Race Report: Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon - Vegas!

I already knew this race wasn't going to be a PR, but a girl can hope, can't she? Just a week after Ironman and a busy weekend of working on my feet, what was I thinking running a half-marathon?!

I'm addicted to racing. That's the reason I raced. And my friends pressured me. But I couldn't pass up a chance to dress up as a bride, I mean a runaway bride!

My running costume: white Team Sparkle skirt, white tank with handmade flyaway sleeves, gunmetal Team Sparkle visor, veil pinned into hair, blue garter, white SKINS compression socks, and pink New Balance running shoes. 

Night races are always interesting. I never know what to do or eat before. We drank hot chocolate as we laid in bed all morning. That's what three moms away from their kids do on race morning.

I wanted a sub-1:40 marathon, but realistically that wasn't going to happen. Just a few days after finishing an Ironman, my legs were toast. But my heart still wanted that PR. Sorry heart, this wasn't the day.

The race began just as the sun was setting. It wasn't cold, but WOW it was windy. We ran one mile south on the strip and then U-turned to a nasty headwind. I've never raced with a headwind before. I heard later that the wind gusted up to 50 mph. It was like running on a hamster wheel. So much effort to just run in place. I knew nothing special was happening that day. It was straight into a headwind for about 7 miles. And when we finally turned around to run south on the strip again, the wind was blowing every which way. My veil visor blew off my head several times and one time I chased it backwards down the street. It was just ridiculous! My goal soon turned into sub-1:50. I don't know why, but it just sounded good. And I barely made it by seconds. It was my second slowest half-marathon ever. My legs were so heavy and I could barely wait to get back to our hotel. Luckily, we stayed at Treasure Island which is right where the finish line was. Yeah! Compression tights and dinner. One happy girl, despite a slow race. Still proud.

What To Do and NOT To Do Before a Race

Skyler and I have done a lot of racing over the past seven years. And we've learned many, many lessons along the way. Yet, we still do dumb things and make mistakes. 

You can't take every race seriously, right? Well, I'm a bit too competitive to race for fun, so I try to minimize my mistakes as they come because they will.

Last month my girlfriends and I traveled to Las Vegas to work our booth at the Rock n Roll marathon expo. Why not race since we'll be there anyway? One of us just came off intense marathon training, one of us just did an Ironman (me), and one of us hasn't done any run training for months (oh, besides a marathon). We're destined for disaster, but who cares. Here's our guide of what to do and not to before a race.

DO take a road trip to Vegas with your best friends. No husbands or kids allowed.

DO eat healthy. The gyros from the Mad Greek Cafe in Baker were delicious!

DO stay in a fancy hotel next to the expo and finish line. No one needs to do any extra walking.

DO NOT: Eat at Max Brenner. No healthy food here. Over-indulgence awaits you, but at least it's three days away from race day.

DO eat the whole menu at Max Brenner. DO NOT do it before a race or without Tums. (P.S. Best mac & cheese ever!)

DO NOT eat lots of desserts...unless you can pretend you aren't running a half-marathon in three days. Hot chocolate was yummy, everything else was just ok. 

DO NOT work at an expo two days before a race. Being on your feet is a big no-no. 

DO dress like a bride as much as possible in Vegas. DO be prepared to get hit on a lot.

DO NOT work two days at an expo before a race. 10 hours on your feet for two days in a row is bad race prep. But if you're going to do it, at least look cute.

DO go shopping. A new bra and make-up can really boost your self-confidence. BUT you aren't supposed to do a lot of walking, so make sure someone pushes you in a wheelchair.

DO NOT eat at I Heart Burgers the night before a race. This is the worst possible pre-race food, but the best-tasting post-expo food. Dilemmas...

DO lay in bed in compression tights and socks for 18 hours straight. That's what happens when you go to bed and don't have to wake up for an early race. I might like this night race plan.

Coming up....the race report.