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Feb
28
Things got off to a rocky start here in New Orleans when I found myself huddled, a miserable shivering wreck, on the bathroom floor at 2 AM, cursing the room service club sandwich I’d ordered back when the contents of my stomach were still on the inside of my body. I truly thought I wasn’t going to be able to do the race, and I wept, piteously, into the bathmat.
I somehow managed to rally when my alarm went off a few hours later, until I poked around for my wallet and discovered it was MIA, at which point I fell into a deep terrified pit of despair, remembering the hellish nightmare when I lost my wallet in Austin last year and wondering just how in blue fuck I’d managed to repeat that kind of stupidity. I was on the verge of calling the local cab companies, thinking it must have fallen out of my backpack while I was en route to the hotel, when during one of my frenzied pacings around the room I literally stubbed my toe on it from where I’d apparently tossed it on the floor the night before.
Pro tip: if you’re thinking of running your first half marathon, I really, really don’t recommend an exhausting pukefest the night before, then a full blown panic attack the morning of. Just a little piece of advice from me to you.
I’m happy to report things improved after that, thank god. I walked to the starting area with Katie, Danielle, and Erin, and it was amazing to see so many people milling around—the race was much bigger than I’d imagined it. (I think something like 18,000 people ran today.) It took 45 minutes from the time the gun went off for our group to actually get to the official start, and I’ll know this for next time: there is plenty of time to visit the porta-potties.
The race itself was . . . man, I don’t even know how to describe it. It was wonderful, it was hard, it was fun, it was grueling. I loved running through such pretty streets, I loved all the fantastic people cheering us on. I felt okay until the last few miles, and the last mile in particular was a bitch. I tried to pick up my speed but I just couldn’t, I was running on fumes and the repeated mental mantra that it would all be over soon.
I didn’t stop, though, aside from a couple speedwalking breaks at the water stations once I realized I couldn’t run and drink from a cup at the same time.
My final time was 2:17, and I crossed the finish line exactly how I’d predicted: hurting, but so happy. Katie took my picture for me:
Riley will be glad to know that yes, Mommy did in fact get a medal. Never mind that everyone got one, okay?
As far as things I do recommend when it comes to preparing for a long race, I heartily endorse putting your name on your shirt, even if it makes you feel like a total cheesebag. Because people yelled “Go, Linda!” at me, and that. Was. Awesome.
After we’d taken a shuttle bus back and cleaned up a bit, a bunch of us went and had an astoundingly delicious meal at Acme Oyster House. I got to spend time with AB and Eliza, whom I haven’t seen since Journalcon in . . . what, 2003, or some such craziness. Oh, I was in such good company today.
Photo ganked from AB’s Twitter: me, AB, Erin, Alice, and Katie. Please note how everyone’s hair looks lovely while mine lurks, a matted rat’s nest of post-race horror, under a hat.
We ate until there wasn’t room for a single more bite, then we went and got beignets. My god. Heavenly.
I’m so wiped out (and, um, FULL) I plan to crawl into bed soon and sleep for at least 12 or so hours, then tomorrow I’m going to explore the city a bit. I’m feeling like eight million blistered dollars, my friends, and I cannot thank you enough for all the encouragement you’ve given me, here and on Twitter. It made a difference, it really did.
Oh! I almost forgot to tell you. So you know JB’s big fight last night, well, he knocked the guy right the fuck out in the first round. It was the best fight of the night, according to the folks watching. How about that?
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You are fantastic! I’ve been watching your Twitter feed all day thinking good thoughts for you! Next time, come to San Antonio. I live near the starting line..you’re more than welcome to stay at my house.
Awesome! Congratulations to you and JB!
Congratulations!!! You’re amazing and you’re in New Orleans! Holla!
Fantastic! Both you and JB are AWESOME. I am proud to read your writing. :)
Congratulations on your race! And I’m not surprised about JB’s fight. His opponent didn’t stand a chance against a man who can jump SOOOO high. I know that really has nothing to do with it, but I’m so impressed by the jumping. :)
Congrats to you and JB! You guys are awesome!!
a million congrats to you and JB!
Hooray for you both!
Gonna start couch to 5K on Monday as soon as my Frees show up…
You guys are my heros!
Badasses, the both of you.
You and JB kick ass!!
AWESOME! You almost make me want to give up my couch potato lifestyle! Seriously-way too go for the both of you!
woot! congratulations to both of you! you guys are such an inspiration. :D
Congratulations! I couldn’t wait to hear all about it. I’m running my first 25K this spring and I’ve been reading your training posts. Thanks for being such an inspiration!
