Sad about the Princess Half Marathon

[pikaboo27]

I am so sad right now. I was training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon which was going to be my first, and I was doing great, but my shin splints got so bad I can barely run a mile. I tried everything to keep training, from new shoes to insoles, compression socks, stretching, motrin, massage. I took a running class provided by sports doctors who said I had the best form they had ever seen, especially in someone my size. I went to my doctor who just said that “maybe running just isn’t going to be your sport.” I took 6 weeks off to heal. Nothing worked. I can barely get through a mile before I feel like I am being stabbed in both shins. I’m so depressed about it. Plus, I got my mom training because we were going to do the Disneyland Half Marathon in September so I could get the coast to coast medal, and she is doing awesome and she and a bunch of her friends at work are all training. Mom has even done a 10K!

The registration time for the Disneyland Half just opened up and they are all registering and it makes me sad that I can’t do it. All these women are 30 years older than me, and can do something that I can’t do, which was my idea in the first place!!! I’m trying to drop some weight to see if I can’t try training again, but if I can't I know it’s going to be hard to watch my mom and her friends cross the finish line for the half marathon that I wanted so desperately to do. Plus I don’t dare register because I already wasted the money that I spent on the princess half which I can’t do. Plus I watch The Biggest Loser and I see all those people who can do a whole marathon and I feel so pathetic that I can’t even do a half.

Sorry for a bummer of a post...

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Why run it? You can easily walk it. You won't be alone with that. I know that so many think that in order to be in a race like this, you have to run at some point, and I was one of those but after doing the Princess last year, I was so inspired by those that walked the entire thing. You don't have to fit a certain mold to be at Disney for these races, you just have to have the will and you don't get any less recognition or sense of accomplishment walking the entire time. So, don't give up yet. You have time. Hal Higdon has a walking plan on his website. You can do this! No running required.

Don't give up yet...

 

[verticalchaos]

I agree with what Shelby's saying here! Don't give up on doing it - you may simply need to walk it - or walk to start out with your training.

John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield also have plans ranging from walk a half marathon to run a full in their book "Marathoning for Mortals". (Also included are walk/run and run/walk for both as well as run a half.)

I would also add that you might have to start at running LESS than a mile and build up your mileage base very slowly. That's where walk/run programs can be really beneficial. It may not sound like much, but even a mile can be too much when you're first starting out. I don't think I hit a mile in Couch to 5K until maybe week 4? And that was walking too.

 

[deleckidesign]

I agree! No need to give up - there's still time. You can always walk it - no shame in it! You could try Galloway's run/walk method as well - this is what I do and I find my runs so much more enjoyable than just running w/no breaks. It seems to help my legs recover a lot faster as well.

Also, I'm sure you've tried icing as well, but this always helped me as well when I used to get them. Back in high school, I ran track...and every spring I would get shin splints the first couple weeks of starting running and eventually they'd go away after I got used to running again.

My husband is walking the half with me this weekend. He originally planned to go and so we registered together and had planned on training using a run/walk method. But then his work told him he couldn't go. I had then planned on run/walking by myself. But husband was laid off last week and has decided to go with me and do the race. He hasn't been training much at all. It's not the smartest thing in the world, but we are going to walk it together, take it easy and enjoy the race!

 

[fashionista311]

100 percent agree with everyone - no shame in walking! and if you have been training to run the event, you should have no problem being able to walk it - and there's definitely still time to put in some longer walks

also - it might not be a bad idea to try putting running on the backburner for now, and try some other activities to let you get stronger. when i first started running, i did a 5k and did pretty well for myself (3rd in my age group!...actually the only time i've won award and i think it was because the pool was so small ), but ended up hurting so much and spent the summer trying to learn to run. it just wasn't happening for me..i still hurt. eventually i turned my attention to focusing on spinning, elliptical, strength training, some distance walking (even 2 disney half marathons)

a few years later, i decided to try running again. first started walk/running and worked myself up to running. now 2 years later i'm still running strong (knock on wood) and have run 5 halfs and one full. i think the reason why i was successful this time was i got strong from all my other activities, so my body was finally able to handle the impact of running

