Race Report: 2015 Princess Half Marathon

Here we are--finally!  The big event!  This was my first Princess Half Marathon, and I was SO excited.  I didn't even know at the start how much fun this race would be, but just to set the record straight, this is a MUST DO for all the ladies who love runDisney!

Photo Credit: runDisney

Truth be told, I was running a bit late that morning.  I kept forgetting things in the room, and when we got to the buses, there was a huge line.  We waited, and finally got on the third bus.  I have a suspicion that our bus driver was a temp because once on the bus, he clearly didn't have any idea how to get to the start line in a timely fashion.  We ended up there really late, and I missed all of the fun pre-race fanfare.  I got into my corral just in time to start--I hate feeling rushed!!!

Today's course was exactly the same as the WDW Half in January, so I was very familiar with the course (I had just ran it a month earlier).  I hadn't trained much since the Surf City Half a few weeks earlier, and I knew I had to take it easy.  The night before I was starting to catch a cold and was really feeling under the weather.  I knew I could finish, but I also knew I couldn't push it.

I started out with my 3/1 intervals to stay on the safe side.  My pace was okay and I was feeling fine...not great, but fine.  The first few miles are on roads, which is nice because it gives you some time to settle into your pace and spread out.  This course was definitely crowded, though.  I started in corral C, but wasn't running at an all out pace, so I was probably more in line with corral D for the majority of the race.

At around mile 6, you finally get to the Magic Kingdom.  I feel like I say this in EVERY recap, but there is really nothing more magical than turning the corner to run down Main St USA!  The sun was just starting to come up, but the castle was still lit.  We also ran through Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and out through Frontierland.  It was quick, but it was nice to break up the course.

More time on the roads through the infamous "cone alley" (it's always tight there) and on our way to Epcot!  You enter Epcot in Future World and pretty much stay there the whole time.  While it's not much park time, it's great because you know the end is near.  The finish line was AWESOME--and had tons of surprises!  The medals were great and right after you got your medals, fairy godmothers were there to sprinkle you with sparkles.  It was such a sweet touch!  Then, as you started to collect your post-race goodies, you were given a drawstring backpack!  This was such a great idea--I wish they did this for every race!

Here are my official stats:
Chip Time: 2:30:18
Overall Place: 4379/20237
Gender Place: 3854/18517
Division Place: 707/3153

Already prepping for PARIS!

I gathered my things and headed out to meet my hubby.  No congratulations, no hugs, just "aren't you excited...we're going to Paris!"  Huh?  Wait...what?  I refer back to the start where our bus was so late I missed all the pre-race fun.  Well, I had totally missed the HUGE announcement:  They finally announced the dates for the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon!!!!  Forget this race; we were on full planning mode for Paris!  What a great ending to a great race weekend!

All in all, I loved the entire Princess weekend!  I hope to come back for a girls trip sometime soon.  It was themed perfectly and I really appreciated all of the little touches that made it magical. It's on my runDisney must-do list for sure!

Race Report: Princess 10k

Okay, okay...I'm behind!  I have had so much excitement going on in my "real life" that my blogging life just got put on hold, but I'm back and I'm ready to finish recapping the 2015 Princess Half Marathon Weekend!  If you missed the first two parts, click HERE and HERE.

For the 10k, the weather "warmed up" enough for me to sport my recycled Olaf costume.  Hey...when you run this many races, you've got to recycle!  I still headed to the staging area with a jacket and mylar blanket to keep warm.  The morning went similar to the morning before, minus a few shivers.  It was still cold, but after the FROZEN 5k, it seemed more manageable today.

I handed off my cold weather gear to my hubby and headed to the starting corrals in the same way as the day before.  I was in corral A and there was a huge backup of runners trying to get through the small walkway where they were checking bibs.  By the time I made it to my corral, they were already escorting runners around the bend to the start line.  They also gave the warning to get rid of your mylar blanket before crossing the start or you jeopardize your chip time not being recorded.  I didn't want to take any chances, so I tossed my blanket a few seconds before they counted down to the start.  Yes, for the record, it was still COLD!

