Tinker Bell ½ Marathon Weekend ~ 2014 Check-in!

[kirstie101]

A friend of mine did it last year and LOVED it but yes, its a serious course. There is a reason they give you 5 hours to do it. But ya, if I had a guaranteed spot - I'd be there and kill myself to do it!

Ugh, Hills! I haven't even gone up a hill yet. I dont even like slight inclines! Gonna have to think about this one and then talk to DH. Its not cheap so I do need to factor in a night in SF as well as the reg fee.

 

[kindakrazy2]

Ugh, Hills! I haven't even gone up a hill yet. I dont even like slight inclines! Gonna have to think about this one and then talk to DH. Its not cheap so I do need to factor in a night in SF as well as the reg fee.

Who cares how hard it is - firefighters, tuxedos and tiffany jewelry - what more do you need? lol!

 

[kim3339]

Hi everyone! I'm back, just got home and am ready to go down again.
Not a good wknd for running, 5k was fun, but it was too much for my knee. In retrospect should have skipped that one. Had to drop out of the 1/2, b/c my knee was feeling way too weak for me to be comfortable. But that's ok, not every race will be a good one and I knew it'd be a challenge to do the race this year. But I was in DL so not a bad wknd overall. Loved Cars Land!!!

What do you think will happen? Do you think they will change the course? Change EMH that morning? Have us run through DCA anyway? I was hoping maybe the course would include a run through Carsland- it's so pretty there! But I can't imagine, at least with current crowds, they would do that with all those people on the street. So my dream is probably out.

Previous runners- what part of DCA did we run through? Can you mark up a map or something to give me an idea?

Asked about the pacers and the guy told me yes they'll have them at Tink.

For the DCA part of the course at the end, I think we came in near TOT and went through Bugs Land. We left Bugs to the old parking lot behind the park. How we got to Bugs from TOT don't remember, sorry. Maybe around Grizzly Run? And don't forget we go off at 5, so we'll be out by 9. They might only do EMH for DL and open DCA a little later. I can tell you that DCA wasn't open when we were running so that wasn't a prob. And when we're on DIsney way going into TOT they do a really good job of making sure people don't cut across in front of runners as they try to get into the park.

Help! A friend of mine is on a team doing the Nike half marathon in SF on 10/14 and they have a spot open that I could buy! Do I do it? I was going to try to get in next year but now I kinda want to do it this year since I have the opportunity and theres no guarantee I'd get in next year. I know I wont be at 13.1 running by 10/14. In fact the most I'll be at is 8 doing run/walk intervals. The time limit on it is like 5 hours so even if I walked the last 5 miles I could still finish and get the Tiffany necklace oh what to do?

It's a tough course. There's a hill from the Presidio to the GGB that is not fun and there's another right after that one that is just as bad. You go downhill after that one, but there are a couple of other big ones after the downhill again. The nice thing is you have that big down hill after the Cliff House before you go into GG Park. The plus is that you'll close to the water so hopefully there'll be some fog, there was last year. The start area is kinda a mess b/c they don't have corrals and it's literally wrapped around Union Square so it's a crowded free for all. But the support along the course is better than any race I've run b/c it's TnT's biggest race so their cheer groups are all over and loud and really great. You don't get the shirt until the finish and make sure you get the right one. There were a lot of complaints that people got one that said marathon and ran the 1/2 and vice versa and they didn't think to check when they were handed theirs so make sure you check if you run. The necklaces are really nice though, last year's was simple I love mine. And the fireman are nice to look at, really cute last year. Year before were so-so.

 

[BabieDuckie]

Tiffany necklace presented to you by an SF fireman in a tuxedo

Oh, yeah. Definitely putting my name in!

 

[ludari]

I am looking forward to this race again with my friends. We just finished the DL half this past weekend and it was a blast. The best part for me was running through Cars Land. I also enjoyed all the classic cars between mile markers 8 and 9. They didn't have that last year so it was a nice surprise. I know that the Tinker half has a different route than the DL half but I am crossing my fingers that at least it includes the same route inside the parks as the DL half. It was bit different than races past and I really enjoyed it.

 

[longhorns2]

Asked about the pacers and the guy told me yes they'll have them at Tink.

You soooo rock to remember that! Thank you! I'll be looking for them then.

