200-ish miles..NBD: Ragnar Socal

Wow…what an experience!

Super nice Elisabeth picked me up from the airport and we headed down to Orange County to meet up with our team for Van decorating!

We made it to Exchange 6 around 8:00am. We were waiting for the last runner from Van #1 to come in for the exchange. At this point Van 1 was on a break and Van #2 was starting up!

All smiles before we realized that the temperature was about to climb to a bajillion degrees Fahrenheit!

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts at Van #2 start!

This is where our runner ran to pass the slap bracelet for the exchange!

Exchange 6 and others waiting for their runner to come flying in.

Beautiful California with awesome new friends! In the middle, our super awesome driver Phil…he was so good y’all. He knew exactly where our runners were running and we never got lost. He got us to every exchange on time and was right there to high five us as we came in. I remember thinking toward the end of every run…where’s Phil? Where’s Phil? I knew when I saw him I was finishing up!

The cutest Linzay waiting to exchange with Ashley.

Trying to show you how hot and tired I looked already and I hadn’t run yet!

Super sweet Danica before her first leg!

Me (soaking wet) after my first leg at 1:30pm in 98 degree weather (heat index 110*)…crazy and emotional, quite hilly run!

The following morning before our last leg. Seagull eating a bagel!

Ashley before her last leg. Love the ProCompression socks and reflective BicBands were wore. Thanks ProCompression and BicBands

Phil making sure Ashley gets water and support!!

Me seeing the Pacific Ocean for the very first time..beautiful.

Mission Bay..sun came out for Linzay’s run..weather was still cool!

Linzay before she takes off..speedy pants…

Ashley and Phil..such an adorable and awesomely sweet couple!

Our decorated van.. This is the only picture I have of our van..sorry..F- on that one.

This is what was holding up traffic when we were trying to catch up with our runner!… She was in the middle of the street and could care less that she was trucking along at .5miles per hour…

Look at the price of gas in California..(What?What?) ..in the swamp we think $3.76/gal is crazy…which it still is. I’m just thankful we haven’t reached $4.00/gal yet. Lovely economy..Thanks there Obama.. anyhoo..

One of the best parts of my trip…in Pt. Loma I found this girl! Mori is my best friend from 7th grade..I haven’t seen her in like 16 years…she lives in San Diego now! I can’t wait to return to SD and hang out with her in just 5 weeks!!!

The bestest Ashley figured I needed a souvenir from California..since after all, I KatieRUNSthis has renamed me the Touristy Runner..and the SoCal girls agree with her! I love taking lots of pics!

Me..last leg…San Diego Convention Center to National City…STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AGAIN.  This just doesn’t happen in the SWAMP..afterall we don’t even have caution lights..haha.

Part of my course! Lovely..didn’t get a pic of the vomit on the stairs I had to go up to get to these which I traveled down to cross Harbor Drive (i think)..

Voila! C’est Finis

( It’s finished..cajun French thank you very much)

Super Awesome Team and Experience

The finish was at Coronado Island… on the beach!!

Many hours later I was on my way back to Elisabeth’s apartment in L.A… This is the Ritz Carlton in downtown L.A…the bright lights in the back ground should be  Staples Center where the Laker’s play.

Elisabeth’sparking garage/backyard-ish/front porch…that makes no since! How cool are those trees..nothing like that in Louisiana..Neato!

Saying Goodbye and Thank You to her for all of her kindness and generosity! You are awesome girlfriend! Thank you All so much for everything! Heather you were so great and helpful…along with all of Van 1!! Thanks so much! I don’t have a picture of the 12man SMCOL team yet…but here is the Ultra…

Team So Much Cooler Online Ultra Team

1st place woman’s division ultra

(HauteRunningMama, SarahOUaL, Pam, ChaCha, Faster Bunny)

Congrats to you hardcore guys. You did awesome…y’all are all machines! And thanks to SarahOUal for putting all of this craziness together!

Finally…grub at the airport while waiting on my flight early Sunday morning..it was so good!

And I returned home to Louisiana around 5:30pm Central time to find this… my husband and his friend sitting on a swing they put together..so proud! It broke right before the picture was taken and I tried to get them sitting there still stunned but they jumped up too fast… I almost pee’d my pants laughing so hard at this pic moment! Love me some Loo-zee-ana and missed it as well! Rice and Gravy was consumed immediately after I took this picture! Crawfish coming shortly…like tonight!

T-2 days until Ragnar SoCal. and Kate’s State Championship

Meet: team SO MUCH COOLER ONLINE! 

