Pensacola Double Bridge Run - A MUST DO!!!

February 2nd was the 16th annual Double Bridge Run in Pensacola - also the first time the 15k was sold out!!  We had the Crazy Train Run group from Baton Rouge there and met up with my fellow flamingoz runner, Shannon.

We got to the Expo at the Hilton Pensacola Gulf Front... it was very quick and organized.  Stopped at the Pensacola Runners Association table and met some real nice guys.. who found out we were from Baton Rouge and said they need to come here to run a race.  They will be hearing from me soon :)
After the expo we walked to the Portofino boardwalk for our free pasta dinner at Hemingway's - very nice touch :)  There we had met up with the rest of the crew from Baton Rouge, Florida and Alabama:

Larisa (Alabama), Shannon (Florida) and Me (Louisiana)

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Saturday morning we woke up to freezing temperatures and headed to the finish line.  From there they had lines of school buses to take us to the start of the 15k.  This was well organized and went smoothly - except for the wind chill of what seemed to be -10 while waiting!!!

The run started on time and was wonderful... We went through downtown Pensacola then crossed over the first bridge and met up with the 5k start and then over the dreaded second bridge and then we were close to the finish after that.

The weather was gorgeous and so was the view.  I found myself running and just staring out at the water with the sun reflecting on it.  On top of both bridges there was a DJ playing music which was nice and a mood booster after running up that incline.

After the run, the group gathered and went for the free beer (YAY) and also Hemingway's provided free food for after.

Overall it was a fantastic run!  It is a definitely one to do again and a must do for those who haven't.  Next year it is on February 1, 2014 so go ahead and mark your calendars!! Double Bridge Run

The Crazy Train Run Group

The Awesome Finisher Medal

Me claiming the dreaded second bridge!!

The next run coming up is the New Orleans Rock n Roll Marathon.  I will be doing the half and Shannon will be doing her first full (you go girl)!!  Unfortunately, I had to miss the Mardi Gras Mambo 10k that was yesterday so no blog there :(

Weekly Chase #7 ~ Shannon

I feel like Stef...my first weekly chase was not as successful as I had hoped...


1. Be more consistent with my plank-a-day and at the end of the week post my times. I think I did okay with this...while I didn't plank every day I did plank 5 out of seven days. My best time was 2:40 on Tuesday and 2:30 on Wednesday. 

2. Drink 100 ounces of water daily. Not so successful with this one....only reached 100 ounces one day... I do so well in the mornings and mid day but by afternoon and evening I have to force myself to drink anything. 

3. Organize my planner to include a section for our new blog to jot down ideas instead of on scratch paper that I tend to misplace. Success!! Now if I could just take the time to actually put them on the blog!

4. Challenge Goal----I will choose a family member and send them a message or tell them how much they mean to me and how appreciative I am of having them in my life. Success on this one as well!! 

5. Challenge Goal - join in on the operationbeautiful.com. Success on this but didn't leave as many notes as I had hoped. 

So... week 7 will be a definite challenge for me. My husband is having surgery on Wednesday but I'm still going to try and reach a few goals.


1. Continue with my plank-a-day...I think I will go back to posting on Instagram/Twitter and hold myself more accountable that way.

2. Continue to work on my 100oz of water daily. I generally only drink water since I have cut soda's etc out so you would think it would be easy...

3. Put my ideas for the blog on the blog this week including our Double Bridge Run and a product that I am testing.

4. Challenge Goal - Same goal just another family member. :)

5. Challenge Goal - this should be easy since I'll be at the hospital for quite awhile...I am starting my notes now to leave behind.

6. I almost forgot my biggest goal...finish our shirts for the RnR Full Marathon!!


Please keep my hubby in your prayers!!

What are your goals for the week?

Stef's Weekly Chase #7

Ok... My first weekly chase was kind of a failure it seems...lol!!
Here is the breakdown:
The Weekly Chase

1. Clean and reorganize bedroom and bathroom. - 99% done!!

2. Do weight training twice a week. - did one day of weight training

3. Run 26 miles this week. - Complete and utter failure!!! I don't even want to say how many I did (9-10, ugh)

4. Start on my race book scrapbook I got for Christmas. www.racedaybooks.com. - if getting my bibs in order means start than yes :)

5. All you need is love challenge... This is secret in case someone reads this post... Will post after done :) - mailed my friend a card

Ok.... So ill try to do better on week 7

1). Clean/reorganize another room in house (y'all probably think I'm a messy person but I'm not...haha!!! Just trying to declutter my life)

2). Run 15 miles and add strength training.

