June 2015 Preview

I really can't believe it's already June. My unpreparedness for summer can't be put in to words. The accompanying heat looms heavy over the training program I loosely put together in preparation for early fall races. Now's the time to start putting in the work to have successful (and fast) distance runs in October when the half-marathon season kicks off.

April 2015 Preview

Since January, I've been running bi-weekly with the New Orleans Track Club's 10K training program, helping coach and encourage participants who are well on their way to completing their first 10K at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic. Look for us in bright yellow singlets as you run from the Superdome to City Park, and congratulate the team on all the hard work they've put in the past several months!

March 2015 Preview

New Orleans has suffered unbearable temperatures since Mardi Gras, with multiple days having highs that don't climb out of the 40's. I'm not complaining, as I much prefer the cold over the summer heat; however, it's been hard for me to get motivated in the new year. After finishing three and a half marathons in January, getting back in to a groove post-recovery has been near impossible. Fortunately, racing in the Crescent City quickly picks up speed as we hop in to spring.

February 2015 Preview

February is typically a month where NOLA runners get to decompress from the hectic racing schedule of January. After multiple weekends in a row of distance events, it's easy to get wrapped up in Mardi Gras festivities, abandoning a training schedule and much needed discipline. While that recovery period is necessary, it's important to keep focus on coming spring 10K's and the goals you want to achieve at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic 10K (April 04th).

January (Re)Preview 2015

It's been quite a few weeks since there's been a new post on NOLArunner. Saying that the holidays and first month of 2015 have been busy is an understatement, but not a good enough excuse. Here's my chance to salvage as much of the month of January as possible with this last weekend of major racing just around the corner.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

June 2014 Preview

Rain over the past week has kept temperatures uncharacteristically low in south Louisiana. Fear not, because we'll be creeping in to the 90s before you know it. However, with proper conditioning, tackling the summer heat is easy enough. You'll have to suffer through some slow muggy runs through June, but it'll be worth it when you break the barrier and get accustomed to the summer sizzle. Just be sure to stay hydrated during every workout!

May 2014 Preview

The month of May is one of my favorites, thanks to the occurrence of Zoo-To-Do, Mothers' Day, graduations, Cinco De Mayo, Memorial Day, and the New Orleans Wine and Food Festival. These holidays and celebrations bring together the things I enjoy the most, food, family, drink, and fun. This month, there's something to look forward to at the end of every week!

April 2014 Preview

The excitement for warmer temperatures is boiling over on my social media feeds, as I see friends talking about their first snowballs of the season, staying out in daylight past 5pm, and gearing up for French Quarter Fest and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Much like the other 11 months of the year here in south Louisiana, there's no shortage of fun things to do in April.

March 2014 Preview

Now that Mardi Gras is behind us, there's nothing on the social calendar, right? Wrong. It's New Orleans, and there's always a festival or parade just around the corner. In the Crescent City, March brings us two weekends of parades to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Soul Fest, Fashion Week, the Crawfish Festival, Hogs for the Cause, and countless other events. Locals will not have to look far to find something to do.

February 2014 Preview

The month of February kicks off this Sunday (maybe?) with The Big Game in New York City. While there isn't any local representation at that snow ball fight up north, a big sporting event does hit a lot closer to home February 14th - 16th. The NBA brings All Star festivities to the New Orleans Arena and convention center, where the New Orleans Pelicans will be well represented in several events leading up to All Star Sunday night.

At month's end, the pre-Mardi Gras parades work NOLA in to a full on frenzy before Fat Tuesday, March 4th. Here's a list of February races that will keep you active before the debauchery of Carnival takes over all of our lives:

January 2014 Preview

The New Year kicks off with a new race this weekend and continues with several mainstays on the NOLA running calendar. Traveling outside the parish lines is once again a great idea for those runners who are looking to tackle a new challenge.

December 2013 Preview

The busy holiday season sees a drastic drop-off in the numbers of races in the Crescent City; however, the few races that are taking place are some of my favorites. Trust me when I tell you that upcoming events give ample reason to pull out long-sleeved tech shirts, ear warmers, throwaway sweatshirts, and ChapStick. For the love of everything that is holy in running, don't forget the ChapStick.

November 2013 Preview

I don't remember previous Novembers "falling back" quite as hard. Daylight saving time happened this past weekend, and it hit me like a brick wall. One bright spot is that 6am sunrises have forced me to wake up an hour earlier than usual. Had it not been for a week-long ordeal with a screw in my tire and multiple tires being replaced, I may have been able to get morning workouts done. As I write this post, I'm sitting in a Starbucks waiting for my car to come down off the racks. Hopefully as the weekend approaches, my vehicle isn't the only thing that has better traction.