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Mardi Gras Half Marathon - Run


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New Orleans, Louisiana
United States
Premier Event Management
Total Time = 00m
Overall Rank = 619/1426
Age Group = 50-54
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Got to New Orleans about 11 am Saturday, the day before the marathon, so we had a quick lunch then did a driving tour of the devastation. This was our first trip to the city post-Katrina, all I can do is echo the sentiment that you need to see it to believe it, pictures and news reports don't do it justice.

After packet pickup, headed to Derek and Laurie's, met Haley, Noot, Aaron and Brandy there as well. Laurie put together a great pasta-load meal then I think we were asleep by 9pm.

Woke up at 4, had coffee, showered, shaved, got dressed. Watched the nuts put the finishing touches on their costumes, then we headed to the 'dome. Got there the back way (Airline Highway), parked with little difficulty, found our way to the porta-potty, then it was time to start.
Event warmup:

Just tried to stay warm and out of the wind.
Run
  • 2h 05m 20s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 34s  min/mile
Comments:

A little crowded for the first mile or two, also got a little warm by the time we reached the French Quarter.Thought about taking off my long-sleeve, but finally decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

Longest run in over six weeks, so I just found a comfortable pace and stayed with it. Felt like I was running with the same dozen or so people the whole way, they'd get a little ahead or behind, then come back to me. Performance-wise, the race had no highs or lows, just kept the same effort going for two hours and I was done.

Finished three minutes faster than last year, when I was also coming off of an injury/layoff, but still fifteen minutes or so off of PR. Still happy and a little surprised, really expecting more of a 10-minute average pace.

What would you do differently?:

Train better, not get hurt.
Post race
Warm down:

After I was sure I wasn't going to puke or pass out, I had two Gatorades them went up the ramp for red beans and rice, Subway sandwiches and king cake. Then I went back out on the course to see the others finish, sat on the curb on the neutral ground, eventually lay down in the clover and took a nap. Woke up just in time to see Angel coming down the road.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Injury layoff.

Event comments:

Great event, good to see they jumped through all the hoops to make it happen this year, probably the biggest post-Katrina event to-date. Had runners from all 50 states participating. Course was in good shape and well staffed, still chilling to be running in areas where the water marks (still visible on the houses) were above your head.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2005-12-24 12:00 AM
Running
02:05:20 | 13.1 miles | 09m 34s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 619/1426
Performance: Good
See below for splits
Course: Traditional half-marathon course, except it finished outside the 'dome, which is not yet ready for human occupation.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2006-02-06 11:00 AM

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Resident Curmudgeon
25290
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The Road Back
Gold member
Subject: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

Splits per Garmin. Had it set on auto-lap every mile, but I made some manual adjustments at miles 5 and 10 where it was off the mile markers significantly. Also it measured the last 1/10 as 2/10, and I'm not sure what happened at mile 13, but I sure wan't that fast.

Overall, a pretty consistent pace.

1 09:44.0
2 09:21.0
3 09:11.0
4 09:09.0
5 09:46.0
6 09:27.0
7 09:25.0
8 09:33.0
9 09:28.0
10 10:14.0
11 09:53.0
12 09:29.0
13 07:40.0
13.1 03:00.0


Edited by the bear 2006-02-06 11:06 AM


2006-02-06 11:04 AM
in reply to: #339744

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Queen BTich
12411
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,
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

Great job! That is an excellent time for coming off an injury!

It was good to see you again.

2006-02-06 11:48 AM
in reply to: #339748

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Champion
8936
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Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

Nice race after your injury, Bear.  And very nice meeting you and the Mrs.

2006-02-06 12:48 PM
in reply to: #339744

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Wife, Mother, Friend.
2457
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South
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

wow.  ummm... king cake.   Need to tell my mom to send me one.

Nice race, that last mile was quick!!

2006-02-06 12:55 PM
in reply to: #339744

Master
1315
1000100100100
Shreveport, LA
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon
Excellent Job.

BTW, I think you had a much better time down there than at Frost yer Fanny. The wind was brutal on the Bike Course. It was the worst 20 mile ride of my life.
2006-02-06 2:54 PM
in reply to: #339744

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Expert
950
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McKinney, TX
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

Great run, John!  I think it was the pasta...

Great meeting you and Angel.  You guys are welcome at our house anytime.



2006-02-06 3:03 PM
in reply to: #339744

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Elite
2706
2000500100100
Hurst, Texas
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon
Nice run, John.  Looking forward to seeing you at River Cities, if not sooner!
2006-02-06 3:31 PM
in reply to: #339744

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Master
2314
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Gulf Shores, AL
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon
Your a fast bear even when your hurt!!
2006-02-06 7:04 PM
in reply to: #339744

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Master
1558
10005002525
Pensacola, Fl
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon
Good job Bear!  Wish I could have been there with you guys again this year.
2006-02-06 7:37 PM
in reply to: #340162

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Extreme Veteran
560
5002525
New Orleans, LA
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

Did you eat all my King Cake?

Great race.  We looked for you guys before te race but didn't know where you were meeting up.

2006-02-06 8:17 PM
in reply to: #340171

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Resident Curmudgeon
25290
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The Road Back
Gold member
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon
H13 - 2006-02-06 7:37 PM

Did you eat all my King Cake?

Great race.  We looked for you guys before te race but didn't know where you were meeting up.

That's the advantage of running the half: All the king cake you can eat. I'm the only person I know that can run a half-marathon and be at plus calories within the half hour.



2006-02-06 9:52 PM
in reply to: #339744

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Master
1506
1000500
Minnesota
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon
Wow - nice race.
2006-02-07 5:12 AM
in reply to: #340186

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Extreme Veteran
560
5002525
New Orleans, LA
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

and be at plus calories within the half hour.

Same here, but I ran the full :D

2006-02-07 8:12 AM
in reply to: #339744

Expert
1085
1000252525
New Orleans, LA
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon

Great Race!

It was great to meet you two. Mrs. Bear was great to talk to for those few miles too.

2006-02-08 9:33 PM
in reply to: #339744

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molto veloce mama
9311
500020002000100100100
Subject: RE: Mardi Gras Half Marathon
great job!
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