Official inaugural Tower of Terror 10 miler thread. September 29, 2012

[Lynn57]

Just got home from my first 5K this year!

My time was 36:32 on a really hilly course, so I'm less worried about the sweep now. 3 months to run longer distances and get my time down so I won't be worried about stopping for characters. How long are the lines for characters? I know I'll want to stop, but will be worried about getting in a long line and getting swept...

 

[jmv223]

I ran the Princess Half at a 12 min mile pace (when I was actually running) and stopped for many photos with plenty of time to spare. I think my overall time came out to about a 14 min mile. There were definitely lines for the characters, but they moved pretty quickly.

I'm enjoying reading about everyone's training. I'm still sidelined on crutches from my knee surgery, but I'm still holding out hope I'll have time to train and run this race!

 

[hollieplus2]

Quick question, I won't run my 10k until August 4th so I'll have to update my time for corral placement at the expo. Since the bibs are pre-printed how do they mark them for the change?

 

[minniebeth]

Quick question, I won't run my 10k until August 4th so I'll have to update my time for corral placement at the expo. Since the bibs are pre-printed how do they mark them for the change?

I'd love to know this as well! I have a 10K in August too and hope to have a time good enough to submit for a better placement too.

 

[Cripey]

Quick question, I won't run my 10k until August 4th so I'll have to update my time for corral placement at the expo. Since the bibs are pre-printed how do they mark them for the change?

I'd love to know this as well! I have a 10K in August too and hope to have a time good enough to submit for a better placement too.

I think there should be a date posted somewhere on the race website that is the last day to turn in times before bibs are printed up. If you miss that date I believe you just show your proof of time at packet pickup and if your time warrants a corral change, they put a sticker on your bib with your new corral assignment over the corral assignment already printed there.

 

[minniebeth]

I think there should be a date posted somewhere on the race website that is the last day to turn in times before bibs are printed up. If you miss that date I believe you just show your proof of time at packet pickup and if your time warrants a corral change, they put a sticker on your bib with your new corral assignment over the corral assignment already printed there.

Awesome, thank you, Cripey!

 

[AnotherPrincess]

minniebeth, you are totally speaking my language! My longest run to date is 8.6 miles, slightly over 17 mm. Shorter runs are around 16 mm but that's just not fast enough to give me comfort. I now know the distance won't be an issue but I'm holding out hope that I can shave a minute or 2 off my pace in the next 3 months.

 

[minniebeth]

minniebeth, you are totally speaking my language! My longest run to date is 8.6 miles, slightly over 17 mm. Shorter runs are around 16 mm but that's just not fast enough to give me comfort. I now know the distance won't be an issue but I'm holding out hope that I can shave a minute or 2 off my pace in the next 3 months.

Same here...distance I'm ok with, time is my nemesis...
I'm sure there are lots more of us with times just at the suggested pace.

Keep at it, AnotherPrincess! We'll get there

 

[lthiesfeld07]

Everyone's posted times are great!! I am getting worried. I am doing the Galloway Training program and I am seeing progress, but I am nervous.
I walked/ran 2 miles in 27:47. I am doing this 3 days a week. I probably need to step it up and do this at least 5 days a week. I am using the Run Keeper App on my iPhone and am running 1:30 and walking 2:30. My first mile is 12:46.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[emacek]

Everyone's posted times are great!! I am getting worried. I am doing the Galloway Training program and I am seeing progress, but I am nervous.
I walked/ran 2 miles in 27:47. I am doing this 3 days a week. I probably need to step it up and do this at least 5 days a week. I am using the Run Keeper App on my iPhone and am running 1:30 and walking 2:30. My first mile is 12:46.

Anyone have any advice?

I used Galloway to train for and run the Princess and the Nashville half both.
If you are serious about using his plans I strongly recommend getting one of his books where he explains it much better than he can on the website.

For example, right now, with the heat--work on getting your distance up to the 10 miles and don't stress pace as much. Also, he is constant about using rest days--especially for older runners (like me!)--he calls those extra "gotta get mileage in days" junk miles.

As far as the walk breaks--on your weekend run take them from the start at the pace you are training at (not your goal pace). Yes--it initially feels ridiculous to take a break after 30 seconds of running but do it. I used 1:1 intervals for the Princess (goal was 12:30 pace) but trained with 30:30 at a 15:00 pace to build my distance. For Nashville I used 40 seconds: 20 seconds

My goal for the Princess was just to make it to the Castle--I did finish.

For ToT--my husband is with me. He's a walker and has the distance but is too slow right now. He does not have a 10K time so we will be in the last corral. We're transitioning him to running using Galloway. He starting with intervals of 10 seconds running: 50 seconds walking. The goal is to have him at 30:30 by September. As for getting swept....I was doing the race anyway--rather than just buy a ticket to the Villains bash for him, it was more fun to register him. We've agreed that if the sweepers catch us, he'll take the bus and I'll stop walking, start running and meet him in Hollywood Studios.

What helped me most when everyone was freaking about being swept at the Princess was to adjust my goal--finishing would be great but more important was having fun and, for me, the Castle. For ToT, Ken's would like to finish, but our goal is enjoy ourselves walking and taking pictures while doing so (probably won't stop) and then have fun at the Villains Bash after. If the characters we want aren't there--we're going to Mickeys Not So Scary on Sunday night and lots of the villains will be out then.

