Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread - Take 2

[bellanotte10]

Is it just me or is the countdown on the princess half website off? I have 71 days until I leave on the 23rd, they have 69 days presumably til the half. I wonder who is off....

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Is it just me or is the countdown on the princess half website off? I have 71 days until I leave on the 23rd, they have 69 days presumably til the half. I wonder who is off....

Since it's two days off, they may be counting down to Friday since that's the first day of the expo.

 

[bellanotte10]

Since it's two days off, they may be counting down to Friday since that's the first day of the expo.

Wouldn't that make it 70 if the expo was Friday?

ETA nvm I think I get it if they are using fri as 0 it would be thurs at 1?

 

[Mommy to Two Princes]

Princesses,
If any of you in in the CT area or your families were affected by today's tragedy, my thoughts and prayers go out to you.

Hug your kids a little tighter tonight!

 

[AnotherPrincess]

I have a few questions for the returning princesses. Where are the "real" rest rooms in MK that are along the course? Have you used these during the race? How were the lines? Did you find that it worked out better or worse than the porta potties in terms of time it takes? TIA!

 

[princessallegra]

I have a few questions for the returning princesses. Where are the "real" rest rooms in MK that are along the course? Have you used these during the race? How were the lines? Did you find that it worked out better or worse than the porta potties in terms of time it takes? TIA!

I personally have a major problem using portapotties. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. I hate them and would rather pee in the damn woods haha. That being said, i always have to pee at some point during a run that long. My plan was to hold out til the tomorrowland bathrooms. Best detour and best few minutes break, best decision ever. I didnt have to pee when I went over the bridge to tomorrowland, but i said i'm gonna make myself stop. I did take tiny detour to use the bathroom up by the noodle station. Another woman and I both did it. We were laughing from the stalls because i said "i'm not gettin up! I like sitting!" Haha. Well i peed a lot and was totally re-energized after.

Physically ON the course, I guess the bathrooms in Frontierland are right on the course. My mind is totally blanking right now on the MK bathroom physically ON the course. Also, new fantasyland wasnt done last year. The bathrooms in the corner by pinocchio's are right there too.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

So when you say detour, how much of a detour? That's before the castle right? That would be ideal for me. And was it the tiny one up by the registers in the noodle station or the bigger one in between the plaza and the noodle station? Sorry for all the detail asked. This is important stuff! Lol

 

[princessallegra]

So when you say detour, how much of a detour? That's before the castle right? That would be ideal for me. And was it the tiny one up by the registers in the noodle station or the bigger one in between the plaza and the noodle station? Sorry for all the detail asked. This is important stuff! Lol

Well when you cross the bridge into tomorrowland instead of staying on course and going straight past Laugh Factory and Stitch, i turned right and went up the ramp and used the noodle station bathroom. Im not good with distances lol so maybe someone else can say how much of a detour. It was worth it because no one else other than that woman and I did it. So no bathroom line.


Sorry eta it was the small bathrooms in the noodle station.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

Ok cool! I know about how far that is. Sounds like a good plan! Thanks!

 

[annmarieda]

Okay, I'm trying not to panic... I finally seem to have the ITBS pain out of the way on my left knee, but starting hurting badly just above my RIGHT knee during last night's short run. It's one of two things, possibly some of both: my ongoing chronic tendinitis flaring up, and/or new damage to my quadriceps tendon. In either case the prescription is, of course... rest. I'm supposed to do 5 miles this weekend... can't decide whether to try it, go shorter, or bag it entirely. Tomorrow's a rest day; today should be a 1-mile walk plus yoga, but I'll definitely skip the yoga, since bending with weight on it hurts the most. I may go ahead and walk since that seems not to hurt and loosens things up.

I'm so sick of being in pain!

I am so sorry that you are facing pain on the other side now! Some how, doesnt seem right or fair.

Far be it from me to deter anyone from shoe shopping but this sounds like overtraining to me.

http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/classic-signs-youre-overtraining
http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/do-you-make-these-5-running-mistakes

I've had a few moments in my training that have been like this. Hard work will pay off, but sometimes you need to take some time to roll things back and do some recovery. As they say, rest is where the actual improvement happens. It's in response to the stress of training, but the recovery builds the muscles.

Whatever the cause, I hope you bounce back soon!

Cate

I think you may have something here. I did end up going shopping as well as go into the doc, but when I looked back over the last few weeks of training I realized this training program has upped my mileage by about 30% from where I was. Not all at once mind you, but little by little over the last 4 weeks I have added 5 miles to my week.

As for the shoe... it doesnt fit right so that didn't help.

As for the doc... well, I battle with severe anemia from time to time. And... well, anemic again is what I am. So I am sure that once I get my iron levels back up I will feel tons better.

