What a great atmoshere. 30k getting ready to go. Cher then BOOM we're all slowly off. By the time Kim was finished her amazing half, I was getting through the start gate. 1st half of run was great. Down and back on strip. Hit the potty at 5milesish. Girl went in and came out saying, "only boys allowed in that one." sweet, I jumped in and then realized why she said that. 'Stuff' was everywhere, so no place for the ladies to sit. So I stared at the ceiling and then i was off. Finished the 1st half in 2:20ish. Which I thought was a slow pace, but it was where I wanted to be. I figured I could hold that for the 2nd half easily, and if feeling good beat it. 2nd half of run was up on overpasses, running by the Hustler Club and the Crazy Horse Too.(That was nice to see for next time). Around 30k(20miles) the right knee started to have a tweaky-poppy kind of thing going on. This was the one that really pained my during training. I tried to limp it out but I kept thinking about Ironman. I did keeping pushing myself through, but probably because I knew Michelle(wife) was closing in on me. As great as it would be to run with her in, I couldn't possibly let her catch me.(Her time would have been 15 miunres faster than me due to corral start times). So I limped through, and around 23 miles I think I felt pretty much done. The wall?? Anywhoo, I checked the Garmin and realized I needed to speed to to ensure I stayed under 5 hours.I got lit up again when mile 26 sign showed up, and funny enough mile 26 was my fastest mile of the run. Came over the last overpass, and saw the gang after I had already ran past them. If I had time to stop and chat I would have but I knew 5hrs was getting close. So i ran down THE LONGEST FINISHING CHUTE EVER!! I ran, and ran and waited to see some fancy arch or something. And I turned, and turned again and there it was. Across the line and I finished my 1st marathon!!


Lose more weight. Wonder if running all my long runs with Michelle at a slower pace factored in?
No complaints though. I didn't hit what I perceived to be my 'goal times' but really had nothing to compare to.
At first I was bummed a bit with the time, but I have one under the belt now. I'm learning more and more now that with these longer distances there is so much more out of yuor control on race day. You can plan for a great day, but weather/GI/flat tires/ knee issues, etc happen.

Crossed the line, grabbed a water and sat down for what seemed like 2 minutes(probably was only 2!) and then saw Michelle running down the chute.
She was so happy. Thrilled to be finishing. She met a girl in her corral and the two of them paced each other all day. Really? chicks are different.


I have this thing below my chest and slighty above my waist. I looked it up on wikipedia. Its called a 'tummy.' I need to lose more of it if I want to run another one of these. Oh and IM Canada.
I think mentally I kept referencing IMCanada in my head. That is the race I have been building to for the last 2 years. I know if my head was in this run 100% I could have been quicker.
For the first days after the run, Michelle and I both were of the one and done mentality.(other than during IM)
She said to me last night," I would do New York if we could get in." That isn't happening for me next year, but i have a sneaking suspicion that she will be running one with a MG'er and Mg'er wife. me thinks so.


Well organized race for 30k runners. Lots of aid stations, but if you were not prepared,only 2 GU stations would not be enough unless you stuff your pockets at each one.
And Bret Michaels - cmon now. I didn't even know he played. That was poorly organized. He was way done before I got in. there were people finishing for an hour after me as well. Boo that.
Best race sign - Don't let Betty White kick your a$$