The New *Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread*

[ColleenG]

There is definately something about facing the big 4-0! I just hit it this past December and last May decided to start running with my goal being to do the Princess. I figured I had the kids in my 30s and now that they are a bit bigger, time to do something for me and finally shed the baby weight! My youngest is 4 almost 5 so I really need to start moving it! Now I am setting my sights on the full marathon in January. I have to have something to work towards or I know I will fall back off the wagon. What better motivation than Disney bling!

 

[amykay9377]

Look what I found!

http://www.gettravel.com/princesshalfmarathon/pdfs/Princess12Programv2.pdf

thanks! Full of great info

Feeling pretty good - I did a five mile walk today at a 14:47 pace! If I can do that now, still needing to lose 70-80 pounds, I should be golden by Princess time!

Way to go, Mahipp!! The way you are going, you'll be running the whole thing!

 

[aggielawyer]

Hey I was at blue bell too, but I did the 10 k! Congrats on getting out there...that was a tough hilly course and those winds didn't help at all. I came in at 1:14:58 for the 10k. Not my best 10k time for sure, but I was pleased considering all the hills that I'm not used to and also since I really haven't run more than 4 miles since the Tink half in January...oooops

Oh, I wish I'd known ahead of time that you were there...I was alone and it would have been nice to see a friendly face. I've learned that I need to issue a specific invitation to a particular friend rather than just a general facebook message saying "come join me for this race." Wonder if there are any other SE Texas girls training...might be fun to do a meet up at a race, maybe in the fall.

 

[aggielawyer]

Anyone planning on doing the 5k and the half?

I've thought about it. The plan right now is for this to be a family trip (grandparents, kids, grandkids), so it would be fun to do the 5K with my nephew and my brothers and sister.

 

[TinyDancer]

Feeling pretty good - I did a five mile walk today at a 14:47 pace! If I can do that now, still needing to lose 70-80 pounds, I should be golden by Princess time!

Nice pace!!

When I ran Princess a few years ago, I basically woke up, raced my heart out, and then went back to hotel room to eat, shower and head back out the parks. I spent the entire afternoon in Epcot, and then monorailed it back to the Contemporary for dinner at California Grill. Then, I headed back to Magic for fireworks and extra magic hours until 1 am. How I managed....I have no idea Hey you only live once, right?

LOL that is awesome!!

I've thought about it. The plan right now is for this to be a family trip (grandparents, kids, grandkids), so it would be fun to do the 5K with my nephew and my brothers and sister.

I may do it for time. My mom, sister, cousins, and a bunch of my HS GF's are doing the half with me. Girls trip, can't wait!

 

[TinyDancer]

I have a 5k at 6pm. I'm nervous!!!

 

[WsPrincess]

I have a 5k at 6pm. I'm nervous!!!

You are going to do great! Can't wait to hear how it goes. I can't wait for my first one next month!

 

[LuLuO]

Here in my neck of the woods, it seems that this is a pretty flat area, until you start running.

My plan right now is to run three times a week - one day for hill work, one day for slowly increasing distance, and one day to work on my time.

Today my pace was 14:08. Woo!

Hi everyone!

I'm so glad I found this board!

I'm turning 40 this year and my birthday present to myself is going to be running this princess half! I've only ever run 5k - so this new challange is VERY exciting!

I'm going to ask lots of questions about this so I know what to expect - first I better finish reading everyone else's posts!

Let me start with this question - do a lot of you bring your families (those who don't run) to cheer you on? I am just worried my kids and hubby will want to walk the parks and I will be passed out after my run and to tired to do anything else!

See everyone there!

Jenn

This will be my first runDisney experience. My DH is planning on coming with me to be in the cheering section. We're leaving the kids at home with the grandmas.

 

[amykay9377]

I have a 5k at 6pm. I'm nervous!!!

How was your 5k? My very first one is next Saturday!

Today my pace was 14:08. Woo!

This will be my first runDisney experience. My DH is planning on coming with me to be in the cheering section. We're leaving the kids at home with the grandmas.

Great pace!! I'm still stuck at about 17mm, but I also still have 55 pounds to lose!

This will be my first Disney race too. I'm running alone, but DH and DD14 (well, 15 by then) will be there to cheer me on and take all the photos they can at the end!