YES shopping !!!!! Have fun and enjoy.

I went shopping...got a pair of shoes. After my drama in July over new shoes I thought it best to stick with the same shoe in the same size. Guess what? They have to go back. First run was ok... the shoe felt a bit snug but I figured it was in my head and the shoe just needed to be broken in. Next run I went to put it on and on one foot it was almost painful to slide on. Then I attempted a third and I couldn't even walk in the shoe it was putting so much pressure on my bunion, so I ran in my old ones. Thinking maybe it was again just in my head I tried to put the new ones on for my last run...and they were so tight I could barely slide them on. SOOOO, my conclusion is I have lost my mind The shoe that is the same size as my old one is going to go back and I am going to try on a half size bigger.

Things are looking up a little here. A contact of DH's texted him last night and said he'd heard what happened and offered DH a temp position as a cook in his restaurant and will pay DH only $1/hr less than DH was making as a kitchen manager. It's quite the commute, but it buys us some time.

Our tentative longer term plan is for DH to go the student route as well. As soon as I get my training done, I'll be starting an undergrad research position. I'll be making about 1/2 of what DH was making. DH had been taking 6 hours per semester, but his boss was whining about DH being unavailable 2 mornings per week, so DH agreed to not take classes. Well now that the jerk fired him, I suggested DH going back to school and looking for a lab position too. Our student jobs would cover DH's former income, plus we'd have the excess financial aid and our jobs would likely have the possibility of getting full time hours over the summers. We could carpool, so gas expenses would be almost cut in half, so that's around an extra $50/week. We'd def. come out slightly ahead financially with this plan, plus we'd both be done with school sooner. And this might be my fave part - we'd all be home in the evenings. If the kids had games or performances, we could both be there. We'd have weekends free to do whatever. I'm really hoping this works out for us.

It looks like the PHM should be able to happen still. I've already got the race fee covered and park tickets covered (have an AP). Still need to book airfare and a room.

I'm getting ready to head out for my first post illness run. It's been 3 weeks since I ran, so I'm a little nervous. I'm hoping to get in 3 miles, but I'm going to head to a park with a short-ish loop and just see how it goes.

Glad to hear that the PHM is going to still happen for you!!!

Hope that shortish loop went well!

I just wanted to share here... I ran a 27:01 5k on Saturday! That's 32 seconds faster than my previous PR!!

That is amazing!!!!

Well, I finished my 5 miles Saturday... but I'm not sure if I should celebrate yet, lol! Knee pain in my ITBS leg started up around mile 4... but I couldn't really tell if it was ITBS pain or my usual arthritic stuff that comes and goes during a run. It wasn't the stabbing, ice-pick-to-a-ligament kind of pain I was having previously, but I opted not to run through it, just in case. I'd been doing 1:30walk/:45run intervals up to that point, but started skipping every 2 runs for the last mile. No residual pain afterward, so I'm hopeful...

I will keep my fingers crossed for you and be hopeful as well.

Well, I just CANNOT kick this stuff I don't seem to have gotten any better since I saw a doctor (well, actually a nurse) last week. At that time, I could not get in to see my normal doctor, so I went to one of those "Take Care Clinics" in Walgreens...which I've done before with no problems, but I've never had a sinus infection last this long and be this bad. I have an appointment with my regular doctor tomorrow now...I'm afraid that with all the fluid that's been in my ears since last week that I'll get an ear infection too so I'm hoping they can do something else for me tomorrow. I'm so clogged up in my head, I feel like I'm walking around with ear plugs in...it's terribly annoying! So, that means I did NOT get out this saturday to run. Tinker Bell is right around the corner and I'm freaking out about this! My BF is running a 5 miler today after work and we carpooled together today, so I'm thinking I'll go to the park with him and, if nothing else, try to walk a couple of miles at least. I feel like I have to do something!

It doesn't help that we're having roller coaster weather...it was in the low 80's yesterday...40's today, possible 30's tonight. And it seems to just keep going up and down, up and down every week. UGH! On the bright side, my cats are seriously taking advantage of the extra cuddle time with me on the couch lately...it's cute!

It is good you can see a bright side... but I do hope that you feel better soon!! Not feeling well getting in the way of training just stinks!!!

So I haven't run in 3 weeks.

Well, I went for one shorty 5.5kms run but thats it.

I've had a bug that I just can't shake. I'm so exhausted that even having a shower leaves me winded and I'm all congested and my chest is full of gunk too. 3 weeks. Ug.

I have Tink coming up soon and I'm panicking that I'm not going to be able to do it.

I think a 5k when you are not feeling well is respectable!!! I hope you feel better soon!!!

