Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[Keels]

For hotel - there are far more options on property at WDW than DLR, so I wouldn't worry about it TOO far in advance unless you're doing DVC points OR there is somewhere specific you want to stay.

As far as Proof of Time, there's been an on-going discussion on pretty much EVERY race thread about what runDisney is looking for as far as "certified" - some responses say course, while others say the results just have to be certified. The one thing you DO have to have is a link to your results online.

 

[Gryhndmom]

First time runDisney participant and overall beginner joining in! The Princess Half seems like such a blast, and it has been the best motivation for sticking with a training plan. If a trip to Disney isn't a good motivator, I don't know what is!

My first EVER race was PHM 2013...never had been a runner but decided at 45 that I needed to do a half marathon and Disney is the best motivator !

 

[keahgirl8]

I'm so excited for all the newbies! I hope you all get in! It is an amazing experience.

 

[Luv2Run]

Most races that runDisney are looking for in regards for proof of time should be listed here: http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/search/
That's how I found a local race that I knew would have my results posted online that I could link to when I submitted my proof of time before the Dec. 1 cutoff last year. They changed the cutoff for submitting proof of time this year: "Please remember, Proof of Time to support your anticipated finish time must be provided between August 18, 2015 and November 17, 2015" and "from a certified race reflecting results after February 1, 2014".

 

[SweetieinVT]

For those of you who have done the PH or other races at WDW, where do you recommend staying? Going with a group of ladies and we could either divide into groups of four and share a mod/deluxe room or groups of two at a value. We will be making a girls' weekend out of it.

 

[Luv2Run]

Whenever my running group girl friends and I (6-8 of us) would do the PHM together (with the exception of this year), we always stayed deluxe using DVC points. That way we could have a big family cooked dinner together the night before the race, and we could all leave together in the morning. It was nice, especially the year we stayed at BLT, because we just hopped on the monorail instead of the buses.

I think it really depends on your group, though. Some people shy away from deluxe prices, even if it's split between a group. Our friend who's a DVC owner didn't run the PHM this year, which made our group smaller, so we all chose to stay at different resorts on our own and just had dinner all together at POR (since they have the create-your-own pasta bar), and then we met up at the pre-race area in the morning before heading to the corrals together.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Fave answer ever, DVCFan. Mainly because we own at Bay Lake. (and haven't yet stayed there!)

Let me be a touch more specific. Studios at BLT are a different layout than other DVCs I've stayed at. It's a love it or hate for most people. I wasn't a fan. Basically the kitchenette is a separate little room, which condenses the sleeping area so there is little space between the beds. It felt tight for our family of four. But others who are traveling as only a party of 2 do like it and the different layout. The 1 bedroom is great, it has a separate bathroom for the living area, so if someone is sleeping there everyone has their own bathroom. The living area and dining area are spacious as well. This can vary a it based on where in the curve your room is. Ive had rooms that felt double size because they were at the deep part of the curve and rooms that were still comfortable but definitely smaller because they were in the narrow part of the curve. The two bedroom as well has the extra bathroom in the living area. The GV was amazing, it made us not want to leave the room.

If I remember right from previous threads you are on the west coast, do you own at Villas at Grand Californian? Do I have any hope of getting anything at 7 months (for Avengers)? I'm watching the resort availability tool and so far what I want is available (1 bedroom) but I still have three weeks until my 7 month date rolls around...

 

[keahgirl8]

Most races that runDisney are looking for in regards for proof of time should be listed here: http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/search/
That's how I found a local race that I knew would have my results posted online that I could link to when I submitted my proof of time before the Dec. 1 cutoff last year. They changed the cutoff for submitting proof of time this year: "Please remember, Proof of Time to support your anticipated finish time must be provided between August 18, 2015 and November 17, 2015" and "from a certified race reflecting results after February 1, 2014".

Thanks for pointing that out! Now I know I need to start looking for a 10K sooner!

 

[bumbershoot]

Let me be a touch more specific. Studios at BLT are a different layout than other DVCs I've stayed at. It's a love it or hate for most people. I wasn't a fan. Basically the kitchenette is a separate little room, which condenses the sleeping area so there is little space between the beds. It felt tight for our family of four. But others who are traveling as only a party of 2 do like it and the different layout. The 1 bedroom is great, it has a separate bathroom for the living area, so if someone is sleeping there everyone has their own bathroom. The living area and dining area are spacious as well. This can vary a it based on where in the curve your room is. Ive had rooms that felt double size because they were at the deep part of the curve and rooms that were still comfortable but definitely smaller because they were in the narrow part of the curve. The two bedroom as well has the extra bathroom in the living area. The GV was amazing, it made us not want to leave the room.