 

[happybaker]

I have a question regarding the slow, long runs. I'm using the Galloway method and last night I went out for 4-miles. I used a 30:40 and was able to maintain an average of 13:20 minute mile. It was an effort, but not an all out struggle to maintain that pace.

For my longer runs, I've been keeping my 30-second run portion and making my walking portion longer to slow my pace. Is that how you're supposed to do it, or should I keep my intervals the same and just slow my pace down on both portions?

thanks,

Holly

 

[joan4mickey]

I don't get on here much but,

LuLuO I think your 3 runs a week look great and if you have that going now you should be great by Feb.

amykay I read a small bit of your blog about your shoes..now you have the shoes you like, try running warehouse(online) and use the wish code for a discount. Free shipping too.

 

[brock20l]

Add my name to the runners list, please!! So excited to be doing this! My own first half is in just over 5 weeks!

 

[WsPrincess]

Cheering section for the race. Right now my SIL is planning on running with me. Both our husbands plan to make the trip down with us and golf that Saturday while we do the Expo. DH is not thrilled with the super early start so I am not 100% convinced he will make it to cheer me on but he will be down there with me to celebrate when it is over!

 

[amykay9377]

amykay I read a small bit of your blog about your shoes..now you have the shoes you like, try running warehouse(online) and use the wish code for a discount. Free shipping too.

I just checked them out the other day (another thread has the promo code)! Unfortunately, I'm still not in standard sizes (getting there, though!), so there's not a lot of goodies for me. I have it bookmarked though and plan to get a new shirt or something soon!

Also, thanks for checking out my blog. It's just a bunch of rambling, but getting it out there feels good!

Does anyone know when room rates will come out for either the Marathon weekend or the Princess weekend? I need to set a budget, but I don't know what to save!

 

[tinkeramy]

Sorry - didn't go back to find the post about hitting the parks after, but wanted to chime in - you totally can do it! You might not be as tired as you think. Go back, get a shower & something to eat; you'll feel a lot better! Both years we hit the parks after and not only were we not as sore later, but wearing your shirt and medal is a lot of fun and you get a lot of cast members congratulating you and asking you about it! In 2011 we stayed at MK until fireworks; last year we didn't stay quite so late but it was definitely into the evening.

I have a question regarding the slow, long runs. I'm using the Galloway method and last night I went out for 4-miles. I used a 30:40 and was able to maintain an average of 13:20 minute mile. It was an effort, but not an all out struggle to maintain that pace.

For my longer runs, I've been keeping my 30-second run portion and making my walking portion longer to slow my pace. Is that how you're supposed to do it, or should I keep my intervals the same and just slow my pace down on both portions?

thanks,

Holly

I'm no expert, but I would keep your same intervals and just slow your pace down on the long runs.

Does anyone know when room rates will come out for either the Marathon weekend or the Princess weekend? I need to set a budget, but I don't know what to save!

Hmmm... don't remember what the room rates were as we used Julie's annual pass discount which was slightly better for POFQ, but if it helps at all, I've got a breakdown on my blog of how much I spent on most expenses last year. Maybe someone else on here can chime in with their exact cost using the RunDisney discount.

 

[WsPrincess]

I have a question regarding the slow, long runs. I'm using the Galloway method and last night I went out for 4-miles. I used a 30:40 and was able to maintain an average of 13:20 minute mile. It was an effort, but not an all out struggle to maintain that pace.

For my longer runs, I've been keeping my 30-second run portion and making my walking portion longer to slow my pace. Is that how you're supposed to do it, or should I keep my intervals the same and just slow my pace down on both portions?

thanks,

Holly

I am having trouble with this too. I think I spent too long pushing too hard (which is why I never got as far as a had wished) so I have trouble slowing down to match the time I need to set. I seem to like 2:1 for right now and feel good when I am done. I am considering pushing it to 3:1 but I worry that I can't slow my pace enough. I guess I just have to work harder on it.

 

[debbieandroo]

I used to really, really, hate running. I was awful at it, I would get out of breath super fast, etc. I always tell people you really have to invest in wanting to "learn" how to run, and give it a solid 6 months to a year. You have to get over that "hump."

