Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Last year, I remember I ran to MGM, and was happy that I completed a mile without walking. This year, I ran 8 miles non-stop. Even though I had a small PR, but this is a HUGE improvement over last year. My endurance is getting much better. Speed will come along in time.

From the get-go, it was ABSOLUTELY crowded due to the fact so many people were in the wrong corrals, including me, so there was a lot of faster runners that WANT to run fast, and a lot of slower runners that really supposed to stay in the back (like me again). However, I was able to keep up with the crowd for a while.

The first two miles felt really slow, but it was pretty fast for me though. I ignored the mile markers. They have it set up differently. 1 mile, then 5K, then 6 miles, then 8 miles..etc. So I couldn't really set up my lap times, however, I do wished that I set my watch to lap every mile.

Anyways, after two miles, I settled down in my groove and just kept going. It was hard not to because the sheer number of people on the course. I ditched my $3.99 sweatshirt I got from Goodwill a few hours earlier, since I knew I was planning on ditching it anyways. Took off my arm warmers at about mile 3 (tied it on my spibelt...BEST thing I ever got!) I ran to get water. Took in 1/2 gel every half hour or so. Never stopped until mile 8. Last year, my legs were hurting at mile 6, then walked, but it hurt more than walking. This time was different. My legs were alright actually, but started to feel like jelly by mile 8, no soreness, yet. At this time I started to think about my secret goal...2:40. I could do it, but it all depends on how I do for the remaining 5 miles. The remaining 5 miles hurt. Ran as much as I could, and started to bargain with myself, "Reach Stratosphere, and you can walk." walk, "Reach Rivera and you can walk", walk. You get the idea. Around this time, the course was getting very crowded again because so many people are walking and while I was getting a good groove in and ignoring my small quad soreness (it took a lot of me to ignore it...it was just a little twang, not bend over pain, so I can push it. I gotta stop "stop completely when you feel little soreness). I kept weaving in and out around people, and it was driving me nuts!! MOVE people! I don't understand why a group of people (like 5 or 7 people just stop and walk in the middle of the course forcing the runners in the back to weave. MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD you F*E*@#$! I think this is where I lost a lot of time trying to weave around people at my pace, but I couldn't. My legs were good, but my feet were killing me, it felt like I was on hot coals.

Aid stations were alright, but again, it was a nice big mess. They said there will be Cytomax. Only had it once on the course, they ran out. They had gels and water, but I felt a tiny bit dizzy and some tiny cramps in my quads. Not enough electrolytes. I did buy a Nathan bottle that I can hold in my hand, but because I never ran with it before...nothing new on race day...should have done it anyway. Last year they provided salt at the start of the race, this year, none. Should have brought my own. The last 5 miles started to take a toll on me. My nose was running (just coming down with a cold, and I didn't give a hoot who was watching me, but kept wiping my nose), mental games, etc. Took me 40 minutes to do the last 5k, definitely where I could have taken off 4 minutes of my time, but way better than last year!

Finally saw the big flashing signs of Mandalay Bay...two more miles to go! My feet was hurting more than anything, I mustered up energy to just ignore it and run. Saw that I missed my time goal less than .5 mi away. Took all energy to just run faster because I just want to be done. Miscalculated the distance of the finish line. KEEP GOING KEEP GOING was my mantra, PUSH IT PUSH IT. Passed the finish line, and I was yelling, "YEEEEESSSSSSSHHHH!!"

Received my medal. Very nice looking, and it glows in the dark!

After that, legs decided NOT to work! Kept moving around and got some water, cytomax, sipped slowly as I felt like I was ready to hurl. Took in a banana, felt alright. Then...I started to feel like I'm freezing. Quickly found a space blanket and wrapped myself, but my teeth were chattering. Funny how I wore short sleeved for the majority of the race, then now I'm cold.

Went to gear check, and changed my shoes. Saw I got blister on my toe when I was massaging my feet. Started to feel better, and started to get going to my car.

Two things: More training and bring more electrolytes. I don't think the gels were enough, should have brought Shot Blocks or something besides gels.

Other than that I had a great race!

It took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to get to my car...two hours in fact. It was just NUUUUUTTTTS!! Some people were asking what hotel I was heading to. I said, Home...I live here..10 minutes away.

I stretched out my quads, but they felt fine and very flexible. I was quite surprised by this. Last year they were hurting BAD!!

After getting to the wrong parking lot at New York, New York (I was tired, and wasn't thinking), hauled ass to get to MGM. Got in my car, went out the back way and got home in 10 minutes.

Took a hot bath, chocolate milk and just reeled in on the day! I put lotion on my feet to soak overnight, and said, "Thank you feet. Thank you quads!"

Woke up this morning...only little twangs of soreness on my feet and right side glutes and very little soreness on right calves. I think it's my shoes because the sore areas are all on right side. Very little...still felt sick to my stomach though.


Training. That's it! oh yeah, and all of those damn walkers.


Last year was way better than this year. They capped it at 20,000 racers. This year? 44,000 racers. The course cannot handle that many people, seriously. Imagine if many people had their family members there and such. So for everyone in this race, I wouldn't be surprised if there was about 60 to 70,000 people related to this race. There was NOT enough volunteers, although there was a lot, but not enough to handle this number of people. They had to have people at certain stations (such as Gear check), and sacrifice some areas. After the race, it was VERY very difficult to get back to the tram. The hotel was not prepared for all the people (and not only that, but the OTHER people staying at the hotel, or going to see shows and such). It was just CRAZY!!! Some people were getting pissed off at me for not pushing people, and I'm like, "Dude, I'm not going to shove people just so you can get there a minute faster!"

I *should* have just gone outside, and WALKED to MGM! I would have made it home way earlier.

If RnR does this next year and cap it off at 44,000. I ain't doing it. NO WAY. 20,000 maybe, but I doubt it.

Only gels on the course. Kind of disappointed because I was hoping there would be FOOD...like pretzels or cookies. I was kind of starving for something else besides gels.

The course layout...not a good idea. They had the marathoners start and go out around town and do the last 13 miles on The Strip...which means, they would be running WITH the Half Marathoners. Of course, with the sheer number of people doing the half, they pretty much took over the course. The poor cyclists were trying to get the half people to MOVE TO THE RIGHT of the cones (which all of them has been knocked down), as the left side was for the marathoners.

In a way I can't blame RnR because they were listening to the complaints of the marathon course. Would you rather be on The Strip the last 13 miles with a LOT of people cheering on you or last 13 miles all off The Strip where there's barely anyone at the end? Hence why they reversed the course. Personally, I think they should just have RnR Half Marathon. No Marathon. The course is perfect for Half, just not a marathon.

Anyhoo...I highly doubt that I'll do this one again.