If I remember right from previous threads you are on the west coast, do you own at Villas at Grand Californian? Do I have any hope of getting anything at 7 months (for Avengers)? I'm watching the resort availability tool and so far what I want is available (1 bedroom) but I still have three weeks until my 7 month date rolls around...

I'm a weirdo who doesn't care for GC so we did not buy there. We only own at Bay Lake and have stayed all over wdw but there.

I'm trying to conserve points for bigger family trips so did just go with the studio at BLT. It's just two of us, if my cousin decides to run and we get in to the races, so we will see how that goes.

DH sees this potential trip as being a dry run for us going to blt.

Sigh. Guess I'd better start running again.

Oh, Avengers. If we sign up for it (getting close to needing that decision made) we will likely stay down at hilton or anabella or nearby. I love PPH but it has gotten too expensive for my tastes. I always assume the villas at the grand will be booked so I never even look. We like offsite at dlr just fine, so it's no biggie for me

 

[DVCFan1994]

I

I'm a weirdo who doesn't care for GC so we did not buy there. We only own at Bay Lake and have stayed all over wdw but there.

I'm trying to conserve points for bigger family trips so did just go with the studio at BLT. It's just two of us, if my cousin decides to run and we get in to the races, so we will see how that goes.

DH sees this potential trip as being a dry run for us going to blt.

Sigh. Guess I'd better start running again.

Oh, Avengers. If we sign up for it (getting close to needing that decision made) we will likely stay down at hilton or anabella or nearby. I love PPH but it has gotten too expensive for my tastes. I always assume the villas at the grand will be booked so I never even look. We like offsite at dlr just fine, so it's no biggie for me

I think the studio will work well for you. I absolutely love BLT and the monorail for races. I'd stay there again this year if I had my way, but the rest of our group (6 adults 4 kids) prefer the waling to EPCOT and DHS location of BWV. Make sure you go to the TOTWL - and FYI I've never gone to the lobby to get escorted up there. Seeing as I don't mind a touch of exercise, I just take the stairs and voila, I'm there. Never had a problem. One year we had a GV that had an exit on the 16th floor. Did they really expect me to go all the way to the lobby to be allowed back to the floor I was staying on to go to the lounge?

Thanks for the info on VGC the more I look into it the more doomed I feel my chances are for getting anything. I'm thinking PPH at this point. DH and I have only been to DL once ages ago for a day trip when in CA for grad school visits (saying this makes me feel old so I'd rather be in walking distance to everything with the kids for our first family trip.

 

[jennynyholm]

Joining in! Doing the GSC as my first Disney race!!! Can't wait to get to know y'all on this forum, and I KNOW I will have lots of questions as the months go by. I'm currently training for a 10K in May, so I will have a time to put in at registration. Do you guys have any local races that you are training for?

 

[Ariel484]

Joining in! Doing the GSC as my first Disney race!!! Can't wait to get to know y'all on this forum, and I KNOW I will have lots of questions as the months go by. I'm currently training for a 10K in May, so I will have a time to put in at registration. Do you guys have any local races that you are training for?

Welcome!!

I have a 10-miler coming up at the end of April and a 10K a couple of weeks after. I'm working those into my training plan for a local marathon that happens at the end of September...then a couple of weeks of downtime before Glass Slipper training starts in October.

Lately runDisney hasn't been asking for Proof at registration...they've been having people use a link from their website to put in their proof about a month or two after registration is over.

Also...your avatar is really cute!

 

[jennynyholm]

Oh wow you've got lots of miles ahead! Good luck with the marathon training. That is not something I'm ready for (physically and mentally!). September will probably be great month to run a marathon (unless you're in the Deep South-- September there is still hot and sticky!)
And that's good to know about proof of time, thanks.

Oh and thanks about the avatar (wait does that mean my profile pic?? I'm still a bit clueless about stuff here) that was from our first trip to DW Feb '14. My in laws came along and we had a magical time!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Make sure you go to the TOTWL - and FYI I've never gone to the lobby to get escorted up there. Seeing as I don't mind a touch of exercise, I just take the stairs and voila, I'm there. Never had a problem.

Thanks for the tip! Since DH is actually the member, it'll be his name on the member card if they ask me for it. But I *also* put him and DS (who might not even be in FL) on the reservation anyway, mainly so they can get DVC sliders which they haven't yet gotten, so I can always show them his card and his MB if needed. Or if I'm turned away, no biggie, we'll go to the Poly for a drink or something.




