To Retreat or Not Retreat - Princess Half Marathon

There are a lot of add-ons for RunDisney events.  When you register for a RunDisney event, you can add pins, purses, necklaces, meals, kid races and for some races you can even add a race retreat.  Of course, in the immortal words of Mr. Gold from Once Upon A Time, all of these magical items have a price. 

For the Princess Half Marathon, there is a magical event called Race Retreat.  In 2013, it was a mere $99 per person.  This is not cheap especially considering it will be tacked onto other expenses such as race registration, airfare, hotel, meals, and other race costs (costumes, souvenirs, park tickets, etc.).  These all can add up quickly.  The question I hear a lot is "Is Race Retreat worth the price?"

My hubby and I treated ourselves to the Race Retreat in 2013 as part of our Princess Half Marathon experience.  I will share my experience and let you decide.

What is Race Retreat?
Race Retreat is a separate tent set up in the area referred to as "Family Reunion" area.  The tent is exclusively for individuals who have purchased the Race Retreat add on package. 

How Do I enter the Magical Race Retreat?
When you pick up your packet at the expo, there is a magical wristband.  The wristband is checked to obtain access to the Retreat tent. 

Give me the down and dirty~What is Included?
According to the RunDisney website, the following is included:

Pre-Race Amenities

• Pre-race bagels, fruit, coffee, water and PowerAde
• Temperature-controlled tent with lounges
• Private restrooms and bag check
• Padded stretching area

Post-Race Amenities

• Internet access to check live results
• Breakfast with hot and cold beverages
• Changing tents
• Self-treatment station
• 10-minute massage for only $10 (subject to availability)
• Designated location to meet friends and family to celebrate your accomplishment!* 

Other Amenities:

• 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon commemorative item
• Disney Character greetings
• Live video feed from the Finish Line
• Information Station

 In 2013, for participants the Race Retreat tent opened at 3:00 am and remained opened until 10:30 am.  In 2013, the price was $99 per person (the price has been increased for the 2014 race year).  Some levels of ChEAR Squad can enter the Race Retreat after 5:30 am.

The tent is full of small, round tables.  In 2013, there were issues with transportation so the time which I spent pre-race in the tent was very limited.  There was coffee, tea, powerade, and water available as well as fruit and bagels.  If you had a bag, there is a bag check in the Retreat Tent that is separate from the regular bag check.  The Race Retreat Tent has its own separate port-o-potties.  It was nice not to have to wait in line!  We were only in the tent about 5 minutes before we began the long trek to the corrals.

The Tent is climate controlled.  In 2013, it was very warm outside and it was much more comfortable in the tent.  After running the half marathon, it was refreshing to come inside.

After the race, when you entered the tent you were handed lotion, a wet towel, and flip flops (our complimentary Disney Half Marathon commemorative item).  There was also an abundant amount of food that was available including eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, fruit, bagels, water, coffee, tea and powerade.  There was also champagne for those who wanted to celebrate.

There is a medical area inside the tent that includes a self-help area and to seek medical attention.   Also, there is a lounge area that has a live feed to the finish line on a large screen television.  The line for the massage was ridiculously long so, while it was available, my hubby and I both passed.    There is also an area to take pictures with characters.  I saw the mice from Cinderella and the three fairies from Sleeping Beauty rotate in/out.  They were available for pictures before the half marathon and after.

The tent was crowded but manageable.  We sat at a table with another nice couple and had a lovely chat with them. I did enjoy sitting comfortably, chatting to other participants and relaxing in a comfortable atmosphere.  While we ate, I watched participants cross the finish line in a comfortable manner.  I absolutely loved that!

So~the million dollar question~Is It Worth the Price?
Ultimately, it will depend upon what you would like from your race experience.  I liked having a comfortable place to relax, not worrying about the weather outside and not having long lines for the port-o-potties.  It was great being pampered for a year!

For me, I did not feel like it was worth the $99 per person that I paid (2013 prices).  I drive my car to the race so we can leave at any time and I would rather go to the hotel, clean up and have breakfast where it can be made to my specifications.  I have made the decision that I would rather spend the money this year on souvenirs, park tickets and at the expo rather than the Retreat. 




 

Pinterest RunDisney Costume Ideas

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard to keep all of your ideas

I am addicted to Pinterest!  I love the recipes, workouts, and home decorating ideas.  But every now and then, I come across a Pinterest Board which is spectacular.   I love looking at costumes for races and follow a few creative people just for that purpose.  My latest obsession is Nicole Buompseniero's Disney 5k and Half Marathon Costume Ideas.

While I have never met Ms. Buompseniero, I admire her creativity and her ability to come up with creative costume ideas for her pinboard.  I am definitely going to be referring to her board as I come up with costumes for my upcoming races! 

Seeking Professional Help with Plantar Fasciitis

Since my last post, I did complete the Princess Half Marathon at Disney World!  I had not ran since completing the Tinkerbell Half Marathon about a month before. The week before Tinkerbell, I felt a sharp pain in the bottom of my foot.  After searching the internet and describing the symptoms to more experienced runners, I self-diagnosed with plantars fasciitis.  I tried limiting walking, icing, stretching and used KT tape to try to assist the healing process.  But the pain persisted and I began the race knowing it would not be pretty and I just wanted to finish.  My goals for this race is to (1) finish (I did not care if it was upright or not) and (2) have fun! 

It was the toughest race I have done.  It was only on pure willpower that I finished.  I talked to a lot of people, stopped for some photo ops, had a magical time storming the castle, and with some encouragement from the Fairy Godmother herself, finished!

This week I sought assistance from a chiropractor who has a background in sports massage therapy to help with my ongoing battle against plantar fasciitis.  After a thorough examination, she taped my foot.  She instructed me to roll my foot over a water bottle for up to 20 minutes 3x a day.

