Rock N Roll New Orleans
Finishers: 10,272
February 11, 2011
48 more states? Man, that was going to be expensive! I may as well start small and see where I could drive.
In 2011, I set my sights on 3 more states: Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia
Training for the New Orleans, LA race was not easy. I had a full course load of MBA classes and 2 part time jobs. Yet somehow that made me want to prove that I could fit my training in as well. I was waking up at 5am and jogging the streets of Auburn a few hours after most people had gone to sleep. I was getting up before game days and watching the city awake excited for the events ahead. People always talk about Auburn sunsets but the sunrises are just as good. I knew the mileage around that town by heart and there was no where else I would rather have trained.
So the Valentine's Day weekend of 2011 was the next big race in NOLA! We decided to make a weekend out of it so I drove down to Mobile to meet up with Miss Vicki and we jumped on I-10 and headed West. Miss Nita and Mr. Mike were not far behind us and soon after they got there we headed out on Bourbon Street.
We made good use of the typical 3 for 1 drink specials and hopped bar to bar checking out the classy bars we could find. At one point I am pretty sure I was sprinting down the street towards a life sized grenade...I think I had had one too many at that point. We ate dinner...somewhere...and then before we knew it - it was time to pick Cooper up from the airport who was flying in from Houston. I don't really remember going to the airport or much of the rest of the night but I am pretty sure Nita rode a whale and Cooper and Mrs. Vicki carried me home.
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| From a distance...our eyes meet.... |
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| Hugging a grenade - such a dare devil |
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| Just me and the gals on Bourbon Street Balcony |
February 12, 2011
I am not proud of this but I think I spent 90% of the night on the floor. The next day I tried so hard to get up and get lunch with Cooper and his mom but I was down for the count. At one point I have an "ah ha" moment and texted the Geeslin twins to see what they always drank in college after a hangover. Piedalyte for the win. (This is when this beautiful baby drink and I became best friends). So after spending the entire day in bed, I realized the expo was about to end so the dream team dropped me off and I sprinted through the conference center in order to get my number successfully. I was in no shape to sprint but I couldn't not get my bib! We grabbed a good dinner and I was thankful to finally be able to eat before heading back to attempt to get some sleep after a struggle bus filled day.
February 13, 2011
I am not proud of this but I think I spent 90% of the night on the floor. The next day I tried so hard to get up and get lunch with Cooper and his mom but I was down for the count. At one point I have an "ah ha" moment and texted the Geeslin twins to see what they always drank in college after a hangover. Piedalyte for the win. (This is when this beautiful baby drink and I became best friends). So after spending the entire day in bed, I realized the expo was about to end so the dream team dropped me off and I sprinted through the conference center in order to get my number successfully. I was in no shape to sprint but I couldn't not get my bib! We grabbed a good dinner and I was thankful to finally be able to eat before heading back to attempt to get some sleep after a struggle bus filled day.
February 13, 2011
As I was leaving the hotel in the morning to head to the race start, 2 girls were passing me just coming in from the nights events. They wished me good luck and told me that I successfully have made them feel horrible about their decisions (had only they seen me 24 hours prior). The New Orleans Rock N' Roll Half Marathon is AWESOME! Running through the historic streets filled with lots of encouraging fans and people trying to give you beer....ugh...I couldn't think of alcohol.
Coop and Vicki said they would see me at mile 1, 3, 5 and 7 (the course did a lot of winding back and forth for the first 7 miles). I didn't see them for the first 3 stops and got a bit confused but finally saw them at 7 just in time to throw my extra jacket, give a quick wave and run on my way. I saw Nita and Mr. Mike outside Cafe du Mond and really wanted a beniget.
The last 3 miles was a straight away and it was the longest straight away ever. I never thought the course would end. But finally I saw the finish and took off! (Coach always told me I have far too much energy for how fast I finish races -- its internal NOS).
The last 3 miles was a straight away and it was the longest straight away ever. I never thought the course would end. But finally I saw the finish and took off! (Coach always told me I have far too much energy for how fast I finish races -- its internal NOS).
I crossed the finish line in 2:04:45 which wasn't a PR but I was still super proud after going from Trashley on Friday to Super Runner on Sunday. This was all during my "ankle kicking" kicking days so I was quite bloody around the foot area.
We spent the rest of the day wandering around the streets and we even saw two of the guys from Swamp People at lunch! It was a very fun run and I was excited!
We spent the rest of the day wandering around the streets and we even saw two of the guys from Swamp People at lunch! It was a very fun run and I was excited!
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| OFFICIAL RACE PIC - 3 states down, 47 more to go! #DREAMBIG |
Pretty Cool Medal -- Finish Time 2:04:45
