Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread - Take 2

[Bookwood]

Powerade is the drink of choice at the Disney races (or at least all I've been to.) I usually buy a bottle in the food court and carry it thought the 1st half of the race with me as I tend to like a sip or 2 each mile- just to "wet my whistle" because I tend to have a really runny nose the first part of any run. (I also carry a hankie any time I run LOL)

So Yes you can get Powerade (unless they have changed since last year) along the course and at the resorts, even in the parks.

 

[EEsloveDis]

My hips are KILLING me today. I seriously want to cry. I've been stretching and taking Aleve. Has anyone had issues with hip pain while training? If so, what did you do to help/prevent? I have been fine and then did my 7 mile run and can barely move today.

 

[longhorns2]

My hips are KILLING me today. I seriously want to cry. I've been stretching and taking Aleve. Has anyone had issues with hip pain while training? If so, what did you do to help/prevent? I have been fine and then did my 7 mile run and can barely move today.

Foam roller- can use it everywhere, but I roll my hips too. It hurts like a... well, you know, but it feels better afterward. Roll every day. Even when it doesn't hurt!

And keep taking the Aleve and stretching (when you are warmed up- don't stretch cold)

 

[flatlandcycle]

Now on to my half problem. I always train with Clif shot blocks. I always have the same pre run breakfast. No problems. At about mile 9 I had a major energy drop. I thought my blood sugar had dropped. I was popping the chews as fast as I could get them in. Nothing. They were no help. By mile 10 I was very dizzy and seeing spots. It was then that I remembered I had a Luna mini with me and got that down as fast as I could get it open. I felt better almost immediately. When the race was over I noticed my hat was VERY salt crusted, indicating I had lost WAY too much sodium even though I was drinking what I thought was plenty of electrolytes. Could this have been the cause of my energy drop? What can I do to avoid this in the future? My pace was fine for the first half of the race but the last 5k was downright embarrassing.

This sounds like the classic too much sugar and salt to water concentration in the gut. Your blood stream may have been dehydrated. Water was leaving your bloodstream to dilute the high concentrations of salt and sugar in your GI tract. I am not sure that having a bunch of sodium on your hat means you lost too much salt. It may mean at some point your body had too much salt and was eliminating it.

Thou shalt not mix electrolyte drinks and gels and blocks. Gels and blocks must be consumed with plain water. You need to keep the carbohydrate concentration near 6-8%. The salt concentration consumed should be similar to normal blood salt concentration. The blood vessels will allow the proper movement of salts and sugars when there is good osmotic balance in your gut, GI tract.

Once the competition has started you aren't magically going fix a muscle glycogen deficit by taking a super bar. Fueling should be done in the day(s) prior to the event.

http://aimsworldrunning.org/guidelines_fluid_replacement.htm
http://www.andersenchiro.com/understanding-fluid-replacement.html

 

[princessallegra]

My hips are KILLING me today. I seriously want to cry. I've been stretching and taking Aleve. Has anyone had issues with hip pain while training? If so, what did you do to help/prevent? I have been fine and then did my 7 mile run and can barely move today.

So sorry ! :-( The best thing I do for my hips, is every day before getting out of bed i do a few stretches. I takes about 5-10 mins but it really saves me. I do the hip opening stretch on each side, 3 times. I'm going to look for directions online now and post them. It sounded crazy when I typed it out lol. Also I too recommend the foam roller. My PT place sold me mine, but Dick's and SA sell them as well. I foam roll twice a day. My SI joints are painful to the touch without that . Good luck!

 

[princessallegra]

Here is the stretch. Make sure to flex the crossed foot, hold for at least 30 seconds, and do it on both sides, 3 times each.

 

[jahber]

Here is the stretch. Make sure to flex the crossed foot, hold for at least 30 seconds, and do it on both sides, 3 times each.

And be sure to pull from behind the knee your ankle is resting on. Don't ever pull on your ankle. You don't want to add bad ankles to bad hips

I love this stretch! You can do it standing up, if you're in a pinch and don't have somewhere to lie down.

