I spent this last weekend in New Orleans with Palmer running the Crescent City Classic. It was a Big Deal for me. I used to watch it on TV when I was a kid, and as soon as I knew I’d be able to run again, almost a year ago now, I decided that I HAD to run this race.
We got to New Orleans on Friday afternoon and went to the expo in the Hyatt next to the Superdome. It was MASSIVE. I knew this would be the biggest race I’ve ever run by a long shot, but I don’t think I realized how big until the expo. I should have taken more photos, but I was consumed with getting my tshirt, Palmer’s RaceFest pass, and a beer since we’d just driven in from Shreveport. The beer was plentiful, as Michelob Ultra was one of the biggest sponsors. I’m generally not a Michelob Ultra drinker, but I certainly wasn’t going to turn down free beer. (Also, I drink it fairly regularly because it’s the best option when my blood sugar is really high, which it was because I ate a metric ton of fried okra at Cou-Yon’s in Port Arthur on the way down there.)
I’m pretty sure you’re going to see at least one beer in my hand in most of the rest of my photos because it’s New Orleans, and that’s the way it works.
Anyway, we walked through the expo a couple of times. FlipBelt, the company that makes the belts I always wear running, had a booth there selling running sleeves with SPF in them. I’d been meaning to get some, so that was good timing. I learned recently that sunblock sprayed on Omnipods will deactivate them, so thorough sun protection will be an issue – only on a bike, really, as I have no plans to be out running in the sun for long enough to get a huge sunburn.
It was two days before Easter, so Louisiana Running and Walking Co, a local New Orleans running store, had a creepy Easter bunny mannequin, so we had to take a photo.
We left the expo around 5, or so, so I thought we might have a chance of getting into Kenner Seafood, one of my favorite New Orleans(-ish) restaurants, before they got too packed. I should note that I was trying to scoot in and out of the city quietly, without a lot of extra plans because I knew I’d be tired. I get on the (packed) list at Kenner Seafood, stick my head into the bar, and who do I see but my sister and her husband.
Palmer had somehow never met my sister (even though we’ve been married for a dozen years), so it was an adventure all around.
We got up super early on Saturday morning for the race. Palmer dropped me off at City Park and found a parking spot about a mile away. I boarded a bus and headed to the Superdome. I was a little worried that I’d be cold, but the weather was perfect.
I think I got to Champion’s Square by 6:30 or 7, and the race started at 8, so there was lots of hanging around. I was in Corral F, and I think I actually started running around 8:30.
I don’t think I’ve ever taken so many selfies. In retrospect, it seems a little ridiculous. Anyway, once we got running, I was very careful to pace myself. I was trying to stay somewhere between 12 and 13 minutes a mile so I wouldn’t be exhausted by the end – and hopefully my stupid left knee wouldn’t give out.
I only took that one video and zero photos because I was otherwise occupied, but the whole experience was amazing. We ran down Poydras to Decatur, then down Decatur to Esplanade, then down Esplanade back to City Park. Lots of people were out to cheer us on, especially along Esplanade. Some were handing out food or beer – I was very grateful for a piece of bacon someone handed me along the way.
For whatever reason, all of the beer was round the midpoint of the race, so I didn’t have any because I knew better, which is unfortunate. I’ve never seen beer served during a race before, and I wanted to take part. I totally would have if it was after mile 5.
Palmer hung out at the Cafe du Monde in City Park and flagged me down as I ran by. I was very happy to see him.
Anyway, I was exhausted by the time I finished, and I had a limp for a while when I started walking because my knee hurt. My IT band felt like it popped against the side of my knee a few times, but other than that it didn’t hurt too much while I was running, so I was able to make it the whole way without having to walk (except at the water stations because I’m not that coordinated).
I was very grateful for the seemingly infinite supply cold beer waiting at RaceFest after I finished.
We hung out at Race fest for a while. There were so many people there. I drank some beer and had some extremely tasty red beans and rice from Blue Runner, another race sponsor. Eventually, we wandered back to the car, both spent.
That was by far the most fun I’ve ever had doing something hard. I’ll definitely be back next year to do it all again.
Oh wait...I forgot. 