 

[Rose&Mike]

I am so sorry! I fought shin splints for years. And gave up on running--the last time it was so bad my shins were lumpy. Then last January I started doing the elliptical. I did it for a couple of months and added running back in slowly. I have been running since April with no issues--did a 12 mile training run on 12/31. Before I never made it past 5 because of shin splints. I rarely run more than 3 or 4 days a week and I rarely run two days in a row. I don't know if it will do any good but just a thought. I think the elliptical stretches out my calves in a way that I was unable to do on my own no matter how hard I tried.

And I agree, there is absolutely nothing wrong with walking. Have you looked at run/walk intervals when the shin splints have healed? Hang in there.

 

[figment82]

Same thing everyone else has said!
I get horrible shin splints when I run as well, so a while back I decided I would walk Disney races. I still would get shin splints after a while if I tried to walk too fast, but as I've trained longer distances it's gotten easier. Also compression sleeves have helped with that.
You have to start slow, follow a training plan, do all the things it sounds like you were doing in the first place, and be willing to walk instead of run (which CAN be a little frustrating when so many people pass you on the course, but you forget all that when you cross the finish and get your medal, trust me!)
Don't give up! You have plenty of time to do the Princess!

 

[pikaboo27]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I wish walking was an option for me, but the shin splints are just as bad if not worse when I walk as when I run. Plus I am a really slow walker with an 18-19 minute pace, so even if I could do the distance (which I can't because of the pain) I would get swept for being too slow. I am currently doing the elliptical for 45-90 minutes a day because it doesn't aggravate my shins so I have the lung strength, just the legs are lacking. Hopefully that will strengthen them and I can try training again this summer.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I wish walking was an option for me, but the shin splints are just as bad if not worse when I walk as when I run. Plus I am a really slow walker with an 18-19 minute pace, so even if I could do the distance (which I can't because of the pain) I would get swept for being too slow. I am currently doing the elliptical for 45-90 minutes a day because it doesn't aggravate my shins so I have the lung strength, just the legs are lacking. Hopefully that will strengthen them and I can try training again this summer.

Yes, but you aren't at Disney. I guarantee your pace will improve just being at Disney! Especially going through the MK. Don't drop out yet - there may be people on this board that would be happy to walk with you and keep you on pace. The 16 min. per mile pace requirement is a little more elastic than they state in the literature based on what corral you are in. You have over a month to recuperate so just hang in there and play it day by day. Stay positive. This experience is worth it and I don't care what your doctor says about this not being your thing...they don't know squat. You can do it. Just believe. Listen to When you Wish Upon a Star a few times and watch some of the Youtube videos and just try not to cry. Yeah...it was that special!

The problem with dropping goals is that you continue to make excuses and exceptions...so stop, focus on getting better for this and get out there and walk it.

 

[MamaCrush]

DON'T GIVE UP! Everything I've read and experienced personally just proves the saying, running is more mental than physical. I feel your disappointment and sadness-- I began running this past June and trained 3 months for Mickey's 5K through the Magic Kingdom. The week before I hurt so bad, but I was determined! Upon returning home and seeing a sports med dr., I found out I had a significant stress fracture and only was cleard to begin running agin last night. I too had planned on the Princess... instead I'm doing the Princess 5K. Two days after a cousin agreed to run the half marathon with me, I had to tell her I couldn't do it. She found another friend and now I'll be cheering them across the finish line. Not my first choice, believe me. Tears were certainly shed at the time!

That being said, you've already paid for the Princess Half and will be there anyway. What harm is there in trying to walk it? Even if you are {God forbid} pickec up by the sweepers. After a bit of recuperating and focusing on walking instead of running, you may just suprise yourself!!

