107th Annual NOAC Turkey Day Race: The 2014 Recap

This was the first year in almost a decade that I didn't get to run the annual NOAC Turkey Day Race; however, that comes with the territory when you're on the board of the New Orleans Track Club. Nevertheless, nothing made me happier on Thanksgiving morning than getting to watch 3,000 runners start their holiday with the same tradition I've kept for so long.

December 2014 Preview

I almost let the opening week of December pass me by without getting a month preview posted. But never fear, your social planner is here. If you're looking for a longer distance race to get some final supported long runs taken care of before your January marathon, there's plenty to choose from.

NOAC Turkey Day Race - History Lesson

Tomorrow morning marks the 107th Annual NOAC Turkey Day Race and its running through New Orleans City Park. Today I came across a website (www.TurkeyDayRace.com) outlining the very rich history of the race. With permission from race organizers, I have borrowed that content to share below.

Woman's Half Marathon & 10K Preview

Sunday morning, the lakes in Baton Rouge will turn pink when the Woman's Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K take to the streets. In it's third year, this growing race benefits Woman's Hospital and their efforts to improve the health of women and infants in our community. And while this event is all about the ladies, men are more than welcome to run and support the cause!

NOTC Pacers At The Big Easy Half

Whether you're a seasoned runner or participating in your first race, odds are good you have a goal in mind for an upcoming event. With the Big Easy Running Festival in less than two weeks, you've put in the work to reach those goals. However, you don't have to go it alone come race-day.

Keeping Up With Jones 5K: The 2014 Recap

My week of recaps continues with a quick look at the Keeping Up With Jones 5K that happened on Saturday morning, October 18th. This race is put on by Jones Physical Therapy in Madisonville, Louisiana, with the 2014 edition being its sixth running. This year the benefiting organization was The Methodist Children's Home.

Tipitina’s Foundation Rhythm & Blues 5K: The 2014 Recap

A recap for the third annual Tipitina’s Foundation Rhythm & Blues 5K is long overdue, as is a recap for several events since. I’m going to do my best this week to catch up with a recap per-day through Friday, as there are many events on the docket that will need to be covered soon after they happen. November and December are the busiest months for racing in the Crescent City, but homage must be paid to the month of October and what has kept us in racing shape though this point.

November 2014 Preview

I know October hasn't come to a close just yet, and there's still plenty of candy to be gathered in an attempt to derail those fall training diets; however, we have to look forward to a full slate of exciting running events that start as soon as this weekend!

Jazz Half 2014 Preview

This Saturday, November 1st at 7:00 a.m. is the Jazz Half Marathon in New Orleans, benefiting the cancer program at Children's Hospital. Online registration is now closed, and for those of you who have already registered for the half or 5K, there' plenty info here to get you prepared for the race. Anyone who hasn't registered, there's still time to participate and support a worthy organization.

2014 Fall Medal Preview

We all run for different reasons. I train for and participate in racing events to be social, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and assuage my guilt on the rare occasion of consuming more ice cream than any man should be able. Others simply run for the medals (aka bling).

NOLA Blue Doo Run: The 2014 Recap

It’s been a couple weeks since the NOLA Blue Doo Run on Tulane’s uptown campus, but now is never too late to post a recap. This first year event benefitted the Prostate Cancer Research Fund at Tulane, and with the color blue being the hue representing awareness for the disease, it was appropriate that numerous blue wigs, outfits, and costumes washed over the quad just off St. Charles Avenue.

New 10K Announced

The Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is helping runners experience all the fun of the Crescent City, but with a much shorter distance. On Monday, they announced plans to have a 10K event on the same day as their other two signature races, January 25th, 2015.

Gulf Coast Half Marathon Preview

We're in half-marathon and marathon season, people. Have you been training for 13.1 miles, or have you decided to go all-out and tackle the full 26.2? The first local long-distance race of the season is the Gulf Coast Half Marathon series in Mandeville, LA. They are celebrating their 5th anniversary on October 19, 2014, and rewarding participants for the continued success of the event!

October 2014 Preview

There's no question that we've hit fall. My consumption of Pumpkin Spiced Latte's is on the rise, while my electricity bill has taken a nose dive. I'm thrilled about this trend; however, the savings from Entergy are already spent on several upcoming races. When it comes to quality events in the Crescent City on which to spend your registration dollar, October is where things really start to heat-up.

RnR NOLA Finisher's Jacket

Thanks to an announcement today from the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon and 1/2 Marathon, area runners will have something more to consider when deciding between running the half and full distance on January 25th.

You Should Be In Pictures

You probably haven’t noticed that one thing missing from my race recaps are pictures of me running. The reason for that is simple; I look like a beast when mid-stride. I don’t mean “beast mode,” I mean “villagers with torches” beastly. However, this October, you can put your pitchforks away.