P.S. That shirt was adorable!
You should be so proud of yourselves. Your kids are going to grow up so strong and so brave. Congratulations Linda & JB!
YAY!!! I am so so happy for you, and if it’s not too strange to say, so very proud. You inspired me to complete my first half marathon, and it was such a wonderful experience, I couldn’t wait for you to have the same feeling once you crossed the finish line. Thank you so much, Linda, and congratulations on a job very, very well done.
A HUGE way-to-go! to both of you! That’s totally the shiz! Not to mention, you’ve both probably improved your likelihood of surviving the zombie apocalypse by 10fold! I’m moving to your neighborhood, come Zday! LOL
Congratulations on finishing! That is awesome! Woot!
And FWIW, you mentioning Acme Oyster House & beignets just reminded me of reasons why I’m happy to be going to New Orleans next month. (It’s for a family reunion thing, which would normally be groan-worthy, but OMG the food! Yes, I will totally get on a plane with a 3 year-old for some damn fried oysters!)
You totally punished that half marathon Linda! I am so very proud of you. I loved your shirt idea too, very clever. Your hat is adorable, by the way.
I am so proud of you! You are awesome. Enjoy your time in New Orleans. And congrats to JB!
You ROCK!
You guys rock!
Congrats! I’m so happy for you (and now totally worried for my race in August – I now know I will be puking all night!)and I’m so glad that everything went the way you planned (after the hellish morning!). And of course, JB ROCKS! Was there a video of the fight? If so please post!
Wowza, Linda. What a fabulous- in so many ways!- day! I’m so, well, PROUD of you, which is weird b/c you’re not my kid or anything. But it’s been so cool to hear about it all.
Also, go JB! =)
I feel like a proud mama hen. you are freaking A-MAZING. Congrats….you so totally rock!
OMG! I don’t know if I would have been able to do that race after heaving my guts up the night before. But I guess you wouldn’t have to worry so much about having a full stomach/colon? Anyway, You both did good and I am so proud of you guys! Congratulations!
Congratulations 1,000 times over. You rock!
WOOO! Go Linda! I am so very happy for you! And JB rocks the house, too. Nice job, both of you! :D
CONGRATS!
WOOO! So damn proud of you, Linda! Now, go make sure that New Orleans never forgets the day YOU came to town! ROCK ON!!!
Congratulations!!! I hope you always remember this feeling. You continue to be a HUGE inspiration for my own fitness journey!
Awesome! Can I tell you without sounding too creepy that I was totally looking for you all day? Of course, you finished 45 minutes before me, but damn, I wish I’d known you were in the corral in front of mine! (You should be glad I didn’t know, I think. Weirdo.)
Anyway, it was a gorgeous day and I beat the couple from Biggest Loser. So I am happy. :D
Yay for you and JB!!! Congrats!!!
GO LINDA!!!!! Wow.You are even more badass than I thought. (And, for the record, I thought you were right up there with Chuck Norris in terms of meeting every challenge you encounter.)
So….when ya adding the 26.2 notch to your belt?
You are such an inspiration to me, you have no idea – and uh, I don’t even know you. I did briefly say ‘hello’ in Chicago last year (but yeah total stranger here) saying that I’m so very happy for you (and for JB – way to go dude!) and so very proud. You totally rocked New Orleans! And in great company I must add…
Have fun in NOLA. One of these days I’ll make my way down there myself. Who knows, maybe for a 1/2 marathon…
Linda, I was keeping my eyes peeled for you today too, just so I could tell you what an inspiration you are. I signed up for the NOLA half after you did – my first half ever. When I started training, I couldn’t even run three miles without walking. But I carried through and ran the whole thing today, finished about 30 seconds before you did (although I wasn’t sick last night!).
Good job and you are awesome. Have fun tomorrow – we’re leaving on Tuesday too, so I’m hoping it won’t rain ALL day.
Good on ya, girl.
Ahhh, you’re inspiring me. Especially with the panic and the puke.
I think you’re pretty much a rock star right now.
You and JB are freaken rockstars. Awesome job.
So incredibly, utterly proud of you. Your perseverance and determination are just .. well, I wish I had just a fourth of it.
Hope you have a fabulous time down there!
You are the Dynamic Duo if there ever was one! Giddyup.
