I’ve been anticipating this Rock n Roll Remix weekend for ever. Since it was our 17th wedding anniversary, the Caveman and kids accompanied me. We got up and over to the airport in the wee dark hours Saturday morning for our flight from Chicago to Las Vegas. The plan was to run the 5k on Saturday night and the half marathon on Sunday night.
Somehow our plane managed to land 35 minutes early so we had breakfast at the Venetian before heading over to the expo. There’s nothing quite like a Vegas buffet when you need to eat all the carbs. Did someone say waffles?
The expo was hopping when we arrived. Brooks had a shoe you ride as you would a mechanical bull. It looked fun, but I was a total party pooper and refrained cuz you know I can’t risk pulling or wrenching anything, plus I HAD to get my souvenir race pint glass. It’s a tradition.
After doing my business at the expo and securing a pint glass for the collection, we headed out to see Hoover Dam, which never disappoints.
By this time the early wake-up was starting to take its toll so we headed back to our hotel. I needed to start thinking about the 5k. With only one night-time 10k and a night leg on a Ragnar relay, I’m somewhat of a newbie to this night running thing.
Traffic up the strip to the 5k starting line was chaos so the Caveman dropped me off then went to park.
Me, Sue and Tina.
The 5k was huuuuge. We all got cool light sticks which made an awesome visual with thousands of us carrying them. Before the race I finally met the very fabulous Tina and Sue. I also met Emily, Kaella and Jen, who I neglected to get a picture of. I was most likely too absorbed playing light saber with my light stick. Oh well.
We had such a great time chatting, we failed to head to our corrals in a timely fashion. When they told Corral 2 (my corral) to go, all of corral 3 was in front of me so I fought my way through and was the dead last runner to take off. Not all bad because I had some coveted space around me, but also bad because MEB WAS IN MY CORRAL! I should have been running with Meb and instead I brought up the rear. Sigh. I’m sure I’d have been able to hang with Meb for maybe 2 seconds before he dusted me anyway.
Goal for the 5k? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. I’d been up since 3:45am and was saving myself for the following night’s half after all. So I took my sweet time. I checked my Garmin to see it had turned off completely. Another sign to just run easy, take in the sights and enjoy.
We circled around the fairgrounds before heading out to the street. RnR did a good job of having music, lights, smoke, you name it to engage the senses. I enjoyed it, all the while scanning for potholes and anything else that could be a threat in the darkness. After maybe a mile and a half or so we re-entered the fairgrounds and ran through fun lights, inflatables, tunnels, etc. It was all very exciting and festive and was over before I knew it.
A concert headlined by Matt and Kim followed. It was an epic night of running and rocking and I’m certain this is, hands down, the nicest medal I’ve ever gotten for a 5k!
The tech tee is very cute as well. This post is long already so I’m going to save the rest of the Remix for tomorrow. Stay tuned for Vegas Day 2 and epic Half Marathon fun!
Have you run the #stripatnight? Have you run a night race? Been to Las Vegas?
Hi marcia ,
that was a nice story to read.
Congrats on getting the medal 🙂
Sadly i never been in Vegas before.
Sounds like an awesome experience…I may have to put this on my list for next year. And how cool is that to be in the same corral as Meb…VERY! Looking forward to reading day 2
I LOVE ME SOME VEGAS.
I love me some night.
I wanna do another half.
(I fall over potholes :-))
I really do wanna strip at night some year….
This sounds like a fun trip! It is such a long flight for me to get out to Vegas, I haven’t been back there since I got married there in 2007! Night races are fun – I did Disney Wine and Dine which was a blast! Did you see Meb? So cool!
I have not been to Vegas despite visiting all 7 continents…..guess I need to add that to my list of places to take a racecation! Looks like you had a blast at the 5k and having Meb in your corral is very cool!
Woot woot!!!! I can’t wait to read “the rest of the story.” I’ve been to Vegas, but I wasn’t a runner then….and I’d LOVE to do the RnR there. I did the RnR Remix in Chicago in July 2014…it was a total blast (despite the very hot & humid conditions).
