The New *Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread*

[HealthyAmber]

Hi everyone! I just started running this past March and I'm training for a 5K in May. Once some friends and I caught the "running bug," it wasn't long before we started setting new goals and I found out about the DPHM. I will turn 40 on February 28th, so I knew this had to be the way to embrace this mile stone. Reading through the posts, there are many of us running this race to mark the big 4-0! We should come up with some sort of symbol to wear so we can recognize each other.
After struggling with my weight and fitness goals, I'm now FINALLY very committted to getting HEALTHY! Since starting the C25K program and a nutritional cleansing program, I feel so much better and I can't wait to keep going!!!

 

[tinkeramy]

As far as weather goes, I would def. plan to bring a throwaway layer. Any items cast off on the side of the road are donated to a charity.

As a fellow member of the "petite" club (5'2), I love my Target running pants. They have their pants marked as "regular" "short" and "long". I got the short, of course, and they fit great. Also, I got a pair of compression tights at Old Navy. They are just the barest smidge too long but it doesn't affect or bother me.

 

[mahipp]

Fellow Princesses! So excited for you to participate in the 2013 event! I ran it this year and had a BLAST! So much fun to run through Disney! Here is my recap for anyone who wants to see it! http://www.runningtowardtheprize.com/2012/03/05/2012-princess-half-marathon/

Love your recap!
I pinned it on Pinterest and reblogged it on Tumblr! LOL

Two friends of mine and I started a Facebook page for our run to the castle. We met working on a book blog - so the name is Pages to Princess.
https://www.facebook.com/pages2princess

 

[WsPrincess]

Fellow Princesses! So excited for you to participate in the 2013 event! I ran it this year and had a BLAST! So much fun to run through Disney! Here is my recap for anyone who wants to see it! http://www.runningtowardtheprize.com/2012/03/05/2012-princess-half-marathon/

After reading your blog (and all the other great ones on here) I decided to start one about my journey to the Princess! I am just so excited and I want to be able to look back.

Tonight, I did something I have not done since I started my journey, I went to the gym. I know for most people this is kind of anti climactic but for me it was huge. I have been really lucky with weather which in Michigan in April is amazing. Tonight it was pouring so I had to suck it up and head to my new gym. Before I had DS, I belonged to Lifetime Fitness. I loved it there. I loved the towels, the locker rooms, the classes, the pool, everything but the price. I ended up ending my membership when I was put on restrictions during my pregnancy. When I got into this the monthly fee there was just too much and it was not really close to home or work. So I joined Planet Fitness for $10 a month. It is in a strip mall right by my house and I was scared to go tonight. I felt like a new kid going to school. Well, I survived and now that this first time is over, I think I will be OK

 

[ColleenG]

I got fitted for new orthotics today and the guy really knew what he was doing. He pretty much said what I new along, the orthotics I got at the end of last summer are crap and totally wrong for my feet! AMEN! He also said he would line them with a material that is more like the insoles your running shoes come with, not vinyl= less sweaty feet and less sliding around in my shoe. Now I just need to get new running shoes that are are neutral to best accomodate the orthotics. So tomorrow it's off to the running store! I just so excited to have something to run in that won't kill my feet and shins!

 

[VickiHD]

I got fitted for new orthotics today and the guy really knew what he was doing. He pretty much said what I new along, the orthotics I got at the end of last summer are crap and totally wrong for my feet! AMEN! He also said he would line them with a material that is more like the insoles your running shoes come with, not vinyl= less sweaty feet and less sliding around in my shoe. Now I just need to get new running shoes that are are neutral to best accomodate the orthotics. So tomorrow it's off to the running store! I just so excited to have something to run in that won't kill my feet and shins!

Good for you and have fun shopping for new running shoes.

 

[PrincessV]

As a fellow member of the "petite" club (5'2), I love my Target running pants.

ITA! I'm 5'1" and I'm surprised by how well the C9 pants and capris fit me.

