NOLA Half Marathon

This will be a short report, but I wanted to let you know that I ran the New Orleans Half Marathon a few weeks ago. My running friends wanted to do it and since SD and I had always wanted to visit N'awlins, we decided to go.

We had so much fun in New Orleans, that the race was almost an afterthought. But not quite. :-) I had actually signed up for the marathon, but never got the training in. I barely had enough training for the half. I don't know why--December parties, traveling, injuries. It all adds up.

The expo was small, but fun. I went on Friday to get my stuff and wandered around while it was uncrowded, but went back on Saturday with my friends. So glad I did, because running legend Frank Shorter was speaking. You know me, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to get my picture taken with him!

My friends didn't want to go to the start until 7:30 (we stayed near the start), but the race started at 7. I was concerned the bag check would be closed, so I went on ahead of them. Not that I'd run with them, anyhow, since they're all faster than me. The race field was 22,000 for both races and I was in a back corral, so I actually had time for one last stop in the portapotty (no lines!) before we started moving. I'm glad I did, because they I didn't lose any race time stopping for a toilet.

We ran through the Garden District (see photo above), which was beautiful but I hardly noticed it. I was focusing on my running. Then we ran along the Mississippi River and turned up Esplanade to City Park, which is where the race ended. Esplanade was new to me, and I enjoyed looking at the houses. City Park is an incredible park--it even has a track! Here's a picture of a typical Treme house.

My finish time was better than I expected, but not a PR. I had been nursing a sore piriformis, which cut into my training. No matter; I had fun and have a unique medal to show for it. Two of the girls went back to the hotel, but three of us waited for SJ to come in. She's a new runner--fast--but she did one too many races and had to walk this race. She really wanted that medal! Since this is a Rock n Roll race, there was a concert and we enjoyed the post race concert. The only drawback was we had to wait in line to board a shuttle bus to get back to the start.

That night we all celebrated with a dinner at Emeril's. Here's a picture of all of us, including the mother and mother in law of one of my younger running partners (the tall beauty in the back). They are the women on either end and they walked the half. They are both in their mid-late 60s and are slow but I'm proud of them for participating. Our medals have a multi-colored beaded necklace and the medallion has a fleur-de-lis on it.

I'm glad I ran this race, but I don't have to do it again. I hope to go back to New Orleans someday, though. I absolutely loved that town, especially the French Quarter. If you've never been to New Orleans, I highly recommend you visit it--even if you have to run a race to do it.