The New *Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread*

[yulilin3]

for all the repeat princesses running, where abouts on the course would you find all the princes and all the villains together? trying to plan out how fast to start because I know there will be a long line for these 2 groups

 

[VickiHD]

Hey Princesses.....How do you keep your motivation going ??

The last couple of runs just have not been great for me and I just feel SO slow. I'm keeping up with my training programs for Tink and Princess but I just feel like my legs are full of cement. I just want to feel more motivated. I'm going to start cross training tonight so maybe that will give me the kick in the "tutu" that I need.

I would love to hear any thoughts/ideas ?

 

[fashionista311]

Here's a question for those thinking about running with others vs meeting them at the finish - can people run through the last part of the course if they have already finished? This would be an ideal solution if you run with someone who is not at your pace. You could finish your race and head to the Epcot entrance to cheer and then join your friend for the last couple of minutes to cross the finish line? This is probably not allowed, but it would be so nice to finish with my friend. We are just so far off pace from each other. Like someone else said, I have worked hard for my corral placement and, while I want to enjoy the experience, I also want to do my best. I don't want to stop and walk intervals when intervals are not part of my training. Running 13.1 is hard enough at your own comfortable pace without trying to slow down or speed up (in my opinion, both are difficult to do and taxing on your body if you have not trained for it). But I still wish we could have that finish line moment!

Jodi
www.2princessesontherun.wordpress.com

You can hop in again with a slower runner, but you can't just cross the finish line again, at least that's been my experience at other races. I've never tried it at Disney one. But keep in mind the average pace of a Disney race is much slower than your usual road race, so the back-of-the-pack crowds are much, much heavier then usual - so it might make it that much more difficult to find your friend on course.

I totally don't blame you for wanting to run your own race. My dad is slower than me now, and when we do races together, I know he refuses to let me run with him, because he wants me to do my very best. Similarly, when I run a race with a faster friend of mine, I wouldn't dream to ask her to run with me. A race is a race.

But if you really want to run with your friend, you can always treat Princess as a training run (albeit a very expensive one) and sign up for another half a few weeks later. If you are gunning for a PR, you will likely have multiple long runs of 12-16 miles, anyways, so it can just be another long run.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Looks like I'm in..... Well, booked a room at AoA and non-refundable air, but have not registered for the race yet. I think I will splurge this time on the race retreat. I am hoping to sign up for both at the Wine and Dine Expo, but may have to do it sooner if it keeps filling up.....

 

[Princess on the Run]

Looks like I'm in..... Well, booked a room at AoA and non-refundable air, but have not registered for the race yet. I think I will splurge this time on the race retreat. I am hoping to sign up for both at the Wine and Dine Expo, but may have to do it sooner if it keeps filling up.....

Welcome!!!!!!!

 

[tinkeramy]

I also thought...if someone did find a way back onto the course...what would they do with their medal? I feel like it might be a bit of the same feeling you described for others about to cross the finish line for the first time ever to see someone with the medal already on but out there running again...I don't know...I think it would just be weird and somehow in bad taste, but I can't put my finger on it.

Ya know, I thought about this the first year when I was walking through Epcot after finishing. I was yelling and cheering for the other runners, wearing my medal and yelling, "You can do it!" At some point I wondered, do they just think I'm a b****? Because if you have done a half, you know how you feel in the last mile or 2 and when people yell, "Almost there!" I kinda want to punch them. So I didn't want to irritate anyone.

for all the repeat princesses running, where abouts on the course would you find all the princes and all the villains together? trying to plan out how fast to start because I know there will be a long line for these 2 groups

The princesses are sprinkled, but most of them are in the MK. Last year Aurora & her gang were there and Cinderella pops in and out by the castle. Belle and the Beast or Gaston are on the road on the way back. Really, there are not many princesses out on the course. Last year they had 2 or 3 in the parking lot after the race. As far as villains, last year was the first time I saw all the villian chicks together; that was a little before you get into the MK. Cruella was in the MK. After you leave the park and are being routed through the backstage area, they had Capt. Hook and Smee the first year, but I don't remember seeing them last year. It's kind of a toss up but at the expo there will be a sign showing which characters will be at which miles.

Hey Princesses.....How do you keep your motivation going ??

The last couple of runs just have not been great for me and I just feel SO slow. I'm keeping up with my training programs for Tink and Princess but I just feel like my legs are full of cement. I just want to feel more motivated. I'm going to start cross training tonight so maybe that will give me the kick in the "tutu" that I need.

I would love to hear any thoughts/ideas ?

New music and a change up of the running route usually works WONDERS for me!


For all - new free Kindle book this morning - "Smoothies for Runners"!

 

[minniemaus]

Hey Princesses.....How do you keep your motivation going ??

The last couple of runs just have not been great for me and I just feel SO slow. I'm keeping up with my training programs for Tink and Princess but I just feel like my legs are full of cement. I just want to feel more motivated. I'm going to start cross training tonight so maybe that will give me the kick in the "tutu" that I need.

