Someone please remind me that it is only December and that the Princess Half won't be here until the very end of February! I have been agonizing all day over what to wear. I know I said before that the outfit was complete, but that is because I forgot I bought the adorable arm sleeves that match my skirt. So now I'm toying between 3 possible outfits. I think as time gets closer I might do a photo shoot and let you all help me out ... I totally didn't steal that idea from Lesley. Nope! Not me. ;)
But here's where my REAL trouble lies. ... this is all new to me. I've never run a half marathon. I don't know how a body reacts to that - temperature wise. I guess I'm just worried about being too hot or too cold. Granted I lived in Florida for years, but when I did I never got up to hang out in a theme park parking lot at 4 o'clock in the morning. Last year for the 5K it was so cold, so I imagine the 1/2 was just as bad. My mom was there to cheer me on and the grandstands were coated with ice. And I am bad luck. Attention to all of you planning to run this race ... I bring cold weather with me! It is true. I have quite the collection of sweatshirts and jackets from various trips because it always ends up colder than average when I'm around. But I have such a sunny personality, how can that be??? ;-)
So I guess I'm seeking advice! How do you experienced runners dress for longer races. I've got 3 10Ks under my belt, but that's the longest distance I've ever traveled. And all of those were just running skirts and short sleeved shirts, (a tank top once). But now we are adding a kajillion more miles, putting me in chilly central Florida, and then of course we want to look cute, too!
Thoughts? Long sleeves? Short sleeves? Short with my adorable new arm sleeves? Tank top with my adorable new arm sleeves? Either way it IS set in stone that I have my cute running skirt and leg sleeves. I'm not worried about the bottom half of me.
I've heard of wearing clothes and tossing them. When is it etiquettely (I made up a word, feel free to use it) okay to toss the outer layer? I know me, I'd rather just have it gone by the time I get to the start line. That's the fashion snob in me not wanting to cover my bib at all, and not wanting to not look as put together once I start the 13.1 mile photo shoot! ;-)
I welcome any and all suggestions. Especially if you have done these Disney races before - what was your weather/clothing experience? Things you would have done differently? Things you did and are happy about? Let me hear it!
hmmmm....i usually try to dress a little warm for the start and then toss things as I get going. for my marathon in Manchester NH in November I wore compression knee socks, my skirt and then a long sleeve tech tee with a tshirt over. please do not bring the cold. i am running that race and i want to wear a cute t-shirt with my skirt and knee socks:)
ReplyDeleteYou definitely need to model each outfit, post pics, and let us vote. :)
ReplyDeleteLast year, the princess half was unseasonably cold. It was like 40 at the start. I wore sweats and a long sleeve shirt that I threw away 5 mins before the start of the race. Under it I wore a skirt and a tank top. I also wore knee high socks and gloves. I was cold in the first 2 miles, but was dressed perfectly for the rest of the race. I'm pretty sure I threw off the gloves at mile 4.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend layering with things that would wouldn't mind throwing away.
I would say to remember the 20 degree rule... Say it's 50 out - dress for 70 degree weather. If you are really worried about being cold just at the start you can always wear something that you are willing to toss as you warm up. A lot of half's and fulls they will haev people pick up everything that is tossed and then donate it for you. If you don't have something alreayd you can part with, hit up your local good will store. And yes, looking cute is half the battle that day!!! Wish I was doing that one too!
ReplyDeleteI would pack it all. Then , on race day, or the night before, assess what you think you'll want to race in. Then put an extra layer over top to donate as you go or pass of to someone at start.
ReplyDeleteI could imagine training here, that in LA you might be fine in a singlet and shorts/skirt for the race, but a lot depends on how you dress for training.
Keep track of what you end up doing on speedwork days - wear your race outfit for those days and see how warm/cold you are. Keep a log of it, so you can look over it before your race. I ran in shorts and a ss top today and it was 40ish, but i took off a LS top at mile 2.
It's always nice to have options on race day and better to be over-prepared, but not over-heated. The pants/skirt/shorts is the hardest to figure out sometimes. You'll make a good choice! :)
I do my long runs in what I hope to wear for long races. This lets me test out combinations and also lets me know if something I thought was really cute and comfortable is going to rub me the wrong way (literally) come race day.
