Mardi Gras Half Marathon

The Mardi Gras Marathon....it's a race that has been pretty important to our family for a few years. Back in 2005, I ran the half for the first time. The next year I came back, sacrificed a few toenails, but made it all 26.2. Damon signs up for it every year, but always manages to find some excuse to just collect the swag and skip the race. This year, we both signed up for the full course. Ludicrous, right? Of course right. What were we thinking? We have two children under three and full-time jobs. Sometimes we are just dense.

A few days before the race, I decided that I wouldn't let a little thing like not being prepared stop me from participating and having a great time. After all, the race fell on February 13, which was my Grandma's birthday. My grandma was my absolute favorite person in the world, and I say with love, she was also a tad bit stubborn. I vowed to make this race my "Ode to Stubbornness" in honor of my Grandma.

I completed the race. My time was not a PR, but I was not concerned with time, so who cares? It was actually a liberating experience to run and not be a slave to the watch. Along the way I enjoyed the scenery, took as many bathroom breaks as I wanted, chatted up some losers from The Biggest Loser, and had a great time. One of my only problems was all those annoying people with their beeping Garmins messing up my zen. When looking back, there were several things I could have done to be better prepared for the race:

1. Train. I kind of skipped this part, with the exception of a few long runs about a month before the race. I am sure Hal Higdon would be mortified, and for this, I am truly sorry.

2. NOT eat a foot-long Subway tuna fish sandwich at 9 p.m. the night before the race.

3. Sleep more than 4 hours the night before the race. Instead I opted to spend a couple of hours crawling around in the cold attic looking for a dress that was actually not even up there. Oh, and I spent some time looking for Body Glide also. It rocks.

4. Break in my running shoes BEFORE the race.

All in all, I had a great time in spite of all my mistakes. It only hurt for a few days, so I don't think there was any real harm done.  If you have a burning desire to see me hobble over the finish line, visit the "Videos" tab up top.  If you MUST know my time, google it.

By far, the absolute BEST moment of the race was reuniting with my cheering section afterwards.  Damon braved the crowds with Stella strapped to his back and Cille in her stroller.  They were at the finish line when I crossed, and though none of us saw each other, it really meant a lot to me that they were there to support my insanity.  Oh, and they brought me chocolate frosted donuts and chocolate milk from the Hole!  Soooo much better than the crap the race organizers were trying to pawn off on people.

Also in the race that day were two special friends who did everything right and deserve a great big round of applause, or high five, or ice cream sundae, or something for their awesome accomplishments! Here is Emily, who completed her first full marathon, looking fresh as a daisy around mile 25...

See what I mean about training?  It pays off!  Another big congrats to Tricia Raney, who completed her first half-marathon that day!  Way to go, girls!

Celebration in the Oaks

For the third year running (pun intended), our family participated in the Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk. Yes, we are super crazy and did this race on the same day as the Reindeer Run.  It was a long day, but lots of fun and totally worth it! Here are Daddy and Stella preparing for the race.  Stella really needed a nap by this point in the day... 

Jamie helped Cille get ready...

The Raney family. Impressively, we were all on time for the race this year...

We arrived in plenty of time, as a matter of fact, for me to force the entire Raney clan to pose for a group photo!  Go Team Raney!

Cille was a little overwhelmed by her first Celebration...

Stella could hardly contain her excitement over the carousel, and tried out some break-dance moves on the floor while she was waiting for her ride...

In spite of the enthusiasm Jamie and I tried to share, Cille was nervous about her first carousel ride...

Still a little unsure...

The Zeringue family was very enthusiastic about their carousel experience.  Thanks to our special guest photog Matt for these delightful pictures!

I think she likes it!

Waving to her adoring fans...

I wonder what Kirk is thinking in this shot.  I know what Skyler is thinking.  "Next year I'm getting my own horse!  No more sharing with Mom!"  But look how much fun she's having...

All that spinning can really make you hungry...

