Official 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon Thread - Take 2

[Tracerr00]

i just realized that last night! After last night's run I only have one 8 mile run on Saturday and a 4 mile on Monday and then I leave for Disney! I'll keep limber by walking around the parks after that. I can't believe it's so close!!

[JenNel85]

Hey, guys! I have a question about tapering. As you may know, this is my first half marathon, and I am pretty much clueless about everything!

I've been following the beginner half marathon training program from Cool Running, and this week and next week, it has a bunch of 5 and 8 mile runs...which seems pretty on par with what my training has been like all along.

This week, for example, it would have me doing two 5-mile runs, two 8-mile runs, and a 3-mile run, with two rest days. And then next week, I'd be doing two 5-mile runs and an 8-mile run before I leave for FL on Thursday.

I keep hearing talk of tapering, and I'm confused as to what I should be doing, since the training plan I'm looking at for this week and next doesn't look like I'll be resting AT ALL! If anything, the total number of miles is almost exactly the same, or slightly more, as what I covered in the previous 3 or 4 weeks!

My question is: should I be tackling all these runs? Shorten them? Take more rest days?

Any advice from the more experienced princesses would be greatly, greatly appreciated!

As a side note, I wanted to thank you all so much for helping me through this process! I tend to do more lurking than posting, but I am here every day being constantly inspired and learning so much from all of you! Thank you!

[icicle]

Originally Posted by JenNel85

Hey, guys! I have a question about tapering. As you may know, this is my first half marathon, and I am pretty much clueless about everything!

I've been following the beginner half marathon training program from Cool Running, and this week and next week, it has a bunch of 5 and 8 mile runs...which seems pretty on par with what my training has been like all along.

This week, for example, it would have me doing two 5-mile runs, two 8-mile runs, and a 3-mile run, with two rest days. And then next week, I'd be doing two 5-mile runs and an 8-mile run before I leave for FL on Thursday.

I keep hearing talk of tapering, and I'm confused as to what I should be doing, since the training plan I'm looking at for this week and next doesn't look like I'll be resting AT ALL! If anything, the total number of miles is almost exactly the same, or slightly more, as what I covered in the previous 3 or 4 weeks!

My question is: should I be tackling all these runs? Shorten them? Take more rest days?

Any advice from the more experienced princesses would be greatly, greatly appreciated!

As a side note, I wanted to thank you all so much for helping me through this process! I tend to do more lurking than posting, but I am here every day being constantly inspired and learning so much from all of you! Thank you!

Different plans/coaches have different theories on tapering. Hal Higdon, for example, adds mileage to the long run all the way up to the week before the race. Others have the longest run a couple weeks before the race. You really don't need to taper much, if at all, before a half. It's much more important for marathon training.

Do you have rest before the race? I think the most important thing is to have fresh legs.


Anyone else watching the 10 day weather forecast creep up? Looks like it's getting warmer.

[JCH]

Originally Posted by icicle

Different plans/coaches have different theories on tapering. Hal Higdon, for example, adds mileage to the long run all the way up to the week before the race. Others have the longest run a couple weeks before the race. You really don't need to taper much, if at all, before a half. It's much more important for marathon training.

Do you have rest before the race? I think the most important thing is to have fresh legs.


Anyone else watching the 10 day weather forecast creep up? Looks like it's getting warmer.

Just checked Accuweather, and the forecast for race day is perfect. Low 48, High 64, and sunny. Of course, it will change a million times before then!

[Mamasmurf227]

Ticket question:

I purchased the discounted park tickets, but depending on what time we end up getting there on Friday, we might want to go to a park. We'd need to add a day to our tickets, though. Can that be done?

[JenNel85]

Originally Posted by icicle

Different plans/coaches have different theories on tapering. Hal Higdon, for example, adds mileage to the long run all the way up to the week before the race. Others have the longest run a couple weeks before the race. You really don't need to taper much, if at all, before a half. It's much more important for marathon training.

Do you have rest before the race? I think the most important thing is to have fresh legs.


Anyone else watching the 10 day weather forecast creep up? Looks like it's getting warmer.

Really good to know, thank you! I won't be doing any more running once we land in WDW on Thursday, so my rest will pretty much include walking around the parks. I do plan to take it easy, though (which is very much unlike my usual commando park touring style)!

[PrincessV]

Originally Posted by JenNel85

My question is: should I be tackling all these runs? Shorten them? Take more rest days?

Did your plan have any cut-back weeks where your "long" run was much shorter than the weeks around it? If so, did it seem to help you feel rested and strong? If so, I'd taper back some before the race. If not, stick with what's been working!

Originally Posted by icicle

Anyone else watching the 10 day weather forecast creep up? Looks like it's getting warmer.

Originally Posted by JCH

Just checked Accuweather, and the forecast for race day is perfect. Low 48, High 64, and sunny. Of course, it will change a million times before then!

I've been checking daily, just for the laughs... seriously, it's been a different forecast every day! I think they just scatter a bunch of weather combinations and pick one randomly for those extended forecasts. I'll feel more certainty by around the 22nd.

FWIW, we started the day at a "low" of 72 today, at 5:30am. HOT for Feb! But we're dropping into the 40s this weekend. You just never know...