 

[pikaboo27]

I'm not going to be there anyway. I am in California, so I would be spending another $500 on airfare, plus using my DVC points to stay in order to try to do something that is extremely painful for me. I'm not trying to make excuses here, it's just a fact of life, and frankly, I'm kind of sorry I posted at all. I get that everyone is trying to cheerlead here and say "You can do it" and if I was just posting that I was worried that I wouldn't finish it, I would appreciate it. However in this case, I don't think anyone here would spend an additional $500 + the cost of food, take vacation time from work and fly 6 hours each way by themselves over 3 days to try and do something they have no hope of completing just to be able to say that they tried. That is a pretty high price to pay just on principle.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I'm not going to be there anyway. I am in California, so I would be spending another $500 on airfare, plus using my DVC points to stay in order to try to do something that is extremely painful for me. I'm not trying to make excuses here, it's just a fact of life, and frankly, I'm kind of sorry I posted at all. I get that everyone is trying to cheerlead here and say "You can do it" and if I was just posting that I was worried that I wouldn't finish it, I would appreciate it. However in this case, I don't think anyone here would spend an additional $500 + the cost of food, take vacation time from work and fly 6 hours each way by themselves over 3 days to try and do something they have no hope of completing just to be able to say that they tried. That is a pretty high price to pay just on principle.

You may not be trying to make excuses, but you are exuding them. So, the injury is just an excuse to cover up the fact that you just don't want to pay the money to go? Why not just be honest and admit that up front because it kind of makes you look a little bad to use something that you can overcome as your excuse. I have to agree that it probably would have been better if you didn't post this thread because frankly you are on the wrong forum for giving up and feeling sorry for yourself and expecting people to encourage you to quit. Many people here are spending an additional $500 each way, the cost of food and vacation time so your excuse would work well if you hadn't booked the Princess which I assume is the case and were asking if you should go instead of wasting $135 on a goal that you never wanted to accomplish.

I was in the same boat expense wise for DL half - but I committed to it, and don't regret spending all that money to fly back, stay a week, and park hop like crazy because I accomplished something I never thought I would, have memories with my family that I never would have had, and have three pretty awesome medals. If I had to crawl across that finish line, I would have and I think a lot of others on this forum would have too!

 

[MeredithRX]

I'm so sorry for your injury and your disappointment over the Princess race. I know how frustrating it feels to really have decided that you're going to do something and then have a wrench thrown in.

I sincerely hope that it starts to improve and maybe over the summer things will reach a point where you can participate in the Disneyland half with your mom and her friends. There is a lot that can happen before September! I do wonder, though, if maybe you should see a doctor about your shins? If the pain is still that severe, even when walking less than a mile, there may be more going on that simply shin splints. I'd hate for there to be stress fractures or something that you didn't know about!

Best of luck to you. I hope you feel better soon so that you can get back out there.

 

[sdlipton]

Rupert, I am Pikaboo27's DH and while what you posted may have upset her a lil bit due to your insensitivity and complete lacking of any empathy has me riled to beyond belief. I don't know what perfect world you live in where everyone censors themselves, only posts what other people may want to read, and does everything despite immovable obstacles but this is NOT reality!

My DW has done everything she could to train for this, including getting her mom motivated, and seen numerous specialists, and taken the time off to heal, and running just isn't her thing. She already expressed this. Let me be clear, this has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with money. If she told me tomorrow that she thought she could run it successfully then she would go in an instant. To imply that she never wanted this amazing goal to begin with is callous, and quite frankly an idiotic statement and does, in my honest opinion, NOT belong on a board where the acronym has the word INSPIRE in it. She is NOT quitting, she is operating in a new and longer reality, and for you to suggest, actually NO, state explicitly otherwise could not be further from the truth.

Posts like yours do the opposite of inspire, they shut people down, make people not want to participate, and they bully. I hope this wasn;'t your intent, but thats what you have done, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

You may not be trying to make excuses, but you are exuding them. So, the injury is just an excuse to cover up the fact that you just don't want to pay the money to go? Why not just be honest and admit that up front because it kind of makes you look a little bad to use something that you can overcome as your excuse. I have to agree that it probably would have been better if you didn't post this thread because frankly you are on the wrong forum for giving up and feeling sorry for yourself and expecting people to encourage you to quit. Many people here are spending an additional $500 each way, the cost of food and vacation time so your excuse would work well if you hadn't booked the Princess which I assume is the case and were asking if you should go instead of wasting $135 on a goal that you never wanted to accomplish.

