On Saturday Bobby and I ran the 35th anniversary of the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans. We woke up early to drive from my parents house into the city.
We weren’t sure how bad the traffic would be with over 20,000 runners so we wanted to get there in plenty of time. We parked at the superdome and headed to Champions Square.
Having the assembly area in Champions Square was a great idea. We were able to use REAL bathrooms instead of port-o-potties which was a HUGE plus. They had free Community Coffee available as well which was a nice perk. After texting back and forth we were able to meet up with Larisa.
The race was to start at 8:00, so we headed to our corral. We had to go up the ramp to the Dome and then down the other side onto Poydras.
We turned the corner on top of the ramp and were greeted with this site:
Good morning New Orleans! So. many. people. Bobby and I were in separate corrals so we said our goodbyes and headed in opposite directions.
I ended up being in the very front of my corral behind the rope. Before I knew it, it was time for the National anthem and we were moving up towards the start.
There were a ton of people on the street ready to run.
Finally it was time for my corral to go up to the starting line. The sun started to rise above the buildings and it was beginning to get warm.
The horn went off and we were on our way. The first mile was the most fun because…well…I felt great, and we were running through the French Quarter. The beginning was SO CROWDED and people were already walking because they started in the wrong corral. I know there is only so much the race can do about this, but it was a little frustrating. The road opened up a bit and I had a little more breathing room.
Café du monde!
After a bit we turned left onto Esplanade. Anyone familiar with running in New Orleans knows how bad the roads are here. I almost rolled my ankles several times and my legs were so wobbly and achy. They had water stops at every mile which was nice, but they weren’t long enough and were super crowded so I passed them up at mile one and two. At mile three, I took a gel so I stopped and grabbed a cup of water. By mile four, the heat was starting to get to me. I stopped and got water again. My face felt very hot and I was tired of starting down at my feet making sure I didn’t roll an ankle. I knew it was just two miles more but it was getting super hot and sunny. I saw two people at different points down on the side of the road with paramedics that had passed out.
There was great entertainment along the way. Several locals were out with water hoses in their front yard, and there were a couple of beer stops people created that were so fun and decorative. A lot of people had on festive costume and I saw a lot of Easter bunnies!
We made it to city park and I knew we were close. I didn’t get any additional water after mile four, I just wanted to keep my momentum and finish. This part of the route is the same as Rock n Roll New Orleans so I was having flashbacks to the three times I have run that race. I hit mile 6 and knew I was close to getting in under an hour (which was my B goal). I saw the finish line in the distance but it seemed like it took forever to get there! I pushed hard and crossed the finish line at 59 minutes flat. I had a fun race but was happy to be done with the heat. Bobby found me and he ran a PR as well, 50:42 and he even had a hurt back and wasn’t sure he could race. I was so proud of him! We made it into the finish fest and got some Jambalaya and drinks and we grabbed our finishers medals.
My favorite thing about New Orleans races is they know how to throw a party. I have run races in many states and ours are by far the best as far as post race partying goes. There was a huge stage with a band playing, free Jambalaya, beer, water, and Gatorade as well as red beans and rice. Everyone was having a great time enjoying the sunshine.
I was having a hard time getting my texts to go through but finally was able to meet up with Liz, and then I saw Mindy! Three fellow Claim Your Journey Ambassadors together!
We all chatted for a bit and then Bobby and I decided to head home. His back was hurting, and we had enough of the sun and it was starting to get really crowded.
We had to get in a long line to take a bus back downtown, and finally made it back to the Superdome and our car and headed back to my parents house.
All was quiet at the dome on the way back to the car.
We both took glorious naps when we got back, well deserved after we both PRed (my 4th PR in my 4th race distance this year! 5k, 10k, half, and full marathon)
Overall:
I was so happy to see some positive changes to this race since the last time I ran it in 2009. The addition of the corrals were nice although they were a bit hectic. Having real bathrooms and Champions Square was great as well. Loved having a medal, and the post race party was way more organized. There were a couple of minor issues like waiting 25 minutes to get on a bus, and a bottle neck at the finish line. They should have pushed the water tables back at the finish, but again minor details. Overall I loved the race and love that it’s a big New Orleans party. It’s a great tradition and had some fabulous additions this year and I so hope that I can run it again next year. I would greatly encourage you to run this if you are looking for a fun 10k that is in a great tourist destination. If anyone has any questions feel free to e mail me!
QOTD: Where is a city you would want to run a race then stay after for a few days and play tourist?
There’s a race here in Victoria Australia in wine country that I would want to run and then stay at after for a few days.
I love that you ran in bunny ears! 🙂
Congrats! I am so proud of you for being on a PE roll 🙂
I’m also glad they made improvements to the race and that you got to use real bathrooms. Love the medal!
and by PE I mean PR. #needcoffee
Great race Heather. You are definitely on a PR roll in 2013! I am excited to be running a race in London in May since it is one of my favorite cities!
