Las Vegas Marathon - RunMarathon

The run started off with fireworks which was very cool. They lasted for at least 10 minutes as we ran down Las Vegas Blvd. Although, my ultimate goal was to BQ, I really wanted to break 3:10. Based on my long runs and fitness, this was definitely do-able. Of course, I got sick before my half mary 4 weeks out, and never really shook it. It lasted for about 10 days, and once I felt better, I put together a couple of good runs and started to feel like crap again. Turns out the cold I had, turned into a sinus infection. This meant a 10 day round of antibiotics, that I stopped taking 3 days before the marathon. I had not had a good run in that time period, so my confindence on the 3:10 wasn't great, and even the 3:15 had me concerned.

My game plan was to get into the race and see how my pace was based on HR/RPE and just kind of go with whatever the day would allow me to do. If everything checked out, I would be running in upper zone 3 (152-155) for the race.

The first few miles of this race are awesome. It is pretty easy to go out too fast because it is slightly downhill. You have the view of all the buidings, the firework display (awesome), and the 1/2 marathoners are mixed in, so you feel like you are being pulled to go faster. I knew that would be the case, so I made sure to take it easy, knowing I would need that energy in another 2.5 hours.

After 6 miles of relative easiness, the course starts to wind downtown and then starts to head out towards the North Las Vegas. I was sitting at 7:07ish overall pace and the HR was right where I wanted it. I knew I would be giving back some of this time over miles 8-15, as its a steady 7 mile climb over that distance. It is a very slight climb (about 350ft), but it wears on you (for locals think of the bike path going north by Pyott).

The 3:10 group that was well aware because they were slightly ahead of me, probably doing 7:00m/m for the first 6 miles. And they slowed their pace, during these miles, as did I. I knew if I could get through these miles and keep the pace and HR low, I would be in good shape for the final miles.

At the Expo, we talked with the guy (Rob) that was emceeing the finish at the race and he mentioned that the chip timing would not be broadcast on the Web. He suggested that I take my cell phone with me and text Holly when I cross the mile markers. This seemed like a good idea, since she could gamble at the casinos and still know where I am at (as well as offer some inspiration by texting back). It was pretty simple to throw the cell phone on the fuel belt, and then just hit a number (whatever mile I was on, then send). I found out later, that it was pretty exciting on her end, too, but the math was difficult to do ;)

So, after climbing the next 4-5 miles, I could feel the 3:10 start to slip away, but felt really good about a 3:13/3:14 max. At the half way point, I was sitting below 1:36, and the legs and pace felt good. Knowing that we only had another 2-3 miles before the course went flat and slightly downhill, I was still thinking an even (or possibly a negative) split was still in order.

Around mile 16, I was feeling good and continuing to feed of my Infinit, as well as taking in water at every aid station. I was really just trying to get to mile 20, and then see how things were going and hopefully pick up the pace. Mile 20-22 still felt good. I was jockeying back and forth with the same guys, and also starting to fatigue. I wasn’t hitting the wall, but it was getting harder and I couldn’t push the pace the way I wanted. At mile 23 things were hurting, but I was still at a 7:19 overall pace, according to the Garmin, so I felt good really good about Boston. Now, it was just putting together my best possible time. I never saw the mile marker sign for 24, as we had now combined with the half marathoners, which also made things diffucult since most of them were walking 4 to 5 abreast. This also meant I missed a water stop for the first time during the day. I also missed 25. The weather was perfect, though, and I felt I had enough to get to the finish line. This might have affected my pace, although my legs felt like lead anyway. Mile 24 & on was extremely hard. I was really struggling to keep moving forward and my form sucked. I could feel my hamstrings tight, but when my calves started to get tight, I got nervous thinking they might cramp up on me. They stayed tight, but didn't cramp. So I did the math and I could do 8m/m and still easily come in at 3:14.

