It was a rainy Saturday morning in New Orleans as I made my way downtown to City Park where the finish line was set up. We parked in the lot and made our way to the shuttles to the race start. We lucked into no wait time when we walked up to the shuttles we loaded right onto a bus and we off. The start line was down near the Superdome so we walked through Champions Square and toward the corral area. I met up with the CCC Blogger crew for a few pictures before the race started. There was a checkpoint here not letting runners into the seeded corrals. I was worried at first about the corrals being full of nonseeded runners and being in the way but they did a great job at preventing this.

I’ve been excited about this race for months and I knew that I wanted a big PR and to push myself mentally and physically as much as I was able too. The weather was overcast and slightly raining, there was a small wind blowing, but the temperature was fantastic for running and the course was waiting. I decided to not forego my spot in the corral because I needed to use the restroom and would just wait until the end of the race.

When the gun went off I took to the streets of New Orleans, the race starts by heading almost a mile down Poydras before turning onto Decatur and running by Jackson Square, Cafe Du Monde and the French Market. I grew up spending my summers with family hanging around the french quarter on the weekends and eating beignets, I love this part of the city.

Before I knew it though we had made the left turn on to Esplande Ave and it was a 4 mile straight shot to City Park. Despite the weather spectators were lined along the course cheering, unfortunately the course was not lined with a single porta potty. By the time I crossed into the City Park and passed under the mile 5 marker I had to stop at the first restroom I had seen the entire race. After a quick stop I was back on the road pushing hard to make up some time for the last mile of the race. I came across the finish line with an official new Personal Record time of 43:31! Beating my previous PR from January’s Walt Disney World 10k by 35 seconds! I think I could have made it in under 43 if I wouldn’t have had that restroom stop.

After the race I sat around at the VIP tent while my other friends and bloggers came across the finish. The food was great and the beer was better as I was working to rehydrate with my Nuun in one hand and a Michelob in the other.

After everyone had come through we took a few pictures and then dispersed. As Becky & I were leaving I wanted to see what my official time was so I went to the results tent and found out that I had finished in the Top 500 males! The Top 500 males and females each win a commemorative poster. (That sell for $50+ each at the expo and the online CCC store)

I was excited about this race for good reason. I had an incredible time over the weekend and can not wait for next year to run again!