2017 Las Vegas Marathon Race Recap - Las Vegas, NV

Official Time: 2:22:52*
Placement: N/A*
Results: Here
Race Website:Here
Weather: Upper 60's, light wind.
Garmin Route: Here
Previous Years: [2016] [2015] [2014] [2013]

Mile	Time	Comments
1	10:02
2	9:54
3	10:00	Right on target
4	9:51
5	9:38
6	9:24	Too fast here. I think the cheering crowds got the best of me.
7	9:45
8	9:48
9	9:48	Dialed it back
10	10:03
11	9:52	Paused my watch for about 30 seconds.
12	9:43
13	10:02
14	10:55	Legs felt like lead
15	10:30
16	10:22	These miles aren't too bad. Maybe I did panic
17	11:23	Had to run the final 5K of the Half course. Just felt horrible -- physically and mentally
18	11:41
19	13:20	The final 7 miles of the marathon would've looked a lot like this.
19.44	4:12
Total Miles: 19.5 - 4:23:46

Introduction

Since 2009, I've done the Las Vegas Marathon.  It has become a bit of a yearly tradition in which I wrap up the year.

In the past, I've done the marathon as sort of a "fun run".  That is if you can call running 26.2 miles along the streets of Vegas fun.  The scenery and vibe make it a chance for me to sign off on the year in terms of running.

I train to complete the race but I rarely have ever used it to go for a personal best.  I love visiting Nevada and this is just one way to sort of have fun and get in a run.

This year was slightly different.  I have only done 1 other marathon this year (some would argue that is one too many) and I really wanted to go off on a high note.

However, one drawback was my training leading up to the race had been inconsistent.  I had gotten what I would call the minimal amount of miles in but certainly not the level I would've liked.

Pre-Race

I rolled into Vegas just after noon.  The marathon Expo was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  In years past, parking had been brutal. I think the last two years I basically left Shari in the car while I bolted in there and she struggled to find a space.  This year -- despite the large attendance -- there was ample parking.  Perhaps there was only one conventioneer at the place.  Either way, it was easy-peasy.

Shirt and bib pickup was a snap.  I might've bought something but the lines for the official merchandise were super long.  Plus I have a ton of souvenirs and more t-shirts then I know what to do with.  I walked around the expo seeing if they had anything I couldn't resist.  I found some 2 year old shoes that I would have liked, but I managed to dodge the impulse to buy.

I did find my name on a quilt that they had made featuring all the names of the runners: 

I also signed the neon, glow-in-the-dark banner that was to be hung during the race wishing Vegas to be strong in light of the recent tragedy.

I took off and made my way over to the Bellagio where I would be spending the night.  I wound up wandering around the Strip for a bit and eating at Margarittaville at the Flamingo (props... good food).

The Race

One of the treats about the Las Vegas marathon is that it is held at night -- with a start time of about 4:30.  So if you think of Vegas as a raging inferno, you would be right -- if you were thinking of summer time.  In November the temperature tends to be reasonable, especially at night.

I was blessed with temperatures in the upper 60's and only a very mild southern wind.  I was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and I was fine.  I had toyed with the idea of carrying throw away gloves for later in the race, but I figured it would stay warm enough.

The old starting line was near Mandalay Bay at the fairgrounds.  Due to it being a crime scene, the race organizers had to quickly adjust the race.  This year, the starting line was in front of the New York hotel and culminated at the old finish line -- the Mirage.  

So there was some juggling around with the course at the last minute.  I definitely LIKED this course.  I hung out in the Monte Carlo after taking the tram from the Bellagio.  In years past I had to hoof it about 50% of the way to Mandalay Bay (which is a long way) but this year, it was easy.

The Monte Carlo was flooded with people and one poor bathroom was deluged with people.  Around 4:00 PM I jumped into my corral and probably found one of the last places to sit. There's nothing worse than standing around for 30 minutes waiting for a race to start.  I killed time chatting with a lady names Denise (I think) from Boston.

Before I knew it, the race started and within about 5 minutes I was running.  I had been placed in the 7th corral and all in all it wasn't too bad of a wait.  In years past I had to wait about 10 - 15 minutes to start.  

I didn't have any hard and fast goals.  I had looked at some of my training runs and decided that I would be happy with a 4:20 - 4:30.  I was at lower elevation, the temperature was pretty moderate and I felt good -- no seriously nagging injuries, I wasn't feeling sick, I had eaten the right food all day and in the past 48 hours and I was hydrated.  So I figured I'd hold on to 10 minute miles (or so) and hang on for all I had once I hit 20.  Maybe the Running Gods would bequeath me with a negative split.

The first 2.5 miles had no music -- with the exception of a quartet (I think) playing sad violins in memory of the 58 who died in the mass shooting on Oct 1, 2017.  It was a somber and sad moment as we ran by the Vegas welcome sign.

I had been hemmed in initially but I actually didn't mind it too much.  I wanted to hit 10 minute miles and I was largely successful.  I was hoping to hit about 31 minutes per 5K and I think the crowds sort of spurred me on at miles 5 and 6, I was largely on target.

It was warm, but not as warm as years past and as I settled into my pace I just found myself pretty happy to be running and present.  There were times this summer when I was battling my knee condition that I wondered if I'd be here -- running a full marathon.

It was good getting all the cheers from people -- but Vegas can sort of be a lonely place -- and I felt alone.  I saw a lot of people running together or groups of runners and fans who had signs, but it was unnerving to me.  Random strangers cheered me on, which helped, but it wasn't the same.

I had made a pact to myself to run marathon pace until mile 11.  At mile 11, the half marathoners ran the final 2 miles to the finish line, while I would run another 13 (or so) out in North Las Vegas.

