That's because RnR offers a $1 discount for every point by which the Saints win, and this year they beat the Colts by a cool 55 points, bringing the cost of the race down to under $40. The discount code is only good the day after the game, so that Monday brought the huge surge of registrations.
So what does that mean for runners?
Well, first of all, I'm not sure that RnR is ready for this kind of crowd. New Orleans isn't really that big, and many of our streets are narrow. Perhaps that's why the course changed this year - it sticks mostly to wide roads. That won't help the finish, though - it's bound to be crowded in City Park.
However, 22,000 is not a huge field. And not all those people will actually make it to the starting line. So I'm not sure it will make it any harder for runners, as long as everyone is properly corralled at the start. The only thing I'm worried about is that the half and full start together and don't split off until...MILE 10. At least I think they do. According to the map, they don't split until mile 13, but I think that the portion on Esplanade Avenue will be split onto either side of the divided street. So I hope.
My advice? Start in the right corral, practice good race etiquette, and watch out for sick runners blowing snot (me!).
If New Orleans can handle Mardi Gras, they can handle record crowds, right?!?
ReplyDeleteBut the year I ran Rock N Roll Nashville we had about 27,000 runners. It was not bad for me because I got in a corral at the front but it can be frustrating for folks who start in the later corrals (especially if people exaggerate their times and start in the wrong corral.
Good luck and can't wait to hear how the race goes! Hopefully it will stay cool for you all.
Wowee, sounds like a big race. I know at St Pete this year I heard that the corrals were very organized and there were no issues per the 15 or so people I knew who ran it. So the R N R people know how to put on a race....but its hard to control the "wrong corral" people....
ReplyDeleteGOOD luck Gracie!! I hope RNR is prepared for the increase--LV was a problem!
ReplyDeleteSnot rockets away!
WOW! I think the year I ran the Mardi Gras Marathon there were 2000 - 3000 people! WHat a difference! I ran one race where there were 16,000 runners and I didn't like it! It took several minutes to get over the start line!
ReplyDeleteGood luck this weekend!
I've gotten spoiled over the past year with races < 2,000 people... Sunday should be interesting, for sure!
ReplyDeleteholy awesome!!
ReplyDelete$40??? That's amazing!!
Yeah I love smaller races...but to race for less than $40? What a freakin' deal. I hope there aren't a bunch of deaths of unprepared runners because of this.
ReplyDeleteHave a great race. snot rockets ..... sweet.
ReplyDelete