Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[keahgirl8]

Does anybody have good message boards, blogs, etc for people training for a half or more specifically the princess half. I would love to follow other people's progress, read tips, get encouragement. These boards tend to get slow because it is just a small subset of the disboard members so I'd like boards that are just runners training for a half or beginner runners.

There are a lot of Facebook groups for specific races, if you are on Facebook!

 

[Keels]

Does anybody have good message boards, blogs, etc for people training for a half or more specifically the princess half. I would love to follow other people's progress, read tips, get encouragement. These boards tend to get slow because it is just a small subset of the disboard members so I'd like boards that are just runners training for a half or beginner runners.

You might also look for a local running group if you're looking for specific levels of interaction.

I've found that these race-specific threads have been great for progress, tips and encouragement.

 

[fordpony92]

My daughter and I are in for the 5k and my wife is doing the GSC! This will be our first runDisney event(s). Can't wait.

 

[Gryhndmom]

My daughter and I are in for the 5k and my wife is doing the GSC! This will be our first runDisney event(s). Can't wait.

Welcome, welcome ,welcome! This thread will be a wealth of information.

 

[keahgirl8]

My daughter and I are in for the 5k and my wife is doing the GSC! This will be our first runDisney event(s). Can't wait.

Welcome! You guys are going to have a blast! It is so much fun!

 

[MousekaMama]

My sister and I are running the Crescent City Classic 10k in NOLA this weekend to have matching "official times," so we'll be placed in the same corrals for the GSC. We live in separate states, so this will be our first race together. Our next will be in Disney as long as we get in! I'm getting so excited because this is our first step in making our dream of running a Disney race together become a reality!

 

[Keels]

My sister and I are running the Crescent City Classic 10k in NOLA this weekend to have matching "official times," so we'll be placed in the same corrals for the GSC. We live in separate states, so this will be our first race together. Our next will be in Disney as long as we get in! I'm getting so excited because this is our first step in making our dream of running a Disney race together becoming a reality!

Enjoy!! I ran that course in January and had a BLAST! It's super flat, straight and full of things to check out. Y'all will have a great time!!

 

[MousekaMama]

Enjoy!! I ran that course in January and had a BLAST! It's super flat, straight and full of things to check out. Y'all will have a great time!!

Thank you! It's my first CCC, so this course is all new to me.

 

[Keels]

Thank you! It's my first CCC, so this course is all new to me.

The run down Esplanade and into the park is really cool. It's nice and shady, because of all the old tress, and you go past lots of old houses (and Port of Call!) - there's also a really cool cemetery on the right-hand side right before you cross into the park. Also, get ready to smell the delicious beignets as you run right past Cafe du Monde.

It was my first 10K, and I'm so glad I picked New Orleans for it! Enjoy - and then go somewhere fun for brunch and wear your bling!

 

[MousekaMama]

The run down Esplanade and into the park is really cool. It's nice and shady, because of all the old tress, and you go past lots of old houses (and Port of Call!) - there's also a really cool cemetery on the right-hand side right before you cross into the park. Also, get ready to smell the delicious beignets as you run right past Cafe du Monde.

It was my first 10K, and I'm so glad I picked New Orleans for it! Enjoy - and then go somewhere fun for brunch and wear your bling!

Yes! I can't wait! I ran the Shamrockin' Run 8k in NOLA last month, and this is a completely different route through the city. It's going to be great! Congratulations on your first 10k, by the way!

 

[travelfearlessly]

Hi ladies, I'm planning to do the PHM in 2016 but I'm not a runner. Never have been, so it's going to be tough for me. I do have a question, how fast do tickets sell out? The first day? The first week? I would hate to do all this training only to find out I didn't book my tickets in time

 

[Ariel484]

Hi ladies, I'm planning to do the PHM in 2016 but I'm not a runner. Never have been, so it's going to be tough for me. I do have a question, how fast do tickets sell out? The first day? The first week? I would hate to do all this training only to find out I didn't book my tickets in time

Welcome!!
I assume you are asking about the race registration? If so, you'll want to be ready right when it opens at noon EST - it'll sell out the first day, possibly within hours (or less).

