NOLA half

Turns out I can finish a half marathon more or less untrained and injured.  Probably a bad idea but a lovely weekend.

Matt and I traveled to New Orleans with spouses for a long weekend and a half marathon.  Stayed at the Westin Canal Place which is basically a perfectly fine but soulless hotel in a very fancy shopping mall.  We used frequent flyer and hotels.com point to keep cost down.  Westin was a race sponsor and a serious promoter of running.  They have a running concierge and not juts for the race, various running groups, and unlimited free Goos and electrolyte tablets for race weekend.  Only complaints were noise from party rooms at end of the hall both nights and the price of the heavily advertised grab and go breakfast for the runners.

Spent Friday and Saturday checking out the Garden District and walking around the French Quarter.  Friday dinner at Emeril's Delmonico was adequate but in no way special.  Saturday dinner at Bayona was superb although Sags split off and head down and dirty fried chicken and red beans rice. 

Also have to recommend EAT in the Quarter and Squeal (BBQ) up by the Tulane campus.

All the food didn't seem to slow Matt down any who finished in a blazing 1:34 PR.

Mr I came in really nervous about my luxating patella and various muscular issues related to that.  Serious chiro and massage got me to the start line and mind over matter took over.  It was 50 and sunny but with a stiff breeze.  We headed out St Charles Avenue for 4 miles to Audubon Park and Loyola New Orleans and then back to downtown, through the French Quarter, north up Esplanade street finishing in Louis Armstrong Park while the marathon itself split off for another 13.1 in some not nondescript areas. 

I sagged a bit in the middle of the race but finished strong.  I didn't even attach the timing loop because I wasn't sure I was going to make.  Recovery is fine, my knee is feeling better than it did and the start of the race.  Only issue is right top foot soreness which is already fading.  In the end it was another WTF race and my first half in my post-marathon era.  I highly recommend travel races and hope we can all hit some in between the actual antitrust marathons.

Various pictures are on Instagram of New Orleans, food and me at the starting line.  Check 'em out and follow me @sweberwaller.