FOLLOW US THROUGH TWITTER AT #SMCOL… we will be tweeting live coverage and updates of minute to minute Ragnar Socal action!!

It’s almost Ragnar time!! 6 woman Ultra Team and 12 woman regular relay!!! Oh,  I’m the big #12 at the end…I joined on Easter Day! Yes, very last minute, but it’s been a blast just facebooking with them back and forth and trying to figure out everything I need!

And Me..#12..(add pic of myself tank ya very much..)

I’m the 12th man in Pic..BUT I’m actually Runner 10 with Legs 10, 22, and 34

So far this has been a great experience, I can only imagine what is to come in the NEAR FUTURE (like 2-3 days future)!!

I want to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to our sponsors who are compressing, hydrating, and dressing us! (this is sooo cool!)

Cutest Head Bands (Thanks Sandy!)…BIC BANDS

Compressing:

Aspaeris Pivot Compression Shorts and Pro Compression Socks (I chose Hot Pink..so didn’t end up matching..but that’s just okay )

Dressing:

Running Skirts (we have a nerd theme..wait til you see my skirt!!)

Run Pretty Far- cutest running shirt..we’re HARDCORE!

Hydrating:

Nuun…will definitely be gulping this stuff down!

Ragnar is the overnight running relay race that makes testing your limits a team sport. A team is made up of 6-12 individuals; each individual runs 3 legs. The legs of the race vary in difficulty and distance, from 3-8 miles, allowing elite and novice runners to run together. Over 2 days and 1 night, teams run across 200 miles of the country’s most scenic terrain. Pair that with crazy costumes, inside jokes, a great finish line party and unforgettable stories. Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it Ragnar.

_____________________________________________________________

We headed out early last Saturday for Kate’s Championship Game in Grand Lake, Louisiana (aka: literally the middle of no where) It’s actually near Lake Charles, La about an hour East of the Texas border.

Not only is she My star..she is actually the top score-er (?? ha) on her team and the Point Guard (she handles the ball well for a 10 year old..that may have something to do with her stepdad being an ex-college basketball player and working with her often!)

Coach Meghan during half time

#1- Lil Dribblers 9 & 10 yr old STATE CHAMPS (never lost a game this season

Super Excited to take a pic for me of course

Even more excited to take a pic WITH me…of course

Todd trying to pose as cool daddy for the camera..while I laugh at him..he couldn’t figure out why he could see himself while I took the pic (love my new phone!)

Best Pizza Around…Kate finally super happy to take a pic and show off her new kicks…

Look at the napkins at this little pizza place…all fancy in Louisiana..

Sunday morning before my final Run! (did two runs on Sunday..whoa)

Compressing all day…every day this week…

My Pro Compression Socks arrived and I compressed some more.. and Finally today…I’m off to A.R.T in an hour…getting ready for Cali in the morning!

Have you ever heard of A.R.T. (Active Release Technique)…triggers the point of muscle pain and with pressure and movement, releases the knots…(ouch) BUT I couldn’t live/run without this…it’s amazing what this has done for my IT bands, hammy, and piriformis issue I had after RnR Nola Half Marathon

My ART chiropractor is awesome!! Thanks so much Dr. Joel Conner and to his wonderful wife/secretary Brandi of Advanced Sports Injury of Jennings

Well I’ll be back on Sunday…

 …with all full of awesomeness..with awesome pics and awesome new friends!

Gotta Run… (ha, no PUN intended of course)

Have or Will you be running a Ragnar Relay?

Anyone with kids…isn’t it awesome to see them succeed at something they love and strive for!! (I love watching Kate play basketball…and I love watching Sydney Cheer- she’s cheer captain!)

Ragnar Runner 10, Spaghetti Tacos, and Sky Pond!

I’m runner 10 next week for Ragnar Relays SoCal… I am a last minute sub. I’m nervous, yet excited! I’m nervous because I have never been to California much less run there. Hills..??? What are those??? Whewf.. this will be interesting.

Sydney and Kate have been asking me to make some crazy Spaghetti/Taco dish called Spaghetti Tacos..how original…They saw it on some Disney or Nickelodeon T.V. show…Here’s the outcome..which they thought was the best thing since sliced bread btw!

