Super & King Sized Announcements

The corner of Poydras and Girod Streets will be a busy place this fall. If you're not familiar with downtown New Orleans, this is the intersection just outside Champions Square. It's also in the backyard of two professional sports franchises in the Crescent City, and the reason for two big running announcements last week.

First, the New Orleans Saints Kickoff Run will launch the 2014 football season on Saturday, September 6th. The third installment of the race will be a 5K that starts in Champions Square, follow a course through the Central Business District, and finish on the 50-yard line at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Gumbo and Sir Saint, the club’s mascots, along with the Saintsations, will be in attendance to cheer on participants. A post-race party with live entertainment will take place after the race back out in Champions Square, and all participants will receive an official race shirt and a commemorative medal.

New in 2014 for the Saints Kickoff Run will be the Saints Corporate Cup, to be given to the local business which shows its “Black and Gold” by bringing the largest team of runners. Also new this year will be a pre-race costume contest where the winner will receive a pair of tickets to a Saints game. Proceeds will benefit NORDC (New Orleans Recreation Development Commission) and the Louisiana Children’s Museum.

The Saints Kickoff Run 5K begins at 7:30 a.m., and the ‘PLAY 60’ Fun Run for Kids (ages 4-12) immediately follows. For more information on the race and to register, click HERE.

Also announced last week was a title sponsor for the brand new Big Easy Running Festival on Sunday, November 23rd. Smoothie King will now present the half marathon,  4 mile, 1 mile events. That "King of the Climb" challenge for half-marathoners crossing the Crescent City Connection bridge makes so much sense now, doesn't it?

Part of this new title sponsorship brings a change to the finish line and post-race festival featuring Cowboy Mouth. The Big Easy Half Marathon will now finish at the Smoothie King Center, home of your New Orleans Pelicans! The Big Easy Mini Marathon and the Big Easy Mile will also start and finish at the Smoothie King Center on Dave Dixon Drive. Something else to look forward to at the end of the races will be free Smoothie King smoothies after crossing the finish line!

New course maps have been developed by organizers, and are in city officials' hands for the inaugural Smoothie King Big Easy Running Festival. Race officials tell me that they hope to have these new maps approved and up on their website very soon! For more info on the Smoothie King Big Easy Run Festival, visit their official website HERE.