I was in the same boat expense wise for DL half - but I committed to it, and don't regret spending all that money to fly back, stay a week, and park hop like crazy because I accomplished something I never thought I would, have memories with my family that I never would have had, and have three pretty awesome medals. If I had to crawl across that finish line, I would have and I think a lot of others on this forum would have too!

 

[cewait]

I guess as a coach I did not read Shelby's post in a way other than reacting to an obtuse direction the OP took.

I have used tougher language with runners in my flock who who had the "i feel bad for me attitude", drew out lots of energy from the group and then slammed the door with I am not looking for encouragement; rather your pity. I would have sounded more like Ms Michaels of the Biggest Loser fame trying to shock the OP back into an "I can do it attitude."

Sorry, but I read the OP as a please offer me help and then the voice and direction took that turn. I had an encouraging post drafted with lots of advice but it hit the trash once I saw what was up.

I do not offer this as anything other than what I observe and wonder what the OP was really seeking. I would encourage her to think about her goals, think about seeing a doc for the shin splints; one who will look for stress fractures and then see a sports oriented coach who will not offer backhanded complements like, "I had the best form they had ever seen, especially in someone my size." That is literally dismissing the OP and was where I was focusing my comments.

I for one hope to see you guys at the WDWM half in Jan 12... I think with a year of hard work, proper coaching and advice and a new found set of motivators the OP can and will be ready.




Later, hope to see all in Lake Buena Vista in about 11 hours!!!

 

[verticalchaos]

I guess as a coach I did not read Shelby's post in a way other than reacting to an obtuse direction the OP took.

I have used tougher language with runners in my flock who who had the "i feel bad for me attitude", drew out lots of energy from the group and then slammed the door with I am not looking for encouragement; rather your pity. I would have sounded more like Ms Michaels of the Biggest Loser fame trying to shock the OP back into an "I can do it attitude."

Sorry, but I read the OP as a please offer me help and then the voice and direction took that turn. I had an encouraging post drafted with lots of advice but it hit the trash once I saw what was up.

I do not offer this as anything other than what I observe and wonder what the OP was really seeking. I would encourage her to think about her goals, think about seeing a doc for the shin splints; one who will look for stress fractures and then see a sports oriented coach who will not offer backhanded complements like, "I had the best form they had ever seen, especially in someone my size." That is literally dismissing the OP and was where I was focusing my comments.

I for one hope to see you guys at the WDWM half in Jan 12... I think with a year of hard work, proper coaching and advice and a new found set of motivators the OP can and will be ready.

THIS!

 

[MamaCrush]

I guess as a coach I did not read Shelby's post in a way other than reacting to an obtuse direction the OP took.

I have used tougher language with runners in my flock who who had the "i feel bad for me attitude", drew out lots of energy from the group and then slammed the door with I am not looking for encouragement; rather your pity. I would have sounded more like Ms Michaels of the Biggest Loser fame trying to shock the OP back into an "I can do it attitude."

Sorry, but I read the OP as a please offer me help and then the voice and direction took that turn. I had an encouraging post drafted with lots of advice but it hit the trash once I saw what was up.

I do not offer this as anything other than what I observe and wonder what the OP was really seeking. I would encourage her to think about her goals, think about seeing a doc for the shin splints; one who will look for stress fractures and then see a sports oriented coach who will not offer backhanded complements like, "I had the best form they had ever seen, especially in someone my size." That is literally dismissing the OP and was where I was focusing my comments.

I for one hope to see you guys at the WDWM half in Jan 12... I think with a year of hard work, proper coaching and advice and a new found set of motivators the OP can and will be ready.

As usual, Coach, you bring the voice of reason to this forum! Good luck this weekend!

