Runner's World Heartbreak Hill Festival Part 3: Five & Dime

Thursday and Friday of the Runner's World Heartbreak Hill Festival felt like Summer Camp. I mean really. Okay maybe. I never actually went to a sleep away Summer Camp so I am 100% basing this on TV. Oops. But I still think it was - laughs, hugs and beer. Okay definitely no beer at Summer Camp, right?

Either way it had been a blast. But I kept thinking and saying: Oh yeah, we are here to actually run races.

Sort of forgot that one little detail. Even though I had my bib in hand and everything.

Well the running got started bright and early Saturday morning with the Five & Dime, which meant at 5k at 7:15 and a 10k at 8:30. You know I am up for a challenge so I was ready to go. However, was unsure how to handle the time in between the races. Well, nothing like flying by the seat of your pants when it comes to fueling.

Pre-race I grabbed a dark chocolate & peanut butter KIND bar and my trusty ENERGYBits. Luckily we were staying in the dorms so Athlete's Village was a leisurely 5-7 minute walk from where we were. Strength in numbers so as many bloggers as possible climbed into the elevator - for a selfie - and headed to the Start.

KT Tape matches my Team Chocolate Milk singlet - what a coincidence? ;)

I KNEW I needed to run with people. If I have learned anything, I suck at pacing myself to a slower race when running alone.

Thanks for the pic Anne!

So I lined up around the 9 min/mile pace with some bloggers and set out to keep it easy. I had an angry left hamstring and three races to make it through in total.

As soon as the horn went off, we shuffled through the corral to the Start Line and it was game time.

And I cut off their heads! 

It was awesome setting out with Julie, Presley and Anne. My goal was to share my mid-run selfie skills with these ladies. BUT, Anne brings the A-game and a real camera to the plate. I hung my head in shame.

Hey Girls!!

As I hit Mile 2 I had separated slightly from the group, but it allowed me to cheer them on as we hit a turnaround in the race.  But Marnie and I had kept together and were having a great conversation.

I was getting lost in conversation that I hadn't taken a mid-run selfie yet. I was talking all that pretend game and hadn't done anything about it so it was time to rectify that.

I thought it was one of my better ones.

The race ended on a little bit of a downhill before taking a right into the final stretch, where - of course - I had to step it up a notch. I didn't want to be dogging it in the Finish Line photo. Priorities, right?

Splits: 9:01, 8:59, 8:46

Since I love numbers, I loved the 28:28 5k time. Now my inner demon was angry at the slower than usual time, but the brain knew that it was about finishing and not speed.

After happily collecting the first medal of the weekend, I set out to find a snack (hello chocolate chip bagel) and a bathroom (thank you BC for keeping all the buildings open so I could avoid the port-o-potties)! Once that was set, it was time to start thinking about the 10k. It was an odd amount of time for me so I wasn't really sure what to do. But the bagel hit the spot.

Now the 5k didn't really feature Heartbreak Hill so I figured the 10k would be more a challenge. I knew I would need to keep the pace easy once again.

I felt as if the 5k ended as soon as it began!

So I met up with the same crew at the same spot - oh hey hey 9 min/mile sign - and planned to run with them again.

From the look of this pic, maybe they didn't want me to run with them :P #PhotoBomb

As we crossed the Start Line again, I had some deja vu and let the ladies dictate the pace. I didn't want to push it.

Almost immediately I realized that we would be hitting more of Heartbreak this time around! And it would be the last portion of Heartbreak - aka the biggest of the hills.

For those that don't know, Heartbreak Hill is not a single hill like many think. It is actually about 3-ish miles of rolling hills (3 total). They really aren't that bad in the scheme of life, but when you come upon them at Mile 17 of the Boston Marathon they seem like MOUNTAINS!

And on this day the heat was dictating how the day would go so the hill was tough. Thankfully once again the conversation flowed so the time and miles ticked by.

Mile 1: 9:30 Mile 2: 9:53 Mile 3: 9:35

It was about the halfway mark that Anne and I started picking the pace up. Not sure how it happened, but it seemed organic. I hadn't met Anne before this weekend and didn't know much about her story. It was GREAT chatting with her. We learned that we have very similar PRs.

Her Half: 1:43, My Half: 1:44 ... Her Marathon: 3:56, My Marathon: 3:58. We are both 31. We like running and blogging.

