Dunn’s Daily upDates (February)
February 5 - Saturday (The Day Before the Race)
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 21 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 42 / 68
Weather Conditions: A little hazy over the Strip, but clear on the outskirts of town.
Running Time: 4:56
Road Finds: Nothing. I'm still quite aware of the litter along the highway portion of the course. I thought the race committee might send out a crew to at least pick the section of particle board at mile 17 and a half.
Comments: A bit sluggish today, which is understandable after having been up for 20 hours on Friday, and subsequently only getting 6 hours sleep last night.....(I started at 7AM today instead of my usual 6AM.) Elaine brought me to the starting line and returned to the inn for a bit more rest. I called her and suggested that if I just ran from mile 21, back to the inn, that the distance would be the same as if I ran to the finish line, and then she wouldn't have to come pick me up. So that's what I did. (Measured it later, and i was off by .3 of a mile).
We had some lunch and laid around doing crossword puzzles until time to go to the expo to pick up our packets, and for me to spend my 2 hours in the Endurox R4 booth. Mary and Lisa, the reps from Endurox who worked the booth, had run out of samples before noon, and really weren't getting to much "action". You know those runners at expos.....they're there for the free samples, and if you don't have any, they just move along. So I only stayed an hour.
Elaine and I decided to drive by the Church of the Holy Redeemer, where we intended to go to mass at 5:30, only to discover that there was a 4 o'clock mass...we stayed. What a gorgeous edifice. (Not all of the money in Vegas is going into the hands of the devil; it's obvious that a lot of it had gone into the construction of this church). This was the same church we attended in August, when we were here for the MRS. USA Pageant.
After mass, I took Elaine to Battista's Hole in the Wall Restaurant. We both had steak and pasta, so we got protien and carbs for tomorrow's race/run.
By this time we're both pretty exhausted, so we plopped down about 8 o'clock, and were out for the night....of course we had a 4 AM revely. No gambling; no show; no nothin'; just a good night's rest.
***
February 6 - Sunday (Race Day)
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 22 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 36 / 66
Weather Conditions: VERY cold at the start, but warmed up quickly as the sun rose over the mountains
Running Time: 5:16:13
Road Finds: It's race day, so the opportunity for expanding my wardrobe is unlimited. What I mean is, that in the first 5 or 6 miles, the amount of discarded clothing is almost "hazardous". You know, the gloves, the sweatshirts, the stocking caps, the baseball caps; most of which are ready to be thrown away anyway, but some of the things are almost brand new.....but where to carry any of these items for the next 20 miles is the reason I have to overcome my one-man's-trash-is-another-man's-treasure attitude, and just look the other way and keep on truckin'.
I did however stop and bend over, (which is the more difficult of those two actions) and pick up an unopened PowerGel. It never fails that I find at least 1 or 2 that haven't been stepped on and squished all over the road.
Comments: Unless you are looking for a fast time, I can think of no really good reasons to run the Las Vegas marathon. (So why did I include it in my itinerary, to run 17 times? Right now I'm not sure. I think because it IS flat and may be easier on my body than some others I might have chosen. And, it's a good media market). But anyway, the first 18 miles are a staight shot from Jean, Nevada at the Gold Strike Casino, to the very southern tip of the "Strip". I mean for 12 of those 18 miles you see Mandaly Bay, the MGM Grand and other of the sinfully, super-sized structures, and then, just when you think you might get to become part of the "action"; to hear a few spectators cheer; to feel the energy of all that $$$$$ changing hands......boom, a right turn into a less than (much less than) attractive neighborhood. After a couple of miles of outlet malls, ramshackle houses, an interstate overpass and a barren lot or two, you arrive at Sunset Blvd. (not to be confused with the one on the Los Angeles course). This one bounds the McCarren International Airport, and for the next 2 plus miles, while running in the one lane out of 6 that is "coned" off for runners, there is the sight, sound and smell of large aircraft taking off and landing about 75 yards to the left of the course. Finally, the last turn onto Eastern and .4 of a mile to the entrance to Sunset Park and the finish line. I will say though, that even after taking 5:16 minutes to get there, the supply of goodies was ample and tasty. Cold oranges, apples, bananas, yogurt, bagels, raisins and water were all placed into our "finishers" bag. The Medal......ehh. Quite small; no place on back to engrave time and place, etc. There was some gold trim on the ribbon, which gave it a little "flash", but hey, this is Las Vegas, the capitol of Glitz, I expected a little more.
