Mardi Gras Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

As usual we were lined up toward the back, so it took five minutes to get to the start. Once past the start line, the field uses all four+ lanes on Poydras, so plenty of room to run. Even after we turned on Carondelet we were still spaced out, but then we crossed Canal Street onto Bourbon.

When clear, Bourbon is barely two lanes wide. This morning, someone forgot to tell people not to park their cars and delivery trucks, so we were left with only one lane to run in. Severely cramped our pace, I swear I've walked drunk down Bourbon Street at a faster pace. The congestion went on through the turnaround and back up Royal Street, really didn't clear out again until Mile 3 after we passed through Lee Circle.

Settled into a comfortable pace and took inventory. Really concerned about my calf that had "popped" a week before the Houston HM, then again during that race. In the two weeks since Houston, I've been relegated to the treadmill, and, for sanity's sake, only had a long run of nine miles. At this point all I could feel was a dull ache in that calf, which was a good sign, a lot better than "pop"! The bladder, on the other hand, was signalling that it was full.

Found a porta-potti station during Mile 5; five units and only four people in line, still it cost me at least 2-1/2 minutes. C'mon peeps, what are you doing in there?

Back on course and holding a pretty steady pace, best I can tell is that I'm staying between 9:00 and 9:10 per mile, which is fine with me. Pretty uneventful, get through the park, see an old friend around Mile 10, picked up the effort (if not the pace) a little when we get back to the Warehouse District, turn onto Poydras and pick it up a little more. Approaching the 'dome, I remember that they make us pass the finish line then come back, so I back off a little until I hit the turnaround. Finish strong, probably means I underpaced the rest of the race.


Due to tall buildings downtown and oak trees on St. Charles, Garmin ended up with some weird splits. Here they are, best I can gather, from SportsTracks:

1. 10:41
2. 9:40
3. 9:01
4. 9:11
5. 11:41
6. 8:57
7. 8:59
8. 9:10
9. 8:53
10. 9:26
11. 8:46
12. 9:19
13.1. 9:52

Averaged ~9:03 m/m over the 8.1 miles after the porta-potti break.

Not get hurt and properly train. Also, losing a few pounds wouldn't hurt.

Still, more than six minutes faster than two weeks ago in Houston (even with the 2-1/2 minutes at the porta-potti), and pain free.

Onwards and upwards!

Didn't puke, found another Lafayette runner by the Gatorade and caught up with him. Went through the food tents, found bananas, cheewees, smoothies, energy drinks, red beans and rice, finally Subway sandwiches. thank God for sponsors. Found Dylan, and eventually Angel, talked a while with Rob and JoAnn (the H13s here), then packed it up and left. Dylan had Illegal Burrito on his mind, so we stopped and ate one bigger than my head. Yum. Now we know where the extra pounds come from.


Lack of quality training.


Always a good time, even if I don't run a good time!