Princess Weekend 2023 (Feb 23-26, 2023)

[DianaMB333]

With a 2am-ish wakeup, and the corrals releasing from 5-6am, unless you're used to being up and around for 3-4 hours and THEN running, you'll probably want something. It's very common for runners to bring some sort of easily portable breakfast into the corrals with them. I made instant oatmeal in a cardboard coffee "cup" during MW, and then took it to the race with me and ate it cold. Some people bring a bagel, a sandwich, etc. There isn't really a right or a wrong answer here, but more of a "what works for you, and will make sense to do on race day." The distance you're running (and your pace) can also factor in because your body generally has enough sugar stored up to get you through aa 5k or 10k, though you may feel better during and after with some fuel.

Do you usually run first thing in the morning? In the afternoon/evening? If it's afternoon/evening, is is like 'eat this meal, a few hours later have nuts/orange and then run' kind of thing? If it's the latter, then just mimic that in the morning and have breakfast at 2am, and then your usual snack in the corral.

Usually early morning.. thanks for the comments!

 

[WillRunForPizza]

First time running so pls be patient with the question … during the training I haven’t tried out any nutrition, mostly because I go out training either after eating some nuts or an orange..

But with the early arrival to the place, plus corrals releases, plus race might be too long for not eating something…

As I haven’t tried anything yet in training.. what would be safest way or tip to go? Putting some almonds on a ziploc? A butter (peanut/almond) snack?

Thanks!

Do you have training runs this week where you could try some fuel during a run? Even if it's shorter than 90 minutes (the usual recommendation for minimum duration where you want to incorporate fuel during your run), it would at least give you a sense of whether something is hard to eat while running or bothers your stomach. Personally I don't do well with anything I have to chew because my mouth gets dry while I'm running, so I use GUs/Maurten gels. Just remember that for most gels, you need to drink some water also so that your body can actually absorb them. (Not sure how that goes for other foods actually.)

As for before the race, as others have said, you can easily bring a snack/breakfast to eat in the stage area/in the corrals. For the marathon I had a muffin in the car on the way to WDW and then a stroopwaffel in the corrals about 10 minutes before the race started. Plus all of my gels of course!

 

[Disneyhanna]

I think I had a banana in the corral for every race during marathon weekend. I am not a breakfast person and definitely struggle to force anything down at 4AM. I typically run fasted if I'm doing single digit miles or have PB toast or something beforehand for longer runs. The banana was more psychological for me, I ate dinner late enough before the races that I never was actually hungry in the morning. I saw lots of people having bananas, honey stinger waffles, energy gels/chews in the corrals.

 

[Popo]

First time running so pls be patient with the question … during the training I haven’t tried out any nutrition, mostly because I go out training either after eating some nuts or an orange..

But with the early arrival to the place, plus corrals releases, plus race might be too long for not eating something…

As I haven’t tried anything yet in training.. what would be safest way or tip to go? Putting some almonds on a ziploc? A butter (peanut/almond) snack?

Thanks!

You probably won’t be able to train on a longer run to see how your stomach will react. I use gummies on longer runs. if it were me I would try it on a shorter run.

 

[nancipants]

We have discussed this, and I believe she is planning on the "Caution Runners: Baby Bump Ahead" sign.

I also thought of “Running for Two.”

 

[drlorilovesdisney]

Goals posted back in July:
My goals are:
-Have fun!- still plan on doing that
-Start the weekend injury free- Dealing with IT band/runner’s knee since end of August. Slowly getting better.
-Try to PR the half again this year- No longer the goal with knee injury. New goal is to finish both challenge races and still be able to walk in the parks after.
-Get some fun snacks- no change to this plan!
-Return home well in 2023. I came home this year with COVID and still have not fully recovered.- I now have asthma that is still not fully controlled. Getting injections every 2 weeks. Running has been decent though. Hopefully will not be an issue.

Main goal for this trip is to enjoy the races and not put pressure on myself.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Wow. That is enraging.

I would not have dealt with that gracefully…

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Do you have training runs this week where you could try some fuel during a run? Even if it's shorter than 90 minutes (the usual recommendation for minimum duration where you want to incorporate fuel during your run), it would at least give you a sense of whether something is hard to eat while running or bothers your stomach. Personally I don't do well with anything I have to chew because my mouth gets dry while I'm running, so I use GUs/Maurten gels. Just remember that for most gels, you need to drink some water also so that your body can actually absorb them. (Not sure how that goes for other foods actually.)

As for before the race, as others have said, you can easily bring a snack/breakfast to eat in the stage area/in the corrals. For the marathon I had a muffin in the car on the way to WDW and then a stroopwaffel in the corrals about 10 minutes before the race started. Plus all of my gels of course!

I know that I’m gonna make someone cringe, but I get up in the wee hours of the morning and fix my morning travel cup of coffee and drink it while on the bus and eat half to 3/4 of a Cliff energy bar. And I tote a bottle of water with me to sip on after the coffee is gone until race start.
After that, Mentos keep my mouth from drying out, and then either energy beans or gel’s if it is a half or a full marathon.
It may not be the best race nutrition, but it seems to work OK

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Am I the only person who has started packing already? Lacking any other interesting costume, I started pulling together my Mr I outfit, plus extra shorts, socks, etc.
And the Tyvek jackets showed up today. El Cheapo me went for the discount price, so the jackets are size 2 XL, and they fit rather loose, to put it mildly. But they will do the job of keeping, keeping me somewhat warm in the early morning darkness. Now I just need to find some inexpensive foam or towel or blanket to sit on while waiting for the race to start.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Am I the only person who has started packing already? Lacking any other interesting costume, I started pulling together my Mr I outfit, plus extra shorts, socks, etc.
And the Tyvek jackets showed up today. El Cheapo me went for the discount price, so the jackets are size 2 XL, and they fit rather loose, to put it mildly. But they will do the job of keeping, keeping me somewhat warm in the early morning darkness. Now I just need to find some inexpensive foam or towel or blanket to sit on while waiting for the race to start.

