Boston Bound: Sin City had me at hello
Rock n Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon
By Barefoot Glen
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 5:30 a.m. 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 6:00 a.m. - a wardrobe malfunction with my costume. My bone necklace was not cooperating. We finally leave the hotel room at 6:20 a.m. 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 where it 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 to 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, I 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.
[TJ here. I was so curious to know, as I'm sure you guys are as well, what Glen's time was, and he said it was 1:37:47. Still, quite respectable considering he had to really haul it to try to catch up with his pace group. Congrats, Glen! And BTW, you would have stomped TJ (Not me..well, I mean of course me, but I'm not TJ. Oh wait, yes I am...never mind!) even if he wasn't injured and showed up!]
Link to Glen's Video Interview with Competitor Magazine
http://bcove.me/fbh397n5(Thanks, PB!)
- Race interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal
- Rock'n'Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon photo gallery