Ok let's do diz!....
3 Hours before Gun Start
Good morning, Vegas! I was asleep by 9:30pm the night before and was awake by 3:30am. I actually woke up before my alarm! Excited much? My gear was all organized and laid out already so it just took me a few minutes to get in them. I ran downstairs and had a piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter sprinkled with flaxseed, a banana and a cup of coffee. I actually brought my own food with me. Didn't want to take the risk of "trying something new".Eating my banana in front of my aunt's bare Christmas Tree.
The Mandalay Bay
We left for Mandalay Bay (where the Start & Finish Line were) at exactly 5am. Parking wasn't a problem, but we did have to walk through the hotel to where the start line was, which I didn't mind since I needed the warm up. The weather wasn't as cold as I had expected, so I decided to just wear 2 layers over my Nike Tank Top and my favorite Nike golf visor which Mike is begging me to throw away already.The dawn of an awesome day for me and many others!
We were early so we went back inside the hotel where it was nice and warm and where all the other road racers were. Sprawled on the floor and doing their stretching exercises. I decided to follow suit. It was nice to people watch as well, since a LOT of runners where in wacky costumes.
Here's a photo of a bride and groom that were gonna get married during the course of the race (yes a lot of couples did the same thing) with some men and women in Elvis Costumes.
30 minutes before the gun start, Mike and I held hands and prayed. We asked for God's guidance and for Him to lay his hand on my right knee so it will not bother me during my run.
At Corral 22
There were 30 corrals all in all. When I registered, I was ambitious to think that I could finish it by 5:15. Hence, Corral 22. But later on, I decided that I just wanted to enjoy the course being that it is my first. I do not want to get pressured by time. No time to beat here. I just want to feel the distance. But I did, however, wanted to make it before the 5:30 cut-off.We stayed there for a while and met a fellow Filipino runner, Victor. He's visiting from Manila and is also a member of the biggest running community (and my running family) there known as, takbo.ph. He was in Corral 19. It was also his first marathon.
Filipinos Reprezentin'!
And he also took a photo of Mike and I
Mike stayed with me by my corral until gun start. We held hands the whole time and I could also feel his excitement. Even before it all started he looked so proud of me already. =) It was still relatively cold outside. My body felt alright but my hands and feet felt icy cold.
Look at all the runners! Can you see me? ;p
The start line. When I crossed this I remember hitting the start button on my Garmin and saying to myself, "this is it!"
Mile 1 to 6
I reminded myself to NOT run like a maniac during the start. It was easy to get all excited and carried away by those that do along side of you. It was easy, steady running for the first mile until I eased into my planned pace. I felt I also had to soak it all in.
I was freakin' running the Vegas Strip! I used to just walk this (and I remember feeling really tired back then) whenever I would visit, but I never thought I'd run on it. How cool is that? On our right we first passed the Tropicana, then MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Bally's, Flamingo then Harrah's.
By Mile 6, I already tossed my $1 gloves from Target on the side of the road.
I reminded myself to NOT run like a maniac during the start. It was easy to get all excited and carried away by those that do along side of you. It was easy, steady running for the first mile until I eased into my planned pace. I felt I also had to soak it all in.
I was freakin' running the Vegas Strip! I used to just walk this (and I remember feeling really tired back then) whenever I would visit, but I never thought I'd run on it. How cool is that? On our right we first passed the Tropicana, then MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Bally's, Flamingo then Harrah's.
So I tucked in my tops so my race bib can be seen. Did this for the photos. It worked! That's me pretending not to see the camera. LOL!
By Mile 6, I already tossed my $1 gloves from Target on the side of the road.
After that was the Venetian where (I think) the running brides and grooms were married! I was thinking, if they had time to get married then I'll have enough time to finish this marathon!
There were actually a lot more than this! How fun, ey? It's like hitting two birds with one stone. Marathon + Marriage!
We also passed the Wynn Hotel, Riviera, Sahara, ran further down until we made a u-turn near Fremont St.
Miles 6 - 13
I remember turning right on a street staying very close to the edge until I spotted a very long table filled with GU Energy Gels on the other side of the road! The next thing I remember, I was speeding diagonally to that table and whispering, "please let there be Roctane" several times until I got there. Lo and behold, there was Roctane! There were only two kinds actually. Don't ask me what the other one was since I couldn't care less then. There was Roctane, YEY! I quickly grabbed 3. I wish I could've gotten more but I didn't know where to put them since my pouches were full.Running down the strip, we passed the Stratospehere and I almost choked on my GU when I saw a hydration table in front of a bar and they were serving BEER! Obviously, this wasn't one of the official hydration stations of the race, but I found it quite amusing. Even more amusing when some guys actually took some! Um, good luck guys!
It was also somewhere between these miles when I saw him and it cracked me up....
I called him Caveman Runner! He was sprinting on the other side of the street like a T-Rex was after him. There were a lot of Elvises, ladies in tutus, Santas, a reindeer, and rockstars but this was the coolest costume for me during the marathon. I mean seriously, how often do you see a barefoot runner in a caveman costume? I will never forget him!