3). Do taxes - see what the man is taking from me

4). Challenge goal - surprise another somebody

5). Finish what I started with last week goals.

The Weekly Chase

Ok, here is my weekly chase goals for this week. Actually putting them down is a bit more scary...

1. Clean and reorganize bedroom and bathroom.

2. Do weight training twice a week.

3. Run 26 miles this week

4. Start on my race book scrapbook I got for Christmas. www.racedaybooks.com

5. All you need is love challenge... This is secret in case someone reads this post... Will post after done :)

Weekly Chase #6! ~Shannon

Stefanie and I have decided to join in the weekly chase! What is the weekly chase? It's a place to post your goals for all to see...and help you stay accountable!


Since its February one of the weekly challenge goals is to make one goal about loving or being kind to someone. 

1. Be more consistent with my plank-a-day and at the end of the week post my times. 

2. Drink 100 ounces of water daily. 

3. Organize my planner to include a section for our new blog to jot down ideas instead of on scratch paper that I tend to misplace.  

4. Challenge Goal----I will choose a family member and send them a message or tell them how much they mean to me and how appreciative I am of having them in my life.

5.  Challenge Goal - join in on the operationbeautiful.com 

About us

Every Memorial Day weekend a group of friends - Flamingoz-  from all over flock to Fort Walton Beach, Florida for a weekend of sun, fun, beer and good times.  In 2011, Shannon and Stefanie learned they have something else in common than beach fun - running.  Even with Shannon living in Florida and Stefanie in Louisiana they met up in February 2012 to run the Rock n Roll half in New Orleans.  They have decided to start this blog and take on runs across the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. Along the way other Flamingoz girls who share our love of running will join us for a few races.

A Recap of January Races 

My goal for 2013 is to run 13 races in 2013.  I'm off to a great start because in the month of January I participated in five races. I started off January and the new year with the Resolution Run 5K. I ran this with my youngest son Little G and our boxer. 

The next race was the Hot Chocolate 15K in Atlanta, GA on January 13th. Stefanie and I ran this race together along with Jenny, a fellow flamingoz girl, and the Baton Rouge group. That was probably the most difficult race I have ever participated in although it was only a 15K. Where I live there are no real hills to train on except our bridge to the beach. At every turn there seemed to be a new hill to climb and unlike a bridge you didn't have a downhill run to look forward too. But Stefanie and I still made it fun by concentrating on the chocolate that was waiting for us at the finish line!! 

Stefanie and I

Our first night in Atlanta at a local Mexican Cantina

Our transportation for the weekend and our Awesome driver!! 

Pre-race picture with Jenny! 

The Miss Fit Marshmallows!! 

                                             Our prize awaiting us at the finish line!!
                                                                             

                                                                 

                                                                 The girls!!

The group! 

While in Atlanta I met several ladies from the Moms RUN This Town running club. This is a nationwide running club. After meeting these wonderful ladies I decided to start a chapter here as a way to get running moms together. We are off to a great start with 11 members. 

My next race was the Jubilee Run Walk or Drag with Color on January 19th. This was such a fun race with my hubby and little G. 

                                                 I borrowed this pic from their Facebook page

                                                                being silly before the race

                                                         

                                                                       All Colored Up!!

My fourth race of the month was the Moms RUN This Town Half Marathon. I ran the virtual race since our chapter is so new and most of the moms are participating in the Couch to 5K program. Next year I hope that we can put on our own local Half for the members similar to what other chapters did this year. 

This is the medal I will receive for running 

in the Winter Wonderland Half

This picture is from another MRTT chapter's

Winter Wonderland Race. Another goal of mine

is to have a similar race for my local chapter 

next year.            

 The swag bags that one chapter offered its members 

who ran the Winter Wonderland. I'm planning now 

for our chapter to have similar incentives.

My last race of January was a Run Fur Fun 5k that raised money for the National Humane Society. This was a virtual race for you and your dog to run together. Roxy and I ran this along our beach path and ended our run by sitting at the beach listening to the waves crashing.  

                                                                   

All in all I think I'm off to a great start to accomplish my goal of running 13 races in 2013!! Do you have a goal of running 13 in 2013?