I think this was my fourth running of the Rock N’Roll Las Vegas ½ Marathon. Is it bad that I’ve lost count? With all this documentation of my races you’d think this would be an easy task for me. I just updated my race schedule with my finish times and races more races I have scheduled for 2011. Something tells me it will be handy to look back on the dates, times and locations of all these events.
What I WAS clear about in prepping for the Vegas ½ was the fact that this would be my sixth race in the ½ Marathon-a-month project. Running a ½ Marathon and being ½ way to my goal of running one a month for a year. It seemed weirdly “right” in my head.
What also seemed “right” was the idea that I needed to run a ½ Marathon. I’ve gotten to the point in the process where I’ve moved from “I SHOULD run a ½ marathon this month because you can’t give up this early.” To “Ok. It’s time to run a ½ Marathon now.” I’m not saying that it’s any easier to run the 13.1 miles. It just feels like the flywheel is spinning, I’ve created momentum and stopping now would just be odd.
I think this is also why I haven’t been highly motivated to write my race update. I made a video too. Running the ½ Marathon seemed like such a normal thing to do that I couldn’t find the hook in my story. Don’t get me wrong. I had a great time in Vegas. It was Vegas people. I was also surrounded friends who joined me for the final race of the year. I had 10 fellow runners join me out on the course (two impressively finished their first Full Marathon) and other friends who played the part of the cheerleading section. We were non-stop play from the moment we hit the ground on Friday night to the crawl to back to the airport on Sunday. I’ll still be back next year as the entertainment around the race is worth every step. Maybe you should come with us next time?
Where was I? Ah yes, the race. Again, I’m stuck for something interesting to say. The running Elvi were out in force and several couples taking advantage of the run through wedding chapel. I didn’t have a personal record but then didn’t have a bad race either. Is this what momentum is?
So I won’t go on any more about Vegas but look towards the races scheduled for next year. I’m already booked to run the Los Angeles 13.1 in January and have two ½’s scheduled for February. One race starts literally a mile from my front door, the other in Austin Texas. I’m particularly excited about the Austin race. My 13 year old nephew Gus is running his first distance race with me. He’s quite the athlete so I don’t think 13.1 miles is going to be much trouble for him. Frankly, my guess is if I let him run by himself he’d beat the pants off me. We haven’t discussed logistics yet so we’ll see what happens. Either way, I’m thrilled to be part of this experience for him.
I’ve got all sorts of other events scheduled for 2011. The Marathon leg for the Vineman Ironman Triathlon you already know about. I’m also putting a team together to run a 199 mile relay race from Calistoga, CA to Santa Cruz, CA.
Ha! I think I just found my “hook”. What happened at the Las Vegas ½ Marathon? I think I finally became an athlete in my own head. Who knew?
PS. Finishing time 2:18:44.
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