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

[STILLWISHING]

So if it ends up being cool in the morning do people wear unwanted clothes and leave them behind at the start of the race?

yes - it is collected for a charity.

I hope it is cool

 

[Luv2Run]

Yep, I usually bring a zippered hoodie that I leave open, that way I can stay warm without having to take off a pullover and reposition my race bib. You'll see people bagging the discarded clothing items, followed by trucks that load the bags to be transferred to a donation facility. The first time I ran the PHM in 2012, it was rather chilly (55F), so I wound up bringing a jacket and gloves - both of which were tossed aside by mile 3. This year, however, was drastically different. I didn't even bother wearing a jacket, I just packed one in my gear check bag for after the race, since I usually get chilled once I'm done running 13.1 miles. It was so humid that morning that I was drenched in sweat by the time I got into MK. I only like my race photos from post-MK to Epcot, because I stopped by the ladies room in Fantasyland to reposition my sweat-drenched hair, lol.

 

[STILLWISHING]

Yep, I usually bring a zippered hoodie that I leave open, that way I can stay warm without having to take off a pullover and reposition my race bib. You'll see people bagging the discarded clothing items, followed by trucks that load the bags to be transferred to a donation facility. The first time I ran the PHM in 2012, it was rather chilly (55F), so I wound up bringing a jacket and gloves - both of which were tossed aside by mile 3. This year, however, was drastically different. I didn't even bother wearing a jacket, I just packed one in my gear check bag for after the race, since I usually get chilled once I'm done running 13.1 miles. It was so humid that morning that I was drenched in sweat by the time I got into MK. I only like my race photos from post-MK to Epcot, because I stopped by the ladies room in Fantasyland to reposition my sweat-drenched hair, lol.

Ha! I am def stopping at that one this time (didn't make it last year - stopped outside and did the spandex dance in a portajohn - no fun!)

 

[bekkiz]

I bet I know the race of which you speak! It was a train wreck, I went almost a mile too far, my friend and husband about a half a mile, super frustrating and I was grateful I wasn't counting on it for a pot. Bummer too as it's my pr race from last year.

I will say I was happy with how the race director handled it for those who complained. Great job on the 1:16!

Thanks! I liked the course a lot, it's not far from my house and I will probably run again next year. My friends usually do the Beat the Bridge in May which is always the same day at the Snohomish Women's run; I'll have to decide between the two!

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks! I liked the course a lot, it's not far from my house and I will probably run again next year. My friends usually do the Beat the Bridge in May which is always the same day at the Snohomish Women's run; I'll have to decide between the two!

Arrgh I forgot they were the same day. We did Beat the Bridge as a family last year and planned to do so again. I was thinking I'd use my discount on the Snohomish Women's but if they are the same day, that won't work. I haven't checked though to confirm. Now I'll have to decide if I want to do Sammamish, it's only 2 weeks after PHM, not sure I am up for that!

I liked the course better this year than last but the turnaround was a total train wreck, I have never seen anything like it. No cone, no sandwich board, no person directing traffic, nothing. When I did turn and then a little bit later saw the 10 mile sign for the half I knew I was screwed as the turn should have been around 3.77 or so, so the next mile sign should have been 11, not 10. Not to mention no signs specifically for the 10k. Usually there will be both half and 10k mile signs for something like this. Oh well. It was a lovely long run. LOL! But from a 10K standpoint, my worst published finish by a landslide.

My DH was running with a calf strain so I was actually ahead of him at the 3 mile point (it will never happen again) and then another friend was behind both of us. They both said that it did get caught and they could see it getting addressed and as a result turned earlier (which explained why I never saw my DH as he ended up turning earlier than I did and finishing before me as a result). Plus his calf felt better lol.

It was so well run last year and this year there was some funky stuff. Not just that, but the vendors all on the race side of the finish line, versus after, the junior sized tees, that kind of stuff. My chiro was there as a vendor and they were not thrilled. Not sure if it was just the new course or what but I would give them another shot as I loved it last year, and I do think the folks doing the half had a great race.

All that said, Beat the Bridge is a blast. It was my son's first race (13 at the time) and I was terrified he'd get lost. Now that I know he won't (at that race anyway....tons of classmates/XC and track team mates) I can just run my own race this year and not be looking for him.

 

[Mil leech]

Hi! Hope everyone's training is going well!
Can anyone tell me how they do the pictures with the characters? Is it your camera/ phone only? Magic band? Or race pics like your finish line picture? Thank you for your help!

 

[STILLWISHING]

Hi! Hope everyone's training is going well!
Can anyone tell me how they do the pictures with the characters? Is it your camera/ phone only? Magic band? Or race pics like your finish line picture? Thank you for your help!

For PHM I had my phone and a little camera. There were also photographers. For ToT, I just used my phone because there were no photogrphers. Thinking of going back to the camera next time.

 

[keahgirl8]

Hi! Hope everyone's training is going well! Can anyone tell me how they do the pictures with the characters? Is it your camera/ phone only? Magic band? Or race pics like your finish line picture? Thank you for your help!

