Yeah, I ran that!

6 pm Saturday was the Crescent City Connection Bridge race.  It is the main bridge into New Orleans from the Westbank and the most well known. The race was a 4 miler and I was really excited about it.  Why 6pm in June?  I do not know.  

I do know that it was 92 degrees.  I do know that the humidity was a brutal 85% and the sun was burning me to a crisp.  In case you haven't already guessed, this was an awful run for me.  I had hydrated well throughout the day, because I'm good like that.  I know I had a solid 80 oz of water in me before I left for the race.  But that run still kicked my bum.

It wasn't a bad start, but a mile in, I knew it was not going to go well for me.  I made it to a mile and a half and walked.  I walked and ran the rest of the race, and it was ugly.  I was so overheated, despite having done everything I could to keep that from happening. I had my salt stick (electrolyte replacement) capsules and took one 2 miles in and the other at the end.  I still ended up with a massive headache.  It was the yuckiest run I think I have ever had.  It was a fail for me.  Okay, not a total fail.  I finished!  It just took me 50:13 to run/walk 4.13 miles.  And I felt horrid.  But I finished it and I finished on my feet. 

Half a mile in, and we're approaching the carpool on-ranp for the bridge.  I liked the flag there.

Me, totally dying and miserably hot, a mile into the race.  Yeah, it was ugly and I really was that red.

The west-bound bridge.  We ran on the carpool lane of the eastbound bridge.

The "I was there" selfie.  I was too hot and miserable to even try to smile.

Nola skyline.  See the Superdome?  Or, as my kids like to call it, the "Mega-Pie"!

Wheee, I'm going downhill, I'm having fun, really, I am.... (I'm totally not, but I'm faking it.)

The finish is in sight  I'm almost done! 

The bridge I just ran across, with celebratory red, white and blue water spraying from the boat.

Hee hee hee, I crack myself up!

The Great Huey P Long Bridge Race

I may have mentioned that there is a 3 bridge race series, where you can race over the 3 bridges that span the Mississippi River.  I ran the St Charles Bridge last month and really enjoyed the 10k.  This month was the Huey P. Long Bridge 5k.  I had wanted to run it, but none of my friends signed up for it and I didn't want to do it alone.  Plus, we had 2 extra kids hanging around and I felt guilt at the thought of asking Dan to handle things while I went racing.

At the last minute, some ladies in my running group decided to run it.  Dan encouraged me to join them.  Isn't he the best?!!  I paid my $35 and I was in!

Sadly, I have zero photos.  My lovely, easy-to-hold camera that I usually use in races is the self same camera that  got lost in the mud pit at the Warrior Dash.  So I was camera-less and sad about that.  There was a delightful couple we met in the parking lot and my friend Andie asked if they would take a photo.  It was dang funny.  The wife aid, "Only if I can be in it!" and she was serious!

The race started on the west bank and you ran just about a mile before you reached the on ramp.  Then it was a mile up, and a mile down.  Somehow, this uphill felt harder than the last bridge I ran!  And I could not get much speed on the downhill.  It was a little disappointing for me.  I was slower than I thought I would be, but not horribly so.

I clocked a time of 30:58 for 3.14 miles.  I was 439 out of 1228 total runners.  (The winner did it in 16:10).  I was 29th in my age category, but I don't know how many there were in the 35-40 age group. My friend Andie won the 40-45 ladies category, which was pretty cool!

This race had no medal.  The finisher's prize was a class.  I think they called it a lager glass?  you could take it and get it filled with beer.  The after party was smooshed in to an area way too small for all those people, and I had zero desire to wait in a lengthy line for jambalaya, and even less to wait for beer.  So I headed home.

It was a good race.  It was on my bucket list, and I'm glad I did it. It wasn't stellar in any way, other than it was a bridge across the MS River.  Would I do it again?  Only if I was trying to run all 3 bridges in the season, and if my friends were going.  I wouldn't do it just for myself, by myself.

(The third bridge in the series is the one I am saddest to miss again this year- the Crescent City Connection.  It is in June, after we move away.)

St Charles Bridge Run.... Year 2

One year ago, I ran the St. Charles Bridge 10k.  It is the first race in a series of 3 races where you can run across the 3 bridges spanning the Mississippi River here in the New Orleans area.  Last year, a group of my running friends went out together and had a great time.  I really liked this race, and really wanted to do it again. I waited till the last minute because I could not decide if I wanted to do the 5k or the 10k.  I hadn't yet run 6 miles, since I'd taken time off for my foot, so I wasn't confident I could do it.  And then I was sick, and decided to just sign up for the 5k.  My friends said they were going to run it, but alas, no one else signed up to do it.  I had to decide if I really wanted to run it badly enough to drive an hour out to run it alone.  I did.

I got up at 5am to get ready.  Good thing, because apparently onion rings and hush puppies and french fries are not what one should consume the night before a race.  I had some serious concerns! I had plenty of time to get out the door and to get to the race.  It was a bit of a drive, but I got to the course just fine and had plenty of time to visit the portapotty and check in.  I made an impulsive decision to switch to the 10k.  Immediately afterwards I thought I may have made a poor decision.  My reasoning was that I wanted to challenge myself!  Somehow this seemed like a good way to do it?

I got signed in, got my number and t-shirt and caught my bus to the 10k start.  Yes, all by myself. It is a point to point race.  The 10k starts on the levee and goes down it 3 miles, then they intersect with the 5k race and everyone races down the road, up the on ramp and a mile of up-up-up the bridge, and then a mile back down the other side.  The annoying thing is that they release the 5k runners 20 minutes into the 10k race, so most of the 10k folks have to run through a teeming mass of 1500 joggers and walkers.

