Saturday, December 08, 2007

Who is crazy? Las Vegas Race.

It started on Saturday wit Santa Clause 5K run.
For me the most important event of the Vegas trip happened one day before the Marathon. My Dear Wife was participating in Santa Clause 5K run, in an attempt to break World Record for largest Santa gathering. 7269 Santas participated. It was great event. I am proud of my wife doing this race without a lot of training due to injuries.

Before the race with small bells provided by organizers:


Shortly after the start:


She is somewhere:




Finish:

More pictures from Santa Clause race.



Sunday. It was shortly after 5 a.m.
The elevator was full of runners, as we exited more runners from different directions headed toward exit. Race would start at 6 a.m.
Casino on the lower level of the hotel was full of players. How crazy you have to be to enjoy gambling so late at night?
On the other hand you could see the look in the eyes of players thinking how crazy you must be to go out for run so early in the morning.


It was fun. My final training before the race.
I enjoyed meeting with my virtual, known only from web forum, friends on Saturday night. I met a lot of new friends. I was able to speak to some. I am sorry I didn't have time to speak with all of you - I am sure there will be another time.
Shortie I am sorry if I was frustrated to much when we were stuck in traffic on the way to the hotel. I run to my room, my wife left me my ticket. It was 7:57. Andreas Bocielli concert was starting at 8 p.m. I run fast - about 1 mile from Luxor to MGM Concert Hall - via internal hallways. It was my final training before the race. It wouldn't be so bad if I had my running shoes Smile I entered the Concert Hall around 8:20 - the program started with delay so I didn't miss a lot. Second part of the concert was fantastic.

Goal. My second training session.
After I set my PB at Niagara Half I wanted to go to Vegas without any time goals. A few days later when all pain was gone, and my running felt great I have decided to go for PB again. I trained hard for it.
I had to correct my plans when I contracted viral infection on Tuesday in Vegas. I needed to rest but we were doing tours to the Death Valley, Zion and Red Rocks. We went to the Canyon in the Zion Park. After half an hour of walk without jacket I realized that this Canyon doesn't get the sun, water was freezing on the walls, and my hands started to freeze also. I knew only one way to warm up. I did run to the end of the Canyon and than all the way to the start, total approximately 2 km. It was my second training session.




Race.
I started strong. All fireworks and great number of people cheering on the Strip helped a lot. I stopped coughing and I felt great. I was hopping to get a PB. Around 2nd kilometer I have spotted orange RM shirt in front of me. I moved closer and met Dwayne, we chatted for a kilometer or two. It felt great to run with another maniac. I realized that his breathing was so quiet compared to mine, but I was still aiming for PB. I didn't miss the split between the full and the half, but my breathing become much heavier. After 10th kilometer I wasn't able to hold my pace - I was drifting back. It felt like I was near moving sidewalk, with other runners using it Smile
I though that I will be able to get on pace starting with kilometer 11, 12, 13..., but I didn't have it in me this time.

I crossed the finish line and started coughing for 5 minutes, realizing that I am not the only person doing that, there are more sick or .... crazy people



Clock Time 01:46:05
Chip Time 01:45:54
Results

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