Good luck with your training!
emacek

 

[PrincessV]

I believe there is only one 10K in the area before September - the July 4th midnight run in Dunedin.

Yep... and I'll be out of town, lol!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi all! Well, I finally managed my first 10K distance - 1:20:15. Spent the first 5.5 miles praying for rain, which finally came for the final .7. Humidity was about 90% and the air did not move; it truly felt like running in a swamp. But I did it!

So I'm now on vacation in the NC mountains, where it's been pouring for days. Trying to work up the nerve to take on rain, steep "hills" (is an elevation change of 1,000' really a "hill"?!), black bears and mountain lions to get in my short run. Eek!

 

[Dug720]

Hi all!! Super excited for this one!! Even if now it's a final long run with bling in my training for Chicago.

I did manage to eek in just under 2 hours for Broad Street (which is also a 10-miler), so I was able to submit that time and get into a timed corral (wherever the last of us with proof get put), which helps me feel at ease since I'm not going to be going full-out.

My training was originally going to be Higdon's Novice 2 Half plan...but now it's the training plan I've got through my charity team for Chicago. So far it's going well. I'm ready for school to be out (I teach) so I can train in varying locales and include some hills.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I will have to look into a hydration pack.

I use this one:
http://www.ultimatedirection.com/p-594-wink.aspx
The bladder in it sprung a lead and I replaced it with a Platypus one I picked up at REI. The pack can also probably be found cheaper elsewhere....

Yay! Another Washingtonian! Yeah, we sure have been spoiled by this cool weather.

I don't know...I'm enjoying that glowing orb in the sky and the nice weather today!! I got in a 9 mile run! Totally wore out my dog. For now. She'll want to chase her ball later.

 

[MsDeVil]

Alright, I'm ready to jump in and join the conversation I have been slowly training and last night did 3 miles in 38 minutes- by far my best run. I finally gave in and tried Galloway's run/walk and it does seem to be a much easier method of running. I think I'm going to try and get one of his books from the library since I'm a newbie and this is my first race. I'm excited, though. I'm starting to feel like I can really do this!

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Finally getting some time to get some runs in, been so busy lately. Got 4 miles in on Sunday and last night did 4.25 at an 8:33 pace. Gonna get a long run (probably around 12 miles) on Friday. Running a 1/2 marathon on the 24th, figure after doing that in the morning in June the ToT will be a breeze!

 

[annmarieda]

So for a newbie runner, which method do you think would be better... the Galloway or a C25k (I know... more training since it is only a 5k will be needed)

I actually did my longest run time today. It was probably one of my shorter distances in a while, but I have been doing a c2 5k and today was the first day with no walk times. I slowed my pace down at the beginning like was suggested. In the end, although my last 10 minutes I went less distance than in my first (still ) I did finish feeling like I was not absolutely ready to be done. Saturday when I had a run time of 5 minutes less, I thought I was going to die at the end.

So my run partner for the race is staying strict to the Galloway method. I wonder if she is building more endurance than I am. No doubt at this point I am spending more actual time running during my runs than she is... but I wonder if in the end she will have that endurance that maybe I will lack?

hence why I ask.. which is a better method to use? I have been making sure I am at least spending the time out that is suggested by the Galloway... but did move past a run/walk ratio much quicker than I see happening with the Galloway.(my friend is at 20/40 ratio)

 

[hollieplus2]

I started out doing the C25K and kept getting stuck at week 5. I could never finish Week 5 Day 3. I know it was mental but I just couldn't do it. And every time I tried to do the week over again I would get worse and worse. I knew that I would never be able to get my milage up using this program.

I switched over to Galloway and I'm doing much better. I still haven't gotten past 3 miles yet but I'm trying out different intervals before I go further to see which one I want to go with.

I've used 15/45 which is pretty easy to maintain but I felt like a fool only running for 15 seconds. I know I shouldn't but I did. I also tried 30/60 and that I could do unless it was really hot and muggy which started to really kill after the 2 mile. This week I'm trying 20/40 and we'll see how that goes. I want to do 1/1 for the race I think so I really think I'm going to stick with 30/60 for training or 30/30. I can do the 30/60 and maintain a 15min mile but I would like a little buffer. I'm more concered with milage then speed right now.

 

[freepixie]

On the one FB page about the ToT 10-miler, someone was saying they found out that the field will be 10,000 - something about it was supposed to be 8,000 but increased it to 10,000 with the wait-list people.

Can anyone confirm that

Personally, I'd be happy as a clam with that size field after the gazillion of Princesses I ran with in Feb Don't get me wrong, I LOVED IT, but it does get a little crowded out there!

 

[AnotherPrincess]

How many were in the Princess race?

 

[tiki23]

I'm only running the 5K in the AM before the 10-Miler, but I'll be at your finish, cheering you on and having fun at the Villian's Bash!

I'd try the 10-miler if I could but I didn't sign up in time - but hope to be there next year.

Anyone running the Torchlight 5K or Firecracker 5000?