For reasons unknown to me, I decided to become a runner.
I can attribute this to a few things:

1) I was in law enforcement and although I really loved a good foot pursuit, they tend to be short lived and pretty exerting if not in shape.

2) I met Melissa, and she was/is a runner (sidelined, but still, a runner).

3) My pal David quit smoking and along the way morphed into a Triathlete- I found this amazing.

4) I watched Biggest Loser’s marathon episode and if they can do it, ANYONE can.

The culmination of this was deciding to sign up to run the Zappos.com Las Vegas Rock N Roll Half Marathon, running the Vegas strip for the first time at night.   A marathon event, seeing the Vegas strip on foot, all lit up.  Cooler temps.  And, local to boot.  So I decided to prepare for it.

Since I have been running this year, I mostly do 2-6 mile distance runs for maintenance.  With about 14 weeks before the event, I took Melissa’s advice and looked up Hal Higdon’s half marathon training plan, and got cracking.  Admittedly, I didn’t follow on a daily basis due to travel, sometime due to lazy.  but I stepped up and made sure I did the long runs.    With a week to go and doing a 10 mile long run, I felt ready for it. I thought “you got this”.

We picked up my packet Saturday.  It didn’t totally sink in just yet. Come race day I was worried about nutrition mostly.  I need to monitor my food intake and get a bit hypoglycemic (“low blood sugar-ry”) if I don’t time things right during strenuous exercise or working out.  I planned on Clif Shot Blocks, and Gu gels amd timing water for the race.  We left and traffic was so jammed up Melissa dropped me off and went to search a place to park.  Good thing that was the case, because she had to literally park 2.5 miles away (at TI) from the start/finish, and hopefully we could see each other at some point.

I found my corral (29) and lined up an kind of zoned out preparing the mental self talk.  I figured I could do it.  Despite only ever running 10 miles as a farthest distance ever. Twice ever.   the last 3.1 mentally seemed daunting, but I had a good mental vibe all day.  I knew I was going to finish even if I had to walk or rest along the way.

Then the race started.

Slowly. I quickly learned my guesstimated time that placed me in the 29th corral was not a good idea.    I figured based upon my 9:30 average pace, over race distance, with a variable of some walking padded in, should mean that my goal was to be UNDER 2:30R 2:30
English: World English Bible - WEB


WP-Bible plugin and I be happy.  My idea was race day adrenaline would target about a 2;21-2;25 being realistic.

What I was not prepared for was the amount of WALKERS taking place.  The gate and first six or so miles was terrible.  Even a marathon virgin, I know enough about race etiquette to think of fellow runners- get over for faster runners, yield to marathoners, don’t discard clothing or cups in the footpath.    Many others had no idea nor got a memo from RnRLV organizers.

The first three miles was little more for me than a fast walk.  Running buddies walking hand in hand to “do this together” also meant it was impossible to get around people.   At the half/full merge, the lanes for the marathoners on the left was NOT well marked nor explained.  Marathoners YELLING at people to get over (for a 2:45, 3:00, 3:30, etc pack) HAD to make them livid.   I was angry for them.

I DID see Melissa on the route near the Mirage.  Bless her, she was looking for me and cheered me on.. I got over for a cheer and a high five and I went on.    It was easy to do because of the pack pace at that point.  By the time 5K rolled around  I was nearly 11 minutes slower than I run at typically.  I figured it would get better.  Up to 10K it was still the same.

Along the route, water stations were running out.  The Strip is wide, but at the narrower off-LV Blvd points, it was VERY full and difficult to maintain any separation.  You were PACKED in with each other.   Not as bad as post race, but still.    Not as many bathrooms along the route.  Not clear distance markings.  And did I mention the sheer number of WALKERS on the route?  it was relentless.

I forced a quick potty stop at mi 6, figuring I was not going to be able to hold off the rest of the race.  glad I did because I can’t even recall bathrooms later on.  Maybe I just didn’t need them but I sure don’t recall those open to the runners..

After that.. I just. Kept. Going.

My goal was to assess myself around Mile 11, and if I needed to walk, to walk a half mi, run a half and finish on as needed.  But when I got there, I felt GREAT.  I was STILL fighting walkers. I ran on some center tree lane dividers. I ran on some sidewalks.   I wove in and out.   I wouldnt be surprised if my real race distance was more like 13.5 with all the weaving through the whole thing.

I didn’t see Melissa the rest of the race, despite sending a short ‘where I’m at” text or two during the race.  Cell service was terrible on the course, given the clogging of the phone and data network with so many people, plus ‘usual’ Vegas visitors.   I was looking for her but never saw her.

She did see me.  She even describes her side here.

I pressed on looking at Mandalay Bay ahead.  Looking at cool signs along the route.  High fiving some random strangers supporting the race.  Hearing all the cheering for the runners.   Mile 12 approached.  Mile 13 approached.   I was going to DO THIS.    We turned in to the Mandalay lot home stretch and it took FOREVER to finally run the last tenth of a mile to finish.

BUT I DID IT.

