Life accelerated.  7 days since departing Antarctica, back at D.I.A (Denver Int’l).  Fast become my home-from-home this year.  TWELVE, that’s the 2020 marathon count 😊

Louisiana’s Big Easy.  Mentally plugged in; awesome part of America to kick-off a post-Antarctica run.  Heavy accented & redneck.  Dig the South.  Childhood, my people.

Big PARTY town, New Orleans.  the Land of Mardi Gras.  Conversation starter with every Lyft driver (no rental this journey).  Big letdown, dude’s a marathoner.  LOL>

first stop: NOLA Convention Center.  Bib pickup, registration.  Rock n Roll EXPO.

Quick walk-thru the Brooks tent (I’m a shoe junkie).  Small bowl of red beans-n-rice (another addiction).  Lyft transport back over the Bridge.  Couple blocks off the French Quarter.  Sleeps shouting-distance from tomorrow’s Start.  Location, location, location.

Sidewalk tour of Hurricane Katrina history.  Café du Monde beignets.  Bag of soulful fried chicken take-out.  Headache, chilled.  Early night.  Physically off this trip.  Touch of fever, then couple hours I’m fine again.  Marathon/flight/hotel all prepaid, so… I’m here.

Sunday alarm.  FEVER.  Showered.  Race dressed.  I can do this.  Could hear muffled announcements thru a closed window.  Twenty minutes more.  It’ll pass.  Fever-finished Charleston last month.  Don’t PANIC.  No rule against race-starting a later Corral.

10 minutes.  Not happening.  Not my day.

Rock ‘n Roll DNS.  Crazy disappointing, big Easy FAIL.

Rock ‘n Roll EXPO