Crazy similar.

So you can only imagine the talking helped dictate the pace. But we both wanted to keep it smart.

And I had the pleasure of introducing Anne to Heartbreak Bill. He is the mascot for the Heartbreak Hill Running Company and a staple all winter long during Boston Marathon training runs.

Poor guy must've been dying in the suit

Mile 4: 9:10 Mile 5: 9:18 (highest point of Heartbreak) Mile 6: 9:07

Once again ending on a downhill was appreciated and allowed us to rack up some speed to finish the race strong. We weren't about to let these 2 folks finish ahead of us so we dug down and sped around them. I wanted a nice clear Finish Line photo for us. :P

Now I had kept my 5k medal in my hand during the run just so I could keep start sporting both medals AS SOON as we crossed.

It was a great run in some bad heat. Finished with an official time of 58:49.

Definitely amazing knowing so many people at the Five and Dime races. Every time I turned around there was a blogger, friend or blog reader finishing the race. I love some sweaty hugs, high fives and hearing race stories.

I am proud of everyone I know that tackled a running challenge of two races in one morning.  Two pieces of bling before 10am is A-okay with me.

The left hamstring was sore, but didn't feel any worse after 9.3 miles. Taking it slower was definitely the way to go.

After more water and snacks it was time to head back to the room for a shower and a change. The rest of the day featured Expo fun, Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee, the Dogs Run, the pasta dinner and another Sarah Reinertsen talk (I will NEVER pass on hearing her speak).

I want to thank all of the volunteers, police offers and Runner's World staff who was up way earlier than I was to put this race on and to make sure there was enough water for the participants. I also want to applaud Runner's World for the Medical presence during the race. Since I had some breathing trouble the last time I was on Heartbreak, I kept an eye out and it put my mind at ease to see so much medical staff out on the course.

I can also say the KIND Bar and ENERGYBits was a great combo pre-race. The chocolate chip bagel wasn't too heavy before the second race. Phew! I wouldn't have wanted that yummy bagel to go to waste. Plus it worked as my chocolate since the race was lacking low-fat chocolate milk. :(

But no matter what I had another meeting with Heartbreak the next day ... for the half marathon!

***

Have you run legit back-to-back races before?

(Note: if you would like to buy ENERGYBits, use code WEIGHTOFFMYSHOULDERS for 25% off your order!)

*UPDATED* My Boston Marathon Promo is LIVE!

Ahhh can you believe it? I received the email today from Universal Sports with the link. I am 100% geeking out over it.

I owe Got Chocolate Milk a HUGE thank you for choosing me to be a part of this project.

Without further adieu, here's the video:

Edit: We found the link to the second longer promo video and wanted to share it!

Dani Dishes 4-21-14: Initial Boston Marathon Thoughts

On this episode of Dani Dishes, I am sharing my initial thoughts and reactions to April 21's Boston Marathon. Warning: there will be tears!

*UPDATED* I'm going to Nashville to #FightStroke!

Being a member of Tedy's Team is an honor. One that I am reminded of every day. It becomes even more evident at the pasta party prior to the Boston Marathon, which happened last night. Hearing the stories of teammates - 5 who are Stroke Survivors that will be running on Monday. I run in honor of my Stroke Heroes - my grandparents - and for all others who have been affected by Stroke.

So when I surpassed the $5000 goal for the Boston Marathon I started to think what was next. I then realized (yes late to the game) that many of my teammates would be taking on the Nashville half or full marathon five days after Boston. The fundraising goal for that was $4500.

As I sat pondering the extra challenge, I made my final push for Boston by offering mile sponsorships. The generous donations came rolling in (which still leaves me speechless)!

Finally yesterday I made a decision. If I could hit the $8000 mark, I would make the announcement: 2 marathons in 5 days to Fight Stroke.

And then this happened...

So I am doing it. I am going to push my body and mind to a new limit in honor of my grandparents and those that can't run.

Since the mile sponsorship was well-received for Boston, we are taking it to Nashville too. Here are the details:

1) Head over to my donation page (here) and donate  – $20 per mile

2) Comment on this blog post with which mile you would like to sponsor

3) Feel good about helping to Fight Stroke

Thank you all for your continued support as we head to Boston tomorrow and Nashville Saturday!!

