Okay, I haven't run 40 miles yet, but I plan on getting 40 miles in before I head back home early Sunday morning. I just got back from my first 6 miles a few minute ago. I'm staying a hotel right next to the French Quarter so I decided to circle in and around that historic area for my first run. Of course, I forgot my GPS and got a tiny bit lost, but I like to think of it as an opportunity to spontaneously follow the flow of the city.
I took off around 7 and was back a little after 8. Here are my impressions:
1) Running in New Orleans (at least the French Quarter) is difficult. The streets are narrow and relatively crowded.
2) People here don't run. People here do drink. A lot. There are plenty of bars, package liquor stores, and people strolling around with open containers. They look at you funny when you run by wearing a hydration pack.
3) The French Quarter is cool. Among the restaurants, bars, live music, art galleries, people out strolling, people hanging out in balconies, and general liveliness of the area I am reminded of why the Saginaw area feels a little stale at times. Before my run I had jambalaya at a place called Mother's. Very yummy. I look forward to trying the crawfish etouffee.
4) The remnants of Katrina are still very visible. You don't have to get far from the French Quarter to see houses that were damaged (I assume) by the storm. I also saw several of the markings that were spray painted on houses when they were evacuated.
My rough plan is to do a couple of 7 miles runs in the next two days and then get a 20 mile long run in on Saturday. It will be a tight squeeze since the conference I am at will keep me busy most of the day, but I'm feeling determined. I'm also going to look up some potential running routes on the internet to see if I can find a route that involves fewer crowds. I'll keep ya'll posted.
2 comments:
Brian don't you be a trusting fool! Please be careful! Oh Man.
We only got 1 (ONE) bike land officially painted last month! And that's a bike lane. Runners? You might try the Lakeview neighborhood too.
Run up the Neutral Ground the length of St Charles Avenue and then come back down the river?
Definitely run the length of St Charles down the neutral ground between the Street Car tracks. It is very beautiful.
Do Not run alone in the upper Ninth Ward. Do not play around with this city. Please be careful.
Thank you for coming to town for Lupus, Noble Mon.
Bruce
Editilla~New Orleans News Ladder
For your long run or even one of your seven mile runs I would look to go down St. Charles Ave. away from the French Quarter and Downtown. Once you get under the interstate you can stick to the median where the street cars run. Each street car track runs the same way as the traffic on that side of the street so stick to the side of the median that is going against the flow of traffic so you can see the street car when it is coming and get out of its way. This a great place to run and see all the nice houses on St. Charles and there are usually plenty of people coming up and down everyday.
If it's your long run it will take you about 4 miles or so to get down St. Charles to Audubon Park, but once you get there, there are plenty of little jogging paths and water fountains if you go down far enough into the park and cross Magazine St. you can run out and along the river as well.
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