We gather at Le Bon Temps Roulé.  You might call this the "cocktail party" phase of the Barathon.  People arrive, mingle, talk, renew acquaintances; some sip beer.  You see people that you haven't seen since, well, last year's Barathon.

Most people relax, but as post time nears, some put on their game face.  For most, this is a party on the run; for a few, it's a race.