Weather was great, big crowd, excitement rampant, anticipation at peak, it was time to get it on.
Marie dropped us off on Canal St near Dauphine, we walk to the starting line to loosen up a bit, stroll through the morning quarter ..Started down Bourbon then to Royal then Chartres,
we all decided a leak would be appropriate prior to the race. The Plastic shit houses near Decatur had a line 2 blocks long, no way, not me. we treked back to Royal and found 3 obscure ones with a half a block line . We got close soon, thats when the excitement started. Runners in the line were yelling at a runner across the street sitting on the curb facing us, I turned to see why, a local resident was walking his 3 legged bull dog, his lack of a left rear leg allowed him to pee on the edge of the side walk as he strolled along, the young man got up just in time to not get peed on, the dog owner thought this was funny and cute.I didn't . .. . Anyway, we did our business, worked our way to Decatur around St Phillip , talked our strategy, Neil worked his way to the front with the runners, Stacy and I fell back to the walking section. ( almost).. Cannon went off , everyone realized what I've know for years, you ain't going no where...be patient. Neil took about a minute to get to the starting line. Stacy and I took 9 minutes to get to the starting line. We didn't care we were there to have fun. We started mocking and making fun of people right away.. It wasn't too hot, I don't think I sweat a bead, Neil was pretty wet at the finish . Once off Rampart and onto Esplanade Ave the shade trees keep you cool and shady all the way to the Park. Interesting sights on the way. : At Claiborne a fire truck from a restaurant was giving shots of liquor and those jello things ; A man ,every year, puts out his 1973 speakers and plays the same Foreigner album he bought with it : There were a few sprinklers, some were just perverts with hoses. An interesting group of young men ( their 3rd year) offer water at 3.50 a bottle and free beer. ; As we passed the St Louis Cemetery #2 or #3 at Bayou St John, I could see the tombs cracking from the massive footsteps passing by, their used to the 10 ton tourist bus.
In the park it sunny and nice, the picture takers take your picture , email you a proof , a 5x7 is only, 28.00 . Gary brings his own camera. .Neil did great, he won the men's division, 22 minutes, 2 Ethiopians a Kenyan and a Chalmation were right behind him.. Stacy and I didn't win shit but we didn't care we were having a good time , gawking, being catty, some teenage walker got rowdy and stepped in front of her and I had to convince her not to knock him out...We hydrated well and by mile 5 had to pee bad, next plastic shit house was in the finish area, back in line again. .Why does it take some people 5 minutes to pee, they've of never made it at Fort Polk...Into the reception area, we met up with Neil , managed each a big bottle of Gatorade, thanks to Gatorade. . a bag of chips , and
a banana, for Jambalaya and Gumbo the lines are like your not interested in ever leaving the park .
Met up with some old friends Sal Genovese, , Paul Bonnett, and Phillip Donahue, . . Always find somebody you know at the crescent city classic, I looked for Becky Ricke but I think she was home when we reached the park. It wasn't my first rodeo, matter of fact I've ran it 10 or 12 times and walked it 6 or 8, my first t shirt was the green Hibernia Bank Shirt, think that was mid 70's , don't remember, it was the second running. . This one was special , my son and daughter joined me and that a priceless gift. I was happy as a man can be, thanks kids. look forward to next year.
gary
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Click on the pictures to enlarge them..
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| The singing dancing water distributor man.. |
