• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

Mardi gras Rock ‘n’ Roll 2011 Recap Part 1

February 16, 2011 | Uncategorized

 

Good afternoon! I thought I would go ahead and do part one of my race weekend recap, the expo! Part two will be the actual race. Sorry I am so slow!

Friday night, Karen and Jason came to my parents house and stayed the night, and Saturday we drove over to New Orleans for the expo and to check into our hotel. This was the same hotel we stayed at last year, it’s a nice place and within walking distance of the start line and the bus drop off after the race.

We had a little trouble getting a good picture. Thanks Bobby. Not sure what Karen is doing haha!

Much better.

We walked across the street to the convention center for the expo. We had to walk the entire length of the convention enter to get to the hall with the expo. The race is put on by the competitor group of course, and Brooks is a sponsor, and they had this cool carnival type thing where you play games to win prizes, etc. We each got a free card that they scanned at the booth to see what prize we won! I won a t-shirt, and Bobby won something I will be giving away on my blog in a few days! I thought I had the picture of us with our shirts but I can’t find it, maybe Karen has it, and I will post it later. Anyway, here is a picture after we picked up our bags and packets.

 

Bobby and Jason played some game where you have to hit these buttons to make your runner run, and then we headed into the actual expo.

We walked around for awhile, it was pretty crowded. We went to the Sweaty Bands booth and talked to Donna for a minute, and Karen checked in at the Determination booth. We also met up with Karen’s brother and his wife Kayla. We sampled a few free things, and then I got a call from the hotel saying our room was ready.

It was a beautiful day, a little on the cool side, but it was promising for race day at least. Here is our room!

Race shirt!

There was an interesting list of New Orleans facts in the front of the race booklet.

Karen and Jason had to leave to go to a pasta party for the team determination, so Bobby and I hung out in the room (Bobby took a nap) and then walked a couple blocks over to Pie. it’s the yummy pasta and pizza place we went to before the jazz half. We got there and there was a line out the door, they were not open yet but luckily we were close to the front. I took a picture of the line with my phone but can’t seem to find it! Bobby waiting outside in the cold.

I love how friendly runners are with each other. The people in front of us ran the Disney half, as did the people behind us. The people behind us also ran the jazz half, so we were at THREE races together and never met. Cue the music! “It’s a small world after aaaalllll!” It was getting cold but the restaurant opened and we sat down and ordered a large pizza!

It was getting cold in the restaurant, and we were starving! We devoured the whole pizza in less than ten minutes. YUM!

We headed back to the hotel, I stopped by to see my sister who was staying at the same hotel, and then we hit the hay. It’s almost race day!!!

QOTD: What is your favorite pizza topping?

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sign up for my newsletter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen says

    February 16, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    Omg that pizza looks so good! Your hair looks great wavy! Can’t wait to hear about the race 🙂

    • Heather says

      February 16, 2011 at 5:03 pm

      it was SO yummy. probbaly because we were starving!
      I totally didnt have time to straighten it so i did a couple pieces in the curling iron and just left the rest haha!

  2. Elizabeth@The Sweet Life says

    February 16, 2011 at 5:31 pm

    I did the NO marathon the year of the big hurricane and am so glad I got to see NO before the storm hit!

    • Heather says

      February 16, 2011 at 9:37 pm

      you should come back again!

  3. Katy (The Singing Runner) says

    February 16, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    Haha, it really is a small world. 😉
    I’m not a huge pizza person, but I do love spinach and mushrooms on my pizza.

    • Heather says

      February 16, 2011 at 9:37 pm

      spinach and mushrooms? lol! two things I would never eat on mine hehe

  4. disney_caseu says

    February 17, 2011 at 12:07 am

    Sounds like you had a good day! I look forward to hearing about the race, I must say that picture of the pizza made me hungry

    • Heather says

      February 17, 2011 at 9:58 am

      the pizza was so good. I’m not sure what they do differently, but wow!