ReplyDeleteI'd say it sounds like you need a pair of rainbow baby legs for your arms...then when it gets hot, you just take them off and tie them to your singlet and you're good to go! :)
ReplyDeleteOne thing to keep in mind, only wear toss-able things you will actually toss.
ReplyDeleteOne year I wore a light jacket to run a marathon on a rainy day. When the time came to shed the layer, I couldn't part with my jacket. So I tied it around my waist and ran with a butt flap.
I always buy cheap, cute knee socks to use as arm warmers - check the Target clearance section. That way, when and if I toss them, I'm only out $2.
I personally will never wear anything but a tank top or short sleeve shirt when I race. If it's cold I'll add sleeves. I get super hot when I run. I've never worn long sleeves running further than about a 10k. And I've run halves in upper 20 and 30 degree weather :)
ReplyDeleteMan - you are WAY ahead of the game! I need to do some thinking on this soon I guess!
ReplyDeleteThrow away clothes are the way to go. I usually go for keeping my upper body warm. I'll be in compression socks and skirt for sure, but I'll definitely have long sleeves on top AND probably a throw away sweatshirt, gloves, and something for over my ears. You will warm up pretty fast, but I'm naturally wimpy in the cold and can tolerate wearing long pants and a jacket in weather where other runners are in short sleeves.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the model the outfits posts...
ReplyDeleteAlso throw away clothes.. hit up goodwill for some finds and then just take off your layers as you go and no longer need them! (says the girl who has only run one 1/2 marathon and TOTALLY over dressed) but I hate to be cold!
I agree with the throw-away clothes comments. I was so happy for my sweatshirt at the beginning of last year's Princess Race, but not too long into it I was really glad to toss it to the side.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for last year's Princess I ended up bringing several different outfits and modeled them all the night before and my friend who I dragged with me had to help me choose. Nothing like leaving it to the very last, last minute. So I like the model the outfits option too! :)
I'm just hoping us michiganders don't bring the bad weather with us!! I'm planning on wearing a tank with arms sleeves (hoping to get those for Christmas) so I hope it's not too cold. 40 or 50 degrees sounds awesome right now since the windchill is in the negatives here right now! Thanks for posting this, this helps me too! I'll have to bring something I can throw away.
ReplyDeleteI'm part of the less is more mentality, you don't want to overheat during the race, and I agree to get some clothes to toss, whenever you feel you need to.
ReplyDeleteand theres nothing wrong with being excited for a race that's almost 2 months away! : )
YOU'RE the reason it was so cold last year?!?!?! GRRRR! :) OK...so this post might be a long one! I would definitely plan at least two different outfits... a cold/cooler weather as well as a warm weather one to bring down with you. I was always told that for running, you should wear clothing that you would wear if it was 20 degrees warmer.
ReplyDeleteIf the arm sleeves keep you warm enough, I would do your normal chosen cute outfit and throw the sleeves on. OR throw a long sleeve running shirt under your cute short sleeve or tank top.
As for tossing clothes, I'm kinda like you... I'd rather have the majority of the throw away clothes gone right when the race starts. I NEVER cover my bib either...I could be missing pictures of myself! :) For the half last year I wore an old puffy jacket from high school in the corrals. The minute the announcer told us that our wave was going to start soon, I stripped off the jacket and continued to jump around like a jumping bean to try staying warm. I did keep on gloves and my ear warmers though. Plus I had hand warmers in my gloves. After about a mile or so, I tossed the hand warmers. After mile 4 or 5, I tossed ONE glove. Why one? I have NO idea. I was probably already delirious from the sleet and snow. :) I guess moral of my story is to keep on clothing or items that don't detract from the 'outfit'.
What I would have done differently? I would have kept my gloves tucked in my race belt or something. I completely tossed them (they were cheap $1 gloves) and then about mile 10 or so when the wind picked up...I was FROZEN. Not to mention after the race when I was physically shivering and blue!
Many people recommend going to Goodwill or somewhere similar to pick up throw away clothing. The money goes towards a good cause, plus when you toss your clothes, they get washed and donated again right back into the cycle. I need to start looking for some throw aways soon!
Loved reading all the ideas because I have not mastered the what to wear question. A friend told me to wear a trash bag to keep warm before the race. It was so cold - it was a life saver. You feel a little silly, but it worked.
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