We ran further down passing Fashion Show Mall, Treasure Island, Caesar's Palace, The Bellagio, Monte Carlo, New York, New York, Excalibur and Luxor. By the time we reached Mandalay Bay again, the runners on the street greatly decreased in numbers. This was the point where the ones doing the half and the whole were divided. The half on the left side heading down towards their finish line and us, doing the full, were asked to stay on the right side. We turned right on the next corner to finish the remaining 13.1 miles. It kind of became lonely out there since majority of the runners (all 19,000+ of them) did the half while only 5,000+ of us did the whole.
I finished the first half of the marathon still feeling very strong and maintaining my 6:80 pace (10:88 miles/hr).
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Ok.... so that ends Part 1 of my race report. Let's end half way, shall we? I think I've kept you long enough but I hope I somehow "took you there" with me through this post. I will be posting Part 2 tomorrow.
Thanks for patiently reading. Hope I didn't bore you half to death! LOL!
Congradulations on your first marathon. I'm sure there will be many more to come. I did my first one in Jan of this year and since then have done 3 more. It's definitely an addiction.
ReplyDeleteBite your tongue - I've been waiting for your recap and you are not boring at all!!! Can't wait for part 2!
ReplyDeleteP.S. That caveman is insane!!!
Certainly not boring, lovely stuff! Looking forward to part 2!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like SO MUCH FUN! My mom and I both LOVE Vegas, but we've never been able to visit it together b/c of scheduling probs. Your race recap makes me want to do this marathon next year and bring my mom to cheer me on (and gamble).
ReplyDeleteYou kicked butt in part 1! can't wait for part 2!
Congrats, Julie! I can't wait to read Part 2.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Caveman Runner. I wonder if he grew his hair out all year just for this race?
Run on.
Nice...I'll be back tomorrow to see how this turns out.
ReplyDeleteim excited for part 2 already! cant wait! :) was w/ carina, marga and mccoy last tuesday. we miss you!
ReplyDeleteLove it - and can't wait for part 2!
ReplyDeleteCaveman guy literally made me lol -- great pics.
This is awesome!!
ReplyDeleteLove all the photos!
Vegas looks like a blast!!
love reading this!!!
ReplyDeletelove the pics!!!
caveman....dont love as much!! creepy!!!
I'm loving your race report. Not boring at all. I can't wait until tomorrow to see how it ends :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pics!!!
I'm loving the caveman runner. You can see some crazy stuff out there.
bahahah to caveman runner! sounds like a great race so far :)
ReplyDeleteOnly in a Vegas marathon will you see running Elvis weddings and Cavemen...ha ha! That must have been so hilarious!
ReplyDeleteSo far, so good! It sounds like you had a great time. And caveman runner is killing me!
ReplyDeleteYou're right! I called him Tarzan, but I think Caveman is the correct descriptor. :)
ReplyDeleteWe HAD to have been near each other on the course. Do you remember what the clock time said when you crossed the finish? Yes, you finished with a faster chip time, but I started a few corrals ahead of you. We couldn't have been far from each other at the finish!
Between the Caveman Runner and the Beer Station it sounds like it was quite the marathon! lol I can't wait to read the rest!
ReplyDeleteWow, it sounds like you had a lot of fun! You are killing me with the series of updates! Haha, I can't wait to read the next one!!!! Nice job on the first half. :)
ReplyDeleteI bet there were at least 3 spots with beer at White Rock and 1 spot with jello shots (now THAT is insanity). A lot of people actually took the beer. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCannot WAIT to hear the rest of the race report!!!
congrats hun! u did so well.
ReplyDeletecant wait to read the rest of the recap!
hope ur recovery goes well!
I can't believe some people get married during a marathon! Looking forward to part 2!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! It's been nice to read several different recaps-neat to see what each of us thought was good/enjoyed/didn't etc from the race. Hope to get to doing my recap tomorrow. hate that we couldn't meet up-maybe another race in the future!
ReplyDeletelooking forward to part 2. Caveman runner = too cool.
ReplyDeletegreat report
You are KILLING me....Jack Bauer voice or not.
ReplyDeleteAnyway....that part of the ONLY 5000+ is a group you are now a part of. A very small group that faces the marathon challenge and completes it.
That is a pretty awesome group to be a part of.
Now post the 2nd 1/2 already.
You took me there alright! LOVE IT! Thanks for the details - can't wait to hear the rest! ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome, Julie!!! It looked so much fun out there in LV. :)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy and humbled to have shared December 5, 2010 with you.
Big Hug!!!
So far so good!!!! Can't wait for part II!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a very colorful race so far! I totally pretend I don't see the camera too. :0
ReplyDeleteBitin! hahaha!!! ang generous nila sa roctane ha, lol! Can't wait to read your part 2 ;) So proud of you!
ReplyDeleteQuit stringing me along!! How did it end?! Tell us about crossing the finish line!!! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun first marathon! The photo of the caveman made me laugh!
ReplyDeleteHow cold was it?
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone =)
ReplyDelete@Andrew: sent you an email =)