Vegas Baby!

This race was a big one. It was the furthest away from home so far and I went by myself. I am running these races, not just to prove that I can run 5Ks in all 50 states, but to reassert my independence for myself. I know I can handle doing for others, I do it all the time. I am running 50 before 60 for me. This Las Vegas trip was the first one to really test that.

SPOILER ALERT:  I nailed it!

My flight to Vegas left Detroit at 6:00am. I don’t know why, on God’s Green Earth, I booked that time but I did. I am a very nervous flier. I like to get to the airport a couple hours early so I can relax before strapping into a giant metal tube and defying the laws of nature by flying. That meant I would have to get up at like 2:00am so I could get ready, drive thirty minutes to the airport, park my car, shuttle to the terminal, have a TSA agent get to second base with me, grab a coffee, and chill all by 4:00am.

Then, a great idea hit me. I would get a hotel room near the airport and save myself some precious sleep time. Genius? Perhaps, but I’m too humble to say that. It worked out great! I got some extra sleep and still made it to the gate with plenty of time to chillax.

The woman sitting next to me on the flight, it turns out, was a distribution rep for Atwater Beer. If you don’t know about Atwater, they are a Detroit-based beer brewery. They were one of the companies that lead the resurgence of microbreweries in the Motor City.

She and I talked about how great it is to see Detroit experience a rebirth. I moved into the city more than 20 years ago, when Detroit was still synonymous with decay, poverty, and murder. Over the past few years, the city has become known for great restaurants, trendy nightspots, cool shopping, and of course beer and spirit makers. It is a testament to the faith and determination that drives the people of Detroit.

In Sin City

I stayed at the Golden Nugget, which is just off the strip. My room had an amazing view of the mountains and desert. I started to feel like I was in a Martin Scorsese movie. Like I was waiting to whack some rat who couldnt keep his mouth shut then bury him in the desert.

What? You got a problem with that?

I didn’t think so.

I unpacked and put my stuff away, then it was time to get something to eat. For some reason, I was craving an omelet, so I went to the hotel restaurant to see what they had in the way of eggy goodness. They did not disappoint. I got their Mexican omelet and it was delicious. Whoever had the idea to put avocado on an omelet is a culinary genius! I tip my whisk to you sir or madam.

After I wolfed down my breakfast, I went to the convention center to pick up my race packet and check out the expo. This is when I found out that 50,000 people would be running in the events that weekend. The 5K was Saturday night and had about 6,000 people running in it. Then Sunday was the half and whole marathons. It was crazy. People came from all over the world to participate in the races.

I got my packet then took a walk around the expo. I wasn’t looking for anything specific but, you know me, if I find a cute shirt it’s going home with me. Well, I found one. It says “Running is My Happy Hour.”

That is so true. Running really does make me happy. It doesn’t have to be a race. Just running around my neighborhood is one of my favorite things to do. I put on my headphones, rock out to some great music, and leave stress and worries in the dust. It’s like meditating. I don’t think about anything but what I am doing at that exact second.

BONUS: It’s making my legs and ass look great. I think I might sell hats:

The Concert

One of my favorite singers is a small woman with a big voice who comes from Canada. No, not Shania Twain. Not Sarah McLachlan either. Not even Justin Bieber! No, I am speaking of the incomparable, Celine Dion.

Ms. Dion, or Cece as I and her friends call her, is doing a residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Guess who scored a ticket? No, not Shania Twain…OK, I did that joke already. The answer is ME! I got to see Celine Dion in concert Friday night! Amazing does not do justice to describe the show, but it’s the best I’ve got.

She opened with my favorite song of hers, Because You Loved Me, so right from the start I was crying. That song makes me feel so many things, but the strongest is that it reminds me of my mom. I’ve said this in other posts but I’ll say it again. My mom is the strongest woman I know and she has supported me through everything I’ve done…

…And here I go with the waterworks again…

I wept through most of the concert actually. Seeing that show made my entire trip. I could have gone home right after and been perfectly happy but I still had a race to run.

Race Day

This one was a night race, so I had time to kill on Saturday. You know what that means? I got to lay out in the sun and get my tan back! Woohoo!

After a couple hours in the sun, I wandered around a little bit, did some shopping, and got something to eat (surprised?). I wish I could tell you more but, as they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. OK, napping and more sunbathing. That’s what happened.

Of course, I had to have to my pre-race meal, which was lunch for this race. Normally, I like to have chicken piccata the night before, but it’s good to switch things up a little bit. Especially if you can’t find a place that serves chicken piccata. I went with the next best thing instead. Chicken wings and wine! YES!

Am I an Olympian? No.

Am I OK with that? Your damn right I am!

I’d much rather eat chicken wings, coney dogs, and pepperoni pizza than run across the country carrying a torch. With my luck, I’d trip and fall, and set a small village on fire. When you think about it, those chicken wings probably saved lives.

There was so much energy in the air for the race. Almost 6000 runners and their supporters filled the streets along the course. People were dressed up and there was neon everywhere. There was no doubt that this race took place in Las Vegas.

The route took us along part of The Strip. It was unlike any of the previous races, which took placed in parks or through city streets. This was the Las Vagas Strip! An oasis of buildings and lights in the middle of the desert. I couldn’t help but be pumped up. Plus it was a Rock-n-Roll series run, so it was like a giant party with live bands people everywhere.

I wanted to stick around after the race was over, but man was I exhausted. My pillow called to me from the hotel and I answered it. The next morning I flew home and stuck a pin in Nevada!

That’s FIVE done now. Ten percent! Holy crap!

Next up will be North Carolina! Stay tuned.