 EDIT: After the medical incidents at the Boston Marathon on April 21, I will be dropping to the half marathon in Nashville.

New fundraising update:

MILES SPONSORED

1 Holly Rhoades Johnson 2 Gramma 3 AK Stout 4 Joe Zorola 5 Mom & Dad 6 Jerilyn Goldberg 7 Dacia Root and Erick Larin 8 Carlee Padot McClurg 9 Chris Shuttlesworth 10 Katrina Pilkington 11 Jamie Falzone 12 Carissa Bealert 13 Cecilia Jones 13.1 My Stroke Heroes

Three Things Thursday: Zensah Edition

I've done countless posts about Zensah compression socks and sleeves. (Read here if you missed one) Since everyone knows/hears about compression socks and sleeves, I thought I'd use Three Things Thursday to open your minds to other products Zensah has to offer in the world of compression.

(Please note: I loved Zensah so much I was honored to be chosen last year as a Zensah blogger! This does not however sway or impact my reviews of their products! Ain't nobody got time for fake reviews!!!)

The three Zensah products I'm bringing to you today are: Sports Bra, Shorts and Arm Warmers.

Let's get this compression party started ...

***

1) Limitless Compression Arm Warmers (value $34.99)

The latest addition to the Zensah arsenal are arm warmers. I wasn't sure what to think when I first heard about them. I mean I have seen friends running in arm warmers before, but hadn't tried it myself.

The description on the website explained it clearly:

Whether using the Zensah Limitless Compression Arm Warmers during an early morning run, or while working out, the arm warmers provide athletes with improved circulation for faster muscle recovery.

And who doesn't want faster muscle recovery? I knew they were worth a shot.

I was trying to find the perfect opportunity to test them out and Boston weather gods must've heard me. We had a gorgeous, yet slightly chilly day this past weekend where I could actually rock a tank top. Destiny!

So I took the arm warmers out for a spin and they were really great. I didn't feel any swelling in my arms or hands. The sleeves stayed in place thanks to the comfortable elastic at the top. No pinching, which is always appreciated.

And you know my love of thumb holes.

Zensah didn't disappoint there.

The arm warmers even have a small mesh pocket where you can store fuel, a house key or even your phone.

My ENERGYBits are nice and snug!

Now many of you might be thinking that having a phone on your arm without a strap might bog you down. I didn't find it a problem at all. It stayed in place and didn't pull the arm warmer down at all while running.

I'm excited to test these out more over the next few months. As the weather gets a tad warmer my hands tend to heat up first so I tested it and the thumbholes can be rolled up to the wrist if needed without causing a ton of discomfort.

The arm warmers currently come in four different colors: black, white, neon pink and neon yellow.

Key Features:

• Essential transition piece for cooler weather
• Moisture wicking and antimicrobial proprietary fabric
• Mesh side pocket ideal for carrying iPhone, gels, or keys
• Thumbholes for added hand warmth
• Silver ions for thermal regulation
• Compression improves circulation for faster recovery
• Sun Protection
• Made of 87% Nylon, 13% Spandex

***

2) High Compression Shorts (value $63.99)

I think we all know that running and training is always a learning process. Am I right?

There are always techniques and products we learn about from our peers.

Well, I encountered IT band problems in 2011. I knew to foam roll and went to physical therapy to work on the problem. It would creep back at times as it does.

But one day I was running with friend when she told me about compression shorts. I had no idea. I knew about socks/sleeves and was already addicted to those. But knew nothing about these compression shorts.

So I took myself to the Zensah website to learn more:

Run, bike, and recover faster with the Zensah High Compression Shorts, The compression shorts provide support to the upper leg, while allowing for unrestricted mobility in the lower leg.

Huh? So these little shorts sound like they could help the nagging pain in my hip and IT area.

Can you guess what happened next?

I tried them ... and they worked!

Shocking I know.

I now wear compression shorts the night before a big run and the afternoon/evening after.

My hip and upper leg couldn't be happier. They are thin enough that I will in fact wear them under work pants or a dress. Take that business casual.

At first I thought it was just another fad or something folks bought just because they sound cool, but I see the light. These shorts are heaven to my legs especially after dealing with Heartbreak Hill on a weekly basis!