 

[jahber]

Powerade is the drink of choice at the Disney races (or at least all I've been to.) I usually buy a bottle in the food court and carry it thought the 1st half of the race with me as I tend to like a sip or 2 each mile- just to "wet my whistle" because I tend to have a really runny nose the first part of any run. (I also carry a hankie any time I run LOL)

So Yes you can get Powerade (unless they have changed since last year) along the course and at the resorts, even in the parks.

I looked at the map and it seems like the water stations are pretty far apart. I thought I saw at least a couple of stretches that looked about 1.5 miles apart, one maybe even more. Is that enough water for most people? I think I'll have to carry a water bottle--I can't go a mile without a sip!

 

[Cripey]

I looked at the map and it seems like the water stations are pretty far apart. I thought I saw at least a couple of stretches that looked about 1.5 miles apart, one maybe even more. Is that enough water for most people? I think I'll have to carry a water bottle--I can't go a mile without a sip!

You're right...they are at least 1.5 miles apart at times...it's not enough for me and I like to have the drink I like anyway, so I always wear my own hydration belt. I do 1 mile intervals so I like to have a drink during my walk break at each mile. If you're training to drink at intervals different from what will be on the course, then I say bring your own and do what your body is used to already!

 

[PrincessV]

When the race was over I noticed my hat was VERY salt crusted, indicating I had lost WAY too much sodium even though I was drinking what I thought was plenty of electrolytes. Could this have been the cause of my energy drop?

I'm no doctor, but my answer is that it could be... I had the very same symptoms on a couple training runs this summer (I'm in FL, so I'm talking about full sun, 97* and 90% humidity - HOT!), despite drinking plenty of water and Gatorade. After a talk with my doc, I switched to drinking Nuun on my hot runs and made sure to eat some salty things the day before. Made a world of difference! YMMV, of course, and do consider the fairly extreme conditions in which I was running, as well as the fact that my normal diet is very low in sodium.

And my marathon running friend insists that as long as I make it to 10 miles in training that I'll finish the half.

That's what I keep hearing, too, and I'm hoping they're right! Congrats on being done with the Cipro

would love to have the 11:00 min mi another princess posted here !!!

Me too! I thought I'd be sub-12:00 by now, and instead I'm happy to be sub-14:00 on the occasional split lately.

I looked at the map and it seems like the water stations are pretty far apart. I thought I saw at least a couple of stretches that looked about 1.5 miles apart, one maybe even more. Is that enough water for most people?

Not for me! I don't think... I haven't ever done a long run in cool weather, so I don't know for sure. I was going through 60+ ounces during my summer runs between 7-10 miles and I needed to continually sip, not wait and load up every couple miles.

 

[JCH]

That's what I keep hearing, too, and I'm hoping they're right! Congrats on being done with the Cipro

I just finished my 3rd half and never did more than 10 in training, and I was not at all in shape when I started training for the Princess last year! It was always fine! Of course, that's assuming you just want to finish. If you have time goals, you may need to get more mileage in, but for a first half, all you need to do is cross that line before the balloon ladies do! Galloway only has the distance go up that far to overcome the mental barrier to 13.1.

 

[PrincessV]

I just finished my 3rd half and never did more than 10 in training, and I was not at all in shape when I started training for the Princess last year! It was always fine! Of course, that's assuming you just want to finish. If you have time goals, you may need to get more mileage in, but for a first half, all you need to do is cross that line before the balloon ladies do! Galloway only has the distance go up that far to overcome the mental barrier to 13.1.

Thank you for posting that - it really helps every time I hear a real-life story of someone who DID it! I used to have a time goal - then I got injured. Now I just want to finish without wishing I was dead for the last few miles, lol!

 

[SandyandKaren]

Please add us ( Sandy and Karen) to the list. This will be our first half marathon ever. I am celebrating my 50th birthday this weekend with this race.

 

[Cripey]

Son-of-a-motherless-goat I just can't win! Just as I was trying to get back on training track after Thanksgiving and a nutty week last week, I start coming down with a really nasty cold. I have no idea if I'll be able to get out there today or not...and I was already going to have to miss my scheduled run on Thursday this week because of a work party that I have to attend...ugh, I don't know what to do. Plus...it's only like 81 degrees here...so gross and humid. Definitely doesn't feel like December when you're trimming the tree and wrapping gifts while wearing shorts and cranking the AC down.

