Hi, Emily!
Welcome to the wonderful world of runDisney! I'm excited to hear you are interested in participating in the
2016 Disney Princess Half Marathon. This royal race is the most magical 13.1 miles on earth and is the perfect first half marathon - it was mine!
The 16 minute mile pace does not begin until the very last runner in the very last corral crosses the starting line. And with 16 corrals spaced about four minutes apart, those in the first 15 corrals have that as a time cushion for photo ops.
My biggest piece of advice when you register is to not leave your estimated finish time blank. Even if you don't have a proof of time to submit, at least fill in the minimum time of 3:45 (anything faster will require proof). On race day, regardless of your corral placement, move to the front of your corral, this will give you some cushion too. I also advise to train at a 15 minute mile pace or faster, this will give you an even bigger time advantage.
I hope this helps, Emily. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any additional questions. I'm here to help you plan a magical runDisney experience.
Faith