It just so happened that the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon was the Sunday of our big Vegas adventure. And I love me some marathons. Seriously, I can't tear myself away. I walked around all day Saturday being very jealous of the runners with their bags from the Expo, and of the people waiting to go eat their big pasta dinners.
Sol is training for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January and needed to run 17 miles this weekend--what better way to do it than with thousands of other runners down the strip? The weather was perfect for running and the course was the flattest I've seen. I've never been to a Rock and Roll marathon and it was pretty cool. There was lots of music and Elvis impersonators and bars giving our beer. Silly.
Here's Sol, from our room with the course behind him. It was early. Isn't he handsome?
My plan was to run 7 or 8 miles and then stop... but I couldn't. I mean, the finish line was just so close and all I could think was: "If I finish, I get a MEDAL." (Say that in your best Kevin from the Office voice.) So I went ahead and ran 13.1 miles. And got a medal. And then I took an ice bath (I'm fully clothed in there.) Sol did not take an ice bath. He was a major wimp.
For the only time I can ever remember, I ran without a watch. I don't know my splits, I just ran at a pace that was comfortable. I think my finish time was somewhere around 2:17, which is great for a 21 week pregnant lady who decided to run the race halfway through. I love marathons. The end.
Ooooh aren't the Rock 'n' Roll races fun??? I am so excited they opened one up in Savannah, GA...about an hour from me and I am so excited to run it next year! I don't know how you ran 13.1 when you were pregnant...I can hardly get my pregnant butt off the couch! Way to go!!
ReplyDeletei'm confused. Did you register for this race? Did you take the medal without registering?
ReplyDeleteDear Lauren, I did not register. I drank their water and stole their medal. I was a bandit. I'm deeply ashamed.
ReplyDeleteHaha I love that you were a medal bandit. Whatever you totally deserve it for running that fast and far while pregnant.
ReplyDeleteyou are freaking ridiculous. i can't run to the bathroom without peeing on myself.
ReplyDeleteand also i love that you did not register...you are my kinda gal.
ReplyDeleteNato. Man, I have no idea how I did it without peeing my pants. At this point, I normally get pretty antsy to go to the bathroom around 3 miles. By the time I was 7 months pregnant last time, I would have to pee by the end of the driveway.
ReplyDeleteLauren, Elizabeth, Nato. On not registering for the race, a few words... under normal circumstances I would NEVER run a race without registering. When I had tried to qualify for Boston and failed several times, friends would tell me to just run it bandit (without registering). I would never, ever do that. Races are difficult to manage and organize and it's important to have an accurate count of the racers. (I also wanted to qualify--its an elite race and I want an official time and number and all that.) However, I knew the Vegas race existed about 36 hours before it started and I didn't plan on finishing the half until halfway through the race. I drank a minimal amount of water and didn't eat any of their post-race snacks. I definitely did not get a shirt which, in my opinion, is worth the whole entry fee. I did get a medal... and in my defense, they didn't check to see if I had a number, they just put it around my neck. They order extra for fools like me, and a solid amount of people didn't finish because they closed the course after 4.5 hours. And in the grand balance of the marathon world, I am registered for the ridiculously priced WDW Marathon and am only planning on running half. The circle is complete. WHEW.
And the medal isn't going to be displayed with my other ones--I'm not sure where Sol put it. In all honesty, I got it for him. I thought he might want it because he ran further than me, and I thought it might make him laugh.
The end.
Although I'm concerned about your new bandit running habit, I'm even more concerned that you, 21 weeks pregnant, can run 13.1 miles faster than I can. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you know I wasn't scolding you! Pretty funnnnnnnny...pregnant ladies can pull it off. I'm just jealous you can run a half on a whim and think you should keep going until you can't go any more :)
ReplyDeleteAmen sister. I mean it literally.
ReplyDeleteThat is AWESOME. I've been hemming and hawing about whether or not to try to run my first one this May before I turn 30. What motivation you are, Rachel!
ReplyDeleteok...am I the only one feeling bad for my adorable grandson being subjected to an ice bath? Good for you Rae, but keep my grandbaby warm. :-)
ReplyDeleteVery funny mom... there wasn't much water in the tub, it was below belly level. And I wrapped him in the towel. :)
ReplyDeleteChrista--DO IT!!! They are a blast. Halfs are the perfect lengthy for sane people.
Lauren--Of course. I just didn't want people who don't know me well to think I make a habit of crashing races. Not my style at all. I love to shell out hundreds of bucks to run many miles. It makes total sense!