Avengers talk: (though I'm not all frowny about it like that emoticon dude is)

I'm thinking PPH at this point. DH and I have only been to DL once ages ago for a day trip when in CA for grad school visits (saying this makes me feel old so I'd rather be in walking distance to everything with the kids for our first family trip.

PPH is great. I adore that place. If you bought direct, you can use points for it if it makes sense financially. And PPH is going to be *right there* for the start line, if the start line is the same for all of their half marathons. Actually, if you bought direct you can also use points for the normal hotel rooms at the Grand. It's the one exception to their "if it has villas you can't use points for rooms" rule.

We stayed at Ramada Plaza and the walk was totally fine for the start of the Disneyland Half. (for the end, not so much LOL...at the end I wished we had booked DLH as it ended in their parking lot...my more-fit brother and my son walked back to the hotel, and DH and I took the free ART for race weekend, and it took SO LONG and was a truly awful experience. would have been far better to just walk)

 

[Roxy Girl 2015]

I've run half marathons before but never in disney. I was looking at either the half in January or the Princess Half in February. Since I've never done either before I'm wondering which one will be less chaotic (if that's even possible) and less "expensive".

I totally understand that it's disney so everything is more expensive than other races but I'm more than likely going alone so any advice on how to schedule the weekend and which race is better would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ariel484]

Oh wow you've got lots of miles ahead! Good luck with the marathon training. That is not something I'm ready for (physically and mentally!). September will probably be great month to run a marathon (unless you're in the Deep South-- September there is still hot and sticky!)
And that's good to know about proof of time, thanks.

Oh and thanks about the avatar (wait does that mean my profile pic?? I'm still a bit clueless about stuff here) that was from our first trip to DW Feb '14. My in laws came along and we had a magical time!!

Thanks!! I know what you mean about the mental and physical thing...trust me, if Disney didn't have a marathon I NEVER would have done one. Really I guess that's true for any of the races...

Yes, I was talking about your profile pic!

I've run half marathons before but never in disney. I was looking at either the half in January or the Princess Half in February. Since I've never done either before I'm wondering which one will be less chaotic (if that's even possible) and less "expensive".

I totally understand that it's disney so everything is more expensive than other races but I'm more than likely going alone so any advice on how to schedule the weekend and which race is better would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm...

Not sure about "less chaotic." January is a bigger weekend since it also has the marathon - so just more runners there in general. As for less expensive, not sure one is less expensive than the other - I think the registration fees, merch, etc. are similar.

The courses are exactly the same. Theme is different (Donald vs. Princesses), so that has an impact on what merch you can get and what the medals/participant shirts look like. Weather is pretty similar, I think.

The crowd of runners is different too. More women and newer runners at Princess, overall.

Also, the January half is on Saturday and the Princess Half is on Sunday. Not sure if that affects your planning...

 

[bumbershoot]

I've run half marathons before but never in disney. I was looking at either the half in January or the Princess Half in February. Since I've never done either before I'm wondering which one will be less chaotic (if that's even possible) and less "expensive".

I totally understand that it's disney so everything is more expensive than other races but I'm more than likely going alone so any advice on how to schedule the weekend and which race is better would be greatly appreciated.

It's possible that hotels are less expensive around the time of the January races. I know DVC costs are cheaper in January... I bet they are all chaotic.

I've tried to avoid the Princess thing b/c I don't like men being forced to the back and the princess thing isn't something I'm into and all sorts of reasons...so I've done the January Half...but suddenly I'm thinking of Princess weekend because my *cousin* is interested in rundisney and she would totally be into the princess stuff. And with her it would be fun.

So...are you into female stuff? Are you into princesses? etc.

Weather is pretty similar, I think.

Oh I hope not! I've frozen the last two January race-times. Am hoping to NOT freeze in February.

 

[Luv2Run]

Oh I hope not! I've frozen the last two January race-times. Am hoping to NOT freeze in February.

The 5K (especially) and the 10K were frigid this year, but the Half was darn near perfect temperature-wise. It was cool at the start, then sunny and pleasant at the finish.

 

[TangledUp]

The 5K (especially) and the 10K were frigid this year, but the Half was darn near perfect temperature-wise. It was cool at the start, then sunny and pleasant at the finish.

Honestly, I would have preferred those temperatures to the 70 degree 100% humidity during the Princess Half in 2014. That was brutal!

 

[jennynyholm]

It will be really interesting to see how my body responds to running in Florida winter weather. On one hand, anything in Florida will be much warmer (and less snowy) than the weather here in Utah. On the other hand, I will probably be doing a lot treadmill runs leading up to it, so I won't be as acclamated to running outside.