Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[DVCFan1994]

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.

I just happened to update my proof of time for the Avengers Infinity Gauntlet Challenge this afternoon.

For those interested, I took a screenshot of the page so you can see how it is laid out and the choice of distances you can submit.




Notice I just barely make the cutoff for the date! I used this race for GSC 2014 and 2015, so I need to get a new one for this year because this will be too old.

 

[Ariel484]

@DVCFan1994 thanks! 12K is a weird one, I don't think I've ever seen that distance offered in my area!

Glad you made the cut-off! I think I'm good for Princess but I'm going to miss the cut-off for Tink by 3 days or something.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

I think the issue is that this is her running partner for the race. To run separately would be different than running together. Has to be talked through first.

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

Did they finally notice that we are doing princess and not Star Wars?

OK, talk to me about the meals. The breakfast one, pasta in the park and the DTD after party. Must do's? Skip it?

DTD is just a way to get people to DTD. You get discounts but to get them you have to spend money. It's not an organized event.

I did breakfast for the January marathons weekend last year and it was a big snooze. I wouldn't do it again. Much more fun was had this year by heading to a restaurant with food we knew and wanted and was cheaper.


Park days...getting there a week ahead means tired tired legs. And for me the possibility of getting sick in time for the run. Been there done that. NO thank you. If possible is try to switch it with your park extravaganza after the race.

 

[DVCFan1994]

@DVCFan1994 thanks! 12K is a weird one, I don't think I've ever seen that distance offered in my area!

Glad you made the cut-off! I think I'm good for Princess but I'm going to miss the cut-off for Tink by 3 days or something.

I had hoped to get a better time before the cutoff for Avengers. But I am having hamstring issues, and with that cutoff in two weeks I am stuck with this one. Not going to worsen the injury trying for a faster time right now. But I have lots of options in September and October for a new time for GSC.

 

[ReLiMe]

How important is a POT The GSC will be my first ever race period although I am anticipating participating in a 10k late this year (probably won't make the cutoff time) ... Are you alway in the absolute last corral ... Someone told me this would be a problem for me because I'm extremely heavy and probably would get swept if I start last... I am training well and losing weight but I just don't want to set myself up for failure

 

[Ariel484]

How important is a POT The GSC will be my first ever race period although I am anticipating participating in a 10k late this year (probably won't make the cutoff time) ... Are you alway in the absolute last corral ... Someone told me this would be a problem for me because I'm extremely heavy and probably would get swept if I start last... I am training well and losing weight but I just don't want to set myself up for failure

Okay, first of all...whoever told you that...BOOOOOO. You have lots of time to train, and as long as you pick a training plan and follow it, you'll give yourself an honest shot.

No, you are not always in the absolute last corral, from what I have heard. I guess I cannot speak with direct experience because I have always submitted a time.

I truly think that a person only sets themselves up for failure when they don't try - and it certainly sounds like you are trying!! My advice would be to keep on doing what you are doing and see what happens at your 10K (maybe try to find one sooner so you can submit a time) - you may surprise yourself.

 

[Ariel484]

I had hoped to get a better time before the cutoff for Avengers. But I am having hamstring issues, and with that cutoff in two weeks I am stuck with this one. Not going to worsen the injury trying for a faster time right now. But I have lots of options in September and October for a new time for GSC.

Yeah...you don't want to mess with hamstring issues. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[beachta1]

I think it'll be nice to train together but I can't imagine sticking together the entire race if we aren't at the same pace or in the same shape. Its hard to try to stick with someone when you're on different levels. I think we do our own thing, run together when we can and on race day, see how it goes. I want to be able to start in a good corral so I hope she is able to speed up her time and get a good 10k race to help qualify that.

In other news, great. 4.35 mile run on the treadmill after work today. Started off slow and worked my way up to a fast finish. Horray!

 

[Bewitch324]

How important is a POT The GSC will be my first ever race period although I am anticipating participating in a 10k late this year (probably won't make the cutoff time) ... Are you alway in the absolute last corral ... Someone told me this would be a problem for me because I'm extremely heavy and probably would get swept if I start last... I am training well and losing weight but I just don't want to set myself up for failure

Hey if you put the time in and train fully, it doesn't matter WHAT you weigh. The balloon ladies start AFTER the last runner, walker, crawler, whatever crosses the start line and they keep that 16 min/mile pace. So theoretically, you could be the very last starter and as long as you've trained properly for 16 min/mile, you should be able to finish fine without being swept. I'm a big girl and I have started in the last corral and built in a little cushion by starting as close to the front of that corral as I could, but if you train and you're ready, don't let that negativity get in your way. To feel safer, you might want to make 15 min/mile your goal (or faster if you're ready for that), but seriously...do not let the last corral scare you...you have lots of time to get ready. As long as you train consistently and are as prepared as you can be, you'll do great!!!

