Wednesday, January 29, 2014

First Timer Tips: RnR NOLA

For many local runners, this Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and Marathon will be a first endurance race experience. The popularity of the RnR race series attracts athletes of all skill levels looking to take on a new challenge, and many of these runners haven’t tackled a race longer than the Crescent City Classic 10K. That doesn’t mean, however, that they will be any less successful come February 2nd.

If it’s your first time running 13.1, have you been wondering what to expect come race day? As a participant in the first four installments of the Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon, I have a few tips that will come in handy before you get to the start line and eventually help you cross the finish:

Last Minute Jitters
I know your training schedule says you’re tapering this week and not supposed to run much; however, in my personal experience, an EASY run on Friday or Saturday will not only help keep your muscles loose, but keep your mind clear. That one last run should be short and taken slowly. Let it be reassurance that you’re prepared for race day.

Expo
Arrive at the expo during non-peak hours to have the easiest time parking and shortest wait to get your number and shirt, plus have the most unobstructed path to see the expo vendors on-site. The non-peak hours would be on Friday before lunch, and again that afternoon before the workday ends. You can be in and out of the convention center in less than an hour, and have no trouble finding street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.

Arrive Early
On race morning, you’ll feel like sleeping as late as possible before heading to the start line. Don’t do it. Downtown streets close early to traffic to make sure the course is clear. Parking quickly becomes limited. The earlier you get there, the more time you have to use restrooms (lines will be long), stretch, and get in to your corral for the start of the race. Anticipating the start of the race is like waiting for Endymion to roll, but you’d prefer to arrive early over rushing to get there at the last minute.

On-Course Aid & Support
Based on current conditions outside, you’d never guess that weather is shaping up to be a little warm on Sunday. Hydration will be key to all participants. Keep in mind that the water and Gatorade stations will set up roughly every mile and a half. If you think you will need fluids more frequently than that, carry your own.

Also, the New Orleans race is the only race during the year where my family comes out to spectate. I ask them to situate themselves at a location where I know I’ll most need a mid-race mental break. In my case during the full marathon, that is at mile 14 on the backside of City Park. My parents are able to see me just after I’m forced to pass the finish line to continue the race, again at mile 24 after I’ve completed the toughest part of the course, and then they can walk inside the park to the finish. For participants in the half marathon, spectators can see their runners twice anywhere along the St. Charles Avenue out-and-back, and still have time to make it to the finish line.

Post Race Refuel
If you’re anything like me, you’re going to be hungry as soon as you stop running. The post-race food is limited once you exit the finishers’ chute, so grab what you want as soon as you cross the line. Rock ‘n’ Roll races typically have Powerade, Bananas, protein bars, and fruit cups. Last year I learned my lesson from previous years and grabbed two of everything, which was fortunate, because It was almost all gone before I arrived at my car.

Congrats to everyone participating Sunday. Making the commitment to run is the first step in achieving your goal, and at this point you’ve put in the work to have a really successful event. Best of luck in your race, and check back here on NOLArunner.com Monday for a complete recap of the weekend’s events!

10 comments:

  1. Love these tips! This is great! I wish I had known pretty much everything in this post before I ran RnR NOLA as my first half.

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    1. Thanks Katherine! I'd be interested to see what other tips you and other participants from previous years could provide.

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  2. Cannot Wait!!!! Very excited!:)
    Hope to see you sometime this weekend Fred :)

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    1. Yes, definitely Nicole! Best of luck on your first full. You'll do great. Keep in touch about weekend plans.

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  3. Lucky for me, you have given me the pep talk even before I committed. However, I am worried that I am not worrying about the race...

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    1. That's what happens, Anne. You know you've put in the work and you know you will finish. Now all you have to worry about is smiling petty at the correct times for the cameras. Congrats on your pending membership to this fun club!

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    2. Smiling pretty AND a cute race outfit! I am already signed up for Half no. 2 in Lafayette...Who'd have ever thought? Thank you Fred for keeping me moving!!

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    3. I know you, and you probably bought a new outfit just for race day. Remember, don't wear anything you didn't train in.

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  4. These are GREAT tips! Thanks for sharing! I just did Dopey as my first marathon and there really were SO many things to think about...it always helps reading posts like this beforehand, I know I went through about a zillion of them. The more prepared you feel, I think the better the entire experience will go! :)

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    1. You're so right, Jennifer. Congrats on making Dopey your first full! That's a heck of an accomplishment, especially with all the other miles mixed in. Are you planning on making Dopey an annual thing?

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