past weekend and I was there to cheer them on, but now I'm motivated to do the GC in 2013 and want to make sure I sign up before it fills out. Thanks in advance!

 

[stitchfan18]

Does anyone know when the registration will open for the 2013 Goofy Challenge (1/2 & full Marathon in January 2013)?

My mom & sister ran the Princess 1/2 this past weekend and I was there to cheer them on, but now I'm motivated to do the GC in 2013 and want to make sure I sign up before it fills out. Thanks in advance!

April 10th is when the registration will open for marathon weekend. Have your mom and sister look out for discount codes for marathon weekend race registration. Last year Disney emailed out a code for $10 off race registration to those who had run a disney race during the previous year. It's not exclusive to them so they can share the code with you. Goofy is definitely a lot of fun. I was motivated to run it this year after running the 1/2 during princess weekend last year. It's definitely a tough weekend, but so much fun. I keep telling myself I'm going to run just the marathon next year, but I keep getting tempted to do Goofy again when I think about how much fun I had this year. Afterwards wasn't so fun, but at least the 9 hours I was running were awesome

 

[RunRookie]

April 10th is when the registration will open for marathon weekend. Have your mom and sister look out for discount codes for marathon weekend race registration. Last year Disney emailed out a code for $10 off race registration to those who had run a disney race during the previous year. It's not exclusive to them so they can share the code with you. Goofy is definitely a lot of fun. I was motivated to run it this year after running the 1/2 during princess weekend last year. It's definitely a tough weekend, but so much fun. I keep telling myself I'm going to run just the marathon next year, but I keep getting tempted to do Goofy again when I think about how much fun I had this year. Afterwards wasn't so fun, but at least the 9 hours I was running were awesome

You have to run Goofy again in 2013 because I am running it (well Dopey actually) and you can run it together! Let's have a whole WISH Team cross that finish line together (maybe we will both be in Corral C again).

 

[trainerfrank]

April 10th is when the registration will open for marathon weekend. Have your mom and sister look out for discount codes for marathon weekend race registration. Last year Disney emailed out a code for $10 off race registration to those who had run a disney race during the previous year. It's not exclusive to them so they can share the code with you. Goofy is definitely a lot of fun. I was motivated to run it this year after running the 1/2 during princess weekend last year. It's definitely a tough weekend, but so much fun. I keep telling myself I'm going to run just the marathon next year, but I keep getting tempted to do Goofy again when I think about how much fun I had this year. Afterwards wasn't so fun, but at least the 9 hours I was running were awesome

Okay awesome! Thanks so much for the info, can't wait to get that Goofy medal . If you do it, good luck

 

[DVCMAUREEN]

My hubby and I are planning on the Half Marathon Jan 2013, and hopefully my best friend will also... I'm a total running newbie still trying to get through my Couch to 5K training....got sidelined with a nasty cold that turned into bronchitis. We've signed up for the Crescent City Classic 10K Easter weekend....likely will be walking a lot of it, but I feel like I'm moving forward towards our goal--well, my goal...DH is supporting and joining in! LOL

Congrats on getting started! Don't worry about the setback. Just keep moving forward!

 

[stitchfan18]

You have to run Goofy again in 2013 because I am running it (well Dopey actually) and you can run it together! Let's have a whole WISH Team cross that finish line together (maybe we will both be in Corral C again).

My dilemma with Goofy next year is more my travel schedule than anything. I know I can't go Dopey because I won't be in Orlando Friday morning. I'm hoping to have a contract to teach full time next year so I'll have to leave friday after school, putting my earliest arrival into Orlando around 9 on Friday night. Add time to the hotel and I'll be getting to bed close to midnight. Getting up at 6 to cheer outside of BLT seems more doable to me, although not quick as fun. I'm still toying with the idea in my head, and hopefully my principal will be on board with me taking a vacation day right after winter break since I plan to incorporate my training into my classroom to hopefully motivate my kids. If I can get administration on my side then I might consider taking a 1/2 day on friday to get to Orlando early enough to make Goofy a reality. Regardless, it would be fun to have a WISH team run together. I'd be game for that, even if I don't go Goofy. I got pretty bored running all by my my lonesome during the marathon.

 

[FFigawi]

I got pretty bored running all by my my lonesome during the marathon.

Making friends during races is easy because runners are such a friendly bunch. Just start talking to people and they'll usually start talking with you too. I've made some amazing friends just by chatting them up randomly along the way. It helps if you're prepared with some good stories or a joke or two, but even if you're not, a quick "love the saying on your shirt. Where did you get it?" can easily turn into a conversation that lasts 15 miles.

 

[TinyDancer]

I ran my longest long run ever yesterday! 6.2 miles!!!
I also pushed a jogging stroller, and the first 1.5 miles was UPhill. Very tough course.

 

[TinyDancer]

My hubby and I are planning on the Half Marathon Jan 2013, and hopefully my best friend will also... I'm a total running newbie still trying to get through my Couch to 5K training....got sidelined with a nasty cold that turned into bronchitis. We've signed up for the Crescent City Classic 10K Easter weekend....likely will be walking a lot of it, but I feel like I'm moving forward towards our goal--well, my goal...DH is supporting and joining in! LOL

Welcome and good luck!

 

[kmg148]

I was bit by the running bug! I love races! I finished the half marathon a lot quicker than I thought I would and I feel like a marathon in 2013 is realistic now!

