Princess: 5K plus half

[kathleendsm]

I'm hoping one of you experienced ladies will help me out! I am a pretty experienced runner and did the Princess half in 2012. At the time, my husband and I just came down and had a long weekend together and left the kids with a sitter at home.

Lately I've been doing some shorter races (5-6K) with my daughter, who will be 9 next year by the time of the Princess next year. We'd like to go down as a family so that I (and maybe my husband) can do the 5K with our daughter, and then I can do the half the next day. I'm a little bit worried though, the 5K is almost as early a morning as the half, and it's the day before. For any of you who do both, do you find that doing the 5K affects your performance in the half? Are you even more exhausted before you start by the early morning 2 days in a row? Any suggestions on how to handle?

 

[Ariel484]

This year I did the Goofy Challenge + the 5K during marathon weekend...

I'm not sure how the timing works for the 5K during the Princess Half weekend, but when I did it I think I woke up about 2 hours later for the 5K than I did for the help. I'd had a pretty good night of sleep before the 5K, so I felt fine for that. Did the 5K slooooooowly (my personal worst for a 5K ) and then went about the rest of the day as normal - NO NAP. By not taking a nap I was able to get to bed at a decent hour that night and slept great. During the half I felt fantastic...however I was in marathon shape, so that definitely played a part.

I think as long as you are well-trained for the half there's no reason why you can't do both. Maybe throw in a few back-to-back training runs as a test (i.e. a 3-miler on Saturday and a 10-miler on Sunday or something). The though part (and something I was really stupid about) will be staying off your feet during the day after the 5K with the parks right there. Two early wake-up calls in a row is no fun, but once you get going I'm sure the adrenaline will kick in.

I bet it will be totally worth it through to run the 5K as a family...what a great idea! Good luck!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

FYI, the 5k is two days before the Half. The day in between is a 10k.

 

[kathleendsm]

FYI, the 5k is two days before the Half. The day in between is a 10k.

Thanks! I may have been working off an old schedule since the 10K is new next year. So the 5K is Friday morning then, with the half on Sunday? That actually makes me feel better, although we'll have to get in a day earlier (darn).

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Thanks! I may have been working off an old schedule since the 10K is new next year. So the 5K is Friday morning then, with the half on Sunday? That actually makes me feel better, although we'll have to get in a day earlier (darn).

Right. The 5k is Friday, and the Glass Slipper Challenge (10k and Half) is Saturday/Sunday.

 

[Merandab4]

Your daughter will just love running the 5k with the two of you! Most people that run the half do the 5k just for a fun run anyway. This is the race to do to stop for character pictures and what not. You won't be tired. You will just be so exhilerated because you will see how excited your daughter will be! Yes, getting up that early does stink, but when your daughter is getting that medalion put around her little neck you will see that it was all worth it!

If you would like to read recaps from the last few years of the Royal Family 5K race, I invited you to take a look at our blog. The link is below. ( once there, you'll want to click on "Disney Races and Beyond" and choose one of the Disney races.

Good Luck!

 

[steph0808]

I'm a little bit worried though, the 5K is almost as early a morning as the half, and it's the day before.

I think (runDisney has not updated the site yet though) that the 5k will now be Friday morning, since they added the 10k for the Glass Slipper Challenge. So 5k Friday morning, 10k Saturday, and half on Sunday.

Edit - I see I was late on this! As others have said, yep 5k is now two days beforehand.

 

[TMcDwyer]

I did the Cars Land 5K with the kids last September and then the Disneyland 1/2 the next day with no problems at all. We also spent all day in the parks on Friday & Saturday. I say go for it! My kids LOVED running a Disney 5K!