I am planning to run my very first runDisney race the PHM!! I am so excited!! I haven't ran any races at all yet, 5k etc. so I am extremely nervous on being prepared and ready. I plan to do 4 5k's and 2 10k's before the deadline to turn in change of time. I am currently averaging a pace of about 13.9 min/mil. With the occasional stops for characters I am worried this may not be sufficient enough to keep from being picked up by the sweepers?!?! Tell me about your experience with the Disney character stops and your time... I need to reassurance! Ekk! Thanks!!!!!!
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Banzai
Member
Welcome aboard. You found the right place. The folks on this forum are real helpful and supportive. I'm also a newbie to Disney races and planning my first effort for the Wine and Dine Half in November so I can't offer any personal experience. I can, however, point you at some great trip reports from past races. There is actually a sub-forum titled trip reports. you can find it on the main page. There are lots of rce reports in there. Another option is to look for links from Ariel484 or Kristia. They have good trip reports linked in their signature block.They both have several replies in the Wine and Dine forum. You'll find that almost any good trip report has relevant info for any race so don't just focus on the Princess reports.
Banzai
Member
If you are currently doing just under 14, I suspect you'll be in great shape by the time of the PHM. That's 6 months away and, if you can do even 12 or 13 minute miles, you should be more than good. The more popular characters sometimes have longer lines, so, don't stop if you're worried at teh time. Play it by ear. From what I hear, many of them have shorter lines.
Kristia
Well-Known Member
Hi and welcome to the group! As Banzai said, you still have 6 months to go so you should be in great shape by race time. Definitely try to get those 10ks under your belt to try and have a time to submit to runDisney. If you can move up from the last corral a little bit, it will give you a little leeway on the time limit. The 16 min/mile clock starts after the last person crosses the start line so everyone ahead of that person has a little extra time. That definitely benefitted me during my last marathon. Not a pretty experience! The character lines USUALLY move pretty quickly, but the more popular characters usually have long lines. I haven't ever done the Princess but you can check out my race reports which are linked in my sig! @Ariel484 has done the princess and she has her marathon reports on her sig as well. Good luck in your training! Thanks for the shout out @Banzai!
imagination30
Well-Known Member
crazy .. texas , did you say crazy!!! , fish are friends not food!
but jump right in and beware of donald duck aka . nick!, but we are a family around here~
but jump right in and beware of donald duck aka . nick!, but we are a family around here~
Ariel484
Well-Known Member
Helloooooooo
My Princess Half time was 3:03ish (2011)...about a 13.7 minute/mile and I stopped for almost every character. I ran a half at home a few months later in 2:35, so character stops added almost 30 minutes for me. Plan on the 6th mile being your longest - it's the one that goes through the Magic Kingdom and where you'll find the most characters. Lines for rare characters are longest, as @Kristia said, and they are also longer in the earlier miles of the race. When you get toward the end you'll find that almost no one will be stopping for pics - it's just about surviving and making it to the finish by then. The lines should move quickly...there are no autograph books and there are normally 2 character attendants at each stop - one taking the current picture and the other getting the next camera ready. The one at the bad of the castle will always be long...normally that'll be a prince/princess pairing switching out with Royal Mickey and Minnie. Oh, AND...make sure to keep your eyes peeled at the finish. There are normally characters there that will stop for pictures and almost everyone else will pass them. It's a super great way to get a picture with the finish in the background, and the characters will be in royal attire. Like so:
Do keep proper race etiquette in mind: you may see a picture you want across the course. Be aware of who is around you and try to give notice that you'll be crossing the course or stopping for a picture, otherwise you may end up slamming into someone. Not a very magical experience.
Personally, when I train for these things I don't do it with a goal time in mind. I just try to aim to get in good enough shape so that I can complete the distance within the allotted time while feeling great and being able to take it all in (no record-breaking times here). There's nothing like running in Disney...you'll love it.
