Which race for first half? Princess or Marathon weekend?

[mikamah]

Congratulations on training for your first half!!

I am doing the princess next month as my first half, and from all I've heard and read, you can't go wrong with either. I am amazed at the support and inspiration for this race here, and on other websites, and can only imagine what it will be like to be there.

I started run/walking last spring, and did my first 5k which was a local womens race, and I felt so comfortable and the commraderie was great. I have done 3 other 5k's that were co-ed, and they were great, and truly men and women were all supportive, but I, as an overweight, self conscious woman, definitely felt more comfortable in the woman's race. Definitely my issues, and I've come a long way from last february when I would only run at the park where noone would see me, to running all around town now.

They do have the kids races princess weekend too, and for me, it fell at the end of ds's school vacation, so that worked out well.

Good luck with your choice.

( Hello MikeofRoseandMike hope you'll pop on the BL princess thread and say hello sometime.)

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Having not done Princess or January, I will still point out you may be throwing out Wine&Dine prematurely.
It has the advantage of being about the right distance from now to get ready for it. It was DW and my first disney race. I would recommend running a local race before travelling for Disney, it takes a lot of the pressure off.

The disadvantage of the Wine & Dine for a first race may be the time factor. The good thing about morning races is that it is practical to continue moving throughout the day like you should. If you aren't a night owl that stays up all night regularly, you will run into some serious issues with this. Fatigue may end up working against someone properly recovering after the race.

The first race is always a learning experience but you want the odds to be for you recovering afterwards. JMHO. I think that there is nothing better than to start with a Disney race. There are rewards with that - a vacation and pretty fancy medal!

 

[DizGirl20]

I too just started thinking about running my first half at Disney. Just how late is the W&D HM? I am very much a night owl and the thought of getting up at some ungodly hour of the morning does not appeal to me. So I guess I might as well ask... what are the starting times for Jan/Princess HM? Thanks!

 

[queen mimi]

The inaugural Princess was my first half. The next year I did the Donald in January and the Princess again in March. Having experienced both of them, I was very happy that I choose the Princess as my first race. I just find the group of thousands of women racing together very empowering. It was just so much fun laughing, talking and supporting each other. you don't have to be a super athlete or a "girly-girl." (Actually, if you finish any Half Marathon, you are a super athlete!!) It just has a different feel about it than the January Half does. I haven't done the January race again, but I would never miss a Princess Half. I have done Half Marathons in 5 other locations and the Princess is still my favorite. But you really can't go wrong with either one.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I too just started thinking about running my first half at Disney. Just how late is the W&D HM? I am very much a night owl and the thought of getting up at some ungodly hour of the morning does not appeal to me. So I guess I might as well ask... what are the starting times for Jan/Princess HM? Thanks!

It starts at 10 p.m. So, you may be finished around midnight, 1 a.m.

The Jan Half Marathon is around 6 a.m. (but you have to be in your corral by 5:30 a.m.) and the same goes for the Princess. Most people end up getting there by 4:30 a.m. I am not a morning person AT ALL. Yet, you are so excited/nervous/anxious about the race that you get zero sleep the night before. I would rather continue and race at that point, then try to take a nap before the W&D. I just think that I would be so much more tired with the W&D. But, I may do it this year and see how things go...I thought it would be great to not have to get up so early but reading race reports and hearing others experiences, I am convinced that it wouldn't have the advantage I thought it would.

 

[DizGirl20]

Thanks for the info... and now I can see why one would rather run in the morning. 10pm is a bit too late, even for a night owl!

 

[dismagiclover]

I've never run the Princess so I can't compare the two races. However, training would be much tougher here in MD for the princess because of the weather. For the January races the longest runs are done in December and yes it is cold, but there isn't near as much snow and ice as there is during January and February. If I did the princess I'd have to do those long training runs on the treadmill and I wouldn't enjoy those one bit.

 

[DrMomof3]

The January 1/2 was 1st race ever so I have nothing to compare. I found the whole weekend to be incredibly inspirational! It really motivated me to run more, sign up for more races, and push myself to new heights! I never felt slighted for "only" running the 1/2. I loved talking to those who ran the full and the Goofy and saw possibilities for my future! Before the race I always said that I had no interest in running a full marathon. Now? I'm seriously considering it for next January. Without the full and the Goofy happening that weekend, I may not be training for a full!
Disney does these races well. You will have a great experience regardless of which you choose. I would go for whichever works better with your schedule.

Amanda

 

[sunshine269]

I'm thinking about doing my first 1/2 too. I want to do the wine and dine. I'm not a morning person at all, plus I thought it would be cooler at night. I'm doing the 5k at princess weekend, I've never done a race before, so wanted to do this one for fun. If I'm not able to do W&D this year, I'll do the 2012 princess. Who knows, might do both

Jennifer

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

Jennifer (or anyone else): I too have been thinking about doing the Wine and Dine, but as a relay team. I have read that one person does 5 miles then the other does 8 miles. I am not sure I will be ready for the entire thing in October, but I bet I could do half that.

My problem: no one to be my partner. We will be down during the W&D, but my husband has absolutly no interest in running. Has anyone every meet an online friend to partner with?

 

[stitchfan18]

Jennifer (or anyone else): I too have been thinking about doing the Wine and Dine, but as a relay team. I have read that one person does 5 miles then the other does 8 miles. I am not sure I will be ready for the entire thing in October, but I bet I could do half that.

My problem: no one to be my partner. We will be down during the W&D, but my husband has absolutly no interest in running. Has anyone every meet an online friend to partner with?

I did the wine and dine as a training run for my first 1/2 marathon, and it was a blast. I ran with my sister in law last year, but I'm sure you could find someone to run with on here!

 

[fashionista311]

I'm thinking about doing my first 1/2 too. I want to do the wine and dine. I'm not a morning person at all, plus I thought it would be cooler at night. I'm doing the 5k at princess weekend, I've never done a race before, so wanted to do this one for fun. If I'm not able to do W&D this year, I'll do the 2012 princess. Who knows, might do both

Jennifer

fyi - I wouldn't bet on better weather for wine and dine than for the princess. from (personal) experience living in Florida, it doesn't really get cool until after Thanksgiving. Then you will get sporadic cold fronts from Dec-early March...and in between it's around the low 70s. Based on personal experience, It's usually still extremely hot (and humid!) in the beginning of October...but here's the averages from halfmarathon.net for the two races

Wine & Dine
"In October, the area's average monthly temperatures range between 84°F and 65°F -- on Oct. 1, the average high is 87°F and the average low is 68°F -- while rainfall totals average just over 3.1 inches for the month."

Princess
"Located just a few miles northeast of the Walt Disney World resort, the city of Orlando typically experiences mild to moderately warm weather conditions in the early spring season, and typically drier weather in the spring than in the summer months. In March, the city's average monthly temperatures range between 79°F and 56°F, while rainfall amounts average just over 3.5 inches for the month"

 

[luvdiz2]

This will be my first Princess, done January five tmrw and love the energy. Saw the bling for the Princess at the Expo and signed up that day. Never fond of the Donald metal (please change it) and LOVED the crown!