The key is to keep consistent with your training...even when the holidays come and the weather gets awful, etc. My very first Disney race was a January full marathon and I trained really great up until mid-October and then I really let myself down. I went 14 miles of the marathon that year and got swept...but my pace was 15.5 min/mile the first 12 miles...so I know that if I'd kept up my training, I would have been able to finish that race strongly--and if I'd done the half instead of the full, I would have finished. It might not have been pretty though. I cannot stress enough how important it is to stay consistent with your training...especially for confidence building before the race. When you KNOW you can do 13.1 miles because you've already done a couple 11's and maybe a 14, its much easier to be excited but not TERRIFIED, know what I mean? YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[SarahDisney]

So, Princesses, I'm hoping some of you can help me ...

Does anyone sew their own running skirts? Is it easy, medium, or hard?
I'm thinking making my own skirt would be easier/cheaper than trying to find one that fits my needs, but I'm nervous because I still consider myself a beginner sewer (I can sew a mean button, but anything harder than that gives me a little trouble). Also, I don't have a sewing machine (which has been a source of great annoyance in my life before, but not enough to make me buy one).
Anyone think that it's possible for me to sew my own skirt? Or am I better off trying to get one custom made?

Thanks!

 

[SherryinBA]

How important is a POT The GSC will be my first ever race period although I am anticipating participating in a 10k late this year (probably won't make the cutoff time) ... Are you alway in the absolute last corral ... Someone told me this would be a problem for me because I'm extremely heavy and probably would get swept if I start last... I am training well and losing weight but I just don't want to set myself up for failure

You sound so much like me. I'm extremely heavy too -- and old!! I'll be 60 in October. I am training well and not losing weight, but there are so many subtle changes I am seeing that I know I'm improving and improving. I have a 15K to do on Halloween and am hoping for a POT to get me out of the last corral. We'll see. And you're doing the GSC. I'm just doing the half. I was never an runner... still not, more a walker. But I absolutely know I can do this. P.S. I'm doing a 5K this weekend. Good luck to you!!!

 

[SherryinBA]

Thank you to everyone on this board!!! Thank you, thank you. I live in Oklahoma and it's been so hot. I've been training on my treadmill. Last night we had a nice rain and the temp was down to 74 this morning. I thought I'd have a wonderful walk/run outside today!!! OMG. It was brutal. It was awful and made me question my ability. The humidity was probably 100%. I was a little discouraged. Then I started catching up on this board and got excited and motivated all over again. So again, thank you.

 

[SherryinBA]

lol can you send the link please

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1481141492127530/

Here you go. It's DisGirls & Guys Princess Half Marathon.

Sorry it took a while for me to respond.

 

[RunBakeLove]

So I experienced my first issues with chaffing while running a 5k tonight. I guess my new climate difference is what did it because I've run several 5k's back in AL/TN and never had this issue. Yay FL. Lol.
So... suggestions for easing the current discomfort? My thighs are on FIRE!
Also, what are some of your favorite preventative products? I have a 5k event this Saturday and do not want to experience this again, haha.
Thank you!!!

 

[Ariel484]

Thank you to everyone on this board!!! Thank you, thank you. I live in Oklahoma and it's been so hot. I've been training on my treadmill. Last night we had a nice rain and the temp was down to 74 this morning. I thought I'd have a wonderful walk/run outside today!!! OMG. It was brutal. It was awful and made me question my ability. The humidity was probably 100%. I was a little discouraged. Then I started catching up on this board and got excited and motivated all over again. So again, thank you.

I hate that with summer running. I know we're SUPPOSED to slow down, but it definitely messes with one's mind! Way to pull through!

So I experienced my first issues with chaffing while running a 5k tonight. I guess my new climate difference is what did it because I've run several 5k's back in AL/TN and never had this issue. Yay FL. Lol.
So... suggestions for easing the current discomfort? My thighs are on FIRE!
Also, what are some of your favorite preventative products? I have a 5k event this Saturday and do not want to experience this again, haha.
Thank you!!!

UGH!!

Prevention: Body Glide (don't get the tiny "for women" sticks with the pink caps...the regular ones are bigger/a better deal) and making sure my clothes fit correctly. **OVERSHARE** I had bad chafing from bras around my rib cage and it turned out the band size was too big (I had the same bras FOREVER and had lost some weight, so I'm sure that didn't help). Getting a smaller band size meant the bra was laying against my skin and not rubbing it.

Healing: Neosporin

I really, really feel your pain.

 

[Keels]

So, Princesses, I'm hoping some of you can help me ...

Does anyone sew their own running skirts? Is it easy, medium, or hard?
I'm thinking making my own skirt would be easier/cheaper than trying to find one that fits my needs, but I'm nervous because I still consider myself a beginner sewer (I can sew a mean button, but anything harder than that gives me a little trouble). Also, I don't have a sewing machine (which has been a source of great annoyance in my life before, but not enough to make me buy one).
Anyone think that it's possible for me to sew my own skirt? Or am I better off trying to get one custom made?