I have been reading here for a couple of months now and always felt blessed not to be battling injuries and illness. Then last week-Tuesday to be exact I did something stupid (new shoes + started speed work) and lo and behold...injury! I am really feeling stupid about it tonight. I am seeing the doctor in the morning. I am hopeful it is just tendinitis. I attempted a workout on Sunday and again yesterday, each time making it about 6 minutes.

At this point I am hoping to be healed by the time the Tink comes along and count on adrenaline getting me through where my training has lapsed. I completed a marathon in May and another in June with almost no training, so I am hopeful my body will remember that and get me to the finish in a timely manner.

I hope your injury is minor and your body does a good job at remembering and gets you to that finish!!!

 

[annmarieda]

Hi princesses. *wave*

I fought the ick in my lungs and went out for a run this morning. I only went 8.5kms so no where near what I need to be doing at this point but it was my first run in 3 weeks and it felt so good to be out there.

I was so thankful that my body seemed able to still run that distance without a whole lot of effort but my lungs - oh my poor lungs - they felt like they were going to explode.

Guess the ick lives on. Feeling much better now though. Next run will be longer so I can get back on my feet for Tink then the Princess.

Glad you are doing better. "only" going 8.5 k is better than nothing and seriously, that is little more than 5 miles, right? I know we all have our own goals and our own abilities or places where we are in our training, but i would assume that running 5 miles (especially sick) is a place many would like to be.

Good for you for getting out there! I think I'm finally on the mend too...went back to the doctor tuesday and was switched to some different meds. This has been one crazy sinus infection! I'm actaully just starting to feel alot better today...the most annoying thing though is that my ears are still stuffy...hopefully that gets worked out here in the next day or two. I should be able to get back out there this weekend and give it a go. Thinking about shooting for a 5 miler, but we'll see how that goes. To get me in a better frame of mind, I finally got around to ordering the little iron on that I want for my race day shirts for Tink and Princess yesterday. Still waiting on my tutu's/skirts for both of those races...they are both promised to me by the end of the month.

So, is it bad that I haven't run in 3 weeks...and I really don't miss it??

glad that you too are on the mend.

 

[VickiHD]

I have a few questions for the returning princesses. Where are the "real" rest rooms in MK that are along the course? Have you used these during the race? How were the lines? Did you find that it worked out better or worse than the porta potties in terms of time it takes? TIA!

I am SO GLAD I'm not the only one worried about this. I HATE porta potties and I am trying to figure out all bathroom locations that we can get to during the race. I swear this is more important to me than photo ops.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

Got my 8 miles in this morning and I'm happy to say that it was my fastest pace yet for any run over 5 miles and fast enough to not see the sweepers, which is my only goal this time. For ToT my goal was to not get swept. I didn't but I did see the sweepers. Didn't like it so new goal! A few weeks back you may remember me posting that I can now run my short runs significantly faster than my long runs for the first time. I'm now seeing the positive effects of that on my long runs. Progress feels good!

 

[Princess on the Run]

I personally have a major problem using portapotties. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. I hate them and would rather pee in the damn woods haha. That being said, i always have to pee at some point during a run that long. My plan was to hold out til the tomorrowland bathrooms. Best detour and best few minutes break, best decision ever. I didnt have to pee when I went over the bridge to tomorrowland, but i said i'm gonna make myself stop. I did take tiny detour to use the bathroom up by the noodle station. Another woman and I both did it. We were laughing from the stalls because i said "i'm not gettin up! I like sitting!" Haha. Well i peed a lot and was totally re-energized after.

Physically ON the course, I guess the bathrooms in Frontierland are right on the course. My mind is totally blanking right now on the MK bathroom physically ON the course. Also, new fantasyland wasnt done last year. The bathrooms in the corner by pinocchio's are right there too.

This is awesome information to have!! Thanks!!! There is not much worse than having to go potty and waiting in line for a smelly port-a-potty with no TP in it. Ugh!

 

[poohbear8]

I went shopping...got a pair of shoes. After my drama in July over new shoes I thought it best to stick with the same shoe in the same size. Guess what? They have to go back. First run was ok... the shoe felt a bit snug but I figured it was in my head and the shoe just needed to be broken in. Next run I went to put it on and on one foot it was almost painful to slide on. Then I attempted a third and I couldn't even walk in the shoe it was putting so much pressure on my bunion, so I ran in my old ones. Thinking maybe it was again just in my head I tried to put the new ones on for my last run...and they were so tight I could barely slide them on. SOOOO, my conclusion is I have lost my mind The shoe that is the same size as my old one is going to go back and I am going to try on a half size bigger.

Something that might help is elastic shoe laces. I found they didn't put as much pressure on my bunion, but still kept the tight feeling by the tongue of the shoe.