The 10k course was similar, if not exactly the same, to the 10k during Marathon Weekend.  This means you spend a good amount of time on the streets before seeing the magic of Epcot.  It also takes you through the Boardwalk area, which is a great distraction and gave my feet a bit of a break (somehow running on the boardwalk felt different than the road, and it was good to switch it up).  I've run this course before during Dopey, but somehow this time it seemed a whole lot more crowded and it was hard for me to get some good speed going.  I'm sure some of this had to do with how cold it was and with me starting toward the back of corral A.  I just remember getting "stuck" at some areas where I just couldn't push through and had to slow down.  I wasn't running for a PR or anything, so I just "Let It Go"!

I finished the 10k in 59:54, not bad for not really trying too hard.  Here are the rest of the official stats:
Overall Place: 942/11003
Gender Place: 736/9753
Division Place: 152/1570

I love the entire Princess Weekend and I DEFINITELY see myself returning in the future.  That being said, I will always prefer the Disneyland 10k courses to WDW.  You just get more time in the parks in DL.  The medal was awesome and I loved all the Princess touches.

At the end of the race, I was a little disappointed in the amount of time we had to spend on the bus for the clearing of the streets.  If it had been warmer, I probably wouldn't have minded, but seeing as it was so cold, I was more than ready to get into a hot shower!  We were staying at Saratoga Springs and weren't able to get to the hotel due to road closures.  They did, at least, allow us to stay on the bus in comfy seats while we were waiting.

Did you run Princess?  Do you prefer DL or WDW 10k courses?  

The Princess Costume Reveal!

This post could also be named "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" because not one thing I'm wearing is new for this race.  I guess that comes along with the territory when the past 45 days have you running a marathon, 4 halves, 2 10ks, and a 5k.  Also, the weather does not look kind, especially for the 5k, so I may end up moving things around at the last minute.  I might dress up as a runner, all bundled up for winter!

Frozen 5k Costume: Olaf, recycled from the 2014 Disneyland 10k

Enchanted 10k Costume: Just putting on some Disney stuff--a little Olaf, a little sparkle, and done! (This may end up under some warmer clothes for the 5k if the weather continues to look freezing cold)

Princess Half Marathon: Cinderella, recycled from the 2013 WDW Marathon
When I found out I was in corral C, C for Cindy, it just all made sense.

So there you go!  All of my costumes, ready for three great races.  I'm running solo this weekend, so please say hi if you see me on the course.  I like warm hugs and runDisney friends!

2015 Princess Preview--Part 2

Okay Princesses in Training--it's time to get to the final details of what you need to know about the Princess Half Marathon!  If you missed Part 1, check it out HERE.

Let's get on to the running events!  First, a note about host hotels and transportation.  ALL Disney hotels are host hotels for Princess (just like at marathon weekend).  That means if you are staying on property, there are buses to and from all race events.  I personally prefer to take these buses--I'm not awake enough at 3 am to drive anywhere, let alone navigate the road closures and traffic on race morning.  I know some people would disagree, but for me, the buses have always been the way to go. If you are staying off property, check with your hotel for bus information.  If you're driving, be sure to be there early (especially for the half) and be aware of road closures that start early.

5k
The Princess 5k will be held on Friday, February 20th at 6:15 am.  The theme is Frozen, so I expect some great themed start and finish lines, as well as some great costumes!  The course starts in the Epcot parking lot and the goes through the park.  The 5k is untimed, but you should still be prepared to keep a 16-minute/mile pace.

10k
The Princess 10k, as well as part 1 of the Glass Slipper Challenge, is Saturday the 21st at 5:30 am.  Prepare for a really early wake up call!  You'll want to be on the buses by 4:30.  The course starts in the same place as the morning before, but you see a little more Disney...3.1 more miles of it to be exact.  The whole course, however, still only goes through Epcot.  Most of the first part of the course is on the roads, so don't be surprised when it's a little dull at the start.  The silver lining is that at least it spreads everyone out and you'll have some time to get your pace going.

