The New *Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread*

[Gryhndmom]

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 often have those days and running coach says this far out it is "okay" to have some off days and not to feel like training for the race. He says unless it is a really bad day, try at least to get half the workout done even if I have to walk all of it. Cross training is great....it's amazing how a little pilates or hula dvd breaks up the running all the time (and yes...I thought the hula workout dvd would be easy but no way jose...there's reason those girls have great abs and legs! )

I also push through the workouts thinking of my Dad...he is a Vietnam veteran/career military who has Dementia...I want to do the PHM for him while he still knows who I am and can remember at least for a few minutes that I did a half marathon.

 

[Gryhndmom]

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!

I do much of my workouts on the treadmill as I live out in the country so no street lights, thus not safe to run early mornings or at night. I know the Galloway plan on the Disney race site has two training days per week (30 min ea) with the long run on the weekend. I also do cross training at home with weights and still waiting on my arms looking as good as Princess V !

I'll have to go to a running track or a friends neighborhood that has street lights in the next few weeks to get me off the treadmill and more on the streets. There will be many running/walking the race so don't feel bad or defeated. You have plenty of time to train for a 15 min or 14 min mile which will give you a time cushion since Disney lists 3:30 for the race though I know some girls on the thread have said they have seen Disney let people finish in longer than 3:30.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

HI All, I have not been on here for a while. Please forgive me.

Last year before the 2012 race, someone made Wish Princess Bondi Bands
I did order them and gave then out to my whole group. I have just lost mine.

Do you still have one that I could re buy?

 

[Princess on the Run]

I'm having motivational problems lately too. Between my new shoes that I don't love, all the rain we're getting and my gimp knee, it's been hard to get myself out there. Tough Mudder is Saturday and I feel like I peaked on my training 3-4 months ago and now it's just "meh." Could use some right about now!!

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

I'm having motivational problems lately too. Between my new shoes that I don't love, all the rain we're getting and my gimp knee, it's been hard to get myself out there. Tough Mudder is Saturday and I feel like I peaked on my training 3-4 months ago and now it's just "meh." Could use some right about now!!

you are not alone the monster half is this Sunday and I have done nothing this week but eat!

 

[Princess on the Run]

you are not alone the monster half is this Sunday and I have done nothing this week but eat!

OMG me too!!!! I don't know if it's the rain or fall arriving in full force but I am constantly shoving food in my face lately!!!

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

OMG me too!!!! I don't know if it's the rain or fall arriving in full force but I am constantly shoving food in my face lately!!!

tonight instead of doing a workout DVD I ate the crap out of some taco's. LOL!! I can't remember, your doing the hot chocolate right? 5k or 15 K?

 

[Princess on the Run]

tonight instead of doing a workout DVD I ate the crap out of some taco's. LOL!! I can't remember, your doing the hot chocolate right? 5k or 15 K?

15K -- hoping to use it for corral placement so I better get off my duff and get some miles on those new shoes before then. I'm wearing my Vibrams for Tough Mudder since it's all off road.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

15K -- hoping to use it for corral placement so I better get off my duff and get some miles on those new shoes before then. I'm wearing my Vibrams for Tough Mudder since it's all off road.

the 15K will be packed at first, it may take a few miles to get some room to get your pace where you want it to be. I am hopeing I can get under 2:44 for the monster half and use that time for placement for disney.
But now my IT band is bothing me. That is kind of why I have not done anything this week.

 

[joan4mickey]

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 carry a small point and shoot camera and second the spibelt.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

I carry a small point and shoot camera and second the spibelt.

I had a small camera too the first year then I got a better cell phone so I just used my cell phone

 

[Dreamer2012]

I do much of my workouts on the treadmill as I live out in the country so no street lights, thus not safe to run early mornings or at night. I know the Galloway plan on the Disney race site has two training days per week (30 min ea) with the long run on the weekend. I also do cross training at home with weights and still waiting on my arms looking as good as Princess V !