I would love to hear any thoughts/ideas ?

I'm having the same problem! It's so frustrating. When I started, I felt very proud and inspired by my progress. Now, it seems like I'm finding every excuse not to leave the house. I think cross-training is a good idea. I'm going to try that, too.

 

[joan4mickey]

for all the repeat princesses running, where abouts on the course would you find all the princes and all the villains together? trying to plan out how fast to start because I know there will be a long line for these 2 groups

Last year they made some big changes from the first 3 years, so it's hard to tell. One thing to remember...on the route to Mk, along the highway before the MK parking lot, you will see characters. My advice is to skip these if you want to get to the MK faster, as the characters along the stretch of highway will be there on the return trip. I have seen princesses cross the median to get a photo and IMO it is a waste of time. They did add a big photo op in 2011 of villians in the MK parking area. Many of the princesses are in the MK..I liked it when they had them every mile along the long stretch of highway back to EP. They added some princess charmings, men in tuxes, after the MK in 2011. Nice touch. Once you complete the long on-ramp at mile 10, there hasn't been any characters until EP. Then after the race there are characters to take photos with.

 

[yulilin3]

thanks for the response; I was actually asking about the princes, Eric, Prince Charming, Phillip, Naveen,Tarzan,etc. I've seen photos of them all together.
I'm a local so I'm not stopping for Princesses since they're there all the time but a chance at a picture with a group of Princes and a group of Villains is hard to pass

 

[MouserQ]

For all my fellow running newbies and 1st time PHM's, running coach had some words of encouragement. "There will be people ahead of you and behind you. Run for you, your goals, your time, your race. Start slow and remember your training. Runners who have trained for years and done this awhile will finish fairly quickly while you will probably finish somewhere between 2:45 and 2:55 based on current pace and training in the next four months". Made me feel better!

I had this realization myself recently while running my first 5k a few weeks ago. Though I was running at a personal record pace (momentum of the crowd pushed me so fast -- for me -- during the first mile that I had to really work on convincing myself to slow down so I didn't hurt myself -- yikes!) I started to feel at about mile number 2 like everyone was ahead of me. I saw a sea of faster runners in front of me, became preoccupied with people who had passed me (a mom with a stroller!) and started to really doubt myself.


I was infected by these negative thoughts for maybe another half mile, at which point I glanced over my shoulder. To my surprise, there were also people behind me! And then I had this thought: "The people in front of you are just the people who are faster than you."

Sounds silly, maybe, but made all the difference in my outlook. Of course some people are faster than me! I'm not Flo-Jo! Plenty of people are faster than me. And some people are slower. But I'm not running to break records or win prizes.

I'm running for a really good excuse to go to Disney World. And probably wear a sparkly skirt.

 

[Cripey]

I had this realization myself recently while running my first 5k a few weeks ago. Though I was running at a personal record pace (momentum of the crowd pushed me so fast -- for me -- during the first mile that I had to really work on convincing myself to slow down so I didn't hurt myself -- yikes!) I started to feel at about mile number 2 like everyone was ahead of me. I saw a sea of faster runners in front of me, became preoccupied with people who had passed me (a mom with a stroller!) and started to really doubt myself.


I was infected by these negative thoughts for maybe another half mile, at which point I glanced over my shoulder. To my surprise, there were also people behind me! And then I had this thought: "The people in front of you are just the people who are faster than you."

Sounds silly, maybe, but made all the difference in my outlook. Of course some people are faster than me! I'm not Flo-Jo! Plenty of people are faster than me. And some people are slower. But I'm not running to break records or win prizes.

I'm running for a really good excuse to go to Disney World. And probably wear a sparkly skirt.

Great post! This is exactly what it means when they say training for an endurance run will really train your mental toughness along with physical training and help you to push out negativity during a run...it took me a looooong time to figure it out when I was training for my first half and it still creeps back in still sometimes, but I'm quicker to recognize it now.

It's good you're realizing now how easy it is to go out too fast in a race setting...so much excitement, adrenaline, etc...you want to bust out of there like an Olympic sprinter, but it will definitely come back to bite you for 13.1....it's one of the most importatnt things to remember and hardest thing to do on race day as your corral is moving forward to the start line...control the nerves and the adrenaline and think of it as just another training run...just in the happiest place on earth! Most of the time, you'll end up running a little faster pace than normal in a race anyway when it's all said and done...just save the energy in the beginning and turn it on in the last few miles!

 

[Princess on the Run]

I had this realization myself recently while running my first 5k a few weeks ago. Though I was running at a personal record pace (momentum of the crowd pushed me so fast -- for me -- during the first mile that I had to really work on convincing myself to slow down so I didn't hurt myself -- yikes!) I started to feel at about mile number 2 like everyone was ahead of me. I saw a sea of faster runners in front of me, became preoccupied with people who had passed me (a mom with a stroller!) and started to really doubt myself.