I started packing this past weekend. I washed my running gear and got both my costumes together so I wouldn’t use the gear I need for them. It’s been snowing today so I did some more packing.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Am I the only person who has started packing already? Lacking any other interesting costume, I started pulling together my Mr I outfit, plus extra shorts, socks, etc.
And the Tyvek jackets showed up today. El Cheapo me went for the discount price, so the jackets are size 2 XL, and they fit rather loose, to put it mildly. But they will do the job of keeping, keeping me somewhat warm in the early morning darkness. Now I just need to find some inexpensive foam or towel or blanket to sit on while waiting for the race to start.

I am going to pack this weekend! I don't have a costume really, but I am going to wear a red shirt and yellow shorts to go as Pooh. I hope that I can find the Pooh ears at the parks in the ride shop or in the UK because I don't want to pay the inflated eBay prices. Right now the forecast looks so hot for me so I probably won't pack much for throwaways since I'm just doing the 10k, maybe I'll pack a mylar blanket since it doesn't take up much room. I am so excited to not be packing four outfits a la marathon weekend, I have never been so stressed about fitting my stuff into my luggage before . I hear that some people find cheap fleece leftover cuts to use as a "blanket" to sit on or as a layer, perhaps they would have valentine's prints on sale.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Yoga: get there early enough to get a prime spot. Master headstand pose before so I can get a cool picture. And mermaid pose.

I have no idea how to get there early. I cannot do headstand.

5K: it could be cool to see if I can PR the 5k coming off of MW training… especially because during MW I’m going to take the 5k very easily

Also not happening. My training plan changed after COVID ruined my marathon attempt. I’m going to walk the 5k with my friend.
Challenge: I am doing this with my friend as a celebration for getting our PhDs. He has not really run before (I think he did a 5k once) but has a goal of improving his fitness. My goal is to help him through it and to train with him so he can enjoy the weekend.
I still don’t have my PhD. But my friend does. He has not really been training, and this is his first race ever. I’m going to do the 10k with him but we talked about me doing my own thing for the half. Since I didn’t get to do the marathon this year, I want to take advantage of my CrD corral and just do my own thing to soak it in. He said he was fine with that.

Costumes: I am pretty sure I want to represent the Princess of each race because they are 3 of my favorites. But I want to do something more creative than just being the Princess

I am going to be representing the princess of each race… and I am pretty excited about my costumes.

My other big scary goal is to weigh sub-200 lbs (currently I weigh 223). Eek!!!

No. But I weigh in the 211-213 range which is the lowest I’ve been since I have moved to Ohio in 2016.

 

[gigicnm]

Hi everyone! Where my camels at?! I live in New England and go through so much water during warm weather. Coming down to Florida next week will be a little bit of a shock lol im thinking of bringing water for the half. If you bring water what do you carry it in?! And yes I know Disney offers water but as I mentioned before...camel lol!

Another New Englander here. I’m just running the 5k so I won’t bring water on the course. I will carry a disposable water bottle on the bus/corral and discard it at the start. If
I’m doing a longer run or a run in the heat I found a bag on Amazon that’s a neoprene pouch that fits my 24oz water bottle. There’s also a pocket for my phone. I just wear it like a crossbody bag. I can never manage the Fanny packs that hold water bottles. They always seem to pull my pants down

 

[jennamfeo]

BTW, how is it running while holding Maui's hook? My daughter has plans to run the HM while holding Merida's bow. She knows "nothing new on race day," so we're practicing with a three mile run on Thursday.

I ran the marathon during Dopey with Pom Poms in my hand the whole time and was totally fine. Never did a test run, just went with it. I did have the advantage that they looped on my fingers though. They made for awesome pictures, so I have no regrets.

 

[Fischstick]

For those of you looking for inexpensive cushions for the corrals.....Dollar Tree carries inflatable child kickboards that are PERFECT for this! $1.25 each. They are flat to transport and you can inflate once in the corrals. The only caveat is to check them BEFORE you go as sometimes there are defects and they won‘t stay inflated. Worked great for marathon weekend! Especially helpful if you are in the later corrals......not so much if you are in the earlier ones.

 

[kps7795]

I ran the marathon during Dopey with Pom Poms in my hand the whole time and was totally fine. Never did a test run, just went with it. I did have the advantage that they looped on my fingers though. They made for awesome pictures, so I have no regrets.

This sounds awesome. What a great idea for a costume!

 

[Popo]

Am I the only person who has started packing already?

Does thinking about it count?

 

[azrivest]

Am I the only person who has started packing already?

Nope.

For us, it means getting all our summer gear out to make sure we have enough for the trip. We had to buy an extra suitcase on Sunday cause otherwise it's not gonna fit

 

[Naomeri]

Am I the only person who has started packing already?

Not so much packing as accumulating important things in various places. I have costume clothes hanging together in the closet, shoes stacking up near the suitcases, a whole bin of small vacation-only items, and various food things.

 

[kps7795]

Nope.

For us, it means getting all our summer gear out to make sure we have enough for the trip. We had to buy an extra suitcase on Sunday cause otherwise it's not gonna fit

I somewhat understand in reverse. We went to Germany for the Christmas markets and had to dig out all of our cold weather clothing from the back of the closets that we never get to wear in South Florida.