 

[flvy]

I'm aiming for this as part one for my c2c next year with the Tinkerbell as the second part. I really am aiming for the GSC but with the way Wine and Dine sold out I'm very nervous and already took the day off of work to register.

 

[jennynyholm]

I've been buying a $50 Disney gift card at my weekly Target trips, and now at $350 I've passed the amount of GSC registration Still just a drop in the bucket to the total trip cost, but exciting all the same!

 

[Ariel484]

I've been buying a $50 Disney gift card at my weekly Target trips, and now at $350 I've passed the amount of GSC registration Still just a drop in the bucket to the total trip cost, but exciting all the same!

Yay for Disney savings!!

...okay I swear I am not trying to rain on your parade...and maybe you already know this but I just wanted to make sure...and I feel like such a jerk right now...

1. You can't use Disney gift cards to register for the races - registration is done through Active.com, so you'll need to put it on a credit card
2. It's actually going to be more than $350 since Active.com will charge a registration fee (normally about 6-7% of the registration cost)

Maybe you can put those gift cards toward some merchandise at the expo!

 

[jennynyholm]

Yay for Disney savings!!

...okay I swear I am not trying to rain on your parade...and maybe you already know this but I just wanted to make sure...and I feel like such a jerk right now...

1. You can't use Disney gift cards to register for the races - registration is done through Active.com, so you'll need to put it on a credit card
2. It's actually going to be more than $350 since Active.com will charge a registration fee (normally about 6-7% of the registration cost)

Maybe you can put those gift cards toward some merchandise at the expo!

Ouch, I didn't know there was an extra active fee on top of registration! Good to know.

And I was thinking for pure speed and ease, I would use a credit card on registration day. Even buying my 50 gift cards each week won't be enough for everything. So yeah the cards may end up going toward hotel, food, tickets, or merch. I just the love the visual of seeing when I've saved enough for one part of the trip.

 

[Ariel484]

Ouch, I didn't know there was an extra active fee on top of registration! Good to know.

And I was thinking for pure speed and ease, I would use a credit card on registration day. Even buying my 50 gift cards each week won't be enough for everything. So yeah the cards may end up going toward hotel, food, tickets, or merch. I just the love the visual of seeing when I've saved enough for one part of the trip.

Okay, good...just wanted to make sure you knew.

Those Active.com fees are the worst. I used to forget about them and then they'd be a nasty surprise at the end of the transaction...I've been better at remembering lately.

 

[luv4mylittleones]

So I am relatively out of shape but not entirely new to running. I feel confident that I can train for a decent 1/2 marathon time and definitely plan on running the 5k also with some non-runner friends of mine. Lately, though, I've been thinking that I really want to do the GSC. How realistic is it to think that I could train for all three races in 10ish months? I have gained 40lbs in the last year and have some major work to do!!

 

[Ariel484]

@luv4mylittleones personally I think that anyone that is trained enough for the half can do all 3. As long as you stick to your training plan and throw in some back-to-back-to-back runs I'm sure you'll do great!

 

[DVCFan1994]

So I am relatively out of shape but not entirely new to running. I feel confident that I can train for a decent 1/2 marathon time and definitely plan on running the 5k also with some non-runner friends of mine. Lately, though, I've been thinking that I really want to do the GSC. How realistic is it to think that I could train for all three races in 10ish months? I have gained 40lbs in the last year and have some major work to do!!

I think if you look at it as training to finish all three instead of racing all three, it is doable. My first half was part of the GSC in 2014. I was not a runner before training to run those. I took the 10k slower than if I were doing a 10k by itself. The half I gave my all.

This year I did all three. I mostly walked the 5k with my mom and daughter (6), then ran the 10k comfortably, and gave the half the most effort. I was still able to tour the parks all three days. It was lots of fun and I'm looking forward to doing it again in 2016.

The three races mean 3 early mornings. I'm an early riser, so that part is fine for me, but some people are drained at the end. If you can deal with the early mornings, then I think all three are realistic if you start training now so you can go slow and steady at building up your mileage. Too much too soon is a recipe for hurting yourself. Then, just know you need to focus on finishing feeling good at the end of the first two races so you still have energy for the third. Trying to go all out for all three would be a lot for a first back to back to back series.