The New *Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread*

[acourtwdw]

I have the forerunner 310. It was super on sale on Amazon last month and I love it!

I'm thinking about getting the Nike/Garmin watch. A co worker has it and loves it. Not sure though...

 

[VickiHD]

I have the forerunner 310. It was super on sale on Amazon last month and I love it!

How long have you had it ????

 

[MoonFaerie]

Don't know if it's available for droids, but I use Runkeeper - tracks mileage and pace via GPS and you can set any number of interval workouts. It runs in the background, so you can still listen to music.

I didn't know I could do that with Runkeeper! Yay! Thanks!

 

[happybaker]

I can't wait to start seeing pictures of everyone's costumes as they start to come along.

I thought about Merida - any excuse to dye my hair works for me - but I figure there will be a billion Meridas. For now, I've narrowed it down to: Belle in her blue dress, Rapunzel (prob still very popular, but I have ideas for the costume), Megara (too obscure?), Giselle, or Maleficent.

I'm thinking of doing Belle in her blue dress too, but haven't put too much thought yet into the costume.

Question for the experienced racers:

I'm registered for the TOT 10-Miler in late Sept. and the Princess in late Feb. I'm considering adding a half in there on Dec. 9; it would be my first half-marathon.

The why: I'm competitive and driven - I want to see all of my half-marathon training pay off with a decent time... but I don't want to worry about time during the Princess - I want to have fun! The Dec. 9 half is local, so no expenses beyond registration and no need to slow down for pics or sight-seeing. I'm thinking if I do that one first, I'll already have seen the results of my training and can mellow out and really enjoy the Princess!

BUT... I'm prone to overuse injuries, thanks to a bunch of past injuries and, well, overuse. My training schedule now would have me cut back to a 3-mile long run after the 10-Miler and build back up to 14 for the Princess. (Galloway plans) If I do the Dec. 9 half, there'd be no big cut back in mileage - I'd keep building from my longest 10-miler training run (11 miles) to the Dec. half. And then what? I guess drop down to maybe 11 miles in late Dec. and build to 14 over Jan. and Feb. pre-Princess?

So I'd be looking at around 6+ months of double-digit long runs every other week. That scares me some! I'm up to 9 now and was fine until this week; my knees are staging a revolt. Two weeks ago, I'd have thought "No problem!" but right now I'm not so sure... Thoughts?

I am NOT an experienced racer, but like you I kind of want to know how I can do at a half marathon without all the stops for pictures. I was just going to wait to do another one next spring, but I decided to sign up for one at the end of September for a couple of reasons. One, I want to see how I can do. Second, I have a friend and we've done all of our new distances together and she's not sure she can do Disney next year because of money, so now we can do our first half marathon together (even though she's much faster than me). And third, I have another friend who is thinking about signing up for the Princess, but she would have to walk it. I read on someone else's post pages back that they're slowing down to do the Princess with a friend because they're not doing the race for time, but for the laughter and memories. That sentiment really made me think about what I want out of the Princess and I would rather have the memories with my friend even if I have to walk it (or at least walk it with her up through the MK).

My training plan right is for the half at the end of September. Then I think I'll just restart with the lower miles with Gallaway's training plan and follow that up to the Princess. If you did the TOT, the Dec 9 half and then the Princess would your training have the cut back weeks? I know with Galloway every other week is a low mileage run. That might help with some of your over useage and allow you to avoid injuries. It's not much of a decrease in mileage, but could you drop back after the half to 8 miles and rebuild up to the half (with the cutback weeks) and then do the same after the half? It would at least knock a few double-digit runs from your training. I can certainly understand your thinking on wanting to do the half, though. Good luck with your decision.

Holly

 

[KTE]

Question for the experienced racers:

I'm registered for the TOT 10-Miler in late Sept. and the Princess in late Feb. I'm considering adding a half in there on Dec. 9; it would be my first half-marathon.

The why: I'm competitive and driven - I want to see all of my half-marathon training pay off with a decent time... but I don't want to worry about time during the Princess - I want to have fun! The Dec. 9 half is local, so no expenses beyond registration and no need to slow down for pics or sight-seeing. I'm thinking if I do that one first, I'll already have seen the results of my training and can mellow out and really enjoy the Princess!