There were a couple of "positives" however; (1) there was an adequate number of busses transporting us from the MGM Grand to the start line, so that we could remain on them until just before the gun went off; (2) the convenience store at the start was open, and had plenty of coffee and donuts for sale; (3) and there were busses at the finish line to take us back to the MGM Grand.
The best part of the whole day was that my wife was able to come out to Vegas, and we ran the entire race together.
Unlike last month in Carlsbad, at the San Diego Marathon, race day was not the culmination of my efforts. So I still have another 11 of these Las Vegas Marathons yet to run.
More tomorrow.
***
February 7 - Monday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 23 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 48 / 68
Weather Conditions: Great!
Running Time: 5:10
Road Finds: Are you ready for this one? 320 GU wrappers. 317 were empty, 3 were full....2 Tri Berry and one Vanilla Bean.
On Monday evening, as I was flipping through the premiere issue of TRAIL RUNNER magazine, which I had received in my packet at the expo, I read that GU was sponsoring a recycle program. For every 10 empty GU wrappers mailed in, they would give you 1 full one in return. I thought to myself..."that's cool," and continued to read on. This morning, after sunrise, as I turned onto Las Vegas Blvd. and headed out to the 13.1 mile turnaround point, I looked down, saw a GU wrapper, and remembered the article from last night. I didn't stop to pick up that 1st one, but I just kept seeing them. So as a diversion from the everyday routine of just "putting in the miles", I began to collect the wrappers. Yes, I actually stopped 318 times to grab one off the street. Between miles 21 and 19, (remember, I'm running from the finish line to the halfway mark and back)I found 103. It was rather slim pickings from 19 to 13.1, but on the return trip I found a few that I had missed on the way out, and then, from mile 21 to mile 23, I found almost 200.....yes, I did quite a bit of walking during that stretch.
How did I carry 318 sticky, messy GUeeee GU wrappers? I'm sure you're curious. I could carry about 30 in my hand at a time. Then I would put those in my fanny pack....yuk...and collect about 30 more. Then I would begin looking for a plastic sack among the debris scattered about the roadside. Upon returning to my vehicle, I drove back for the 4 bags I had stashed along the course.
The best part of this experience was that I will get some free GU; the worst part, aside from the nastiness of the collection process, is that it confirms my impression of the course being one of the ugliest around.
So it was a fun day for me, and I contributed something positive to the city of Las Vegas in the form of "un-littering" the roadway.
Just in case you're interested....I saw 8 Clif Shot wrappers, and about 40 or 50 PowerGel wrappers....I'll get them another day, I still have 9 to go, you know. FYI: GU was being given away at the Expo.
Comments: That pretty much says it all. A California man named Reeder was the overall winner in the marathon, in 2:11 and small change. (I forgot to report that on Monday)
***
February 8 - Tuesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 24 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 52 / 66
Weather Conditions: Another great day. Some clouds, with forecast of rain possible tomorrw.
Running Time: 4:53
Road Finds: After yesterday.....I hardly even looked. I'll get the rest of the wrappers tomorrow.
For a town the revolves around money, I'm suprised that I haven't found more here than I did in Carlsbad. But hey, I'm running in "low pedistrian traffic" areas.....go figure.
Comments: I usually refuse to watch Purdue basketball, seeing as how I'm a died in the wool Inidana fan, (Indiana University that is)but last night I actually got excited watching them beat Michigan State.....why? It helps I.U. in the Big Ten standings.
