Suggestions please

[PrincessMandi]

My DH and I are planning to do the Princess Half next year and we were discussing when would be the best time to extend the trip for fun. I thought that arriving on Thurs and staying a week would be a good idea, but he is worried that this being our first half marathon we will not want to move for atleast a couple days afterward. I know that you guys on here have more experience that he and I have so I am asking for your opinions and experiences.

Thanks,

Mandi

 

[JillC LI]

If you train well for the event, you really shouldn't have a great deal of soreness afterwards. I understand that the course is not too hilly (correct me if I'm wrong, those of you who have run it), and if you've gone at least 12 miles in training runs, the 13.1 miles on the day of the race really won't put you into a painful condition. Perhaps if you run it all out for speed, you'll have some soreness, but if you're just going to enjoy the course and the atmosphere, then I'd say you'll be well able to enjoy the parks the very next day, if not the same day!

 

[Ariel484]

I just ran the Princess Half with my brother this February (first half for both of us! :king, and I agree with Jill - if you train for the event, you should be okay afterward. My longest long run was 12.5 miles and except for some knee pain, which went away with some ice and Aleve, I felt great when I was done. As Jill says, the course is not too hilly...you go under the water bridge near the Contemporary (somewhere around mile 5) - downhill and then back up - which I didn't think was too bad. You also go up an on-ramp just after mile 10, which again, wasn't too bad, but a lot of people were out of gas by then. Other than that, the course is pretty flat.

Our trip was a long weekend, February 25-28. I felt the worst after the bus ride back to our resort after the race because I'd tightened up a bit during the ride. I really think walking around (we went to Downtown Disney and Magic Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours the day of the race, and to Animal Kingdom the next morning) really helped work out the soreness. Personally, I think I'd prefer extending the trip to AFTER the race, because you don't want to be on your feet a ton in the days leading up to it, and that's really hard to do at Disney.

You will LOVE the Princess Half. It's so much fun...good luck! :wave:

 

[Texas84]

My first half was WDW January. I didn't do anything the day before except register. After the race I locked up bad because it took two hours to get out of the parking lot. Got to keep moving after a race! I soaked my legs in cold water for 30 minutes and I was fine, but I went to sleep early, mainly because I was up so early. The next day I hit the parks and was fine.

 

[dreamfinder]

It all depends on your training. If you are properly trained, you should feel just like a regular long distance run afterwards.

Doing to much beforehand can also cause a problem. If you go all out the few days beforehand, then you will be drained for the race. Its a delicate balance.

 

[Phonedave]

As others have said, if you train for it, it is not going to wipe you out.

You may be moving a little slower for the rest of that day, and most likely you will sleep well that night (Having been up since the crack of dawn). But unless you are really pushing for speed (which you should not be doing in your first long race) all you will be is a bit tired afterwards.

-dave

 

[Fievel]

I ran my first half in January at Disney...it's the same course.

I had some soreness, as I aggrivated an arch injury while running, but my only big problem was I was dead beat tired by about 8:30 pm, because of the very early start.

 

[DisneyRunner]

When I ran the Princess half in 2009, I stayed from Wenesday to Wednesday. If you do have any soreness, take an anti-inflammatory medication. That helps me.

 

[Disney Dawg88]

Definitely extend it AFTER the race. You do not want to be walking around the parks for multiple days leading up to the event. You'll increase your chances for injury, blisters, etc. which can cause you to not run as well in the race and you'll blow all that training you put in leading up to it. You'll also have plenty of time to train to where you won't be sore after the race, especially if you take care of your legs afterwards with proper hydration, nutrition, and what always has helped me after the Disney races are the massages at the massage tent (which I'm not 100% sure are there for the Princess . . . :shrug. But definitely extend it afterwards.

 

[dreamfinder]

...and what always has helped me after the Disney races are the massages at the massage tent (which I'm not 100% sure are there for the Princess . . . :shrug. But definitely extend it afterwards.

They did have massages post race at the Princess this year. A buck a minute I believe according to the sign on the side of the tent. I also believe they usually have some in the VIP tent as well.

 

[PrincessMandi]

Thank you so much for all of the replies. I appreciate the input since we have no experience. I am thinking that we are going to go with original thought of starting the trip the Thursday before and extending it after the race.

Thanks again!

Mandi :wave::king:

 

[Ariel484]

Thank you so much for all of the replies. I appreciate the input since we have no experience. I am thinking that we are going to go with original thought of starting the trip the Thursday before and extending it after the race.

Thanks again!

Mandi :wave::king:

Good luck!...and don't forget to wear your medals to the parks in the days after the race!! :king: