The Big Easy and Pie Day!

Well I have a hard time believe that anyone is still reading this, but according to the blog counter someone is. So, I guess I will keep with it. So this week was another on the road. I got up Sunday, feeling surprisingly good after the Switchbacks and boarded a plane for the Big Easy. Now I have been to New Orleans one other time, and I have to be honest I was not a big fan. Don’t get me wrong the food is incredible and the sites are cool, but for the most part it seemed like a very dirty town and I dislike walking down the street and having people hassle me. But, I needed to be there for work so like it or not I was going back.

Right off, I knew this trip was going to be a little better. First, I was staying at the JW Marriot right off the French Quarter in a nice room with a very nice view. Second, a lot of cool people were in town so a good time was going to be had. So I went to bed the first night sure that even though my flights in were super delayed and I got to the hotel 3 hours after I was supposed to be there, this was going to be a great week.

View from my room

Monday morning I woke up with a little bit of a sore throat and that didn’t seem good, but I shook it off and found out that my meetings for that morning had been cancelled (or at least they didn’t need me there). So itching from not running Sunday I decided to hit the roads of New Orleans and get some miles in. I talked with the clerk down at the front desk and he told me that I would have to run on the side walk about a half of a mile to the southwest of the hotel, but then I could just run on the trolley tracks. I asked him if that was something I should do? It did not seem like the best idea if I wanted to avoid getting hit by a trolley, but he told me the trolleys are very slow and most runners in the area do this. It also had the bonus of cutting way down on the street crossings and traffic. So I took his advice and when I reached the trolley tracks found they consisted of a grassy median in the road with the tracks buried in the sides. So it was really just a well worn grass trail. Pretty sweet, oh and the trolley were super slow, in fact the one going in the same direction as me took more than 3 miles before it passed and stayed ahead of me. The view was very neat too; I guess the street I was on (St Charles Ave) is on the parade route for Mardi Gras and they were already setting things up as it was only a few weeks away. On the sides of the street there were all these crazy old trees (to go with the old buildings I guess) that were covered in this cool ivy with beads from parades of the past grown into them. It was really something to see; plus it was warm, which was a nice change from the freezing cold of the past few weeks and there were quite a few other runners out there so I guess the clerk at the hotel knew what he was talking about. When I got to the far end of my run I was at Tulane University and so I made a loop around Audubon Park that is right in front of it, the park was full of people and had this cool lake right in the center. All in all it made for a nice ten mile run and I felt good the whole time. When I walked into the hotel I was met with a welcome surprise, my friend Jeremiah had his afternoon meetings cancelled and wanted to go to lunch. Jeremiah is the clone of Anthony Bourdain and always knows the best spots in any town. I have learned over many travels with him to not question his suggestions.

So Jeremiah said we have to go to Cochon, which is a cool spot near the National WWII Museum. When we got there the lunch crowd had already set in, but we were able to get a spot at the kitchen bar. Kind of like sitting at the sushi bar but with these guys cook in the giant wood burning oven that was way cool, and they also passed us over some samples of what they were cooking which was much cooler. The food was incredible. I mean really incredible, everything I tried was awesome but the whole time we sat there I kept seeing these little cast iron skillets that they were taking in and out of the oven. So when we finished up and started to leave I finally had to ask one of the cooks, “What is with the skillets?” He told me that was the rabbit stew and dumplings. I felt I had been cheated (or would have but the meal I had was incredible) and swore that the next time I came in it would be rabbit stew for sure.

