A Rock N Roll Tradition

Call me crazy, but I’m a girl who likes routine. I like things to stay the same and I’m not crazy about change. Ever since I started running, I thought it would be cool if I had a set few races I ran every single year. Through race cancellations, injury, and life in general, there’s only 1 remaining race that I’ve run every year since I began running….Rock N Roll New Orleans.

2010

Coincidentally, my first Rock N Roll race was the 2010 Inaugural Rock N Roll Mardi Gras! (Now Rock N Roll New Orleans.)



I ran this race with Heather and we had a great time. It’s hard to believe this was only our 2nd Half Marathon! We ran our first in Disney just weeks before!



2011

I decided that I would run the 2011 Rock N Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon with the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation team after my Grandfather’s friend died from cancer the summer prior.
Heather and I also ran this race together!



I ran this race in memory of my grandfather (who passed away from lung cancer when I was in high school) and his friend.



Kayla (my sister-in-law)  ran this race, too!

2012



Since I had SO much fun with DetermiNation the previous year, I decided to run with them again in the 2012 Rock and Roll New Orleans Full Marathon!



Despite my IT Band injury, I was DetermiN-ed to finish! (See what I did there?) ;0)
(And I’m definitely going to remember my sunscreen this time around! I learned my lesson!)

I’ve really enjoyed running in New Orleans with Rock N Roll. This year (2013) will be my fourth and it’s a tradition I would like to keep around for a while! I’m going to run the Full again, hoping for sweet redemption. I just need my knee to cooperate and I’ll be good to go! (Fingers crossed.)

On the East Coast, runners are gearing up for Disney’s Princess Half Marathon this weekend! I ran this race with Heather and her Mom last year and had an awesome time! Unfortunately, Rock N Roll NOLA and the Princess Half are both on the same weekend this year, so I am unable to run both. Last year, I dressed as Rapunzel…you know, post hair-cut, brown hair Rapunzel. I even ran with my buddy Pascal on my shoulder! Spectators kept telling me that they liked my frog and I heard someone say that I was dressed as “The Princess and the Frog”. I didn’t get that comparison – her dress is green, I was wearing purple. Not even close! Even the Princess I chose for my bib was Rapunzel! Oh well….several men ran Princess dressed as Flynn Ryder and they knew exactly who I was so I guess that’s all that really matters. :0)



Since I had so much fun running in a tutu last year, I leave you with a picture of me at the finish…cause who doesn’t love running in a tutu?! You get me, right?

Which ever race you are running this weekend, I hope you have a fabulous time!!