The New *Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread*

[princessallegra]

So I just looked at the Princess start time. Why I never did that before is beyond me. Lol. I did some calculating. It starts at 5:35. It seems in years past there have been 8 corrals. Theoretically it could be as late as 6:15 when I start. I'm pace challenged so let's just say I'll finish in 3:30. So it could be 9:45 when I finish. According to the web site, the race retreat is over at 10:30. Will 45 minutes be enough time for me to go through the finish line chute, walk back to the retreat tent and actually get to enjoy my post race breakfast and cocktail? Will there even be any food and flip flops left? Any stragglers have any past experience with this? I'm worried now that I may not even get to take advantage of my $99 investment. I got it more for after as opposed to before. Lol

Great question and i'm curious to see the replies. I did not do the retreat. I started in corral G this past feb, and finished in 2:48 and by the time I had my medal engraved it was definitely around 10 am for sure. It was starting to drizzle, so we (my spectator dh) stuck with our plan and left in our car to the resort to shower, foam roll and change. We headed back to epcot for lunch by 1pm. This year we opted for pasta in the park versus the race retreat. The retreat is a lot of money for two runners!

 

[annmarieda]

Just curious, not sure if it has been discussed or not. Where is everyone staying and why? I notice that the expo is at CSR. Anyone staying there to be close to the expo?

 

[bskelly07]

I agree with another poster, it's normal to take a while to get in a groove. The first couple of miles are usually a real pain for me. Then, every once in a while, you just won't find that groove and the whole run will be a struggle. Happens to all of us...I had a seven miler like that yesterday. It was awful, but those are the runs you can really feel extra proud of for fighting through and finishing!

I did the Color Run this morning....what a good time! It sure was messy though but really fun!

I'm doing the Color Run in Phoenix in January! I'm so excited, it's so far away though. Did you wear goggles or glasses at all? I haven't figured if people do that for fun or if it really helps out with the whole ~experience~. If so, I'm picking up some cheap sunglasses to run in! Haha. I am doing the Dirty Girl Mud Run this saturday, I'm excited but nervous for it. I'm scared of slipping and hurting myself, mostly! I figure though it'll be more of a fun run than anything so I might as well just take it slow.

I honestly do not enjoy the first 2-3 miles of any run! Once I get past that, I am OK, and once I pass the 5 mile mark I kind of zone out and could go forever. I've finally made peace with the fact that I am going to be fairly miserable the first 30 minutes or so.

This is exactly how I am too! I think the first mile is the absolute worse for me. But once I hit 3 I completely zone out and feel like I can just keep going and going. I try to get pumped and sing to songs the first few miles to keep my mind off how much I hate that I'm moving at that moment in time, LOL!

 

[bskelly07]

Also! Sorry for the second post, it's an after thought. Have any of you done the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k? I'm thinking about signing up for the 15k, it's in December. I guess I just wanted to know what the atmosphere is typically like when you run it? Is it a fun run? I have to travel to Phoenix for it (which is like, an hour and a half to 2 hours away). Is it worth it? I'll need to know by the end of the week if I'm going to sign up for it... So any input is great!! Thanks so much guys!

 

[debbieandroo]

Wow, this thread is really hoppin'! I've been lurking on the Wine&Dine thread and they're not nearly as chatty as us princesses are

To all of you with injuries and That all must be so so so frustrating and I'm so sorry!

To all of you with races behind you -- Y'all are some rockin' Princesses!!!

To the Jersey princesses, more of these .

To all of you traveling princesses, welcome back!

And, I think that's all! I've learned so much about this race from you all - this is really helping my nerves.

So I just looked at the Princess start time. Why I never did that before is beyond me. Lol. I did some calculating. It starts at 5:35. It seems in years past there have been 8 corrals. Theoretically it could be as late as 6:15 when I start. I'm pace challenged so let's just say I'll finish in 3:30. So it could be 9:45 when I finish. According to the web site, the race retreat is over at 10:30. Will 45 minutes be enough time for me to go through the finish line chute, walk back to the retreat tent and actually get to enjoy my post race breakfast and cocktail? Will there even be any food and flip flops left? Any stragglers have any past experience with this? I'm worried now that I may not even get to take advantage of my $99 investment. I got it more for after as opposed to before. Lol

I had the exact question about the retreat. I'll be walking the race so I know that I won't finish earlier than 3:30 and I'll be so thankful to NOT be in the last corral. They truly might be shutting the place down by the time I finish!

However, the greatest benefit of the retreat will be, for me, before the race - to calm my nerves, offer protection from the weather, allow me to take an earlier bus so I don't have to worry about traffic jams, and give me fewer porta - potty lines and bag-check lines. I figure that, after the race, I'll be so relieved to finish that not having a hot breakfast, while disappointing because I love me some hot breakfasts, won't be that big of a deal. My expectations are set fairly low on that score.