And here, compliments of Romaguera Photography and the talented Ralph Romaguera, is our annual group shot. There are actually 18 people in this photo. (Skyler is hiding behind Jace's head.) All of our friends in this group really feel like family and we are so blessed to get to celebrate the season with them! Happy Holidays!

*Due to inclement weather, there are no fun pictures from our adventures in Storyland this year. Our apologies.

Egg Nog Jog

The Saturday fun continued with the race that we did not miss, the Egg Nog Jog. The forbidden Santa Claus kicked off the race, and Stella was eager to go see him, much to my chagrin.  I was almost relieved when she got close to him and clammed up...

Mattie Ann was all about the guy in the red suit...

We were optimistic about Stella's speed at the start of the race.  She looked really good coming out of the starting blocks...

Oh, actually that was a false start.  Here's Mattie Ann, patiently waiting for the real start...

And they're off...

The fact that our 9-months-pregnant friend is walking on the right side of this shot should clue you in about how fast Stella and Daddy were "running"...

Eventually, Stella decided that being a passenger would be a heck of a lot easier...

Aren't they cute?  Immediately after I snapped this picture Stella yelled, "Slow down, Mattie Ann!  You're running too fast!"  My cross country dreams for this child might have to be revised...

Please note that Cille is in the lead in this shot.  Maybe she'll be my runner...

Maybe we should tell Stella about towing.  I think Mattie Ann would be game...

We made it to the halfway point!

And, boy howdy, were those Varsity Sports guys thrilled!  I think they were excited because we were the last ones and they could finally take down their sign...

Our entire Egg Nog Jog team (minus me, the photographer)...

So sweet!

At this point I feel the need to point out that an entire portion of Canal Street was closed for this race.  As the last ones on the race course (by several minutes), the city of New Orleans had effectively closed down one of its major, world-famous surface streets in order for our toddlers to run down it.  Pretty cool, huh?

A half mile may not seem very far to you, but imagine if your legs were the length of a two-year-old's.  About 30 yards from the finish line, Mattie Ann was done...

Stella (the kid who got carried for half the race) talked her friend into finishing strong...

Sweet Chaela was near the finish line to cheer on the Egg Nog Joggers...

A well-meaning spectator awarded this colorful streamer to Stella before she crossed the finish line.  That little gift almost kept us from finishing the race...

Mattie Ann wanted to see it...

Stella was not really all about sharing with her friend...

But after a little scuffling, we finally crossed that finish line, complete with coverage from a local television station and several photographers...

Tomorrow, the aftermath...Stay tuned!

Reindeer Run and Romp

Last Saturday morning we loaded up the girls and headed into town for a day of racing and fun. Our first stop was the Reindeer Run and Romp at the Aquarium of the Americas...

Stella was thrilled with her race number and reindeer ears...

So was Mattie Ann...

The "romp" part of this activity was loads of fun.  There were all kinds of booths set up to enjoy, like Radio Disney, some kind of ranch booth where you could practice your roping skills, and a huge maze.  You could even practice shooting hoops just like a real Hornet...

Cille was there, too...

This was the scene about 2 minutes before the start of the race.  Yes, that's Katie and I rushing Mattie Ann and Stella back to the pink port-a-potties after they claimed they needed a bathroom break...

This is the rest of the field, waiting for the starter's gun to go off...

We did not make it back from the potties in time for the start of the race, but have no fear, we didn't want to be in that race anyway.  We decided that the 1 mile Reindeer Run might be a little taxing, so we opted to participate in the half mile Egg Nog Jog.  It didn't start until 9:15.  While we waited for our race to begin, the girls entertained themselves...

With lots of jumping...

Such form, such grace, such style.  Thanks, Ivanov's Gymnastics!

Go, Chaela, go!  Our friend Chaela was brave enough to tackle the long course...

Stella and Mattie Ann could hardly contain their excitement and affection for one another...

See?

I leave you with one last pre-race picture of Stella and Daddy.  Tomorrow, the Egg Nog Jog!