Wow! It’s been a crazy first quarter. In January I was planning for my yearly 10K race in New Orleans (the Crescent City Classic). I’ve been there over the past 10 years and often a friend or family member joined me. There were a few times that I ran the race solo but I always enjoyed it because my family lives there. I remember when I first started I would stay with my Mom. She’d drive me to the Algiers Ferry and I’d float over with a ton of other people. I’d take one of the designated buses back to the ferry and give Momma a call to pick me up. Good times.
Momma eventually had to stop driving, at least while I was paying attention. I got rides with other people that were either going or volunteered to drop me off. It quickly became a tradition where my three siblings, their families, Momma and me would be together.
Momma passed away two years ago on March 23rd and my brother arranged for the memorial to happen on the evening of the race. I ran in that race, too, and I think it was the hardest one to get through. I had just retired and drove to New Orleans.
Last year I stayed with my younger sister in Gretna, drove again because it’s just easier. One friend joined me; it would be her third time running the race. It was fun and it was good to be with my siblings and their families.
I signed up for the 2020 race after I finished the 2019 because I was aiming, now, for 20 consecutive years. As it got closer to the race I recruited a retired friend to join me and then learned that my daughter and her husband would also come. I was beyond excited about the trip.
When the virus was mostly in other countries I began to worry about my daughter flying; airplanes can be germy. In early March, things were getting worse so my husband and I stopped going to the gym and only went to the store early, when they first opened. He’s 78 and I have asthma. Every day things changed. The race was cancelled; but they are offering a Virtual Race. My friend decided not to go. My daughter also backed out and is trying to get a flight credit or refund.
New Orleans is being slammed with the virus; I fear for my family. They are, so far, safe.
I plan to run the Virtual Crescent City Classic on the scheduled date. They’ll send my t-shirt and medal in the mail. I’ll sign up for 2021. I can’t help but wonder about how things will be this time next year.
Note: I forgot to publish this post in late March. Too much time on my hands, I guess. ?