Key Features:

• 3D compression for extra support in the quadriceps
• Moisture wicking
• Keeps upper legs warm and loose
• Made of 85% Polyamide, 15% Elastane

***

3) Seamless Running Sports Bra (value $35.99)

Sports bras are one of the most integral pieces of clothing when it comes to exercise.

Fellas you agree? Mansiere? Bro?

The #1 annoyance can be chafing. Ain't nobody got time for that! (yes I used that reference twice in one blog post - sue me! No wait don't!)

With a seamless construction and Zensah fabric, the Zensah Sports Bra prevents chafing. This high-performance running sports bra offers superior comfort and support, as well as giving you the option to add color to your workout.

I like comfort. I like support. I like color.

Seems like a winning combo to me.

And they ARE super comfortable. My addiction has grown and I now own this bra in five different colors and waiting for pay day to increase the collection.

The Zensah Running Sports Bra features moisture wicking technology that keeps you dry, even after the toughest workouts. The racerback allows for free movement. Zensah has the best sports bra on the market for runners, athletes, and any active woman. The 15 different color choices make it the most colorful running sports bra.

The sports bra does fit all body types, but know it only goes up to a L/XL so you would have to refer to the sizing chart before purchasing. My lovely lady lumps have shrunk - thanks weight loss - so I usually wear the M/L.

Key Features:

• Seamless design = no chafing
• Anti-Bacterial
• Superior Comfort from the proprietary Zensah fabric in each Running Bra
• Thermal Regulating
• Moisture Wicking to prevent the running bra from becoming heavy with perspiration
• Made of 94% Nylon, 6% Spandex

***

Have you checked out any of these Zensah products?

Dani Dishes 3-17-14

On this episode of Dani Dishes, I'm sharing about the film shoot for my Boston Marathon training and a how I mixed up the workouts this week! :)

Dani Dishes 3-10-14

On this episode of Dani Dishes, I had a fun week with great friends, family and a FUN EXCITING announcement about this upcoming week. (Hint: it involves a film crew (keep your minds out of the gutter!)

Tedy's Team Group Run - 10 Miles

The FINAL "Riverside Run" took place today and I had a special guest ...

my friend Christina! She is running with the John Hancock team and couldn't make their long run on Sunday so she joined us. It was great. I was able to catch up with her to see how she faired at the Black Cat 20-miler last weekend! :)

We had a heat wave in Boston this morning with temps in the high 30s! Hollah! I really didn't know how to dress. I stood staring at my vast collection of running garb this morning debating what to wear and what not to wear. I opted for a headband rather than hat, Team Chocolate Milk jacket, short sleeve shirt underneath - which meant no Under Armour, capris and my Superman socks.

Now I know I said I would wear calf sleeves for all my runs after the 20-miler last week, but I felt with 10 I would be safe in my Superman socks. I needed the extra pep in my step of wearing them today. They make me so happy. Plus later on you will see why the choice paid off. ;)

We all stretched at Joint Ventures in Kenmore Square and at 8am we headed to the T (train). It was nice to catch up with Nancy, Cristina and Christina. I missed the first two last week - we run together every week.

It was bittersweet to get to the Riverside stop on the train. It would be our final training run here, which means the marathon is nearing!! :P

I made my final venture to the dingy, but life-saving bathroom at the train stop ... and we were off!

It was awesome to be back with the crew and to have that crazy orb in the sky that many call - the Sun. It made it feel like it was 50 degrees out. I welcomed the warmth.

I really tried to take in the scenery of the run. The first mile or so is through a neighborhood before we are plopped out on to the marathon course.

Mile 1: 9:32 Mile 2: 9:04

Every week the guys from the Newton Firehouse were out offering up water and snacks to the runners. Today I finally remembered to snap a pic. It was a great sight seeing them out clapping for us and manning their own aid station. Plus, this spot was at the start at Heartbreak Hill so it was a great little boost to the spirit.

Like my drive-by/creeper pics as I ran? :P

Mile 3: 9:08 Mile 4: 8:52

I felt good on the rolling hills today. I kept thinking how the extra time on the bike trainer is really paying off. It is making my legs stronger without beating the body up like running does. I had to scale the running back this week because of those pesky blisters from the 20-miler so the bike trainer was my savior.

I love seeing this sign plus the amazing water stop guru Margaret every week. After bidding farewell to our lovely volunteers, it was time to catch up with Nanci and Christina to see how he run was going. This was Christina's first experience with the rolling hills of Heartbreak so it was great to hear her thoughts.

