This marathon has my heart. Nicely organized, VERY FAST course, and they have beer at the finish (although it remained as Budlight versus the advertised Heineken...what happened??). This is a PR course for sure. The weather in Nawlins in Jan./Feb. is typically 40 degrees at the start(8AM) and 65 by the finish. Mile splits appeared to be accurate.

I have run the marathon every year since '98. The marathon course has changed over the years, but I hope the organizers stay with the present (2002) course. The course takes in many cool areas of this scenic and historic city. The road surface is rough in some places, but it didn't detract from my performance at all. I will certainly be more aware of the crowned roads (run in the middle as much as possible!) for next year.

I was pleased with the aid stations and didn't mind grabbing cups off of tables, although it was only necessary once or twice. There were plenty of stations(more than 1 every 2 miles), and they had a nice variety of drinks and appropriate foods. The volunteers were great...animated, some wore costumes, and all were very supportive.

This race MUST have more porta potties for next year's race...my only true complaint.

Major positives...police/traffic control, wide variety of everything (even beer!) at aid stations, nice expo the day before, FAST and beautiful course, after-race beer and food(food was better in previous years), very efficient pre-race clothes check-in, and, of course, the post-race limitless beer(did I already mention this?).

I highly recommend this marathon to anyone who likes a fast course and wants to party their pants off after the race. Can't beat this place for fun.

This was a great race if you wanted to run a PR. The many different changes in scenery kept me interested and not so worried about my time. The potholes on the 2nd half were bad, but the men dressed in red drag made you forget about them. The organization was great, down to the lady that took off my chip for me. The hard part was not only walking up the superdome ramp after the race for refreshments, but walking down! The beer and oysters the night before was not a bad way to carbo-load either!

The good things: The course was flat and fast, most of the water stations were well organized, the medal on mardi gras beads was really neat, the people were fun and friendly.

The bad things: It didn't end in the superdome, no water after leaving the chute at the finish line (only beer and soft drinks - not good for dehydrated runners!), Needed more volunteers at the finish and some of the water stations.

Overall it was a good race, but I think it must have been better other years based on the comments below!

For the record, this was my 11th marathon (10 different (7 states + DC, 1 European) for whatever that is worth.

Pros:
1) the course (would have rated a 5 if not for the potholes mentioned by others - very dangerous)
very flat (one small hill at 5 and 9) and scenic (nice tour of the city including 2 parks (much of it shaded), two long portions of the course doubled back on itself so you got to see the runners ahead of and behind you run in the opposite direction)
2) excellent traffic control
3) baggage check was one of the most efficient I've encountered (perhaps the result of a relatively small field). I got there 20 minutes before the gun and checked my bag with no problems and even went back and retrieved my forgotten Gu and took a quick picture 10 minutes before the gun
4) the medallions and t-shirts were very nice
5) the town absolutely rocks (watch out for the Hurricanes and Hand Grenades on Bourbon St the night after the race though - Being sore AND hungover the next day is no fun)

Cons:
1) the aforementioned potholes
2) infrequent and understaffed waterstops (many turned out to be self service - The red dress crew at mile 15/24 were the welcome exception)
3) false advertising on the website about the Superdome finish (major bummer!)
4) no pasta party (try finding plain old pasta without cajun spices or crustaceans in New Orleans - I couldn't and ended up eating at Subway the night before the race (a slightly better choice than Popeyes I guess)
5) no mylar wraps and the massage tables were set up in the shade (It was a little chilly waiting around)
6) no hydrating fluids once you left the immediate finishing area (where cups of water were available) Bud light and Pepsi are not hydrating fluids! And what happened to the advertised Heineken? They were supposedly a sponsor!
7) having to dodge pedestrians walking abreast along the course in Audobon Park. After running 20 miles it was not fun having to dodge people. Maybe there could have been some indication that there was a marathon in progress? Maybe the local papers could have had some coverage? I didn't see anything
8) not enough porta potties before the race (a perennial minor complaint at just about every race - I don't think I've ever not peed in public before a marathon)

This could have been a great race. As it was, I had a good time and am glad I ran it but I don't know if I'd return unless they pave Magazine St and they guarantee more water station support and a Superdome finish. I would recommend the absolutely excellent Motorola - Austin marathon and even Las Vegas as better choices for a February marathon

This was my first marathon! Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. I would recommend this race to anyone. I was a little disappointed with the amount of support throughout the race, I thought there would be more. I also was disappointed we didn't get to finish inside the dome this year.
Overall, great race, fun, great experience!

