Princess Weekend 2022

[sandam1]

So I've been struggling with this - if I can't finish the HM, I don't think I can bring myself to collect the medal. Is that just me? It will always have an asterix next to it in my head whenever I look at it again for the rest of my life. It's one of the reasons I want to run/walk the 10k - so I come home with at least one medal! Ugh.

I struggled with this A LOT with my marathon medal from Marathon Weekend. I "only" did a mile before pulling myself due to aggravating my plantar fasciitis in the half. I was at peace with the decision (or so I thought), but I will admit that that medal got put to the side. All of my photos were taken with the other three medals (5K, 10K, half). After coming home, as I showed people my bling, I found myself either not bringing out the marathon medal or feeling the need to explain what happened. But I realized that no one cared in the slightest that I didn't actually finish the marathon. They were impressed by the whole concept and what I did do. (Hey, I finished 22.4 miles in three days. How many people can say that?)

I also realized that the marathon medal celebrated a different type of accomplishment. In the past, I would have run myself into the ground (probably literally) to avoid "failure" and wound up really hurting myself. I've done A LOT of mental work in the past few years that allows me to look at the medal not as a failure, but as a sign of my growth (I chose to "live to run again") and as a "not yet, but some day soon" symbol.

As a practical manner, I know people who have collected the medal and then sold it on eBay (and yes, they do get some crazy prices immediately post-race) to fund their next trip. But I could never do that.

 

[keahgirl8]

Last-minute I know, but where is everybody buying their tiaras? I just decided this is probably my one chance to run in a tiara, and I should take it.

Sparkle Athletic! It's a comfortable, wearable visor AND a tiara.

GUYS - bad news. I likely have a stress fracture in my lower left leg. Doc says I should stay off it for 4-6 weeks. Getting an MRI in a week and will have more specifics then but there is virtually no chance I am running the Challenge.

But, I really think I could not run for the next 3 weeks and then run/'walk the 10k. I have been running 13 miles/week for about 3 weeks with this stress fracture (it's a mild/dull pain) and it has not gotten significantly worse. But I knew something was up and clearly I need to stay off it to heal. BUT, this is/was my first runD weekend, and I really want the experience of a race! I think I can do the 10k without causing any damage. I am considering walking the HM but that might be too much. We also arrive on 2/19 so I am there a week in advance and will clearly be walking a good amount before the races.

I"M SO SAD!!

Has anyone dealt with this before? If I contact runD with a doctor's note, could I get the HM portion of my registration refunded? Or maybe I would need to get a refunded for the full challenge, probably can't pick and choose (if refund is even an option).

I'm also registered for the 10k and 10M for SS. Not sure I will be able to train for that, given it's 8 weeks away. I might just bag that trip and register for Nov. instead.

Did I mention that I'm sad.

I have no advice, but I am so sorry. Virtual hugs to you.

Interested in this also.

I thought I'd look at them at the Expo, or at Sparkle Athletic's visors (@Herding_Cats I blame you )

Good choice! I love them. I have several and I wear them for training, as well as races.

 

[bumbershoot]

So I've been struggling with this - if I can't finish the HM, I don't think I can bring myself to collect the medal. Is that just me? It will always have an asterix next to it in my head whenever I look at it again for the rest of my life. It's one of the reasons I want to run/walk the 10k - so I come home with at least one medal! Ugh.

If that happened to me, and it's always possible, I would put it somewhere else in my house and let it be an inspiration. To keep to the training plan, to take my vitamins (I'm coming off of being sick right now, and last week I was not sure I'd even be able to start, let alone finish anything), and so on.

I am not recommending this. But I have it in my memory banks and therefore I must say it. I have seen at least 5 people at Disney events walking in walking boots. One of them was faster with her walk than I was with my jog.

 

[dbb727]

I have had my half marathon outfit planned for a while (Merida-themed) but I just *cannot* land on an idea for the 10k. How is everyone doing with wardrobe?