2015 RnR NOLA Medal Reveal

Voting closed last Thursday in the contest to determine what this year's bling will look like for Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon & 1/2 Marathon finishers. Did you let your voice be heard in time? Did the design you liked the most get picked to hang around thousands of finishers' necks come January 25, 2015? The wait is over, and now's when you get to find out!

Holiday Half Challenge

Sprinting through the stores the day after Thanksgiving won't be the only challenge facing NOLA runners this holiday season. Yesterday, the New Orleans Track Club and the Smoothie King Big Easy Running Festival announced a partnership between their two signature winter half marathons and introduced the Holiday Half Challenge.

Run(ning) For It!

The Crescent City Classic yesterday announced their selection of 14 local charities to serve as the official Charity Partners of the 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic 10K race, taking place in New Orleans on Saturday, April 4, 2015.

Bling Finalists Revealed

A couple weeks ago, the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon & Half Marathon solicited designs from fans for the 2015 finisher medal. As of a few moments ago, they posted the top three finalists to their Facebook page and voting is open for you to decide what the bling will look like on race day, January 25th!

September 2014 Preview

Either you're a fan of summer and relish the heat and beach vacations that come along with it, or you're like me and don't get along with sand. Personally, I can't wait for the change of season and the arrival of football, monthly holiday gatherings, and runs that don't finish with me looking like I just went for a swim. While there's still several weeks left of heat and humidity, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

NOTC 51st Anniversary Race: The 2014 Recap

Last week I celebrated my 31st birthday. To mark the occasion, my mother thought it appropriate to bestow these pearls of wisdom upon me, "Now that you're past 30, it's all downhill from here." Thanks, mom. However, not all hope is lost. All I have to do is look to the New Orleans Track Club, which celebrated its 51st year in existence on Saturday morning with its Anniversary Race, and recognize that there's plenty opportunity for growth ahead.

TUNESday: "Hold On" by Twin Atlantic

This week's TUNESday is from Scottish alt rock group Twin Atlantic. The single "Hold On" can be heard in the video below, and downloaded from iTunes HERE.

Full Disclosure

Two things have remained consistent through the evolution of NOLArunner. One being the passion I have for the sport. I may not be the fastest or fittest, but running is something I love to do. Second, I always have provided unbiased and honest opinions on races, experiences, and products that I discuss on these pages and through my social media channels. Benefits are always noted in a post if I receive a free race entry, product sample, or special access to an event has been provided.

Design Your Bling Contest

The Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon and Half Marathon fall a little early this year, with race date being Sunday, January 25th. For runners, the best part of that day will be crossing the finish line under the shade of City Park and having a volunteer place a hard-earned finisher's medal around their neck. This year, however, race organizers are letting everyone have a say in how that trophy will look.

TUNESday: "Back Home" by Andy Grammer

This past week I signed up for a Spotify account and created a playlist to gather all of the TUNESday songs that collect week by week. Check it out by looking up the NOLArunner account or clicking HERE.

Ten Years of Resilience

It's hard to believe that 2015 marks ten years since New Orleans was rocked by the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. This week, the New Orleans Track Club announced that in just over a year, they will commemorate the date with a brand new event, the Resilience 5K.

TUNESday: "Undone" by The Bird and The Bee

A really cool thing about movie soundtracks is that they sometimes uncover artists that would otherwise not get mainstream attention. This week's featured TUNESday song was inspired by a movie I saw a couple weeks ago, yet shall remain unnamed on this family friendly blog. Let's just say Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel left little to the imagination during the movie.

Super & King Sized Announcements

The corner of Poydras and Girod Streets will be a busy place this fall. If you're not familiar with downtown New Orleans, this is the intersection just outside Champions Square. It's also in the backyard of two professional sports franchises in the Crescent City, and the reason for two big running announcements last week.

August 2014 Preview

The recent stretch of lower humidity and cooler days should have you amped and ready to run some races in the month of August. While it's unfortunate that running events are few and far between over the next four weeks; there's plenty to keep you busy with White Linen Night, the brand new Sushi Fest, and the kickoff for football pre-season.

TUNESday: "Bang Bang" by Jessie, Ariana, & Nicki

Each of the artists featured in today's TUNESday song have been on these pages before, but today they've teamed up for one super collaboration. For the past two weeks, Jessie J., Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj have been teasing fans with 'Bang Bang' snippets, but this morning the full song is finally here!

"Run For It!" With The CCC10K

The tradition of running the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic 10K is meaningful to people throughout the region for many reasons; however, it's most meaningful to the charities that benefit from its annual Saturday foray on the streets of NOLA. Non-profits that would like to apply to be a partner for the 2015 race, your deadline was just extended until August 15th.

Happy's & NOTC Happenings

Last night was a busy Wednesday for the running community in New Orleans. There were two big events in the city for local athletes. From downtown to City Park, if you wanted to get a group run in and have a fun party to go to after, there were options to choose from.

TUNESday: "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit

When it comes to music appropriate for a workout playlist, my opinion is that Europeans are light years ahead of the rest of the world. It helps that they have been on the forefront of the electronic / dance movement, which just started getting mainstream attention in the states a few years ago.