I was infected by these negative thoughts for maybe another half mile, at which point I glanced over my shoulder. To my surprise, there were also people behind me! And then I had this thought: "The people in front of you are just the people who are faster than you."

Sounds silly, maybe, but made all the difference in my outlook. Of course some people are faster than me! I'm not Flo-Jo! Plenty of people are faster than me. And some people are slower. But I'm not running to break records or win prizes.

I'm running for a really good excuse to go to Disney World. And probably wear a sparkly skirt.

Absolutely!!!!!

 

[JoyaDelMar]

Hi all!! I signed up for the PHM about 3 weeks ago and have spent the last 3 weeks reading through this thread on my morning commute. So many positive stories and great tips for a new runner like me.

I figured since I finally caught up, I better introduce myself; so hello!! I'm 26 and just picked up running in June; though I've had a secret wish to run a marathon my whole life. I figure if other people can do it, why can't I? (with training of course!!)

Ran my first practice 5K in August, the Castaway Cay 5K on September and thanks to all your suggestions and inspiring words, signed up and ran the New York Rock N Roll 10K last weekend. I did it mostly for corral placement (1:17 - I surprised myself!) but I think I've also been bitten by the race bug!!

Still very much learning and as a native Floridian, Im terrified as to how I'll keep up my training come this Winter; but I'm so incredibly happy to have found this community and look forward to learning more from and cheering each other on over the next 4 months!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[PrincessV]

Hey Princesses.....How do you keep your motivation going ??

The last couple of runs just have not been great for me and I just feel SO slow. I'm keeping up with my training programs for Tink and Princess but I just feel like my legs are full of cement. I just want to feel more motivated. I'm going to start cross training tonight so maybe that will give me the kick in the "tutu" that I need.

I would love to hear any thoughts/ideas ?

I think this is such an individual thing - but in my experience, when I hit that point, it's a sure sign that my body needs a BREAK. It's awfully hard mentally, but I'll skip a short run or two, swap out intense cross-training for yoga, and focus on eating right and getting plenty of sleep. Without fail, I'm rearing to go running again within a few days.

Looks like I'm in..... Well, booked a room at AoA and non-refundable air, but have not registered for the race yet.

I'ts filling up - 75% full for the race, 80% for retreat - so don't wait too long!

 

[VickiHD]

If anyone is interested in ordering a WISH running shirt Race Ready is taking orders right now. 1-800-537-6868.

I just placed my order.

 

[Mama_Dis]

Hi again! I registered for the PHM a few days ago and I'm so excited to be running it for the second time!

I'm feeling a bit slumpy right now too as I have an aggravated ankle that I'm trying to keep in good condition. I am running in my new Vibrams and having to keep all of my runs short to help build up my ankle strength.

Have we started to talk costumes anywhere yet?

 

[joan4mickey]

thanks for the response; I was actually asking about the princes, Eric, Prince Charming, Phillip, Naveen,Tarzan,etc. I've seen photos of them all together.
I'm a local so I'm not stopping for Princesses since they're there all the time but a chance at a picture with a group of Princes and a group of Villains is hard to pass

I believe they have been on the road back to EP the last 2 years..around mile 8ish

 

[debyeb7]

PHM vets, do you run with your camera in your hand? This will be my first half ever.. Just wondering where my things go!! I'm gonna want pics of this

 

[M likes the mouse]

Hello!

DH and I just registered for the PHM and the retreat! It will be our first half. We just did the TOT 10 miler and it was incredibly hard and I had to walk half of it. We finished with a pace of 16:09 when at home I ranged about 15:15. I have not been able to run since then.

It will definitely be a challenge to find a way to run. Where I live during the week there are not any gyms and the roads are not safe to run in the dark. At home during the weekend I will be able to do either a run or go to the gym on Saturday's and Sunday's. I'm wondering if two runs are going to be enough to progress, get ready and get faster. I'm thinking about walking to work (10 minutes each way) and do cross training with some weights I have at home.

Does anybody have any idea what else I could do to get ready for the race?

Thanks a lot!

 

[tinkeramy]

for all the repeat princesses running, where abouts on the course would you find all the princes and all the villains together? trying to plan out how fast to start because I know there will be a long line for these 2 groups

Oh, sorry - I read your post again and realize I misread it the first time. Yes, the princes are out on the road between Epcot and MK. Like Joan posted earlier, even if you see them on the way there, I would wait to catch them on the way back. Probably less of a line, and, practically speaking, it's still dark when you are passing them the first time. Your picture will turn out better if you wait until the sun is up.

PHM vets, do you run with your camera in your hand? This will be my first half ever.. Just wondering where my things go!! I'm gonna want pics of this

I do, but I'm used to it b/c I run with my phone in my hand - I obsessively look at my timing and my pacing. Some people use SpiBelts for tucking their camera.