Photo Courtesy of Crescent City Classic
by Darrell Williams
When the Crescent City Classic 10-kilometer road race returns to the streets of New Orleans on April 16 after a two-year hiatus because of COVID, many elite runners will be back.
It also will mark the return of the more lighthearted part of the event, with costumes and masks that shout “We're here to have fun!”
More than 30,000 runners, joggers and walkers will participate in the 6.2-mile race. The Blues Brothers, the guys in the tuxedos, Wonder Woman and all sorts of superheroes and others whose appearances have become iconic will be in that number. Crescent City Classic race director Eric Stuart said those individuals spawned a trend long ago that is an integral part of the race.
“We have a lot of groups, families and friends that are a big part of it,” Stuart said. “Most likely, there will be at least 20 groups of 15 or more. And there will be more groups of 10 than that.
“We have a function to form teams, but a lot of them don't form teams. They'll all go out there, dress in a costume. So, there's tons of those people out there.”
One such group is called Move Ya Brass, which began as a fitness group but became runners after leading the Crescent City Classic pre-race warm-ups on stage. Fifty will run in the race.
“We will have our black-and-gold uniforms to signal the race coming back to the streets of New Orleans for the first time since 2019,” group member Thomas Nguyen said. “We are so glad because the past two years, even though there was only the virtual race, we have run the official race route on the day the race was to take place, just to keep the tradition alive.”
That tradition has had some memorable get-ups.
“My favorite one was in 2018, the race's 40th anniversary,” Nguyen said. “We all dressed in a '70s theme. Some members wore Afros. I wore a mullet and a mustache. Some guys wore short shorts.
“From year to year, it changes, but we always have a guy in our group who wears a chicken suit.”
Emily Breaux and her family of more than 15 are known for their colorful costumes. Twice in a five-year span, the family dressed as a wedding party, with bridegrooms, bridesmaids, a ring bearer and the works.
“It started in 2011 when two of our cousins, who were high school seniors, came from Baton Rouge and ran in the race,” she said. “They enjoyed it so much, seeing the 'characters' and all. They said we should get a theme.
“Every year, we meet in the summer or a few months before the race to decide on one. One theme was Mario Kart. We've been a mountain gorilla group, Harry Potter — we had a really big group for that. We've done Greek gods and goddesses. That was a good one.”
Breaux learned that one has to “pick a running-friendly” costume. The year they were superheroes, her dad was the Hulk. He painted his arms and face green. Well into the race, sweat made that very uncomfortable.
Although her family group consists of runners and walkers, the theme costumes gives them an identity, she said, particularly when they meet for the after-race party in City Park.
“It's like we're individuals, but there's unity,” she said.
Breaux, Nguyen and Stuart all said those in costumes give the race a twist that's uniquely New Orleans, bringing a joy and energy to the event.
“If you look in publications at 'Top races to run before you die' or 'Top 50 races in the world,' ” Stuart said, “we've got a great race, we've got fast times, but we're always referred to as the original party race.
“So, we started it, and those groups not only contribute but they enhance our party atmosphere.”