I made a mental check at 11 and I felt good.  Not terribly great, but strong enough to finish.  I did have to use the restroom though and had been itching to use one for a while.  But given the large number of runners (they said there were 3000 full marathoners and over 40K for the entire weekend's races) I didn't really have time to use one -- until mile 11.

I jumped in and took care of business but let's just say the bathroom situation was a bit more alarming than I thought it was going to be.

I ran another mile and I felt the urge to go again.

Did I have some bad water?  What was going on?  There really wasn't another water station for another 2 miles and by the time I made it to 13 I felt my pace going to hell.  Running a 10 minute mile suddenly seemed hard -- very hard.

I grabbed a drink and actually waited outside a porta potta until the person in there go done.  I took care of business and this time it seemed worse than the first time.  I was also pukey / fainty feeling.

I started to panic.  Did I have what it took to run another 13 miles?  Did I really want to do a dead man's shuffle for the remainder of the race?

I recalled the last 5 (or so) marathons I've done and the agonizing memory of suffering the last X miles came rushing up. There is nothing more painful than wanting to just be done but having to endure 13+ minute miles.

I opted to be done.  My job at that point was to get back to the 11 mile split point and just do the half.  I could live with a half.

So at judicious points I turned around and made my way back.  I also tore my timing chip off so as to make sure I didn't go through anymore marathon check points.  I really didn't care about officially finishing.

I finally made it back to the half marathon course and jumped back in at 10.  Did I really have to run mile 10 again?  It just put a further damper on my spirits.

To make matters worse, I was wondering if I was doing the right thing.  I had totally just did my own thing.  I wasn't going to wait to jump on a bus but what I was doing just felt wrong... I knew I couldn't cross the marathon finisher line but I had 100% done the half marathon course.  I felt like a criminal as I slinked along.

I was swallowed up with the walkers and 11+ minute per mile crowd.  I was shambling along, feeling kind of crappy but watching my splits slow climb from mid 10's to 11's.

I was ravenously thirsty as well.  I had quaffed my Tailwind and a gel and was working on another gel but nothing was sitting well and I was double fisting drinks at every aid station.  Around mile 18, my calves started to cramp.

The finish line finally came and I crossed -- with my Garmin reading that I had run about 19.5 miles.  Crestfallen, I realized I would only get a half marathon ribbon for my efforts.

I was surly when I finish.  I chugged water and just kept right on going.  I tried to get a marathon finisher's jacket but that was only for marathon finishers (doh) and I was further humiliated and humbled.  I felt really low.

I didn't even want my picture taken and I could hardly look at my finisher's medal. I still get remorseful looking at it. I didn't even want to share in the joy with some fellow runners (I usually can commiserate with other runners).

More than anything, I just wanted a do over.

I wound up making a beeline back to the hotel and went back to the room.  Shari wasn't expecting me for another hour (at least) and she was surprised.  I related my tale to her and I wound up hitting the shower and drinking a Coke.

We were hemming and hawing about where to go eat when all of the sudden I felt that wooziness pass over me again.  I sat in the bathroom for a while and thought the worst was over.  Then it hit me again and next thing I knew I was heaving into the toilet.

I have NEVER thrown up from running. Never.  And I haven't for the past 20 years.  But that night I did.  Luckily it was pretty short lived but I was done for the night.

With aching legs and an upset stomach and a mild headache, I slept restlessly that night trying to reason and explain to myself just what exactly happened.

Conclusion

I still have problems looking at the medal and shirt.  I really didn't do what I set out to do.  It makes me angry and disappointed.  I am a marathon runner and I am supposed to be tough and to endure.

I've run a lot of races -- maybe close to 200+ of them.  And no matter how much each one hurt, I finished them.  Even if I had to walk them or shuffle.  

Sunday night's race was the first time I had to bail on a race.  And it burned and hurt.  

Had I pulled the plug too soon?  Had I panicked?  What went wrong?  I didn't make the usual mistakes -- no overeating.  I don't drink / do drugs.  I had slept well the night before.  My training hadn't been totally useless.  I had tapered correctly and my legs for the most part felt good.  I wasn't over trained.... What if I had run the whole thing?  Would I have wound up in the hospital with dehydration?  Would I have made the 5 hour cutoff? 

I think there were signs on the wall though:

1. My last few training runs hadn't gone well.  The last 12 miler I did (during taper week) felt hard.  This should've felt like a warm-up.  It didn't.
2. During training runs at 9:30 pace, I would be good to go for about 12 miles.  Then my pace would drop.   While I was running easier and lower elevation my body seems to know that half of it is done and it should slow down.
3. My confidence wasn't high.  I had a bailout plan and I was on the fence about dropping to the half from the time I started my taper.
4. My really long long run was done in late September.  It should've been done in October.  My October long runs were 16 to 17 miles.
5. My base training had been light. Most plans ask 40 - 45 miles per week.  I do better with 60 - 70.
6. It was warm.

So I had my hissy fit and since then the blow has softened as I've gotten perspective on it.  I think it was helpful for me to see that the Rock 'n Roll people recognized that I had at least done a half marathon and I was in the official results.  So I can say I have participated and finished some distance in all 9 of their Vegas races.

Overall, I love the shirt.  The medal is unique.  The die in the middle rotates and I bet the medal glows in the dark.  It is also pretty heavy.

I paid $99 for the race -- at the expo last year.  So I got a nice bargain. I would've gotten a nice marathon jacket had I actually finished the full marathon.  They were asking $200+ for Expo registration...

I have to hand it to the organizers.  They scrambled after the tragedy to reroute the course and put on a world-class event.  And they succeeded. I liked the course -- no more sketchy neighborhood east of Freemont street.  Water stations were properly manned and equipped.  The corrals were cramped but still good.  There were bathrooms on the course but they did tend to be occupied.  I suspect I would've had to wait at least one or two persons in the early miles.

