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.

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I’ve been struggling as of late so I thought I’d throw a wrench into the workout routine. I went on a trail run. I know for most of you, this isn’t a novel idea but for me I’ve been an “Urban Warrior” since I started running. The crazy thing is, it’s not like I have to go very far to get to the desert and trails – less than a 1/4 mile.

I live on the west side of Las Vegas adjacent to the Spring Mountains and the Red Rock Conservation Area. There’s a lot of construction going on and it’s amazing how easy it was to run up there. There are semi-graded roads that could literally hold four lanes of traffic. This morning, the most they held was myself and a couple of bunnies.

Here’s an aerial of the area (from what I can measure online, it’s about 3 miles up to the first outcroppings of red rock). NOTE: If my family or friends want to know what to get me for my birthday in June, click here or here!!!

I was really hoping for some spirituality this morning taking in God’s creations (being one with my surroundings) and with “God Skys” (right B?) it was looking good from the beginning.

My son doesn't call these "God Skys" but says that people go to heaven by going up the rays of the sun to God.

The climb was steep but I didn’t think about it much. With my mantra by my side and trying to figure out which way to go, it didn’t take too long to reach my destination.

This goes back forever and I can't wait to get a descent pair of trail shoes and an entire morning to explore how far back these trails goes.

The way back down was a piece of cake and took about 15 minutes less than it took to get up here. I “hanked” a left when I should have gone straight and came out 1/2 mile from where I entered. It’s funny how things look entirely strange from a different perspective.

This photo is from my highest point. The red circle indicates the Las Vegas strip. The yellow circle is the Red Rock Resort.

The point of this entire post is that changing things up is good…no GREAT!!! Was I fully energized? No. Was I fully in a meditative state with God? No. Was my running desire restored? You bet your “Slump Buster”!!! Now I’m going to pick up a pair of Nike Air Terra Humara’s tomorrow.

I’ve always been conscience of my feet. We put a lot of weight and work on our lower digits. Aside from a few blackened toenails and cement like heels, I’ve never really had an issue. Before races, I always spend a little extra time trimming the claws – the last thing I want to cause me to DNF are toenail induced blisters.

Why all the feet talk? Well, for the first time EVER I went with my wife to go get a pedicure at the Red Rock Casino Resort. Not so much manscaping than “it can’t hurt to try it”. Going in, I have to say I was a little skeptical – and embarrassed. After some ribbing from my wife, I settled into a vibe. Vibe meaning a massage chair and a mini-sauna for my feet. At this point I’m thinking this isn’t half bad!!!

To be brutally honest, I really felt sorry for the girl working on my feet. I claim to have been gifted with my mother’s feet. Together we could sand my dad’s classic wood boats and still carry a little texture. After some serious scrubbing and filing – she declared success and to my dismay, it was over.

I’m man enough to own up to it. My feet feel great!!! Not great enough that it’s going to become a monthly appointment but great enough to know that being a runner, I need to treat my feet to a little R&R as well.

RMFR

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.”

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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