  5. Becky says

    February 17, 2011 at 7:25 am

    Pizza is my favorite food ever! I always want pizza before a long run. Unfortunately, my body doesn’t agree, so I usually stick with boring pasta. Your pizza looks delicious!

    • Heather says

      February 17, 2011 at 9:59 am

      haha. Luckily I haven’t had any issues with it yet!

  6. Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:49 am

    My favorite is cheese, cheese and more cheese!! I have never attempted pizza before a race but it sure makes for great post race fuel!

    • Heather says

      February 17, 2011 at 10:00 am

      luckily I dont really get stomach issues at races so I just eat whatever I normally do. i try to eat pizza or pata though.
      I LOVE cheese!

  7. Morgan @ Becoming Rooks says

    February 17, 2011 at 9:27 am

    Your hair looks so much longer than it did in your accent vlog! So pretty! I like spicy foods so I’m a big fan of buffalo chicken pizzas. I loooove the goat cheese and kalamata olive flat bread at Jiko, too – that’s kind of a pizza, right?

    • Heather says

      February 17, 2011 at 9:59 am

      my hair is layered in the front, and for the accent blog I had part behind my ears and didnt realize it so it looked like the layered part was the length of my whole hair lol!
      oohhh Jiko yum!

  8. Crystal says

    February 17, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    Ham and pineapple! Also veggie pizzas, by I can never order them because mike won’t eat it.

    • Heather says

      February 17, 2011 at 1:22 pm

      haha I was laughing b/c my new post is “what is your favorite froyo flavor” and I look at your comment of ham and pineapple and was like HUH? lol!

  9. Betty says

    February 17, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    I love olives on my pizza.
    I think going to the expo is one of the best parts of running a race. I love the shirt!

    • Heather says

      February 17, 2011 at 1:51 pm

      olives. interesting!
      yes expos are fun, i love being around other runenrs!

  10. Brandi says

    February 17, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    Wow, I’ve been reading for a while and didn’t know you had a sister! Pics please?

    My pizza must have onions, jalapeño peppers and extra sauce! Yum 🙂

    • Heather says

      February 17, 2011 at 7:47 pm

      yes she is two years older thatn me! she is in a couple of these pics:
      http://www.runningwithsass.com/christmas-in-pictures-2010/

  11. Melissa says

    October 24, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    The hotel you chose looks really nice. I’m looking at hotels right now since I just registered for the 2012 race with today’s RIDICULOUS discount!

    • Heather says

      October 25, 2011 at 3:32 pm

      I registered last night!!! we always stay at the wyndham riverfront

Trackbacks

  1. Rock N Roll New Orleans Half Marathon 2012 | says:
    March 8, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    […] Mardi Gras) This is the third year I have run this race. (You can check out my recaps from 2010 and 2011 1 and […]

  2. Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Changes | Through Heather's Looking Glass says:
    June 13, 2014 at 7:54 am

    […] ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras 2011 Part 1 and Part […]

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Family Fun in Tuscaloosa: Your Ultimate Getaway Beyond Game Day
  • 5 Reasons to Try a New Way of Travel
  • Experience Superhero-Sized Fun at Gaylord Opryland DC Summer
  • Digital Nomads: Safely Working Remotely While You Roam
  • Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) as a Travel Ball Mom

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
Guess I’m above average. 💁🏻‍♀️😆 Guess I’m above average. 💁🏻‍♀️😆

#disneycreators #disneyadult #disneymeme #disneymillenial #disneymom
I guess I’m just above average. 💁🏻‍♀️

#disneyadult #disneycreators #disneymom #disneymillenial #disneymeme
Ready to make your next beach getaway effortless a Ready to make your next beach getaway effortless and unforgettable? 🏖️☀️

@BeachballProperties offers a wide variety of vacation rentals from Orange Beach to Gulf Shores and Perdido Key. Whether you’re looking for a cozy condo, a beachfront home, or something big enough for the whole family!