Excuse Kate’s fave plate..and that’s her thumb trying to make it talk to you!! My kids are so brilliant and imaginative..HA

My Uncle’s Camp and pond: Formally known as Sky Pond (my husband gets a kick out of the fact the my whole family continually says “Are you going to Sky Pond?”  ”We are going to Sky Pond?”…”Do you want to go to Sky Pond?”…he’s like..REALLY? do we have to continually refer to a camp in the middle of no where as “Sky Pond”..haha my family is NUTS!…Ok..So here is SKY POND at Easter!!

My girls and my Aunt playing some game..where the ball almost rolls into one of the ponds every time and everyone yells..”NOOO”… I didn’t get it…

RagnarSoCal, Troy Landry, Easter, CCC Expo..busy busy

Sooo… as of late yesterday evening I’m the newest member of the Team So Much Cooler Online Ragnar Relay, running from Huntington Beach to Coronado!! I’m so excited for this! More details to come soon!!

 Now on to Easter, Family, and Fun!

I baked this with my girls…except they always forget to continue helping after about 10 minutes!

Love, Love PINTEREST!

I made this Easter morning..really great dish..eggs, bread chunks, seasoning, milk, sliced turkey, mushrooms and green onions!

I found the above recipe on my own from cooks.com (i think)…I googled:  egg and mushroom breakfast casserole..

more Crawfish…my grandfather and uncle are crawfish farmers with this guy……. (I told y’all I live in the SWAMP)

TROY LANDRY AND MY GIRLS

Ha, I swear this was the first time I wore “jorts” (ok, in many years)…My farm clothes!!

Delivered a new baby Lamb…haha…My husband was so proud I stepped outside and not onto the road to run, but to the barn with him…Doesn’t happen very often!!

worked the Gulf Coast Half Marathon Series booth at the Crescent City Classic 10K Expo

with this guy!!! One of the co-founders of the  GCHalf series…Adam!!

And saw this guy near our booth…

It’s been a productive, yet chaotic Holiday break that I’ve enjoyed thoroughly!!!

 Now off to run boring errands, gas, bank, Wal Mart, etc…

How has your Easter break been?

 Do you love Pinterest…I’m new to it and fell in love!!??

Anyone else out there ever ran a Ragnar Relay, or will be running a Ragnar relay?

Bummed about CCC 10K BUT I have a SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT SOON!!

Well, I ended up working the expo for Gulf Coast Half Marathon Series. I didn’t realize how tired one’s legs could be after standing from 8am-8-pm. I was exhausted. Because of that AND other issues, I opted out of the Crescent City Classic, yes like a loser I know, but I’m ok with it because I DON’T run unless I feel 100% up for it. I would not have been able to give 100% Saturday morning. On a good note, I made it home to my husband and kiddos who were so excited that I came home! We slept in on Saturday morning and then divulged in Way To Much boiled Crawfish with my FAMILY!!! So I don’t regret running, but I’m pumped about “hardcoring” it this week!

That is my godchild, not happy about taking a pic. And I ate way too many of those white boxes..filled with yumm-i-licious!!

 

Rock n Roll San Diego Half!!!..And Crescent City Classic 10K!!

2011 Start of San Diego Marathon and Half Marathon..Bee-you-tee-full!!!

2011 Rock n Roll San Diego Half Marathon RACE BLING!!!!!

I booked my flight for San Diego!! All registered and read to go..OH the anticipation!

A SUPRISINGLY GREAT RUN FRIDAY!

I laid low after the Dallas Half Marathon for a few days, but I was anxious to run. Soooo Friday I put on the running shoes and decided to run for an hour..that’s all I had time for before my chiropractor appointment. I started off running about 8:40 mile for about .25 then something hit me and I was rolling (for me) and it felt good..7:45 pace ..WHATT??? I never run in the 7′s except for speedwork very occasionally. I continued to feel great for about a mile and a half…it caught up with me around mile 2  and I slowed down to what I thought would have been 8:20ish. I continued to push a little harder than normal for just a regular run and finished 3.1(5k) at 24.41… I was upset at first because I felt like I should have beat my 5k pr which is 24:29 but I realized that I had just ran a Regular Run Not a Race in just a few more seconds than my Race PR..I decided to catch my breath and do a recovery mile during mile 4 then by mile 5 I had picked it up to the 9′s and hit mile 5 at 44;20-ish. I decided to push the last 1.2miles and see what my 10K would turn out. I was good with anything because at this point I was running ok again and new it was going to be a decent time..especiall knowing that I walked a little after the 5k point and jog mile 4 at 11-12min pace. I ended up with a 54.41 10K which my PR is 53:14 and this was just a training run so I was happy. I ended up jogging to finish up with 7miles in 1:03:26. My first “long run” 7 mile train back in January for my first Half Marathon was around 1hour 14min…I dropped my 7 mile run by at least 11 minutes since January..that’s good new to me!!