Now as I continued on, I heard "Hey Dani" to my right. It was a blog reader Jamie. How did she recognize me?? By these awesome socks! :)

Thanks Jamie for saying hi and good luck with your marathon training with Girls On The Run! Right after we parted ways I finally had my first gorilla sighting of the training season.

I love seeing Bill the Gorilla from the Heartbreak Hill Running Company. I always stop for a pic with him when on the course. A fun long-run tradition! :)

I saw Nanci and Cristina again after I stopped for my picture so we chatted before the final hump of Heartbreak. I was ready to "make it my B&^%ch" as usual so I tried to power over it.

Mile 5: 9:36 Mile 6: 9:05

And just like that the rolling hills were done. Another meeting with Heartbreak Hill was in the books. Still no matter how many times I train on it - it is way different on Race Day! The crowds and the 16-miles prior to it all play into the experience.

I did a check-in with myself and was feeling strong. My toes were slightly sore which can be expected with the blisters, etc. But with the hills over I was ready to release the legs for the final four miles. I wanted to see what I had left in the tank.

And you know what I had? Some sweet negative splits!! Don't they look pretty?

Mile 7: 8:47 Mile 8: 8:39 Mile 9: 8:26 Mile 10: 8:15

I opted to run music free. I was having fun chatting with teammates when they were near me and waving/saying hi to a ton of friends and blog readers along the course. I really love seeing familiar faces out training. Plus I had fun remembering which charities they were putting those miles in for and thinking about the thousands of dollars going to good causes one mile at a time today!!

Technically today's run is 10.2 miles long so I stop at 10 and take the last 0.2 as a nice cool down walk. Stretch out the legs, etc. Once back at Joint Ventures, I made sure to use the foam rollers and stretch everything out.

After saying bye to everyone it was time to head home, shower, snuggle the pups, throw on my Zensah compression socks and work on my recap (hello recap!).

But now I am heading to see some of my favorite folks in Maine. So until next week's 18-miler folks...

***

Week 13 Workouts:

Sunday, March 2: 30-minute bike trainer session

Monday, March 3: 1.1-mile run and Spin Class (56 minutes)

Tuesday, March 4: 30-minute bike trainer session

Wednesday, March 5: REST DAY

Thursday, March 6: REST DAY

Friday, March 7: 45-minute bike trainer session

Saturday, March 8: 10 mile group run

***

Looking To Donate

Are you interested in helping to fight Stroke? Please feel free to click on the link HERE to share a donation. Wondering how much? How about $10 in honor of the 10 miles I ran today with Tedy’s Team?

Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon 2014

5am wake-up call. Seemed late after the 2am-4am wake-ups for Dopey Challenge. Yes it may be three weeks post Disney, but I still put race starts in relation to Disney time. ;)

Flat Dani was ready to go!

Real Dani was slightly dragging, but ready to give it my all.

Thankfully Kenlie of All The Weigh lived just a 5-minute walk away from the Start area.

Sah-weet!

I headed to the VIP tent to meet my Team Chocolate Milk running mates for a group photo at 6am. It was drizzling. I just didn't want it to start downpouring. I hoped the real bad weather held off until at least 10am.

I love meeting the other folks from Team Chocolate Milk since we are spread out all over the world. There are a few folks that I have seen at multiple races including the inspiring Angela from We Beat Fat. She and her husband have combined to shed over 500 lbs!!

After grabbing half of a free bagel, chomping on my KIND bar and taking my ENERGYBits, it was time to hit up the special VIP port-o-potties and gear check before heading to the Start.

The race was set to start at 7am so I tried to hustle into Corral 2 with time to spare. Especially since Dacia from My Roots To Grow was going to meet me at the Start.

But as I walked to the Start Line, I tried turning my Garmin, it would spit out "low battery," and shut off.

No No No!

It had been charged. What was going on? I tried about 6 times. Nothing.

Well, it looked like I would be running the race "naked" as runners call it - IE sans watch. You dirty minds you! ;)

Of course I had to grab a selfie.

In case you didn't believe I was at the Start.

I made it to Corral 2 and Dacia was there waiting for me. :) We chatted about her game plan for spectating the race. We were hoping she would see me at least one time out on the course before heading to the Finish.