I mean do I love every single run now? Of course not. There are times, especially when I'm running high mileage for a training cycle, that the last thing I want to do is drag my behind out of bed. There are times that I get super frustrated that I'm running 45 miles/week, and I see some friends who are naturally very speedy, don't train for months, and easily beat me in a race. Sometimes I feel like why do I bother to put in all this work when my AG (age-graded) percents only have me as a slightly above average runner?

But at the end of the day, I really do love more running more often than not, and I couldn't imagine my life without running. I just wish I was faster and I had a shot at BQing



If you are a newish runner, I think you will just improve by running more often. The first three years of running, I saw massive improvement just by upping my weekly miles and sprinkling in speedwork/tempo. I saw the biggest gains after training for my first marathon. Even though I was massively underprepared, it was still more weekly miles that I had ever done.

So yeah, more miles will do wonders for you in this early stage!

Okay, can I tell you just how timely your message was? I've only begun 'running' since February and was on a 'honeymoon' sort of high about it. More to the tune of 'wow, I can't believe I'm doing this' rather than a 'wow, I'm doing so well'.

My progress has been more the rollercoaster variety than anything else and I keep reminding myself that I am new to this and it will get better, just wait six months to a year. Lately, though, I've wondered if I wanted to wait that long because I was already getting burned out and it's only been a couple of months!

Anyway, thank you so much for those words of wisdom! They'll help me get out of bed on those muggy mornings of our long summer.

 

[LuLuO]

For the first time I went and got fitted for shoes today. I was running in the Adidas Marathon 10 and while I like the shoes after about a month I didn't feel like they were working for me. I ended up with a pair of the Brooks Glycerin 9 and a pair of superfeet insoles. I can't wait to try them out this weekend.

 

[fashionista311]

Okay, can I tell you just how timely your message was? I've only begun 'running' since February and was on a 'honeymoon' sort of high about it. More to the tune of 'wow, I can't believe I'm doing this' rather than a 'wow, I'm doing so well'.

My progress has been more the rollercoaster variety than anything else and I keep reminding myself that I am new to this and it will get better, just wait six months to a year. Lately, though, I've wondered if I wanted to wait that long because I was already getting burned out and it's only been a couple of months!

Anyway, thank you so much for those words of wisdom! They'll help me get out of bed on those muggy mornings of our long summer.

oh good, so glad I can help! I mean, it's perfectly normal to not love every single run, or groan about waking up early. The past couple of years I've trained for a fall marathon, so that means setting alarms at 5 am or earlier so I could run anywhere from 12-20 miles, depending on my schedule. On my weekend. Trust me, I did not love running when my alarm was going off. And today - when I basically ignored my alarm this am and had to get in my 10 miles in the evening (not a fan of long runs at that hour) - I was not very happy with my hobby of choice. It took me at least 5-6 miles to find my grove.

But, at the end of the day, I do enjoy running more often than not. And when I get frustrated about how much time I spend training (especially compared to some friends who just wing it on race day) I ask myself why do I bother? Because at the end of the day, I really can't imagine my life without running. It just calms and soothes me in a way no other exercise does. And being able to participate in such great events (like Princess) is a really great perk, too!

So hang in there....I promise you will see all the rewards this great sport has to offer! There is no better feeling when you at the last mile of a goal race, knowing you trained your behind off, and knowing everything came together, and you are about to make your goal happen.

 

[fsubigdogs]

the 2011 Princess was my first half and I brought a whole boat-load of people to cheer me on We all had a great time! Since we had such an early wake up on race day, the plan was to go back to the hotel after the race for 2-3 hours to get some rest and then go to a late lunch and then a park. I lasted alot longer than I thought I would that night...but when the exhaustion started to set in, I went downhill FAST. Most people say it's a good idea to keep moving for as long as you can after the race and I've found that hold true for me...staying mobile will help with the amount of soreness you'll have in the couple of days after the race. I remember finally getting back to the hotel that night and into bed and I was delirious...hysterically laughing for no apparent reason other than sheer exhaustion...it was comical.

Thanks for the heads up - yeah walking the parks might be a little much. The family wants to come though... maybe I just let them go play and I go back to the hotel and sleep!!!