Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[BuckeyeBama]

Running a 5k this afternoon in my race shirt from last year!

So... My friend running with me wants to try for a sub 2:30 race but the training plan she printed out for us is insane and neither of us are at the pace or milage to do it. Anyone have any experience telling a friend that they may need to find a training plan that is more in-tune with their current running ability? I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I don't want her to get injured either...

You can go from a complete non-runner to a 2:30 half in 6 months if you really put in the work (with no injuries or other health problems). Mileage has to be increased slowly, and speed work has to be a part of the weekly routine, but it is absolutely doable.

IMO, if you are not interested in her plan suggest another one, but be prepared to use separate plans. I would not discourage her from using her plan. Running is a very individual sport, even when running with a friend. What works for you might not be best for her, and vice versa. Each of you needs to choose a plan that you are comfortable with, and that you have confidence in.

 

[beachta1]

You can go from a complete non-runner to a 2:30 half in 6 months if you really put in the work (with no injuries or other health problems). Mileage has to be increased slowly, and speed work has to be a part of the weekly routine, but it is absolutely doable.

IMO, if you are not interested in her plan suggest another one, but be prepared to use separate plans. I would not discourage her from using her plan. Running is a very individual sport, even when running with a friend. What works for you might not be best for her, and vice versa. Each of you needs to choose a plan that you are comfortable with, and that you have confidence in.

Thanks for your feedback. I was reading through it and it was suggesting 3 miles at a 9 mile pace in the first week, and I know that neither of us could keep that pace right now. I'm 100% with you that building slowly up the miles and working in speed, as well as sticking with it, is the only way to finish and feel comfortable to finish. From my experience with running and working out in general, trying a plan that is out of reach to start makes it easier to not stick with. I may just stick with my own thing and if our distances match up on certain days, we can try to run it together.

 

[Ariel484]

@beachta1 to add to what @BuckeyeBama said, make sure sure that if your friend trains for this 2:30 goal and it's not what you want to do at the race, that you both understand that ahead of time and decide if you want to run together or separately, and if it's okay for you to split up during the race. That way no one's feelings get hurt.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Thanks for your feedback. I was reading through it and it was suggesting 3 miles at a 9 mile pace in the first week, and I know that neither of us could keep that pace right now. I'm 100% with you that building slowly up the miles and working in speed, as well as sticking with it, is the only way to finish and feel comfortable to finish. From my experience with running and working out in general, trying a plan that is out of reach to start makes it easier to not stick with. I may just stick with my own thing and if our distances match up on certain days, we can try to run it together.

I am just not sure why a training plan for a 2:30 half pace almost 7 months away would require you to be at a 9mm for three miles already. That just doesn't make sense to me. If you could do that now, you would be ready in 3 months for a 2:30 half.

 

[beachta1]

@beachta1 to add to what @BuckeyeBama said, make sure sure that if your friend trains for this 2:30 goal and it's not what you want to do at the race, that you both understand that ahead of time and decide if you want to run together or separately, and if it's okay for you to split up during the race. That way no one's feelings get hurt.

Agreed, I don't know if we'll stay together but it sounds good in theory!

I am just not sure why a training plan for a 2:30 half pace almost 7 months away would require you to be at a 9mm for three miles already. That just doesn't make sense to me. If you could do that now, you would be ready in 3 months for a 2:30 half.

I'm not sure where she got it from, its a training program to work on speedy, it prepares you to finish in a 2:15-2:30. I agree, if I could run that fast already then it wouldn't take me as long to build up. Either way, thanks for feedback

 

[GrandMum]

My friend and I are doing the 5K and expect a 13-14 minute mile. We both signed up for the breakfast on Friday but am now wondering if we should switch that to Saturday breakfast. From what I've seen on here, the 5K starts later and who knows what time we would start. The breakfast is 6:30 to 8:30.

We don't want to be rushed trying to eat as they are closing. Thanks

 

[Ariel484]

Agreed, I don't know if we'll stay together but it sounds good in theory!

Yeah, I ran Wine & Dine with 3 friends and we did NOT coordinate this stuff ahead of time - turns out 3 of us run the same pace while the 4th couldn't keep up. Friends 1&2 went ahead and I stay with our 4th friend, then eventually had to split from her as well. It made things a little weird but we got over it and now know to have a better plan that we're all okay with going forward.

I'm not sure where she got it from, its a training program to work on speedy, it prepares you to finish in a 2:15-2:30. I agree, if I could run that fast already then it wouldn't take me as long to build up. Either way, thanks for feedback

Yeah, to get under 2:30 you're running something like an 11:30 pace...9:00/mile for 3 miles seems like a bit much.

 

[Ariel484]

My friend and I are doing the 5K and expect a 13-14 minute mile. We both signed up for the breakfast on Friday but am now wondering if we should switch that to Saturday breakfast. From what I've seen on here, the 5K starts later and who knows what time we would start. The breakfast is 6:30 to 8:30.

We don't want to be rushed trying to eat as they are closing. Thanks

Last year the 5K started at 6:15AM, so I'd assume the same for this year...

