Official all things Princess Half Weekend 2015 thread! DOoneY and offical mErcH on DisneyParksBLOg

[Patsydust]

Wooo! It's great to see so many enthused runners! It's bumping up my excitement! I'm loving all the tips and information. Thanks Momabaarjo for your response! This will be first official WDW race and my plans (if all goes well) are to go with my DBFF. But I had a few questions for all your pros!

1. I wanted to know the price of the GSC, it looks like your all confident it is around $280?

2. The corrals: how are people placed in those? I was reading somewhere it was based on time and to be honest about your time etc...so you have to know your time? Because I have never run a WDW run nor have I run any half marathon before. I would like to run with my DBFF but what are the odd's we'll be in the same corral? If we are a team will we be together?

3. Travelling! I usually don't travel well and it takes a day or so for me to recover (12-15hrs drive). does anyone have any advice?

4. How do you prep for a race while traveling? Do you do any running while traveling etc?

5. Final question I promise! Ha ha! What is the most useful running item you pack?

Thanks everyone!

 

[smec73]

Wooo! It's great to see so many enthused runners! It's bumping up my excitement! I'm loving all the tips and information. Thanks Momabaarjo for your response! This will be first official WDW race and my plans (if all goes well) are to go with my DBFF. But I had a few questions for all your pros!

1. I wanted to know the price of the GSC, it looks like your all confident it is around $280?

2. The corrals: how are people placed in those? I was reading somewhere it was based on time and to be honest about your time etc...so you have to know your time? Because I have never run a WDW run nor have I run any half marathon before. I would like to run with my DBFF but what are the odd's we'll be in the same corral? If we are a team will we be together?

3. Travelling! I usually don't travel well and it takes a day or so for me to recover (12-15hrs drive). does anyone have any advice?

4. How do you prep for a race while traveling? Do you do any running while traveling etc?

5. Final question I promise! Ha ha! What is the most useful running item you pack?

Thanks everyone!

If you want to run with someone that is not in the same corral as you, you can. The person in a closer corral can drop back into a lower one. You just can't go ahead. Does that make sense?

 

[snitchseeker]

Wooo! It's great to see so many enthused runners! It's bumping up my excitement! I'm loving all the tips and information. Thanks Momabaarjo for your response! This will be first official WDW race and my plans (if all goes well) are to go with my DBFF. But I had a few questions for all your pros!

1. I wanted to know the price of the GSC, it looks like your all confident it is around $280?

2. The corrals: how are people placed in those? I was reading somewhere it was based on time and to be honest about your time etc...so you have to know your time? Because I have never run a WDW run nor have I run any half marathon before. I would like to run with my DBFF but what are the odd's we'll be in the same corral? If we are a team will we be together?

3. Travelling! I usually don't travel well and it takes a day or so for me to recover (12-15hrs drive). does anyone have any advice?

4. How do you prep for a race while traveling? Do you do any running while traveling etc?

5. Final question I promise! Ha ha! What is the most useful running item you pack?

Thanks everyone!

Helloooo & yay!! So happy you are running!

I can't answer much because well - it's my first runDisney race as well but I'm sure others will help!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Wooo! It's great to see so many enthused runners! It's bumping up my excitement! I'm loving all the tips and information. Thanks Momabaarjo for your response! This will be first official WDW race and my plans (if all goes well) are to go with my DBFF. But I had a few questions for all your pros!

1. I wanted to know the price of the GSC, it looks like your all confident it is around $280?
2. The corrals: how are people placed in those? I was reading somewhere it was based on time and to be honest about your time etc...so you have to know your time? Because I have never run a WDW run nor have I run any half marathon before. I would like to run with my DBFF but what are the odd's we'll be in the same corral? If we are a team will we be together?
3. Travelling! I usually don't travel well and it takes a day or so for me to recover (12-15hrs drive). does anyone have any advice?
4. How do you prep for a race while traveling? Do you do any running while traveling etc?
5. Final question I promise! Ha ha! What is the most useful running item you pack? Thanks everyone!

FYI 2014 was my second disney race and my first 10k and half so I'm by no means an expert.

1. Cost: last year was $288.60 (tax?) I suspect there will be an increase but hopefully it won't be much. I believe the January marathon had an increase this year.

2. Time: They ask what your estimated finish time is. My 5k time is usually a 14 minute mile so I put that my 10k time would be 1:30 and my half time would be 3:15. I knew my longer run would be slower especially after 3 days of running. If you are worried about corral placement I would suggest finding a 10k that is certified (USATF.org) and submit the time. This will keep you out of the last corral. I lucked out without a submitted time this year but I plan on finding a race to use. I believe the deadline will be October or November from what I've read so far. If you are in corral K and your BFF is in corral M you would have to move back, she can not move up. Now keep in mind the 16 minute mile pace requirement does not start until the last person crosses the start line. So the more people you can put between you and them, the better.
My times were as follows:
5k - 46:50 minutes
10k - 1:30:39
1/2 3:26:39

3. Travel: we fly and I came in on Wednesday and flew home Monday morning. I will be doing this again. I would not sit in a car for 12-15 hours even with stops on the same day as the race. The only thing I wish I had done was gotten compression recovery socks. My calves were pretty swollen by Sunday afternoon. They weren't painful but it was uncomfortable at times. I also tried to keep walking as much as it could that day. Prolonged sitting was the worst! DH had gotten socks because he has back issues that resonate in his legs and he said they felt really good all day.

