I was pretty excited about this race.  It was my first time running in Las Vegas and my first time running back to back races.

Yes, I was planning to run a half marathon the next day…. for the Bling, of course and the challenge of it.

I have never backed away from a challenge (Spoiler alert: all 13.1 miles were a challenge!!!)

Anyway, I arrived in Vegas the day before the race (and gained 3 hours!!).  After checking into my hotel, I immediately headed (well after I figured out where the Monorail was) to the expo.  No problems at all.  Packet pick-up was a breeze (easier than getting into my hotel room.)

The expo was huge!!! I did a lot of sampling but only bought some Gu.

I got the new flavors..loved Smores, Coconut..not so much

Race day was a busy one.  As they say “no rest for the weary.”

Since my roomie was not arriving until the afternoon, I planned to take a bus tour of Red Rock Canyon.  Best decision ever. It was amazing.  We made loads of stops and there was hiking available at many (nothing too strenuous).

LV

When the tour was over, I met my roomie, Marcia at the hotel and then accompanied her to the expo. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for pizza as our pre-race meal.

We had perfect weather for this evening race (well, maybe a little too warm) and was able to wear my planned outfit.

The Tropicana was the perfect hotel choice because we were the first stop on the monorail and had no problems getting on right away.

we’re ready with our matching bling

We got off at the SLS Hotel stop which was near where the 5k Race started.  (If you know Vegas, “near” is relative).

We wandered for a bit until we found the Gear Check area where I left a bag with a long sleeved shirt and jacket for after the race. This was also our agreed pre and post race meet-up spot.

only 4 of the group were doing the 5K – I am alone in the grey corral

As you can see from the course map, the race does not take place on the strip but one block over.

The start area was organized by colored corrals and then by numbered waves (according to your predicted finish time. If you look at the group photo, you’ll see that I was alone in the gray corral.  The others were in wave 6, corral purple and I was in wave 9.

So we separated at the start but planned meet up again after the race.

waiting to start

The waves each started with a count down. I had to wait about 15 minutes, I think. Everyone was bubbling with excitement.  There were lots of costumes and music.  Since it was ONLY a 5k, I was very relaxed.  Many of the runners were also running a race the next day or relatives of runners or just walkers. It was mixed bag which made it a challenge at times during the race.

My plan for the race was…no plan.  I thought I would walk the whole thing but when I was the only one in the second corral, I decided to just run slowly so I didn’t have to make everyone wait a long time to go out to dinner after.

And that’s what I did.  I enjoyed the music, laughed at the costumes, and weaved around the walkers to eventually cross the finish line.

I thought it would be around 35 minutes so I was pleasantly surprised that I finished under 30 minutes.

As soon as I got my medal, water and some snacks, I made a beeline to Gear Check to meet up with fellow 5kers Marcia, Tricia, her hubby, Greg, as well as, Kim and Mary Beth (who would be running with us the next day.)

With some husbands in tow, we all headed for a LONG stroll to find a restaurant for dinner.

my very cool medal

What I liked about the race:

• Smooth packet pick-up
• Well organized race location, gear check, start, signs, etc.
• Crowd support
• Enthusiastic participants
• Running with friends is the best
• The medal
• Almost perfect weather
• Goo Goo Dolls concert afterward (although we were too hungry to stay)
• Free Beer (although I didn’t partake in that either)

What I didn’t enjoy:

• Would have preferred to run along the strip. The course was not exciting.
• Charcoal grey race tee (for a night race??) How about a brightly-colored shirt?
• The only water stop was at mile 2.  Why not at the turn around?  Vegas is soooo dry. I was parched.

All in all, I loved the experience.  I am glad that I decided to run the RnR Vegas 5k.  This was my slowest 5k in years but who cares.  I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

It’s also Friday so I’m linking up with Running on Happy & Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostesses and visit some other bloggers.

I love this race because I love the area. My friend has a house in Chestertown and I have stayed there many times for running, swimming, mah jongg, tennis and hiking.

I usually drive up on Friday and I get my race packet, have dinner in town and then sleep in on race morning.

But this year I decided to stay home, play mah jongg and then get up super early on race day.

The weather was predicted to be summer-like (but not as humid as last weekend).  In fact, the marathon held the following day was even cancelled due to the heat.

I wore my Skirt Sports running skirt (of course) and a tank. (I remember two years ago, I was so chilly pre-race that I wore a jacket!!)

I parked in the Tops parking lot and walked across the street to get my race packet, use the restrooms and then wait until the race started.

The race was of part of the Adirondack Distance Festival. The half marathon (which I ran in 2011) and the marathon took place the next day in Schroon Lake.

the start on Main St in Chestertown

Today in nearby Chestertown, there was a 5k, 10k and 5k walk. These were small community races with about 125 in the 5K and less than 75 in the 10K.

Municipal Center – bib pick up and restrooms inside and post-race refreshments and awards behind the building

This was my 3rd time running this 10k race. I also ran the 5k back in 2012.