As we were chatting and taking in the scene, Michael of Point One Miles came over to say hi! He had been at the #RnRTweetup, but we didn't have a chance to chat there.

I was sort of freaking out about not having the Garmin, but talking to Michael and Dacia was distracting. Since Michael and I were in the same Corral, we were going to start the race together.

The National Anthem played and it was time to big farewell to Dacia.

As we approached the Start (both the marathoners and half marathoners were all starting together), I tried to get my Runkeeper app to load.  I never keep my location services on so trying to figure out what I needed to change on the phone to get Runkeeper to start was just not working. So I said F-it. I would be running without any sort of tracking.

What was the worst that could happen?

Dacia hustled herself just past the Start to catch this gem!

My goal was to use the run as a training run for Boston since I had missed the 16-miler with Tedy's Team the previous day.

The humidity was thick. The rain was drizzling. The ground was sort of slippery. So I wasn't trying to PR out there.

Michael and I got in a great rhythm. I let him know he could easily leave me at any point if he wanted to try for a PR, but he also felt like taking it easy with the weather conditions.

It was great chatting with someone during the run.

There was what I could call a decent crowd size as we ran through the city.

The bands were great. We were able to enjoy some multiple times as we had a down and back situation at the beginning of the race.

After the band we spotted the two wheelchair racers and the elite runners. I cannot explain how far ahead the first half marathon and full marathon guys were from the rest of the pack. They were running together and neither looked like they were breaking a sweat.

We ran the first 4.5 or so (again no specifics since I didn't have my watch) before we turned around. The weather was overcast and foggy so I couldn't totally see the historic sites.

Thankfully a gentlemen rolled up next to be during Mile 4 to point out Loyola University and Tulane, etc. Thank you again Sir.

We also discussed the Rock 'n' Roll shirts for this race and our disappointment in the color choices. I love making friends on the course. The shirt was grey with dull green/purple coloring. I was just expecting something more vibrant.

Eh! We know I pay more attention to the medals anyway. ;)

While Michael and I chatted away we talked about his running dreams, his desire to want to complete a full marathon and our thoughts on some of the other races we have both done.

I love the down and back because after we took the turn before Mile 5 we could see our fellow runners coming toward us.

I heard someone randomly yell out "Go Irish Eyes!" which made me so freakin' excited. I am glad a photographer didn't catch what I looked like.

And I also got to see Sarah from Mom Running On Empty, Mindy from Road Runner Girl, which totally put a little pep in my step.

As we headed towards Mile 8, the crowds started to get more animated and that's where we spotted it ... a table of donuts!

So of course we stopped. I freaked the poor girl out as I took this little shot.

Then someone else at the table shouted "We have a keg," which is why this diddy was born.

We both passed on doing a mid-race kegstand, but we each took a donut ... or two!

Holy dry mouth. There unfortunately wasn't a water stop after the donuts, but we did see the Mile 8 marker.

I was glad Michael was in for taking ridiculous in-race photos like me. :)

Mile 8 was going to fly. Why? Because I had been texting with Dacia so I knew she and her boyfriend would be there waiting for us at Mile 9.

And they were!!! I came in for a HUGE hug from Dacia. It was a great pick-me-up.

As were these awesome bagpipers.

After seeing familiar faces, it was time to look out for Michael's Lululemon cheering squad. :P I think he thought they were out there just for him. Should I break his bubble? Nah.

They were totally there just for him.

While we headed to Mile 10, we ran DIRECTLY into the fog. We really noticed the blanket of fog as we passed the Crescent City Brewery (which I had visited the day before).

I wondered if we were just going to fall off the end of the world. It was a sight similar to Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half back in October 2013.

But we went into the fog and thankfully came out alive. :) We even got a little clearer shot to see the RnR Dude.

I love seeing that guy at every race because it usually means you are inching closer to the Finish.

I tweeted out to the masses that we had hit the Mile 10 mark. It was at that time that I actually started feeling the humidity. You could cut it with a knife.

All race long I made sure to grab water and gatorade at each water stop to make sure I was keeping myself hydrated. It may have looked overcast, but the humidity was there.

We hit Mile 11 and the clock was off. Dammit. I was hoping to try and do a little math in my head to see how we were doing.