Half Marathon
Then on Sunday, at the early, early time of 5:30 am, you'll be off on the main event: The Princess Half Marathon!  I haven't actually run this race, but by all accounts, it is the same course as the WDW Half in January, which I've run a few times.  You will travel through Epcot and Magic Kingdom, with lots of time on the streets between the parks.  Be aware of some tight spots along the course, commonly referred to as "cone alley".  You want to be sure, especially if you are run/walking, that you signal so runners behind you know you are slowing down.  It can be frustrating, but just enjoy the moment!  No use in getting upset...just have fun!

For all of you participating in the Glass Slipper Challenge, be sure to head to that tent at the finish to collect your medal.  Also, you Coast to Coast Challengers will have another area to collect your medals.

Of course, now it's time to celebrate!  So get your park tickets and head to the parks sporting your medals!  There's tons more information, so if you have more questions that haven't been answered, check out the official guide HERE.  See you in a few days!!!!

2015 Princess Preview--Part 1

ONE WEEK!!!!!  I'm just a bit excited for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend!  This is the second-largest race weekend runDisney hosts, and believe it or not, I've never been!  One week from now, though, that will all change because I'm in for all the races.  I would guess there are many of you out there who are in the same boat as me: first-timers to this huge race weekend.  No worries...I got you covered!  Most race weekends are fairly similar, so I've rounded up everything you need to know.

Before you leave home:
First, in light of a recent bad packing experience, double and triple check that you have everything you need (stay tuned...I'll be blogging soon about the Surf City Half where I literally forgot almost everything!).  Especially don't forget your Magic Bands!  Also, be sure that you carry-on your race gear just in case your luggage is lost.

To save time at the expo, be sure to print your waiver at home, fill it out, and bring it with you.  You can find your waiver here:

http://trackshack.com/disneysports/15wpr/verify.php

Expo:
Since we're talking expo, I like to have a game plan going in.  If this is your first, you will be overwhelmed at all of the items you "have to have!"  The Disney Parks Blog gave us a sneak peak at some of the official runDisney merchandise:

And our conversation wouldn't be complete without highlighting the very popular Dooney & Bourke purses.  If you pre-ordered, getting your hands on these should be a pretty painless process!  If not, I
hope you are there on the first day!  Actually, that statement holds true for most of the Glass Slipper merchandise too.  No doubt that they will sell out of some of the more popular items.  I know that jacket is at the top of my list, along with a Magic Band (or two...who knows...)

I always also like to be sure I visit the other vendors!  They always have great deals and many will have princess specific items. Champion has really stepped up their game in recent months, so check out their booth for some great Disney themed items.  Also check out your "i Gift Bag" at runDisney.com!  There are a ton of special offers, including your free art card from Lasting Commemoratives.  Go to the "Runner Info" tab and click on "i Gift Bag" for more info.

Let's move onto our feet: New Balance is the official shoe of runDisney, and this year they went retro with classic Mickey and Minnie shoes.  They learned their lesson early on, and now have instituted a virtual cue for the past year.  It runs pretty smoothly: You will need to sign up online at 6 am the day you will be attending the expo.  They will text you your return time.  When your time is up, just proceed to the booth and someone will be there to help you with your purchase.  It's actually a great system and cuts down on a lot of waiting around.  People haven't been too impressed by this year's shoe (it's actually the first one I'm skipping out on), so if you want them, I'd guess you have a pretty good shot at getting them.

Oh, and of course, don't forget to pick up what you REALLY need at the expo: your bib and your swag bag!  You will have to head to the HP Field House to pick up your bib (remember your waiver and ID, you'll need that!); also, if you are running the Glass Slipper Challenge, your shirts and swag bag are there too.  For all the other races, you'll need to pick up your bib first, then head to the Jostens Center for your shirts.  The main area of the expo is the Jostens Center, but you likely will find official merchandise in both places.

The expo hours are: Thursday 10-8, Friday 9-7, & Saturday 9-5.  If you are staying on property, all resorts are host resorts, so you can catch a bus directly from your resort to the expo.  So there you have it!  Step one on your way to being an official Princess!  Tomorrow, we'll be diving into the actual races and other events going on that weekend.  Who's getting excited??? (ME ME ME!)