I also felt safe.  They had a ton of police presence and even a  helicopter flying over us.  I never felt not safe.  I have to give out a huge thank-you to the organizers, the police and all the wonderful volunteers.

My performance, however, will leave a big black mark for a while.  When I crossed the finish line I honestly didn't care if I ever raced again. In fact, I dare say, I hated running.

Is the marathon a distance too far for me?  I think I'll have to ponder that one.  In the meantime I am signed up for next year's full marathon.  So maybe there'll be redemption and I am not afraid to toe the line for a 5K.

There'll be good days and bad days and this one was one of my darker ones.

2017 Salt Lake City Marathon Race Recap

Official Time: 4:25:22
Placement: 297th out of 632, 22nd in the 45-49 age division
Results: Here
Race Website:Here
Weather: 40's to start, upper 50's when done. Mild wind
Garmin Route: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:28	Some uphills here and hemmed in.
2	9:22
3	8:32	Downhills here.  Wish the whole race was like this
4	8:48
5	8:41
6	9:09	Leveling out now. Have to power myself
7	9:11
8	9:29
9	9:06	Sort of wishing I was going with the half marathoners
10	10:12	Some uphill sections here took a lot out of me.
11	9:21
12	9:42
13	9:34	Actually maintaining a decent pace despite some fatigue
14	9:54
15	10:12
16	9:39
17	9:19
18	10:10	Starting to feel the wear and tear
19	10:26
20	11:56
21	11:39	Really struggling here.
22	10:38
23	11:00
24	10:45
25	11:40	Come on finish line... not much left here.
26	11:35
26.38	4:10
Total Miles: 26.38 - 4:23:46

Introduction

Last spring I got a pretty sweet offer via Facebook:  Sign up a year in advance and pay less than $3 a mile for the full marathon.  You can't find very many marathons at that price.  So taking a fairly large gamble, I decided to sign up.

I also had wanted to run the Salt Lake City Marathon for a while.  It is in my "home town" and I wanted to be able to say I had run it.  I also don't go downtown much, so it would give me a chance to explore the biggest city in Northern Utah.

Pre-Race

On Friday, during my lunch hour, I made the 15 minute trip to the convention center.  Packet pick-up was fairly quick and they had a free exhibitors there.  It also doubles with a fitness convention, but since I was on my lunch hour, I didn't even bother to check it out.

What is great about local races is that I can sleep in my own house / bed.  I didn't have a lot of anxiety over the marathon.  So I actually slept pretty well.  I was up before my 4:30 alarm went off and managed to eat some food, hydrate and put the finishing touches to my gear.

I live fairly close to a rail station, so I drove there, parked and took a 5:15 AM train.  The trains are free on race day (provided you have a bib) and I figured the train would be packed.  Boy was I wrong... at my station there were a handful of riders that were doing the race.  However, once the train got near the finish line, hundreds of people jumped on.

It was about a 30 minute ride to the race start and I wound up making small talk with another runner.  Time went by fast and the train dropped us off right at the starting line.  No stressful parking, didn't cost anything and I had maybe 45 minutes to kill before the race start.

I was one of the first groups there and the bathroom situation was awesome.  Just find an open one and go.  About 15 - 20 minutes before the race, however, and they were lined up 8 - 10 deep.  I managed to go once more before dumping my warm-up gear at the bag drop.

The Race

The race started at 7 AM sharp.  A perfect time in my opinion.  It wasn't hot and the sun was just coming up.  I sort of got a late jump on the starting time and was lined up about 75% of the way in the back.  I suppose this was a good thing, as it makes me start out a little more conservatively.  However, I did have to wend my way around some slower folks.

The race headquarters are at the University of Utah and the race also immediately starts off with a couple of hills.  They don't last terribly long but they are enough to make you slow up a bit.  I didn't mind as I knew the next few miles would largely be downhill.

I loved running along the university roads.  There are many old and stately mansions there and the neighborhood had a lot of charm.

Some of the folks came out and were cheering us on.  In fact, throughout the entire race there were spots of friendly neighbors out lending support.  Some offered makeshift aid stations while others were there to offer a friendly cheer.  That was nice because I know the race causes a lot of problems for the locals.

Miles 3 through 5, in fact, have some wonderful, but not-to-killer downhills.  I was really enjoying the course so far and was hoping that it would be like this the entire run.  The views and early morning atmosphere was making this run a treat.

I did have to make a pit stop at the mile 3 aid station.  They had plenty of bathrooms but luckily I didn't have to waste too much time getting into one.  Almost from the start I had had to go to the bathroom.  I would've gone at the first aid station, but there were lines.  I was so relieved... pretty race nerves along with too much to drink the morning.  I figured I lost about 30 - 40 seconds.  Not the end of the world...

The next downhill section to the north side of the side was spectacular.  I was speeding along the downhill part and managed to knock off some pretty good splits.  I was still holding back, as I knew I had some 20 miles to go and I know I pay for fast starts dearly in the latter part of the race.  However, I was letting gravity pull me along.

There were aid stations roughly every mile and most were stocked with gels, Gatorade (probably Endurance  Formula from the taste of it) and water.  Some had bananas and oranges.  I was also carrying 28 ounces of Tailwind and my own stash of Gu.  In fact, this race had more Gu than any other I've been in... props to the organizers.

After exiting the canyon, you come up on the the north side of the city.  I've been to parts of the city before and I recognized where I was.  You run along beautiful Memory Grove for a bit before making a quick pass near the LDS Temple.  You don't actually get to see the temple but it is in the vicinity.