I found this to have some good ideas also: http://www.runningwarehouse.com/LearningCenterVideos.html#TWw958BlE4k

I'm heading to the running store tomorrow to look at cushion shoes with my insoles in them. It is not the highlight of my day for sure!

 

[princessallegra]

This is awesome information to have!! Thanks!!! There is not much worse than having to go potty and waiting in line for a smelly port-a-potty with no TP in it. Ugh!

I caved and used a practically fresh portapotty pre race at like 4:15 am and it was still just gross for me. People had already gone on the floor. Yuck! I have literally peed in a solo cup in the car at Giants games bc I refuse to use those PP. call me crazy!

For ToT race i used the bathrooms right on the field at WWOS, also best decision ever! Totally re-energized me and relieved me lol.

 

[Princess on the Run]

I caved and used a practically fresh portapotty pre race at like 4:15 am and it was still just gross for me. People had already gone on the floor. Yuck! I have literally peed in a solo cup in the car at Giants games bc I refuse to use those PP. call me crazy!

For ToT race i used the bathrooms right on the field at WWOS, also best decision ever! Totally re-energized me and relieved me lol.

I'm not squeamish about much in life but PoPs are just gross. Part of it is that so often there is poop in there, and no paper, and no place to wash your hands after touching everyone else's potty germs. There are so many nasty things about them that any one on it's own might be tolerable but all together is just nasty.

My usual running path takes me past this hardly ever used park with a PoP that is almost never used unless there is a special event going on there. It's always sparkly clean on a Sunday morning because they get serviced regularly even though they're hardly ever used. I sometimes stop and use that one if I have to and it is almost always pristine. Once or twice I've gone there and it was obvious someone else had used to before me after it was cleaned and I kind of felt violated. Like someone used MY personal potty and left it messy.

 

[annmarieda]

Got my 8 miles in this morning and I'm happy to say that it was my fastest pace yet for any run over 5 miles and fast enough to not see the sweepers, which is my only goal this time. For ToT my goal was to not get swept. I didn't but I did see the sweepers. Didn't like it so new goal! A few weeks back you may remember me posting that I can now run my short runs significantly faster than my long runs for the first time. I'm now seeing the positive effects of that on my long runs. Progress feels good!

for 8 miles!!! And for fast enough to not get swept!!!

Something that might help is elastic shoe laces. I found they didn't put as much pressure on my bunion, but still kept the tight feeling by the tongue of the shoe.

I found this to have some good ideas also: http://www.runningwarehouse.com/LearningCenterVideos.html#TWw958BlE4k

I'm heading to the running store tomorrow to look at cushion shoes with my insoles in them. It is not the highlight of my day for sure!

The problem is the mesh is too tight. Even if I loosen the laces it is tight... but thank you for the recommendation!!!

I'm not squeamish about much in life but PoPs are just gross. Part of it is that so often there is poop in there, and no paper, and no place to wash your hands after touching everyone else's potty germs. There are so many nasty things about them that any one on it's own might be tolerable but all together is just nasty.

My usual running path takes me past this hardly ever used park with a PoP that is almost never used unless there is a special event going on there. It's always sparkly clean on a Sunday morning because they get serviced regularly even though they're hardly ever used. I sometimes stop and use that one if I have to and it is almost always pristine. Once or twice I've gone there and it was obvious someone else had used to before me after it was cleaned and I kind of felt violated. Like someone used MY personal potty and left it messy.

I am with you on the PoPs!!! Just ew! I had such a hard time going into one before the ToT...I am sure I looked ridiculous .

 

[MizBrix]

Like someone used MY personal potty and left it messy.

Omg, this made me laugh! I needed that! I agree though, the PoP gross me out. I actually keep a charmin to go roll in my spy belt out of fear of no tp in the PoP! Lol!

I'm also very happy to report that after 7 weeks of no running (due to major surgery), I was finally cleared to run again this past week. I had been walking 3 miles everyday during my recovery, so the transition to running wasn't as bad as I feared. I'm feeling much better about the PHM now!

 

[ColleenG]

This is awesome information to have!! Thanks!!! There is not much worse than having to go potty and waiting in line for a smelly port-a-potty with no TP in it. Ugh!

I'm with you all, PoPs are just nasty! For last year's Princess I used the mens room right across from the Speedway in Tomorrow Land. There were a few gents in there, but Ijust looked down and went into a stall. The ladies room line was too long. There are also the real bathrooms as you go into Frontierland from Liberty Square that go through to Adventureland. Those BRs are pretty big. I stopped even though I didn't really have to go at the moment, just to empty out to avoid a PoP. Once out back on World Dr. there is always the woods. Trust me you will see plenty of people going in and coming out. Probably more guys than gals. Not a bad idea to carry some TP or tissues. I've heard some people bring a bandana to leave behind.