My Princess Half time was 3:03ish (2011)...about a 13.7 minute/mile and I stopped for almost every character. I ran a half at home a few months later in 2:35, so character stops added almost 30 minutes for me. Plan on the 6th mile being your longest - it's the one that goes through the Magic Kingdom and where you'll find the most characters. Lines for rare characters are longest, as @Kristia said, and they are also longer in the earlier miles of the race. When you get toward the end you'll find that almost no one will be stopping for pics - it's just about surviving and making it to the finish by then. The lines should move quickly...there are no autograph books and there are normally 2 character attendants at each stop - one taking the current picture and the other getting the next camera ready. The one at the bad of the castle will always be long...normally that'll be a prince/princess pairing switching out with Royal Mickey and Minnie. Oh, AND...make sure to keep your eyes peeled at the finish. There are normally characters there that will stop for pictures and almost everyone else will pass them. It's a super great way to get a picture with the finish in the background, and the characters will be in royal attire. Like so:
Do keep proper race etiquette in mind: you may see a picture you want across the course. Be aware of who is around you and try to give notice that you'll be crossing the course or stopping for a picture, otherwise you may end up slamming into someone. Not a very magical experience.
Personally, when I train for these things I don't do it with a goal time in mind. I just try to aim to get in good enough shape so that I can complete the distance within the allotted time while feeling great and being able to take it all in (no record-breaking times here). There's nothing like running in Disney...you'll love it.
Donald Duck
Tonga Toast Killer
Welcome. Listen to everyone except me. Best of luck.
Katherine
Well-Known Member
Welcome!
Since you are submitting a time that will mean you won't be in the last corral and will put some time and distance between you and the sweeper so I wouldn't be too worried. A healthy dose of concern for sweepers is good so you aren't treating the race like a stroll in the park, but don't sacrifice fun or character stops for it!
As you start to run more you'll find your comfortable pace and be able to potentially improve your pace as you train! Good luck!
Since you are submitting a time that will mean you won't be in the last corral and will put some time and distance between you and the sweeper so I wouldn't be too worried. A healthy dose of concern for sweepers is good so you aren't treating the race like a stroll in the park, but don't sacrifice fun or character stops for it!
As you start to run more you'll find your comfortable pace and be able to potentially improve your pace as you train! Good luck!
fmingo36
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the running forum! My first race was the Princess 1/2. I had done no running previously to the start of my princess 1/2 training. I was completely new to running! I finished in just over 3 hrs. (with a stomach bug and a bummed knee). I also took pictures of EVERY character and every mile marker.
You have PLENTY of time to get ready.
You have PLENTY of time to get ready.
disneygirl76
Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
Great question! You are doing great! I just started running and when I started, I couldn't break the 16 min mile for more then 2 miles. So i'm freaked out about this as well!! But we have so much time to train and do races! I plan on stopping at every character and doing races before then so that I can move up from the last corral. I am doing the c25k program and really training on other strength - squats and crunches and lifting weights. You will do great! And this forum is SO supportive!!!! Welcome!!!!!!!!
disneygirl76
Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
Helloooooooo
My Princess Half time was 3:03ish (2011)...about a 13.7 minute/mile and I stopped for almost every character. I ran a half at home a few months later in 2:35, so character stops added almost 30 minutes for me. Plan on the 6th mile being your longest - it's the one that goes through the Magic Kingdom and where you'll find the most characters. Lines for rare characters are longest, as @Kristia said, and they are also longer in the earlier miles of the race. When you get toward the end you'll find that almost no one will be stopping for pics - it's just about surviving and making it to the finish by then. The lines should move quickly...there are no autograph books and there are normally 2 character attendants at each stop - one taking the current picture and the other getting the next camera ready. The one at the bad of the castle will always be long...normally that'll be a prince/princess pairing switching out with Royal Mickey and Minnie. Oh, AND...make sure to keep your eyes peeled at the finish. There are normally characters there that will stop for pictures and almost everyone else will pass them. It's a super great way to get a picture with the finish in the background, and the characters will be in royal attire. Like so:
Do keep proper race etiquette in mind: you may see a picture you want across the course. Be aware of who is around you and try to give notice that you'll be crossing the course or stopping for a picture, otherwise you may end up slamming into someone. Not a very magical experience.
Personally, when I train for these things I don't do it with a goal time in mind. I just try to aim to get in good enough shape so that I can complete the distance within the allotted time while feeling great and being able to take it all in (no record-breaking times here). There's nothing like running in Disney...you'll love it.
