The Marathon That Didn't Happen

You know what they say about making plans, don't you? That's when the powers that be laugh in your face and change them for you. On Tuesday of last week, I suggested that I would go in to the 4th of July weekend with the intention of participating in the Hotter Than Hell Marathon (read the post here). This race occurs annually on a Saturday night / Sunday morning in Audubon Park. Spoiler Alert: That didn't happen.

My July 4th found me helping out a friend and former client with an event that he had to execute in New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival. I woke up to an early Independence Day alarm and started working nearly immediately. With only a few hours for a mid-day break, I didn't get home until after 1am on Friday morning. However, the lunchtime lull did allow for a quick trip to Belle Chasse to see where the final race of the NOLA Trail Run Series would occur. Its a much easier location to find than I expected, and trusty Siri didn't steer me wrong.

Friday was a "normal" work day in my office. That being said, I could count the number of cars in the parking lot on my fingers and
toes when I arrived. Wanting to indulge, I had Chipotle for lunch, post work olive juice (for the purposes of this blog, the juice wasn't mixed with anything), greasy fast-food Chinese for dinner, and a couple Coke-Zero's throughout the day. In other word, my diet was the equivalent of munching on a salt lick. I was asleep before 10pm on Friday night with the full intention of running the Hotter Than Hell still in my head. This is where my weekend basically fell apart.

Saturday morning I woke up at 3am and again at 7am with a pounding headache. At first, I thought this was a direct result of the "olive juice." When the headache persisted and only got worse, I knew something was wrong. I finally pulled myself out of bed in the late afternoon to grab coffee, only to realize that I felt feverish and incredibly swollen. Even my fitted baseball caps didn't fit on my already oversized head. I started chugging water more feverishly than I had been all morning, and hustled to the pharmacy to get Advil. To add insult to injury, the weather had deteriorated Saturday and the forecast called for rain throughout the weekend. Once the Advil kicked in and I could again think straight, I decided that I would get sleep on Saturday night and wake up early Sunday to join the event mid-race, running a solid half marathon distance with those still participating.

Sunday morning rolled around, and I rolled over. Rolled over to snooze my alarms (multiple alarms) and sleep until almost 9am. I only woke up to the sound of a text message from a friend who wanted to see if she was coming to fetch me from an Emergency Room. When I told her that I hadn't run, she convinced me to join her in Audubon Park for a workout. While she did circuit training in the park, I ran a solid 8 miles around the track and on St. Charles Avenue. Giant flags staked out in the park showed where the race had occurred, but participants were done. I had once again missed out on an event that I'm sure is something I want to participate in ... someday.

Throughout Sunday I saw photos posted from friends who had participated in the Hotter Than Hell Marathon, and I'll admit I am kind of jealous. I don't know what it is about running 13 loops around Audubon Park in July that sounds appealing. Throw in the chance of rain, the lack of an iPod and increased chaffing, and I mentally check out on the idea. To the large group of people who did it, my friends below who provided use of their photos especially, I congratulate you. You're better men & women than I.

Stephen Barrouquere is a New Orleans Native and marathoner who used the Hotter Than Hell Marathon as part of his training for the Pike's Peak Ascent on August 17th. Stephen posted the following photos on Facebook with his observation "Finished the Hotter than Hell Marathon at Audubon Park in 5:57. A bunch of fantastic runners at the park running all night." Congrats Stephen, and good luck in August!

Andrew Mickles is a Baton Rouge Native and accomplished runner who posted the following photos to Facebook, along with the statement "6:55:29. The most difficult marathon I've done. Glad that's over." Find him on Twitter @RedStickRunner1. Oorah, Andrew!