Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[DisneyBee]

Nope. If you go to the Registration section, in the spot where they have the links to each of the races, there is also a link to "Commemorative Items." This will take you to Active.com again, so it'll look like you're signing up for a race, but it's where you can get the pins, etc. I'm not sure exactly how long they will be there for purchase, but they are there!

ETA: You can see this if you go to the registration section for Wine & Dine (which has been sold out for a couple of months now) - commemorative items can still be purchased for that race weekend.

Thanks - I'll check it out! I'm so excited for this and don't want to miss out on getting all the goodies.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Like many of you, I did a practice registration run using the Star Was registration. I see that you can order lots of fun add-on things like pins, packages, jackets, etc. My question is, is that the only opportunity to buy those? During registration? Or can you go back and order those later? I'm worried about the big hit my bank account is going to take for registration fees alone, let alone all the fun add-ons!

When you look at your registration in your Active Account you will have something below that states: Purchase Additional Items I have linked it in this thread previous on how it looks like.

 

[britterbell]

Totally agree with you on this! As a college student, an almost $200 registration fee is a big hit, but I don't want to miss out on the goodies either!

 

[Ariel484]

Don't forget that Active.com fees will be tacked onto registration + commemorative item purchases...

 

[IrishMel21]

Thanks - I'll check it out! I'm so excited for this and don't want to miss out on getting all the goodies.

Me too! Last year was my first PHM Weekend (I did the 5k/10k) and I was so overwhelmed by the goodies I didn't know what I would want. Last year I did add the 5k, 10k pins and the necklace. The naivete in me figured I could purchase the other stuff (i.e. jacket) at the Expo. I was wrong!! There was barely any official merchandise left by the time I got to the Expo Thursday afternoon. This year, I'll be sure to add any commemorative items at the time of registration and then cry at the price tag after.

 

[IrishMel21]

Hello all! Very excited to be planning to register for the Princess Half (my very first half marathon!) Just wondering if you had any tips for a first time runner! (aka is there anything I can do in advance to prepare/ familiarize myself with beforehand) Sorry if this has already been addressed, but thanks in advance for any help!

Welcome! Here are some tips I've found to be helpful, please take them for what you need.

• Find a training plan that works for you. But train. Don't just think that you'll be able to show up and "run" the races. Put in the time and you'll be so much happier with your results.
• Come up with goals, both during training but during the race(s).
• If you want to run the races for a PR (personal record) or your best race, then commit to that goal. If you want to experience the Disney aspect of the race and take character photos, then plan for that additional time into your training. Last year was my first Disney Race and I didn't know what to expect or what I wanted. I ultimately decided I was going to run the race and if character lines weren't crazy long, I'd stop. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was happy with how the races went because I had goals.
• Take in the moments. Enjoy the experience.
• Have fun!
• PS - realize that the course will be VERY crowded. This was the one thing that surprised me. I didn't realize just HOW busy/crowded it would be.
• Again - have fun!

 

[Ariel484]

Hello all! Very excited to be planning to register for the Princess Half (my very first half marathon!) Just wondering if you had any tips for a first time runner! (aka is there anything I can do in advance to prepare/ familiarize myself with beforehand) Sorry if this has already been addressed, but thanks in advance for any help!

Oops, I missed your post earlier.

First and foremost, I would look for a training plan that will work with your schedule, and commit to sticking to it.
Second, I'd look for a local 10K race in your area that you can run to submit to Disney for corral placement. Disney uses these to predict when you'll finish the race and this will determine when you will be allowed to start on race day. So elites start first, followed by the fastest runners in corral A, next fastest in Corral B, etc.
Another thing that was really helpful for me before my first race at Disney was to read race trip reports. That let me know what to expect at the expo, gave me a glimpse at the course, etc.
Most important tip...don't forget your camera.

 

[DisneyBee]

When you look at your registration in your Active Account you will have something below that states: Purchase Additional Items I have linked it in this thread previous on how it looks like.

Thanks - I did read the entire thread, but wasn't looking for that particular info at the time. I'll go back through and find it. Thanks!

 

[DisneyBee]

Don't forget that Active.com fees will be tacked onto registration + commemorative item purchases...

Yuck. I was afraid of that. I was looking at doing the trial upgrade to Active Advantage for a month just to have their fees waived. Has anyone tried this?

 

[huggybuff]

I was looking at doing the trial upgrade to Active Advantage for a month just to have their fees waived. Has anyone tried this?