Aside from having to dodge and weave, it was a great race.  I was quite surprised how well it went for me. I had no tummy troubles, managed to get a good pace going, and really felt good about it.  My goal was to not walk on the bridge, and I met that goal.  I did one minute of walking through a water station, but other than that.... running all the way!  I ran 6.27 miles in 1:03:47 and I was very happy with that.  A minute and 30 seconds slower than last year, and I'll take that!

I did not wait around for the results. It is lonely and no fun with no friends!  I got me some water and oranges and a banana and headed home. I was home by 11, and just in time for general Conference!

 We're off!  this was the levee trail.  Nice.

This is my "Oh shoot, am I really doing this?!" face. 

 oming up on the 5k crowd.  We ran past another 1/2 mile and then both groups turned and merged onto the onramp.  See the bridge?  That's where we are headed!

 Oh look, a Plantation!

Oh check this out!  The guy behind me is 90 years old.  90!  And he's in the 10k.  Even more awesome.... it took me these 3 miles to catch him!   

Me and the Plantation.  Yeah, I know, but it was suppose to be a big deal!

Running on the surface street by the Plantation. 

Selfie with the Plantation. 

One of the fun things to see in the race. 

And here is the mob of 5k walkers I had to navigate around. They hogged the road. 

That's the levee I just ran down!  Now I am heading up the on ramp to the bridge

View from the top of the bridge.  Not too thrilling, but hey, I crossed the Mississippi River! 

Thumbs up for hitting the half way mark on the bridge.  It is all downhill from here!

All done and eating my oranges.  That's the bridge I just ran over.  Fun stuff!

And look!  I found an official race photo with me in it and I don't look horrid!  Yay!

Seeing New Orleans

Dan's folks were in town to visit us.  Dan thought they might like to see the sights in New Orleans, so Thursday we bundled up and headed out.  It was COLD!  Not Alaska cold, maybe, but it was darn tootin' cold for Louisiana.  It wouldn't have been too bad but the wind was blustery and strong.  

We took the ferry across the river, which was fun for the little girls who wanted to hang out in the wind.  I huddled inside.  We had brought jackets for everyone, but the wind has a way of creeping in.  We moseyed around for about 2 hours.  The place was crazy packed!  Apparently New Orleans was hosting the Sugar Bowl Football game and there were tons and tons of fans everywhere.  Lots of maroon Alamaba shirts doing the same sightseeing we were doing. We did walk a block of Bourbon Street, and it was early enough that the street didn't smell of vomit and alcohol yet. 

The kids were really good with all the walking.  Delaney ran out of steam first.  We did stop for beignets, which made everyone happy.  We meant to go to the Cafe du Monde, because that's the most famous place, but all those Alabama fans had the same idea and the line was out the door and down the block.  We found another place to get chocolate milk and beignets and still waited about 20 minutes in line.  I must say, beignets are quite yummy!  We have made them before, but they were nothing like the delicacy I enjoyed on Thursday!  Then we hoofed it back to the ferry and barely made it on.  The poor man was trying to close the gate while Dan was making him hold it open till his mom and I arrived.  Whew!  It was close.  

It was a fun afternoon.

Look!  Right by the ferry is a Tardis!  (Dr Who fans!) 

Heading to the River Walk. I love that Joshua is piggybacking Rylee and Dan has Delaney.

Posing by the river. 

Love my girls' smiles! 

Callie will not let me get a photo.... then demands I take her picture!  Silly pickle. 

Joshua likes all things spicy, so he was pleased to see this Tobasco store. 

I'm sad you can't see the sign well- this is the corner of Bourbon Street! 

Heh heh heh... I got her when she didn't notice! 

Rylee is getting grumpy waiting in line for beignets. 

My very first official beignet!  (I know, after 2 years?!) 

Rylee gobbled hers down. 

Delaney was happy, and covered with powder sugar! 

Hustling back down the riverfront to the ferry. 

Again with the "Take my picture!" poses with Callie. 

Not a great shot, but it was so cute to see Grandpa and Rylee together!

Global Wildlife Center

Dan's folks have come to visit us.  Our house is small, our children rambunctious, so we thought it would be good to take them out to do something fun.  We decided a trip to the Global Wildlife Center was in order.  It was barely warm enough (maybe 55 degrees), but it was definitely warmer than it has been.  The kids were excited.  We managed to not get lost this time on the 90 minute drive out there and we got on the 12:30 tram around the property.  We did buy the big bucket-o-food, but the kids excitedly fed 90% of it out to the animals in the first 20 minutes of the hour and a half tour.  I did give in and I purchased them each one last cup at the end.  Because it is a LOT of fun to feed the animals! 

The children had a marvelous time.  The animals were awesome.  It was especially fun because it was still mating season and the big deer would start brawling.  The deer on the property are mostly smaller ones, so when they go at each other with their antlers, it looks impressive, but isn't as dangerous.  Plus, the deer really only want the food and are quickly distracted by it.  The worst altercation we saw was a zebra altercation when one went in for a bite and got thumped in the ribs by a the other's rear hooves. So good stuff to see and it was a great day!  There were lots of zebras and those are my favorites. I think the kids liked the llamas best, but Callie said the Watoosi was her favorite.  The giraffes couldn't be bothered to come get a snack, and the camels they had 18 months ago both died in the last couple months (snake bite for one, old age for the other).  We enjoyed the trip immensely. 

Sadly, in all 95 photos I took, only one has either of Dan's parents in it.  I shall have to try harder to get more pictures of them.  I only posted 34 of the many pictures and you can peruse them as much- or as little- as you like!