Who knows - I may discover that the retreat was a big waste of a hundred bucks and never have to do it again. But, because this is my first Disney half-marathon, I wanted to err in the side of caution.

 

[Cripey]

Just curious, not sure if it has been discussed or not. Where is everyone staying and why? I notice that the expo is at CSR. Anyone staying there to be close to the expo?

WHAAAAAAT???? I hadn't even noticed that at all....and as luck would have it we are staying there!!! Yaaaaay, that should be convenient! I never even thought to look...figured it would be where all the other expos are at WWOS. Wonder why they are changing that?

 

[Cripey]

I'm doing the Color Run in Phoenix in January! I'm so excited, it's so far away though. Did you wear goggles or glasses at all? I haven't figured if people do that for fun or if it really helps out with the whole ~experience~. If so, I'm picking up some cheap sunglasses to run in! Haha. I am doing the Dirty Girl Mud Run this saturday, I'm excited but nervous for it. I'm scared of slipping and hurting myself, mostly! I figure though it'll be more of a fun run than anything so I might as well just take it slow.

This is exactly how I am too! I think the first mile is the absolute worse for me. But once I hit 3 I completely zone out and feel like I can just keep going and going. I try to get pumped and sing to songs the first few miles to keep my mind off how much I hate that I'm moving at that moment in time, LOL!

I didn't wear sunglasses but its probably a good idea. It was a lot of fun, but a huge mess for sure....bring lots of towels and plastic bags for the ride home...and it takes quite a while and a lot of scrubbing in the shower to get everything off...I still have a couple of blue-ish spots around my waist that are being stubborn. At least it's not on my face though

 

[rosermama]

Just curious, not sure if it has been discussed or not. Where is everyone staying and why? I notice that the expo is at CSR. Anyone staying there to be close to the expo?

What is CSR?

Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy Note using DISBoards

 

[Princess on the Run]

I am doing the Dirty Girl Mud Run this saturday, I'm excited but nervous for it. I'm scared of slipping and hurting myself, mostly! I figure though it'll be more of a fun run than anything so I might as well just take it slow.

I did Dirty Girl in June and it's a ton of fun! No need to be afraid, it's a very "non-intimidating" women's mud run so there isn't really all that much mud on the course except for the actual obstacles. It's not timed and is designed to have a hardest option and at least one if not more easier options so that everyone has a chance to complete the obstacles. I have lots of pics if you are interested in seeing them but I didn't want to bog down the group with 20 pictures. If I can figure out a way to post just the link to my Shutterfly album, I will, so you can see the obstacles and stuff.

Also! Sorry for the second post, it's an after thought. Have any of you done the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k? I'm thinking about signing up for the 15k, it's in December. I guess I just wanted to know what the atmosphere is typically like when you run it? Is it a fun run? I have to travel to Phoenix for it (which is like, an hour and a half to 2 hours away). Is it worth it? I'll need to know by the end of the week if I'm going to sign up for it... So any input is great!! Thanks so much guys!

I signed up to do the 15K last weekend and didn't end up running it. Priarily I backed out because of my ITB problems but the whole race was chaos between 2-3 hr lines for packet-picket, 40,000 runners and 5,000 walkers all corralled together based on registration date (not pace) so there were walkers in the front corrals with runners and elite runners all mixed together. The course was over 10 miles (not 9.3), etc etc. A friend warned me when I registered not to do it because she had done it the first 2 years and had nothing good to say about it but I was determined to have a race to submit for PHM corral placement so I registered anyway.

 

[Princess on the Run]

WHAAAAAAT???? I hadn't even noticed that at all....and as luck would have it we are staying there!!! Yaaaaay, that should be convenient! I never even thought to look...figured it would be where all the other expos are at WWOS. Wonder why they are changing that?

I totally missed that too!! I have my color-coded spreadsheet all set up for WWOS!! Yikes!! Thanks for mentioning this!!!

I am staying at BCV because my whole family is coming so we need a 2 bdrm.

 

[sau418]

Yay! I too didi not realize the expo was at CSR. we picked there because it was something new for us. Just makes me all the more excited. We will be in double digits this week.

 

[longhorns2]

I'm staying at CSR (Coronado Springs Resort) as a happy coincidence. We switched from AoA when the discounted rates came out. Going all the way out to WoS and trekking through the parking lot and compex to get a bib is always a PITA to me. I'm THRILLED that they moved it for whatever reason (I'm assuming there's a conflict, not that this will happen every year)

I heard a rumor about 2 weeks ago that this was happening, but it just went on the website end of last week I think.

 

[lizdotcom99]

Has anybody purchased park tickets at the reduced rate? In my excitement of registering....I guess I did it all wrong and do not have the code needed for the reduced price tickets.