BUT... I'm prone to overuse injuries, thanks to a bunch of past injuries and, well, overuse. My training schedule now would have me cut back to a 3-mile long run after the 10-Miler and build back up to 14 for the Princess. (Galloway plans) If I do the Dec. 9 half, there'd be no big cut back in mileage - I'd keep building from my longest 10-miler training run (11 miles) to the Dec. half. And then what? I guess drop down to maybe 11 miles in late Dec. and build to 14 over Jan. and Feb. pre-Princess?

So I'd be looking at around 6+ months of double-digit long runs every other week. That scares me some! I'm up to 9 now and was fine until this week; my knees are staging a revolt. Two weeks ago, I'd have thought "No problem!" but right now I'm not so sure... Thoughts?

I'm in a pretty similar situation. I am doing a local training program that will lead up to a 1/2 Marathon at the end of October- and I decided to do it for the same reason you mentioned. Originally I wanted the Princess to be my first, but I know I get overly-competitive and would really want to see my training pay off in some decent numbers, which would mean I'd miss out on some of the fun (walking with friends, getting pictures, etc)- so The Empire State 1/2 will be my first and the Princess my second. I also have bad knees, they do okay at shorter distances so long as I have my brace on, but I am very nervous about how they will hold up with longer distances- especially if I'm training without a break for 6 months!

As part of our training program we have some great coaches and access to the dr's from the local Sports Medicine group, so I am planning on asking them this question in the next few weeks. I'll let you know what they say in terms of how to make the training work best and how to make sure my knees stay attached to my legs!

 

[PrincessV]

I didn't know I could do that with Runkeeper! Yay! Thanks!

By and large, I've been really pleased with Runkeeper. A few times it had me starting my run a block away, but it's been very accurate other than that!

I read on someone else's post pages back that they're slowing down to do the Princess with a friend because they're not doing the race for time, but for the laughter and memories. That sentiment really made me think about what I want out of the Princess and I would rather have the memories with my friend even if I have to walk it (or at least walk it with her up through the MK).

Right?!

If you did the TOT, the Dec 9 half and then the Princess would your training have the cut back weeks?

For sure - I'd continue doing 3-4 every other week, alternating with the progressively longer runs. I was thinking drop down for 2 weeks after the Dec. 1/2, then go up to 11, 4, 12, 4, 4 , 13, 4, 14, 4, Princess 13.1.

As part of our training program we have some great coaches and access to the dr's from the local Sports Medicine group, so I am planning on asking them this question in the next few weeks. I'll let you know what they say in terms of how to make the training work best and how to make sure my knees stay attached to my legs!

That would be great, thanks! And yes, if we can do all this AND still be able to walk in regular life, that would be a plus, lol!

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

I'm in a pretty similar situation. I am doing a local training program that will lead up to a 1/2 Marathon at the end of October- and I decided to do it for the same reason you mentioned. Originally I wanted the Princess to be my first, but I know I get overly-competitive and would really want to see my training pay off in some decent numbers, which would mean I'd miss out on some of the fun (walking with friends, getting pictures, etc)- so The Empire State 1/2 will be my first and the Princess my second. I also have bad knees, they do okay at shorter distances so long as I have my brace on, but I am very nervous about how they will hold up with longer distances- especially if I'm training without a break for 6 months!

As part of our training program we have some great coaches and access to the dr's from the local Sports Medicine group, so I am planning on asking them this question in the next few weeks. I'll let you know what they say in terms of how to make the training work best and how to make sure my knees stay attached to my legs!

I also have a half at the end of Oct and then the princess in Feb, this is my 3rd princess and for the 2012 princess I was in so much pain for overuse it was not funny. I have not even started running yet for my Oct half. I am trying to find a balance to train but not beat my legs up. I am doing Jillian M 90 day training plan right now and I have seen so many changes from that, I am hopein that the muscle training will help me do a kick butt half in Oct and then I can just enjoy the princess, For 2012 I ran my butt off to get my time goal and thanks to my friends pushing me I made that goal but my legs paid for it after. I would love to know what they tell you about training after finishing a half in Oct and going into the princess.

 

[WsPrincess]

How long have you had it ????

I got it for Mother's Day. Only thing I don't like is I wish it had a vibrate setting but this model doesn't so I have to have my music low enough to hear the beeps.

