My goals are to PR in fun
Love that. I haven't had all that much fun running in ages, and I'd like to try this time.
So, I've watched a few Princess 5K videos on youtube and notice the mylar-type blankets (not a blanket!) that have the run disney logo on them - are those for purchase at the expo?
No. On cold days they hand them out at the end. Or if you end up in first aid, but who wants that? During training you'll end up seeing how you do with colder runs, and can buy one for cheap at home to bring with you, if you feel you'll need it and don't want to leave it up to chance. Keep it away from your bib when crossing timing areas for the timed runs.
Added note about the mylar: I remember in the pre-race announcement prior to princess 2020 to make sure to toss those prior to crossing the start as they can interfere with the timing chip in the bib
If you lift it up near your shoulders away from your bib it should work, but some don't want to take that chance.
I've also purchased inexpensive full zip hoodies from Walmart/Target and discarded them before the race knowing that they would be donated to charity. So essentially a barely used brand new jacket will bless someone in need.
Yep.
I have a friend who buys brand new sweatpants and sweatshirts, keeps the tags on, and takes them off carefully just before the start of runs. He folds them up carefully and places them in a spot where they won't get messed up, so hopefully someone in need will be able to get something just about brand new.
-Savor being in the endorphin laden crowd!!
Yes.
I was lucky enough to be there 2020 and then the week later at Seattle Hot Chocolate, and I can't wait.
I'll take any tips for this if you have them. 4+ years of running and I still can't manage...
I really have to be watching what I eat, or I tend to overestimate the calories I burn and underestimate the calories I eat. I'm short enough that it doesn't take too long for that combo to catch up to me. I can lie to myself like a champ, so I keep doing that for much longer than I think I am. Terrible combination. I have gained and lost and gained all while working out hard, and it's all about diet for me. When I'm running and doing weights I can eat quite a lot, but I still have to track it. I am very good at pretending that a half-hour run means half a pizza. It does NOT mean half a pizza, FWIW.
All the “princesses” and their behavior.
ETA: I should clarify that I have not run Princess Weekend or observed anything directly, but when Princess comes up in online discussions the behavior of a portion of the runners both at the Expo and on course is the predominant reason many prefer other race weekends.
Princess is rough, that's for sure.
I go with and for my cousin. I would prefer January. But it's over her birthday and she has a knack for getting free desserts, and we have a lot of fun.
Our first Princess in 2016 we walked into the expo and there were police officers finishing up paperwork from the fist fight that had happened.
2017 I was waiting patiently for the woman in front of me to move so I could snag a shirt (the last one out), and a woman from behind me just reached on through past me and over the woman in front of me to grab that shirt. Thankfully there was another when I went to the expo the next day, but man oh man.
On the other hand, maybe they do want everyone to know exactly what is included before registration, and they aren't ready to release that info yet for some reason.
That would be nice.
Are they including yoga mats? Do we need to bring our own? Are they giving mats? Those things are important to know ahead of time.
I have come to accept that when it comes to Disney runs there is no such thing as course etiquette.
Yep.
At the beginning, when I did 2013 TOT, 2014 and 2015 January, and I think 2016 Princess the pre-race info said "walkers to the right, runners to the left."
Then it changed to "runners in the middle, walkers on the sides."
Then they dropped that entirely, and it's been a free for all ever since.
Some people will yell out where walkers or runners "should" be, but without guidance from the race itself, they aren't correct.
I have done a run elsewhere where the stated etiquette was runners on the right and walkers on the left, but Galloway people and most races say walkers on the right, so without guidance, it's a crapshoot.
Then you have the groups of 2, 3, and 4 who manage to clump across the course, with no group thinking they are a problem and not looking to the side, and don't notice the log jam behind them. Not to mention the big tutus. Oh and swinging arms. And fast, tall people who didn't submit their corrals in time and are behind everyone, swinging elbows as they rush past. I'm at their elbow height so it gets scary.
I keep doing them. But I'm well aware of the issues and try to keep away from those issues, and try to not *cause* issues.
But even when etiquette is clearly stated (for those who read the info and listen at the beginning), like at the 2013 TOT I did, people lose the plot. There was a path to espn that you go along at one point on that course, and I was allll the way to the right. Could not have fit a penny next to my foot. I do walk-run, and I had previously decided to just walk on the path because it's not paved and my ankles are tricksy. A runner went to my right in the brush off the path, then leaped right in front of me so I had to stop cold. And there was room to my left the whole time. Just mystifying.
Should I plan for long or short sleeves?
Yes.
Bring everything. February usually isn't as bad as January CAN be, but it can be COLD and it can be HOT. And I don't mean 50 degrees.
This isn't Princess-specific, but bear with me. I volunteered for the January 2015 5K. It was something like 33 degrees when I got there at 2:30 to check in. My son and then-husband got there an hour or so later to get ready to participate in the 5K, and it was approx 31 degrees. It was windy. It was violently cold. At home near Seattle it's one thing, but Florida is a swamp and is all water. Get a freezing cold breeze whipping across all the ponds and you're colder than you can even expect. For THAT 5K they didn't have the mylar out and they had no heating lamps. Everyone huddled up and made new best friends and they sat together like penguins protecting their eggs.
The month later for the Princess 5K it was colder, and they handed out mylar and had the heat lamps out. I think 2015 made them smarter about the cold, but you never know.
It can be cold.
It can also be so hot that by the time you hit halfway or so they'll have sponges with water out for those slow enough (if you're too fast they won't get those out in time for you).
Be prepared for everything.
Garbage bags with head and arm holes work well if it's raining and you're not totally prepared. Actually, if you don't need to use your arms when you walk or run you don't even need the arm holes.
Which gets the rolling eye since you are at Disney, filled with short people (children).
