Official 2016 Star Wars Half Marthon - The Dark Side Weekend

[acbshada]

For all those disappointed by the lack of women's Star Wars options, Under Armour has added women's and girls' options:

https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/all/star-wars?cid=PS|Google|Brand|US|IP|Exact|under armour star wars|&gclid=CPHHxYaToskCFdamNwodX1kBgw&gclsrc=ds

This makes me extremely happy that they added at least something. Thank you so much for sharing! Looking through the women's choices, I still see we're kind of limited. But hey - it's something. So maybe new things will arrive as time goes on. You never know.

 

[DarkSideRunner]

I see some recent comments about Garmin running watches. I'm in the market for something with a good heart rate monitor for my training and am intrigued by wristwatch heart rate monitors (no uncomfortable chest strap!) is anybody using one of these (like the apple watch?) and any idea how accurate the HRM is?

 

[opusone]

I see some recent comments about Garmin running watches. I'm in the market for something with a good heart rate monitor for my training and am intrigued by wristwatch heart rate monitors (no uncomfortable chest strap!) is anybody using one of these (like the apple watch?) and any idea how accurate the HRM is?

I use the Garmin Forerunner 225 and love it. The HRM has been very accurate, but you do have to make sure the watch is somewhat snug on your wrist. If it even slightly moves on your wrist, it might read your cadence instead of your HR. When I first got the watch, I went on a 20-mile bike ride to test the HRM (wearing both a chest strap with my previous watch and the 225 on the wrist). See the graph below to see how well they matched (Green is the wrist-based HRM and Black is the chest strap).



By the way, the Garmin Forerunner 235, which will replace the 225, will be released in the next few weeks if you are willing to wait.

Below are some reviews to take a look at:
DC Rainmaker's In-Depth Review of the Garmin 225
and
Garmin’s new Forerunner 230, 235, and 630 watches (as noted in this preview, the 235 will have a different HRM than in the 225, so only time will tell its accuracy)

 

[DarkSideRunner]

Wow that does look pretty reliable. I heard the 235 is using a different optical sensor, so I'd hesitate to jump into new technology until someone has tested it out. I wonder if the price will change dramatically on the 225 once the 235 is out.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[opusone]

Wow that does look pretty reliable. I heard the 235 is using a different optical sensor, so I'd hesitate to jump into new technology until someone has tested it out. I wonder if the price will change dramatically on the 225 once the 235 is out.

Thanks for sharing!

Funny, I was just editing my previous post to state the different optical HRM maker with the 235, so yes, we don't know how good it will be.

As far as 225 pricing, yes, in anticipation of the 235, the 225 price has just recently dropped by $50 to $249 (on Amazon and Clever Training, and I assume other places as well). I'm not sure it will drop much more for a while, but if you wait long enough, I'm sure it will be reduced even more.

 

[roselark]

For those asking about room discounts: it is a little early. Keep an eye out; hopefully they will release something soon.

Also, I think the UA women's stuff is very uninspired. I think they put a rush job on it since they had so many complaints. Also,all of those shirts have cotton, which is horrible to run in for those of us who sweat easily and a lot. Same reason I can't run in RawThreads stuff.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Kay Jewelry just released a line of Star Wars beads. I picked up some of them to create my Dark Side Challenge bracelet. The beads are a combination of Chamilia and Pandora too.

 

[opusone]

I will say that I was VERY disappointed with the half-marathon book. It was clear to me after reading the marathon book first that little effort was used to create the half-marathon book a few years later. There were many portions in the half book that I felt unnecessarily referenced the full marathon (almost like they were suggesting, "oh big deal, you're just running a half"). I found it more as a money grab than an honest effort to create a plan (although I understand where they're coming from). The biggest thing that irked me about it was their large pacing chart that included the marathon tempo pace and strength pace (based on marathon), rather than having the appropriate half-marathon tempo pace and strength (based on half). It confused the heck out of my mom.

If you were to put the half and full book next to each other, the first couple of chapters are nearly identical. The biggest problem with the half book, to me, is the sheer number of references to the marathon. I don't blame them, essentially they copied and pasted the marathon book and then edited a few paragraphs to make it a half marathon book. But there are several sections that I felt inappropriately mentioned the marathon (like the chart I referenced earlier). However, I do think based on your experience the half marathon book would be sufficient to develop a plan. If you ever do plan on running a marathon again, then you'll be so close to the beginner marathon plan that buying the marathon book would be better. Wishy-washy answer but based on your experience what you'll get out of the book comes from the first couple chapters.