And I’m with Noemi…you have been such a huge inspiration to be personally that I did two half marathons last year, mainly walking them. But THIS year, I intend to run the entire thing. (I’m doing the Seattle RnR again, btw…you should too!) And like another Kate said, I too couldn’t wait for you to have that feeling of the crowds supporting you, and crossing that finish line. (I’m like, TOTALLY, stealing your idea of putting my name on my shirt.)
So, SO proud of you and your effort. And JB too. Truly, what great examples you are setting for your boys about how to be strong and tackle challenges. Congratulations to you both!! (And cyber hugs from B’ham, in a totally non-stalkerish kind of way.)
Congrats to you both. I just finished my first 10k and wonder how am I going to make it to my half?! I love the idea of putting my name on my shirt; the encouragement would make a huge difference.Congratulations again.
Yay Yay yay!!! Congratulations to you both. There’s nothing like overcoming and finding yourself at the other side. (Metaphorically, of course. I know you’ll be running full-tilt toward the next goal.) High fives to both you and JB.
This sounds so dorky, but I’m so proud of you!! I remember you posting about committing to the race and being so scared about how much work it would be, and I’m really impressed that you DID IT!!!
A huge congrats to you and to JB! Wow!
I do have to say that the fighting thing freaks me out. I think about the dude’s family that had to hear that their guy got knocked OUT! Yikes! But, you seem cool with it so rock on :-)
Congratulations, I am super-awed. And my goodness, you are gorgeous.
Dayam! I was prepared to be impressed with just the race itself, but after the puke fest and panic? Super impressed. Thems some fine cahones you go there. Good for you.
YAY!!!!!!!!!!! So proud of you and all your hard work! And also for JB too. What a great weekend.
Congratulations!! That is so awesome. I grew up near New Orleans and I love that city. I bet running in it would be inspiring and beautiful. Also? I love beignets. :)
Awesome! Way to go Linda! And JB!
Awesome! I have run a couple half marathons and though I’ve felt like puking *from nerves* beforehand I can’t imagine actually puking from sickness and still going forward. Really, really impressive. Congratulations!
Congrats! Your story made my day and like always made me laugh and forget my nonsense troubles for a bit. Thanks!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this. I’m running my first half in May, and I’m feeling like it’s a terrible, stupid gargantuan waste of my money and time. I needed this perspective! Now I just need to get to be able to run outside… damn Iowa weather!
Yay! Congratulations to both of you!
So, a great weekend for All & Sundry?
I hope you saw my congratulations on Twitter, the message has mysteriously disappeared from my own feed and I am puzzled. Anyhow, congratulations once again!
Well done! xxxx
Awesome. Just AWESOME!
Could you be any cuter? I don’t think so! I love N.O. but haven’t been back since the flooding.
You and JB both ROCK! And damn ya’ll a little bit scary too!
While he’s holding off the zombies, and fighting them off, you are like the wind with a boy under each wing! I’m liking the image actually, lol!
You are great and such an inspiration. Thanks for all of the great running posts…they have motivated me to try a 10K this summer!
Are you KIDDING ME? You ran that whole em-effer after puking your guts out? YOU ARE A SUPER STAR.
Seriously.
That’s it. I officially have NO EXCUSE today. I will work out. Thanks.
AWESOME! You and JB both! The look on your face when you are holding your medal made me tear up a little. So, so happy for you, Linda! You are amazing – not just for running the race and finishing but for doing it after being sick as a dog just a few hours before.
You are an inspiration!
I lived in Nola for a few years. Your pictures make me miss it something horrible.
Congrats on the big race. You are such an inspiration to us all!
Great job Linda!!
Congratulations on such a great accomplishment, especially after the rough week (and night!). Amazing!
Oh, SO AWESOME. SO. Congrats, congrats congrats. You worked your ass off for it, and you’ve earned every second of the awesome you feel.
Funny name on shirt story: I was running a race once, and my brother hopped off the sidelines to run a few miles with me. Everyone was cheering “Go Liz!” as I ran by, and he finally looked at me and was like “My GOD you are a total rockstar!! How do you know everyone!” It took me a second and then I just pointed at my shirt where I had “LIZ” written in like, 52 pt font.
I really wish I’d never told him. It would be great for him to just go through life thinking his sister is immediately recognizable to thousands of people in a strange city.
Congratulations!! That is AWESOME!
Go you! You are totally awesome. I loved your story, so inspiring and way to go JB.
Awesome work, Sundry and JB!!!