Around mile 9 I was starting to feel a little off.  As we peeled off from the half marathoners I felt a little bit of hesitation.  Did I have what it took to finish without dying?  Had I gone out too fast?  What did the second half of the course have in store for me?

I bared down and focused on trying to stay as comfort and hydrated as I could.  My last 3 marathons have been semi-grueling affairs and I wanted to -- at all costs -- to avoid having another meltdown.

I reached the half way point at roughly 2:01 or so.  That was my goal and while it was ambitious, I knew I had been aided by the fact that the first half of the race is largely downhill.  I could feel the altitude, the heat and the rolling hills taking their toll on me.

At this point, the race was mostly being run through residential neighborhoods.  A lot of people were struggling with getting around the city on account of all the blockades.  Also, it appears that it is mandated that EVERY single street corner be manned by a police officer.  Seriously -- every single one.  If I ever wanted to commit a crime, the day when the Salt Lake marathon is being run is the day I'd do it.

We did get a chance to run a loop around a hilly park.  It was very nice here but there were plenty of rolling hills.

Also, I noticed almost immediately that the mile markers were off.  I'd see mile 5, for instance, and look at my Garmin and see that I was at 5.25 miles.  I checked periodically with other runners and they too felt like they were off (it wouldn't correct itself until mile 25).

I recognized the general areas that I was running in and luckily Salt Lake is very easy to navigate with our coordinate system for streets.  So I always knew where I was.  However, I was getting more fatigued with every mile.  It was if my legs, which had been fairly well rested, just didn't have it in them today.  I lamented that I had run better training runs.

The pounding continued and I was counting down the number of quarter miles around mile 18.  I kept envisioning how much longer I had to go based upon my normal training runs.

The temperature had increased a bit and I was sucking down my Tailwind and double fisting from many of the aid stations.  I got a little depressed seeing my splits go down but I also realized not many other people were passing me.  I think everyone had underestimated the hills and it was taking a toll on them.

Despite the elevation chart, there are lots of little hills.  I don't remember any crushing hills, but the course could definitely be profiled as mild, inclines and declines.  There were a few stretches of flats but either I was making a slow ascent or descent almost the entire race.  Looking at my Garmin, I see over 800 feet of elevation climb -- that is a lot for a full marathon.

Around mile 20 I accidentally stepped / kicked a pylon.  It didn't hurt or anything but it caused me to pull up.  And my opposite calf muscle locked up. Did I have a 10K walk now?  Luckily, some stretching managed to loosen it up, but it was scary moment.

I could smell the finish at 24 and while my pace was awful (I had a volunteer / medical person ask me if I was okay) I was feeling strong enough that I knew I'd be able to finish without resorting to a humbling walk.

It was also nice to run the perimeter of Liberty Park. This is a gorgeous and historic park just south of the capitol.  It was also shaded and I knew that the finish line was near.

I was so glad to see the finish line.  However, it was still half a mile away.  It always seems to be so far away.  I kept trudging -- what felt like running through quicksand -- until I reached the finish.

I was so glad to cross the finish line.

Shari was there and she handed me a Coke, which I sucked down greedily.  It really helps settle my stomach. I actually didn't feel too bad once I finished.  Usually, I feel like throwing up but I managed to just walk it off.

Finish line is near the courthouse

I grabbed some food and water and made my way to the gear check.  Most of the runners had already left as the half marathon is the race's biggest draw.  There was plenty of food at the end as well, although the variety was pretty limited.

Conclusion

This race was bitter sweet.  I was glad to have finished and gotten my first marathon for 2017 done.  However, I was hoping for sub 4:15.  I realize this course is challenging and I certainly wouldn't call it a fast course.  It is an honest 26.2 however.  There are some declines but the rest of the course make it a good one.

I loved the aid stations.  They were properly manned and had more than ample supplies.  Usually races skimp on gels -- but this one had plenty of them.  In fact, if I had to do this one again, I'd probably not pack any.  I did, however, go through my own Tailwind.  I drink a lot and it was sunny and while the temperature wasn't extremely hot, I did drink.

Finisher's Medal

There could've been a better selection of food at the end.  Soda or even something more tangible.  They did have cream Popsicles, some corn rice cake thingy, water and Gatorade.  They also had fruit cups.  Again, I would've loved to see have seen sodas or something.

The tech shirt was a nice design and pretty standard issue as far as races go.  The medal was a little small but I liked the leather keepsake it came in.  The swag bag also was filled with lots of extras.

For the price I paid, I got a great deal and I was really excited to have run the marathon representing the city that I live in.  I grabbed their special deal for 2018 and signed up for the half marathon.

This race is definitely worth doing and if you don't mind rolling hills, this race is a good marathon to choose for Utah.

2016 Las Vegas Marathon Race Recap

Official Time: 4:35:49
Placement: 1343 out of 2573, 137th out 233 in age division
Results: Here
Race Website:Here
Weather: low 70's at start, low 60's at finish.
Garmin Route: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	10:00	Very conservative start. Hemmed in a bit. Not weaving
2	9:43
3	9:49	Finally get into a bit of groove.
4	9:29	Got a little excited with the crowds here. I wanted to hit this pace
5	9:45
6	9:43	Right on target and feeling comfortable. A little warm however.
7	9:41
8	9:51
9	9:40
10	9:48	Feeling a little tired here.
11	9:43	Leave the half marathoners. Now it gets real.
12	9:53
13	10:13
14	10:11
15	10:06
16	10:42	Lots of turns here - kind of exciting though.
17	10:29
18	10:34	Had to make a very urgent pit stop. Stopped my watch here
19	11:57	Stomach issues. Not sure if I was going to be able to finish without walking
20	12:00
21	11:01	Starting to get my groove back
22	11:36
23	10:03	Exciting running around the fairgrounds. Was passing quite a few people
24	10:46
25	11:28	I could see the Mirage in the distance.... just needed to get to it.
26	12:20
26.12	1:26
Total Miles: 26.12 - 4:32:01

Introduction

Since 2009, I've run the Las Vegas Marathon.  In fact, it was my first marathon that I ever attempted and ever since then, I've made it a point to come to Las Vegas and run it.  I was there when Competitor group first started the race and I continue to show up each year.

