I have never competed athletically with another person in my life. That changed after a first round with the Burning Runner at the inaugural Los Angeles Rock'n'Roll Half marathon. After reading his article Burning Runner: Battling the Barefoot Runner , I was intrigued with the idea of running into my opponent for a second unexpected match, of course at the capital of glamorous sparring matches - Las Vegas. I could just see his next article "The Burning Runner vs. the Barefoot Runner - the Rematch". He was shooting for an aggressive 1:30 time, but I was up for the challenge.
This would be the last of three half marathons spaced just 3 weeks apart: RnR LA, Silverstrand, and finally RnR Vegas. I've read of runners successfully racing 3 back to back half marathons, and sometimes making personal records on the second, so I thought why not. The timing was perfect too, because my training program for the Boston marathon was to begin two weeks later.
Since this was Vegas and a Rock'n'Roll race, to make this experience a little more interesting, I thought I would spice it up with a wild man outfit, with nothing on but a skimpy loincloth, a bone necklace, and a wild wig.
A few days before the race, I find out my opponent was down from an injury.I was disappointed that my main reason for doing Vegas was now out of the race, but I also felt bad for my running comrade. I know the Ol' Inury Fandango too well. I can't imagine his disappointment.
Well, the hotel was booked, the registration was paid, the vacation time was approved, and I had other goals to accomplish - I was going to Sin City.
Sin City had me at hello. As soon I saw the lights, the sexy billboards, the outdoor TV screens the size of football fields, all the brand new hotel/casinos, the chinking slot machines, and spending a 3 day weekend with my barefoot running buddy Rob (also running the race), how could I not let my hair down and think of FUN. I paid a little extra to book a room for 3 nights at the Luxor, which was conveniently situated right across the street from the starting line.Of course I had to sign up for the all-day buffets and spa. That combined with late night clubbing, drinking, sight-seeing, ... Do you know where this is going?
The alarm clock blares at 5:30am race day morning. I hit the snooze button thinking the starting line is right across the street. The race doesn't start until 7. I have time. I finally roll out of bed at 5:45, quickly shower, eat, and dying for a cup of coffee, but the line for Starbucks looked about 20 minutes long. I ran into my first problem at 6:00am - a wardrobe malfunction with my costume. My bone necklace was not cooperating. We finally leave the hotel room 6:20am. With the crowds, the walk to the starting line took longer than I expected. We ran whenever we could on the sidelines to inch forward faster.
We still had to get to gear check, which I had no idea was. When we finally got to gear check, the line was unexpectedly unbelievably long. While waiting in line, I transformed from running sweats into my Wildman costume with everyone around me watching. I heard my first few OMGs of the day. I finished just as I reached the gear check table. I was now almost naked and it was only 44 degrees out. I knew there was no time for a warm-up run or stretching. Just as I turned around to leave the table, the gun went off. I uttered MY first OMG. I was supposed to be in the first corral, which was on the other side of the horse shoe. With a slow stampede of 28,000 people I knew my chance of catching up with my pace group was lost.
I spent the first few miles dodging between people to try stay at pace and attempt to catch up. I expended a lot of energy with the zigzagging and lost time with the constant sudden braking behind groups of people. But there was a silver lining. The countless shouts of omg, you're my hero, wow, caveman, Tarzan, nice, Geico, smiles, cheers, and slow building chuckles of amazement, while I like a gazelle gracefully and quickly sped passed more than 27,000 runners barefoot in a loincloth. The energy I felt from everyone was overwhelming, and helped powered me through until I reached a comfortable pace group halfway through the race.
At mile 7, I decided to do the chocolate GU I carried in the ball of my hand the whole way. A runner came up to me and said, "I'm not even going to ask where that came from". I laughed with him and afterwards realized the inside of my mouth was covered with GU and there was no water station in sight. You would think after all the races I've run I would have learned by now not to GU until I see water ahead. At mile 9, I realized the mile timers displayed lapsed time instead of the split times which I had scribbled on the underside of my forearm for a 1:32 half marathon, so I had no idea how I was doing and if I needed to slow down or speed up.Yes, I decided since my opponent was out, I was going to shoot for a more realistic 1:32 instead of a 1:30. But at this point the toll from having to catch up earlier started to take its effect. Even a 1:32 was probably out of reach. I decided to just focus on working the costume, playing the crowds, and having some fun.
It was a little strange seeing the Mandalay Hotel in the distance, which I knew was the finish line. It was encouraging, but also a little daunting because I knew it was still 3 miles away. Unfortunately, I didn't have the drive nor the strength to do the same last mile sprint I had done in the last two half marathons. In fact, my leg started to cramp the last 1/4 mile stretch into the finish line, which I struggled to overcome. But when the announcer saw me and I heard theOMG, slow build-up of excitement in his voice, it energized me, and I knew at that momentI hadran a great race. And knowing that "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas", I let out from deep-within, a guttural Tarzan Wildman scream while crossing thefinish line.