Now I just need to get new running shoes that are are neutral to best accomodate the orthotics.

This is so interesting to me - I'm in the same boat: not custom, but wound up with arch support insoles in neutral shoes and I'm SO much happier than in stability shoes! Happy shopping

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just realized that I'll be in WDW when registration opens... seems fitting, somehow, lol!

 

[Cripey]

After reading your blog (and all the other great ones on here) I decided to start one about my journey to the Princess! I am just so excited and I want to be able to look back.

Tonight, I did something I have not done since I started my journey, I went to the gym. I know for most people this is kind of anti climactic but for me it was huge. I have been really lucky with weather which in Michigan in April is amazing. Tonight it was pouring so I had to suck it up and head to my new gym. Before I had DS, I belonged to Lifetime Fitness. I loved it there. I loved the towels, the locker rooms, the classes, the pool, everything but the price. I ended up ending my membership when I was put on restrictions during my pregnancy. When I got into this the monthly fee there was just too much and it was not really close to home or work. So I joined Planet Fitness for $10 a month. It is in a strip mall right by my house and I was scared to go tonight. I felt like a new kid going to school. Well, I survived and now that this first time is over, I think I will be OK

Good for you...and I totally understand where you're coming from! I HATE going to the gym for the first time alone...I always make the BF come with me. I've had a membership at the same 24 Hour Fitness for years, but I go really sporadically now...these days I mostly have it as a back up for when the weather is bad like you mentioned. So, eventhough I've been there tons of times and used to be a regular, I still won't go alone for my "first" time back if it's been a while...my BF thinks I'm crazy, but he humors me and goes. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like that! The gym is just intimidating!

 

[TinyDancer]

Hi everyone,

Count me in too! I will be turning 40 at the end of June and decided to set the goal of completing a half-marathon - that the race will be at Disney is the present/reward part!! I did a little bit of running last summer (no races) then took the winter off. I've been back at it for about 6 weeks now and have signed up for a local 5K on May 12 - starting to get nervous about that

Anyways, I've enjoyed reading this thread, you're all very supportive and motivating

Welcome! I have a 5k on May 12 also... and I'm nervous too!

Hey ladies! It sounds like training is going well! I have been trying to find new events to push myself into signing up for, just because I run better/more regularly with short term goals. I don't know if you remember but I did post about a virtual race I did a while ago and I found a few more if people are interested.

The first is on Mother's Day. They are offering a 2 mile walk, a 5k run and a 10k run. You sign up for the event you want, run on Mother's Day, and send your results to the site. Winners will be randomly drawn and you get $50! Here's the link for more info: http://3wraces.com/virtual-registration-for-womens-classic.html

The second one is the one I think I will actually do - it's called the JoggerMom Marathon. This one is especially good for any young moms out there. The deal is that you have to run 26.2 miles over the month of May. However you want to do, just get em in. They have a ton of cool prizes including 5 jogging strollers! Tomorrow is the last day to sign up - which I am about to go do. I normally put in at least 26 miles a month, but for some reason, this race scares me! They are totally open to walkers so I really have nothing to lose! Here's the link to get in if anyone wants to join me: http://joggermommarathon.com/

That sounds so cool! I'll check those out!

count me in I wanted to run in 2012 but nursing school was a TON of work no time to run . Now i have 1 week left till graduation and i started back c25k plan . I cant wait to run in a tiara

Congrats on making it through nursing school!

Fellow Princesses! So excited for you to participate in the 2013 event! I ran it this year and had a BLAST! So much fun to run through Disney! Here is my recap for anyone who wants to see it! http://www.runningtowardtheprize.com/2012/03/05/2012-princess-half-marathon/

Thanks for posting, I'll check that out!

