I completed the Princess Half Marathon last weekend and wanted to share some thoughts, encouragement and advice to those who are signed up or considering future Run Disney events.
1. You CAN do this! Running the race is so much more motivating than any training you do. It was the most supportive athletic event I have ever attended. Between the crowds of supportive runners, chear squads, bands and DJ's along the route, you have nothing but encouragement and kindness. [At least if you start in a back corral], you will see many participants walking - there is nothing to be ashamed of!
2. Don't panic if you're not as well trained as you intended! I signed my DD and I up for it last summer to motivate us to get into better shape. My intentions were valid, however it produced far more guilt and fear than training. I have an active travel schedule (to non-female workout friendly countries) that was a handy excuse, but it was truly my own fault. I am a walker, not a runner, by nature and have endurance but not speed. I am a workaholic so adding anything into my schedule is a challenge, another handy excuse.
About three weeks before the race we did a two hour "see how far we can each go" test along a flat trail. I did about 8 miles, my DD did 10, so I had more confidence she would finish than I. In the actual race, I started a corral ahead of her and she caught up to me in the last mile so were able to finish together.
3. Pacers - each corral has at least one person identified as a pacer - talk to them. I started in Corral N - there were two pacers, both doing 15 seconds running, 45 seconds walking, but at different speeds. (The lower speed was going to finish in 3:30; the faster speed in 3:15; I finished in about 3 hours.) I believed I could do that so I started with the more challenging group and found I could do more, so I pushed myself to move up through the crowd seeking out pacers from faster corrals. (I am highly competitive so this was effective for me.) I knew so long as I stayed ahead of these pacers, I did not have to worry about getting swept.
4. If you want the free gifts at Disney Springs, get there the first day! Many of them were gone by the second day.
5. Stay on site and take the bus. Yes they say this. It's true. They had to delay the start due to people stuck in traffic. There is no need to get there early, however.
6. Add at least 2 miles to the race just to get there: you need to walk to the bus (usually just one stop per resort), walk from the bus to the staging area (about half a mile), THEN walk at least another mile from the staging area to the starting corrals.
7. Have a throwaway heat blanket - you WILL be cold waiting for your corral to be called. It took over 35 minutes for our corral to start. If you discard any clothing, it is drycleaned and donated - it is NOT turned into a "lost and found" station for you to reclaim.
8. ENJOY IT!!! The costumes are great and there's nothing like running through the MK and Epcot with crowds cheering for you and the monorail pilot hitting the horn for you!
1. You CAN do this! Running the race is so much more motivating than any training you do. It was the most supportive athletic event I have ever attended. Between the crowds of supportive runners, chear squads, bands and DJ's along the route, you have nothing but encouragement and kindness. [At least if you start in a back corral], you will see many participants walking - there is nothing to be ashamed of!
2. Don't panic if you're not as well trained as you intended! I signed my DD and I up for it last summer to motivate us to get into better shape. My intentions were valid, however it produced far more guilt and fear than training. I have an active travel schedule (to non-female workout friendly countries) that was a handy excuse, but it was truly my own fault. I am a walker, not a runner, by nature and have endurance but not speed. I am a workaholic so adding anything into my schedule is a challenge, another handy excuse.
About three weeks before the race we did a two hour "see how far we can each go" test along a flat trail. I did about 8 miles, my DD did 10, so I had more confidence she would finish than I. In the actual race, I started a corral ahead of her and she caught up to me in the last mile so were able to finish together.
3. Pacers - each corral has at least one person identified as a pacer - talk to them. I started in Corral N - there were two pacers, both doing 15 seconds running, 45 seconds walking, but at different speeds. (The lower speed was going to finish in 3:30; the faster speed in 3:15; I finished in about 3 hours.) I believed I could do that so I started with the more challenging group and found I could do more, so I pushed myself to move up through the crowd seeking out pacers from faster corrals. (I am highly competitive so this was effective for me.) I knew so long as I stayed ahead of these pacers, I did not have to worry about getting swept.
4. If you want the free gifts at Disney Springs, get there the first day! Many of them were gone by the second day.
5. Stay on site and take the bus. Yes they say this. It's true. They had to delay the start due to people stuck in traffic. There is no need to get there early, however.
6. Add at least 2 miles to the race just to get there: you need to walk to the bus (usually just one stop per resort), walk from the bus to the staging area (about half a mile), THEN walk at least another mile from the staging area to the starting corrals.
7. Have a throwaway heat blanket - you WILL be cold waiting for your corral to be called. It took over 35 minutes for our corral to start. If you discard any clothing, it is drycleaned and donated - it is NOT turned into a "lost and found" station for you to reclaim.
8. ENJOY IT!!! The costumes are great and there's nothing like running through the MK and Epcot with crowds cheering for you and the monorail pilot hitting the horn for you!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
We live on the west coast so 3 trips in 1 year is exceptional for us!