I'll have to go to a running track or a friends neighborhood that has street lights in the next few weeks to get me off the treadmill and more on the streets. There will be many running/walking the race so don't feel bad or defeated. You have plenty of time to train for a 15 min or 14 min mile which will give you a time cushion since Disney lists 3:30 for the race though I know some girls on the thread have said they have seen Disney let people finish in longer than 3:30.

Just wamted to say my time last year was 3:33:22 and there were A LOT of people behind me...my friend was more than a half hour later and there were still 21 finishers behind her...

 

[VickiHD]

I often have those days and running coach says this far out it is "okay" to have some off days and not to feel like training for the race. He says unless it is a really bad day, try at least to get half the workout done even if I have to walk all of it. Cross training is great....it's amazing how a little pilates or hula dvd breaks up the running all the time (and yes...I thought the hula workout dvd would be easy but no way jose...there's reason those girls have great abs and legs! )

I also push through the workouts thinking of my Dad...he is a Vietnam veteran/career military who has Dementia...I want to do the PHM for him while he still knows who I am and can remember at least for a few minutes that I did a half marathon.

I love the suggestion of Hula !!!! I did have a better run tonight on the treadmill. I always feel better after a workout. Getting started is the hard part sometimes.

I'm sure you Dad will be very proud of you participating in the race.

 

[VickiHD]

OMG me too!!!! I don't know if it's the rain or fall arriving in full force but I am constantly shoving food in my face lately!!!

Me too !!! Eating too much !!! For me it's the shorter days. I wake up in the dark and it's getting dark SO early. I'm just not a Fall/Winter girl. I need the endless summer.

 

[kindakrazy2]

The Turkey Trot was fabulous - perfect weather, crisp and clear, and the leaves were all changing colours along Granville Island. Only annoyance was the number of people who ignored the request for strollers to start at the back of the race and were ducking and weaving through the crowd. (That's one of my big pet peeves at races.)

Are you in Vancouver as well? Are you doing the James Cunningham Seawall costume race at the end of the month? I'm hoping to test out my costume for the Princess Half there.

Erin

I am in Vancouver - well, Maple Ridge to be exact!

I just did the Energizer Night Race last weekend around the seawall - that was a fun race. Was incredible to look ahead around the seawall and see the ribbon of light from the headlamps they gave us.

I'm not doing the Cunningham because I have my kids that weekend but I really want to!

I hear you on the stroller issue during races. I actually don't like running races when they let them on the course at all. But maybe I'm just a race snob! lol!

I'm having motivational problems lately too. Between my new shoes that I don't love, all the rain we're getting and my gimp knee, it's been hard to get myself out there. Tough Mudder is Saturday and I feel like I peaked on my training 3-4 months ago and now it's just "meh." Could use some right about now!!

Sending lots of pixie dust your way! Keep your tiara up Princess - you can do it!

OMG me too!!!! I don't know if it's the rain or fall arriving in full force but I am constantly shoving food in my face lately!!!

ME TOO!!!! Its embarrassing actually just how much I am eating right now. Of course I'm justifying it by saying "I'm training soooooo hard right now"

 

[annmarieda]

Okay.. add me to the eating way more than normal group! What is up? I never am this famished! And... I am craving salt... I keep trying to tell myself that I need to listen to my body...and if it wants a cheeseburger (two days in a row) I must be needing something. I just figured that between the vary taxing 10k on sunday that I ran... along with a very physically draining work week... AND still running over 8 miles this week.... I needed the extra calories. I am still so tired...and hungry. I am so glad tomorrow my work is just on the computer and I won't be running tomorrow... cause come sat, I hope to get in 7 miles.

So a couple new questions for me to ask...

1. Do you think I should start a c2 half marathon training? Like an ap on my iphone? I currently run at about a 10 1/2 minute pace...and I can run without walking at least 7 miles. Or should I just continue to run what I feel like running (which is usually a couple 4 or 5 mile runs in the week and then a longer one on the weekend)- while making sure that the distance in the longer weekend run eventually hits a 13 or 14 mile mark

2. I love to run and will continue the training regardless... but what happens if I end up not being able to go to FL for the PHM? I know registration is non refundable, but can I transfer it... defer it... ???