I will all later today for them...but was wondering if anybody knows how they are priced??

We are going to be there Friday - Friday...but need park hoppers Friday - Thursdsay.

 

[Princess on the Run]

For bskelly07 (and anyone else who cares, too!) these are the pics from Dirty Girl in June of this year. Most were taken by my DH who followed us along the course as best as he could. There were a few obstacles where spectators couldn't get so he missed those, but he did pretty well. The ones at the end are from Brightroom so they had the in on a few of the hidden obstacles. I think really the only ones that no one got are climbing the "mountain" and maybe one or two that slipped my mind. But this should give you a good feel forwhat you are in for. It was lots of fun and we're planning to do it next year wearing wedding gowns.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0BbsmTZwxYtXNA

 

[rani8600]

I just ran in my first 10k this past sat, on i course that was all hills (i dont think i have ever seen so many hills before). Not gonna lie im kinda proud of myself. I finished with a time of 1:12:55 at a 11:45 pace.

I must confess that i went into this race a little under trained. Sandy kind of turned my training upside down and i had only ever completed a 5 mile run previous to the race. This race made me more determined to get back to my training schedule. I just started running for the first time ever this past July in prep for the princess half. 6 months ago i would never have imagined myself running 6.2 mile let alone training for 13.1

Thanks everyone for all of the positivity here, it is so nice to read everyone encouraging replies. They have given me the courage to run these race as a beginner and have taught me to be patient with myself.

 

[Princess on the Run]

I just ran in my first 10k this past sat, on i course that was all hills (i dont think i have ever seen so many hills before). Not gonna lie im kinda proud of myself. I finished with a time of 1:12:55 at a 11:45 pace.

I must confess that i went into this race a little under trained. Sandy kind of turned my training upside down and i had only even completed a 5 mile run previous to the race. This race made me more determined to get back to my training schedule. I just started running for the first time ever this past July in prep for the princess half. 6 months ago i would never have imagined myself running 6.2 mile let alone training for 13.1

That's fantastic!! It's a good time no matter what but even better knowing there were a lot of hills and that your training wasn't what you'd hoped for. Well done!!!!

 

[MRS AR]

I just ran in my first 10k this past sat, on i course that was all hills (i dont think i have ever seen so many hills before). Not gonna lie im kinda proud of myself. I finished with a time of 1:12:55 at a 11:45 pace.

I must confess that i went into this race a little under trained. Sandy kind of turned my training upside down and i had only even completed a 5 mile run previous to the race. This race made me more determined to get back to my training schedule. I just started running for the first time ever this past July in prep for the princess half. 6 months ago i would never have imagined myself running 6.2 mile let alone training for 13.1

Congratulations! Great time.

 

[longhorns2]

I just ran in my first 10k this past sat, on i course that was all hills (i dont think i have ever seen so many hills before). Not gonna lie im kinda proud of myself. I finished with a time of 1:12:55 at a 11:45 pace.

I must confess that i went into this race a little under trained. Sandy kind of turned my training upside down and i had only even completed a 5 mile run previous to the race. This race made me more determined to get back to my training schedule. I just started running for the first time ever this past July in prep for the princess half. 6 months ago i would never have imagined myself running 6.2 mile let alone training for 13.1

That's fantastic!! It's a good time no matter what but even better knowing there were a lot of hills and that your training wasn't what you'd hoped for. Well done!!!!

^^^ What she said! WTG Princess! I would have quit after the first hill. HA HA HA. I am such a weenie.

 

[Tracerr00]

However, the greatest benefit of the retreat will be, for me, before the race - to calm my nerves, offer protection from the weather, allow me to take an earlier bus so I don't have to worry about traffic jams, and give me fewer porta - potty lines and bag-check lines. I figure that, after the race, I'll be so relieved to finish that not having a hot breakfast, while disappointing because I love me some hot breakfasts, won't be that big of a deal. My expectations are set fairly low on that score.

Who knows - I may discover that the retreat was a big waste of a hundred bucks and never have to do it again. But, because this is my first Disney half-marathon, I wanted to err in the side of caution.

I agree, I am very excited to have the race retreat prior to the race for all of the reasons that you mentioned. But it never occured to me that I'll probably be at the end of the pack and that the race retreat might be closed shortly after I finish! Sometimes I'm not super hungry right after I run so I might not even be up for a hot breakfast right away. Give me an hour or two though and I'll be ravenous! But you're right, I'll probably be so happy to have finished (I hope!!) that it won't bother me too much.

 

[longhorns2]

It's cold outside this morning (for texans anyway!) and I thought about the race retreat. Lol

Thankfully my travel partner has her car, so if its cold we will huddle in there at Epcot parking lot until its go time!