Even though my math was good, the last mile marker was off. And when I made the turn for the last tenth of a mile, a guy yelled that we had three tenths of a mile left. Oh shoot! I, then gave it everything I had left (which wasn't much). Although 2 tenths of a mile doesn’t seem like much after running 26+, its still another 1:30 or so at the pace I was running. Of course, now I can’t do the math, but I know my cushion is gone. I finally see the finish line and it says 3:14:50, but I still have some distance to cover and I started very near the official start line, so I knew it was pretty accurate for me. I crossed at 3:15:06, and my official time was 3:15:03.

Holly was there waiting for me and she was very excited about the finish. However, I could see in her eyes she was concerned that I was probably disappointed. Then I explained to her that the actual qualifying time for Boston is 3:15:59. And then she let out a huge sigh of relief and was extremely happy for me. Talk about cutting it close!

Here were my splits:

1m: 7:10, 139ahr
2m: 7:06, 150ahr
3m: 7:01, 150ahr
4m: 7:05, 152ahr
5m: 7:13, 152ahr
6m: 7:06, 151ahr
7m: 7:24, 153ahr
8m: 7:26, 152ahr
9m: 7:21, 152ahr
10m: 7:16, 152ahr
11m: 7:26, 152ahr
12m: 7:34, 152ahr
13m: 7:29, 152ahr
14m: 7:27, 153ahr
15m: 7:26, 153ahr
16m: 7:24, 154ahr
17m: 7:27, 151ahr
18m: 7:23, 153ahr
19m: 7:25, 153ahr
20m: 7:28, 152ahr
21m: 7:28, 153ahr
22m: 7:24, 151ahr
23m: 7:30, 151ahr
24m: 7:31, 153ahr
25m: 7:45, 154ahr
26m: 7:51, 156ahr

38m: 7:31, 156ahr

13.1 mile split: 1:35:50


This was my first open marathon, so I definitely learned a ton about myself and the distance. With that said, I don't think I would change much. I definitely could have used some more water towards the end, and probably could have pushed a little more earlier, but I was cashed at the end.

I found Holly and she said she would meet me at the medical tent. I just wanted to get some vaseline from where my arms were rubbing against my jersey. Yes, I used body glide, but I still had some chafing.

After taking in my endurox and some food, we continued to walk towards the tram (another mile or so) back to our hotel. I took an ice bath and then it was time to go take some money from the casinos ;)


Hey, I qualified for the Boston Marathon on my first attempt at this distance. I am extremely satisfied and very grateful that I am able to do these kinds of things. It was a great race and a great time.

However, being the competitor that I am, there are a few things that limited my ability to go faster. And I think I had a better race in me (again, not disapointed at all, just striving to be better).

- Being sick for the taper didn't help at all. I was run down, and my confidence was being challenged b/c I wasn't running well leading up to the race. In most races, I feel fully rested and feel like I am going to explode. In this race, I felt tired and had no idea what the day would bring.
- Flying across the country the day before a big race is a tough nut. I needed to do it this way, but its kind of stressful.
- Having a hotel 4-5 miles away from the start, in Vegas, w/o a car makes for much more walking than I needed to do. My feet were sore for sure when I went to bed.
- Elevation - maybe a stretch b/c this is not Colorado, but it is 2000ft higher than Cary, IL. And the course, isn't flat.
- Text messaging during a race (Ok - this only cost me a few seconds, and was so worth it)

On the flip side, its also worth mentioning that the weather was IDEAL. I mean picture perfect for running. In fact, during the last 5K when I was starting to lose my form, I just kept saying to myself, "you will never get weather like this again, don't let it slip away" - This worked well, since all my other Mantras for the day had been used up.


This is a good race and I think it will get much bigger and better over the next couple of years as it becomes part of the "Rock and Roll" series (Devine ran it the first 4 years and had some money issues paying the winners and the town of Vegas, too).

The venue is incredible. The course is great. They have a ton of unique features (the wedding chapel where something like 51 runners got married during the marathon, fireworks, running during sunrise, the Elvii, the strip).

They do need to be better with the water stops and more volunteers. The food afterwards was pretty good. They used the new chips that are basically a piece of paper that you tie on your shoelaces. Would be nice to have athlete tracking, though. Also, would be nice to have race results posted after the race, too.