Wanna See What I'm seeing today during the Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon?

The fine people at competitor.com made a video of the Rock N' Roll 1/2 and Full Mardi Gras Marathon. Take a look see what I'm seeing right now as I run!

What I'm waking up too for #RnRNOLA - Foo Fighters - My Hero (Acoustic on Kilborn)

Wake up Time! Nothing better to get me inspired for Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon. my seventh marathon/ Sixth state. This is one of the songs that get mes pumped to cross the finish line.

My Game Plan Rock n Roll Mardi Gras Marathon

Happy 29th Birthday to me. In less then 12 hours I'm running in the Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon. This will be my seventh marathon. For this marathon:

• I'm not running with my iPod. I want to hear all sounds and music.
• I'm going to do my darnedest to do a negative split. Start slow then work my way up. I'm going to start some where between a 9:30 a minute per mile to 10:00 minute per mile pace and pick it up. I usually get carried away in the excitement and start too fast. 
• I'm going to stick with my 5 minute run to 1 minute walk interval. Nothing new race day.Well...
• I'm going to run with beads and a jester hat. For a while at least. If the beads don't bother me, as well as the hat, I run the entire way. 
• Cytomax, the official sport drink of the race, doesn't sit well in my stomach. All four of my fuelbelt bottles will be filled with Gatorade. I'm going to rely on water at the water stops when I need it. 
• I'll have my Gus ever 5 miles. Which pans out to every 45 to 50 minutes. 
• Most importantly keep a smile on my face all 26.2 miles. Remember that happiness is a choice. You can be happy or miserable either way the distance is the same. 

ROCK ON \m/

My Goals for Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon this Sunday

This Sunday I want to run a good  consistent race for the Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon. For the past sixth marathons I've wanted a consistent strong marathon. That meaning stay a steady pace and finish strong. It would be great if I hit my Personal Record. My best marathon was the 2006 Chicago Marathon just under 4 hours. I don't know if I will hit that again. My 20 miler training wasn't my best time, but I did do it in Barrington with little hill training under my belt.If the force is with me you never know.

Really, I just want this race to be crazy fun. This was a birthday present to my self since my 29th birthday is this Saturday. If I fell bold enough I'll run with a jester hat and beads, my Co-Coach Monique from Team In Training gave me, for the entire race. I want to have a smile throughout the entire race and have alot of photos to share with everyone. After the race I want to bite into a over cooked piece of dead cow while with salty fries then chug down a ice cold beer. MMMM I can already taste it.

Get text updates as I run Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon

 If you want to follow my progress as I run the Rock n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon  this Sunday sign up at https://www.competitorwireless.com/.

It's $2 to follow me. For those $2 you get updates on my time as run on Sunday. I don't get a dime from this endorsement nor do I expect to P.R. (Personal Record), but I thought it was cool to share with everyone.

What to do in New Orleans before the Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon?

I arrive this Friday in New Orleans approximately around 4:00 pm. I have all of Saturday to explore New Orleans then on Sunday I'll run it during the Rock n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon. My Team in Training rriends have some  things planned out for a pre race dinner but I don't know the plan.

Other friends told me try Hurricane drinks after the race and have breakfast at Cafe Du Monde. I have to hit up the expo Saturday some time as well. I promised my Dad told that I would have lunch at Mr B.'s Bristro. Can anyone tell me what else to look at or travel too? Is there anything else to do besides eating and drinking?  I'll be staying at the Holiday Inn French Quarter. I want to come back with a lot of pictures.

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Working on my RnR Mardi Gras Marathon Expo Wish List

This Saturday is my 29th birthday. When I'm visiting New Orleans I'll be at the Rock n' Roll Mardi Gras Race Expo picking up my bib & chip. At the expo there will be all sorts of vendors with good deals on running gear. Since it's my birthday I want to pick up some birthday presents. I have a wish list I'm going to hit.

New Sunglasses
I lost my sunglasses I bought at Illinois Marathon last year. I need a new pair.

Compression Socks
Something to help with recovery. I want them for the long plane ride home on Monday.

T-Shirt for Grandma
I love my Granny and she get's a kick when I get her a shirt from one of my races.

Nice technical shirt from the race for me
If the race gives me a cotton shirt I want a running type shirt to wear.

Gus or Power Bar Gels for Race Day
That extra boost of energy during the race.

Patch from Race
I collect patches from races that sell them.

Water bottle for fuel belt
One of my caps and bottles were destroyed on my 20 mile run. I need to replace it.

Rock n Roll Mardi Gras 2 weeks away...Oh crud I have to get ready

The Rock n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon, My seventh marathon, is less then 2 weeks away. The one thing I'm not worried about is the race. I finished my twenty miler run last week, I'm in cutback mode now. Today I run for two hours. I feel pretty confident I'll have a good race.

I'm not ready for the vacation side of things. I have to save up a little bit more money for fun in the Big Easy. Have to pay for food, gifts at the expoo, travel to and from the airport, and the party after the race. It all adds up. If any fellow marathon runner is coming into New Orleans International Expo around 12:30pm Friday February 26 and is going to the French Quarter Area and need transportation too, please contact me. We can set something up.

Plus stupid me is leaving the day after the marathon. Don't remember what I was thinking when I booked my trip. I hope I'll be able to extend my day vacation by one day.

Rascal Flatts - Unstoppable (Olympics Mix) A.K.A My new theme for 2010

I already had Unstoppable in my playlist when I run. This mix just topped it. I love songs that get's my butt in to gear then makes me keep going when I want to quit. I'm buying this version off iTunes as we speak. Those of you on Team In Training who live in the Chicagoland area, you'll be hearing this song blasting from car when I'm coaching you.

Running My 20 miler at Fisher Nut Company in Barrington today

Time for my 20 miler. Only a few more weeks until Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon. 

The weather is not as nice as my 18 miler. If you call rainy and 40 degrees F nice, but I digress. A clerk at Runner's High 'n Tri Arlington Heights told me about a 11 mile loop in Barrington, IL near the Fisher Nut Company. Alot people run there at 7:00 am apparently. So I'm putting on the Under Armomr, putting on my tights and heading out. I hope the trails aren't frozen over and I'm not the only one there. 

This is where I'm going:

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