It is sort of the highlight on my year and I primarily do the race because I like to go to Las Vegas and it is a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.

It is still somewhat of a work in progress.  It was a morning race when it first started and now it is a night race (starting at 4:30).  Also, the race has constantly changed their marathon course.  It is hard to find a good 13 miles after running along the strip.

Pre-Race

I arrived on Saturday around 1 PM and picked up my bib and shirt.  It was packed to say the least.  Basically I found anyplace to dump the car off, let Shari sit there and quickly ran in, snagged the necessary stuff, and quickly browse through the offerings.  I was in and out in about 15 minutes.  I suppose I would've hung around a bit longer and looked at more stuff, but I really have all the clothes, shoes, and marathon swag that I could possibly want.

I managed to get out of there unscathed and make  my way over to the Mirage where I was staying.

I made it a point this year not to overeat.  Last year, I overate at every buffet and the last half of the marathon was spent running from bathroom to bathroom and being in utter misery.  It really destroyed my race.  I did have a buffet in Mesquite (which is the first Nevada town you come into from Arizona) but I kept my indulgences to a regular sized meal (okay, I had an extra serving).

I tried to stay off my feet as much as possible and I did take a walk over to the Bellagio to check out the fountains / gardens, but overall, I wasn't walking up and down the strip all night long.  I did eat a pizza at California Pizza Kitchen, which seemed like a good idea.  Service was quick and overall, for Las Vegas, it was reasonably priced.

Sleeping -- which is always a problem for me pre-marathon wasn't an issue.  I could get up leisurely and pretty much not stress over the race.  Night races are awesome in this regard.  When I went to bed, the marathon was pretty far from my mind.

For breakfast I ate at a deli and had potatoes and eggs and toast. Several hours before the race, I drank some Gatorade and ate a Powerbar and polished off half a box of Wheaties.  All starches and carbohydrates.

Around 2 PM, I mixed some Tailwind and gathered my gels and made the 1.5 mile walk to the start -- which was on the south end near Mandalay Bay.

Sort of surreal seeing the Strip devoid of traffic

I know Vegas pretty well and while I did do a fair amount of walking, I was able to take some of the free trams behind the Bellagio.  Unlike in years past, the Mirage didn't have a free shuttle.  I got to the south end with plenty of time to spare and was able to use the bathrooms at Mandalay Bay for a bit and rest my legs.  I think for 2017, I'll stay a bit closer to the south end.  It was too much of a walk.

Around 3:15, I made my way over to the fairgrounds and got through the massive throng of people.  I only had to kill about 15 minutes there.  I made small talk with a few people and used the bathrooms.  Props to Competitor Group for supplying plenty of bathrooms -- I never had to wait more than 3 minutes to use one.

Snoop Dog was the opening act.  Not a fan by any means but he put a lot of effort into it.

Snoop Dog in action

Around 4 PM I had to get out of the fairgrounds and get into my corral.  It was a bit of a madhouse, but it was strictly the marathon runners and faster half marathoners who were allowed to enter the area.

In the past, corral management has been a complete nightmare.  This time, I want to say that it was largely a success.  We were packed like sardines in there, but after the first two corrals left, they let everyone else go, so within 5 minutes, of the official start, I was off and running.  There were very few people who should not have been there (i.e. walkers) and the start was much smoother than in the past.

Incidentally, I ran into a runner that I had met last year.  Funny, we were standing next to each other last year and this year, lo and behold, he was right next to me.  Awesome exchanging pleasantries again.

The Race

First off, the race was really warm.  Within a mile I was sweating -- a lot.  In the back of my mind, I was a little worried.  While I knew it was going to get cooler, I knew I was going to running 26 miles in pretty warm conditions.  There was no wind, thank goodness.

The first few miles were pretty congested.  However, I wanted to take them slow so I just waited and trudged along.  I never really can tell how a marathon will go in the early miles.  I've felt sluggish for the first 5K and then suddenly I've felt awesome.

I was hoping to run the first 4 5Ks in about 30 minutes a piece.  Being I had run a half marathon in 2:00 two weeks ago, I figured a 2:10 - 2:15 would be fairly sane and doable.  After mile 13 or so, I'd pick up the pace.

There was a TON of crowd support, especially in the early miles.  It was exciting to see people and there were plenty of signs and things to look at.  This is always the best part of the race and it is easy to get carried away with the excitement.

I had brought my phone and headphones with me but I found I never used it at all.  There was plenty of music, from country, to class rock, to metal, to Elvis / rockabilly, etc.  In all honesty, I was rarely bored (with the exception of a few streets)

After about 10K I ran into my friend DL, who was waiting for me at Sahara.  It was awesome seeing him and he managed to snag a picture of me:

After you get past the Sahara, things get a little rougher visually.  It is sort of no-man's land beyond the Stratosphere.  There are bars, porn / wedding chapels, strip bars and older motels that dot the strip.  There are still plenty of lights to look at, but the crowd support diminishes and more of the street people are out.

Around mile 8 or so you dip into a dark subdivision and make a lap around it before heading towards Fremont Street.  I really miss the years you actually got to run down Fremont, but this year, like last year, you just caught a glimpse of it.

