Something happened it Vegas.
I didn’t plan on it, I didn’t see it coming and I’m going to blame it on what I have since been referring to as “light steroids.” The neon glow of the strip was simply intoxicating and pushed my naïve legs to a race finish that I’m pretty happy about. Here’s how it all went down (warning: this is an abnormally long report for a half):
The medal glows in the dark. Awesome.
When someone tells you you’re racing the Las Vegas strip at night, you simply cannot race without excessive sparkle. Call it trite, call it cheesy, whatever, I call it kick ass.
With my sparkle shorts, neon ponytail thing-a-ma-jig, and orange arm warmers, I looked like a rainbow threw up, but I was ready for the race. Aron and I couldn’t resist the pre-race outfit shot:
Next, we had to get to the race start, which was on the completely opposite side of the strip. Shuttle? We don’t need no stinkin’ shuttle.
Aron and I met up with XLMIC, Beth and Beth’s friend (hello friend from Colorado) to hop in a cab and hit the back route to make it to the start of the race. This strategy proved to be a wise choice as we found secret port-a-potties with zero line.
After the first of three pre-race potty stops, we set out for the gear check, which I am disappointed to say, was an absolute mad house. Not only was it poorly marked and hidden far in the back of a hotel where thousands of people had to funnel through two small doors creating the all-too-familiar can of sardines scenario. Marjorie and I hustled through the crowd to drop off our bags, race back out to meet Aron and somehow squeeze into a corral.
When we finally got into a corral, we felt yet again like gross fish packed too tight, but at least we found our way into corral five and not back in corral 26! By this time, the sky had grown dark, the lights of the city lit up the sky and the Rock ‘N Roll team had definitely made this race an official production. Live commentators projected onto a big screen, flashing green laser lights shining bright about the crowd, and music blaring heightened my energy and the adrenaline started to kick in.
Before we knew it we were counting down to the race start. A hug goodbye and headphones in — we were off.
From that moment on, I just ran in a daze. You know that stupid look tourists get on their face when they’re walking down the street eyeing all of the over-the-top Vegas sights? Yes, that was me. The only difference was the fact that I was running. In the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard. In sparkly shorts (and no, they didn’t chafe).
The course is an out and back on the strip, with miles five through eight in what I’ll call the Las Vegas “not so pretty” area. The first four miles on the strip were smooth sailing. With no strategy in mind, I just ran what felt like a fun clip. I could tell I was pushing myself and that I might want to consider saving myself from a complete disaster come miles nine and ten, but what the hell, I just wanted to have fun. Who knows what could happen.
Once we made our way to the “not so pretty” part, we basically wove in and out of who knows where in the dark. I made sure to watch my footing and to start eating the Gu Chomps that were in the race bag. So there I was, chomping away on the only fuel that I brought with me, when only two chews down, my butterfingers made a major fumble and the convenient little pack slipped out of my hands, hit the ground and crushed my soul. I felt like I was moving too quickly to stop and would lose my momentum if I were to go back and pick them up. I muttered profanities, shook my fist in the air and proceeded to lament the demise of my race.
Oh but wait, 30 second later I felt someone tap me on my shoulder. I turned around and some man had picked up my chomps and ran to me to give them. Shocked at probably the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me during a race, I started shouting THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU over and over again. So to the guy who returned my precious little babies, if you are reading this, thanks for saving me. You’ve done your good deed for the year.
I have to admit, throughout the “not so pretty” part, I started to get bored. I could see the sparkling lights of the strip beckoning me to come back. This was when I had to focus on my pace because when I get bored I easily lose it. Just get to the strip…
Once we reached the Stratoshpere, I knew we were back in the game. I glanced down at my watch and hot damn, I might have a chance at this thing. So I forwarded to a good song, turned up the volume and refused to let my tired legs start to get the best of me. Along the way, I saw Emily and Sarah whose awesome spectating skills were just what I needed!
By mile 11, my legs and stomach started to revolt. Perhaps this is when the pre-race dance party and drinking decided to come back and haunt me. It became a solid mental effort to get to the finish without slowing down too much, or letting the beer get the best of me. I pushed to the end where we were met with a very cool and very Vegas-esque finish: glowing lights, music and all. I glanced down at my watch and shocked myself.
1:33:11 / 7:07 pace
Overall: 452 out of 33,123 · Division: 9 out of 3,177 · Gender: 75 out of 21,051
It’s my third best half time and given my injury and work time off, I was pleasantly surprised.
After the race, I met up with the rest of the girls for some more mug shots in space blankets.
Sarah, Monica, Aron, me and Janae
Overall, this was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a long time – I needed it in more ways than you could imagine. I not only got to spend the entire weekend with what might be the nicest person on earth (ehem, Aron), but I got to meet some incredible new people that I look forward to having many more adventures with.
So what did I learn from the Rock ‘N Roll Las Vegas Strip at Night Half Marathon?