4. Prep for travel: bring your standard pre-run breakfast with you to WDW. I ate raisin oatmeal before every run at home so that's what I brought with me. I used the coffee pot to brew hot water. Pack your running outfit together including your undies. Be sure to wear your race outfit for a long run at home. A shirt that feels ok for 3 miles may chafe like hell at 10 miles. If you wear a tutu, practice in it! Not all tulle is created equally.
Running: I ran on Monday, flew in on Wednesday and just hit the parks. But I did all 3 races. If I had done only the 1/2 I would have done at least a mile on Wednesday.

5. Must haves:
Standard run day breakfast
Foam roller to roll my legs out before and after a run
Tiger balm - I battle with tight calves so I put tiger balm on my legs before every long run. I apologize to those on the bus with me! I smelled like Vicks!
Extra running socks. Sometimes the seam of a sock just bugs the crud out of me, even if they felt fine the week before.
Moleskin and blister band aids
Spare running shoes in case of rain or doing multiple races
News paper to stuff in your shoes in case it rains. Better than hunting for a newspaper along with 30,000 other runners.

 

[iceprincesskcl]

I have a question for all your lovely people! I've read through all the pages and was wondering? My friend and I would like to do the 5 and 10k, my big problem is, I have lower back problems and can walk for days but can't run. Is it possible to walk both the 5 and 10? I walk 10 k every day and think this would be amazing!!! Thanks for your help!!!

 

[extremesoccermom]

Is it possible to walk both the 5 and 10? I walk 10 k every day and think this would be amazing!!! Thanks for your help!!!

Have you tracked your walking to make sure you are walking the 10K at least at 16 mil/min pace? If so I would think you would be fine. I would keep training and plan on resting up as much as possible between the 5K and 10K. Hit the pool or hot tub, maybe a leg massage at one of the spas, and a nap would not be out of the question. Make sure to bring Motrin or your choice of pain med, one of those ice packs that cool when squeezed, maybe some icy hot or any other home treatments you usually use. Most of all have a great time and take in the experience.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I have a question for all your lovely people! I've read through all the pages and was wondering? My friend and I would like to do the 5 and 10k, my big problem is, I have lower back problems and can walk for days but can't run. Is it possible to walk both the 5 and 10? I walk 10 k every day and think this would be amazing!!! Thanks for your help!!!

You absolutely can as long as you think your back can hold out. You have to maintain a 16 minute mile but Run Disney recommends training at a 15 mm. I would also strongly suggest finding a certified 10K to submit a qualifying time. That will keep you out of the last corral.

I was in the last corral for both the 5K and the 10K and I was fine. I walked about 90% of the 5K (had DD with me) and did 1/1 intervals for the 10K.

 

[lovingeire]

I like to say - I'm running and training for this race so I can be set when the world ends

Kindred spirits then!

 

[PrincessV]

How did you train for it?

I more or less followed Galloway's GSC plan to get the back-to-back training weekends. That's really the important part, training for the tired legs of doing the 10K followed by the half. Or in my case, 5K, 10K, half.

I have seen Jeff Galloway's plans on the rD site, but I never can make sense of his training plans. That whole magic mile concept completely baffles me!

The Magic Mile isn't a necessary part of training; it's merely a tool to give you and idea of how you're likely to perform at race pace. You can just skip it and follow the plan's distance goals.

If you're interested in the Magic Mile, it works like this: warm up for a mile or so, then tackle a mile at race pace - not so fast that you totally exhaust yourself, but faster than your long training run pace. That doesn't mean abandon the walk breaks (unless you want to), only to pick up the speed of your run, walk, or both. After the Magic Mile, complete your workout at an easy pace. The idea is that training pace shouldn't be full intensity all of the time; Galloway explains that you should train at an easy pace much of the time. But on race day, you'll naturally speed up some,. so mimicking that once in a while gives you an idea of where you're at.

2. The corrals: how are people placed in those? I was reading somewhere it was based on time and to be honest about your time etc...so you have to know your time? Because I have never run a WDW run nor have I run any half marathon before. I would like to run with my DBFF but what are the odd's we'll be in the same corral? If we are a team will we be together?

You'll need to provide an estimated finish time on your registration, which you can get by looking at your average pace per mile so far and multiplying it by 13.1. There is a cut-off time under which you have to provide race results to prove you can run at that pace. If you enter an estimated finish time of less than 3:15:00, you'll need to provide that proof. If you feel that you'll be faster than that, but don't yet have race results to provide as proof, you can do a race later and submit it after registration, but prior to Dec. 1. Otherwise, just enter 3:15:00. (Details here: go to Registration and scroll down to Proof of Time)

So corral placement is then based on estimated finish times backed up by proof of time. Fastest runners in the front, slowest in the back, everyone else lined up between according to estimated pace/finish. As mentioned above, if place in different corrals, the faster runner can always move back to a later corral, but the slower runner cannot move forward to an earlier corral.