Thanks!

I think you can totally sew your own skirt! I sew a bunch of my own things (I'm currently working on sewing both of my skirts for Disneyland, as well as my skirt for Wine & Dine), including my Halloween costumes every year. I've never really had any lessons, but I did use to watch my grandmother sew quite a bit.

Before she passed, when I told her I was taking up sewing as a hobby and that I needed to take a class, she said "Don't be a dummy! If you can read and follow directions, you can follow a pattern!".

I would definitely try to sew a skirt yourself before you go the expensive custom route, if it's something you're interested in trying for yourself.

Look for "Easy" patterns that might fit your style - I like Simplicity and McCall's the best. And I would start with a very forgiving fabric (go for the cheapest cotton/muslin you can get) for you first try. Once you get it done, you'll be confident enough to try more runner-friendly fabrics like poly or knit.

And TAKE YOUR TIME! Especially in cutting the pattern from the pattern sheets and then cutting the pattern pieces. Ironing these parts is definitely your friend, as is the time you take pinning things together before you sew them. It will seem like you spend most of your time in the prep parts and then maybe like 20 minutes running stitches, but it makes it so much easy when you're ready to sew it together.

Also, skirts are some of the easiest things you can put together - they're really just three pieces (six if you want pockets) - a waistband, a skirt front and a skirt back. You sew the to skirt pieces together (and hem them), and then you attach to the inside of the waistband (which, you can really skip and just use a wide elastic since this is more for function and comfort than fashion).

 

[SarahDisney]

Thanks for the advice, @Keels ! I think I'll start looking for patterns that seem manageable to me and work from there.

 

[puppytrainer]

So, Princesses, I'm hoping some of you can help me ...

Does anyone sew their own running skirts? Is it easy, medium, or hard?
I'm thinking making my own skirt would be easier/cheaper than trying to find one that fits my needs, but I'm nervous because I still consider myself a beginner sewer (I can sew a mean button, but anything harder than that gives me a little trouble). Also, I don't have a sewing machine (which has been a source of great annoyance in my life before, but not enough to make me buy one).
Anyone think that it's possible for me to sew my own skirt? Or am I better off trying to get one custom made?

Thanks!

I agree with Keels. Give it a shot! I made one a couple weeks ago. I have a sewing machine, I'm not super skilled at it but have made a couple things in the past. I went to Pinterest and look up several ways people did it and picked the one that made most sense to me. I ended up only following about half her instructions and modified the rest for a way that worked better for me. I won't lie, there was some frustrating moments, but it was the first one I made. When I make another, I know it will go smoother now that I've figured a few things out. Mine isn't fancy with pockets or anything. It's more a pretty/decorative one to wear over shorts or pants. I've got to actually re-do the waistband as I don't like it. A lot of it is trial and error. But it cost me about $8 (with coupons from JoAnn's) so you can't go wrong and I'm really happy with how it turned out!

 

[ReLiMe]

You sound so much like me. I'm extremely heavy too -- and old!! I'll be 60 in October. I am training well and not losing weight, but there are so many subtle changes I am seeing that I know I'm improving and improving. I have a 15K to do on Halloween and am hoping for a POT to get me out of the last corral. We'll see. And you're doing the GSC. I'm just doing the half. I was never an runner... still not, more a walker. But I absolutely know I can do this. P.S. I'm doing a 5K this weekend. Good luck to you!!!

That's amazing running a ½ at 60!!!! Good luck on your 5K!!! And I absolutely know we can do this too!

 

[bumbershoot]

Someone told me this would be a problem for me because I'm extremely heavy and probably would get swept if I start last

If you train, it won't matter if you're heavy. Whoever said that to you should be smacked. But it's key to train. I got slower and slower with each event I did between TOT 2013 and November 2014 because my training slid way way way down. I got smaller (weight watchers) and stronger (weight lifting and yoga), and SLOWER. So train!

I think it'll be nice to train together but I can't imagine sticking together the entire race if we aren't at the same pace or in the same shape. Its hard to try to stick with someone when you're on different levels. I think we do our own thing, run together when we can and on race day, see how it goes. I want to be able to start in a good corral so I hope she is able to speed up her time and get a good 10k race to help qualify that.

Ah, so I assume the discussion has already been had?

Also, what are some of your favorite preventative products?

Bodyglide.

And use it liberally. I was wearing shorts for W&D last year and it was raining and I was wearing a different running belt and they pulled my shorts up more than I expected. Didn't b'g enough and had to stop at the first First Aid/Vaseline stop. Rain and Vaseline is a weird weird feeling... But it had to be done!

don't get the tiny "for women" sticks with the pink caps

Don't get the blue capped tiny ones either. They make them small so you can take them to the start or carry them with you, but the wafer of b'g just falls out and is ineffective. It's like I used them... (but the blue capped one b/c I like blue)