The Best Reward Ever.

I crossed the finish line (Unofficial Time 2:32:30e 2:32:30
English: World English Bible - WEB
2 ¹ You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; ³ among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ , ⁶ and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; ⁸ for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, that no one would boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. ¹¹ Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” ; ¹² that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, ¹⁵ having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; ¹⁶ and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, ²⁰ being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; ²¹ in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; ²² in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. ^{3 1} For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, ² if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you; ³ how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, ⁴ by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; ⁵ which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; ⁶ that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, ⁷ of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all men see what is the administration TR reads “fellowship” instead of “administration” of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ; ¹⁰ to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; ¹² in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory. ¹⁴ For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. ^{4 1} I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; ³ being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. ⁷ But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸ Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” ⁹ Now this, “He ascended,” what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. ¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds The word for “shepherds” can also be correctly translated “pastors.” and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; ¹⁵ but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; ¹⁶ from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love. ¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; ¹⁹ who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ²⁰ But you did not learn Christ that way; ²¹ if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; ²³ and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. ²⁵ Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members one of another. ²⁶ “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ neither give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. ²⁹ Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. ^{5 1} Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. ² Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. ³ But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; ⁴ nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore don’t be partakers with them. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, ⁹ for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, ¹⁰ proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. ¹² For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. ¹³ But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that is revealed is light. ¹⁴ Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” ¹⁵ Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father; ²¹ subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. ²² Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; ²⁶ that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; ³⁰ because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. ³¹ “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. ³³ Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband. ^{6 1} Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise: ³ “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” ⁴ You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. ⁵ Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷ with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; ⁸ knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free. ⁹ You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: ¹⁹ on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. ²¹ But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things; ²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts. ²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

WP-Bible plugin.. not at all what I hoped, or felt I could have done seeing how I did, but given the traffic, I was “okay” with it. I KNOW I could have been maybe even a 2:15 or so if I didn’t lost that time earlier.

The finish got worse from there, (and even worse after me)  It got literally logjammed with people getting medals. Then corralled to a dead standstill where you HAD to go thru a stopgate to get pic taken with your medal.   My calves were cramping so bad from the shock of stopping and not being able to cool down walk or stretch that I nearly literally fell over sideways.  I got the pic taken with a stupid smile on my face because of the pain in my calves, combined with a bitter cold stinging wind that rushed in made me SO uncomfortable.

I got two waters.  Couldn’t get over to the foil blanket side, so I had to do without.  Drank waters. Got a bagel.  Grabbed a banana too but it was SO green I couldn’t even peel it.  And it was raw when I did.   No good.    I stopped to massage calves a bit.

I restarted phone and Melissa and I reunited.  She bought me some sweatpants at Planet Hollywood’s shops along the route, and I was SO happy I cried.  I was so happy to see her; so happy to have made it; and so happy at the idea that she did something for me to keep me warm that I totally overlooked thinking of after the race.  She is so amazingly thoughtful most all the time.

We tried to start our 2.5 mile walk back to the car and with no real direction, plus to escape the cold and incoming rain went inside Mandalay Bay.  The scene inside was chaotic.  People were PACKED in a crowd mob.  I’m not claustrophobic but I’ve been to concerts and venues where all  it takes is some pushing and mobbing and it is a recipe for disaster.  I made a effort to get us out of there, but it was pure poor planning by organizers and on MB’s part with their venue as well.  We escaped it safely, and evenually walked back up the strip to TI to get in the car.

My post race reward?  A Double Double combo from in N Out Burger.   I EARNED that dinner!

There is a LOT of debate and negative comments on the RnRLV Facebook that are consistent and quite valid concerns.   Reports of people getting sick from fire hydrant/contaminated water.  Lack of amenities.  Start & Finish line problems. Walkers.  People that didn’t get medals.  I can’t imagine how angry I would have been to have run that kind of a race and not have the medal.   Especially for a first timer like myself. Really, click the FB link and spend some time reading the comments..

One more thing I learned. Girls run. A LOT of girls run. I think single guys who are looking for a good pool of dateable candidates need to take up running. There’s an untapped resource in there somewhere. I’ll try to use this angle to encourage my single buddies as well. (I can already hear the replies now in my head…)

They say marathon running is like sex.  You never forget your first time, and you always look forward to the next one.     I see the truth to that.

I set a goal also with running a half this year to do a full marathon ‘by the time I turn 40′.  I don’t know if that will happen  *before* I turn 40 as my birthday is earlier in the year, but I’m eyeing possible Chicago or Indianapolis (October/November) as most likely candidates.  Both are pretty good sized, nice courses, and for a midwestern-er like me, hold a special place in the heart.  Will I run Las Vegas again?  Not if the race is set up anything like this one was.  Disappointing for sure, even for a first timer who enjoyed the running part.

All in all, more than anything, I learned a lot about myself in running a half marathon.

Running is pure mental.

The physical part?   You got this.

1 Corinthians 9:241 Corinthians 9:24
English: World English Bible - WEB
24 Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.

WP-Bible plugin: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”