After we attended the tweet up and Feed the Children charity event, we were dropped off at the convention center to pick up our bibs and explore the expo.
Packet pickup was very organized. We went at kind of an odd time of day towards the end of the expo so it wasn’t very crowded.
After we got out bibs, we were funneled out into the official merchandise area.
They had plenty of things to choose from, and some fun photo ops that we didn’t feel like standing in line for ha! About that time, Karen texted me asking where I was, and I told her we had just arrived. We were able to meet up for a quick hello. I hadn’t seen her since my baby shower in July!
I also got to meet a couple of blog readers and chat with them for a bit which was fun! We took a look at all of the heavy medals for Rock ‘n Roll, and WOW they are so cool! Way bigger in person than I imagined they would be!
I had some friends working at some of the booths so we stopped and said a few hellos, and also picked up our VIP packets at the VIP booth.
About that time I was feeling a little shaky, and I realized Ii t was 2:30 and we hadn’t had lunch yet! We decided to go ahead and leave and get some food.
We walked the length of the convention center (which is a LONG way!) out to the front where the Riverwalk is. We went inside and grabbed a late lunch before our early dinner, bibs in hand and ready to go!
Final thoughts: I’m not sure what it was, but the expo seemed a lot smaller and not as exciting as in years past. There was no stage or speakers which bummed me out, and it just had a bit of a different feel than in previous years that I can’t quite explain (anyone else that was there feel the same way?) It also felt kind of dark in there, was it just me? Don’t get me wrong, it was very well organized and had it some great vendors, but I didn’t leave feeling as excited about the race as I have from other expos I have worked or visited in the past. I do hope next year the expo is larger and that they have a stage/speakers!
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QOTD: What is your favorite thing about race expos?
I definitely missed the speakers this year. And…we ate lunch at the Riverwalk too! Just a little earlier than you! 😉
I just love the atmosphere at race expos! It’s so fun being among all your fellow runners and feeding off the excitement.
I always look forward to the RnR race expos. They usually do such a good job. So far VA beach has been the best IMO. My sister and I just received our Heavy medals in the mail this month. It’s nice ( and big) but the excitement is kind of gone because you don’t receive it at the actual race ( something I wish competitor would change).
I would love to visit NOLA one day – running it I’ve heard is amazing!
I want to do this race one year. And I want to visit New Orleans soon too. My hubby has never been, so I want to take him for his first trip.