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☰
New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon Runner Comments
Back to New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 315 [displaying comments 251 to 261]
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B. E. from MS
(9/17/2004)
 "Frustrating experience with the organizers!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I ran this race in Feb 04 and I actually had a good experience, but my problems started after the results were posted. As other runner have also mentioned the results were not accurate. Most of those who commented on the times did not seem to care too much about the accuracy of the time, but unfortunately for me it is a big deal. I ran this race to qualify for Boston. According to my watch I did qualify, but according to the official results I missed my qualifying time by 63 seconds. I have contacted the MGM president and the race director. I have never heard from the president. However, the race director called me and told me that he would look into it. Nothing happened! I contacted them several other times but I did not get any response. I asked them to send me my splits (5K, 10K, 20 miles, etc). They never did. I lost so much time writing letters and sending faxes, I think I at least deserve an answer. It has been 7 months now and I am still waiting to hear from them. I would definitely NOT recommend this marathon if accurate chip timing is important for you. | |
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R. S. from Los Angeles, California
(4/3/2004)
 "A fabulous city, course and race." (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first, but won't be my last marathon, mostly due to the great time I had. Could have had more restrooms in the first half, but everything else was great. The fans were incredible and gave tremendous energy. | |
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Frank Murphy from Straw Berry Plains Tn.
(3/15/2004)
"Great Time" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I did the marathon just the way I planned it. I took in the sites, and enjoyed chatting with different runners. I thought the race was a real winner. This was my 12th marathon and have run better times in other races and also have taken longer in some races. I took this race as it was the Big Easy and enjoyed it to the max. I would recommend this race to any body that wants to try a marathon, and already have. You guys down there in New Orleans put on a good show. | |
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T. E. from Los Angeles, California
(3/11/2004)
 "Great marathon with a few minor issues" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course is nicely scenic and not very difficult. The only issue is that I, like most runners, don't care for out-and-back, but otherwise a great course. The organization is great on race day--best, easiest parking ever!!!--but the day before, at the (tiny) expo, no one seemed to know what was going on. Average spectator support. Perfect timing with excellent weather, and Mardi Gras is barely over, so there are ample festivities, but not totally insane crowds. Awesome medal, though this year was a ribbon and last year my friend's medal string was made of beads. Chip time, as others have mentioned, wasn't accurate, but oh well. I generally never repeat a marathon, except for my hometown, but I might do this one again. | |
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Dave Clark from Wheaton, Illinois
(3/10/2004)
"Fantastic course with plenty of aid" (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was a little hesitant to travel from the Chicagoland area given the comments from 2003 and 2002, but was very glad that I did. The race directors heeded the comments and the marathon was great. The course affords a diverse view of New Orleans and the aid stations were VERY well stocked with gels, fluids, real food and friendly volunteers. The course was well-marked and the police protection was the best I have seen and I have run over 60 marathons in 31 different states. The only negative was that the chip timing must not have been working and the times were off by three minutes or so. This is not a big deal and I am sure they will correct this next year. Definitely a great race to do but make sure to spend a couple extra days after the race to explore the town, especially the French Quarter. | |
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Danny Swindle from Newport, Michigan
(3/9/2004)
"Great area for a race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 You have to love New Orleans. Pros: Starting and finishing in the Superdome was a great idea. Well organized from the start to the finish. Post-race massages are always appreciated. Good red beans & rice and cold Ultra. Cons: Cracked and pitted roads made it necessary to watch where you were stepping. Special thanks to race director Charlene Brinkman and Volunteer nurse Maria White. Mrs. White allowed our 9-year old daughter to volunteer under her supervision so that my wife could run the half marathon when our pre-arranged babysitter fell through. | |
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Jon Beasley from Fort Wayne, IN
(3/7/2004)
"Fast Course, Fun Race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The race organizers did a nice job this year with everything except the porta-johns at the start. This would be a perfect race if they would just get more than 6 porta-johns near the starting line. The cops did a great job with traffic, the water stops were more than adequate (beer at mile 9 or 10), the course is excellent, the weather was nearly perfect, great volunteers during the entire race, great food at the finish (Chee-wees and jambalaya!!), and flowing beer for all finishers (and thirsty wives). As far as fan support, I was impressed with the support considering the early start time in a city not known for early Sunday AM risers. Who the hell wants to stand around for 3-5 hours and watch people run? I'd rather be running. If I wasn't so fat & out-of-shape, this would have been the ideal course for a fast time. People looking for a quality race, fast course, a mouth full of Chee-wees, and a good buzz should put this on their race calendar. | |
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D. W. from Houston
(3/7/2004)
"Pretty route but out-n-back was hard, hot" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 New Orleans is a fun place to visit at any time, with great food wherever you go. The marathon was well-organized, except for the bathroom situation at the start. As I walked out of the Superdome to the starting line, the line at the women's restroom looked to be about 30 minutes long, 5 minutes before the start. The weather was warmer than predicted because the sun came out from the clouds. It hit 74 deg, and with the humidity and sun, the last half of the race was hard for me. The course is flat, one bridge done twice is the only hill of any kind. The road surface is ok for most of the race but watch the expansion joints on the bridge - big holes. One short stretch near Audubon Park was very rough, but nothing to worry about. New Orleans looked very pretty with the flowering pink tulip magnolias frequently along the route. The out-n-back through Audubon park was hard - you are in a pretty park but runners keep coming at you and you wonder when do you ever turn around. You end up circling the entire park and u-turning where you came in. That is tough at the 20-mile mark! Now all the way back around to the same spot again. Few spectators other than the great support from AIDS Foundation crew cheering at many spots. | |
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A. F. from Madisonville, LA
(3/6/2004)
 "An Outstanding Race" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I found this to be a most excellent race. The Superdome is the perfect venue to start and end a race. The best part about starting the race there is that it provides ample parking and restrooms. I would say previous comments about there not being enough restrooms to be completely unfounded. True there was lines at the porta-potties outside and restroom closest to entrance, but the entire Superdome was open. About 10 minutes before before the race started I found a restroom on the 2nd level that was completely empty. The race organization was excellent, everything ran perfectly on time. The course was interesting, though it would be nice if they could find away to work part of the lakefront into the course, especaily since the course comes so close to it already. Finally, I think the comments about the crowd support being a little sparse are unfair. Coming so close after the end of Mardi Gras, it's unlikely that there will ever be much excitement in the greater community at large for the race. | |
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Warren Hebert from New Iberia, LA
(3/5/2004)
"Mardi Gras Marathon - Great For First-Timer" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Flat course, great support, costumed volunteers, and even a beer stop and martinis at one water stop. Does it get any better? Seven hours of open course allowed me to finish my first ever marathon. It also allowed two eleven-year old boys to compete, and finish strong. The boys were trained by one's physician father, an ultra-marathoner, and they both finished strong. The seven-hour limit also allowed a bed-bound racer with cerebral palsy to finish as well. He was pushed in a special stretcher by a friend who had already taken him out on 5K and 10K races. This time they did the marathon. Asked if it was tough pushing the stretcher for 26.2 miles, the pusher said, 'No, not at all. What's tough is my friend, having to live his entire life in a wheelchair or hospital bed; now that's tough.' Thanks to the MGM staff, the New Oreans residents who lined the course and let us use their streets for a few hours, the volunteers and to my fellow racers. I'll be back, and I'll bring friends. |
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