2018 Princess Half Marathon

[Bree]

It was better for the half marathon, but people were going slower in A and B corrals than I would have expected. I just assumed a lot of the people used whatever their best 10k POT was, instead of a half which would have more accurately corralled them.

RD uses a calculator to convert 10K to half times. Every calculator I’ve ever used adds time for fatigue. I think I read here at one time that they used McMillan? I’ve used a 10K and a half race for POT and was correctly placed both times.

 

[KingLlama]

I'm going under the assumption that the POT I submitted for the Dark Side 1/2 means that my corral will begin somewhere around Kissimmee.

 

[MyFavEeyore]

I'm going under the assumption that the POT I submitted for the Dark Side 1/2 means that my corral will begin somewhere around Kissimmee.

Me too!

 

[SunDial]

1) I got overheated and dehydrated Sunday morning.

It was warm wasn't it. I didn't want to be in the same boat with the lack of breathe ability of the dress. A bottle of water pre-run. 2 bottles of Tailwind during. I also drank at each water station. Took it very easy for the last 2 miles when the sun was up and saying hi. But my daughter and I had a great time!!!

 

[joan4mickey]

I turned in my best half time from the Tinkerbell Half 2016. I knew that I wasn’t going to be running nine minutes miles but it was my time. I ran 10 minutes miles which is what I expected per my training. There are also the photo stops which factor into slower times. As in I didn’t stop for photos in the Tinkerbell but did on Sunday.


Now let me say I hate, yes hate, course cutters and without a doubt I passed a few. I saw the ballon ladies and several people behind them just before mile 10. As I approached the ramp I started passing some very slow very large people. There is no one who can convince me they didn’t cross the median. Just so wrong.

More about my weekend later. In the airport now and going home. So sad

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Course cutters should be easy to pick out as they will most likely be missing the 5K, 10K, 15K timing mats. If they were just missing 1 - that could be a fluke but if all 3 - yes, they are most likely a cutter.

 

[r2chewbaccad2]

So they have a huge buffer from being swept. I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a jerk. I don’t care what body shape you have or how much you weigh. Just getting out and being active is a good thing and something to be proud of. However, when someone is very obese, walking, huffing and puffing and wearing an A bib and I’m passing them in the first mile there’s got to be some cheating going on.

My sister and her friend both ran their first races at the Avengers 10k in 2015. My sister put down her estimated finish time at 1 hour 15 minutes while my friend posted 1:30 and they were both placed in Corral A. They did not cheat! Perhaps it was because they booked the race through a Disney affiliated travel agent? They both decided to start at the back of the corral so they wouldn't impede the faster runners.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

My sister and her friend both ran their first races at the Avengers 10k in 2015. My sister put down her estimated finish time at 1 hour 15 minutes while my friend posted 1:30 and they were both placed in Corral A. They did not cheat! Perhaps it was because they booked the race through a Disney affiliated travel agent? They both decided to start at the back of the corral so they wouldn't impede the faster runners.

No, it happens. It can be random for the 10K. People will continue to make judgments even when given that type of data.

 

[FFigawi]

It was warm wasn't it. I didn't want to be in the same boat with the lack of breathe ability of the dress. A bottle of water pre-run. 2 bottles of Tailwind during. I also drank at each water station. Took it very easy for the last 2 miles when the sun was up and saying hi. But my daughter and I had a great time!!!

Love it!

 

[Bree]

My sister and her friend both ran their first races at the Avengers 10k in 2015. My sister put down her estimated finish time at 1 hour 15 minutes while my friend posted 1:30 and they were both placed in Corral A. They did not cheat! Perhaps it was because they booked the race through a Disney affiliated travel agent? They both decided to start at the back of the corral so they wouldn't impede the faster runners.

I was specifically referencing the half marathon. You can select whatever finish time you’d like at registration, but unlike the 5K & 10K you need to provide proof that you can really finish that fast. I saw this same situation last year. I was told that people will have someone else run a POT at a different race to get them into a lower corral because they know they’d be swept if they were honest.

No, it happens. It can be random for the 10K. People will continue to make judgments even when given that type of data.

I knew there was no nice way to put it. I knew that people would think that I was being Judy McJudgypants. Corral A was for runners that had a half POT less than or equal to 1:50. That’s an 8 minute mile for 13.1 miles. Even a 10K POT would have to be under 50 minutes. That’s a very fast pace. I was in corral D and crossed the starting line at 5:43am. I passed two different morbidly obese women before I even hit .50 miles. Both were wearing corral A bibs. That’s the type of situation I’m referencing. I don’t like cheating of any kind, but it is what it is and will always happen. I don’t like the corral jumpers or the people who cut the course short either. It has nothing to do with how much a person weighs. I feel exactly the same way about anyone who submits a POT in their name that someone else actually ran. I just hope that karma comes around and bites them in butt.

 

[SunDial]

Love it!

Thanks for mentioning the Tailwind product a while back. This is all I use now. It got me thru last months Dopey great. I didn't have any cramping issues at all.

 

[FFigawi]

Thanks for mentioning the Tailwind product a while back. This is all I use now. It got me thru last months Dopey great. I didn't have any cramping issues at all.

Glad it's working so well for you. It's all I use on my long distance days.

 

[ellisin]

I turned in my best half time from the Tinkerbell Half 2016. I knew that I wasn’t going to be running nine minutes miles but it was my time. I ran 10 minutes miles which is what I expected per my training. There are also the photo stops which factor into slower times. As in I didn’t stop for photos in the Tinkerbell but did on Sunday.