When you will finish GREATLY depends on your corral assignment. Let's say you're in corral A...that has you starting right at 6:15AM. At a 14:00/mile pace, the 5K would take you 43-44 minutes...so you're finishing at 7AM and have time for breakfast.

BUT - let's say you're assigned the last corral. I'm going to go off of my experience in the January 5K - it's the same course, same start time, and I assume same number of participants. So I'd assume they'll use the same corralling system, which was 6 corrals that started 8-10 minutes apart.

So again, let's say you're assigned to corral F. That would have you starting the race closer to 7 or 7:15AM - assuming your same 14:00/mile pace, and finishing in 43-44 minutes, that would have you finishing closer to 7:45AM or 8AM. And since you won't get your corral assignments until you're at the expo picking up your bib...it's hard to say. Also depends on how long you want to spend at breakfast - like you said, you don't want to be rushed. I'm sorry, I have no idea if this was helpful or not!

 

[SarahDisney]

My friend and I are doing the 5K and expect a 13-14 minute mile. We both signed up for the breakfast on Friday but am now wondering if we should switch that to Saturday breakfast. From what I've seen on here, the 5K starts later and who knows what time we would start. The breakfast is 6:30 to 8:30.

We were in the last corral last year, corral E, and we started around 6:45ish. So if the starts are around the same, you should finish around 7:30, but that's assuming you don't make any stops. However, you really can't count on that timeline. I'd say you'll definitely be done by 8 (I finished around 8 after waiting for every single character, including about 10-15 minutes for Mickey), but how much earlier depends on a lot of factors that you can't really control.

 

[bcarey2k]

We were in the last corral last year, corral E, and we started around 6:45ish. So if the starts are around the same, you should finish around 7:30, but that's assuming you don't make any stops. However, you really can't count on that timeline. I'd say you'll definitely be done by 8 (I finished around 8 after waiting for every single character, including about 10-15 minutes for Mickey), but how much earlier depends on a lot of factors that you can't really control.

Can't control = Disney!

 

[Disneymoon09]

My Friend and I got registration confirmation emails again today. Anything to be concerned about? Also we should be (in theory) starting in the same corral as long as we have the same times in registration, right? We are doing the 5 and 10k

 

[Disneymoon09]

Also if anyone is looking for a POT race, there is a 5k in Kissimmee on November 14th. It's at Give Kids the World Village and a wonderful experience I know 5ks aren't what you need but if you are struggling to find a race and want to submit something, this might work for you. www.gingerbreadrun.org

Ugh I just found out runDisney has limited what times they take and 5k isn't one of them (understandable!) But even still, if you're looking for a great race and charity to support, it's a fun race. I'll be there!

 

[Ariel484]

My Friend and I got registration confirmation emails again today. Anything to be concerned about? Also we should be (in theory) starting in the same coral as long as we have the same times in registration, right? We are doing the 5 and 10k

I got them too! So weird! At least I have double confirmation that I'm registered...

Also if anyone is looking for a POT race, there is a 5k in Kissimmee on November 14th. It's at Give Kids the World Village and a wonderful experience I know 5ks aren't what you need but if you are struggling to find a race and want to submit something, this might work for you. www.gingerbreadrun.org

runDisney doesn't take 5Ks for PoT. Has to be 10K or longer.

 

[Disneymoon09]

I got them too! So weird! At least I have double confirmation that I'm registered...

runDisney doesn't take 5Ks for PoT. Has to be 10K or longer.

I JUST read that like 2 minutes ago! My friend posted that they have limited what distances they are taking. I'm sorry!

 

[DVCFan1994]

Last year the 5K started at 6:15AM, so I'd assume the same for this year...

So I'd assume they'll use the same corralling system, which was 6 corrals that started 8-10 minutes apart.

So again, let's say you're assigned to corral F. That would have you starting the race closer to 7 or 7:15AM

We were in the last corral last year, corral E, and we started around 6:45ish. So if the starts are around the same, you should finish around 7:30, but that's assuming you don't make any stops. However, you really can't count on that timeline. I'd say you'll definitely be done by 8 (I finished around 8 after waiting for every single character, including about 10-15 minutes for Mickey), but how much earlier depends on a lot of factors that you can't really control.

PHM only has 5 corrals for the 5k and 10k, or at least that was true in 2014 and 2015. As @SarahDisney posted, this year the corrals went off a little quicker than I remember them going in 2014. I was in C with my daughter and mother. I checked my history on Strava, and we started at 6:30, so that is 15 minutes post start (though I seem to recall it not starting until like 6:17 or 18 and being frustrated due to my frozen state). I think the freezing this year may have quickened the pace of releasing corrals. In 2014, my dad did the 5k and I was there to spectate. He was in D, and he did not go off until at least 6:40, maybe 6:45. But it was pleasant temps that year.

So if you started at 6:45 and did 14 minute miles consistently you'd finish just before 7:30, and have time to get to breakfast. But if you plan to stop in character lines I'd expect more like 8. I've never done the breakfast, so I'm not sure if its, you just have to be in there by 8:30 and then you have more time to eat or if they start taking away the buffet food and cleaning up at 8:30. Hopefully someone with more experience can chime in on that.