On our walk back to the hotel I was talking with Jeremiah (who is also a History Major) about how I had never seen the WWII Museum, but heard it was very well done. He told me that he and his father had visited almost every major European site from WWII in their travels, but the museum was very well done and they have this crazy 4D movie that we very interesting. Then he insisted that we go check it out. We got there just as a showing of the movie was starting, so we had an hour to kill before the next showing. We bought tickets and started to check out other parts of the museum. This was good and bad; don’t get me wrong if you get the chance to go to the WWII museum do it for sure. But don’t just give yourself an hour like I did. This is a whole day activity. We were about halfway through the “Road to Berlin” exhibit (which is one floor of one of the five buildings that make up the museum) when we realized that we only had about 10 minutes until our movie started. So we rushed through the end of that part and made it to the movie. Just like everything else at the museum the movie was well done, powerful, and it snowed in the theater (I guess that is what makes it 4D). So long story short go to this place. Even though we needed to get back to the hotel and get some work done we ran through one more building before we left, and agreed we would have to come back when we had more time (unfortunately that time did not come this trip). 

Inside one of the buildings

After we got back and got some things done a group of us decided we would meet for dinner. Well the first place we had planned on going was booked up. So the other guys we had in our group said “how about Cochon?” Well you can guess my answer, and in a diet destroying move we headed back to Cochon. As I set down Jeremiah asked what I would be having, I promptly slapped him in the face and yell rabbit stew and dumplings of course. It was spicy and wonderful, a great end to a cool day.

The dish in question

The next day I had meetings for most of the day, and I felt like crap (the sickness was upon me). But at the end of the meetings I talked my boss into going for a run with me, which was cool. How many people work for someone that would be willing to run in a strange city with you? We did a short four miles and then went to dinner with a good group in the French Quarter.

On Wednesday was the start of a conference that I was attending in the same hotel that my meetings had been at earlier in the week. As I knew the conference and the obligatory after party would destroy any chance of running, but I had backup and my good friend Stephen from Denver agree to meet me at 5am in the lobby for a 6 mile run. It was so nice to be able to go run in the dark and not freeze to death. I almost didn’t know how to handle it but managed to refrain from way overdressing. The conference was pretty good, and after the first day wrapped we headed with a group to a place called Jacques-Imo’s. This place was also amazing and I had some good local beer as we waited for the other of the five taxis to arrive (not sure what secret way our driver knew but we were the last to leave and got to the restaurant way before the others). I got a fresh fish dish with the hopes I could pretend that it would somehow make up for the day before, but everyone said I should have got the fried chicken. The fish was great, but when I left I texted Brynna a photo of the sign outside (pretty funny) and immediately I got a text back saying “you have to try the fried chicken there” guess I missed the boat again. 

The sign out front

Local Brew

Upon getting back to the hotel I was trying to find a group to go out. Most everyone was going out Thursday night, but I was flying back that night so this would be my only chance. Luckily I was with a group that doesn’t take a lot of convincing to push them out the door so we hit the French Quarter in search of live music and good times. After a while of trying to stay away from Bourbon Street we ended up at the back entrance of Pat O’Brien’s, I mean it is a famous Bourbon Street bar but since we did not go through the Bourbon Street entrance we decided we were in the clear. It was a good time with dueling pianos and some old guy playing a tray (don’t ask), but before I could leave I was told I had to have a hurricane. Now I do not drink hard liquor, or soda. I am a beer guy, but I figured when in Rome. So I got this drink and felt like I poured an entire pack of Fun-Dip in my mouth. Well that was enough to call it a night (reminder I was getting sick this whole time) and I returned to the hotel room with every intention of getting up at 5 for more miles with Stephen. The night ended up being horrible, and the creeping crud had me hacking up all night. So when I got a text from Stephen at 4:50 saying he was out for the run, I decided Thursdays are supposed to be off days anyways and went back to bed. I think it was a good call.

Best I can guess this is 100% sugar

Thursday after Stephen gave his presentation at the conference we decided to sneak out before the break and go to Café Du Monde, this is a happening little (not little) place just on the boarder of the French Quarter that only serves Coffee (with Chicory) and Beignets (kind of a French Donut with tons of powdered sugar). We no more than sat down and Stephen tells the waiter we need a dozen beignets and two coffees (they normally sell the beignets in orders of three for a table). So they brought all of this stuff to the table and Stephen looks at me, then all of this food, and then back to me and said “I might have got a little over zealous with that order”. We did some damage though and put down 5 a piece before the called it good, and spent the entire walk back to the hotel trying to get all the powdered sugar off of us. On the way back we walked through Jackson Square and checked out the statue of Andrew Jackson that they were about to remove. I guess it went to a public vote and it was decided that they didn’t want it around anymore. Seems kind of strange to me, but glad I got to check it out before it was gone. The rest of the day went smooth until we got to the airport and then had the normal last flight of the day drama getting home, ending up with me getting in after midnight but I got there and was grateful to be back home.