I agree that the pot holes were a major problem. Running through the Garden District was very dangerous as a result. Also, the water stops were infrequent and tended to be understaffed. Many were essentially self service. The welcome exception was the red dressed crew at mile 14/24.
Spectators were very sparse. Disappointingly, the finish was not in the Dome as the website advertised. Post race was kind of shoddy. The medallions were quite nice but no mylar wraps and no hydrating fluids at all outside of the immediate finish area (where cups of water were available). Pepsi and Bud light are not replenishing fluids. And what the hell happened to the Heineken that the web site promised? And why no pre-race pasta party? N' awlins food is great but the night before the race runners might want to just have plain old pasta without cajun spices and crawdads (Ya think?)

Despite the negatives this could be a great race if they get their act together. The course is flat (one small hill at mile 5 and 8) and scenic (would have scored a 5 but had to be docked a point for the potholes) and had excellent traffic control (something however could have been done in Audobon Park so that the dodging of pedestrians walking abreast along the course could have been avoided. ( I don't know maybe alert people that a marathon was in progress? I guess it would have been difficult to know as there was no mention of the race at all in any of the local papers)). The course also had two sections where it doubled back on itself allowing you to see the runners ahead of (or behind) you run in the opposite direction. It was kind of nice seeing and congratulating the leaders during the race. And you don't need me to tell you that New Orleans absolutely rocks! Just watch out for any drinks named after natural disasters or weapons of destruction ;-) You really don't want to be sore AND hungover the next day. If they fill in the potholes and promise I'll get to run in the Dome I'd consider going back but based on this year's experience I would probably opt for Austin or even Las Vegas as the better choice for a February marathon.

I loved the scenery for this marathon. The course covered a varied assortment of New Orleans areas. I enjoyed running through the downtown area, the garden district, and the waterfront. Spectacular views! In addition, the course was fast and easy. However, there were a few snags in the race. First, the water stations were undermanned and not very well organized. I actually had to wait in line for water a few times. Second, the so-called entertainment was also non-existent. Thank goodness there were spectators on most of the course. Otherwise, I would have been waiting for the tumbleweed to roll by! And finally, the end of the race was rather uneventful. I had to actually go up to a volunteer to retrieve my medal. One of the best parts of finishing a marathon is when someone places the medal over your head!!! I did enjoy this marathon but there were a few organizational kinks that need to be worked out. I would, however, recommend this marathon to anyone!!!

This was my first MGM. The organization was super and the the course is very friendly with only 2 hills (mile 5 and 9). I believe you can run a PR here. The run through Audubon Park (mile 20) was nice. The crowds were small but supportive. The water stations were plenty and the power gels really help. I plan on running this race in 2003. Oh, and by the way, visiting N.O. is a plus too.

After reading the comments about the previous years' races, I expected a flawless marathon. I have to say I was disappointed in what I experienced at the 2002 Mardi Gras Marathon. During the first half of the race, three water stations did not have water, and I was was running in the middle of the pack. The second-half of the course, which goes through the Garden District, was scenic; however, I could not enjoy the scenery because I had to concentrate on the road that was full of potholes. If spectators are important to you, this is not the race for you. You can't blame them for not showing up since there are so many other attractions in New Orleans. The race information claims that there is entertainment along the route, but I never saw or heard anything that I considered entertainment. And finally, I expected more post-race support. I have run a considerable number of marathons, and felt that once I crossed this finish line I was on my own. No one offered me a 'space-blanket', and I had to search to find the medals. When I got to the post-race refreshments, the only food of substance I could find was red beans and rice....not my idea of post-marathon food. For the $50 entry fee, I expected much more support.

This is the 3rd year participating in race. Only real problem were the water stations this year. One station I gave up on because it was three young kids working it by themselves and the next station had about four people working it. People had to wait in line so volunteers could get water poured for each person at both stations. Also liked the finish inside the dome better. I know it sounds like I am only complaining but I had a great time. Friendly people, easy run, and all the beer you can drink at the end of the race make it a great little vacation.