Great pics! Thank you for sharing!
Sumrdog
Well-Known Member
Hello! I am so excited for you! I just ran the Princess Half last February and I had so much fun!! I don't really have much to add to all the excellent advice that has already been said, other than you can do this! Find a training program that you can work around in your life and stick to it consistently. It sounds like you're already off to a good start. I only started running five years ago myself, I went from couch to full marathon in 11 months and I am not one of those born athletic types...
If you want to read another trip report mine from the Princess Half is linked in my signature line below, I think reading the trip reports will give you a really good feel for what to expect. Have fun! Please keep us posted on how your training is going!
If you want to read another trip report mine from the Princess Half is linked in my signature line below, I think reading the trip reports will give you a really good feel for what to expect. Have fun! Please keep us posted on how your training is going!
Sumrdog
Well-Known Member
I think that might be Donald Duck's coolest outfit ever...I am a little jealous, he was wearing a track suit at the finish line this year.Helloooooooo
My Princess Half time was 3:03ish (2011)...about a 13.7 minute/mile and I stopped for almost every character. I ran a half at home a few months later in 2:35, so character stops added almost 30 minutes for me. Plan on the 6th mile being your longest - it's the one that goes through the Magic Kingdom and where you'll find the most characters. Lines for rare characters are longest, as @Kristia said, and they are also longer in the earlier miles of the race. When you get toward the end you'll find that almost no one will be stopping for pics - it's just about surviving and making it to the finish by then. The lines should move quickly...there are no autograph books and there are normally 2 character attendants at each stop - one taking the current picture and the other getting the next camera ready. The one at the bad of the castle will always be long...normally that'll be a prince/princess pairing switching out with Royal Mickey and Minnie. Oh, AND...make sure to keep your eyes peeled at the finish. There are normally characters there that will stop for pictures and almost everyone else will pass them. It's a super great way to get a picture with the finish in the background, and the characters will be in royal attire. Like so:
Do keep proper race etiquette in mind: you may see a picture you want across the course. Be aware of who is around you and try to give notice that you'll be crossing the course or stopping for a picture, otherwise you may end up slamming into someone. Not a very magical experience.
Personally, when I train for these things I don't do it with a goal time in mind. I just try to aim to get in good enough shape so that I can complete the distance within the allotted time while feeling great and being able to take it all in (no record-breaking times here). There's nothing like running in Disney...you'll love it.
JillC LI
Well-Known Member
Welcome aboard! I can't give you tips specifically about the PHM, but if you need any support with your training, you've come to the right forum. Isn't it great that Disney gives so many people a reason to want to run! As long as you're consistent with your training, you'll do fine.
joel_maxwell
Permanent Resident of EPCOT
Ariel484
Well-Known Member
One other thing I forgot to add...if you're concerned about adding time with character stops, it might not be a bad idea to look at some older Princess Half trip reports so that you can get an idea of where the stops are and what characters may be out. The line-ups can definitely change from year-to-year, but they seem to use some characters and locations over and over, so you might get an idea of who you can skip. For example, there will almost certainly be characters in front of the Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland, in front of the Mad Tea Party and the castle in Fantasyland, at the entrance to Liberty Square after you run through the castle, etc. Some of the characters are rare (Louis with Tiana and Naveen at the entrance to Liberty Square), and some are not (i.e. Buzz Lightyear or Stitch without a costume in front of the Lunching Pad). If you see a character you can meet easily in the parks (i.e. Stitch and Buzz) you know you can go ahead and skip them, and hold out for more rare characters later on the course.
Great that you're planning on doing some shorter races first. Maybe sure to send your best 10K time to runDisney for corral placement.
Thanks for the reply and support. I have already been snooping around Ariel484 & Kristia trip reports!
Good luck on your Wine & Dine Half Marathon!!! You can do it!Thanks for the support! I have already read some of your race reports. You are such an inspiration! I am looking forward to the race and actually doing this for ME for my 30th birthday. It will feel like such an accomplishment to celebrate my 30th birthday fit and healthy!