CRESCENT CITY CLASSIC HERE I COME!!!!!!! I am running the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans next Saturday…hope it goes as well as this past Friday Run!!

Anyone else running the RnRSD or Crescent City Classic..Holla..we can meet and greet!!!!

 

I ran with high school kids…And an Elementary Fitness Run

…and they kicked my butt! I wish I was in shape like the kids I ran “around” on the track today! I am in better shape than I was during MY high school years, but these kids just fly passed! I was so hot around NOON at the track I forgot to take a pic..but I’m there everyday so I have a pic of the track. This is from Tuesday at the Acadia Parish Fitness Meet, where my daughter competed.

Bragging a little: she took first in her heat in the 50yd dash and 4th in the 600 meter. She placed 2nd overall in the parish for Shuttle Run!! So proud of her!

Today I ran a little over a mile for warm up…at NOON it was 85 degrees and very hot!

Next, were 100′s…I ran a couple of these..According to my training I was suppose to do these in about 22.8-2.50 seconds…Well I surprised myself!…my first 100: 16.7…second 100: 19.1 and third 100: 20.2! I didn’t do many because I had to pick Kate up from basketball practice. I’m ok with today’s running because I didn’t feel like heading to the track to run at all at the hottest part of the day. I usually rather hang out with this guy at the track while he coaches practice…

Dallas is Beautiful!

A CLOSER LOOK AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF EACH WONDERFUL PICTURE:

The view from our 18th floor room…Dallas Skyline! How amazing!

The below picture was taken on the course! The houses and neighborhoods we ran through were beautiful.

This was one of my favorites…because of course my favorite flower is the Tulip!! Beautifulness!! (I love this non-word)

Downtown Dallas right next to our hotel

Our ride arrived early!…Nah just picking..we just walked everywhere..up and down every hill! Whewf.. As a Louisianian I am SO used to flat terrain..I figured this out quickly in Dallas!

Beautiful Park with fountain between our hotel and the RnR Dallas Start Line.

…And an early morning view (thanks @katieRUNSthis for taking the pic) from our hotel room!

These were a few “city” pics of beautiful Dallas! RnR Dallas Race Recap coming soon!

Hopefully today I will get a few recovery miles, go back to Dr. Joel for A.R.T. (ouch)!! but in a good way, and possibly a CrossFit Jennings class…wow look at me trying to be all HardCore!!

Have you ever visited Dallas?

Have you ever ran in Dallas?

What are your workout plans for today??

RnR Dallas and Cravings

2012 Dallas Bling!!

        

My first Half Marathon finish at Rock n Roll New Orleans a few weeks ago (I’m in purple)…Will it happen again in DALLAS!!!??? In the same month???!!!

I haven’t been training like I should have for this, but I still feel very much in shape since NOLA. I ran 9 miles weekend before last and only 4 miles this past weekend. I have started CrossFit as my cross training recently. I love it. I am SORE..like it hurts to sit on a toilet seat…yes I know this was crazy to begin before running the Dallas Half Marathon this weekend, but It’s All Good! I shouldn’t be sore 3 days from now. STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH. That’s my plan for the next few days! This Girl and I leave bright and early Saturday morning. I’ll be tweeting during the weekend!

This is what I had for lunch today..(not my picture of actual salad)..this is what I wish it looked like!

Mine was just the basic iceberg lettuce, grilled shrimp, tomatoes, cheese, and boiled eggs with fat free ranch dressing. I wish it would have looked like this..it would have tasted better!

Wishing for and Craving this…

RnR New Orleans Half Marathon Part Deux

Update: My legs (hamstrings, piriformis, IT bands) feel so much better! That Active Release Technique has worked wonders on me. Yes I was one of the only screamers in the chiropractic office…but it was all worth the pain.

Ran 9.04 miles in 1:25 and felt great until about 7-8. That’s when my hip and knee started bothering me, but overall pretty good! Lots and Lots of ice, foam rolling, stretching, repeat. It’s amazing how that stuff really works!

I won this awesome gift card from Rock n Roll series and KatieRUNSthis.com!!!

                                                                                                              

 And met these great tweeps too!

Moi (@cajun_runner) with @tpwatergirl, @voodooChum, and @kristynKG

The Half race was so great I’m still on  a runner’s high! I can’t really do a review since I have not run any other Half races. I can say that I was able to get into the corral I wanted, the music and environment were great, I started at 7:14am and I was in corral 10! That pretty much means the corrals started every 1.5 minutes. I had no problems taking off at my 9:20 pace. I stayed here for a little while until I realized 9:15 was still feeling good!