Gotta Run.....Jerry Dunn
***
February 9 - Wednesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 25 of 200
Location: Last Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 57 / 67
Weather Conditions: Windy today. There was a slight chance of rain predicted for this afternoon, but it's now 4:07, and the sun is shining.
Running Time: 4:53
Road Finds: After yesterdays' experience of collecting those 318 GU wrappers, today my focus was not on the ground, but "down the road". I did notice 3 GU wrappers that I had missed yesterday, but you know what....they're still lying there. I've got 8 more days to finish the clean up.
Comments: I'm missing Elaine, and I'm missing home. The solitude of this course seems to contribute to my loneliness. I mean after I say good morning to the fat, jolly guy that owns the donut shop where I stop every morning for "2 glazed and a small coffee", I don't have much human contact for the rest of the day. The lady at the Texaco at mile 21, is always huffin' on a cigarette, and doesn't seem to be all that friendly; and the lady's at the Shell station on my way out of town are usually to busy to chat. OK, so I'm whineing a little.
Later, Jerry
***
February 10 - Thursday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 26 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 57 / 67
Weather Conditions: Very windy today. Possible rain showers this afternoon.
Running Time: 4:59
Road Finds: Nothing. Boring.
Comments: I made a command decision today. I measued the distance from mile 21 to my hotel… it is 4.7 miles. From mile 21 to the finish line at Sunset Park is 5.2 miles. If I run a quarter mile past the half marathon start line, which is my usual turn around point, and then run back to my hotel, I will be covering the same distance as I have been. This accomplishes 2 things: (1) I can return my rental car and save myself some money, and (2) it will add a little bit of "life" to the first part of the run. You know, some traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian. And of course then the end of the run will be a bit more scenic too.
I will begin that routine in the morning.
Gotta Run… Jerry Dunn
***
February 11 - Friday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 27 of 200
Location: Yep. I'm still in "Lost Wages", Nevada
Temperature: 51 / 64
Weather Conditions: I had a head wind going out, and a tail wind coming in.
Running Time: 5:05
Road Finds: A revised count on the empty gel packets.
GU — 3 more, which brings the total to 321.
PowerGel — 88
Clif Shot — 8
I didn't pick any of these up.
I also found an expired drivers license belonging to....are you ready?....Kazimirs Upenieks. He's from Seattle, Washington. born 02/03/23. The license expired on feb. 03, 2000. (I just went to the marathon, and 1/2 marathon result site for Sunday's race....he did not participate in the race. Of if he did he didn't finish). That's it for today.
Comments: I returned my rental car a little before 6 AM. Left the airport and picked up the course at mile 22 1/2, and headed out to my new turn around point, which is .3 of a mile past the 1/2 marathon start line. This was all familiar territory. So was the return trip, up to mile 21, where instead of turning right, or east onto Robindale, I continued straight on Las Vegas Blvd. to Tropicana, where I made a left turn, and ran back to my hotel. This last section was much more scenic and populated with pedestrians. I had more to look at and people to say "Good morning" to.
Gotta Run… Jerry Dunn
***
February 12 - Saturday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 28 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 40 / 54
Weather Conditions: Wyoming type winds… that means STRONG.
Running Time: 5:15
Road Finds: I saw a few interesting items, but they either blew by me to fast for me to grab them; or they were moving to fast for me to catch them.
Well, not really, but there was a lot of "stuff" blowing around.
Comments: Today ws an "off" day. (I would have liked to have it off, but instead I made it a LATE day). I got up at my usual 4:45… I opened the door to my little apartment, finding gusty winds and rain. Back to bed 'til 6. Finally got out the door at 6:40. The strong headwinds did make for a very difficult trek during the 1st half. Once I turned around… what a relief.
I've begun to focus on Friday… the day I will return home. I know I must not get ahead of myself, and take each day as it comes, but I'm eager to get this segment overwith and get a rest before I head to LA.