 

[jahber]

You're right...they are at least 1.5 miles apart at times...it's not enough for me and I like to have the drink I like anyway, so I always wear my own hydration belt. I do 1 mile intervals so I like to have a drink during my walk break at each mile. If you're training to drink at intervals different from what will be on the course, then I say bring your own and do what your body is used to already!

Maybe part of it is that I'm in Fl and even when it's "cool," it's still warmer than what most people train in. If it would ever go below 70, maybe I wouldn't need so much water!!! Well, once it was 55 when I ran and that was nice. But I think you're right--I'll be used to it from training, so I'll need to stick with it in the actual race.

 

[bskelly07]

Son-of-a-motherless-goat I just can't win! Just as I was trying to get back on training track after Thanksgiving and a nutty week last week, I start coming down with a really nasty cold. I have no idea if I'll be able to get out there today or not...and I was already going to have to miss my scheduled run on Thursday this week because of a work party that I have to attend...ugh, I don't know what to do. Plus...it's only like 81 degrees here...so gross and humid. Definitely doesn't feel like December when you're trimming the tree and wrapping gifts while wearing shorts and cranking the AC down.

I hear you about the weather! We don't have humidity but it's so warm and December. Makes no sense! I hope you have a speedy recovery from your cold .

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Son-of-a-motherless-goat I just can't win! Just as I was trying to get back on training track after Thanksgiving and a nutty week last week, I start coming down with a really nasty cold. I have no idea if I'll be able to get out there today or not...and I was already going to have to miss my scheduled run on Thursday this week because of a work party that I have to attend...ugh, I don't know what to do. Plus...it's only like 81 degrees here...so gross and humid. Definitely doesn't feel like December when you're trimming the tree and wrapping gifts while wearing shorts and cranking the AC down.

No joke! I put in a Christmas movie Saturday because I wanted something to feel festive. 80s and not to mention I felt under the weather Saturday. Not good when I've got a half this weekend

 

[princessmeghan]

I'm doing the race retreat and I will probably bring a hoodie to toss.

Take it slow with your training. You can do this! I am just getting back in training too. When I first started training for my first race, I used to remind myself, "If I could go any slower, I was going too fast." My "jog" on the treadmill (I trained in Jan for the Feb 5k) was really a fast walk. Over time I was able to get it up to a faster walk. Go for 4, you will be able to do it!!

Thanks! I did a 2 mile treadmill run yesterday. It felt okay. Way way less pain after. Still there though. I'm RICEing though! I'm thinking of trying a foam roller too. I have KT tape, but I cant quite get it right based on the video.

 

[princessmeghan]

I just finished my 3rd half and never did more than 10 in training, and I was not at all in shape when I started training for the Princess last year! It was always fine! Of course, that's assuming you just want to finish. If you have time goals, you may need to get more mileage in, but for a first half, all you need to do is cross that line before the balloon ladies do! Galloway only has the distance go up that far to overcome the mental barrier to 13.1.

Thanks for posting this! I chose not to do Galloway bc of the distances he has you go. It's a huge extra time commitment. I'm doing Hal Higdons novice plan which takes you to 10 miles. I've been slightly worried about it since choosing it. It's great to hear from someone who has "only" done 10.

 

[VickiHD]

Son-of-a-motherless-goat I just can't win! Just as I was trying to get back on training track after Thanksgiving and a nutty week last week, I start coming down with a really nasty cold. I have no idea if I'll be able to get out there today or not...and I was already going to have to miss my scheduled run on Thursday this week because of a work party that I have to attend...ugh, I don't know what to do. Plus...it's only like 81 degrees here...so gross and humid. Definitely doesn't feel like December when you're trimming the tree and wrapping gifts while wearing shorts and cranking the AC down.

Wish I had the warm weather problem!! We had rain and cold weather in Southern Ca the past few days