Official 2016 Princess Half Marathon Thread

[Ariel484]

I got an unexpected email from rD today, and I figured some of you with more experience than me at other rD races might help me with a question I have. It is an invitation to participate in a special way (their term: secret mission) to pick up all my packets and commemorative items for Avengers weekend. I am doing the 5k and the Challenge, plus I will be going for my Coast to Coast. I've never heard of this before, but I've only done PHM weekend until now, and while I read other event threads I don't follow them closely. I don't know if it has been offered at other DL events. Does anyone have experience with this runDisney offer? It says the offer can not be transferred to anyone else, but I am wondering if I can use it to get all my stuff, and also get my family's (kids and DH) 5k packets? I've emailed for an answer but with it being after business hours, I am just curious if anyone here can help me figure it out. The offer also includes a 6:30-8:30 am early shopping experience on Thursday, but I won't be to DL by then.

I saw that...really interesting. That Wine & Dine pre-party thing they had (which sounds like the same thing except it cost $200). This is the first I have heard of them doing this. If I got an invitation like that for Princess I would ABSOLUTELY do it (you know, assuming it worked out with my travel plans).

OK, now that it is starting to get colder out ( or was, but decided warm was good) we have started running indoors. Can anyone tell me how that will translate to running again outside? find running on a treadmill MUCH easier. I'm faster, hurt less and can go longer intervals (I'm still doing run/walk). Im happy at how well I'm doing, but crazy scared i wont be able to do well once I'm at Disney. So, if you have any tips, tricks or advice Dis Familia, please share!

I definitely agree with the advice to get some outdoor runs in. The treadmill surface is softer than what you'll be running on at Princess (concrete), you get a little help from the belt pulling you, you don't have any sort of wind resistance, you're in a controlled climate, and (unless you fool around with the incline) there are no elevation changes. All of these things could contribute to it feeling easier than an outdoor run would.

 

[bumbershoot]

OK, now that it is starting to get colder out ( or was, but decided warm was good) we have started running indoors. Can anyone tell me how that will translate to running again outside? find running on a treadmill MUCH easier. I'm faster, hurt less and can go longer intervals (I'm still doing run/walk). Im happy at how well I'm doing, but crazy scared i wont be able to do well once I'm at Disney. So, if you have any tips, tricks or advice Dis Familia, please share!

I trained for TOT 2013, apart from the last long run, solely on the dreadmill. And I accidentally did it really well so the ground wasn't a big surprise.

First I had the incline set so I was always going somewhat uphill. And second, it seemed that I had a faster pace for the speed of the tread. I didn't realize it until late in the game when I would match the pace of others next to me, and when I would peek at their settings I found that their speeds were way higher than mine.

The combo seemed to get my hamstrings working in a way they don't normally work when running on a moving belt.


Post TOT training I couldn't get back on a treadmill until very recently. Shudder.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Last winter I did my PHM 10K training here in NH. I did treadmill runs during the week days, and I ran outside on the weekends until the snow banks got too high making visibility a problem. Even though I live here in the north, I'm not a fan of the cold, so I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed running in the cold. My last outdoor run last winter it was 19 degrees!

I have been using a hand-me-down treadmill that is not too accurate, so we just ordered a new incline trainer for this winter. It is being delivered on Thursday and I can't wait to try it out.

 

[Ariel484]

Interrupting the treadmill talk to say...

...double digit dancing!!!

 

[preciouspups]

I don't have any tips but just a reminder that the treadmill doesn't have dips, pot holes, or uneven surfaces. And the treadmill makes it easy to just look straight ahead and not have to pay attention to where you are stepping.

 

[keahgirl8]

OK, now that it is starting to get colder out ( or was, but decided warm was good) we have started running indoors. Can anyone tell me how that will translate to running again outside? find running on a treadmill MUCH easier. I'm faster, hurt less and can go longer intervals (I'm still doing run/walk). Im happy at how well I'm doing, but crazy scared i wont be able to do well once I'm at Disney. So, if you have any tips, tricks or advice Dis Familia, please share!

I agree with everyone who said to try and get some outside running in, if possible. When I first started running, it was all on the treadmill. The first time I ran on pavement, I got shin splints like you wouldn't believe. I wouldn't want the first one in months to be on race day.

