St. Patricks Day Half Marathon - Run

We started out on dirt but it quickly turned to a cement bike path where we climbed steadily toward Boulder City. Thanks to my hillwork and the altitude (or lack thereof) at Lake Meade it was not an unpleasant climb. I could see much of the lake until we turned around so for the first couple miles I was just observing the people and costumes around me. One in particular became "Lucky Charms" and I would continue to yo-yo with him for much of the race. He was wearing a Derby and a tech green tux and a bow tie. Another was Ironman who had an MDot on his calf. I passed him close to the top of the climb and didn't see him again. About 2 miles in we started seeing the front runners come back to us so we got to cheer them. I wished I'd remembered them more clearly so I could cheer them at the next turnaround because by then we were mixed in with the other distances.

Once we turned around it was glorious. It was downhill, I could see the lake and we had a breeze. Yay! There were water stations every couple miles so I relied on them for water and Gatorade. I took a gel just before the station at about 5 miles.

Once we got past where we'd started we were on the Historic Railroad Trail and it was amazing. The history, the tunnels, the dirt path, I think I smiled for the last 8 miles. I was still back and forth with Lucky Charms and he got ahead of me when I stopped to take pictures. As we approached the second turnaround, at Hoover Dam, there was a set of odd, paved, switchbacks down to the parking lot. I mentioned to Lucky Charms that we would have to climb back up. He responded "every year" and said that he'd done the race several times. As we got to the bottom of the switchbacks a kindly volunteer called me smiley and told me I needed to catch the guy in front of me (Lucky Charms) I told him I had but he kept getting away. The other end of the parking lot was the second turnaround where the volunteer told us we were half way. Um, no, but thanks anyway.

Back up the cement switchbacks then on to the trail. Somewhere on the trail back I passed Lucky Charms for the last time. I continued to enjoy the amazing scenery on to the finish. At the very end I was trying to come around a pink tutu girl and she stepped to the side just as I got to her sending me on an odd course and a slightly twisted ankle. I managed to get past her and cross the finish.

Nothing. This was an amazing way to get in my planned 13 mile long run.

I drank some water and had an orange. I talked to some NYPD guys that were there and had run the HM in kilts. They were also there for B2V but weren't running that one (they were in a support vehicle)

After a bit DH and I walked up to the car where he had a chocolate milk stashed for me <3

Then we drove back to Vegas and I cleaned up so we could visit Bobby's Burger Palace where I had an amazing burger and a caramel bourbon shake :)


Maybe the heat, of course genetics, but I'm happy with this one.


Very well done race!!!! I would highly recommend this one. The organization was great, lots of volunteers, lots of aid stations and the scenery was stunning.