Michael had stuck with me, took goofy pictures and had a donut (or two), but I was still hoping we would finish sub-2.

Mile 11 actually flew by as we were busy talking to the folks around us. Oh and I was trying to ignore the humidity.

By Mile 12, I was ready to be done. Hey, there are just some races that you feel like that.

But when we hit Mile 12, the clock said 1:45 and change. Michael turns to me and says: "I don't know if we are going to make it." I reassured him that I am from Boston and no matter what I would walk a mile faster than 15 minutes so we would be golden.

At Mile 12.5, we saw the signs ... JELLO SHOTS!

Oh hell yeah we would be stopping for one of those and we did. It was a little difficult to eat while running, but this race was all about fun so we made it work. ;) Plus how often do you say I had a jello shot during a race.

At that point the Full Marathon runners headed to the left, while we continued straight ahead to the Finish. I felt like I was on a treadmill. I was moving, but didn't feel like I was moving forward. It made me feel like I was back in the last 0.2 miles of the Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Full in November 2012.

But Michael was being a great cheerleader and we were pushing each other along.

Apparently Dacia and Erick were just after the Mile 13 marker, but I was oblivious. I saw the Finish Line and was gunning for it.

Michael and I went Start to Finish together and rocked and rolled to a 1:55:43. It turned out to be Michael's second-fasted half marathon. Woo!

Don't we look great for having OWNED 13.1 miles.

I had a blast. It was a great flat course. The crowd wasn't as full as I would've expected. I was also surprised to see the Finish Line over a mile from the Start. I hadn't experienced this at a Rock 'n' Roll event before. I think some spectators had difficulty getting around the course in a timely manner.

My spectators Dacia and Erick were ON it. I need to thank them again for jetting around New Orleans to see me.

After snapping a couple of pics at the Finish Line,

I headed over to the Got Chocolate Milk tent to #FinishStrong. But, we needed to move from one tent (Half Marathon) to the other tent (Marathon) so I could see some of the other folks that manage the team.

Can you tell I am in a "Take me wherever you need to" mode? :P

And it was worth it. Oh delicious low-fat chocolate milk. The best way to refuel post-race (before the beer of course).

I met back up with Dacia and Erick and we headed to the second VIP tent so I could grab a quick snack and a much-needed mimosa.

Oh and a mini beignet of course. Deeellliisshhh!!!

I did pay the $20 to have my medal engraved. It is $20 at Rock 'n' Roll races, but I do it at every one. Mainly because if they mess up they have a whole stack of medals to replace it with. I don't have that luxury if I do it at home.

My amazing cheerleader and I snapped a couple photos before heading to breakfast.

I was REALLY into whatever Dacia was saying. :P

It was great walking back down the street, while others finished both the Half and the Full Marathon. Some of those Full Marathoners were finishing sub-3 hours and looking strong and fierce.

So running without my Garmin or Runkeeper was slightly unnerving, but it was also freeing to just run and truly live in the moment. How about not having any sort of splits in a race recap? :P

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I want to thank Got Chocolate Milk for sponsoring me to run the RnR New Orleans Half Marathon.

Did you run? Did you have a blast?

New Orleans: Arrival, Expo & #RnRTweetup

Did you all know I was excited to head to New Orleans? You may remember this post about it - check it out if you don't.

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I arrived to the airport early since I was heading solo and I am a worrier. Plus I like a pre-flight beer at Boston Beer Works.

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If you don't recall, I was heading down to New Orleans on Jet Blue. Thanks frequent flyer miles. When I rolled up to the Gate, my name was being called over the loudspeaker. Oh man that is never a good sign - is that I said to all the people around me.

BUT IT WAS AWESOME!! It is the 10th anniversary of Jet Blue being in Boston and I was the 10th person to check into my flight so I won...

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... 10,000 Jet Blue Miles and a $10 Dunkin' Donuts gift card.

Aaaaahhhh-may-zing way to kick off the weekend.

The flight itself was uneventful - little napping, little TV, little people watching. The usual.

I arrived in New Orleans and took a cab to my friend's place. I would be staying with Kenlie from All The Weigh for the weekend.

We checked out the amazing view from her rooftop and I had to dip my toes in her pool. I didn't care that it was chilly ... it was warmer than Boston so I had to do it. :P

We headed out to grab dinner at a cute little sushi place before checking out Bourbon Street. It was my first time to New Orleans so it seemed like a "must do." It was definitely a sight to be seen.

