Inspiration Points...

Marathon #55!, State #49!

1. 1 to GO! My last state before Boston and #50!!!!

2. 10-Star Maniac ********** ... After this weekend I'll be a 10-star titanium maniac!

3. Christine's First! My friend Christine will be running her FIRST half-marathon! 

4. NOLA! I've never been to New Orleans and I'm esp excited to go during Mardi Gras "season"

5. Divas and Running Buddies! This is the first time 4 of the 5 original MM Divas will be together at one race. We also have a ton of maniacs going down as well as friends to watch! 

6. Double Medals! This is my second RocknRoll marathon this year, so I'll be getting extra bling... a "rock encore" medal. 

2011 Mardi Gras Marathon Medals. SPARKLESSSSS

(Don't panic... this is the same blog. I just decked i tout with purple and green in the mardi gras spirit!)

LA Race RUNdown...

Rock'n'Mardi Gras Marathon ~ Sunday February 12, 2011. 7:00am start

New Orleans, LA ~ Downtown New Orleans

Registration Fees: $95-$115 Early $145 at Expo

Year Running: 2nd

Races Available: Marathon, Half-Marathon, 2-person relay... Currently available at the expo: Marathon and half marathon registration only!!!

2011 Expected Field: Unknown (no cap met)

2010 Field:  3,517... Females: 1,556  ... Age Group: 279 (F25-29)

2009 Avg. Finish Time: 4:35:52

Certified Course/BQ Certified?: Yes/Yes

Cutoff Time and Early Start Option: No early start. There is a 7hour cutoff time. 

Weather Update: The forecast has been showing nothing but sunshine and 40's to 60s for race day! Even sat should be great weather to stroll around NOLA. 

Course:

MarathonGuide Rating: 

The course is flat and fast. It loops through downtown, doubling back on itself in the last 4 miles or so. This should give all the runners a little taste of New Orleans bringing us through downtown, the french quarters, parks, and more. Every post on this race emphasizes FLAT... as does the elevation chart below.  

Race 411:

~ GU- There are 2 GU stop for the full marathon (Miles 11 and 21) so bring your own if you need more!

~ Lots of H20! RnRs always do a great job with the number of aid stations available on their courses. 

~ Bands!!! Tons of entertainment along the course. I'm excited to have good weather that should ensure ALL the acts come out. (Nashville was too hot for them and some others I've been in have been too cold). 

~ $ Runner Track??? It looks like all the RnRs are charging for runner tracking now... really?!? It rarely works well anyways! Sigh
~Pre-Race Snacks! Start Line Village at RnRs have pre race bananas, bagels, and sometimes more. Take advantage if you're still hungry!
~Sparkly Medals!!!! I LOVE SPARKLES!!!! All of the RnR Marathons have sparkles somewhere on the medals but this years mardi gras is ALL sparkles and mardi gras beads. See Pic at top!

~Add a Mile! As with most of the RnR marathons, the starts are not overly easy to get to and very crowded. It looks like no matter where you go you're going to have a little walk to get to the start so prepare for 27.2!

Race Plan:

Now that I'm getting a little heavier into my ultra training, I'll be expecting myself to run another 10 or so on Monday. So, again I will be practicing slowing myself down and possibly taking 2-3 1 minute walk breaks to keep my leggies loose as a goose. I'll aim again for around a 3:40'ish time.... maybe a little slower. 

Throw Back! Bring it back now ya'll...

2007 Air Force

Reverse the Countdown!

This is my 49th marathon-state, meaning I have 2 to go including this race. What was going on around state #2!?!? I was running the Dayton Air Force Marathon... and we're talking all the way back in 2007! I didn't start this wild adventure until 2009 but prior to that I only ran 1 marathon in 2008 (the Flying Pig), and the year before I ran 2 in 2007-- marine corp and Dayton Air Force. If you've yet to run the Air Force it is a MUST do! It's flat and fast. Always good weather in the middle of September and great crowd support. It's a huge race for family and friends to attend so an after party is always great. 

This time in 2010...

This time last year I was blogging angrily about the cancellation of the Myrtle Beach Marathon late night before the race!!!! It ended up being a blessing in disguise because I was able to make my first BQ the next weekend in my hometown :)

Meet up Info: 

-MB, Tinie, Kim, & Greg- Airport! 11-12 am. 

-Divas & Dave- Expo 12-1pm

-MM Dinner buddies, divas, Greg and Cait +1- Dinner at Angeli on Decatour at 6pm!

-MM MEET-UP!!!! At the edge of start line village on Convention Cnt Blvd and Henderson St. at 6:15!
-Diva Pictures!!! Post-Race at Family Reunion are "D" for Diva!!!!

MM Meet-up Pre-Race at 6:15 (click to enlarge)

Happy Racing!

Stephanie

"Run to Win"-Meb
"Fast Girls Have Great Times!" - Marathon Sign