 

[sperkins921]

My guess is that they're not ready yet.
I went to the NYC marathon expo two weeks ago and they didn't have the Star Wars medals yet ... and that one's in January. I'm guessing that Star Wars will probably be at Avengers, and Princess medals will be posted online in a few weeks.

They had medals up, but I didn't take pictures because I didn't realize people hadn't seen them yet. D'oh!

 

[keahgirl8]

They had medals up, but I didn't take pictures because I didn't realize people hadn't seen them yet. D'oh!

The Star Wars medals are on Facebook now, so we should have medals pretty soon. My guess is that they will be the same, but with ribbons the colors and designs of the "in training" graphics. Blues and greens with starfish and seashells, and whatnot.

 

[preciouspups]

I'm trying to decide if I want to run the Castaway Cay 5k when we are there next week. I've heard it can be really hot.

 

[Ariel484]

I'm trying to decide if I want to run the Castaway Cay 5k when we are there next week. I've heard it can be really hot.

It's very hot. Drink tons of water beforehand and be prepared to possibly go at a more relaxed pace. The course is nothing to write home about, in my opinion, but the new medallion is pretty nice, especially for a free race.

 

[joan4mickey]

It's very hot. Drink tons of water beforehand and be prepared to possibly go at a more relaxed pace. The course is nothing to write home about, in my opinion, but the new medallion is pretty nice, especially for a free race.

Agree the medallion is very cool. I ran it for the third time in May...said I wasn't going to, but they got me with the medallion.

 

[Ariel484]

Agree the medallion is very cool. I ran it for the third time in May...said I wasn't going to, but they got me with the medallion.

Yeah, i ran it in July but not in October. Would have done it again if they'd changed the medallion (which I don't expect them to until 2016), but since they didn't I was more than happy to go on the treadmill instead.

 

[bevcgg]

My travel buddy just got us ADRs through Disney at Morimoto Asia (Disney Springs) for lunch after PHM!
Just spreading the word! ADR's just opened!!!!
Yum!

 

[srauseo]

Double digit !!!

 

[preciouspups]

It's very hot. Drink tons of water beforehand and be prepared to possibly go at a more relaxed pace. The course is nothing to write home about, in my opinion, but the new medallion is pretty nice, especially for a free race.

Thanks for the tips! I might walk most of it if the heat is unbearable. I think it is probably the direct sun that gets most people. I'm used to the heat and humidity but add sun blinding me and it is miserable.

 

[Anisum]

Do they have the 5k on every cruise that stops at Castaway Cay? I'm going on a cruise after Princess and I was thinking of running it just because it's there.

 

[preciouspups]

Do they have the 5k on every cruise that stops at Castaway Cay? I'm going on a cruise after Princess and I was thinking of running it just because it's there.

I believe they do. It is free and a fun thing for people to do. However, I have read that sometimes people don't start their race until 9:30 and by then the sun is up and hot! This is our first Disney cruise and I think I am more excited than the kid!

 

[Sehsun]

I was at the Wine & Dine Expo, and the PHM weekend medals were not available - they had past years' medals.

 

[Anisum]

I was at the Wine & Dine Expo, and the PHM weekend medals were not available - they had past years' medals.

Thanks for the update!

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks for the tips! I might walk most of it if the heat is unbearable. I think it is probably the direct sun that gets most people. I'm used to the heat and humidity but add sun blinding me and it is miserable.

Yeah, I'm used to the heat and humidity as well (since I do most of my runs on a treadmill in a hot, stuffy room) and it was still awful. Plus you go through the bike trail, which is enclosed with trees on either side, so there's not much air circulation.

Do they have the 5k on every cruise that stops at Castaway Cay? I'm going on a cruise after Princess and I was thinking of running it just because it's there.

As long as they dock, I believe they do.

I believe they do. It is free and a fun thing for people to do. However, I have read that sometimes people don't start their race until 9:30 and by then the sun is up and hot! This is our first Disney cruise and I think I am more excited than the kid!

Yeah, in October we didn't dock at CC until after 9, so it did start right around 9:30, like you said. Last year it started more like 8 and even then I thought that was too late!

YAY for your first cruise! You will love it!

I was at the Wine & Dine Expo, and the PHM weekend medals were not available - they had past years' medals.

Thanks!! Looks like we have another month or so to wait.