 

[Reeces]

Hey.. I too was training for the Disney Princess Half since September. When I started, it was the impossible goal- I was not a "runner" nor did I ever believe I could get up to 13 miles. I have trained since Labor Day Weekend, inspired my mother in law and sister in law to join me, and all of my in-laws are going for a big family trip. My husband has run with me, I have my outfit planned, and all my visuals were of the finish line and characters.

Then 3 weeks ago during my 12.5 run, I felt the pain- official diagnoses of stress fracture in tibia. I was walk/running too- I still am surprised. No doubt it has been disappointing, and I have had many instances of "This isn't fair! Three weeks before?!" And I cried nonstop for a day after. And yes- heard the WORST comments- "Your leg will never heal properly from this. Oh it's the journey, not the destination (the journey has no medal, thank you), and running is so bad for you- this will teach you. I wanted to kick them with my air cast.

But the best thing I did was get in the pool, and I have pool ran on my training days and biked. Its been a week of this, and mentally it has been great. I forgot to strengthen other ways besides running- so maybe that's what the problem is. I now am focused on Disneyland Half and what I can do to get stronger. I have learned mistakes I made in training- running the long runs too fast, etc. And I am religiously taking my calcium now and looking at my eating.

I hope you continue training- this sucks. No doubt. I am pissed. I am sad. And I am still going to Florida..We're from California and we are flying out to cheer my mother in law and sister in law on. I probably will be sad seeing all the runners- but I have to believe I will come back stronger. I am So tempted to walk this, but don't wanna bust it further...

Take care.. I hope to see you in Disneyland..I'll be walk/running and it will mean a lot more to me then (that's what I am telling myself!) And for all of you going to Princess, I''ll be cheering.
Clarice

 

[slp1650]

I'm not going to be there anyway. I am in California, so I would be spending another $500 on airfare, plus using my DVC points to stay in order to try to do something that is extremely painful for me. I'm not trying to make excuses here, it's just a fact of life, and frankly, I'm kind of sorry I posted at all. I get that everyone is trying to cheerlead here and say "You can do it" and if I was just posting that I was worried that I wouldn't finish it, I would appreciate it. However in this case, I don't think anyone here would spend an additional $500 + the cost of food, take vacation time from work and fly 6 hours each way by themselves over 3 days to try and do something they have no hope of completing just to be able to say that they tried. That is a pretty high price to pay just on principle.

I recently shared my story in the Princess Half Marathon Official Thread... As a recap... at 13 I was told I would NEVER be able to run due to a knee problem I was born with. That was from a knee specialist. Since then I've had athletic trainers, chiropractors, and physical therapists all help me through these events.

I've had shin splint issues and brought it up with various coaches and gotten the best workouts. I originally started into the training with running for swimming and started on a bike. Then I moved onto an elliptical. After that I started running and guess what... I got shin splints. When I went back to my new coach (my current triathlon coach), he gave me a workout plan. When you feel fine to run/walk start walking and run 15 steps on the top of every 2 minutes, then 30 steps every 2 minutes, then run for a minute and walk for 2... Yes it takes time but it's not impossible. I also started that last February and guess what... I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon and did pretty damn well for a swimmer (cause swimmers tend not to like running... land sport and all) with a knee problem who never should have run.

Also my roommate who tore something in her elbow has continued to play D1 water polo... o ya, and that elbow... it's her throwing arm. Almost every athlete has hurt themselves, either slightly or in a major way... the ones that make it through it are the ones we remember.

I am also coming from California so I have the expense issues and vacation issues. Originally it was only going to be me. My parents were working and couldn't take the time off... I've been able to work around 3 jobs (1 internship, 1 writing contract job through a class, and 1 hostess job) and a full class schedule (3 biology classes, 1 writing class). I've gotten people at all my jobs and my classmates, former and current teammates and coaches, and the rest of my friends excited. Now I have my "big sister" coming with her new husband to enjoy the weekend (who are also taking time off of work) and quite a bit of people cheering me on back home.

So go ahead and give up if that's what you want, but think about it... Is that really what you want? Good luck on whatever you choose to do.