Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[huggybuff]

My hubby bought me a Fitbit for my birthday. Of course I spent more time playing with it than adding up steps. Lol!

Happy Birthday @preciouspups ! Very cool gift

 

[preciouspups]

Happy Birthday @preciouspups ! Very cool gift

Thank you! I'm loving using it. Except that it lets me know I'm not active enough. Not enjoying that part ;-)

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Ran my half marathon today! It was my first time being bussed up a canyon for a start, and then we ran the whole 13.1 miles downhill into the city. It was gorgeous, but super hard on my quads! I'm going to be dying tomorrow! Next official race is Princess!

 

[DVCFan1994]

Ran my half marathon today! It was my first time being bussed up a canyon for a start, and then we ran the whole 13.1 miles downhill into the city. It was gorgeous, but super hard on my quads! I'm going to be dying tomorrow! Next official race is Princess!

That is awesome! Congratulations. I hate downhills, really mess with my ITB so I am in awe of your ability to run 13.1 miles downhill!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Thanks @DVCFan1994 I've been lucky so far with no major injuries, but I really do feel that much downhill is not good for my joints! The marathon version of my race today is a Boston marathon qualifier, and because it's all downhill there were runners from every state in the country, probably hoping to get a really fast time and qualify. I can't even imagine that stress on my body for 26.2 miles!

 

[FFigawi]

If you think 26.2 is bad, you should see what people look like after running downhill for 56. It took me at least four days before I could walk without looking like a 95-year old. My quads have never been so sore.

 

[preciouspups]

Has anyone tried The Running Buddy?

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I just finished my longest training run to date. 11 miles in just over 2 hours. I ran with a buddy for the first time ever. She is a long time runner and in much better shape then I am, but it was really great to have her pushing me, especially that last mile or so.

I have just one more long run planned for next weekend, and then I have a short week (10k race) before my first ever half marathon the first weekend in October. I'm getting nervous and excited.

Eventually I am going to have to start adding back to back run days to train for the challenge.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

If you think 26.2 is bad, you should see what people look like after running downhill for 56. It took me at least four days before I could walk without looking like a 95-year old. My quads have never been so sore.

My legs hurt just thinking about that! Yikes!

 

[KBrown88]

Another Arkansan here. I was born in Malvern, but we moved around a lot while I was growing up. I went to UofA and my DD28 went to grad school there. I'm also in the Dallas area. WPS indeed!

The U of A is an awesome school! My husband and I already have plans for our kiddos to go there.

 

[SherryinBA]

Has anyone tried The Running Buddy?

I haven't bought one yet but have been seriously considering one. They seem to be getting good reviews.

 

[preciouspups]

I haven't bought one yet but have been seriously considering one. They seem to be getting good reviews.

Some of the reviews on Amazon are not that great, but most of those seem to be from 2014 and earlier so I'm wondering if they have improved the product some.

 

[SherryinBA]

I'm so jealous of everyone that has an international airport. I have to fly out of Little Rock and it's just a national airport. Thus, none of the cheap flights for me. I paid almost $400 per ticket for our trip next week on Southwest. My DD25, coming from Denver International, 1000 miles further from MCO than me paid under $200. And she got direct flights. I have a layover in Chicago. Chicago! From Little Rock, to Chicago, to Orlando. Who plans these flights?

But very happy for you, lol!

I hear ya, same from Tulsa, always a connection. I got SW tickets for February and thought we got a great deal at $360. Does Allegiant fly out of Little Rock?

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Can anyone give me some idea about what the character stops during the race are like? Last Feb I did the 10k and I didn't make any stops. I was just so focused on finishing.

This time I am doing all three races, so I am planning to slow it down and maybe do some of the photos. Do the lines move quickly? I remember running by crazy long lines last time. Do people just do quick pics and keep moving? No one is doing autographs or anything, right?

 

[puppytrainer]

Has anyone tried The Running Buddy?

I've got one of the larges ones, I think it's called a + or something like that. I like it. I've never had any kind of running belt so I don't have anything to compare it to. It works great for a couple pairs of my shorts, and for another one it does sag a little bit. For that pair it work better if I have it on my back and not my front. So I think it all depends on what you're wearing. That, and what you've got in it. You can't load it down with stuff and expect it not to tug on your shorts. I usually carry my cell phone, house key on a key ring, and my ID. One time I tried my iPod as well because of what I wanted to listen to and that was too much a) weight and b) thick to fit comfortably. I have not had any issues with the magnets unsticking like some of the reviews I read. Overall I like it. I plan on using it during the 10k. A friend of mine got one as well and she doesn't like it as much, just doesn't sit right on her. I also took it to Cedar Point this past summer and it worked great for going on all the rides. Any questions, just let me know.

