This year I’m trying something new. Instead of just writing about the races I enter, I will be creating race day videos as well. They say a picture says a thousand words so I’m thinking videos must be close to a million.

This is the first one so please be gentle. They’ll only get better from here. After putting this together, I realized I really didn’t give a summation of the race at the end. Rest assured it was a good event and I’ll be running the sister event Running With the Devil in June. Big thanks to Calico Racing and Joyce Forier for another great race.

I’m determined to make 2011 a busy one. I’ve decided to take the year off from the full marathon distance (yeah, I say that now) and focus on banking a bunch of half marathons under my belt. In my five years of running, I’ve kept it kind of slow (13 races) and have steadily added races to my schedule. 2010 was my busiest year yet with five races (2 full marathons and 3 half marathons) but I’m throwing down the gauntlet for next year. In honor of 2011, I’m going to run 11 half marathons with a side goal of joining the Half Fanatics along the way.

Without further ado, here’s the list:

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This past Saturday was the Red Rock Marathon and Half Marathon in Las Vegas and what a great event!!! This demanding course is well worth it for the scenery alone being run in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (just 20 minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip) but what makes it a great event is the event organizers – Calico Racing.

I ran this event last year and loved the organization and attention to details and this year exceeded my already high expectations. From packet pickups on both sides of the valley to the constant email updates runners were kept well informed. Since there is no parking at the Canyon itself, buses transport runners from the Red Rock Hotel & Casino to the starting line every 15-20 minutes. It’s a great place to meet new people and I’d like to give a shout out to Hobey from Seattle (in Las Vegas with his wife for their 25th wedding anniversary) and Bobby from Las Vegas (going for his Calico Slam) – my bus mates to and from the race.

With two starting lines – marathoners started at the finish while the half started at the other end – both were well equipped with food, water and bathrooms. Race director, Joyce Forier, personally sees to the start of both races and seemed to be everywhere at once. Around 600 participated in the half marathon (another 100+ ran the marathon) and while the start of the race was a little tight packed, the group was easily separated when the climbs started. The really cool thing about this race is when the marathoners (who start before the half) meet up with the half marathoners. Constant encouragement (both ways) could be heard up and down the line of runners and really gave the race a hometown feel.

Running this route often, there’s NO WAY I could handle the hills out and back and I’m very content running the route one way. With around 1,800 ft. in elevation change, this is definitely not a race to go hunting a PR on but the challenge of the long climbs and fast descents is a running reward in it’s own right. Since I’ve been hampered with injuries all year long, this race was going to just be a fun run for me. With all races, it didn’t end up that way and I bested my time from last year by over 8 minutes – no worse for wear.

Want to talk about food? By far, the best post race feed I’ve ever experienced. Waiting just past the finish line was the Salvation Army serving up eggs, pancakes, pasta and peach cobbler along with cookies, bagels, fruit, etc. I’m not usually hungry after races but there was not way I was going to pass up this feast.

Calico Racing puts on a series of events in and around Las Vegas. While I’ve only run the Red Rock races, I’m certainly going to sign up for more in the future. If you haven’t run a Calico race in Las Vegas yet, you’re missing out on great smaller races from a well organized and dedicated group of racing professionals.

RMFR

This year I’m trying something new. I’m calling them Speed Hills (for lack of a better name). I’ve never done speed or interval workouts before but thought I’d add them into my running routine. My running schedule had always included some tempo runs where in the middle of a longer run, I would pick up the pace for 3-4 miles. Trying to push myself to get a little faster (I consider myself slow and I am).

With the introduction of combining speed work with hills, I’m hoping to build leg strength and speed at the same time.

There is a 1/3 mile stretch of road near myself that I have dubbed “The Road to Nowhere.” It actually is a paved road that really does lead to nowhere. It’s close to traffic and hasn’t been connected to any other streets until more housing developments are completed. The name also has another meaning. It’s a really steep climb – ascending over 100 ft. – over the stretch of the climb. At the bottom is starts out gradually and evens up into a steady ascent which attacks your legs unmercifully!!!

After a 1 mile warmup running to the street and down to it’s base, I planned on doing 5 intervals for my first time out. I’m going to have to work up to sprinting the entire .3 miles so I’ve decided to start with half that distance (.15 miles). Using lampposts as my guide, I would sprint up at a fast but sustainable pace and then do a recovery jog back down to the start.

To my surprise, I was extremely consistent on my intervals (without timing them) averaging 1:03 per interval (6:45/mi. or 8.9 mph). For me this is extremely fast and going uphill, an awesome workout!!! After finishing, I walked and recovered up the remaining part of the hill and then jogged it back to my house. The entire workout ended up being 3.2 miles total but it wasn’t the total mileage that I was concerned with.

The change in pace and workout type has actually spurred my need for this workout. There’s nothing better than the feeling of near exhaustion and recovering just as quick. I’ll keep you updated on these workouts as I increase repetitions and distance in preparation for the Red Rock 1/2 Marathon where the hills are long and steep.