I must be honest, I’m not good at all keeping pace(kind of like I’m terrible at keeping blog posts and pics in correct order ). I will look at my watch and be running 9:15 and feel great, then look again 30 secs later and be at a 7:40..and then I think…whoa…slow down…you so can’t hold that pace for longer than a few minutes. I have to be very careful not to go out too fast and get worn out! My hubs last few words to me as he walked me up to the finish…Erica..DON’T take off too fast and get burnt out by mile 4…oh and …babe get up closer..no up more in the front of the corral..FRONT…(ok Todd…I’m not running your 3:20 marathon pace dude). I smile. Erica, no seriously you are going to get hung up in the back and be aggravated with the walkers stopping in front of you, you better get up front..like on the line.!!! Goodness I gotta love him! I finally said, “Todd, I met these girls and I’m talking to them, they are nice!” He backed off by then…haha..thinking back on that convo is priceless..those girls were probably thinking..dang either she can run or husband needs to put on her bib and run like Forrest!! LOL…I crack myself up!

Glad I forgot to stop for bathroom break!

Start Line about half hour before start! Big party and Loud music!

Walking from hotel to the start..so many people as soon as you step out of the elevator at my hotel! Luv it!

Nervous Pervous…refuel, band aids and hair stuff set right next to coffee!

Set out everthing the night before..although I would have had plenty of time race morning since I woke up at 1:28am..ugh and couldn’t sleep..so nervous. My alarm went off 4:00am and I slept through it until 5! At least I got 1 more hour of rest..sort of!

Ok, back to the race Erica, I felt so great the whole time. It was really literally like a blurrrr!!!! It was a beautiful day and very cool weather! Everything just fell into place. I trained for a 9:45 pace, but at the VERY last minute turned my pace coach (runkeeper) to 9:15. I thought to myself…awesome..even if I stay behind it may push me. It took until mile 4 something to finally settle into place. I took it all in and watched to spectators, they were great! I even saw firemen all decked out in a lot of gear and carrying tanks and American Flags. They passed me..yes seriously, I just watched in awe! I thought, man that must be hot in there! By the time I knew it I was in front of the St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square! This was awesome. I think I was tired and wishing for a Gseries station and GU, but all of that was in the back of my mind. On the surface it was just surreal!

At mile 10 I turned onto Esplanade Street and looked up at a hotel balcony..all of a sudden I hear..It’s Erica…ERICAAAAA!! It was my Aunt and Uncle and a few cousins!!! They were there for my cousins I mentioned in Part 1 that were running! It was great seeing them! That gave me a little rush until mile..umm..10.5! ha. Miles 11-13.1 were a bit more strained. I forgot to use the bathroom, so with every stride I was tightening with all I had! This actually took a lot of energy. I was going to stop at a port-a-potty, BUT THERE WERE NO MORE ON THE COURSE…at least none that I saw. I waited wayyyy to long. Lesson learned…pee at mile 7ish next time so you don’t pee your pants! LOL

As soon as I saw the finish I looked at the clock: 1:57:xx…I’m going to do this in under 2 HOURS..Yippeeeee! I can’t believe this…sprint Erica, pass ‘em up…go! It got crowded at the finish line but I was bobbin’ and swurvin’ and passing up some people at the end!

Finish Time: 1:58:37

HALLLLLELUIAHHHH!!! I am finished..in under 2…and feel fine! Wait…omgoodness need port-a-potty ASAP!!

Grabbed some water, gatorade, marathon bar, and took a picture. By now my kiddos were hollering my name through the fence..Well Syd was yelling MOM…you know how many kids are yelling mom!!! at the finish line of a half marathon??…Many Many…so then I hear Kate..she’s yelling..AAARRRIckAAAAA… Yes, that’s my daughter I can hear her…where are they, where are they??! I was all confused and exhausted all of a sudden. Found the fam outside the finish area, drank my chocolate milk, stretched, and visited the port-a-potty a bit! Then headed over to the Family reunion for more rest before the drive home! Excuse the pics..something was on my camera lens and I didn’t realize until later.

Kate, Me, Sydney                      

Family pic with Coach Todd in front of the main bandstand!

All in all I’m sure I left so many details out..it was such a great experience and will definitely be running this race next year…God willing! Love RnR NOLA!!!