Mile 10-ish I saw Meb Keflezighi pass me. It was amazing how fast and effortless his stride was.  I suddenly felt very inadequate and very slow.

Mile 11 saw us depart from the half marathoners.  I had studied the course a bit before the race start and I knew here it was going to be challenging.  Gone are the casinos and the crowds are pretty much gone as well.  A common complaint for the marathoners is that the second half of the course is really dull.

I think the Competitor group really did a good job.  Yes, there were some gritty areas that I was running by (barred houses, closed / ruined buildings) but running by the Lou Ruvo Brain health building was interesting.

Once again, the race organizers had you run trough the World Market area.  This is an area filled with airport hanger like warehouses.  I have never been there during the day, but at night they put up a ton of strobe lights and were playing loud music.  They ever had fog machines.  Last year they had the most obnoxious club music there, but this year they had a much better variety.

At this point, I could feel my pace slipping.  I was getting tired and it was warm.  I could also tell something wasn't quite right.  I just felt off.  My pace was more than conservative and I had done 18 miles at a faster pace, so I was surprised at how off I felt.

I was well supported throughout the race and I had done two GUs up to this point (one caffeinated) and was drinking copious amounts of Gatorade and water.  They had some Glukos stuff that I never did try.

I started to take in some Tailwind and for whatever reason my stomach just revolted.  I remember looking around for any sort of bathroom.   

Flashbacks of last year came back to haunt me.  What the heck... I hadn't over eaten.

My stomach was still not happy and less than a half mile later I stumbled upon the mile 18 bathrooms.  I dove into one and further took care of business (sorry if TMI).  I sat there for a good 3 - 4 minutes (which explains the difference between my finish time and my official time). Panic set in as I worried that I would have a humiliating 8 mile walk to the finish.  My head was spinning and I was light headed.  I just wanted a sag bus to come by and take me to the finish.

Reluctantly, I left the safe confines of the bathroom (I heard a medic talking to someone who seemed to be having the same problem as me) and I continued along the course.  After a few hundred yards I felt my stomach still cramping, but after a while it seemed to settle down.  

I needed to finish and kept my mind focused on getting the final 8 miles in.  I was breaking the race down to quarter mile segments and imaging myself doing quarter mile repeats or telling myself I was on an easy run on a familiar route.

I got a second wind when I came back to the Sahara and had my friend DL meet me again.  He could tell I was hurting (he was following me via runner tracking).  He did note that I was locked on a really even pace until about the half way point, which is incidentally when I started to hurt.

Around mile 22-ish, the race takes you into the Fairgrounds.  I think they had had the 5K the day before there.  This is basically an open, paved field.  The organizers had put lighted cones that were actually pretty easy to follow.  I was a bit nervous at times because I thought I was redoing the same route, just a never ending circle.  They had some loud music here and some lighted contraptions that were really cool (you haven't lived until you've heard the house version of Highway to Hell).  I actually enjoyed this part of the race more than I thought.  It was also here that I made up a lot of ground and wound up passing a lot of people.

The final stretch seemed to take forever.  The Mirage seemed to not get any closer.  To make matters worse, around mile 24, we had to run about a .75 mile stretch along Resorts World Drive, which is basically a street that is lined with upcoming casinos.  The turn around was at a strip / porn store.  Blah...  I think mentally I was done at this point and having nothing to take my mind off my agony didn't help.

After finishing Resorts World, I made it down the final .75 of a mile.  It seemed to take forever.  It was also here that we basically had one lane of road (while the halfers had 2).  At times the road was  a bit congested and I had to do a little bit of weaving but I was going pretty slow as it was.  I was definitely faster than the walking halfers and I was passing a lot of the walking dead marathoners.

I was just glad to be done.

Medal glows in the dark

Conclusion

After crossing the finish line, Shari, my wife, handed me a Sprite.  I definitely prefer Coke, but being it was a night race, I didn't want any caffeine (good luck finding a caffeine free Coke in Vegas).  It helped settle my stomach right away and I really didn't have any post race nausea.

I kept walking, grabbing some Gatorade and water along the way.  

This year they handed you a sports bag filled with snacks.  That was nice because in the past I always struggled carrying all the giveaways -- especially if it was cold.  The bananas were WAY ripe and did not look good (compared to 2011 when they were still very green).  

Exiting the "safe" zone is almost a marathon in and of itself.  It is about .4 mile of a walk from the finish line to the Bellagio, where you are finally allowed to exit.  It was nice to get in a walk and it wasn't very crowded, but that meant that I had to exit out, circle through the maze of Caesar's Palace and then get back to the Mirage... all told, about another mile.  Ugh.

This year, the race organizers surprised the marathoners with a finisher's jacket.  Bonus for me.  I love it, although the material isn't as soft as my 2010 edition (which I paid for).  Only the full marathoners got it and I thought it was a nice extra.

Overall, I liked the course.  It did have a lot of turns and some of the sections were definitely not fun.  But trying to find 26 miles of awesome running in Vegas is a huge undertaking.  I thought this was a winner although I did here several complaints.

Course support was good.  There were plenty of bathrooms at the start and they had plenty of the course.  The volunteers knew what they were doing and had plenty of water and Gatorade ready.  Water stops were every 2 miles or less.

My race performance wasn't the greatest.  I had hopes of getting 4:15.  I think the warm weather slowed me down.  While I had tapered properly, the long walk to Mandalay Bay sort of put some extra fatigue on me.  I also suffered from some stomach issues, which I suspect cost me upwards of 5 - 10 minutes.

I also struggled with my worst enemy: me.  I started having doubting and deep thoughts about running and marathons in general about mile 13.  It really wore me down and I found it hard to remain positive when my legs continued to get heavier.  I had run so much better in many of my training runs -- why was this one so much harder?