Halfway to Geaux

With only a couple weeks left in July, we're now 6 months away from Southeast Louisiana's biggest annual races.  To celebrate having "Halfway To Geaux" 'til race day, The Louisiana Marathon and the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon & Half Marathon are hosting parties in their respective cities next week. In attendance at both events will be two very special guests!

TUNESday: "Break Free" by Ariana Grande

I'll admit I was one of those 30-somethings that got excited over the return of the "Boy Meets World" series with the Disney Channel's "Girl Meets World" reboot. Before last week, I didn't know what channel the network controlled. However, it was appointment viewing on my DVR, and I've now seen two episodes of the new series. At the risk of sounding like my parents, I must say they sure don't make 'em like they used to.

Spillway Classic Trail Run: The 2014 Recap

With two races beating the trails of the Bonnet Carré Spillway, you'd think they would be nearly identical. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This past Sunday was the 27th running of the Spillway Classic, the New Orleans Track Club's unique signature event in Norco, Louisiana.

NOLA Trail Run Series: The 2014 Recap

Again in 2014, hundreds of runners participated in the NOLA Trail Run Series, presented by Premiere Fitness. Each weekend in the month of June, different trails around the city of New Orleans hosted a race for athletes to "get off the pavement" and experience the unique feeling of running on mud and grass in our very urban environment.

TUNESday: "Of the Night" by Bastille

This isn't the first time British boy band BΔSTILLE has shown up on TUNESday. The last time was when they broke on to American charts with "Pompeii," the iconic chant driven hit that was voted one of the best songs of 2013. This time, they're poised to take over the charts with a mash-up of two songs that already conquered the 90's airwaves.

Hotter Than Hell Marathon: The 2014 Recap

Committing to run a marathon is not something to take lightly. Signing up to run 26.2 miles in the middle of the night during a New Orleans summer is downright ludicrous. For the past 12 years, locals have taken on the challenge with Race MD's Hotter Than Hell Marathon.

July 2014 Preview

The next two months are my annual vacation. The lighter schedule allows me to get stronger and sleep later, which is good preparation for the coming fall racing season. It's a recovery period, not just for my aching legs, but for my bank account that doesn't see the constant registration fee deductions.

TUNESday: "Like a Drum" by Guy Sebastian

This week's TUNESday music selection is by the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003, Guy Sebastian. It's amazing with all of the success he's had, he has yet to cross over to the American pop charts. With seven top ten albums and two number one singles on his resume, that's sure to change soon.

Coyote Chase Trail Run: The 2014 Recap

On Saturday morning, nearly two hundred runners capped off the NOLA Trail Run Series in City Park. The Coyote Chase Trail Run was the shortest race in the series; however, those two miles included some of the biggest challenges put before participants.

Armadillo Dash Trail Run: The 2014 Recap

For those of you keeping score, we're now two down and one to go in the New Orleans Trail Run Series. Participants in Saturday morning's Armadillo Dash visited the Bonnet Carre Spillway to tackle the the twists and turns of the wooded peninsula that separates the spillway from Lake Pontchartrain.

TUNESday: "Lay Me Down" by Avicii

A perk of getting back in to marathon shape is getting back in to a wardrobe that hasn't fit in months. I literally have an entire section of my closet filled with attire waiting to be welcomed back in rotation. However, that doesn't keep me from rewarding myself with the addition of new items that catch my eye. It's little things like a new fitted shirt that keep me motivated to train and put in the work.

LA Bridge Run Series: The 2014 Recap

Last Saturday evening's Crescent Connection Bridge Run capped off the 2014 edition of the Louisiana Bridge Run Series. At the conclusion of that race, participants who had taken on the Luling, Huey P. Long and Crescent City Connection Bridges were rewarded for their efforts. They were bestowed this fancy medal to the left.

Father's Day Race: The 2014 Recap

A quick race calls for a quick re-cap, and the 2 mile New Orleans Track Club event celebrating Father's Day was just that. This past weekend brought together generations of NOLA runners for a tradition twelve years in the making.

TUNESday: "Lost You" by Zeds Dead

Fun fact: I work within earshot of a professional choreographer and dancer. As a super fit person and really clean eater, she's been a great sounding board for thoughts on nutrition and strength training; however, none of her dance skills have rubbed off on her coworker. I've been labeled a lost cause.

Wild Pig Chase Trail Run: The 2014 Recap

Recent races keep bringing me back to the Westbank weekend after weekend. Saturday's Wild Pig Chase Trail Run took runners off the concrete and on to the dirt paths of the Woodlands Conservancy in Belle Chasse.

BREAKING: Big Easy Running Festival

Yesterday I hit the gym for a lunchtime swim, and returned to my locker expecting a mobile inbox full of spam and work emails. While I was mostly right, I also found one of the most exciting press releases to cross my desk in months. It was the announcement for the inaugural Big Easy Running Festival this November!