 

[LaurieG]

Hello,

I am going to be signing up for the 2013 Princess as well. I ran the Princess this year and it was my first 1/2, finished in 2:42 hoping for 2:30 this year. I completed the Will Run For Beer Series (all 5ks)in June and am now working my way through another local series that ends in December. I have a 10 miler Sept 1 and then a 1/2 Marathon Sept. 29. hoping to maintain 10+ miles until the princess. But am worrying about overuse issues as well...fingers crossed

 

[Fluffy Princess]

I thought about Merida - any excuse to dye my hair works for me - but I figure there will be a billion Meridas. For now, I've narrowed it down to: Belle in her blue dress, Rapunzel (prob still very popular, but I have ideas for the costume), Megara (too obscure?), Giselle, or Maleficent.

MALEFICENT!!! Complete with staff and horns!

 

[AnnaBethMouse]

Since I'm currently training for a 5k....should I do this? My fiancé says that I should, as a gift to myself for going raw vegan and getting off my booty to train.

What are the rules, besides a 15 minute mile? Is it okay if I run and walk, or do you have to do one or the other.

And what's the deadline for signup?

 

[MoonFaerie]

MALEFICENT!!! Complete with staff and horns!

LOL, well the horns are a given. I'm not sure about running with a staff though. I have an outfit mostly worked out in my head for Maleficent though.

 

[WsPrincess]

Since I'm currently training for a 5k....should I do this? My fiancé says that I should, as a gift to myself for going raw vegan and getting off my booty to train.

What are the rules, besides a 15 minute mile? Is it okay if I run and walk, or do you have to do one or the other.

And what's the deadline for signup?

Actually you only have to a 16 minute mile!!! I started with 5K training, am now in 10K training and will start the Princess training in October!

You can run/walk, just walk, just run, whatever works for you!!!

There is no real deadline but no one knows when it will sell out. Last year it was close to race time but this year Disney races have been selling out quicker. You are fine for a while though, they have not even announced it is at 50% yet!

And WELCOME!

 

[MightyDuck001]

LOL, well the horns are a given. I'm not sure about running with a staff though. I have an outfit mostly worked out in my head for Maleficent though.

You give those princesses a reason to run!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

That would be great!!! The Facebook group is "Disney Princess Half Marathon" (http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/235075506582373/) which is the closed group. Are you on there? If not, ask to join!

We were just going to coordinate a meet-up at the After Party of the TO Women's Race. We can sort out the exact where/when a little closer to the race, but right now we are just trying to get a sense of who might be there. I think we are now up to 6 or 7 princesses so far, so we thought it would be fun to meet and get a Princesses-in-Training royal photo!

Feel free to send me your email address or "friend" me on FB - Jodi Snowdon.

Hope to meet you next month!

Hi Jodi! It's Nicole from facebook! Glad to see some friendly faces here too!

Don't know if it's available for droids, but I use Runkeeper - tracks mileage and pace via GPS and you can set any number of interval workouts. It runs in the background, so you can still listen to music.

I use runkeeper on my android. Sometimes it works great, and other times it is way off. It really depends on your phone. My last run was 6 miles and it said I ran 10! HA! Tomorrow dh is letting me use his Garmin watch to try out a new run.

 

[MoonFaerie]

You give those princesses a reason to run!

I have officially decided on Maleficent. It's going to be awesome! Since I've learned my lesson about dying my hair black, I'll be going purple. I've already got the horns taken care of. I have a fabulous lady making them for me, and they'll be shipping to me in late Sept, in time for my Oct trip. Now I just have to figure out the rest of it...

 

[annabanna]

I use the Runkeeper app too. I like it for the most part, but it does give me false readings every so often. I ran a short 2 miles last week and it told me that I ran almost 7 and I had an average mile 5.23 minutes - yeah right!

But I do like that you can tailor it to what you need, and you can still have your music in the background.

 

[AnnaBethMouse]

I think I'm in, then.

I go for my first training session tomorrow. Does anyone here do the 5k as well?

 

[GaRain]

I think I'm in, then.

I go for my first training session tomorrow. Does anyone here do the 5k as well?

Yes, and I am registered for the Royal Family 5K during Princess weekend!

 

[happybaker]

I have officially decided on Maleficent. It's going to be awesome! Since I've learned my lesson about dying my hair black, I'll be going purple. I've already got the horns taken care of. I have a fabulous lady making them for me, and they'll be shipping to me in late Sept, in time for my Oct trip. Now I just have to figure out the rest of it...

That will be an awesome costume!! Too bad you couldn't run with apples too to hand out to anyone dressed as Sleeping Beauty

Holly