Gearing up for the annual Crescent City Classic 10k, the New Orleans Complete Streets Coalition (NOCSC) and GirlTrek have partnered to prepare locally recognized media personality and expecting mother, Casey Ferrand, to complete the event this Sunday, April 4th at 8 a.m. The Coalition’s initiative to improve mobility across the city and encourage residents to embrace improved street infrastructure across the city has empowered Ferrand to join GirlTrek in walking the CCC10K. This year, the Classic will be held virtually, allowing participants to run,walk or bike 6.2 miles from anywhere, with participants selecting their preferred time and location to race.
“Walking in the virtual Crescent City Classic is a great way to show support for all the hard work that the New Orleans Complete Streets Coalition and GirlTrek have done for the city,” says award-winning reporter Casey Ferrand. “I am thrilled to support this impactful campaign which has encouraged me to incorporate healthy habits during my pregnancy with the help of the newly accessible walk and bikeways across New Orleans.”
All participants will receive race day t-shirts, a racing bib and a commemorative finisher medallion. In partnership with the Complete Streets Coalition, this family relay will allow Ferrand to walk alongside her husband, Birk McGee, and a small team of GirlTrekkers, as Coalition members bike the route from Armstrong Park to City Park this Sunday, April 4th.
“Casey truly embodies the spirit of the Crescent City Classic. She’s continued her training regimen through the perils of the Covid pandemic and has maintained her exercise program, benefitting both herself and her soon-to-be newborn child,” said Eric Stuart, Race Director and Co-Owner of the Crescent City Classic. “We are proud to call her one of our own and are confident she’ll be with us next year when we once again can celebrate The Classic as only New Orleanians can!”
Both the people biking and the people walking from Ferrand’s team will be #maskedup and will begin together at 8 a.m., starting in Armstrong Park. Ferrand will walk a partial route with the team completing the 6.2-mile route via bike on her and her soon-to-be baby’s behalf. The team will cross the finish line at Sprouts Organic Cafe at 1200 Henriette Delille Street with a socially distant celebration.
Cheer station one will be set up at St. Bernard and Rampart, and cheer station two at Esplanade and Carrolton, both equipped with signs and water for residents to come out and support the community.
Ferrand and McGee have relied on the improved infrastructure to train for the Crescent City Classic walk and will show support this Sunday, April 4th, from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. during the event.