Sorry about not finishing the half, but glad you went and had a good time regardless. Boo knee! BOO! I'm so tempted to do the 5K at Princess (not so much at Tink- lol) but fear the same issue. So I'll probably skip it.

 

[kirstie101]

Still no decision on Nike. I'm thinking about it.

Kim - Sorry you werent able to finish the half. Injuries suck!

I did 2.75 last night and it felt really good. I can tell its getting darker earlier now though. I have to keep moving up my run time or I get stuck out there with the sun down which makes me nervous.

 

[wdwrich]

Hi all. Had a great time this weekend at DL. DW and I ran the 5k and our daughter and her husband ran the half. Had lunch at White Water Snacks (in the GC) on Friday. Halfway through our meal, Jeff Galloway and his wife came in for lunch. Had a nice chat and took some photos after our meals. What a great way to start off the race weekend!

BTW, Cars Land is awesome. Got to ride Radiator Springs Racers twice on Friday!

 

[wdwrich]

P.S. For those wanting to get fast passes for Radiator Springs Racers first thing when DCA opens, please note:

1- There is a separate queue that forms just inside the park for RSR fast passes. You do not go all the way into Cars Land to get the fast passes.

2- The fast passes usually run out by mid morning.

 

[kindakrazy2]

I just booked my flight!!!!

WOOOHOOOOOO!!!

I'm really going to do this!

Dancing bananas to celebrate!

 

[kim3339]

Still no decision on Nike. I'm thinking about it.

I can tell its getting darker earlier now though. I have to keep moving up my run time or I get stuck out there with the sun down which makes me nervous.

If you decide not to do Nike that weekend, there's a race for the Pumpkin Festival over at Half Moon Bay. They do a 5/10k and it starts before the festival so you don't have to deal w/ all that crazy traffic. And the great thing is if you reg before 10/10, it's only $25 and you get a tee-shirt and a pumpkin!! Just throwin it out there, I'm thinking about doing that 1. Did the 5k a couple of years ago and it was fun.

I noticed the darkness last night too! It was around 7-7:30 and I looked outside and it was darker already and not b/c of the clouds.

I saw this little guy and had to use him! I love it, if it was a brace and not crutches that would've been me this past weekend!

 

[kirstie101]

Sarah - congrats on booking your flight! Makes it feel so more real!

DH put in his request for Friday and Monday off work. Hopefully he'll get approved. But anyway that made it feel even more real for me.

Kim - thanks for the info! Actually that is an awesome idea for a fall race - I wish someone around here would do one like that.

I'm 99% sure I'm gonna do Nike! One of my friends said I could share a room with her so that will help with the costs. I just changed hotels for my 10K next weekend to save $100 to also help out with the cash flow. My longest run by the time I do Nike will have been 8 miles. So I figure no reason I can't add one mile onto that on race day. Then I'll just plan on walking up to 4 miles if I need to. And since I dont have any hill training under my belt I'll take it easy on the smaller ones and walk the steeper ones. I'm scared but excited at the same time! Plus I figure it will help me mentally with Tink, knowing I've done the distance already.

 

[kindakrazy2]

I'm 99% sure I'm gonna do Nike! One of my friends said I could share a room with her so that will help with the costs. I just changed hotels for my 10K next weekend to save $100 to also help out with the cash flow. My longest run by the time I do Nike will have been 8 miles. So I figure no reason I can't add one mile onto that on race day. Then I'll just plan on walking up to 4 miles if I need to. And since I dont have any hill training under my belt I'll take it easy on the smaller ones and walk the steeper ones. I'm scared but excited at the same time! Plus I figure it will help me mentally with Tink, knowing I've done the distance already.

Awesome!

 

[BabieDuckie]

I'm 99% sure I'm gonna do Nike! One of my friends said I could share a room with her so that will help with the costs. I just changed hotels for my 10K next weekend to save $100 to also help out with the cash flow. My longest run by the time I do Nike will have been 8 miles. So I figure no reason I can't add one mile onto that on race day. Then I'll just plan on walking up to 4 miles if I need to. And since I dont have any hill training under my belt I'll take it easy on the smaller ones and walk the steeper ones. I'm scared but excited at the same time! Plus I figure it will help me mentally with Tink, knowing I've done the distance already.