5. Final question I promise! Ha ha! What is the most useful running item you pack?

Running shoes! Don't forget those

Is it possible to walk both the 5 and 10? I walk 10 k every day and think this would be amazing!!! Thanks for your help!!!

Absolutely, and lots of folks do walk both! I walked most of both this year and was far from alone. The only factor is pace - you need to maintain a 16-minute mile pace to avoid being swept form the course in the 10K. In theory for the 5K, too, but I've NEVER seen that one swept; I averaged around a 21-minute pace this year with walking and picture taking lol! For the 10K, the faster your pace, the more time you have to stop. So a 15:00 pace buys you a little cushion.

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Sorry for the dump question, but I have never done a race yet (going to do my first in my town next month)

What happen when you get swept?

 

[jen19806]

Sorry for the dump question, but I have never done a race yet (going to do my first in my town next month) What happen when you get swept?

I'm not sure, but I've been avidly reading the princess half threads b/c I'm really interested in signing up & I'm expecting that I'm going to start having nightmares of zombie like balloon ladies who follow at an unceasing walking dead-like pace after me...slowly getting closer & closer & closer....

 

[momabaarjo]

Sorry for the dump question, but I have never done a race yet (going to do my first in my town next month) What happen when you get swept?

You are loaded onto a bus and taken to area near the end of the race and given your medal.

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

You are loaded onto a bus and taken to area near the end of the race and given your medal.

Oh you get a medal even if you don't finish de race? WOW!!!
I guess just for trying Disney considere that you deserve the medal!!!!

 

[Licorice1]

I have been training to run a 10k in hopes of running it in Feb. and I am nervous that it will be sold out to annual passholders before it is even open to the general public. Does anyone know if RunDisney sets aside slots for both groups or if it sells out to PH then that's it? We live in Boston and only can afford to travel down to Disney once a year, thus buying an annual pass for everyone would be a crazy expense just to run a race.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

My feeling is Disney caps AP and DVC capacities for the races. I believe, the Disneyland Half weekend races filled to the DVC and AP allotment within a few hours of registration opening.

On a different note, no pricing was posted in regards to cost of PHM races, when I checked earlier today. As soon as I see something, I'll post it on the first page. My training run today, for a June race, was 11.74 miles in 145 minutes. The last, just shy of a quarter mile, was a cool down walk.

 

[HBGdancermom]

My feeling is Disney caps AP and DVC capacities for the races. I believe, the Disneyland Half weekend races filled to the DVC and AP allotment within a few hours of registration opening.

Do you know if you can register more than one person with the AP. I just purchased an AP for myself this weekend but was wondering if I can register my 2 friends if I am able to register early? Probably not, right? Thanks!

 

[PrincessV]

Does anyone know if RunDisney sets aside slots for both groups or if it sells out to PH then that's it?

Early registration (for AP and DVC) has a certain # of slots allotted to it. It's possible for those to fill, but the rest of the race slots open when registration opens to the general public, so you're not out of luck should you miss the smaller number of early registration openings.

Do you know if you can register more than one person with the AP. I just purchased an AP for myself this weekend but was wondering if I can register my 2 friends if I am able to register early? Probably not, right? Thanks!

Yes, you can. But I don't recommend doing them all in one shot - I keep hearing people having issues doing it that way. What I'd do is click the early reg ink (from your AP or DVC page), which takes you directly to registration. Fill it all out for yourself and submit. Close out, then repeat the process, beginning with clicking the link from your AP or DVC page. I think that will result in less likelihood of friend A's name ending up on friend B's bib, or your proof of time being connected to friend A, etc.

 

[HBGdancermom]

Yes, you can. But I don't recommend doing them all in one shot - I keep hearing people having issues doing it that way. What I'd do is click the early reg ink (from your AP or DVC page), which takes you directly to registration. Fill it all out for yourself and submit. Close out, then repeat the process, beginning with clicking the link from your AP or DVC page. I think that will result in less likelihood of friend A's name ending up on friend B's bib, or your proof of time being connected to friend A, etc.

Oh cool! Thanks!

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Did my first ever walk/run 5 k yesterday!!!

Not much for many of you, but for me that was something!!!!!

Can't wait to do it again tomorrow

 

[July Kitten]

Did my first ever walk/run 5 k yesterday!!!

Not much for many of you, but for me that was something!!!!!

Can't wait to do it again tomorrow

Congratulations! You've taken your first (literal!) steps into a larger world.

I'm running my first half marathon on Sunday and a 5k is basically a warmup to me, but I couldn't even run half a mile a year ago so I cherish every step. Running 5k is amazing, you're amazing for doing it, you'll be amazing when you do it again, and don't let anyone tell you differently.