 

[Ariel484]

Can anyone give me some idea about what the character stops during the race are like? Last Feb I did the 10k and I didn't make any stops. I was just so focused on finishing.

This time I am doing all three races, so I am planning to slow it down and maybe do some of the photos. Do the lines move quickly? I remember running by crazy long lines last time. Do people just do quick pics and keep moving? No one is doing autographs or anything, right?

Here's my experience from January...all of the courses are the same:

The 5K is pretty tough for character stops...the lines are long and they don't seem to move very quickly. It greatly depends on your corral, but I was in B in January and I didn't get any character pictures because the lines were just huge.

The 10K...there were 2-3 during the first 5K. One in World Showcase, one near ESPN and then 1 in Innoventions before going to the finish.

For the half - there's a pirate ship that Disney seems to like bringing out for all of the WDW races. I've seen it at every longer WDW race I have done. That normally is out on Epcot Center Drive near Mile Marker 3 - you'll pass it again coming back to Epcot for the finish, so if the line is too long early in the race, wait and catch it again later (the line will almost certainly be shorter. Ditto for a "heroes" photo-op that they seem to use a decent amount at Princess (Disney Princes, Tarzan, John Smith...characters like that) - I think that one MIGHT be earlier than pirates, can't remember for sure. Might be another one in this stretch before TTC as well. When you get into Magic Kingdom, there are lots. There's normally someone out in Tomorrowland in front of the Lunching Pad, near the Tea Cups, the backside of the castle, the entrance into Liberty Square, and the entrance into Frontierland. If you are all about the character stops, this will probably be the longest mile of the race for you. There will be a stop backstage at MK as you are leaving...then one by the Grand Floridian, possibly one under the It's Tough To Be A Bug sign, and then a few more as you head toward Epcot. After MK the lines normally get a lot shorter.

I'd recommend looking for recent Princess Half trip reports to see who has been out. Nothing is guaranteed, but it should give you a good idea of where to look and what to possibly expect.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Here's my experience from January...all of the courses are the same:

The 5K is pretty tough for character stops...the lines are long and they don't seem to move very quickly. It greatly depends on your corral, but I was in B in January and I didn't get any character pictures because the lines were just huge.

The 10K...there were 2-3 during the first 5K. One in World Showcase, one near ESPN and then 1 in Innoventions before going to the finish.

For the half - there's a pirate ship that Disney seems to like bringing out for all of the WDW races. I've seen it at every longer WDW race I have done. That normally is out on Epcot Center Drive near Mile Marker 3 - you'll pass it again coming back to Epcot for the finish, so if the line is too long early in the race, wait and catch it again later (the line will almost certainly be shorter. Ditto for a "heroes" photo-op that they seem to use a decent amount at Princess (Disney Princes, Tarzan, John Smith...characters like that) - I think that one MIGHT be earlier than pirates, can't remember for sure. Might be another one in this stretch before TTC as well. When you get into Magic Kingdom, there are lots. There's normally someone out in Tomorrowland in front of the Lunching Pad, near the Tea Cups, the backside of the castle, the entrance into Liberty Square, and the entrance into Frontierland. If you are all about the character stops, this will probably be the longest mile of the race for you. There will be a stop backstage at MK as you are leaving...then one by the Grand Floridian, possibly one under the It's Tough To Be A Bug sign, and then a few more as you head toward Epcot. After MK the lines normally get a lot shorter.

I'd recommend looking for recent Princess Half trip reports to see who has been out. Nothing is guaranteed, but it should give you a good idea of where to look and what to possibly expect.

That is great info. Thanks. Do the lines move pretty quickly?

 

[Ariel484]

That is great info. Thanks. Do the lines move pretty quickly?

Normally they do, yes. They will (for the most part) have one CM taking a picture and another getting the next camera ready, and then they switch. And there's minimal interaction and no autograph signing.

I think the longest line I have waited in was 7-8 minutes...which felt like forever but was worth it (Royal Mickey & Minnie during the marathon).

 

[Kimberly Mitchell]

Is it too late to sign up for the 10k under one of the charities or join a group?

 

[MsLib1022]

Greetings fellow runners! I've been lurking on this thread for awhile but felt compelled to register and join in when I saw how many Arkansans there are here! I'm in the Rogers/Bentonville area - howdy neighbors!

I used to run quite a bit in my 20s but have been out of practice for awhile now. Have always wanted to dress like a princess at Disney, tho (if only there had been a Bippiti Boppiti Boutique when I was a kid!) so this seemed like a good way to do that while motivating myself to get out of bed and hit the trails in the morning.

Anyway, thanks to all for the valuable wisdom being shared here. I look forward to chatting with y'all!