I'll admit I wasn't too excited about doing another run after experiencing the problem filled Inaugural Rock 'n Roll Marathon in Savannah, Ga on November 5, 2011.
Then Kim mentioned the Red Rock Canyon Marathon in Nevada on March 10, 2012 put on by
Calico Racing. The event gets
rave reviews from past participants and the lure of bagging another state was motivation enough. This would be my 17th marathon and Kim's 12th.
Yeehaw! Let's sign-up!
Our running group this trip would include a friend, Shawn, who signed up for the half marathon and her husband Rick who would handle logistic support and be the lead photographer.
We're excited.
Flight and Accommodations
Booking airfare from Charlotte to Las Vegas was crazy. Kim and I ended up saving about $400 by flying out Thursday instead of Friday and grabbing a one night stay at the
Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas-Red Rock/Summerlin
The Hampton Inn is a great place and super convenient. I highly recommend this location. We transferred over to the official marathon hotel- The
Red Rock Casino Resort Spa on Friday afternoon. Wow, what an impressive place!
Of course, before check-in we couldn't pass up a drive down the famous Las Vegas Strip. Fabulous!
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| Vegas Baby! |
The Red Rock Casino Resort Spa was nothing short of stunning. Our room sported a spacious main bedroom area and a large bathroom complete with a marble tile shower and the deepest bathtub I've ever seen. It would prove valuable for the post-marathon soak.
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| Red Rock Casino Resort Spa |
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| Checking In |
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| Nice Room! |
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| Deepest Bathtub I've Ever Seen |
Shawn and Rick made the Hampton Inn their base of operation and would stay over into the next week visiting their son Kent who is a performer in Mystere, a Cirque du Soleil production at the Treasure Island Casino.
Packet Pick-up
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| (L-R) Kim, Kent, Shawn, and Rick |
Packet pick-up was at the Ridges Banquet Room in the main hotel between 5:00-9:00pm on Friday. It was no-frills, organized, and uncrowded. There weren't any vendors here, just one small table on the other side of the room where you could purchase left over items from past races, mainly tech shirts.
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| Packet Pick-Up |
We found out there were about 900 people signed up for both the half and full marathons. This was good number of runners since the course is in the
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management and protected as a National Conservation Area.
The area is home to the Desert Tortoise, an endangered and protected species. All runners had to sign a “Desert Tortoise Acknowledgment Waiver” form in order to be allowed to run.
Pasta Dinner
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| Time to Carb Up! |
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| Yum |
Carbing up before the race couldn't have been easier. There was an Olive Garden Restaurant directly across the street! Kim and I both had soup, a hearty serving of plain buttered pasta, and those famous bread sticks. You just can't beat an Olive Garden meal before a marathon.
It's early to bed since we have a 6:00am start and all runners would be bused to the start location.
The Course
The race organizers really planned out the transportation system well. There were two locations where runners could get on buses for travel to the half and full start line. One at the main hotel and the other on The Strip next to the Bally's Hotel and Casino. Buses began running at 4:30am at both locations.
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| Ready to go! |
The only small glitch Kim and I had was that the front desk clerk told us our buses would pick-up in front of the main lobby. This was incorrect. They actually picked up on the other side of the hotel at the Red Rock Casino entrance near the surface parking lots. No problem once figured it out.
Our bus attendant and driver were so nice! They went out of there way to engage us in conversation and even quizzed everyone on the bus to find out where we were all from. Fun!
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| On the 5:00am bus |
Now I have to explain a little bit about the course and how it was organized. The run would take place along the 13 mile scenic drive roadway inside the park. This is a one way road that begins at the Visitors Center and loops around before exiting the park at a different location.
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| Marathon Start Location |
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| Our View at the Start |
Marathoners began at 6:00am at the exit location, run to the Visitors Center, turn around, and run back. Extra mileage was built in along the way to achieve 26.2 miles.
Half marathoners on the other hand, started at 7:00am from the Visitor Center and ran to the exit point. Both groups crossed paths along the way. I wasn't sure how this would go but I can tell you it was rejuvenating since mostly everyone you passed exchanged words of encouragement. Shouts of “Looking good!”, “Good job!”, and “Way to go!” could be heard continuously. It just made you feel good listening to that sort of stuff from other runners.
