New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon Frequently Asked Questions

	The 45th Annual New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon Marathon, Half-Marathon, 5K Sunday, February 1, 2009 Presented by the New Orleans Track Club
Copyright © 2008 by the New Orleans Track Club. All rights reserved. Page last updated 07 January 2009 07:14 EST
Home Course Awards Registration Lodging Training Expo and Packet Pickup Relay Challenge Run For a Cause Sponsors Volunteers FAQ's Contact Us 2008 Results	Frequently Asked Questions How do I change the event I registered for? What will the weather be like for the race? Is there a course map available? Do you have an elevation map of the course? Is the Marathon a Boston qualifier? What is the course time limit? Is your event walker-friendly? Is there a limit to the field size? Can I wear headphones on the course? Can I use my personal timing chip? Will there be Mardi Gras parades on the weekend of the event? Is there a pasta dinner the night before the Marathon? Will there be pace groups? Have another question? Just ask us. How do I change the event I registered for? If you have registered for the Marathon, Half-Marathon, or 5K and want to change your event you must do so at the Race Expo. Check in at the Registration area to receive detailed instructions. If you are moving up in distance you will need to pay the difference in the entry fees; no refunds will be made if you are moving down. Back to FAQ's What will the weather be like for the race? Like most other places the weather in New Orleans is pretty unpredictable. That being said, don't expect extreme weather conditions on either end of the scale on February 1. The average temperature range on this date is 44° to 63°. Have a look at past and current weather conditions on the Course page. Back to FAQ's Is there a course map available? The Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5K courses are similar to the 2008 courses but with some improvements. As soon as the 2009 courses are finalized and certified the maps will be posted on this web site. A hard-copy of the course maps will also be included in the packet each participant will receive at the Race Expo. Back to FAQ's Do you have an elevation map of the course? New Orleans is pancake-flat, in fact much of the city is below sea-level. The only elevation change that any participant will notice is a single highway overpass on Wisner Ave on the second half of the Marathon course. For more information about the topography of New Orleans, see the article "Study bust myth that New Orleans is sunken city" on nola.com. Back to FAQ's Is the Marathon a Boston qualifier? Yes, the Marathon is run on a certified course and many runners have earned a qualifier for the Boston Marathon on our flat, fast course. In fact, due to the timing of our event a fast time can qualify you for not one but two Boston Marathons. Boston generally accepts times recorded within approximately a year and a half before their event, so a qualifing time in the 2009 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon can be used to enter both the 2009 and 2010 Boston events. The qualifying rules are subject to change so please confirm these details directly with the Boston Athletic Association. Back to FAQ's What is the course time limit? The course will be open long enough to accomodate any participant running or walking at a pace of sixteen minutes per mile or faster, for a total time of approximately seven hours. This does not mean that the entire course will be open for this length of time. The earlier parts of the course will close on this 16:00/mile schedule. For example, you can expect the first ten miles of the course to be closed by 9:40 AM (7:00 AM start time and 10 x 16 minute miles). If you fall behind this schedule you may continue but will be asked to move to the sidewalks. No support will be guaranteed after course closure. Back to FAQ's Is your event walker-friendly? Walkers are welcome to participate in all events, the Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5K. Please be aware that the courses will be open long enough to accomodate any participants moving at a 16:00/mile pace or faster. See the course time limit FAQ for more information. Back to FAQ's Is there a limit to the field size? Yes, the field size for the 2009 event is limited to 10,000 participants. This decision was made to avoid some problems we had with last year's event when we had an unexpectedly large number of late entrants and did not have enough shirts and finishers medallions immediately available. That will not happen this year! Back to FAQ's Can I wear headphones on the course? No. The New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon is a USATF-sanctioned event and, as such, must follow USATF rules. The 2008 USATF Competition Rule 144.3.f disallows any video or audio recorders or players in the competion area, i.e., on the course. Back to FAQ's Can I use my personal timing chip? You are welcome to bring your personal timing chip but since not all timing systems use the same hardware there is no guarantee that your chip will work with our timing system. If you prefer to use your chip you must confirm compatibility with our system at the Chip Pickup booth at the Expo. We encourage you to pick up and use the timing chip provided at the Expo to avoid any problems. Back to FAQ's Will there be Mardi Gras parades on the weekend of the event? Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is February 24, 2008. Carnival season actually starts on Twelfth Night, or January 6, so the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon does take place during the Mardi Gras season. But the major parades won't "roll" until mid-February. There may be a few smaller krewes parading in the area the weekend of the Marathon. Check the Mardi Gras page on nola.com for more information. Back to FAQ's Is there a pasta dinner the night before the Marathon? No, we haven't arranged a pasta dinner for you. Instead we suggest you pick one of the fine restaurants that make New Orleans a food-lovers destination. Need help selecting one? Visit The New Orleans MENU and pick from one of the 970 restaurants profiled by local food writer Tom Fitzmorris. Back to FAQ's Will there be pace groups? The New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon welcomes The Pace Team this year for those participants who would like to run with a group and accomplish specific time goals. General information about these groups is available on the Pace Groups page. Back to FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the event I registered for?
What will the weather be like for the race?
Is there a course map available?
Do you have an elevation map of the course?
Is the Marathon a Boston qualifier?
What is the course time limit?
Is your event walker-friendly?
Is there a limit to the field size?
Can I wear headphones on the course?
Can I use my personal timing chip?
Will there be Mardi Gras parades on the weekend of the event?
Is there a pasta dinner the night before the Marathon?
Will there be pace groups?