I train on the treadmill only, with races during my training to get more used to running outside. I did a lot better than I expected with the Princess--since I know running at 0 incline doesn't prepare you for the overpasses! Has anyone been able to successfully log long training runs on the treadmill? I know it will be difficult...and I know I need to run outside more...but has anyone done it? I just don't have a work schedule that allows me to run outside that much.

 

[stitchfan18]

Making friends during races is easy because runners are such a friendly bunch. Just start talking to people and they'll usually start talking with you too. I've made some amazing friends just by chatting them up randomly along the way. It helps if you're prepared with some good stories or a joke or two, but even if you're not, a quick "love the saying on your shirt. Where did you get it?" can easily turn into a conversation that lasts 15 miles.

I met a lot of awesome people in line for characters. I seemed to always jump in line around the same time as other Goofy people. I like your idea of having conversations starters ready. I'm not good at thinking on the spot when I'm tired...

 

[stitchfan18]

I was bit by the running bug! I love races! I finished the half marathon a lot quicker than I thought I would and I feel like a marathon in 2013 is realistic now!

I train on the treadmill only, with races during my training to get more used to running outside. I did a lot better than I expected with the Princess--since I know running at 0 incline doesn't prepare you for the overpasses! Has anyone been able to successfully log long training runs on the treadmill? I know it will be difficult...and I know I need to run outside more...but has anyone done it? I just don't have a work schedule that allows me to run outside that much.

I did all my princess training on the treadmill last year since we had a rough winter. Surprisingly my 1/2 there was my fastest disney 1/2 and I ran my 1/2 PR about a month later. Having said that, I would definitely log some miles in marathon training outside. I would go crazy being on the treadmill for 20 miles! If it's not possible to get all the miles in outside, could you break the mileage up? Maybe run 10 miles outside and 10 inside on longer runs? Then you're getting the feeling of being outside, but also getting the feeling of what tired legs feel like. I had to do this before my first marathon because it would get way too hot before I'd finish long runs when I trained for my first marathon during the summer. I got up at 4 am once for a 20 miler and tripped and fell about 3 times, so I knew getting up at the crack of dawn to beat the heat wasn't in the cards for me. Just some ideas, but ultimately if you can only get miles on the treadmill, that's better than nothing!

 

[disney_runner]

I was bit by the running bug! I love races! I finished the half marathon a lot quicker than I thought I would and I feel like a marathon in 2013 is realistic now!

I train on the treadmill only, with races during my training to get more used to running outside. I did a lot better than I expected with the Princess--since I know running at 0 incline doesn't prepare you for the overpasses! Has anyone been able to successfully log long training runs on the treadmill? I know it will be difficult...and I know I need to run outside more...but has anyone done it? I just don't have a work schedule that allows me to run outside that much.

I run a LOT on the treadmill. I bump it up to a 1 on the incline and that actually makes a difference! In fact, I've run 2 Half's with treadmill only training! My worst time was for the Princess (3:02) and my best time was for the Chip and Dale Relay (2:44) - both trained exclusively on the treadmill.

I live in Wisconsin and hate the cold, snow, and ice. So I try to get outside on clear, somewhat warmer days, but it doesn't happen often. The longest I've run on a treadmill is 10 miles. Boring, yes. But it beats slipping and sliding on the snow and ice for 10 miles. For the longer runs, I sometimes drive to an indoor track about 30 minutes away. It's actually a jogging track that circles around an Olympic speedskating track in Milwaukee. So it's cold in there to keep the ice cold, obviously, but no snow or wind! I know some colleges have indoor tracks open to the public too. Check around your area and you may find something similar!

 

[lisah0711]

I second the looking for an indoor track idea! It's hard to do run/walk intervals on the TM and I'm just not that fast on the TM. It really helps me to move my body on a track. I trained for the Tinker Bell Half mostly on the indoor track. I have to admit the day I did 15 miles in 5 hours on the track was boring but it's good mental training. The important thing is you find what works for you!

 

[kmg148]

The indoor track idea is great! Thanks for suggesting it!

I've hit 12 on the treadmill and I agree it's slow and boring! I watched movies on an Iphone to keep busy..and luckily the treadmills I use have a speed interval setting where you can preset the running/walking segments and press a button to switch in between instead of constantly pressing buttons to go up and down.

Thanks again! My gym had an indoor track, but it just closed down and the gym my membership was transferred to doesn't have one.

 

[ironz]

You have to run Goofy again in 2013 because I am running it (well Dopey actually) and you can run it together! Let's have a whole WISH Team cross that finish line together (maybe we will both be in Corral C again).

RunRookie...I'm in for 2013! I'm the one who accosted you in the Epcot parking lot, I think before the half this year, because I recognized you from your avatar.
I was injured going in to Goofy this year, and had to stop during the marathon. So I guess I need to go back this coming year! That's the plan, at least. Injury is better...training for tri season, which is why it was important that I not injure myself further by trying to complete the marathon in January.

Waiting for registration to open......seems like it was earlier last year?

 

[lifeasiseeit]

Yep, I got a little "save the date" card in this weekend's race packet: 2013 Princess Half weekend will be Feb. 22-24. Registration opens July 10.

Hmm...registration opens on my birthday. Is that a sign that I need to do the Princess again?