Las Vegas Marathon
It’s Vegas Baby
4:30AM comes early --- especially after only 3 hours of sleep the night before. Pre race jitters are always a problem and sleep comes slowly. The alarm comes much, much too soon. It is cold this December morning --- 36 or 38 degrees. I begin my preparations.
I value warmth early more than cool later so I am bundled up. All systems are on go, the heart monitor is pumping and the liquid fuel is on its way. As we leave for the starting line at 5AM, the locals are still up and enjoying their evening. It is Vegas, after all!
The City has closed the streets on the course already. Getting to the starting line presents a logistical nightmare. Back streets, side streets and 30 minutes to go 5 miles get me to within 6 blocks of the start at the Mandalay Bay resort. The walk helps warm me up. I and 15000 of my closest friends make our way to the start. It is dark and cold but the mood is festive and fun, fireworks start the spectacle in the pre-dawn light. The band plays Viva Las Vegas and Elvis impersonators are everywhere. It is Vegas, after all!
The national anthem is sung and the starting bell is rung. The mass of humanity all moves toward the “Strip”. It takes 16 minutes for all the runners to cross the start line. I am lucky to get across in 12. The Las Vegas strip is still lit up from the night before. Neon and glitz seem strangely out of place on sober Sunday morning yet the brides and bridegrooms running in the crowd feel completely normal. It is Vegas after all!
Even though the starting line has been crossed, running in the crowd is less run and more dodge. There is little chance of hitting race pace these first few miles. The Blue Man group appears at mile 3. Quite a distraction and I stop to watch for a few moments. The streets are lined with spectators cheering the runners on, Starbucks in hand they are bleary eyed and enthusiastic. Signs in hand exhorting Mommy Go! Or Dad Owns! Promoting various causes and teams. Folks are running for Aids, Leukemia, Cancer and more. Team Toyota is out in force. There is some group called the whiners (?) chanting and singing as they run. I must admit to a certain joy when I passed out of earshot of the cheer induced frenzy of that particular crowd. Racers are beginning to stretch out now and the traffic is lighter but still congested at points --- especially in the aid stations. Each aid station is different and many have entertainment. Once again…it is Vegas.
Somewhere around 6 mile or so all the running Elvi (plural for Elvis) are corralled together for an official count and picture. Fat ones, skinny ones, Elvis as Satan, with cape and without, the Elvis impersonator is an icon here. At the same mark the “Run Thru Wedding Chapel” is cordoned off for those needing nuptials on the fly. Tuxedo T-shirts and crinoline running accessories are the order here --- and yes the bride does wear white. I find out later that the preacher finished the ½ marathon after she was done cementing the bonds of matrimony. I mean, really, what else did you expect --- It is Vegas, after all.
Gratitude raises my Attitude
There are police all along the route. Sometimes several of them manning various road closures and bottlenecks along the way, often they are there in their personal vehicles. I make it a point to Thank as many of them as I can as I run past. I am often greeted with ---“No, Thank You” as if I were the one giving up my Sunday morning ritual to stand witness to 15000 folk passing by. I try to Thank a least 2 people in each aid station for their service. This is hard as they are very busy handing and refilling water and Gatorade as fast as humanely possible. With each Thank You I feel my strength surge --- I am lighter. Gratitude creates a positive energy force around my body. I am so fortunate to be running on 2 good legs surrounded by other healthy people served by willing and joyful volunteers. The city of Las Vegas has rolled out the red carpet. Streets are closed and the route is super safe. The sun begins to warm the air, and there is shade to run in as well. It just does not get any better than this.
When the ½ marathoners turn off the traffic congestion disappears. Although I am never really alone, it seems I can finally begin to concentrate on running. The Strip is long past, the mega resorts are out of sight. Although “normal” may not be the exact word, the scenery feels more Rockwell than Kafka. The crowds are thinner now and seem to be mostly waiting for someone in particular. These are the neighborhoods the casual visitor to Las Vegas never sees --- where people live, go to everyday jobs just like you and I. Palm trees are everywhere and the southwest style of architecture dominates. The temperature has reached a pleasant 50 degrees or so in sun, much less in the shade. I am grateful for my sunscreen.
Nothing Exceeds like Excess
15,000 people make quite a mess. I feel sadness as I run the route. Cups are littering the route yards after the aid stations. And not a few cups --- a lot of cups. The volunteers are using huge shovels and rakes to gather the detritus. This is all trash. These cups have wax, so I doubt they are recyclable. I have no idea for an eco-alternative. Perhaps asking runners to provide their own bottles would alleviate the trash. And then there are the “GU” and “Gel” foil packets. They litter the entire 26.2 mile route. I have no idea what the ½ life is of these things but I suspect it is longer than my life. The most appalling thing was the amount of discarded clothing. That’s right --- clothing. T-shirts, jackets, caps, gloves are all along the course. Apparently people just shuck their clothes off as they heat up and leave them behind. I was told later that this is true of most marathon courses. Maybe I am a little weird but I like my jacket and just tie it around my waist when the sun finally begins to warm the air. I don’t think it slowed me up too much. This is a very strange phenomenon and I hope the clothes are gathered and given to those in need. Yes, they have homeless in Vegas too.
To Run is the Thing
I am feeling better, looser as we pass the ½ way mark. I am on pace. I decide that I can run the 2nd ½ faster than the first ½. My goal is to run a 4:30 today. I am at 2:16 at 13.1 miles. I feel amazingly good. My trepidation rises as we near 17 and then again at 20. These are the points where I have “bonked” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonk_(condition) or “hit the wall” in the past. The “bonk” never comes. I am running faster now than I have in the 1st half. I try stay focused on gratitude and being in the moment. This is a form of meditation, transcendence, if you will. I hear the occasional bird sing, wave at the spectators, and generally enjoy the connection with this most ancient activity. Running connects us with those most ancient humans who walked and ran from place to place --- all the time. When the first man became bi-pedal so did we all and we still are walking on 2 feet (most of us).
We turn down toward the strip again with about 3 miles left. The crowds start to thicken as the spectators who have now been up for a few hours are joined by newcomers still on their first Starbucks of the day. About a mile out an impromptu aid station is handing out beer. I pass on the brew but several of the racers grab a glass. My head just can’t get around drinking beer with 1 mile to go in a 26 mile race but to each his own I suppose. Once again --- It’s Vegas.
As I turn the corner into the final ½ mile or so I am sprinting --- this is my fastest pace of the day. I feel an exhilaration that comes when everything is just as it should be. My physical body is tired yet energized. Mentally my processes are taking in all the sights and sounds that surround me. The crowds cheering every racer, the announcer shouting each finishers name, the smell of oranges waiting at the table just past the finish line, are all assaulting my input ports. Spiritually, I am full --- of gratitude, of presence. I feel the connection with earth, wind, sky and all the people throughout time. The perfect people were here, doing the perfect thing, all in perfect time. It doesn’t get much better than this.
That’s Vegas Baby!
Namaste
John
