I received a nice email from Jeff Bockhorn, team captain for the 180 Energy Runners today. He sent me this press release and I wanted to share it with you.

Birren/Small Take Titles at Red Rock Marathon and 1/2 Marathon Races

On Saturday March 7, a small contingent of Anheuser-Busch’s 180 Energy Runners participated in the 2nd Annual Red Rock Canyon Marathon and Half just outside of the “Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.” “The race director (Joyce Forier) said, ‘It’s hard, when you have some altitude… ’,” was the only warning given to these St. Louisians. Runners of the Red Rock pay a hefty price for their scenic run by having to climb within the park to a summit overlook at 4,771 feet above sea level.

Sean Birren was Anheuser-Busch’s top runner in the full marathon; he was challenged by defending Red Rock champion Dan Kuch, 34 of Lake Havasu City, AZ, also the winner of the 2008 Whiskey Row and Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathons. “The lead switched back an forth for the first half,” states Birren; however, Sean Birren was able to not only win the marathon but break the course record – his time  2:48:17.  

Jeff Bockhorn, team captain for the 180 Energy Runners claims, “The race was challenging from several angles, everyone ran their slowest marathon times, I think due to altitude, you had to summit 6 times. You went up and down – around 1000 feet climb. Not only were the hills, excuse me, mountains were a challenge but we had a head wind going out and just to be an additional challenge – I think the wind changed and we had a head wind returning – all you could do was laugh and enjoy the scenery.” Bockhorn states that he was extremely proud of his teammates – Sean Birren and Tyler Small.

Small, also was in a tight Half Marathon battle where the lead changed several times. “We were shoulder to shoulder for the first half of the half,” states Small, “I was able to pull away on the downhill section.” Small set the course record in 1:17:09.

 ”The race and the Red Rock Resort, treated us like family,” claims Bockhorn, “we had a blast.” After the race, it was just as much a challenge climbing the mountains and finding incredible waterfalls. We tried jogging the trails but they were more of a climb than a jog. We didn’t want to leave the desert – it was new to us – new challenges. When people think of Las Vegas, they think of gambling, I won’t think of that anymore – I’ll think of the mountains.”

RMFR

Pictured from left to right: Tyler Small, Sean Birren, Jeff Bockhorn and Joanne Bockhorn

I’ve been looking forward to the Red Rock Marathon and 1/2 Marathon for a number of reasons: it takes place about 10 minutes from my house, it’s in one of the most beautiful areas in Las Vegas and the fact that it’s my first “small participant” race.

I woke up this morning to approximately 40 degrees and a wind howling out of the NE at 20-25 mph. Not the most ideal conditions but we can’t control that anyway so why bother. The Red Rock Conservation Area doesn’t have a lot of parking so participants were asked to meet at the Red Rock Station Resort parking and bus up to the starting line.

A large group collected in the parking lot and I was fortunate enough to strike up a conversation with Tyler Small from St. Louis. Turns out Tyler is sponsored by 180 Energy Drink and he and another member of his team came out to run the event (this fact bears more weight towards the end). The ride up was quick and we ended up arriving about 20 minutes before the 7:00 start time.

I had to laugh to myself when the called the runners to the line. I was first in line. First and last time I will ever be leading one of these races – I purposely took off fast to be alone in first (for about 3 seconds). The Red Rock loop isn’t quite 13.1 miles so we did 1 1/2 loops around the visitor center before heading up the scenic drive.

It doesn’t take long to get your heart pumping. The first 5 1/2 rise 1,468 ft. and top out and a great scenic overlook at 4,700 elevation. There are a bunch of switchbacks leading back down to the canyon floor. They aren’t quad killing declines but after the uphills you just finished, they’re a welcome site.

Once on the bottom, you come to a hairpin turn at 8 miles which starts the journey back south to the finish. In most cases, this is a welcome thought but when you see the hill that awaits you, your attitude quickly changes.

There are some really subtle hills/descents after that hill but by now, you’re thighs have taken a beating. The finishing touch (and would you expect anything less) is the slight incline to the finish line. There’s no turning back at this point – you just bury your head and go!!!

Finished in 2:17:55 which I was very happy with. With all these hills, I was just trying to keep it under 2:30:00.

Remember the 180 Energy Drink runners? Well Tyler and his teammate, Sean Birren won the 1/2 Marathon and the Marathon. Great guys. Glad they enjoyed their time in Las Vegas and I hope to cross their paths again sometime.

Overall, Calico Racing put on a great event. Really nice technical tees, the medals are nice and the overall organization and planning was second to none. This is one race I will definitely do again. Hopefully next time I’ll beat on the hills instead of vice versa.

RMFR