I even began contemplating whether I ever wanted to run another marathon again (or race for that matter).  I think the brief second wind at mile 22-ish helped.

Either way, after finishing, I had a pretty good emotional payoff on it.  I did sign up for 2017's full marathon since they were offering a great price ($99), so I haven't completely written off marathoning.

This race certainly gives me a lot of food for thought and I may have to re-adjust my goals for 2017.

2016 Lake Tahoe Marathon Race Recap - South Lake Tahoe CA

Official Time: 4:46:15
Placement: 75th place overall, 6th in my age division
Results: Here
Race Website:Here
Weather: low 40's at start, upper 50's / low 60's at finish.
Garmin Route: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:17	A little bit of climb here, but felt easy
2	9:17
3	9:39	Brief pit stop in the woods here.
4	9:23
5	9:37	Some rolling hills here. Still feeling okay but a little winded
6	9:36	Suddenly realized here that this race was going to be a tough one.
7	9:56
8	9:10	Quite a bit of downhill.  Hopefully getting a bit of a second wind
9	13:18	Hill of death here.  309 feet of climbing
10	12:14	Another 244 feet of climbing
11	10:30	Mix of up and down.
12	10:14	Some up hill but finally taking in some downhill running
13	12:03	Another round of climbing
14	8:44	279 feet of decline. Fastest mile of the race
15	10:00	More downhill but I don't seem able to work with it
16	10:02
17	11:07	Fairly flat at this point. Tired and just felt drained
18	10:48
19	11:28	The death march begins
20	11:47
21	11:44
22	11:49	Just shuffling along
23	11:12
24	12:30	The longest final miles ever.
25	12:16
26	11:44	Knowing the end was near I somehow picked up the pace
26.62	6:468	Finally finished.
Total Miles: 26.62 - 4:46:15

Introduction

Last year when I visited Lake Tahoe for the first time I spotted a bike trail that circled the lake.  Seeing the tree-lined paved trail looked like an idyllic and beautiful run.  I immediately imagined myself logging a ton of miles along this Sierra inspired trail.  I made a bucket list item to actually spend some time there and either bike it or run along it.

After my trip, I went home and started to search around to see if there was any sort of marathon that would at least give me a reason to run it and knock off California off my 50 states list.  I quickly found the Lake Tahoe Marathon, a multi-day running event that features a marathon and ultras that coincidentally ran along the bike trail.

Best of all, the race is held in October, where the weather is cooler and the scenery was promised to be awesome.  How could I resist?

Pre-Race

I rolled into town on Saturday afternoon, checked into my hotel (Harvey's) and quickly headed across the border to California (about 100 yards) and picked up my bib at the host hotel.  It was pretty easy and a small time affair.  They had some gels and shirts for sale, but overall it was an easy in, easy out.

They added a nice touch with personalized and unique bibs.  While I thought the design was a little effeminate it was cool and it'll be a bib I'll hang onto.  You definitely won't find this one at any other race.

For dinner, I walked across the street and ate at the cafe at Harrah's.  I had a large plate of spaghetti.  Spaghetti is a good carb source, but I've found that I don't necessarily run that well after eating it.  It seems a bit heavy for me, but it was good and it wasn't a gut buster.

After eating, Shari and I killed some time in the casino and I went to bed fairly early.  I set my alarm for a little after 5 AM so that I could walk back over to the host hotel and pick up a bus by 6:15 AM.

I slept extremely poorly.  The anxiety from the race as well as some mysterious noise in my room kept me up for half the night.  I figure I got about 3 hours, if that, of actual sleep.  Every 5 - 10 minutes, a damper in the bathroom ceiling would slam shut.  At first it happened very irreguarly, but as the night wore on, it got worse and worse and more frequent.  Awful.

I got up before my alarm went off, prepared my stuff and headed out to catch a bus.  I was one of the first to board the bus and met a woman from Nampa, Idaho.  It was nice to have someone to talk to, as the bus ride was LONG.  I am not exactly sure how long it took, but going 30 - 40 mph for 26 miles takes a while.

The Race

I had less than an hour to kill before the race and I wound up cycling through the bathroom (one of the advantages of riding in the front of the bus is that I could hop off and use them without a wait).  I made small talk chatting with people who were running 3 marathons in 3 days, which I thought was insane.

The photographer for the event snapped a picture of me standing near the Lake Tahoe shoreline.  He wanted to see my bib, which was attached to my shorts, which were covered by my sweat pants.  I had to drop them, hence my smile.

People milling about before the start

The race starts in Homewood California, a sleepy little beach-town dotted with shoreline cottages and A-frames.  It appeared that most people were away, as their houses looked empty and closed for the winter.  It was nice to sit by the lake and enjoy the view.  I was comfortable and not too terribly cold.

The race director made a few announcements regarding the race and thanking everyone for coming out.  However, he did warn everyone that this race wasn't easy.  A lot of people shy away from "hard" marathons and this race was clearly one of them.  I sort of smirked to myself and figured I could get through it.

After the national anthem and some bag pipe playing, 8 AM rolled up and we were on our way:

The first few miles of the race are stunning.  It is run along the bike trail and you are surrounded by tall pines.  There was some color in the leaves, but the Lake Tahoe area seems to be primarily pine, so there is less color than you'd think.  I really enjoyed the first couple of miles as it was fairly flat and the gentle ups and downs made it an interesting course.

I had to make a pit stop at mile 3.  It seems inevitable that in the early miles of the race I need to use the rest room.  Unfortunately there wasn't one available, so sensing a good opportunity I managed to drop off the course briefly for a pit stop.

