Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Mardi Gras Half-Mary

So, ummm, hi everyone! It's been awhile... I have no excuse other than I really had nothing going on to write about. Talking about my lackluster training, nutso travel schedule, and the cold weather gets a bit tiresome so I took a break. Anyways, I hope with spring around the corner and the fact I keep signing up for races I will be more motivated to blog (and comment on all your wonderful blogs)! Speaking of races I just got back from one...

This past weekend I pretended to be runner and participated in the New Orleans Mardi Gras half marathon. Going into this race I was looking forward to having fun and finally running a race with my high school best friend and her husband. My heart wasn't into running these past couple months and I was a busy traveler who didn't make the time. Overall, I did everything you aren't supposed to do when getting ready to run 13.1 miles!

We arrived on Friday to cool weather, checked-in to our crazy busy hotel, and headed out to Bourbon Street. You know, the street you should definitely go to 2 days before any race :) We found a great place for dinner and then proceeded to visit different bars to stay out of the rain. Our plan backfired as the later it became the harder the rain fell. We ended up back in our hotel drenched.

Saturday our friends met us at our hotel and we headed over to the expo. They had already been the day before but were nice enough to show me the way Saturday. As I picked up my race number and headed to the area for my t-shirt and packet the volunteer states loudly "Half runners to the left, REAL runners to the right". People got pissed about that comment! And he said it repeatedly. Thank you for volunteering sir but maybe stick with full and half from here on out.

At the expo I proceeded to spend some serious money and sign up for another RnR half marathon here in Chicago. I saved $10 and got another free shirt!

After the expo we proceeded to walk to much and have a pre-race "energy drink"

A pre-race hurricane in New Orleans is a a must! We were good and only had 1. After fueling, we went our separate ways then later the hubs and I headed over to Algiers Point because my friend's Aunt was making pre-race dinner.

Race morning came around too early as it always does... 7am start and I had 3/4 of a mile walk to the start line. We arrived with plenty of time and I found my friend and her Aunt.
My friend's speedy husband didn't stick around for photos he had to go line up behind the elites in corral 1 super early. I think he was hoping a little elite-ness would brush off on him ;) After the pic we found our own corrals and waited...


It was a beautiful day for the race, cool but sunny! And it was so nice to see the sun! At this point I'm not going to give you a play by play on how the race went at each mile. I started great, a little too great, and faded quickly. The uneven roads hurt my ankles and feet like I have never hurt before. By mile 10 I didn't think I had anything left in me. I was cursing myself for not training enough and going out too fast. I really wasn't sure I was going to cross the finish line or if I did I thought for sure I would be walking across it. But somewhere I found something in me to keep going and I crossed it running with a chip time of 1:59:37. A new personal worst, yet still under 2 hours!

After crossing I easily found my friend's husband and my hubs and we proceeded to hang out and wait for my friend and her aunt.

so happy to be done!

After the race we found some food, some beer, and hung around watching Sister Hazel and Cowboy Mouth. While the race was good the post-race was awesome. I was every post race could be so fun!

best post-race food EVER!

Then we finally decided to make the hike to the buses back to the hotel to clean up. That afternoon I had the most amazing po'boy sandwich at Mother's and then we finished up our trip in New Orleans with some more post-race "energy drinks" :) Maybe a few too many because I was hurting the next morning! I may be returning for this race every year. Just next time with a little more training under my belt!

17 comments:

MCM Mama said...

Sheesh, you have an awful race and your time is still sub-2. WTG! That race is on my "to do" list 'cause Beer Geek's family lives down there. Sounds like you had fun!

Aron said...

YAY glad to see a post from you!! I heard this race was sooo fun... NICE job!! esp on the sub 2 with not much trainig - awesome!

Marlene said...

Good to hear from you!

Sounds like a pretty great experience overall, even if you were struggling through those later miles. Way to hang on and still bust out a sub-2:00!

saundra said...

Just reading that REAL runner comment got a rise out of me so I can only imagine the reaction of people who heard it!
Congrats on your sub-2 without much training. It must have been those energy drinks (LOL)

Jeri said...

I can't imagine running a sub 2 without training very hard. That's insane! And it's good to hear from you. I was just thinking yesterday that I hadn't read anything from you in a while. welcome back.

RunToTheFinish said...

ohh sounds like a good weekend!!! looks like am going to be a work traveling fiend like you for the next couple months...I keep trying to figure out how to squeeze a race in, but I'm not sure it will work!

lifestudent said...

Now that looks like the place to do a race. PF CHANG post race? Sweet! So much better than a banana and a bagel.

carpeviam said...

I've wanted to run this one for awhile. You've convinced me. ;)

The Laminator said...

1) Welcome back to blog land and racing Jamie! We all missed ya!

2) I hate hate hate when they despise the half-marathon runners at races with a full/half option. What is up with that seriously? Half runners are runners too!

3) Okay, I have to admit...I thought this was one of those I didn't train at all, went to Bourbon Stree the day before, and yet somehow PR'd kind of post...haha! Maybe there's still some value in training!

4) Super fun race and nice photos. Sounds like a great time. Jealous!

Bill Carter said...

Hi Jamie

It is nice to catch up with you and I have been a total blogger lackey myself. I think your approach to the Mardi Gras half is one I would like to adopt myself. And I would definitely not have a problem with some pre-race energy drinks. Sounds like a great time and a great time. Nothing wrong with taking your time and enjoying the sights as you cover 13 miles.

BTW, thanks for stopping by my blog to say "hi". And yes, injuries really suck.

kristen said...

Welcome back! So glad you see a post.

Congratualtions on a sub 2 half! That still took alot of work esp. given the lack of training for it. Sounds like a blast.

p.s.I had the BEST po'boy in NO too. I'll never forget it!

Jess said...

Man I'd take your PW as my PR any day of the week haha! Congrats on a great race!

Mark said...

Hey Jamie!!! Glad you are back!! Great race and looks like a fun time!

Laura said...

That looks like an awesome post-race party! But wow, I'll agree with everyone else and say that comment about "real runners" is appalling. I usually make it a point at the halfway mark to yell out some kind of congratulations for people doing the half who are almost done - I wish I were them!

Mel-2nd Chances said...

Was wondering about you the other day!!! Welcome back! :) Great job on the half!!! I'd need my best day to be sub-2!!! haha Take care, and have a great weekend!

runner26 said...

such a great city!! you ran a great race--even if it was a PW (a sub-2hr PW is amazing!) love that you made hurricanes a priority. i just hope you had time to squeeze in a trip to cafe du monde??

Invest said...

cool