Gotta Run… Jerry Dunn
***
February 13 - Sunday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 29 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 50 / 54
Weather Conditions: Nice.
Running Time: 4:52
Road Finds: Zip.
Comments: Just another day at the office. One of those, I'm glad to be done with. I'm in the home stretch, and I'm beginning to smell the barn.
***
February 14 - Monday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 30 of 200
Location: You guessed it.....Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 51 / 66
Weather Conditions: Cloudy, breezy and warm.
Running Time: 5:00
Road Finds: Nada, nothing, zilch, zip.
Comments: Slept in a little this morning. Didn't get started until 8 o'clock. I figured "what the he--, it's not like I'm going to miss the starting gun or anything." On a mission such as this, where I've pretty much established my own format and rules, if I want to start at 8 instead of 6.....I can. And I did.
Just 3 more days, and I can get back to the Hills. The sacred Black Hills of South Dakota.
I need a respite... not so much from running, although that will help, but from the "feeling" of this city.
Next month will be much better for me, because I will be staying with a friend, in a nice house, way up on a hill overlooking LA. It's quiet, peaceful and I'll have a place to cook, read, write and generally enjoy my "down time".
Later. Oh yeah, I almost forgot.....next month is March Madness too. College hoops at it's best.
Can't wait.
***
February 15 - Tuesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 30 of 200
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Temperature: 53 /69
Weather Conditions: A beautiful day for lounging by the pool.
Running Time: N /A
Road Finds: Didn't even find the ROAD today.
Comments: First, I overslept this morning, which is something I hardly ever do. I was tired, sore and unmotivated. So I did something totally spontaneous and out of character.....I took a day off. After quite a lengthly dialoge with myself about all the ramifications of NOT RUNNING today, I decided..."Hey, this my gig, my rules, and I've given myself 4 extra days to play with this year, so I'm using one today. (Kind of like a "life line"). So my FINAL decision... no running today. I needed the day off mentally, as much as physically. I'll kick butt tomorrow and Thursday, and go home feelin' good.
ESPY AWARDS...what a waste of time and money...EXCEPT for the honoring of Dave Sanders with the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award. Dave Sanders was the coach who gave up his life for his students at Columbine last year. THAT, is what sport is all about....not makeing $$$$$, but making a difference in kid's lives.
***
February 16 - Wednesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 31 of 200
Location: Still in Las Vegas.
Temperature: 52 / 55
Weather Conditions: Cloudy and very windy.
Running Time: 5:10
Road Finds: I saw a penny today, but I didn't pick it up.
The childhood poem I learned: See a penny, pick it up. All day long, you'll have good luck. I changed that to: See a penny, leave it lay. Make somebody else's day.
Comments: Yesterday's rest made for a pretty comfortable run today. My time was slow, but that's due to the wind, and the fact that I did a considerable amount of walking. At the end of the run today, the instep of my right foot was extemely tender. I'm icing and doing the ibuprofen "thing". I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's run, if I'm not feeling any better....BUT, given the fact that it will be my last day......I can get through ust about anything.
***
February 17 - Thursday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 32 of 200
Location: Las Vegas
Temperature: 52 / 64
Weather Conditions: Cool, cloudy and windy.
Running Time: 5:12
Road Finds: Nothing.
Comments: Just happy to finally have this over with.
In my other year long quest for 104 marathons in one year, Las Vegas was the only city in which I had to drop out of one of my 2 weekly marathons. I guess there's something about me and Vegas that doesn't quite mesh. Part of the whole situation is just my attitude, and I think the other piece is that the marathon was over 11 days ago. In San Diego, my last day was race day, so everything was a "build up" to that. Next month is similar in that the race is on the 5th of the month, but I like LA, so it shouldn't be quite as boring.
Anyway, I will continue to post on a daily basis....hopefully with something of interest to my small following.
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