Hi everyone! I just started running this past March and I'm training for a 5K in May. Once some friends and I caught the "running bug," it wasn't long before we started setting new goals and I found out about the DPHM. I will turn 40 on February 28th, so I knew this had to be the way to embrace this mile stone. Reading through the posts, there are many of us running this race to mark the big 4-0! We should come up with some sort of symbol to wear so we can recognize each other.
After struggling with my weight and fitness goals, I'm now FINALLY very committted to getting HEALTHY! Since starting the C25K program and a nutritional cleansing program, I feel so much better and I can't wait to keep going!!!

That's great! GL on your 5k!


Is anyone else having probems staying logged in to the Dis? Everytime I try to post I have to re log in.. that is so annoying!

 

[HockeyKat]

I am not a member of the petite club. 5'8" with a 33-34" inseam. That said, I usually buy men's running tights and men's shoes as the women's don't fit me well either length or width. I am wide, and my feet are long and wide, and the men's just are more accommodating to both. Same with tech shirts. I am not looking for "fitted" at this point in my life!

 

[VickiHD]

Is anyone else having probems staying logged in to the Dis? Everytime I try to post I have to re log in.. that is so annoying!

Yes !!!! You're right it is annoying.

 

[Barefoot Princess]

I'm 5 feet "tall" so I know what you mean!!! Check out Athleta.com. A lot of their long work out pants and tights come in petite lengths...I have the Chaturanga (I think I spelled that right) in the petite length and they are PERFECT. I don't run in them because I prefer to run in compression, but I use these pants for boot camp classes in the winter or to just hang around in...they are so comfortable!

Hello, fellow 5-footer! Glad to know that I'm not the only one who's having a hard time finding a pair of pants! Even "petite" sizes are too long sometimes, ya know? Oh well, I always console myself that I'll always have leg room in the ever-shrinking airline seats I'll have to check out the Chaturanga pants!

 

[brock20l]

Hello, fellow 5-footer! Glad to know that I'm not the only one who's having a hard time finding a pair of pants! Even "petite" sizes are too long sometimes, ya know? Oh well, I always console myself that I'll always have leg room in the ever-shrinking airline seats I'll have to check out the Chaturanga pants!

For those of you who have a lululemon nearby (or will be visiting one sometime), they will always hem stuff for free for you - whether you need pants, crops/tights, tanks, etc. shortened! Even if you will only be in town near a lulu for one day, some locations have same-day, while-you-shop hemming! It's a great service for those of us with short legs and even shorter torsos

 

[WsPrincess]

For those of you who have a lululemon nearby (or will be visiting one sometime), they will always hem stuff for free for you - whether you need pants, crops/tights, tanks, etc. shortened! Even if you will only be in town near a lulu for one day, some locations have same-day, while-you-shop hemming! It's a great service for those of us with short legs and even shorter torsos

AHHH! We have one at my favorite mall (but on the side I don't usually go to since I don't shop at those stores). I just googled it and now I know where I am going this weekend. Thank you

 

[Mokat76]

I'm seriously thinking of doing this, but I need some advice from all you veterans. I am a recovering couch potato, which means I've only recently gotten up off the couch and joined a great fitness center. I've started a walking program and because I cannot run (virtually no cartilage left in my knees), I'd have to walk this race. Is that even a realistic goal? I want an ambitious goal so the couch's gravitational pull doesn't get me, but I need to be realistic. If I'm going to spend the money and time to come to WDW to be with all you amazing women, I need to know I'm not setting myself up for major disappointment. Does any of this make sense to you? TIA.

 

[HockeyKat]

For those of you who have a lululemon nearby (or will be visiting one sometime), they will always hem stuff for free for you - whether you need pants, crops/tights, tanks, etc. shortened! Even if you will only be in town near a lulu for one day, some locations have same-day, while-you-shop hemming! It's a great service for those of us with short legs and even shorter torsos

I wish I could shop there but they don't carry any larger sizes.