The hardest part~not being able to run.  I have learned to love the time I spend outside just competing against myself.  I cannot wait until this injury is healed so I can get back to my training.  There are some fantastic runs out there that I want to do!  Hopefully, I'll be running shortly.  After all, I have a run over Labor Day at Disneyland on the books!

Run Disney Tinkerbell Half Marathon

I did it!  My first half marathon was completed on Sunday, January 20, 2013 when I crossed the finish line just outside Disneyland!  The Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend and the race itself was an amazing experience.  If you are looking at running a half, this one is a GREAT experience and so much fun.  If you HATE Disney, you probably will not like this event.  If you are looking for a unique experience and are even remotely considering doing this race, just think a happy thought, sprinkle some pixie dust and go for it!

My Tink-inspired outfit: Tinkerbell shirt from www.rawthreads.com, arm sleeves and skirt from www.sparkleskirt.com, and glow in the dark shoe laces which my hubby gave me as a surprise and our race bibs!

The race starts at 5:00 am.  UGGHHHH!  I am NOT a morning person but I set my alarm clock for 3:15 a.m. to get ready by putting my hair up in a sock bun, sprinkling LOTS of glitter in my hair, and getting into my Tinkerbell inspired outfit and race gear, driving to Disney and walking to the corrals.

The corrals are about a 15 minute walk from the parking structure.  Hubby and I did make it to the corrals in time!  I was assigned to Corral B but my hubby was assigned to Corral C so I started in C with hubby so we could experience the race together.

 I chose not to wear wings since I thought they would drive me crazy.  At the start there was more pixie wings, glitter and tutus than in a drag queen revue!  It was so much fun to see everyone's costumes and see grown women embrace their inner pixie!

Each corral starts with a send off from a Tinkerbell on a computer generated screen.  "Three, two, one. GO!"  and we were off!  We spent the first five miles or so running in California Adventure and Disneyland.  They wound us throughout the parks, including cast areas.  Disney had many of the main rides lit up (you couldn't ride), floats from the parade out as decorations and, of course, character stops.  One of my favorite was World of Color music playing and the water fountains lit up by Paradise Pier.  Hubby and I stopped for a quick picture and then once again we were off!  We only stopped for a few pictures and could not resist stopping for a quick picture with the Chimney Sweeps on Main Street Disneyland.   Of course, a highlight is to run through the castle when it is all lit up against the early morning sky!  The Disney parks were full of Disney runners!

That's a lot of runners!

The spectators were all along the course cheering us on.  It was amazing seeing husbands cheering on their wifes, kids cheering on their parents, and grandparents cheering on their kids.  My favorite cheering section was the Red Hat Society ladies.  This group cheered as loud for us near the middle of the pixie mush pot as they cheered for the first racer.  These ladies were so great and such a motivation as an older generation cheered on the younger generation of women!  Thank you ladies!  Here were some of my favorite signs:

Around mile 6, we left the Disney property and began winding through the streets of Anaheim. There were bands, cheerleader groups, and spectators cheering us on after we left the parks.  I have a soft spot in my heart for marching bands so I loved hearing the junior high, high school and college bands playing on the course.  It definitely pumped me up!

Pretty soon, we could see Tower of Terror from a distance and knew we were getting close to the end.  Through a tunnel and up to see the glorious "Finish" line arch!  My hubby turned to me and said, "Let's sprint to the finish."  We began to run our hearts out.  But, darn you Disney, it was a Disney illusion.  There was a loop which we did not see.  Hubby, not skipping a beat took my hand, looked into my eyes and "I meant at let's run from the 13 mile marker."  We laughed, slowed to a walk and continued forward. 

Want to see my favorite cheerleader?  My daughter was waiting for hubby and I at the finish line.  She even had a little surprise for us.  She had a shirt made that said "My parents cheered for my dreams, now I cheer for theirs". We spotted her just before the finish line (thankfully we were running) wearing her cheer bow from her cheer days and waving her pom-poms.

 Before long, we were running to the finish line with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy to greet us with high 5s!  After the finish line, the group bottlenecks.  We received our medals, handed a water and snack box and went to the parks for some fun and celebrating that we actually finished our first half marathon!  Of course, we had Tink with us wearing it proudly!

My first Disney bling~ain't she purty!

Princess Half Marathon Inspiration

I LOVE Kate, Maryanne and Sara's Blog, From the Page to the Princess: Race to the Castle.  It has great content and some golden nuggets for those who are training for the Princess Half Marathon. 

I found this webpage on their blog.  It's an inspiration video that Julie and Amy compiled following their Princess Marathon in 2012.  I watch it every morning as it makes me happy and fills me with inspiration!  Thank you for Kate, Maryanne and Sara for having this available on your blog and a HUGE congratulations to Amy and Julie!!

http://fromthepagetotheprincess.weebly.com/1/category/Inspirational%20Quotes/1.html

After being filled with this much inspiration, I know that I can definitely finish the Princess!

Control the Breathing, Control the Run

Bob Harper on Biggest Loser once told a contestant who was huffing and puffing during a treadmill run, "Control the breathing, control the run."  Bob even turned off the treadmill to talk to the contestant about breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. 

Today's run was difficult!  It had been too long since I had eaten (about 7 hours since lunch) and I fought to go one mile.  I could not get control of my breathing!  Even with my 1:1 of running/walking my breathing was VERY labored!  I could not get on top of my breathing.  I felt like I was panting like a dog!  No matter how much I tried, I just could not shake the feeling that I was hyperventilating.  I think it is related to being so tired because of not eating for the past few hours.  Running is hard, I don't need to make it any harder.

Things learned from today's run:
(1) I need to eat about an hour before the run;
(2) I need to control my breathing.