NEWBIE!

[Kristia]

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!

Thank you! There is nothing like crossing the finish line to any race and Disney finishes are especially awesome! Looking forward to hearing about your training and maybe a race report or two!

 

[nnjamison]

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.

I've read your trip reports here and on another board I lurk around on. AHMazing! Very motivational! I love looking at all your pics. Thanks for all the tips! I'll be sure to read and re-read as it gets closer to time.

 

[nnjamison]

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.

Oh gosh! Love to hear that! Gives me hope I'll make it through!

 

[nnjamison]

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!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the welcome! I'd like to make multiple stops along the way for various pics too! Love me some Disney! WE can do it! Even if I have to crawl across that finish line

 

[nnjamison]

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!

Love me some trip reports...off to go read!

 

[nnjamison]

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.

Dang good info... I hadn't thought of looking back to be prepared on possible stops.

 

[Ariel484]

I've read your trip reports here and on another board I lurk around on. AHMazing! Very motivational! I love looking at all your pics. Thanks for all the tips! I'll be sure to read and re-read as it gets closer to time.

Ha! That's how I refer to it too..."another board"... Thank you!

Dang good info... I hadn't thought of looking back to be prepared on possible stops.

That's what I did before I ran my first race and I found it very helpful. The pictures are a huge priority for me (in case you hadn't noticed ) and I really liked being prepared and sort of knowing where to look.

 

[disneygirl76]

Thanks for the welcome! I'd like to make multiple stops along the way for various pics too! Love me some Disney! WE can do it! Even if I have to crawl across that finish line

Haha Yes! I agree!!