My Results from 2010 the Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon

Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon was my second worse marathon. I finished in 4:41.01 hours. My worst marathon was the 2008 Rock N' Roll Arizona Marathon where I finished in 4:45.00. I wished I could of finished around 4:20:00 but wearing10 billion beads and jester hat all 26.2 miles slows you down. Plus I should of put a little bit more speed workouts in my training. But I did have fun and glad I finished. People along the way told me I made them feel better. If thats my purpose then so be it. I'll talk more about the entire experience later.  I have to unpack my bags.

From 2010 Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon

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!

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.

View Mardi GrasTrip - 2010 in a larger map

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.

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:

View Larger Map

Twitter is adding up my running miles

I was on Twitter and wanted to see if any one tagged me (a tweet that says @sideshowbobby71). Some how Twrun Log is following me and adds up the miles I run when I tweet the milage. That is so cool. I'll have to experewment with this to see if this really works. Take a look at it at http://twunlog.com/sideshowbobby71.

Today was my 18 miler getting ready for Rock and Roll Mardi Gras Marathon. I ran throughout Glenview. It was tough run for me. I stayed up too late the past few nights and I don't think I prepared enough. But I finished in 3 hours.  

I'm thinkging about trading my Sauconys for Stelletos. How will will I look in high heels in my next race.

Some reseach says high heels are better for you to walk in then running shoes. 

Read the LA Times report at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/01/ow-enough-of-these-running-shoes-anyone-have-some-high-heels.html.  The jist of study says running shoes are harder on the knees then high heels. The full long study can be found at the PM& R Journal Website. 

Some of my running friends are trying the Nike Frees cause the shoe mimics barefoot running. I'm about to move into my next pair of Saucony Hurricane X Shoes. Should I stay or go to Nike Frees, or move into a nice pair of stelletos? Since I'm moving into my longer distances for the Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon I'll probably stick with My Hurricanes for the marathon then move into Nike Frees for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. 

My Internet running friends any thoughts? 

Why I'm tempted to train for Rock and Roll Mardi Gras Marathon all on a Treadmill

Here in the northern Chicago suburbs it's freaking cold. According to to the Weather Channel's website it's about 15° F. Too cold for my tastes to run outdoors to train for Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras. I gathered a couple of clean water bottles filled two with water and two with diluted Powerade, grabbed 2 Power Gels, my iPod, and all my gear and ran 14 miles on a treadmill.  It took me a little over 2 hours to finish but I did it. I kept my self sane with my interval training, changing the setting on the treadmill, and messing around with the songs on my iPod. People running the indoor track said I was crazy. I can't will defend my self on that on can I?

I would totally prefer to run outdoors. If it's was nicer I would be running the trails at Busse Woods in Schaumburg. Unfortunately the trails are frozen and don't fully thaw until March. I would love to run the along the Chicago Lakefront but there would be no place to refill my fluids when I need to. I've tried running indoor tracks at my local Ballys Heath Club but I loose track of how much I run.  According to my running logic the treadmill is the most logical place.

Why I think the tredmill is the best place to train for my race:
1) Train me for the heat. From what people tell me it's hot in New Orleans. At least I'll be used to hot conditions.
2) I avoid the cold. I hate the cold. I think spring & summer can't come soon enough.
3) Because I want to see if I'm that crazy. I think that goes without saying. But why not just go all the way and see If I can keep my sanity for 16, 18, & 20 miles.

Some websites I've been reading said I should do 60% of my training outdoors. If I could, I would, but I can't.
I think that "completive, don't say I can't cause I can" part of me wants to see this endeavor come through. So in a few weeks I'll tell you how my 16 mile run goes.

My game plan for 2010

Tonight I finally received my 2009 Chicago Triathlon Triple Challenge Shirt. About friggin time. Its a nice blue long sleeve tech shirt. It has the total miles from each race listed I did that weekend. Which I guess is reason why I'm blogging tonight. Well, not the real reason but it makes a nice segway for what I'm about to talk about.

In 2009 I ran the Illinois Marathon; raced the Harbor Lights Sprint Triathlon, coached the Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon; Raced the Chicago Triathlon Triple Challenge; rode the Apple Cider Century Ride; and coached mile 5 of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon . Let;s not forget that I'm running the Schaumburg half marathon Turkey Trot at the end of the month. It's been a great year. I've enjoyed allot of memories with friends and new friends alike.

So how do I top all of this for 2010? I've asked myself the same question this past week. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you know I've been  struggling with the idea to sign up for a Ironman. After consulting with friends and Team in Training Triathlon Coaches I've decided to wait for 2011 to do the the Madision, WI Ironman.

So this is my plan 2010. I'm assuming nothing earth shattering happens in my life.
2010 will be themed OMG...My Last Year in my Twenties. Or something catchy like that. I'm up for suggestions.

Anywho...


February 28 (The Day after I turn 29) - I'll be running my seventh marathon in the Rock And Roll Mardi Gras Marathon. Louisiana will be my sixth state I've run a marathon in.


Early June - I plan to race the Olympic Distance Elkhart Triathlon. My goal is to beat my 2007 Chicago Olympic Triathlon time.My 2009 time was slower because I ran out of gas on the run.


July 31 - I'll be racing the Whrirlpool 70.3 Ironman in Benton Harbor, MI. After doing the Triple I'm ready for a Half Ironman! My goal will be to finish all 70.3 miles strong. More info later on this.


September 12 - Volunteer for Ford Ironman in Madision, WI. This way I'll learn some new tricks and register for the 2011 race.


Mid November - Race in El Tour De Tuscon. My goal will be to finish under 6 hours and get the gold medal. After July 31 I'll be focusing on everything to get to that finish line under 6.

Of course some sprint triathlons, a 8K race here and there, and a few bike rides will slip in the cracks. The above are my major events planned.

As I said before I'm going to sign up for the 2011 WI Ironman this September in person. By doing it this way I'll save a few dollars. According to Bill Snyder, the Team In Training head triathlon coach, my schedule and all athletic events will be planned around my training for the Ironman. That's something I'll worry about next December. 2011 is tentatively themed "Crap I'm 30...Now What?"

My question for every now is...Who's going to be partying with me in Mardi Gras this February? FYI, I'm brining lots of purple and green beads to the race!