My time in the 10K in 2015 was 1:00:10 and in 2013 1:06:10 (recovering from a broken foot.)

My 2014 10K PR is 57:03.  I would have loved to finish under 60 minutes in this race but with the hot weather, I wasn’t expecting as much.

just waiting…no timing mat at the start

While waiting to start the race, I wound up talking with another runner, Tracy, who recognized me from the Race the Train race.  In fact, she was the organizer of that race and she would be running a half marathon next weekend like me. We both decided that this would be taper run and we would take it easy.

This year, I was running a little tired having run a half marathon last Sunday but also with a half marathon in ONE week and needing to stay HEALTHY.  Tracy ran 15 miles last weekend so I guess we were in the same boat.

I was glad to have her beside me to keep me on track (meaning slow down the first 3 miles!!)

We started together and chatted the WHOLE 6.2 miles except for the hills the last 2 miles when I walked and she didn’t and the end when I sprinted and she didn’t LOL.

As you can see, the course is hilly…real HILLY!!!

Both the 5k and 10K runners start together and then separate. Since there was no timing mat at the start, I tried to stand not too far back.

Once I started running, I was sweating.  I tried to learn from the previous week and not start out too fast. It helped that most of the course was shady and I just kept pace with Tracy. I NEVER looked at my watch the whole race.

The hills didn’t seem as bad as the last time I ran it. I didn’t even walk until the first water stop at around mile 2.5 (halfway for the 5kers). It was probably due the fact that Tracy and I were talking … about races, of course.

Besides the hills, this was a beautiful course. You ran through the back roads and it would have been awesome if the foliage was at peak. It was still very enjoyable.

Around mile 3, you ran into the 5k runners but actually it was the ones who were walking. Then you separated again.

There were many more water stops on the course than I remembered…maybe because it was so HOT!!

I stopped and walked at each one – mile 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, etc. – maybe even more times. I forget! Although I had a GU in my pocket, I never took it.

Mile 4 was the only boring part of the course – a LONG uphill on a main road. This was the hill that I met Heidi 4 years ago. (We became friends and trained for and ran the Love Run Half together in 2014.)

Believe it or not, the hill didn’t feel bad this year. (I must be improving or I should thank Tracy again for the company.)

The hardest part of the race was mile 4.5-5.5. Hill after hill after hill. I think I walked at least 3 times. Tracy said she was tiring but she refused to walk.  So each time, I walked, she got ahead but I was able to catch up.

Finally we approached Main Street in town and I got a second wind and felt great until close to the end.

I walked briefly before the turn into the finish line but I gathered my strength and finished strong. In fact, I surged ahead and passed Tracy and another (young) runner.

you can see Tracy in the pink behind the lady in green

I finished at: 58:17 which was not a PR but over 2 minutes faster than the last time I ran this race and much better than I expected.

My Splits:

• mile 1 – 9:09
• mile 2 – 9:27
  
• mile 3 – 9:46
• mile 4 – 9:45
• mile 5 – 9:59
• mile 6 – 9:21
• .2 – 7:01

Even with the hills, my splits were ALL under 10 minutes and there were NO 8s. It worked not racing the first 5k!!

pic from FB 4 years ago

I had some refreshments (home-made – cookies, fritters, breads, bagels, etc) which were delicious especially the watermelon (I had many many pieces.)

Tracy and I waited around for awards since there was a chance there would be NO ONE in my age group and I might win.

I won my age group!! And yes, I was the only one.

Hooray for AG awards. Another medal to my collection.

And small races make you feel fast.

9th Female – woo hoo!!

Again, I thoroughly enjoyed this race. I hope to be back next year.

I had planned to run a few more miles today after the race. The area is so scenic.

view of the Schroon River

Boy, did I NOT feel like it.  I was hot and sweaty. I called my friend who lived nearby and had invited me for lunch. But she hadn’t arrived yet. Darn!!

So I decided instead of running to go for a hike. I chose Stewart Mountain because it was only a mile up and not that difficult (I didn’t bring a stick since I wasn’t planning to hike.)

The trail was shady and there was a nice view from the top. Perfect choice!

Nearby was another mountain of similar difficulty but almost 2 miles up.  I felt energetic so drove there and climbed it.

I sat at the top for awhile and it was so peaceful.  I didn’t want to leave. Then a couple came by and asked to share my rock.  We chatted for along time.  It turns out that we live in the same town (1 1/2 hours away), play tennis and own the same car!!! So funny!!!

By this time, my friend had arrived so I went to her house and we had lunch and hung out.

I had planned two more hikes (Meade and Beckham Mountains) but my motivation had faded and I had ice cream instead.

I headed to the marina where I thought my friends were be there and I would hang and sleep on our boat.  But they had all decided to sleep at one of the islands so I drove home.

The next morning, the hubby and I drove back and spent the whole day on the lake (and IN the water).  Did I mention that it was over 90 degrees this past weekend!!!!!!!!

Sunday is the race – perfect weather!!!!!