I “think” I’m gonna with a Cinderella theme: “peasant” Cindy for 10k then traditional blue for half. I always try to create a look with Athleta clothing + accessories since it’s my go-to brand and what I know will work for race day. Plus I’m frugal, and I can wear the base clothing over and over. So I was thrilled to find a brown Athleta dress that works as the peasant look.

however, I originally bought a pink tank top and matching capri leggings that I was gonna do a Princess Aurora look with since it’s my daughters fav princess. I think that’ll be a back up option if weather is cooler for the half

 

[XoxoAmy]

I struggled with this A LOT with my marathon medal from Marathon Weekend. I "only" did a mile before pulling myself due to aggravating my plantar fasciitis in the half. I was at peace with the decision (or so I thought), but I will admit that that medal got put to the side. All of my photos were taken with the other three medals (5K, 10K, half). After coming home, as I showed people my bling, I found myself either not bringing out the marathon medal or feeling the need to explain what happened. But I realized that no one cared in the slightest that I didn't actually finish the marathon. They were impressed by the whole concept and what I did do. (Hey, I finished 22.4 miles in three days. How many people can say that?)

I also realized that the marathon medal celebrated a different type of accomplishment. In the past, I would have run myself into the ground (probably literally) to avoid "failure" and wound up really hurting myself. I've done A LOT of mental work in the past few years that allows me to look at the medal not as a failure, but as a sign of my growth (I chose to "live to run again") and as a "not yet, but some day soon" symbol.

As a practical manner, I know people who have collected the medal and then sold it on eBay (and yes, they do get some crazy prices immediately post-race) to fund their next trip. But I could never do that.

Thank you for sharing this. It really helps to hear your story and appreciate that perspective. And 22.4 miles in 3 days is kick ***!!

 

[azrivest]

speaking of Sparkle, if anyone was looking to buy Sparkle gear, Expo pick up will open on Feb 14th on their website

 

[fatmanatee]

So I've been struggling with this - if I can't finish the HM, I don't think I can bring myself to collect the medal. Is that just me? It will always have an asterix next to it in my head whenever I look at it again for the rest of my life. It's one of the reasons I want to run/walk the 10k - so I come home with at least one medal! Ugh.

It’s not just you, I had the same thought when I was doing Dopey and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to complete it. Ultimately I decided that at least getting the medal was worthwhile no matter what happened and I would decide what to do with it once I had it (as mentioned above, ebay is an option that I don’t mind taking, people sometimes pay insane prices for these things).

Thinking in terms of your situation, I’m not sure if this would be something you’d be up for but if you do end up skipping while picking up the medal, you could always run the length once you’re fully healthy and treat it like a virtual race. This wasn’t something I would have done with Dopey since I have no interest in running a full marathon “virtually” but a half would be more reasonable.

 

[azrivest]

Thank you for sharing this. It really helps to hear your story and appreciate that perspective. And 22.4 miles in 3 days is kick ***!!

Also sending you plenty of virtual hugs

Remember that the race isn't just the day of. It's also all the miles you've logged to get yourself to the starting line. Give yourself plenty of kudos for this too

 

[lookingforsunshine]

So I've been struggling with this - if I can't finish the HM, I don't think I can bring myself to collect the medal. Is that just me?

I didn’t finish the marathon and got a medal. I did not wear it and it is not hanging with my other medals. I tried to sell it but the buyer fell through. Right now it is folded up with tape over the 26.2 that says the actual mileage I made that day.

 

[HangWithMerida]

So I've been struggling with this - if I can't finish the HM, I don't think I can bring myself to collect the medal. Is that just me? It will always have an asterix next to it in my head whenever I look at it again for the rest of my life. It's one of the reasons I want to run/walk the 10k - so I come home with at least one medal! Ugh.

Totally understand that. If I showed up, tried, and DNF I might collect it depending on the circumstances. Like someone else said, the medal is more that just that 1 race. But, if I knew I couldn't finish, I would sleep in!! Getting up super early just to walk to the first aid station wouldn't be worth it to me.

