NEW ORLEANS – In less than a month, thousands of runners from across the Gulf South will seek to break 10k records while thousands more will take in the scenic sights and sounds of New Orleans as they walk and run the 6.2 mile Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic (CCC). The 41st running of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic begins at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 20.
Event organizers expect more than 25,000 participants to cross the finish line in front of the New Orleans Museum of Art in historic City Park. Once runners finish, they can walk a short distance in City Park to Michelob Ultra RaceFest for drinks, food and live music including a special set from The Phunky Monkeys. This year’s race on will feature a new gate and seeding system based on revised qualifying times. Details were shared in a press release.
The goal behind the changes is to create a more level playing field for women runners. In addition to the time and seeding changes, race officials announced that for the first time in the race’s history, Gate D will now run immediately following Gate C and prior to the charity gate.
“In making these changes to the seedings, times and gate changes, we relied heavily on feedback from Crescent City Classic runners who want to push themselves towards higher goals,” said Crescent City Classic race director Eric Stuart. “Roughly 60 percent of our runners are women, and this change will create a better playing field for everyone.”
Prior to race day, Crescent City Classic organizers will host the 2018 Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, April 18 (noon to 8 p.m.) and Friday, April 19 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) at the Hyatt Regency. Runners who attend the Expo can pick up their race bibs and t-shirts, stay for interactive fitness classes and demonstrations, and shop local and national running brands for discounted pricing.
Following the race, The Michelob Ultra RaceFest at City Park featuring The Phunky Monkeys is open to all runners – children 10 years and younger for free. Friends and family of runners can purchase tickets in advance for $15 or $20 on race day. Passes can be purchased at the Expo, on race day or by visiting www.ccc10k.com. If ordering online, passes can be picked up during the Expo near Late Registration or at the Festival Tickets Tent on race day in front of the Reunion Shelter entrance.
Anyone interested in running this year’s CCC can visit www.ccc10k.com to register. Registration for this year’s 40th run of the CCC is underway and is $50 through April 17. The price will increase to $55 during the 2019 Health & Fitness Expo at the New Orleans Hyatt Regency on April 18 and 19. Race day registration is not available.
The CCC has also partnered with New Orleans area charities through its charitable foundation, The Crescent City Fitness Foundation (CCFF). As part of the CCFF’s “RUN FOR IT” program, the foundation donates 100 charity race bibs/numbers to each participating nonprofit. The nonprofit partners then recruit and organize teams of runners and walkers who commit to raising a minimum of $200 for their charity by race day. Since the initiative began in 2013, the program has raised more than $3 million for 23 charities.