 

[Ariel484]

I JUST read that like 2 minutes ago! My friend posted that they have limited what distances they are taking. I'm sorry!

No worries!

And they do limit the distances...I think they will take a 10K, 15K, 10-miler or half marathon. I assume marathon is in there as well but I can't remember. It's something like that. So if you do a weird distance race they may not take that.

 

[princessluna14]

Is it totally foolish to keep checking the room prices for the weekend in hopes that they might drop?

 

[inkedupmomma]

OK, talk to me about the meals. The breakfast one, pasta in the park and the DTD after party. Must do's? Skip it? Lots of characters there? Food choices? Seems like a lot of fun, and we always love to try something new when there, so this is a good opportunity to do it. The breakfast i didn't really get though, it says 6:30-8:30... what time is the race over that we could make that? Once again, thank you for all your answers and encouragement. We are on week 3 of Jeff Galloway app and I am still hanging in there, and NOT hating it as much as I thought...although anyone near PA today must be feeling my pain, running in this heat and humidity. GROSS!

ETA*- Also, how should we planning our days? We arrive on the 11th and I'm a bit confused/overwhelmed over picking packets up, etc.. Id like to spend as much time in parks as possible. Also, do you take a break after races, or just go right to the parks? I'm afraid we will miss something cool lol

 

[kelly 1]

Running a 5k this afternoon in my race shirt from last year!

So... My friend running with me wants to try for a sub 2:30 race but the training plan she printed out for us is insane and neither of us are at the pace or milage to do it. Anyone have any experience telling a friend that they may need to find a training plan that is more in-tune with their current running ability? I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I don't want her to get injured either...

Why don't you tell her you would like to do the Galloway training provided by Disney. I am currently doing the Galloway Dumbo Double Dare. In our running group some of the girls are running different events in the fall. All these different training plans came up yes some crazy in my opinion. But I stood up and say I want to get to my event injury free and I would stick with the Galloway plan. I explained it is an easy program to follow and he is a wealth of knowledge surprisingly they followed. I told them that a bunch of us on the board were doing it and it is a great support group to track my progress and connect with fellow runners as to how they are doing. Maybe that will make it easier to talk to her.

 

[Luv2Run]

OK, talk to me about the meals. The breakfast one, pasta in the park and the DTD after party. Must do's? Skip it? Lots of characters there? Food choices? Seems like a lot of fun, and we always love to try something new when there, so this is a good opportunity to do it. The breakfast i didn't really get though, it says 6:30-8:30... what time is the race over that we could make that? Once again, thank you for all your answers and encouragement. We are on week 3 of Jeff Galloway app and I am still hanging in there, and NOT hating it as much as I thought...although anyone near PA today must be feeling my pain, running in this heat and humidity. GROSS!

ETA*- Also, how should we planning our days? We arrive on the 11th and I'm a bit confused/overwhelmed over picking packets up, etc.. Id like to spend as much time in parks as possible. Also, do you take a break after races, or just go right to the parks? I'm afraid we will miss something cool lol

I haven't done the breakfast or pasta in the park (I'm usually on the dining plan, so that seems like excess money when I'm already paying for my meals), but I have done the after party at DTD. That's more low-key, you don't need to purchase a ticket to attend. Wear your finisher medal and you'll get discounts at the shops. You'll see LOTS of us there winding down from race day. I usually schedule an ADR for dinner at Raglan Road for us to go and enjoy the Irish music & dancing.

When it comes to planning your days out, it looks like your trip plan is the exact opposite of mine. As in, we plan our major park days for after raceday. We don't want to tire our legs out before we've even laced up our running shoes, lol. We plan to arrive early on Thursday the 18th (around 10am), then head to the Expo while we wait for our room to be available (it wasn't this year, until around noon). By the time we get back from the Expo with all our race gear (shirts, bibs, pins) and souvenirs (I get a new Sweatyband or two every year, and sometimes a tank or t-shirt), we're ready for a late lunch and a nap. ADR for dinner, then relax and go to bed early since the 5K is in the morning.

Friday: 5K in the morning, return to the room to shower & possibly catch a quick catnap before lunch and then heading to Animal Kingdom for the afternoon. ADR for dinner, early to bed since the 10K is in the morning.

Saturday: 10K in the morning, return to the room to shower & possibly catch a quick catnap before heading to Hollywood Studios. ADR at Sci-Fi, Fantasmic! that evening, QS dinner at either The Mara or Riverside Mill (they have a create your own pasta bar). Early to bed, since the Half is in the morning.

Sunday: PHM day! Return to the room to shower & catnap. QS lunch at The Mara, chill at the resort for the afternoon, ADR for dinner at Raglan Road for the PHM after party & shopping.

Monday: Free day (no parks). Either resort hop or just chill at AKL.

Tuesday: Epcot

Wednesday: MK

Thursday: Check-out & head home. Depending on how late our flight is, we might head back to DTD for last minute shopping & to pick up lunch and/or snacks leftover on our dining plan.