YAY!! Tiffany's necklace and hot firemen in tuxedos! I'm inspired that you've decided to do this! I'd love to hear all about it after you've finished. Good luck to you!

 

[MVBowers111]

I haven't read all of this thread so maybe this has been answered, but does anyone know why the Tink 1/2 starts at 5 am? We just got back from running the Disneyland 1/2 and it started at 5:45...I'm used to running races at 6 am but 5 just seems so early. Surely it's not hot in January and the parks don't even open til 9 or 10, so what's up with the early start?

It still won't keep me from running it, but I'm curious! Good luck to all who are running it in January. I'm looking forward to running it in 2014. It looks awesome!

 

[longhorns2]

I dont know why 5am--- I assume it might have something to do with the city, or the holiday weekend. I know DL was also on a holiday, but I'd guess there's some conflict with the roads or maybe something else (convention wise) going on that necessitates the roads being cleared sooner.

Or it could be the desire to open DCA earlier than they did last year (10am open last year) With Carsland and all the hoopla, it just might have changed a bit of the planning from Disney. Rather than change the route, they are running us early in order to open a bit earlier perhaps.

Who knows?

Personally, I'm cool with earlier runs- less chance of getting too hot for those of us running 3 hr halves. I'll take cold over hot at the end myself.

GL Kristie! I think that's a great plan- run what you can and walk what you need to do.

Awesome on flight arrangements Sarah! WOOT!

 

[kim3339]

I'm 99% sure I'm gonna do Nike! One of my friends said I could share a room with her so that will help with the costs. I just changed hotels for my 10K next weekend to save $100 to also help out with the cash flow. My longest run by the time I do Nike will have been 8 miles. So I figure no reason I can't add one mile onto that on race day. Then I'll just plan on walking up to 4 miles if I need to. And since I dont have any hill training under my belt I'll take it easy on the smaller ones and walk the steeper ones. I'm scared but excited at the same time! Plus I figure it will help me mentally with Tink, knowing I've done the distance already.

Yay!! You'll have a lot of fun. And you'll have to post a pic of the necklace. As for hill training, if you have access to a treadmill, try to work some run/walks in, any little bit will help. Also, heads up about the "expo"... it's not really an expo but a tent at Union Square. So make sure you bring your own gus/chomps and anything you'll need for the race b/c they don't have anything there. Race shirts and things like that are in the Nike Store and bring a camera b/c the list all the names of the runners on the outside of the store on the windows.

I haven't read all of this thread so maybe this has been answered, but does anyone know why the Tink 1/2 starts at 5 am? We just got back from running the Disneyland 1/2 and it started at 5:45...I'm used to running races at 6 am but 5 just seems so early. Surely it's not hot in January and the parks don't even open til 9 or 10, so what's up with the early start?

I think like Patty said it could be b/c of the holiday weekend or they want to try out the 5am start and maybe change the other races. I wish the DL 1/2 would start that early. And around mile 11 1/2 to 12 1/2 we were in DCA so maybe they want enough time for everyone to finish and be able to clear the park before it opens.

Tink this year was the last weekend in Jan and while 2 weeks probably doesn't really make a big difference, it was actually a little warm this year. Not as warm as last weekend, but I was fine in capris and a short sleeve ~ no gloves, sleeves or long tights, even as I walked over to the start that morning. They were giving out the foil blankets, but there wasn't really a need for them.

 

[kim3339]

Just updated the list in post #2 of everyone running. I think I have everyone, but if I forgot you, let me know and I'll add you to the list.

 

[LuvSulley]

Just updated the list in post #2 of everyone running. I think I have everyone, but if I forgot you, let me know and I'll add you to the list.

Can you add the 1/2 to my name? I'm doing both!

I'm going to start the training program tomorrow.. got sick at DL last weekend so I couldn't start on Tuesday. The 5k was fun but made me realize how much work I need to do to get ready for Tinker! I was kind of disappointed that the 5K medal was plastic.. oh wells.. that just gives me more motivation to finish the half so I can get the heavy medal

 

[longhorns2]

What's the training look like for everyone?

I'm doing 45-55 min runs 2xs a week, and then one more progressively long run. this week the "long" will be 4 miles. Similar to Galloways plan, but not exactly. I'm doing 1:1 running right now, but thinking I may try 30:30 to see if that helps speed (some people claim it really did for them- who knows?)