I didn't take an character photos, but I had my phone and my small camera. I used the phone for selfies and then the camera for non-selfies. There are no Photopass photographers, only Marathonfoto. They take all character and race photos and you can purchase them afterwards.

 

[joan4mickey]

I didn't take an character photos, but I had my phone and my small camera. I used the phone for selfies and then the camera for non-selfies. There are no Photopass photographers, only Marathonfoto. They take all character and race photos and you can purchase them afterwards.

And Marathonfoto is expensive and often not very good. Take your phone or camera as most characters also have cast members with them or ask the next person in line to take photo for you.

 

[STILLWISHING]

Anyone on here ever done the Celebration half or doing it this year? Thinking of driving up from Ft Myers area to do it and then drive back. Nice training for PHM since I train in the cold.

 

[AThrillingChase]

Can anyone tell me about, or post pictures of the pre-race area? I will have my cousin with me who is not racing, so I was planning on doing what I did for TOT, and wearing a jacket and giving it to her when I have to jump into the corral. But, that depends on how far the start line is from the corral holding areas!

I am also wondering if she will have time to see me at both MK and at the finish line. I should be finishing around 2:30 and she is fine to stand at the finish, so a bleacher seat isn't neccesarily important. She wants to come for all the pre-race dj and things, so she will just be hanging out until I finish. So, I guess it wouldn't hurt for her to at least try to get there in time.

I struggled through an IT band issue with TOT, so I rested the last few weeks and now I am jumping back into training. Can't wait!

 

[longhorns2]

The staging and corrals are almost a mile away!

 

[Figment1990]

Can anyone tell me about, or post pictures of the pre-race area? I will have my cousin with me who is not racing, so I was planning on doing what I did for TOT, and wearing a jacket and giving it to her when I have to jump into the corral. But, that depends on how far the start line is from the corral holding areas! I am also wondering if she will have time to see me at both MK and at the finish line. I should be finishing around 2:30 and she is fine to stand at the finish, so a bleacher seat isn't neccesarily important. She wants to come for all the pre-race dj and things, so she will just be hanging out until I finish. So, I guess it wouldn't hurt for her to at least try to get there in time. I struggled through an IT band issue with TOT, so I rested the last few weeks and now I am jumping back into training. Can't wait!

Here's what DH did last year for me for princess and it really was exactly what I needed. He saw me at the TTC, the Polynesian, outside epcot (before we entered) and at the finish (not on bleachers). It was perfect for me to have him in those places- MK was a blur and crowded and I had planned a bathroom stop and a castle picture so I felt "busy" then. So seeing him after the long stretch right before the MK was great! The crowd support for princess is really quite good.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

DH and the kids were waiting for me at the mile 12 marker so it was easy to find them after going over the overpass. Then they had enough time to scoot back to the reunion area before I finished.

 

[blabbermouth]

Ok, add me to the injury group I haven't run since the 2nd! My knee has been bothering me, the outer edge of my left knee. I blame indoor soccer more than running, but I don't exactly remember what I did to hurt it. I was trying to just lay low and see if it got better on it's own, but it's still bugging me a bit, so I will try a trip to the physio now

 

[megg702]

Ok, add me to the injury group I haven't run since the 2nd! My knee has been bothering me, the outer edge of my left knee. I blame indoor soccer more than running, but I don't exactly remember what I did to hurt it. I was trying to just lay low and see if it got better on it's own, but it's still bugging me a bit, so I will try a trip to the physio now

Good luck! I hope it heals quickly!

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Ok, add me to the injury group I haven't run since the 2nd! My knee has been bothering me, the outer edge of my left knee. I blame indoor soccer more than running, but I don't exactly remember what I did to hurt it. I was trying to just lay low and see if it got better on it's own, but it's still bugging me a bit, so I will try a trip to the physio now

I'm not a doctor or physical therapist, but the outside knee pain could be caused by the IT band.

 

[blabbermouth]

Good luck! I hope it heals quickly!

Thanks! Me too!

I'm not a doctor or physical therapist, but the outside knee pain could be caused by the IT band.

The physio thinks it sort of is. Not the muscle itself which is quite happy, but the tendon where it connects. He thinks I need to work on my glutes on that side, so I will.

 

[Tybalt]

Does anyone remember when they send out a pre-order link to purchase the Dooney and Bourke purses and other commemorative merchandise? I ran it last year, and I didn't get the link sent to me, but this thread let me catch it anyway. I'm running again this year, and I really want to make sure I get a purse! Thanks!

 

[STILLWISHING]

Does anyone remember when they send out a pre-order link to purchase the Dooney and Bourke purses and other commemorative merchandise? I ran it last year, and I didn't get the link sent to me, but this thread let me catch it anyway. I'm running again this year, and I really want to make sure I get a purse! Thanks!

I think that was maybe early January?? I kind of hope there is a new pattern is year.