Now let me say I hate, yes hate, course cutters and without a doubt I passed a few. I saw the ballon ladies and several people behind them just before mile 10. As I approached the ramp I started passing some very slow very large people. There is no one who can convince me they didn’t cross the median. Just so wrong.

More about my weekend later. In the airport now and going home. So sad

I ran the 5k and 10k. I was considering signing up for next year’s half specifically because I saw older, larger ladies wearing half marathon medals. We felt so good after the 10k that we thought we might be ready to try a longer race.

Now I’m questioning that decision. It never occurred to me that there may have been cheating.

 

[Gemini1131]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the info on the board. Had a great weekend even if the heat was more than I planned for. Finished my first challenge (and first 10k and half). Thanks to @Keels for the dr cool/cooling gear suggestion. I bought some wrist bands at the expo that felt like a life saver for the half. Best was my sister’s and cousin coming out to cheer me on at grand Floridian and the end. Their signs definitely gave me a good laugh and a much needed pick me up. Now on to the next goal of trying to get in the POT range to get out of F.

 

[joan4mickey]

I ran the 5k and 10k. I was considering signing up for next year’s half specifically because I saw older, larger ladies wearing half marathon medals. We felt so good after the 10k that we thought we might be ready to try a longer race.

Now I’m questioning that decision. It never occurred to me that there may have been cheating.

Don't give up on a dream. I never thought I could do this 10 years ago. Have a plan. Start now and see how you progress. You are already one step ahead. You have a 10k time to submit! And if not next year maybe another.

 

[mrsg00fy]

I ran the 5k and 10k. I was considering signing up for next year’s half specifically because I saw older, larger ladies wearing half marathon medals. We felt so good after the 10k that we thought we might be ready to try a longer race.

Now I’m questioning that decision. It never occurred to me that there may have been cheating.

I would advise you to NOT let what others "may" have done impact what you want to do. Yes. There are cheaters. People who want to cheat will cheat. They rob themselves of that feeling of accomplishment. If you train and are ready to finish the race in the allotted time....go for it! We come in all shapes and sizes. Through all of my weight battles and fluctuations I have not stopped running these races. They are too much fun.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I ran the 5k and 10k. I was considering signing up for next year’s half specifically because I saw older, larger ladies wearing half marathon medals. We felt so good after the 10k that we thought we might be ready to try a longer race.

Now I’m questioning that decision. It never occurred to me that there may have been cheating.

I’m fat and I’ve finsished many a half marathon even with the bum ankle. If you train you can do it!

 

[ellisin]

I would advise you to NOT let what others "may" have done impact what you want to do. Yes. There are cheaters. People who want to cheat will cheat. They rob themselves of that feeling of accomplishment. If you train and are ready to finish the race in the allotted time....go for it! We come in all shapes and sizes. Through all of my weight battles and fluctuations I have not stopped running these races. They are too much fun.

My concern is not necessarily that they cheated, but that what I assumed was possible didn’t happen. It was SO encouraging to see half marathon and challenge medals worn by people with non-runner physiques. It made me stop doubting about trying to do a half.

I am 52, and although I’ve lost 30 pounds, I’m still rounder than I’d like. This was my second 10k and my fourth 5k. We did the parks as well; my Fitbit registered 54 miles in seven days. This 10k was WORLDS easier than my first 10k (the starwars dark side in April).

Edited to add: we started from the front of corral f in both 10ks. In April, the balloon ladies were right behind us for the last mile. We finished in front of them, but only just. This 10k, we NEVER saw the balloon ladies! I looked across the water at the end of the boardwalk and I saw LOTS of people; we had run past a lot of people we started with.

 

[mrsg00fy]

My concern is not necessarily that they cheated, but that what I assumed was possible didn’t happen. It was SO encouraging to see half marathon and challenge medals worn by people with non-runner physiques. It made me stop doubting about trying to do a half.

I am 52, and although I’ve lost 30 pounds, I’m still rounder than I’d like. This was my second 10k and my fourth 5k. We did the parks as well; my Fitbit registered 54 miles in seven days. This 10k was WORLDS easier than my first 10k (the starwars dark side in April).

Don't doubt yourself. You finished a 10k. A 10k is a pretty long distance and a huge accomplishment! Congrats. If you put in the training for the half you should feel confident in completing the half.

We are the same age. I did my first race ever..a Rundisney half at the age of 48 after losing 60 pounds and became addicted to Rundisney. I'm not thin. I've put on weight and taken it back off. Am right now at the upper edge of healthy weight. And I keep going and have no plans to stop running.

This is possible for you if you train!! Wishing you every success with this.

 

[Ariel484]

I ran the 5k and 10k. I was considering signing up for next year’s half specifically because I saw older, larger ladies wearing half marathon medals. We felt so good after the 10k that we thought we might be ready to try a longer race.

Now I’m questioning that decision. It never occurred to me that there may have been cheating.

My concern is not necessarily that they cheated, but that what I assumed was possible didn’t happen. It was SO encouraging to see half marathon and challenge medals worn by people with non-runner physiques. It made me stop doubting about trying to do a half.

I am 52, and although I’ve lost 30 pounds, I’m still rounder than I’d like. This was my second 10k and my fourth 5k. We did the parks as well; my Fitbit registered 54 miles in seven days. This 10k was WORLDS easier than my first 10k (the starwars dark side in April).

I think you will find very few people at Disney/on this board with perfect runner physiques.

Unfortunately, yes - people do cheat at these races. But many more people achieve what they never thought possible honestly (without course cutting or corral jumping) and through hard work.

If you pick a training plan that works with your life/schedule/body and stick to it, I have no doubt that you can do it!!