RMFR

Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon Review (1 of 3) Health & Fitness Expo

With a day of rest (work) under my belt, it’s time to look back at the weekend that was. To give you an idea of how much I enjoyed the expo and it’s efficiency, I ended up going twice. I had to go to the expo on Friday and pick up my boyz bibs and t-shirts for Kids Rock Las Vegas. This worked out quite well because the crowds were not as intense as they were on Saturday. If I could sum up the expo in one word, it would be EFFICIENT!!!

The lines were fast at the bib pickup. With over 20+ stations, they were easily marked and the volunteers were quick and knowledgeable. I heard the woman next to me rattle off a bunch of information to a fellow runner. The t-shirts and goodie bags were in separate areas and fully staffed. It maybe took me a total of 5 minutes to get my bibs, shirts and bag for me and my boyz. Even though I didn’t go thru the bib lines on Saturday, I didn’t see very long lines.

I’ve been to enough expos now to be able to compare the race apparel and this race by far had the most logo gear I have ever seen. This puts the logo wear at the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon races to shame. But for all the clothing options I had one big problem with it…the price. There wasn’t much to be had for under $20 and the really cool stuff (jackets, technical apparel, etc.) was way out of my price range. Here’s to hoping that there is a very large Holiday Sale online right around the corner.

Their was nothing really special about the exhibitors. It seems the same sunglasses and clothing exhibits were there as every other expo. There were a couple that really stood out though. CLEAR had a very cool booth were you could sign up for the online text updates and Nissan booth loomed large in the back. Nissan had Meb Keflezighi there on Friday and they also were partnering with Runner’s World on a photo booth. Props to the Pearl Izumi exhibit (just because that’s the kind of shoes I wear), Calico Racing (local running event organizer) and the Rock-n-Roll hallway with all the marathon events on the way in.

The thing about the Health Expo that always makes me laugh is that it’s right next to the Cowboy Christmas every year. For those of you not aware, the National Finals Rodeo is in town the same week and they have this Christmas expo next door. There’s nothing funnier walking down the long hallway to the expos with runners and cowboys walking together. Talk about polar opposites!!!

If I had to guess, this expo is only going to get bigger and better every year. Way to go Rock-n-Roll – day one and you already exceeded expectations.

A lot of visitors to this site don’t comment on the posts but here’s your chance. Let us know which upcoming races you have planned and how things are going. I’ll start…

09/05 – Mickey’s Main Street U.S.A. 5K
09/06 – Disneyland 1/2 Marathon
09/19 – Recycled 10K (pending)
12/06 – Rock ‘n Roll Las Vegas Marathon
01/10 – Walt Disney World Marathon 

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

This afternoon, I went out to do my favorite run in Las Vegas – Red Rock Canyon. Red Rock is a relatively small and narrow valley that 15 miles west of downtown Las Vegas. Red Rock gets its name from the red colored sandstone formation embedded in the mountains that form the western and northern margins of the Las Vegas valley. Simply stated, it’s nature at it’s best.

I’m actually training for the Red Rock Marathon and 1/2 Marathon March 7th. The best part of running here is that the first 4 1/2 miles rise 1,000 feet (doubling back for a 9 mile route). It’s a great hill workout!!! I ran it once with my good friend Troy but I usually do it myself.

Today started out the same way. After spending the morning with my wife and boyz for Valentine’s Day, it was time for my workout. As I pulled into the parking lot and gathered my things, I car slid into the space next to me. As I headed towards the scenic drive, 4 girls (dressed for running) followed. Now I don’t usually see a ton of runners on this run so I had to strike up a conversation.

Turns out Erin, Melina, Tanya and Mei Lan were in Vegas for a girls weekend but Tanya “needed to get her miles in”. I love hearing that!!! After some short introductions, we headed off for the hills. Mei Lan head off to the Visitor’s Center while the rest of us started the climb. After passing the second “scenic overlook,” Erin and Melina tailed off leaving Tanya and I to carry on.

Now, I’ve never claimed to be a fast runner nor great on the hills but I was definitely no match for Tanya. She comes from the peaks of Winter Park, Colorado and I could tell that she was a “Hare” from the start. Eventually, I had to walk up the next major incline. I don’t mind walking. If I torture myself running, I wouldn’t enjoy it. I told Tanya not to wait and go conquer the hill.

My goal is to hit the scenic overlook 4 1/2 miles in (I was close but not quite). Wasn’t in the cards today so I rejoined Tanya as she was on her way back down. We ran back a couple of miles together before I had to let her go again. I can carry a 8-8:30 pace but not today. I ran the rest solo as Tanya sped off.

The five of us rejoined in the parking lot and said our good byes. The best part of running in groups is the camaraderie you feel. You share the same interests, you’ve experienced the same things and you’re all there to help and encourage each other. Running is a solitary sport, but you wouldn’t know it. Thanks ladies for a running experience worthy of talking about and I hope you found some hot bartenders at Kahunaville!!!

RMFR

Tanya Garrett, Mei Lan Wong, Melina Powell and Erin Johnson