Ready, Steady, Go!
A little over a year ago, as I was doing research for my "bachelor" party in Las Vegas, I came across the Web site for the "New Las Vegas Marathon". Instantly, I was intrigued. Could I possibly go to Las Vegas and run? Gambling (too much). Drinking (excessively). Eating (like a pig). Little (or no) sleep. Sundry misdeeds. Running?
The 2005 Las Vegas Marathon was less than five months away at that point and getting ready in that timespan was not an option. I had never run a marathon. I had never even really seriously considered running a marathon. I had just finished reading Michael Craig's The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time. Had the story about Ted Forrest running a spur-of-the-moment marathon on the UNLV track on the fourth of July to win a bet gotten to me?
The longest I had run at that point was a 10K (6.22 miles for you non-runners), I think. Nevertheless, I made a note of the site and started telling people I was going to run the Las Vegas Marathon in 2006. I told people at the "bachelor" party. I told my co-workers. I told anyone who would listen.
Well, now the time has come. The race is December 10, 2006, and I am registered. The hotel (Mandalay Bay) is booked. I told a lot of people, and four of them so far have even agreed to come and support me (it is, after all, in Las Vegas). In short, I'm accountable.
The thing is, I don't really mind running, but I can't stand the thought of it. It's a constant struggle to train, run races, and focus on the things I will need to do to actually run a marathon. I have selected a twelve week training where I will run 3 or 4 times a week. Running any more than this is simply not realistic with professional demands and other interests. To help me focus, I plan to record my progress every day during the course of training. I will get you up to speed on how I got to this point, including how I could not even run for five consecutive minutes less than two years ago. I will talk about the benefits, and even joy, of running, as well as the sheer dread I regularly experience at the thought of coming home from a long day of work only to head right back out and pound the pavement. I will even get into my lifelong fascination with Las Vegas. We'll all see if someone who once vowed never to run again at the ripe old age of 17 could, more than 15 years later, come full circle and run distances he never dreamed of then.
The journey begins on Monday. I hope you'll join me!
The 2005 Las Vegas Marathon was less than five months away at that point and getting ready in that timespan was not an option. I had never run a marathon. I had never even really seriously considered running a marathon. I had just finished reading Michael Craig's The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time. Had the story about Ted Forrest running a spur-of-the-moment marathon on the UNLV track on the fourth of July to win a bet gotten to me?
The longest I had run at that point was a 10K (6.22 miles for you non-runners), I think. Nevertheless, I made a note of the site and started telling people I was going to run the Las Vegas Marathon in 2006. I told people at the "bachelor" party. I told my co-workers. I told anyone who would listen.
Well, now the time has come. The race is December 10, 2006, and I am registered. The hotel (Mandalay Bay) is booked. I told a lot of people, and four of them so far have even agreed to come and support me (it is, after all, in Las Vegas). In short, I'm accountable.
The thing is, I don't really mind running, but I can't stand the thought of it. It's a constant struggle to train, run races, and focus on the things I will need to do to actually run a marathon. I have selected a twelve week training where I will run 3 or 4 times a week. Running any more than this is simply not realistic with professional demands and other interests. To help me focus, I plan to record my progress every day during the course of training. I will get you up to speed on how I got to this point, including how I could not even run for five consecutive minutes less than two years ago. I will talk about the benefits, and even joy, of running, as well as the sheer dread I regularly experience at the thought of coming home from a long day of work only to head right back out and pound the pavement. I will even get into my lifelong fascination with Las Vegas. We'll all see if someone who once vowed never to run again at the ripe old age of 17 could, more than 15 years later, come full circle and run distances he never dreamed of then.
The journey begins on Monday. I hope you'll join me!
posted by pmk-one at 8:05:00 PM
3 Comments:
Yo dude,
Go for it. See you at the lake on tuesdays and thursday we will be playing footbag, actually mainly saturdays.
you can follow mine at ptlovern.blogspot.com
i could run with you. not on the long days, though. we'd have to figure out if that's even logistically possible.
ps: i don't walk hills. unlike some people i know.
Joe, we have already reserved rooms right near the starting line, but if you are interested in coming out, I think this is a great idea! Other people may be interested, and I will keep you posted.
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