Have another question? Just ask us.

How do I change the event I registered for?

If you have registered for the Marathon, Half-Marathon, or 5K and want to change your event you must do so at the Race Expo. Check in at the Registration area to receive detailed instructions. If you are moving up in distance you will need to pay the difference in the entry fees; no refunds will be made if you are moving down.

Back to FAQ's

What will the weather be like for the race?

Like most other places the weather in New Orleans is pretty unpredictable. That being said, don't expect extreme weather conditions on either end of the scale on February 1. The average temperature range on this date is 44° to 63°. Have a look at past and current weather conditions on the Course page.

Back to FAQ's

Is there a course map available?

The Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5K courses are similar to the 2008 courses but with some improvements. As soon as the 2009 courses are finalized and certified the maps will be posted on this web site. A hard-copy of the course maps will also be included in the packet each participant will receive at the Race Expo.

Back to FAQ's

Do you have an elevation map of the course?

New Orleans is pancake-flat, in fact much of the city is below sea-level. The only elevation change that any participant will notice is a single highway overpass on Wisner Ave on the second half of the Marathon course. For more information about the topography of New Orleans, see the article "Study bust myth that New Orleans is sunken city" on nola.com.

Back to FAQ's

Is the Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the Marathon is run on a certified course and many runners have earned a qualifier for the Boston Marathon on our flat, fast course. In fact, due to the timing of our event a fast time can qualify you for not one but two Boston Marathons. Boston generally accepts times recorded within approximately a year and a half before their event, so a qualifing time in the 2009 New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon can be used to enter both the 2009 and 2010 Boston events. The qualifying rules are subject to change so please confirm these details directly with the Boston Athletic Association.

Back to FAQ's

What is the course time limit?

The course will be open long enough to accomodate any participant running or walking at a pace of sixteen minutes per mile or faster, for a total time of approximately seven hours. This does not mean that the entire course will be open for this length of time. The earlier parts of the course will close on this 16:00/mile schedule. For example, you can expect the first ten miles of the course to be closed by 9:40 AM (7:00 AM start time and 10 x 16 minute miles). If you fall behind this schedule you may continue but will be asked to move to the sidewalks. No support will be guaranteed after course closure.

Back to FAQ's

Is your event walker-friendly?

Walkers are welcome to participate in all events, the Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5K. Please be aware that the courses will be open long enough to accomodate any participants moving at a 16:00/mile pace or faster. See the course time limit FAQ for more information.

Back to FAQ's

Is there a limit to the field size?

Yes, the field size for the 2009 event is limited to 10,000 participants. This decision was made to avoid some problems we had with last year's event when we had an unexpectedly large number of late entrants and did not have enough shirts and finishers medallions immediately available. That will not happen this year!

Back to FAQ's

Can I wear headphones on the course?

No. The New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon is a USATF-sanctioned event and, as such, must follow USATF rules. The 2008 USATF Competition Rule 144.3.f disallows any video or audio recorders or players in the competion area, i.e., on the course.

Back to FAQ's

Can I use my personal timing chip?

You are welcome to bring your personal timing chip but since not all timing systems use the same hardware there is no guarantee that your chip will work with our timing system. If you prefer to use your chip you must confirm compatibility with our system at the Chip Pickup booth at the Expo. We encourage you to pick up and use the timing chip provided at the Expo to avoid any problems.

Back to FAQ's

Will there be Mardi Gras parades on the weekend of the event?

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is February 24, 2008. Carnival season actually starts on Twelfth Night, or January 6, so the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon does take place during the Mardi Gras season. But the major parades won't "roll" until mid-February. There may be a few smaller krewes parading in the area the weekend of the Marathon. Check the Mardi Gras page on nola.com for more information.

Back to FAQ's

Is there a pasta dinner the night before the Marathon?

No, we haven't arranged a pasta dinner for you. Instead we suggest you pick one of the fine restaurants that make New Orleans a food-lovers destination. Need help selecting one? Visit The New Orleans MENU and pick from one of the 970 restaurants profiled by local food writer Tom Fitzmorris.

Back to FAQ's

Will there be pace groups?

The New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon welcomes The Pace Team this year for those participants who would like to run with a group and accomplish specific time goals. General information about these groups is available on the Pace Groups page.

Back to FAQ's