They take care of everything—from booking to check-in and even local recommendations—so all you have to do is show up and enjoy the sunshine. 🌴

✨ Locally owned
✨ Family operated
✨ Exceptional service
✨ Sparkling clean rentals
✨ Close to restaurants, attractions & of course... the beach!

Let Beachball Properties take the stress out of planning, so you can focus on making memories that last a lifetime. 🎉🌊

✈️ And now, getting to the beach is easier than ever, especially for my Knoxville friends! @allegiant now has a non stop flight from Knoxville that is only 1.5 hours long! Be sure to check their website to see what other nonstop flights they have added! 

Use code HEATHERSLG when you book the 🔗 in my bio (look for the pic of this reel cover!) 

#BeachballPropertiesPartner #BeachballProperties  #OrangeBeachAL #VacationRental #BeachTrip #FamilyTravel #BeachHouseVibes #WindwardPointe504 #ALbeachblogger
#ZbarPartner #ad Busy days mean snack time has to #ZbarPartner #ad Busy days mean snack time has to be fast and mom-approved—and Zbar Snacks Bars checks all the boxes. 🙌 

They’re made with great tasting ingredients, come in kid-favorite flavors (ours is Chocolate Chip!), and are perfect for tossing in a backpack, lunchbox, or purse. I grab ours at Walmart to keep things simple and stocked. @Zbarofficial 

💬 What’s your go-to snack when you’re on the move? #Zbar #WalmartFinds #MomHack #SnackTimeWin
I was just looking… And now I need a Halloween I was just looking…

And now I need a Halloween themed @loungefly by next week. 💀🎃💸

#MNSSHP #disneyinfluencerlife #bootoyou #notsoscary #mickeysnotsoscary #mickeysnotsoscaryhalloweenparty #disneycreators
#ZbarPartner #ad Between after-school activities, #ZbarPartner #ad
Between after-school activities, errands, and everything in between… we need snacks that work just as hard as we do. 

That’s why I keep a stash of Zbar Snacks Bars from Walmart on hand—made with organic ingredients, filled with good stuff, and packed with flavor my kid actually asks for. 
✔️ Delicious taste 
✔️ Soft-baked texture 
✔️ Kid-approved 
✔️ Easy to grab on-the-go No more snacktime struggle. Just open, eat, and go. 

🛒 Grab yours at Walmart next time you’re stocking up for back-to-school! 

@Zbarofficial #Zbar #MomLife #SnackWin #BusyMomFuel #WalmartFinds #LunchboxIdeas
Backstory: It was our last morning and Myself, my Backstory:
It was our last morning and Myself, my mom and dad were sitting outside by the fire drinking coffee enjoying the view. My mom was walking to the door and my dad and I heard a scraping noise on the deck. I was sitting and the column was blocking my view. Dad was standing. He turns away from me, and says super casually:

“Oh look, it’s a bear.” 🐻 

I jumped up sure enough there is a baby bear standing at the top of the steps, 12 feet from us. We ran in and locked the door and called for Bobby and EK to come look. We left our coffee outside and mom and dad’s phones were out there. Thankfully I had mine for video!

We had grilled steaks the night before so they were coming to find the food. (After the first morning…we had grilled the first night too…we saw bear paw prints so we knew there were some in the area.) 

Emma Kate was recording on her iPad, and got the best clip of all, the very best one! He actually seated at her two different times but we only got one on video. 

It was quite the adrenaline rush but also SO COOL and a great way to end the trip!!! 

*Please do not ever approach or feed a bear. While black bears typically aren’t aggressive, if humans feed them they will continue to get close. If staying in the Smoky Mountains stay aware and never leave food outside or in your car! And lock your car and cabin doors.* 

#bearsighting #smokymountains #gatlinburgcabins #luxurycabin #blackbear #bearsandcubs #heybear #iwannapetthatdog

Copyright © 2025 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

%d