Rock-N-Roll New Orleans Half Marathon Part 1

The Expo

To start, sorry I’ve been so MIA this week from my blog!  I’ve had a busy week and will have an even busier weekend so hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on all of your blogs soon!

I’m going to break up my Rock and Roll New Orleans Half Marathon weekend recap into three parts:  The Expo, DetermiNation Celebration Party/Pasta Dinner, and the Race itself.

Here’s Part One: The Expo!

We arrived early afternoon in downtown New Orleans on Saturday, the day before the race.  We reserved a hotel room right across from the convention center (super easy) and it was nice being so close to all the action! 

It seemed as if we walked and walked and walked forever until we reached the Expo hall! 

I was so excited because this was my first every race running for a charity!  My cause:  The American Cancer Society!  I chose this group not only for personal reasons but also professional! :0)

As I walked into the Expo, I saw DetermiNation signs EVERYWHERE!

It made me HAPPY!!!!!

 

We got our numbers and our race bags without any hassle!  I was late in changing my corral so I asked if I could be in corral 10….the guy working the booth didn’t ask any questions, he just put a sticker on my bib with the number 10 on it!  Yay!

After leaving the merchandise area, we saw a HUGE Brooks booth….we walked in, filled out a card, and had it scanned to see what we won!  I won a bandana and Jason won a shirt but he gave me the shirt instead! :0)

Heather won a shirt, also!

I thought this was HILARIOUS.  I don’t believe in fortunes and I don’t follow horoscopes or anything like that, but I came across a “race fortune teller”….I had to check this out.  He was funny and a little strange all at the same time….

I did get a fortune out of it and ummm…I think the guy was a little confused?  It says “It is clear by your presence here in Las Vegas…”  Um no dude…WE (including you) are all in  New Orleans!   He also said “That you are a gambler”….ummm..wrong again…I’m not! 

Anyway, moving on….Jason and Bobby played this game where you had to race things…I really wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention to them because I was pre-occupied laughing at/making fun of the crazy fortune tellers machines!

Jason did win a medal in the process even though I think Bobby should have won the medal?  Again, I wasn’t really paying attention!

After walking around for a little while, we made our way to the DetermiNation booth where I had to check in, get my bag, etc.

I wrote a remembrance card in Memory of those I was running the race for!

So excited for this race!!  I love ACS!

This second wall was meant for DetermiNation runners to write words of encouragement for each other/sign your name, etc.  Well, take a close look at the image below.  I’m sure you’ll spot my husband’s “message”….

 

MMMMM…Tacos?  Really, Jason?!  Crazy boy.

Here’s my message!

Go Team!! :0)

Somewhere in the middle of all of that, we ran into Brian and Kayla!

Girl runners…

All the racers! :0)

 

We got “runner fortune cookies” from the PF Chang’s booth!

 

Heather and I in our “Convert to Skirt” shirts! :0)

After the Expo, we went back to our hotel and sorted through all of our new goodies!  I put all of my race gear out and gathered up my DetermiNation shirts for the Decoration/Celebration Party and Pasta Dinner!

You’ll see a recap of that coming up next! :0)  Stay tuned! :0)