This would be the last of three half marathons spaced just 3 weeks apart: RnR LA, Silverstrand, and finally RnR Vegas. I've read of runners successfully racing 3 back to back half marathons, and sometimes making personal records on the second, so I thought why not. The timing was perfect too, because my training program for the Boston marathon was to begin two weeks later.
Since this was Vegas and a Rock'n'Roll race, to make this experience a little more interesting, I thought I would spice it up with a wild man outfit, with nothing on but a skimpy loincloth, a bone necklace, and a wild wig.
A few days before the race, I find out my opponent was down from an injury.I was disappointed that my main reason for doing Vegas was now out of the race, but I also felt bad for my running comrade. I know the Ol' Inury Fandango too well. I can't imagine his disappointment.
Well, the hotel was booked, the registration was paid, the vacation time was approved, and I had other goals to accomplish - I was going to Sin City.
Sin City had me at hello. As soon I saw the lights, the sexy billboards, the outdoor TV screens the size of football fields, all the brand new hotel/casinos, the chinking slot machines, and spending a 3 day weekend with my barefoot running buddy Rob (also running the race), how could I not let my hair down and think of FUN. I paid a little extra to book a room for 3 nights at the Luxor, which was conveniently situated right across the street from the starting line.Of course I had to sign up for the all-day buffets and spa. That combined with late night clubbing, drinking, sight-seeing, ... Do you know where this is going?
The alarm clock blares at 5:30am race day morning. I hit the snooze button thinking the starting line is right across the street. The race doesn't start until 7. I have time. I finally roll out of bed at 5:45, quickly shower, eat, and dying for a cup of coffee, but the line for Starbucks looked about 20 minutes long. I ran into my first problem at 6:00am - a wardrobe malfunction with my costume. My bone necklace was not cooperating. We finally leave the hotel room 6:20am. With the crowds, the walk to the starting line took longer than I expected. We ran whenever we could on the sidelines to inch forward faster.
We still had to get to gear check, which I had no idea was. When we finally got to gear check, the line was unexpectedly unbelievably long. While waiting in line, I transformed from running sweats into my Wildman costume with everyone around me watching. I heard my first few OMGs of the day. I finished just as I reached the gear check table. I was now almost naked and it was only 44 degrees out. I knew there was no time for a warm-up run or stretching. Just as I turned around to leave the table, the gun went off. I uttered MY first OMG. I was supposed to be in the first corral, which was on the other side of the horse shoe. With a slow stampede of 28,000 people I knew my chance of catching up with my pace group was lost.
I spent the first few miles dodging between people to try stay at pace and attempt to catch up. I expended a lot of energy with the zigzagging and lost time with the constant sudden braking behind groups of people. But there was a silver lining. The countless shouts of omg, you're my hero, wow, caveman, Tarzan, nice, Geico, smiles, cheers, and slow building chuckles of amazement, while I like a gazelle gracefully and quickly sped passed more than 27,000 runners barefoot in a loincloth. The energy I felt from everyone was overwhelming, and helped powered me through until I reached a comfortable pace group halfway through the race.
At mile 7, I decided to do the chocolate GU I carried in the ball of my hand the whole way. A runner came up to me and said, "I'm not even going to ask where that came from". I laughed with him and afterwards realized the inside of my mouth was covered with GU and there was no water station in sight. You would think after all the races I've run I would have learned by now not to GU until I see water ahead. At mile 9, I realized the mile timers displayed lapsed time instead of the split times which I had scribbled on the underside of my forearm for a 1:32 half marathon, so I had no idea how I was doing and if I needed to slow down or speed up.Yes, I decided since my opponent was out, I was going to shoot for a more realistic 1:32 instead of a 1:30. But at this point the toll from having to catch up earlier started to take its effect. Even a 1:32 was probably out of reach. I decided to just focus on working the costume, playing the crowds, and having some fun.
It was a little strange seeing the Mandalay Hotel in the distance, which I knew was the finish line. It was encouraging, but also a little daunting because I knew it was still 3 miles away. Unfortunately, I didn't have the drive nor the strength to do the same last mile sprint I had done in the last two half marathons. In fact, my leg started to cramp the last 1/4 mile stretch into the finish line, which I struggled to overcome. But when the announcer saw me and I heard theOMG, slow build-up of excitement in his voice, it energized me, and I knew at that momentI hadran a great race. And knowing that "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas", I let out from deep-within, a guttural Tarzan Wildman scream while crossing thefinish line.