After reading the Hansons half marathon book over the past two weeks, I completely see/understand what you were talking about. In fact, I tagged the various references to the full marathon that were out-of-place, and I agree that the big pacing table is pretty useless for the half marathon. That being said, I now have a good training plan for the Star Wars Dark Side Challenge, and I look forward to testing out the results of the plan in April.

Thanks again for your guidance!

 

[acbshada]

Kay Jewelry just released a line of Star Wars beads. I picked up some of them to create my Dark Side Challenge bracelet. The beads are a combination of Chamilia and Pandora too.

Love your bracelet! What an awesome way to display your fandom and passions.

I just saw that Kay released the beads from Pandora, and it was a lot to fun to look through them all. You picked out the ones that caught my eye, too. I'm not really a bracelet person, but there were a couple necklaces that caught my eye.

Ready to kick this training thing into gear full-speed here soon.

 

[drummerwife]

Just got an email from rD that had the medals. Has anyone else got it? I love the 10k the best but all are cool.

 

[acbshada]

Got a runDisney email today that shared this little spotlight of info:

Dark Side Medals Revealed

Can you feel the power of the force? That's because these are the medals you‘ve been looking for. The 2016 Star Wars™ Half Marathon – The Dark Side finisher medals have just been released. Click the image above to get the first look at the inaugural medals now.

There is still time to ensure you take one home for yourself. Limited space is available for the half marathon race on April 17th. Secure your spot in this inaugural 13.1 mile thrilling race through the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I was on my way over here to post the medal pictures. So exciting!

 

[AThrillingChase]

I think the 10k is my favorite, but I love how the challenge put inaugural right up top by itself. It stands out more than I think the rebel challenge one did. I wonder what is on the back of the spinner for the half? I have so many questions now!

ETA - am I just being dumb? I can't figure out what the character is on the 10k strap?

 

[acbshada]

I think the 10k is my favorite, but I love how the challenge put inaugural right up top by itself. It stands out more than I think the rebel challenge one did. I wonder what is on the back of the spinner for the half? I have so many questions now!

ETA - am I just being dumb? I can't figure out what the character is on the 10k strap?

I didn't even think about the spinner medal. Maybe the emperor on one side and Vader on the other? Now I'm all curious, too.

The character on the 10K medal strap was hard to make out, but I think it's a TIE fighter pilot...?

I think my favorite is the 10K as well, but I like the Kessel Run medal. Appropriate.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I think the 10k is my favorite, but I love how the challenge put inaugural right up top by itself. It stands out more than I think the rebel challenge one did. I wonder what is on the back of the spinner for the half? I have so many questions now!

ETA - am I just being dumb? I can't figure out what the character is on the 10k strap?

I think it looks like a tie fighter pilot on the 10K.

I am hoping it is Darth Vader on the other side of the half. He is on the lanyard, so it would make sense.

 

[AThrillingChase]

I think it looks like a tie fighter pilot on the 10K.

I am hoping it is Darth Vader on the other side of the half. He is on the lanyard, so it would make sense.

Oh my goodness, you are right. With the just gray on black shading, I was definitely seeing 2 small heads instead of one pilot helmet. lol. I kept thinking is this some strange character from one of the animated series that I don't know? I should go get some coffee...

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Ha. I'll take a cup too!

I really love the Kessel Run medal. I need to plan a DL trip soon.

I'm surprised that we got to see these medals before the Princess medals were released. I'm still waiting on those too. We already had pictures by this time last year.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I posted this in the other thread too, but here is a better view of the tie fighter pilot on the 10K medal.

 

[kathleen27]

Really excited about the medals!

Love the Kessel run medal (which I won't be getting).

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

Would they put Darth Vader on it though? He was already on the Disneyland Half Marathon medal from last year with Yoda on the other side.

This year's Disneyland Star Wars Half medal features R2D2 and the Rebel Logo. I feel like it'd be weird to be repeating characters already. But that could just be me.