I have Active Advantage this year. I saved 10 bucks on my Star Wars registration this week. Not too bad.

 

[Ariel484]

Yuck. I was afraid of that. I was looking at doing the trial upgrade to Active Advantage for a month just to have their fees waived. Has anyone tried this?

I haven't tried it because I don't think I'd break even on the membership cost vs. the discounts I'd get.

Active.com fees will tack on an extra 6.5-7%, in case that helps your planning.

 

[DisneyBee]

I have Active Advantage this year. I saved 10 bucks on my Star Wars registration this week. Not too bad.

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[DisneyBee]

How is everyone here dressing? "Princessy" (is that a word?!) or just in regular running clothes? I'd like to be fun, but practical at the same time.

 

[Ariel484]

How is everyone here dressing? "Princessy" (is that a word?!) or just in regular running clothes? I'd like to be fun, but practical at the same time.

Not sure. I know I'm wearing a SparkleSkirt and a SweatyBand, but haven't starting thinking about which ones yet.

 

[huggybuff]

How is everyone here dressing? "Princessy" (is that a word?!) or just in regular running clothes? I'd like to be fun, but practical at the same time.

Honestly, I have Wine and Dine and Star Wars to figure out costume-wise before I get to Princess. There will be tons of tutus on the course so dress as crazy and fun as you feel like dressing. The most important thing is that you have tested out your costume on a lengthy run before race day. You don't want to wear something new and find that it chafes or constricts you and then you're stuck out there suffering for miles.

 

[britterbell]

Welcome! Here are some tips I've found to be helpful, please take them for what you need.

• Find a training plan that works for you. But train. Don't just think that you'll be able to show up and "run" the races. Put in the time and you'll be so much happier with your results.
• Come up with goals, both during training but during the race(s).
• If you want to run the races for a PR (personal record) or your best race, then commit to that goal. If you want to experience the Disney aspect of the race and take character photos, then plan for that additional time into your training. Last year was my first Disney Race and I didn't know what to expect or what I wanted. I ultimately decided I was going to run the race and if character lines weren't crazy long, I'd stop. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was happy with how the races went because I had goals.
• Take in the moments. Enjoy the experience.
• Have fun!
• PS - realize that the course will be VERY crowded. This was the one thing that surprised me. I didn't realize just HOW busy/crowded it would be.
• Again - have fun!

Oops, I missed your post earlier.

First and foremost, I would look for a training plan that will work with your schedule, and commit to sticking to it.
Second, I'd look for a local 10K race in your area that you can run to submit to Disney for corral placement. Disney uses these to predict when you'll finish the race and this will determine when you will be allowed to start on race day. So elites start first, followed by the fastest runners in corral A, next fastest in Corral B, etc.
Another thing that was really helpful for me before my first race at Disney was to read race trip reports. That let me know what to expect at the expo, gave me a glimpse at the course, etc.
Most important tip...don't forget your camera.

Thank you both! So excited to begin the process to get ready for the Half!

 

[britterbell]

Another question: I'm not sure if this has already been addressed, but are there special room/ticket packages for the weekend? If so, where is the best place to book with?

 

[Ariel484]

Another question: I'm not sure if this has already been addressed, but are there special room/ticket packages for the weekend? If so, where is the best place to book with?

You can book through runDisney...I haven't booked through them since 2011 though because I've gotten better deals elsewhere (better AP/general room discounts, for example). They don't do discounted tickets for Princess.

So they'll have SOME kind of deal, but it may not be the BEST deal.

 

[Ariel484]

Galloway training plans are already posted for 2016! No hints at the theme, sadly.

http://www.rundisney.com/training/running/

I'm planning on using his GSC plan (I'm using his Dumbo plan, which is the same plan as the GSC plan, and I like it so far), but i couldn't get it to save to my phone calendar with their instructions. I'll have to try it on my computer later.

 

[SunDial]

Galloway training plans are already posted for 2016! No hints at the theme, sadly.

http://www.rundisney.com/training/running/

I'm planning on using his GSC plan (I'm using his Dumbo plan, which is the same plan as the GSC plan, and I like it so far), but i couldn't get it to save to my phone calendar with their instructions. I'll have to try it on my computer later.

Thanks Ariel. Have to send the January half to a friend that is just getting into running. My DD is getting the GSC, and I downloaded the full. I will just continue the full for the GSC with DD.