Congrats on the PR!! I think anywhere international would be a great place to race and then play tourist.
Looks like a great way to spend Easter weekend! Congrats on PRing again!
GUATEMALA!!!!!
Eek that race looks a little too crowded for me. Congrats on the PR!
Huge congrats on the PR! And I thnk I just need to follow you around for all your races. They always look like such good ones.
You know I’m going to say Disney right? 😉
A race in New Orleans is definitely on my list! I’ve been a few times before and just love it, a race would be the perfect “excuse” to go back! I’d also like to visit Charlotte, San Fransisco, Seattle…there are just so many!
Awesome job! I think if I went to do a destination race, I’d definitely want to stay for a couple of days to just play tourist.
Congrats on the PR!
New Orleans is definitely a place I would like to play tourist after a race, and Austin is another. I was born there and I haven’t been since I moved back to Texas 4 years ago. I have got to fix that.
It was a great race! I’m so glad we found each other afterwards! Congrats again to you and Bobby on your awesome PR’s!!!
Sounds like a great race!
Sounds like a ton of fun and it really does sound like a lot of improvements from what you told me about 2009!! Congrats on the PR! Love the spinner medal!! :0)
Awesome job!! You took so many great pictures… I’m luck if I come away with 5-6 from a race, ha! 🙂 As for a city, I really want to get to the northwest sometime… Portland or Seattle or even Vancouver.
Congratulations on your PR!
I ran a huge local 15k (Gate River Run) last month and it was crazy crowded – very fun race, but the crowds and huge bottleneck at the finish were a bit frustrating. Sounds like this race is similar. It’s so fun to run big local ones though, so even with the hiccups, I’m sure I’ll be back too!
I’d actually love to run in New Orleans and then spend a few days visiting. I lived there for a few years when I was younger and I’d love to go back and experience it all as an adult 🙂
I’m running the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston this weekend! Great city to be a tourist in! Can’t wait! apparently 40,000 people come and run this 10k!!
40k! wow!
New Orleans sure sounds like a fun place to go race. Plus I have always wanted to go visit and both you and Mindy run this race so it would be just about perfect. But then there’s this Disney race I want to do as well….
tough call!
Hi Heather!! I am new to commenting on blogs, but I have been following your blog for a few months now; I had been doing some research for the 2013 Princess Half Marathon and stumbled across here. :0) I love your blog, and it has really helped inspire me to start my own blog, which I launched today! I hope you will come by and check it out!
http://www.LaurensGlassSlipper.blogspot.com
Also, huge congrats on another awesome PR!!! That race looked like a blast, I may have to do it next year (plus I have always wanted to visit NOLA), and those bunny ears are awesome!!
Lauren
thanks for stopping by! I will be sue to stop by your blog!
Congrats on another PR!! It looks like it was a fun race! I love when the locals are into the races. One of my favorite races has been the BolderBoulder 10K – the crowd support is awesome – the locals hand out beer, bacon, cotton candy and so much more along the route.
Holy moly that is A LOT of people…. oh and Cafe du monde gives me another chance to spell benneggennenennensnns. (better this time? I’m working on it).
Congrats on the doubel PR — you are quite the duo. I think racing in bunny ears is magical.
LOL close enough!
It’s crazy how well organized the beer stops were. I mean they were being handled as if they were officially part of the race. One had a carb refuel station too. I’m not a beer drinker, but it was still funny to see the crowd participation. Only in New Orleans can you get drunk WHILE running a race.
Great job on your PRs! It looks like a fun race! On another note…I wish I had to deal with heat! We are still getting random snow flurries here in PA…we are all aching for spring!
I’d actually love to run in New Orleans! Also San Francisco, Napa Valley, and Seattle – those are near the top of my list.
Congrats on the PR! I want to run a race in New Orleans. I have never been, so it seems like a great excuse to go!
yes! super fun city.
SO fun! Loved this recap, Heather – and congrats on another great PR! 🙂
thank you!
I love the finisher’s medal – so pretty!
As a fairly new runner (one that has only run in Miami and Fort Lauderdale) there are so many cities on my bucket list right now. I’d really like to do one out of the country though – maybe London or Paris!
Nice work lady!!! Kudos on your PR!!
thanks!
I am at the very beginning of my running journey. I signed up for my first 5k this summer which happens to be a color run! I would LOVe to do a Disney run in the next year and stay and be a tourist, plus my 3 kids would LOVE it!
color run looks so fun!
Great recap and great medal! I did the Mardi Gras 10k in Louisiana back in Feb and loved it! First time being in that state! I would have LOVED to do this race, but that drive was far too long from NC. haha. Looks like a great race though! Check out my race recap from the mardi gras run! http://run50states.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/mardi-gras-mambo-10k-race-review/