- Pre-race dance parties are an excellent alternative for a shake-out run
- The content of carbo-loading is purely up to your imagination (yes, beer works)
- Running at night isn’t that bad. I just need to shut up and man up
- Making races vacations with friends is HIGHLY recommended
- Everyone must do this race (the half, not the full) at least once in their life
- Never be afraid to through your plan out the window and just see what you’ve got
Did you race this weekend? How did it go? Would you race Vegas?
Happy Running!
I am so glad your shorts did not chafe! That might have sucked beyond Denny’s. What an awesome job you did on this race…especially with so many unknowns! You are incredible!
Congrats on a great race — and congrats on letting loose and having a super fun weekend! You deserved it!! 🙂
Awesome!!!!! I was bummed that I didn’t improve my time. Killed first 8 miles then had to walk a bit. 🙁 look forward to following you on your next journey!
You always smash it! WTG Paige. Looks like everyone had a great race. From what Ive heard about RnRLV when it was during the morning was that is was also cold and had some plain (read boring) parts. But, overall, people generally had good finish times. Looks like you all had a blast!
Awesome job! I can’t believe those shorts didn’t shred your legs with the sequins 🙂
I’m glad to hear about your great experience! I was so bummed Sunday morning seeing everyones tweets about prepping for RnRLV, then I was even more bummed Sunday night hearing about how so many runners were cursing this race, and swearing they’d never run it again. I was really hoping to run it next year, and your post has confirmed one thing… run the half, not the full! 🙂
Congrats on the great race – the shorts were perfect to Vegas and gotta love the guy who decided to save your Chomps for you!
Congratulations on an awesome time in such awesome shorts! And I completely agree that beer is a good carb load option.
I loved reading this so so very much, I have been waiting patiently for it. Girl, you ROCKED that race. I had that same look on my face….we make the best tourists. Is it weird that i really liked the not so pretty looking part…maybe that is because the pancakes were finally starting to digest. Dance parties are the best way to get pumped up for a race. Um, see you SOON!! PS I need dates etc. LOVE YOU!
Congrats on a speedy race!
I think you’ve got this base of awesomeness — you can hit any race without training, just after an injury or busy work period, and your base ability is still so killer! Or….maybe it was the sparkly shorts.
26 corrals!? For real, it was that crowded? I don’t think I would run this race. I don’t know if I am at risk of being a spoiler, but I’m on pins and needles to learn more about a certain 5k that may or may not have been run this weekend as well…
Congrats! Sounds like so much fun!
You totally smoked it! Congrats on pushing through – would have been so easy to say ‘ehhh, I’m in Vegas, partied a bit, it’s night-time and blah blah blah so I am going to take it easy’ but you totally gave it what you had and ran a killer race! Look at those standings!!!
No chafing?? Awesome, I was actually worried about you.
And 1:33??? ANIMAL. You were hauling ass when you blew by me and slapped me on the butt.
Great meeting you this weekend, we’ll have to do it again somewhere someday!
What a great race! You are one speedy chickie! I love that you just went with the flow, had fun, and let loose on the race course. That’s how I’ve been racing for almost a year now, and it’s so much more fun. I can’t wait to see your racing continue in 2012!
You are an amazinggggggggggggggg runner, I loved getting to brag for you the rest of the weekend 😉 yah you know my friend Page, she is FAST!
Seriously though, this was the best weekend and so much of that is because it was with you! Thank you for being my buddy <3
Sounds like a great weekend! Glad you could run a fast time and have tons of fun.
What a great recap! Congrats on an amazing race and it sounds like a fantastic weekend! Reading your recap is making me will my sore legs to recover faster… I want to move again! 🙂
wow you are faaaast! You know this is the only race report I’ve read that hasn’t had mild to horrible comments in it. Hope the race was super smooth for you. or if not, you just looked on the bright side. 🙂
dude i need you to pace me for a half marathon. and teach me the ways of the sparkly shorts. i want.
1. JEALOUS
2. CONGRATS
Perhaps there should have been a different order to that but I’ve been crying in my kleenex box all weekend reading y’alls tweets and posts- I definitely want in on the next big racecation event! 🙂 Glad it went well and y’all had a great time.
Woohoo Great race! Sounds like you girls had so much fun! Glad the night race worked out for you!
Congrats! That race seemed especially tough and FUN!!
Wow congrats on a great race! Looks like you had an awesome weekend! Just out of curiosity, why would you recommend the half but not the full?
The full course looked awful and a majority of it took place in the “boring” part. Plus, the amount of full runners that complained that they ran into a mass of half marathoners sounded pretty atrocious.
Also, after a weekend in Vegas, the last thing you really want to do is a full 😉
Awesome job!!!! Please tell me it was all the work you did in the pool that paid off…
I’d consider Vegas, but only the half. It does sound crowded though!
congrats on an awesome race! it’s amazing what the body will do without all that pressure : ) glad you had a fun weekend, you deserve it!