Awesome!
Good job to both of you!
Congratulations! This is the progression: half – full – half ironman to full ironman. You’ll be there soon.
And the name on the shirt thing? Great until you fall apart at mile 23 and the #$#$% crowd starts going: hang in there Lori, not much further, you can make it. Never doing that again.
Nice job!!!!! I am so impressed you ran aftewr puking, i ran my first half yesterday after a craptastic night of sleep but i can’t imagine doing it afetr puking. It’s a fanfriggintastic feleign when you cross that finish line! Love the shirt on the name idea… hope you slept alot last night and have a great day today!
Yay! Congrats! I too, was hoping I’d run (not literally) into you yesterday, but then I never quite figured out what I’d say to you in my head, so it’s a good thing…you would have had some sweating, drooling, blubbering stranger in front of you had we met. I hope you enjoy your day today in NOLA too, hope the rain holds off.
So, what’s next…?
Holy Moses, he *knocked* him out?! Way to go.
And you? With the running? Nicely done. Nicely done.
Linda and JB = super couple. Awesome. Everyone who can finish those damn things deserves a medal, so Riley is right.
I’m glad you put your name on your shirt. I was ‘official cheerleader’ for a friend when she was running marathons (New Orleans was by far the most fun, by the way) and I loved being able to cheer for people by name. If I ever do it again, I’ll put my name on my shirt, too. I wore a Georgetown sweatshirt for the New Orleans marathon and realized some of the runners (the ones with some breath in their body) had fun calling back to me by “Georgetown.”
Congrats to you both! What an accomplishment!
Yay Linda! Yay JB! Awesome, awesome, awesome.
Congratulations! You rocked it. So when’s the 26.2?
Also, add my congrats for JB’s success as well. That’s gotta feel good to knock someone out.
You both are so inspiring.
So proud of you! Congratulations!
Congrats to you both!!!!
Congratulations! (and I can I say I think you are the most adorable of the lot in that photo, so there)
And congrats to JB, too. I hope someone got that on film!
Yay! SO proud of you! And JB, too.
You look positively radiant.
Congrats to both you and JB! Enjoy New Orleans and remember to stop back at Cafe DuMode…..those amazing beignets cannot be found anywhere else! In my opinion, at least…
Congrats to both you and JB. What awesome accomplishments!
You are a family of bad asses! Congratulations to both of you!
It was awesome enough that you were going to do it and then to do it after puking and feeling like ass, amazing. Nicely done!
Well done to both of you!
My son, Andre, did the half-marathon too! He also said it was a gorgeous course. Check out his youtube video for the Groupon Challenge–you get to live free for a year on Groupon coupons–and if you finish, they give you $100,000. (Only one person selected) The video he entered shows him getting eyelash extentions! “Life is too short to have short eyelashes!”
Well done! Wasn’t it the best feeling crossing that finish line?
Congrats to both you and JB. You guys kick ass, both figuratively and IRL. Also, I want a beignet like WHOA.
Congrats on such a great race! And way to rally after a horrible start. Time to start thinking about the 26.2! You know you are thinking about it, right?;-)
you ladies were amazing!! i am so (almost) inpsired to train for a race! :-)
(also: your hat was much cuter than the still-wet mostly-unbrushed look i have going on there. and i didn’t even have the excuse of running a marathon first.)
Congratulations! So awesome.
YAY for you!! And yay for JB! I am so happy for someone I have never met. You rock!
Woo Hoo! YOU ROCK!!!! (and so does JB)
Congrats! You are an inspiration….(and so are the beignets!)
To you and JB-
Cool! That’s just so effing cool!
You rocked it, lady. I can only imagine what’s next.
You did it!! Fantastic job, Linda! I am amazed you did so well after being sick the night before. I hope you’ve been enjoying as many guilt-free beignets as your stomach can hold!
Also: way to go, JB! The Sundry household just flat-out kicks ass.
Congrats, Linda! Congrats, JB! So proud of you both.
Hey, way to go LINDA!
Well, it’s a very cute hat.
Also, glad to hear you conquered the 13.1. I conquered mine 5 years ago, and now, 2 children later, I desperately want to conquer it again. You give me hope!
Thanks, and congratulations.
Go Linda! Go JB! Your family is full of WIN!
Yay! Yay! CONGRATULATIONS, I am so proud of you! It was really hard and you did it! I am sorry that every bad thing happened to you the morning of the race that possibly could have happened (short of violent crime) but you finished! You are a bad ass! Go, Linda!
