there’s just something about running a marathon with friends that makes it oh so much sweeter! What an experience running down the Las Vegas strip at sunrise, there was so much excitement and buzz in the air.We left our hotel room at about 4:45 am and boy was it cold! I have never ran this long or this far in 30+ degree weather, in retrospect I was happy to have friends in Vegas provide weather reports, They said it was to be cold and itwas! I prepared well, for those of you who know me I HATE TO BE COLD! I purchased some CW-X compression tights, one CW-X Long sleeve top, Adidas running jacket, gloves, hat and headband! It kept me warm the whole entire race!
I was amazed to see all of the other crazy people that came out to run on such a cold morning, when I left our hotel it was still buzzing with people wide awake and lively still gambling and partying, no wonder why they call it the city that never sleeps. I got funny looks from people as I passed in my head to toe running gear.
At 6:15 the race began, a rock band dressed as the blues brothers played as para-gliders lofted downward and fireworks blasted. What a sendoff! The sun was just coming up as we sprinted out onward to our first mile. I looked at Rory and blurted, “I can’t feel my lips!” I don’t think I could again until at least mile two or three! There were a lot of spectators on the strip, “Go runners,” they shouted!
Mile one 9:07,
Mile 2 8:46,
Mile 3 8:39, (26:33) I wanted to make some leeway, in case I needed to use the restroom, which I later did!
Mile 4 8:27, Mile 5 8:30, Mile 6 8:40 (52:16) Mile 7 8:39, Mile 8 8:34, Mile 9 8:42
Mile 10 8:53 (1:26:54)- I think somewhere around here I stopped, waited in line for my first pit stop! (I stopped my watch, so I could see my actual running time and splits.) I had to catch up with Rory and Ray!
Mile 11 –13 I messed up on my mile splits but by mile 13, but on my watch read 1:55:00 flat. (I knew I’d have to pick it up for the restroom minutes.)
By this time we were moving off the strip and out into the city. I could feel myself slowing down, not realizing we were gradually moving up hill. I was getting hungry and Ray gave me a Shot Block. Mile 14 was 9:
32, Mile 15 9:19, I again messed up my splits by either pressing it too soon or too late because I couldn’t hear the beep alerting me of each completed mile.
But at this point I was slowing down big time, I could feel the fatigue settling in again and I felt the urge to use to the rest room. “Where’s a port-a potty when you need one?” I was doing around 10 minute miles, and trudged along- Dang it and I had felt so good!
At Mile 20 I was at 3:07:03, way off the 3-hour goal for 20!
But an amazing thing happened I got a second wind! At mile 20 we turned around and headed back towards the strip. W
hen we turned around a heavy weight lifted and I realized we were now going down hill! “No wonder I was going so slow, and felt so horrible, it’s amazing what a little incline can do to a fatigued runner.”
Mile 21 9:57, Mile 22 9:35 (3:26:08) I was finally picking it up again. Four miles to go Yay! During the marathon I thought of what my new friend Mark said, “Break up the marathon into four 10k’s and then a little less than a 5k.” His words rattled around in my head as I passed each mark, 6.2, 12.4, 18.6, I actually stretched out the 3rd 10k to 20 miles and thought- I have only a 10k to go! It really does help when you break it up like that. Not to think of all the miles you have done, only what you have left of each segment!
Mile 23 9:36, Mile 24 took us back up hill and down again. I could see the Luxor and the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Mile 24 9:46, Mile 25 10:21, Mile 26 10:01. Finally sensing that it would soon be over! I again felt overwhelmed with emotion. As I ran towards the finish line with Ray I saw my son and my dad waiting for me. I shout
ed, “I love you!” as I passed to finish short of my goal time but never the less to finish, faster than I have ever gone as an adult. 4:08:37 on my Garmin at average 9:25 min miles. If, I wouldn’t have drank coffee, if I wouldn’t have this, or that- No excuses! I fell short on the 2nd half of my marathon; I realize that now. But I have to remember every experience is a learning experience. And so far every marathon has been, I have learned that I can endure a lot more than I thought I could, ESPECIALLY THE COLD!
Having friends there to help you along is always great too, I realize that yeah, I could have ran this thing by myself but it was a lot more fun with friends to laugh and talk to along the way! Am I too ambitious going for a sub 4 marathon? Maybe, maybe not, only time will tell. I had a heck of a great time and I would definitely do it again!
Well I guess I can still celebrate, so here’s to the average marathon runner
and the thrill of 26.2.
Official Final time: 4:13:43
Thank you Ray, Rory and Mark for a great time in Vegas—Jackie congratulations on running 3:53 and knocking it out of the park!