[joan4mickey]

Originally Posted by Mamasmurf227

Ticket question:

I purchased the discounted park tickets, but depending on what time we end up getting there on Friday, we might want to go to a park. We'd need to add a day to our tickets, though. Can that be done?

Pretty sure you can NOT add. You could buy a one day at the discounted price. Email or call rundisney to be sure.
Oops for not

[flatlandcycle]

Originally Posted by JenNel85

Really good to know, thank you! I won't be doing any more running once we land in WDW on Thursday, so my rest will pretty much include walking around the parks. I do plan to take it easy, though (which is very much unlike my usual commando park touring style)!

Taper is somewhat personal. How do your joints feel? I taper for all races, at any distance, that I consider "A" races, races that I want to perform at my best. For beginners that feel beat-up, taper. For example if your plan calls for 7 miles today and something hurts at 5 miles don't do 7.

[StarGirl11]

Found out today that one of my new friends didn't know what a marathon was! Never had that happen before.

Cant wait. One week from tomorrow I will be on a plane to Disney World.

[longhorns2]

Originally Posted by Mamasmurf227

Ticket question:

I purchased the discounted park tickets, but depending on what time we end up getting there on Friday, we might want to go to a park. We'd need to add a day to our tickets, though. Can that be done?

Are you picking them up at Will Call or do you already have them?

I talked to someone at the sports tickets on Monday. She said I could add on a day, but ONLY at the sports ticket pick up locations- there will be a table at the Expo (said to ask a cast member for directions) and there is also a booth at the WWoS. DO NOT pick up at the parks will call--- they will mess up the tickets and it won't be able to happen

If you already had your tickets in hand, I have no idea if they can add on. My question was about my will call pick ups.

I emailed them and she said they were so backed up on responses that she just called me instead (was supposed to follow up with email- but nothing so far)

[joan4mickey]

Originally Posted by JenNel85

Hey, guys! I have a question about tapering. As you may know, this is my first half marathon, and I am pretty much clueless about everything!

I've been following the beginner half marathon training program from Cool Running, and this week and next week, it has a bunch of 5 and 8 mile runs...which seems pretty on par with what my training has been like all along.

This week, for example, it would have me doing two 5-mile runs, two 8-mile runs, and a 3-mile run, with two rest days. And then next week, I'd be doing two 5-mile runs and an 8-mile run before I leave for FL on Thursday.

I keep hearing talk of tapering, and I'm confused as to what I should be doing, since the training plan I'm looking at for this week and next doesn't look like I'll be resting AT ALL! If anything, the total number of miles is almost exactly the same, or slightly more, as what I covered in the previous 3 or 4 weeks!

My question is: should I be tackling all these runs? Shorten them? Take more rest days?

Any advice from the more experienced princesses would be greatly, greatly appreciated!

As a side note, I wanted to thank you all so much for helping me through this process! I tend to do more lurking than posting, but I am here every day being constantly inspired and learning so much from all of you! Thank you!

I am NOT an expert. I did take a look at the plans. The first thought I had was how do your legs feel. Are they tired or get tired a couple miles into a run? My legs are starting to feel a bit fatigued and at this point I will cut a run short if they are not feeling strong. If you have followed the plan, then you are ready and the last thing you want to do is go into the race with tired legs. That 8 miler on Thursday could hurt in the long if your legs don't have time to recover before Sunday.
My second thought is pace. I don't know what you are working for, but the faster the pace for me, means I will need more time for my legs to recover. I have been running a lot of 9mm. If I am at an 11mm pace then the 8 miles would be fine that late.
Third, travel. When traveling, we don't always eat what we are used to, our sleep may not be as good, etc. Now is the time to eat well and get good rest. Sorry for you people with the bad dreams..I haven't had that.
Only you know your body...just listen to it and remember if you have followed that plan, you should be ready.

[joan4mickey]

JenNel85 If you continue to run, I would take out one run day and add a cross train day in. When I started 6 years ago, I ran 5-6 days a week without cross training and it caught up to me in overuse injuries. I now run 3 days a week and never two days in a row (doctor and PT advice) and cross train 2 times a week.

[Mamasmurf227]

Originally Posted by longhorns2

Are you picking them up at Will Call or do you already have them?

I talked to someone at the sports tickets on Monday. She said I could add on a day, but ONLY at the sports ticket pick up locations- there will be a table at the Expo (said to ask a cast member for directions) and there is also a booth at the WWoS. DO NOT pick up at the parks will call--- they will mess up the tickets and it won't be able to happen

If you already had your tickets in hand, I have no idea if they can add on. My question was about my will call pick ups.

I emailed them and she said they were so backed up on responses that she just called me instead (was supposed to follow up with email- but nothing so far)

I was going to pick them up when we get there. We're arriving Friday morning and hitting the Expo first, so I'll make sure get the tickets there. Thank you!

[JenNel85]

Originally Posted by PrincessV

Did your plan have any cut-back weeks where your "long" run was much shorter than the weeks around it? If so, did it seem to help you feel rested and strong? If so, I'd taper back some before the race. If not, stick with what's been working!

Thanks for the advice! With the plan I've been following, the long run has just kept increasing -- except for this coming weekend. I went up to 12 miles on Sunday, and then this weekend the plan calls for an 8-miler (which sounds good to me!) I'll keep moving forward with the plan, but will allow myself some flexibility depending how I feel.

Thanks again!