I found that my breathing was labored and I remembered I wasn't running in Salt Lake anymore.  I thought that perhaps being that I lived at 4300 feet that I wouldn't be affected by it.  But I was wrong.  Even a small hill caused me to slow down and I found myself breathing harder than I should have been.

After a few miles we left the bike trail and ran on the side of the road.  There was very little traffic (probably the residents as the road was reduced to one lane at Emerald Bay).  At this point the hills got more serious.  I remember talking to a fellow runner and telling her that I felt like I was at mile 15 -- not mile 6.  That is NOT a good sign.

The fun began around mile 8 or so, when I was greeted with an ominous sign.  I had heard rumors about the hill from hell and I was about to experience it first hand:

Shot from where I have run from

Almost there

This 500 foot hill brought my pace to a stand-still.  I knew I was going to get a bit of a respite once I reached the top but it was hard work.  Many people walked it, but I shuffled up as best as I could.  I am not sure if the strategy paid off and if I expended too much energy as I was making about the same pace as the walkers.

At the top, you are starting to get close to Emerald Bay, which is definitely the crown jewel of the course.  You have reached the high point and you can see the beautiful bay below:

I really tried to enjoy the views but in the back of my mind, I knew I was really struggling and that caused a bit of a panic.

Going into the race I knew this race was going to be a challenge.  The altitude and the hills made it a challenge and I knew realistically that unless I had a fantastic day, I was not going to finish sub 4:20.  Still I had had hopes that my long runs would work and things would come together.  But I had totally underestimated what it was going to take.

Studying my split once I crossed the half marathon, I realized that I was at 2:10.  The hardest part of the race was over and I had downhills and flats left.  But I felt pretty warm (the sun was out but the air temperature wasn't extremely hot) and to be honest I was considering throwing in the towel.  The race director's words were starting to haunt me: this race was hard.

I buckled down and did what every marathoner has done when they know the chips are down:  put one foot in front of the other.  The finish line would eventually come.

After getting past Emerald Bay you run a few more miles along some twisting curves before settling onto the bike trail.  This is where I dreamed of running and today it was more of a nightmare.  I was in desperation mode.

My legs felt heavy and it was a challenge to get any momentum going. I just didn't have any energy.

I was surrounded by half marathoners, who had started the race two hours after us, who were walking.  I really wanted to find a companion and just walk with them.  I did get a lot of support from them as they urged me to continue running.

But my pride got the best of me and while I was shambling (more or less), I managed to put one foot in front of the other.  I was making progress -- and it was faster than walking.

The final 4 miles or so, are on the sidewalk that line the main thoroughfaire.  It also occasionally ducked into a subdivision or two.  It was interesting to see the residential areas and there was only light traffic.

My only complaint about the final miles (and the course in general) was that you were running through the entrances of strip malls.  There was some in and out of traffic -- some of it marshalled -- but to some extent you were at the mercy of the traffic.  Luckily, people were understanding and I never lost any time whatsoever to the multitude of intersections I ran through.

Final stretch was through an apartment complex

I was thrown for a loop when the final stretch sent us through what looked to be an apartment complex.  Seriously.  It didn't last long before taking us down to the beach where thankfully I was able to finish.  I was just incredibly happy it was just OVER.

Do I look tired?

The way I felt about my performance

Conclusion

Me on the California side sporting the shirt

Shari was there to greet me when I finished and quickly fished out a Coke for me.  This settled my nauseated stomach faster than anything.  I walked around and eventually sat down.  I had a brief wave of sickness pass over me, but luckily it was short lived.

A lot of other people were suffering too.  I had finished with a ton of the half marathoner walkers so the finish line area was pretty congested.  I hadn't seen many marathoners but I was just happy to finish.

The finish line was a little sparse on food and drink at the end.  They had water and sports drink.  They also had bananas, protein bars and some pretzels.  I had hoped there would've been sodas.  There were some food vendors selling food, but I wasn't in the mood to eat.

They had ample medical services and I was briefly checked out.  I guess the folding chair I had decided to sit in was technically in the medical area.  I spotted another guy in the tent with an I.V. sticking out of his arm.  So it was a tough day at the offices for a lot of people.

The aid stations were super plentiful.  They had promised one every 2 miles or so.  I got way more than that.  It seemed like there were a ton of aid stations -- maybe at least one every mile.  They were serving Ultima, which I had never tried before.  I had packed my own Tailwind and a few gels as well.

I wasn't a fan of the Ultima drink.  Reading it now, it appears to be calorie free and it wasn't my favorite flavor.  Due to the high altitude and it being fairly warm, I went through a LOT of fluids.  I don't think I've ever drank this much during a race.  But every aid station I took something and I went through my 28 ounce canister a few times (I filled it up more than once at the stations).  And I still felt dehydrated.

The volunteers were simply awesome.  They had plenty of drinks ready and were there to cheer you on.  They were mostly young people too - so major props to them.

The organization was also pretty spot on.  From race communications, to packet pickup, to having bathrooms available at the start, to course safety, the race director had it down.  Also the price was fairly reasonable, considering the lengths they had to go through (I think I paid in the low 100s)

While I seem to be done on this race, nothing could be further from the truth.  I loved the course.  I just wish I could've enjoyed it more but I was really struggling throughout.  The views were just outstanding and there was plenty of variety.  I just suffered almost from mile 1 on wards.

Would I run this one again?  Probably not.  It was just extremely difficult for me and I have a hard time separating doing a race for the experience and racing it.  While I sort of left myself off the hook in terms of racing it, I had certainly expected a sub 4:30 was in the cards.  I would, however, run the half again and I'd definitely want to run for fun on the bike trail again.  The course was just that good.