This was a challenging course but some of the pain was taken away by the absolute spectacular scenery! It was definitely worth the entry fee.
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| Here We Go! |
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| Along the Course |
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Great Views!
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| Trying to Tell Me Something? |
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Time for the Happy Dance!
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Aid stations were spaced out about every 1-2 miles with “Ultra” stations about every 4-6 miles that included a full spread of water, Hammer Heed, Hammer Endurolyte tablets, bananas, oranges, Hammer Gel, salty & sweet snacks, basic first aid, and a portable toilet.
The volunteers at every station were remarkable! I tell you, out of all my marathons, the aid stations and volunteers here get my vote as the very best.
The Run
Kim and I planned on maintaining our normal slow and steady pace. It proved to be the right decision. At mile 17 my right calf muscle began to cramp so I slowed down even more and adjusted my gait to try minimizing the pain. It worked pretty well.
The downhills on this course did a number on our quads but we managed to run through the pain. Then just before mile 24 I had some major cramping issues that finally subsided by mile 25. I'm thankful for Kim being there to offer words of encouragement. She's a good leaning post!
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| The Warm-Ups Over. 6 miles to Go |
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| On the Back Side Now |
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| Kim Poses with 2 "Elvinas" |
We finished the run at 5:35 and were awarded an awesome medal- a big piece of hardware. Post race food was fabulous at the finish line. There was an assortment of sweet and salty treats, yogurt cups, muffins, fruit, and an assortment of fluids. Way to go guys!
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| Nice Medal! |
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| Big Hardware! |
After resting a bit, we jumped on another bus for the 10 minute ride back to the hotel. Yeah!
Post Race
I'm a big fan of drinking a couple bottles of
Hammer Recoverite after each long run. I'm convince it helps speed muscle recovery. That and a big dose of ibuprofen. But I also had to look forward to soaking in that deep giant of a bathtub back in our room. It felt so good. There was even a TV mounted above the tub. I felt like a big roller no doubt about it.
Saturday Evening
Time for some fun! Shawn and Rick made reservations at
The Barrymore Restaurant on The Strip inside the Royal Resort. It's a cozy little joint that specializes in American cuisine. The atmosphere reminded me of a place that the Rat Pack would have dined at in the early 1960's. Our table was a half moon shaped booth upholstered in crushed blue suede velvet. The ceiling tiles in the dimly lit room were old gold colored film reels. The side wall was completely mirrored.
Our waiter was knowledgeable and snappy in his service delivery. He sent over the sommelier who offered a blended wine selection that was to die for. Shawn decided to try the
cobia fish special while everyone else ordered the beef special that included two different types of steak medallions served with root vegetables and a beef reduction. Superb! No one had room for dessert. Drats!
Next, off to see the 9:30pm performance of
Mystere at Treasure Island. The show was breathtaking. Shawn and Ricks son, Kent, is a gymnast in the show and does one of the Chinese Pole acts. Kent was amazing. I still don't understand how he does some of the intricate moves. He actually defies gravity!
After the show Kent gave us a backstage tour and described some of the things that go on behind the scenes to make the show possible. Thanks Kent for your great hospitality.
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| Kent in his make-up, Kim, and I |
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| Stage view from high above |
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| Backstage! |
Sunday Tourist Stuff
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| Hoover Dam |
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| Memorial Bridge |
Conclusion
I can't say enough good things about the whole Red Rock Canyon Marathon experience. This event was so well organized, set in one of the best scenic locations, led by an amazing Race Director, and crewed by a remarkable group of volunteers. Kudos to all.
Don't be fooled, the course is tough but doable given the 7 hour time limit. Definitely put this race on your short list and be sure to check out all the other
Calico Racing events. You will not be disappointed.
Las Vegas is fun in its own sort of way. The city offers something for everyone from gaming, to fine dining, to fabulous entertainment venues. Go, enjoy!
Special congratulations to Shawn for completing her second half marathon in 2:35. You did good!
Thanks to Rick for taking all those fantastic pictures and finding Kim and I along the way.
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| Shawn, Kim, Marc Victory Pose |
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| Goodbye Red Rocks |
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| Thanks for Showing Us a Good Time |
I hope you enjoyed this race report. Until next time....
Cheers!
Marc