You are so amazingly kick ass and inspirational it’s making my head hurt.
So many congratulations to you, and your prize fighter!
Many congratulations!!! Sounds like it was a great time. Enjoy exploring New Orleans.
Congrats! I finished my first 1/2 in January, and was also up and puking at 2am. A right of passage? Anyways, good job.
oh.my.god. there are beads on the medal! That’s friggin’ awesome! Congratulations!
Wow, amazing. Congratulations to both you and JB. You’re an inspriring couple.
Wow, amazing. Congratulations to both you and JB. You are an inspiring couple.
You are SUCH an inspiration and I am so happy for you! :)
SO proud of you! Congratulations on being a Grade-A Asskicker.
Let me add my congrats to both of you guys, great job!
I remember the one and only time I tried to race a half-marathon. I felt great the first half, and I knew I was going too fast, but I decided to hell with it. Sure enough, I found the wall about mile 11, and the last two were exquisitely painful. I came in about a minute under my goal time, so no complaints!
I trust you will not miss the chance to eat at Mother’s. A debris po’boy is MANDATORY.
I was thinking about you Saturday morning Hawaii time..and then realized it was really Friday so you weren’t running yet.
Then Sat when I meant to send you good vibes, we had a Tsunami evacuation – but I couldn’t wait to hear how it went!
I am still struggling with running an entire 5k but you show me that, maybe, just maybe, with some mental strength, I can finish something too :)
Holla girl. You and your hot fight club hubbie rock!
So proud of you!
Wonderful! Nice work! And I can’t believe JB knocked that guy out in the first round. You should both do laps around your house singing “we are the champions” — you two are that amazing.
Good job to both you and JB! I’m so impressed with you for rallying after being sick all night!
Come back!
Good on you!!! I ran my first 5k, my first race of any kind (I couldn’t run for 30 seconds last August!), last weekend and I am so psyched! And sooooo impressed by you ladies! Way to rock it!
I have nothing original to say, but this is not the time to lurk unless I can add something new to the discussion. All I can say is this: Amazing. Just amazing.
p.s. “I wept, piteously, into the bathmat” is redundant, don’t you think? :)
Amazing. If it we’re me- I think I’d call it a day after the puking, that. just. sucks. Im so impressed that you stuck with it after a terrible night!
So happy for you; you are truly an inspiration.
So rad Linda, I’m so impressed!!! Congratulations!
Long-time lurker, first-time poster. Congrats on your first half marathon. You are a rockstar indeed.
I am about to begin training for my own first 1/2. I am terried and wondering if I can do it. I have a three-year-old and 16-month-old twins and meshing their schedule with my training schedule is ridiculous. But following your progress here, I am convinced that I can. Thank you for the inspiration.
Whoops-that’s terrified, not terried. Sheesh, and I’m a writer besides.
I am so inspired by you and so excited to hear your story. Im so proud of you. You make me feel like I can be bigger and better. Thank you!
How awesome are you?! So happy for you Linda. It’s been awesome to follow you through your training! I’ll be excited to read about your journey to 26.2 if you ever decide to do that : )
Congratulations Linda on your fist half! I’ve been lurking and following your training! You did an amazing job! You are perfectly primed for a full!!! Just add a couple 20 milers to the mix and you’re all set! I’ve done 5 marathons and by far the first one is the most exhilirating. Pick one flat and fast, like Chicago, my first. No, really it’s great to hear you are enjoying running, I love it too, and you can do with it what you want! Keep it up.
The name on the shirt was so brilliant. I was so jealous of all the name-shouting that I started calling out to any spectator wearing or carrying any Chicago-related item as if they would somehow appreciate having a stranger yell at them. That was not creepy at all.
I have THE BEST memories from my first half. It was hard, but so much damn fun. Reading this reminded me of that.
Reading this also made me want to run in New Orleans. I have a new goal. :)
I totally expected this entry to end with a rousing, “HOW YOU LIKE MAH DICK NOW?!?” ; )
Wow great job! I am planning on doing my first half marathon this year. I hope have a better night before the race then you did.:)
Linda,
Hello from Orlando! Congrats on your first half! Great recap… awesome pics. :-) Found you via twitter via…another runner? LOL Not sure which one(?) but glad I did. Just finished my first half, too: March 7th, Disney Princess Half. I agree: custom race shirt a definite!
Looking forward to following your tweets and posts.
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