Rock and Roll Marathon Race Report
Tory Klementsen, MCP A+
For the first inaugural Las Vegas RnR there was good, there was bad, and there was ugly. The good was that the course was very fun on the strip. We started at an early COLD 6:15 a.m. although our corral didn't cross the starting line for at least 40 minutes or so. The great thing was, they made sure everyone got a great sendoff with a showgirl and a white tiger. I missed that Cher sang that national anthem, doggone it, but how cool!
I ran with my good friend, Marie, the entire way. At the beginning I was not feeling great. Not bad, but just not "Yay! Let's run a marathon, and I suspect it was lack of coffee. Seriously. I hadn't had coffee! I also had no Espresso Love Gu! Started off running a mile, walking a minute which seemed to work well. I think we were both hurting a bit from last weekend. Marie did back to back marathons, and I did a marathon and then half the distance the next day. I also had bad calf pain where my over-zealous massage therapist worked it too hard. So my goal was to not damage it more, have a good time, and finish feeling good enough to do another marathon next weekend.
Started out with another friend of Marie's (and now mine), Dana. She took off like a flash and we didn't see her again until we ran with her a bit at the half, then passed her. Hope she had a good run! Also didn't find Seret at the beginning like I hoped I would, but at mile 17 I passed a girl sitting on the side of the road, thought I'd see if she needed anything, saw she was just putting a bandaid on a blister, and realized that it was a girl in a green shirt wearing Vibrams and said "Seret?" I've never met her in person, so it was awesome running into her on the route! The three of us ran together for a few miles, and it was great getting to know her. We stopped for a photo opp with a particularly chatty and cute Elvis, and she kept going. Caught up with her again at the end, but then passed her. We were both feeling our wild oats by then.
The route was great, for the most part. The volunteers were not plentiful enough, but everyone was wonderful and god BLESS them for being out there on such a cold morning! They looked SO cold! The drunks on the route were an interesting touch, and one guy warned us sincerely that sexual sins were going to send us straight to hell. I guess he was unaware that generally, no sexual sins are practiced DURING a marathon...before, most likely after, but not during. I took inventory of the people around me and they all assured me they weren't performing any sexual sins. I reminded them the consequences, just in case they missed it. I know they appreciated it.
Best parts of the run: Running with Marie and Seret, the Multitude of Maniacs (I was in deep deep cover, but I still got lots of greetings and gave more), the white tiger and the fireworks at the starts, the running Elvii, the brides and grooms running together...and then not (prophetic? I hope not.) The bands were FANTASTIC except this one screamo band that sounded like the man was trying to hawk up a screaming cat that was stuck in his throat. The strip part of the route was so cool. Who gets to run down the strip? Ever? Running into the Riviera to go to the bathroom and having the doorman tell us he could tell we were "real runners" (and having no line and a warm seat). Seeing my honey at mile 9 just seconds after he got there, and getting a kiss from the best man ever. The promise that we'll return next year, we'll both run (he'll walk) and renew our vows at mile three. Whipping through the last five miles with nothing over 10:19, even with walk breaks, and three of them around 9:30. Aiming for and taking out MULTIPLE people in the last mile. Negative splits by 6 minutes. The finish line. Finding the perfect banana!
The bad: The cold was biting. The last six miles being about to see the Mandalay Bay but it not getting any closer. My calf did not like the uphills at all, but it did not get worse and the last half it felt GREAT. Water stops with no water. It looked like they didn't have enough volunteers, and some were leaving early. At one water table no one was around but one lone lady. We thanked her and she said "I'm not a volunteer. I'm a spectator, but no one was serving you!" How cool is that? So that's a "good" as well as a bad.
The ugly: The northern most part of the strip was REALLY ugly.
Overall, I had a really good time. I won't do in and out over two days next year, though. Can't wait to return and run at least the first three miles with my honey next year, and saying "I do" again. That will be the best!
Tory Klementsen, MCP A+IT Educator
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
www.journey-fitness.com
www.jfrunners.com
www.teechur.com--school website
Cris Dopher
Cris Dopher
Dino Farfante
I agree with Tory, the Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon was a great time. The volunteers did a GREAT job!
My only additional comment is the concern of rapid expansion of the Rock and Roll Marathon Franchise. The feeling was not the same as others I have run. I saw a difference in the volunteers training. This is not a reflection of the volunteers but of the people that trained them. Examples were lack of prepared water cups during the race (the volunteers were pouring the cups as you ran up which caused a delay), the finishing medals were given to the runners in a plastic bag versus put around their neck, and the after marathon wraps were not put on runners but just given to runners as they passed to put on themselves.
I hope this is not taken as complaining. My concern is just that as the RnR series rapidly expands ,it does not lose the fun and personal touch that made the marathons fun!!
Dino
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Tory Klementsen, MCP A+
Tory Klementsen, MCP A+
IT Educator
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
www.journey-fitness.com
www.jfrunners.com
www.teechur.com--school website