All that remained of our battle with beignets

Even the horses are crazy in NOLA

Before Removal

Cool view on the other side of Jackson Square

Friday I got my run in and headed to the Executive Club to discuss the weekend running plans. The decision was made to meet Jeff at 96^th and Riverside for our 16 miles on the Creek Turnpike trail. But got a call from the “Cat Master” that morning that he was having a pet emergency and couldn’t make it for the run. So Sarah, Pip, and I regrouped and decided to change our plans to meet with the Runner’s World group out at the fairground. The group was only running 11 so I hoped to get out there early and get 5 in so we could be done when the group wrapped up. Pip did not like this plan as he wanted more sleep but when I pulled up in front of his house and laid on the horn, he finally conceded to my way of thinking. We had a nice easy 5 mile run and finished up just about right so that we only had to stand around for a minute before taking off again with the Runner’s World gang. With the group this time I got to share some miles with Troy and Kathy Moore. These guys are great and have been running with Runner’s World for a while, but the last few years have been really getting into Triathlons. They have already done some Ironmans and have just been looking incredibly fit lately. So it was cool to get to talk with them about their plans for the year and of course getting to talk about bikes is always fun. When we wrapped up Pip, Sarah, and I grabbed Brynna from the house and hit Dilly Diner for breakfast with Bowie. Then we went our separate ways to prepare for Pie Day.

The photo in our booth at Breakfast

Around dinner time I was still not feeling 100% with this stupid head cold, but everyone was meeting at Pip and Sarah’s for a pie party and I was not going to miss that. It was a blast watch what everyone came up with for their dream pies; I of course went overboard with this vegetarian shepherd pie idea. So I took a bread baking tin and wrapped pie crust around it, filled it with sweet potatoes, black beans, and a bunch of other veggies, then topped it with this crazy mash potato and broccoli concoction that I made. It sounds crazy, and it was, but it came out alright and I ate way too much. On Sunday I was still feeling out of it, so I put my run off till in the afternoon but I finally got out there and did my 11 miles. Maybe not the best plan but I actually felt pretty good the whole run, so that was nice. All in all I felt like it was a good way to close out the week, and I am looking forward to the next week of staying in town.

Pie a la Stormy

Over the past few months I have been focusing on my diet. People tell me all the time that with how much I run it must be nice to be able to eat whatever I want. Well that is just not true (believe me I wish it was). Running, or any working out for that matter, is great for being healthy but the only way to control your weight is to focus on your diet. Years ago a friend of mine Kurt Egli turning me on to a calorie tracking app “My Fitness Pal” and while I am sure that there is a million apps like this out there the point is the same. If you think about everything you put in your body throughout the day, and keep track of that where you can look back on it you will be amazed at how it will affect your eating. I find myself drinking a lot less of my calories, and eating a lot more fruits and veggies just for the sake of getting to eat more. If you haven’t taken a good look at your diet I suggest you consider it. Now think about what I am saying here, not go on a diet. A “diet” is often a temporary thing; your diet is a whole approach to food. While we tend to get side tracked and sometimes end up in New Orleans for a week, continuing to make small changes in the way we eat can really get you to where you want to be for whatever event you are getting ready for. Since October when I weighed in at 206 this past week I got below 180 for the first time I a while. And not surprisingly I have already seen my ankle issues go away and my shin that has been bugging me since the beginning of the year now feels great. But most importantly I feel a lot better. It is crazy how much we get stuck on eating thinks that for the most part make us feel like crap after we eat it. Anyways, I will get off my soap box and say “Go Run” and have fun.