About four months ago our friend Dana asked us if we wanted to join her in Vegas to cheer her on at the Rock'n'Roll marathon. We were planning our flights about 12 weeks prior to the race and I wondered if I should maybe join her for the 1/2. Could I do it? Could I find the time and energy to train? Could I skip the drinking and heavy eating this trip to Vegas? It turns out I could.
Deciding 10 weeks before the race to run turned out to be perfect timing. I contacted one of my clients who I knew ran races and she provided me with a 10 week plan which I managed to follow pretty consistently. Even through my trip to Berlin I was able to keep it up making sure that I could make the big runs so I would be ready for the big day.
Las Vegas was the perfect place for my first half marathon and being a lover of the city, the route was perfect. We ran down Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay south towards the airport runway, circling around and going back all the way down the strip. We edged onto old downtown carving a path through some residential streets and back onto Las Vegas Boulevard. The finish line was right out front of Mirage, a whopping 21km or 13 miles from where we started. It sounds way more impressive to say 21km.
While everyone prepared to run, the energy was high. People were dressed up with wigs, and plastic guitars, and countless Elvis's (no, I don't know the plural of Elvis). People who wanted to get married on the run all got married at the start line about 15 minutes before we took off. It was so interesting to see the couples on the way to wedded bliss (hopefully) only to run 21km. I'm pretty sure anyone who was waiting to have sex on their wedding night would not choose this venue. Let me take this moment to give a shout out to Glide. A deodorant type stick that stops you from chafing in inconvenient places.
The race start was probably the most nerve racking, only because I kept questioning myself if I had to pee or not. I had drank a whole tropical island worth of coconut water in preparation for the big day, that is all I could think about. But it was too late. We were off.
I started with Dana and some of her running buddies but I slowly fell into a solo trot that I managed to keep steady for the entire race. When I trained I wouldn't stop, even if I was running through the city when I came to a stop light I would simply turn. I continued this trend during the race, I stopped for nothing. I steadily chugged along dodging the occasional group of runners but I knew that my legs just had to keep moving.
This approach did have one downfall, trying to grab water from the volunteers wasn't easy as I ran by, and at one point I even went to grab a Gatorade and it ended up my arm and most likely all over the volunteer.
Probably the last 5k was the hardest, everything looked so far away. I managed to get into the zone and before I knew it I would be passing the landmark that was oh so far away... Stratosphere, Circus Circus, and then finally Encore. Although to be honest I probably ran a little faster just after Circus Circus just to simply get away from that mess of a hotel.
The home stretch was amazing but yet a little annoying. People were tired and slowing down which made people bunch up. I wanted to juice it up and sprint over the finish line but no luck. So I kept my pace and slowly approached the finish. I actually welled up a bit, I felt excited, I felt satisfied, I felt proud of myself that I achieved this. It was an interesting feeling, one that I didn't expect. I made it. And I was singing along with Miley's Wrecking Ball that was blaring over the speakers as I crossed the line. "I came in like a wrecking ball..."
Dana as it turns out was just behind me so as I finished I turned around to her beautiful smiling face. And no, she wasn't singing Miley, she was probably cringing a bit. We took our finish line pictures, grabbed some chocolate milk, and proudly congratulated each other.
The race was amazingly organized but not surprising considering all the races they do. While you are running they take pictures all along the route. They also snap shots at the beginning before the race and of course after you cross the finish line. You can see my pics below... Please excuse my hair, I started with a hat but it was just too warm to wear it the full run.
I want to send a special thank you to a very special lady: Dana. When I told her I was interested in joining her she didn't doubt for one second that I couldn't do it. She was encouragement from day one and full of excitement that I was going to experience this with her. Sure, I have some crazy ideas and goals but this wonderful woman never made me think this chubby guy who loves to eat couldn't do it. Yep. I have now ran a 1/2 Marathon.
Final time: 2:17:51
Overall: 7,420 out of 20,566 runners
Men runners: 3954 out of 7,901
