Oak Alley Rundown

Saturday was a great day for a fun festival and run, I did quite a big of pre warmup for this 5k, we arrived in time for registration opening and i jogged for around 40 minutes prior.  The race started around 8:30 and i made sure to get up front this time.   The course was well planned, the hardest part of the course was getting up on the gravel parts of the levy.  The course consisted of running down a  gravel road out of the plantation grounds, up highway 18 to the two mile marker then climbing a gravel road onto the top of the levy.  We came down off the levy at the entrance to the plantation down the alley.  This is where i proceeded to push as hard as possible sprinting the last leg down the alley.  I pushed myself as hard as i could this time and was pleasantly surprised with a finish time of 25:28. Someday soon i hope to push that down lower.  Great race and i will do it again next year.  Thanks to Nola Running, Chuck, Marsha, Oak Alley and all the volunteers for making it possible.

CCC 10K - Party Time Folks!

Crescent City Classic 2012

Its that time of year again, April 7 2012  This is going to be another great fun day, i will be there along with every running party animal in the area.  Come join and have a great time!

Great St. Charles Ave Road Race

Another great one coming up, im looking forward to this one, i love running the St. Charles Napoleon Area!

This is a NOTC Run as well!  make sure and give em your support, keep nola running!

Nola Track Club - Great St. Charles Race

Oak Alley 5K

Oak Alley 5K - Sunday March 25th

This is going to be a really fun and gorgeous run down on the river at Oak Alley Plantation.  Theres a festival going on as well.  Should be a great day!

Gel Kayano 18 Review

The new shoes - I am quite enamored with these new running shoes, i have logged around 70-80 miles on them since i purchased them a few weeks ago, I wanted to share my experiences with the evolution to these shoes.

I have had a bout with plantar facitis which is quite a runners bane.  This has forced me to use some of the bulkier foundation shoes in the past.  I have moved from Nike Air Vomero 5s, Asics Gel Cumulus, Asics Gel Foundation 10s, Brooks Beasts, and Finally the Kayano 18.

It has been a real struggle to find a home but after putting 1100 miles to date on running shoes i can finally say that i found the perfect shoe for me.

Design - The design is well thought out despite one or two little flaws that are more cosmetic in nature.  The external heel support design is really nice to reduce friction on your heel when running so i get less rubbing on my foot.  the shoe weighs next to nothing really, the size ten mens weighs around 11 oz total.  The front crushes in pretty easily and has a fold in the front part of the shoe that is kind of visually annoying.  But overall it is well designed.

Durability - Its hard to speak fully to this aspect due to the low mileage i have put on these shoes.  So far they still look flawless after the 70ish miles i have put on them.  I see no sole peeling or excessive wear points at all.

Price Point - Very High, these shoes are 150.00 msrp and thats right on for store prices.  Time will tell if the price justifies the shoe.


I would give these a high recommendation for any runners looking for a great neutral shoe.

Rock and Roll Mardi Gras Marathon 2012

Fear.  

That was the biggest thought in my mind as i rolled into my first one, i was not prepared due to setbacks and problems building up to this one.  I knew about it for 5 months before hand, registered for it many months before hand.  I knew i would not be able to run it, or would i?  Fourteen days prior i made it back into the game for preparation.  Did a six miler on Wed of the first week, and started to feel somewhat more comfortable.  That weekend we went to Nola and i was going to push hard on saturday. 

Do or Die...

Saturday morning i hit the bricks in my new shoes and weairly and skeptically hit it.  I pushed hard and fought my way to 10.1 miles.  I was astounded, maybe i could do this, maybe i can make it. We shall see

True to advice of blogs and columns, i took a light week following.  I ran once at the gym for 4.7 miles.   

Anticipation...

Saturday Arrives, the buildup was unbearable, i cant run i cant warm up the waiting game is killing me, light eating, hydrating preparing, and no alcohol intake.  

The Big Day

It was an excruciatingly early morning and it was 50 degrees, perfect...  I put on my thermal top and compression leggings and hit the bricks.  Went downtown and enjoyed the festivities.   

The Time has come

We are all lined up in our corrals, anticipation is through the roof, every one around me is pumped it flows through me freely as well.  Im drugged.  Im sucked in.  I will do this.  I will knock it down by damn.

And were off

This run was going effortlessly, i was shocked and amazed on how much the energy flowed, the bands were great on the route, and i was in my groove, mind set, and paced at max.  Before i knew it i looked up and i was at Mile 5.   

Wrapping Up

Energy started to fade slightly when i looked up at mile 11, im almost there, disrupted mindset texted wife, got back in groove.

1 mile left

Im going to do it, i cant believe it!   thats the thought that was running through my head the whole last mile.  I hit the finish line and i had more energy than when i started.  This was an epic accomplishment for me.  I can do this!

If i can do a half marathon, anyone can.  

Believe in your self, test your limits

Patrick

Work It!

Welcome to the inaugural post of my first blog about my passion, my one true drive, my running.  This blog will serve as encouragement to all my friends and family who share this belief and passion in the run.
I will post and blog about runs, experiences, equipment and ups and downs.