I'm seriously thinking of doing this, but I need some advice from all you veterans. I am a recovering couch potato, which means I've only recently gotten up off the couch and joined a great fitness center. I've started a walking program and because I cannot run (virtually no cartilage left in my knees), I'd have to walk this race. Is that even a realistic goal? I want an ambitious goal so the couch's gravitational pull doesn't get me, but I need to be realistic. If I'm going to spend the money and time to come to WDW to be with all you amazing women, I need to know I'm not setting myself up for major disappointment. Does any of this make sense to you? TIA.

Yes, you absolutely can. I have walked it for 3 years in a row, finishing between 3:11 and 3:48.

However, that said, you do need to walk fast, and Disney does sweep people off the course if they can't keep the pace (although you will get a medal). The first year I trained to walk at a 15 min pace. You can do up to a 16mm and still finish, but you are really cutting it close especially if you start in one of the later corrals.

Some people in my Galloway run/walk training group do all walk, and I have seen some of them finish in 2:50 or less with a speedwalk.

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I would register with a 2:46 finish time to up your chances of getting into corral D or so. They start the 3:30 finish time limit when the last person crosses the start line, so in corral D you would have a 20 min or more cushion.

My 3:48 was in 2012 and I started in (and qualified for) corral B based on a half time from 2011. I would say based on what I saw and have read/heard, that we maybe had 10-15 more min before I would have been swept. We took some character pics, then my friend got sick and we stayed with her, or we probably would have finished under 3:30.

 

[Mokat76]

Thanks, Kat, for the encouragement and the good ideas.

I'm going to start training now so by the time registration rolls around I might at least have a sense of whether I'm improving enough to want to proceed. On the plus side, even being out of shape I'm in the 70th percentile of women my age in cardio fitness and core strength. While not great, that's far better than I expected. On the negative side, in addition to the lack of cartilage in my knees, I'm fat, fat, fat! It'll be a challenge, but if I don't give myself a tough goal, I'll sink back into lethargy. Combining a fitness challenge with my love of WDW sounds like the perfect mix. I found some good online resources with training guides for walkers. Time to lace up the shoes and get going!

Speaking of shoes, here's another question for all you experienced folks. Best place to be fitted for and buy shoes? I have a pair of NB cross trainers that will work for now since I don't have the stamina yet for great distance, but where do I go to look for shoes? Do running shoes also work for walking 15 minute pace or are there specialized shoes for walkers? As you can see, I'm a total neophyte and I appreciate your patience with my newby questions.

 

[LuLuO]

I just signed up for a 10k in October. I haven't done a 5k yet, my first one will be later this month. Hopefully by October I'll be able to get my time down enough to qualify for a better corral in February. We'll see.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

Thanks, Kat, for the encouragement and the good ideas.

I'm going to start training now so by the time registration rolls around I might at least have a sense of whether I'm improving enough to want to proceed. On the plus side, even being out of shape I'm in the 70th percentile of women my age in cardio fitness and core strength. While not great, that's far better than I expected. On the negative side, in addition to the lack of cartilage in my knees, I'm fat, fat, fat! It'll be a challenge, but if I don't give myself a tough goal, I'll sink back into lethargy. Combining a fitness challenge with my love of WDW sounds like the perfect mix. I found some good online resources with training guides for walkers. Time to lace up the shoes and get going!

Speaking of shoes, here's another question for all you experienced folks. Best place to be fitted for and buy shoes? I have a pair of NB cross trainers that will work for now since I don't have the stamina yet for great distance, but where do I go to look for shoes? Do running shoes also work for walking 15 minute pace or are there specialized shoes for walkers? As you can see, I'm a total neophyte and I appreciate your patience with my newby questions.

I am aslo fat, and was much fatter when I did the princess for the first time in 2011. I will never forget how I posted I did 1 mile and thought I could NEVER do 5 let alone 13. But I have done the princess twice. I am still 30 pounds over weight. I plan on doing the princess 2013 also,
Just don't give up!

 

[Mokat76]

That's so good to know and so inspiring. I know there will be a lot of incredibly fit women there, but knowing that other "fluffy" types can and have done this makes me even more determined. Thanks.