 

[PrincessV]

PHM vets, do you run with your camera in your hand?

I'm not a PHM vet, but I've had some experience with camera in races... Because I keep my iPhone in an armband, I carried a small point-n-shoot for pics, thinking it would be easier than taking the arm band off. For two 5Ks, it worked; I had no problems carrying the camera through the race. For the TOT 10-Miler, I was close to tossing my camera at the side of the course by about Mile 5. My hands were sweaty, making it hard to grip, it was one more distraction when I was trying to focus on pace/injury status/the crowd around me/hydrating and eating properly/etc. I did put it into my Spibelt for a while, but then it bounced around, annoying me further. I took so few pics, I vowed never to carry the camera again - I'll just pull my iPhone out from now on.

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 feel your pain - I wound up with an average pace of 16:20, when my norm has been in the 12:45-13: range. The upside is we can only get faster!

I'm wondering if two runs are going to be enough to progress, get ready and get faster.

Maybe - my biggest concern is that by only doing 2 runs, your weekly mileage could be increasing too much too soon per workout, instead of spreading it out, which could put a lot more stress on your body (read: result in injury.) I'm not sure how you could increase weekly mileage, work on speed, AND keep making the long runs longer with only 2 days to work with. But I'm not an expert; I can only speak from my own experience.

1. Do you think I should start a c2 half marathon training? Like an ap on my iphone? I currently run at about a 10 1/2 minute pace...and I can run without walking at least 7 miles. Or should I just continue to run what I feel like running (which is usually a couple 4 or 5 mile runs in the week and then a longer one on the weekend)- while making sure that the distance in the longer weekend run eventually hits a 13 or 14 mile mark

I think it depends on what helps keep you motivated and on track. I hate math, so calculating mileage per week, etc. is not a happy thought; I'm happy to follow a plan someone else created and just look at my calendar to see what I'm doing each day, lol!

2. I love to run and will continue the training regardless... but what happens if I end up not being able to go to FL for the PHM? I know registration is non refundable, but can I transfer it... defer it... ???

There is an ability to defer: this form explains.

 

[annmarieda]

I think it depends on what helps keep you motivated and on track. I hate math, so calculating mileage per week, etc. is not a happy thought; I'm happy to follow a plan someone else created and just look at my calendar to see what I'm doing each day, lol!

There is an ability to defer: this form explains.

When training for the tot, I used an ap and that is exactly what I moved about it.... I didn't need to think about what to do.

Thanks for the info on deferring! Better to defer and hope to make it next year than to just bail completely... But too bad I couldn't use it for tot.. I know I will do that one again!

 

[Cripey]

Okay.. add me to the eating way more than normal group! What is up? I never am this famished! And... I am craving salt... I keep trying to tell myself that I need to listen to my body...and if it wants a cheeseburger (two days in a row) I must be needing something. I just figured that between the vary taxing 10k on sunday that I ran... along with a very physically draining work week... AND still running over 8 miles this week.... I needed the extra calories. I am still so tired...and hungry. I am so glad tomorrow my work is just on the computer and I won't be running tomorrow... cause come sat, I hope to get in 7 miles

Could the salt craving be because your body is needing it replaced from your workouts? Do you take in any elecrolytes (gatorade, powerade, supplements, etc.) during your runs? If you're just taking in water and not any sort of electrolytes, that may be what your body is begging for...especially on or after longer runs. If you don't like the sweetness of sports drinks, you could try Nuun tabs in your water (which I personally do not like the taste of at all, but I know alot of people do) or some other form of electrolyte replacement.

 

[annmarieda]

Could the salt craving be because your body is needing it replaced from your workouts? Do you take in any elecrolytes (gatorade, powerade, supplements, etc.) during your runs? If you're just taking in water and not any sort of electrolytes, that may be what your body is begging for...especially on or after longer runs. If you don't like the sweetness of sports drinks, you could try Nuun tabs in your water (which I personally do not like the taste of at all, but I know alot of people do) or some other form of electrolyte replacement.

That is what I thought too. However.. I do drink power aide or nuun. I also eat sports beans and sometimes after a recovery power aid