So this is a little late coming, but better late than never. I too get caught up in the Holiday Season.
Yes, two 1/2 Marathons in SIX weeks. This one was different, it wasn't for me or about me. This one was for my husband who has supported all of my fitness endeavors without question. He loves that I love to be healthy and strong and loves to participate when he can. He-Rocked-It.
We ran a 1/2 Marathon once before when we were dating a bit over four years ago in San Francisco - aptly named the San Francisco 1/2 Marathon. That was all fun and games, just get it done to say he did it. There was minimal training with a long run of only 10 miles one time before race day. Post race was not his favorite to say the least. Exhausted for a day or two, sore for at least two, but he did it and did it well with his kids and Mom at the finish cheering us on with signs.
I wanted to do it again, with him, and I have been hearing how fun the Rock 'n Roll series is for years. Then I saw it - Rock 'n Roll VEGAS. I had him, no doubt, slam dunk. It couldn't have been more perfect since he LOVES Las Vegas. The last time we traveled there was great and this was the perfect way to go have fun again and run together.
The biggest obstacle we had was training together. I wrote him a progressive program to get him prepared but what I didn't realize is that we really only had six weeks to train together and motivating someone from afar is tougher than when they are in the room training beside you. By the time he needed to start his training, I was already in my long long runs with my girls training for the Nike 1/2 in San Francisco. He needed shorter runs than I was doing but I had to put the miles in for my October race. Thankfully, the commitment was fully made by him and he began running on his own on his lunch hour at work. I didn't doubt it, I knew once he said he was in he would train properly. Running by yourself when it isn't really your "thing" takes big commitment.
If we were going to do training runs together, it would have to be at 5:30 am or 7:30 pm, both in the dark. I cannot run at night or super early morning before the sun, I trip on things and fall down. This has happened on several occasions and in several cities and I cannot explain it. During the week, this meant he had to run without me. Not ideal, but doable. Enter work friend/runner/savior. Maybe still not ideal but far more attractive than running solo three times a week.
And so our dual journey began. Weekends we would do long runs when we could manage around soccer and kids and every run he did better and became a stronger runner. So much so that on our 11 mile run, he was pulling me at more than one point. This was a GREAT sign of what this race would become and I was excited.
Jump forward a few weeks. The day before the race at the Expo, and a KILLER Expo it was. Great fitness tools everywhere, Josh Cox signing autographs, all sorts of runners wandering through it all. There was a HUGE line for the free Kinetic Taping and of course for all the free samples of food. We bought some running glasses and for me a beanie since we realized how cold it was really going to be in the morning.
Then it was 5:00AM in Las Vegas - RACE DAY. Winter running pants - check. Under Armour Cold Gear long sleeve - check. Shoes, beanie, race bib, running belt and bag check clothes - check. All ready. As we made our way through the drunken smoking gamblers who looked at US like WE were nuts, we giggled and thought about how great it was to NOT be them. I loved it. We walked outside to be slapped in the face with some ridiculously cold temperature I certainly wasn't expecting. Thank goodness for hot coffee :)
There were all sorts at the start - aliens, angels, hippies, sponge bob (yes, in a full cardboard costume) and of course a thousand Elvis' of both genders. There were also the serious runners doing their warm up runs in their compression socks, novice runners sort of trying to watch and do what others were doing and people who looked totally lost. I checked my bag and we headed to our corral. As we lined up and toed the line for our start Sean looks at me and says, my biggest stretch goal is 2:11. My answer - how bad do you want to make that?
He doesn't want to know the time so much just the time of each mile after a certain point, around mile 6. I'm still pacing him and we are headed at a good clip enjoying the scenery as you run straight down the strip. Through NY, Paris, you know the drill. All the lights are on, the billboards are wishing us luck. The corrals were run perfectly so that we didn't have to worry about weaving in and out of runners and could really look around and enjoy our environment. Even the water stations were run well without runners climbing all over each other to get to the tables. The bands made it even better. We heard a lot of Jimi Hendrix on that run but it was fabulous.
Around mile 11, Sean started to slow so I started to pull away to push him to maintain his pace. I knew he could but also knew he needed to just follow on auto pilot. Mile 12 he started to show a little glint of "thank God I'm almost there". For the last 1/2 mile of the race, I would hold up fingers for the remaining .5, .4, .3, etc. miles left. As soon as I held up 2 fingers - off he went like a shot. All I could think was "Are you nuts??? Do you know that is almost a quarter mile? Sprinting, really??" But instead I took off after him yelling as much encouragement on the way. I'm not entirely sure he knew it was encouragement as it could have been irritating him to no end but I wanted him to reach his best goal.
On immediate crossing of the finish line, he came to a complete halt and looked like he wanted to die. He did just full sprint .2 miles after all. And of course I forgot to stop my watch. I told him he did it, beat his best goal and he just looked at me. Official time? 2:09!!!!
With commitment, time and some nagging, he surpassed even his stretch goal. I was so proud of him and still am. He was even in good enough shape to rock out to Bret Michaels for over an hour at the post race concert and even make it to XS for the runner party held by the race later in the evening. He was proud of him too which he should be.
It was an amazing race and so fun to do it selflessly and watch him succeed past all his goals. I loved seeing him so happy and healthy and I can't wait to do it all over again.