@azrivest The Merida dress is very cute! I hope you figure out something that will work for you.

@dbb727 I do the same thing for my "costumes" and I love athleta gear! I might buy a special tank top or something but I really prefer to have shorts that I know I like. And I feel better about buying more running gear if it is something I will wear outside of race day.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I’ll just add that there’s no shame in collecting the medals for a dnf so you have it to earn another day if it’s important to you to have completed the distance to “earn it.” (Especially if you have non-refundable costs.) Or have it be a symbol of a time when you prioritized your health over what in the long run will be an arbitrary event.

I probably won’t do my FT challenge until may or so, and I’ll just leave those medals in the box until I feel like I can fit the runs in.

 

[QueenFernando]

So I've been struggling with this - if I can't finish the HM, I don't think I can bring myself to collect the medal. Is that just me? It will always have an asterix next to it in my head whenever I look at it again for the rest of my life. It's one of the reasons I want to run/walk the 10k - so I come home with at least one medal! Ugh.

Like @HangWithMerida said, sleeping in might win out if I knew I wasn't going to finish, but I'd probably collect the medal if I started but had to DNF for other reasons. DH did the half of a half at W&D 2015. What he ended up doing was taking a Sharpie and drawing an asterisk on the medal. So, since then I thought about what I'd do if I DNF'd. If I got sick or hurt during the race I might wrap and single black ribbon around the medal. Maybe since you're injured to begin with a blue or green one.

Either way, the medal is a remembrance of experience, trip, and training. It's part of your story. An interesting reminder of what happened.

 

[Kerry1957]

Your earned the medal with your training; if you want to wait to display it until you do a virtual that would make sense. I would not, however, buy/wear an 'I did it!" shirt.

 

[SheHulk]

I know everyone was hanging in suspense wondering what I would decide to wear for the 10k: I decided on Megara from Hercules. Not exactly a princess but close enough, and I found a cute and inexpensive accessory set on Amazon that will go with my running dress.
Megara means no tiara but it's worth it to have that decision made. Nothing left to do but continue training! And keep working on my Merida-themed half marathon outfit that is too intricate to justify the amount of time I'm putting into getting it together, for the few hours I'll be wearing it. Race photos last forever though!
16 days til official race weekend everybody!

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

I know everyone was hanging in suspense wondering what I would decide to wear for the 10k: I decided on Megara from Hercules. Not exactly a princess but close enough, and I found a cute and inexpensive accessory set on Amazon that will go with my running dress.
Megara means no tiara but it's worth it to have that decision made. Nothing left to do but continue training! And keep working on my Merida-themed half marathon outfit that is too intricate to justify the amount of time I'm putting into getting it together, for the few hours I'll be wearing it. Race photos last forever though!
16 days til official race weekend everybody!

Meg is such a good choice, I loove her!

 

[XoxoAmy]

I know everyone was hanging in suspense wondering what I would decide to wear for the 10k: I decided on Megara from Hercules.

Meg is a great choice! My 2 DDs (12 and 8) were in a variety show this weekend with their musical theater group and one of the songs in the show was "Meg's Song" (I'm not in love) - love that song!

 

[SheHulk]

Meg is a great choice! My 2 DDs (12 and 8) were in a variety show this weekend with their musical theater group and one of the songs in the show was "Meg's Song" (I'm not in love) - love that song!

Me too! Must be awesome to have musical theater kids!

 

[The Expert]

Meg is my favorite Disney "princess" by a long shot. (I also love Merida, so you really couldn't go wrong here.) If you are on IG, follow Susan Egan. She's the voice of Meg (and the OG Broadway Belle) and loves to interact with fans. We've DMd a few times!

 

[JJ2017]

Would you say more people "dress up" or less people do?

 

[SheHulk]

Meg is my favorite Disney "princess" by a long shot. (I also love Merida, so you really couldn't go wrong here.) If you are on IG, follow Susan Egan. She's the voice of Meg (and the OG Broadway Belle) and loves to interact with fans. We've DMd a few times!

OMG HER VOICE