State #12: Louisiana
STATE #12 : Louisiana: Rock and Roll New Orleans Marathon and half Marathon
New Orleans, Louisiana
February 28, 2016
Finished Time: 1:59:07; Overall Placed 1917/11579; Division 104/1322; Gender 792/7816
Besides my marathon, this was the first half that was huge. Almost 25,000 people running the streets of New Orleans (Marathon, half, 10k, Relay). I had never seen anything like this. Plus this was my first series. RnR for those in the know, Rock and Roll series for those of us who are not is an national and international elaborate well-oiled running series. Thankful this was after Mardi Gras because New Orleans can get experience in February. State #12 was the first race in which I was running in familiar territory. I’ve been going to New Orleans since graduate school. I was just here in March of 2015 to present a paper at our regional conference. Aww familiar place.
Highlights:
Saw and ran with my cousin whom I haven't seen in decades. She is a runner and a BGR ambassador. We even have a stronger connection through our loss. Her father was the first person to visit my mother when she was sick,. He was also a pallbearer for her. Shortly thereafter my cousin had died unexpectedly (her Father).
First have race with over 25,000 people. They never left me. I was consistently running with people. Usually, I break away from the pack. This time, there was no pack break away.
So pissed! They had king cake, beer, shots, chocolate covered oreos along the route...not right.
Since there are 24 hour bars...felt as if we were a show as people watched us run and they drank...bastards.
Runners are crazy. Some guy ran in flip flops, a woman had fake extra large boobs, Elvis runs in all the races, and my favorite: a Mexican man who had a hat and horn, Mexican shirt and he kept blowing his horn through the whole course. After 6 miles I didn't hear him.
One guy had a sign that said "motivation ass slap". He would slap asses. Wtf.
Many of the new Orleans PD were........extra extra extra large. I would be able to run after a "bad person"...the PD not so much.
After mile 1 it was 70 degrees.
Pre-running new Orleans Crunk music was playing for the people
Loved the band's along route...they asked for donations and had $10 CD for sale..lol
Passed by many churches and thought how cool if there was a 10 sec communion stand.
Saw new parts of New Orleans and some of the aftermath of Katrina
Great conversations with locals and how the klan is in full force.
On way to airport met a Swedish man who told me about his west Indian ex-wife and how people thought she was black. He was asking about American racial politics. Why me.. why? lol. Overall fabulous time.
15. Ran it in under TWO hours. 1:59:07.
I made a rookie mistake. To save monies I ended up across the Mississippi in Greta. Damn, Damn. Thankful for my cousin so I could save money going back and forth across the bridge.
FINISHING ADVENTURE:
With this race we didn’t finish where we started. They had school buses (also known as shuttle buses to take us back to the start). When I arrived early at 6am to the race start, I brought my suitcase. I had to jet and catch a fly after the race. I didn’t account for the different finish line nor the city would be blocked off, so traffic could impact me getting a shuttle to the airport as well as pick up.
We finished in this huge park, I had to book it to find my suitcase. They had mini u-haul vans that had people’s gear checked items. Once I found it and found a bus, I was good. I kept looking at my watch. Since no one else had luggage and I sat in the front seat, I was holding onto the luggage hard. At one point, we made a turn and my luggage went down the bus steps and hit the door. Thank God other people got my luggage for me and the door didn’t open.
The driver couldn’t drop us off at the start because so many streets were blocked off. I asked if I could be dropped off on a corner and she did. Then I had to book it to one of the hotels for pickup. This is when you find a bathroom, bring your wipes, change your clothes, and do a whore shower. The adventure didn’t end there. Since I fly stand by and it was a Sunday. I couldn’t get on my original flight. I stayed at the airport for another 6 hours. By chance and an act of God I got on a flight to New York and then to Boston. I didn’t get to the Bean until after midnight. That was ok.
BGR JOY
BGR had a meet up at Legacy Kitchen Warehouse. I met up with my cousin and other BGR from across the country. This was the first race BGR meet up that I attended. I was so happy that I did.