After a long day of work, traveling and adult beverages, it was a deep sleep. Plus Kenlie's couch was super comfy.

I sprang out of bed off the couch Saturday because it was finally #RnRTweetup time.

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I was excited to finally meet these lovely bloggers in person.

Kenlie was nice enough to drop me off at the Expo. Little did I know the convention center was MASSIVE. I entered at Hall A and the RnR Expo was at Hall J. I was shockingly running late, which is rare for me.

I made a quick stop at Starbucks to grab a coffee. :( It was no Dunks.

But I hustled down the covention center and made it to the Expo with about 15 minutes to spare.

I headed over to the Stage area. Ahh I would be up there talking and hopefully people would be there enjoying it.

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Oh and our names were even on the poster.

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I was geekin' out!

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There were the ladies! I have been chatting with these ladies online for years and it was finally time to meet them in person.

From left to right: Me (Duh!), Sarah from Mom Running On Empty, Mindy from Road Runner Girl & Abby from Back At Square Zero!!

We all hopped on stage and got the party started!

It was a BLAST! The time flew by and I was happy to see so many familiar faces in the crowd. :)

Here are some amazing shots captured by Ashley from Rock 'n' Roll.

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Not the most flattering photo of me, but I am probably talking about my love of Race Bling! ;)

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What do bloggers do when they get together at a tweet up? This picture sums it up perfectly! :P

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I can't express how awesome it was to meet such amazing women at one time. I was overwhelmed with love and happiness. It was a magical morning.

A big thank you to Rock 'n' Roll for letting Abby, Sarah, Mindy and I have such a once in a lifetime experience. How about we make it more than once in a lifetime? Huh Huh? Tweet me Rock 'n' Roll. ;)

I want to thank some amazing folks for attending the tweet up.

My friend and Team Chocolate Milk teammate Angela from We Beat Fat

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Tanee from From Fat To Fit Chick

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Leah from Glitter On The Go

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And others who I didn't nab a pic with.

Just as the #RnRTweetup ended, my girl Christine (aka Dubyawife) arrived. :) We have hung out at the past two Fitbloggin' conferences and she drove an hour from Baton Rouge, LA to hang out. I was PSYCHED to see her.

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After giving tons of hugs to the girls, Christine and I headed to pick up by bib. 'Cuz ya know I was in New Orleans to run. I forgot. :P

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As soon as I had the swag, we headed to the Got Chocolate Milk booth so I could grab my wristband for the VIP tent (sweet perk), snap a pic with the chocolate mustache and see some teammates.

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Even Christine got in on the fun!

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And then I ran into some of my amazing Team Chocolate Milk running mates.

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Aren't they handsome fellas? :)

After chit chatting with the guys, it was time to head to my second must-see booth at the Expo: Sparkly Soul.

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I was wicked excited to see Pamela. She and her sister run Sparkly Soul and are great great people.

Who here went to the booth and said "Weight Off My Shoulders sent me" and got a free headband. I would love to see you showing off the sparkle. I thank the ladies for giving me that opportunity and the 10% off everyone else received. :)

I love representing good and authentic companies.

Christine and I took a little spin around the Expo before heading out to grab lunch. We ate at Ernst Cafe, where we received a free beer thanks to checking in on Foursquare! Yay social media! :)

After a great time catching up, it was time for Christine to head home and me to head back to Kenlie's for a quick recharge.

I re-bonded with Kenlie's couch before heading out to meet up with my girl Dacia from My Roots To Grow.

Dacia, her boyfriend and I had a great time walking around the city, trying Crescent City brewery, dinner at Gordon Biersch and just catching up. It was a nice relaxing pre-race evening. The pizza at Gordon Biersch was delicious. The crust was just the way I liked it.

We parted ways and I headed back to Kenlie's to get some sleep.

It wasn't until this point that I realized I was in Central Time Zone not the Eastern. Yeah I am not swift on the uptake. :P

But with a 5am wakeup call, I was ready to crash before 9pm ... and I did.

Not before laying out Flat Dani of course.

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And if you didn't realize before, Kenlie's couch was comfy so it was "Hey I should get more ...Zzzzzzzz"

Hello 5am!

Tune in next time to hear how the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon turns out...