Nice that the family went! Looks like fun! The night race part scares me, not my favorite time to run! We went to Vegas a couple of years ago and I got out around 8 am and ran right down the strip- tons of fun! I was surprised that I was not the only one out running ( it was June and 90+ degrees). Nice medal too! See you tomorrow for the rest of the story!
I’ve no idea how you ran a 5k the same day you traveled!
You are, indeed, a rockstar.
Do jealous of all the blogger meetups. 🙂
I did this race 2 years ago and loved it! We are already planning on going back next year. So much fun isn’t it? Congrats
This sounds so fun!!! I’m not a night runner, but I might have to reconsider that…
Great recap!! I wish we would have grabbed a pic! It was so nice to meet you (even if it was super quick!!)
Can’t wait to read about your half!
That is a cool shirt! We saw the Hoover Dam for the first time this summer and loved it! I wish we had time for the tour.
Looks like SOOO Much fun– One day when my kids are older I want to do some race traveling!!! I did a few 5K’s in my younger years in the city at night– they were so much fun and beer always followed!
It was great meeting you. Failed at the pictures though!
I loved the medal too. I was honestly pretty disappointed with the course but I still had a great time overall.
I have a friend that ran the 1/2 on Sunday and now says that she will never run that distance again – sounds like she wasn’t quite ready! I would love to run in these full-weekend events…in Vegas to boot! Great job!
Sounds very fun!! Love your strip at night pic!
I have been to Vegas a few times, and I really enjoyed visiting Hoover Dam. I am just kind of awed by all the lights and different sights. I would love to do the RNR weekend 🙂
I actually really love those, take your time, soak it all in runs, good choice 🙂
So much fun. I love the 5k shirts! And YAS for light sticks. I would have injured myself with it most likely.
YAY! I got to spectate the 5k last year and it was so fun! So many Elvis costumes. That light stick looks like a new and great addition. Glad you had so much fun!
This looks like fun and so cool you got to meet up with some fellow bloggers! I think running a race like this would be so much fun, maybe one day!
I’m so jealous you got to meet Sue! I would be the same way forgetting to get pictures and chatting away, I mean it’s not every day you get to meet fellow bloggers. Did you ever see Meb? I can only imagine how cool it was running down the strip. I sure hope I get to do this one day! I’ll be waiting to read part 2! 🙂
Sounds like a fun start to your Vegas weekend! I’ve never raced at night…maybe next year 🙂
Awesome medal! It sounds like a run for fun – not a serious race. And it sounds like you really did have a lot of fun.
Love the shirt and medal….soo nice! Congrats! I’ve never seen the Hoover Dam…wow!
Sooooooo jealous!!!
I would have totally loved to have done this race but it fell on my football playoffs (which we won… 2 more games this weekend).
Hoover dam,,,,so beautiful!
I have been to Vegas once but i want to go back.
1st night run was Ragnar DC-I think I could run at night again!
I cracked up at visualizing you running with Meb-lol!
Can’t wait for the rest!
I’ve never been to Vegas, but this sure looks like a blast!
Wow, an early flight, the expo, a visit to the Hoover Dam, and a 5k all in the same day?!? You’re a rock star!
Super fun!
I’ve been to Vegas, have not run the strip at night, but have run several night races. I don’t care for them at all. It’s so hard for me to balance out my eating and sleeping, and it’s just really difficult for me to keep it all together by the time everything starts. I’ll do them from time to time, but it is not my preference. Can’t wait to hear about the rest of the weekend.
Yes! My whole family and I ran vegas last year! Hands down the 5k medal was the biggest 5K i’ve ever earned! Glad you enjoyed it and was able to run into some runner friends!
I don’t know how you raced at night! I get it – what would be the point of racing the strip if you can’t see all the lights – but that would really throw me off!! That tshirt is hands down the coolest race shirt ever.
Looks so fun! I have never done a night race so not sure how I would adjust…but if I did one Vegas would be the place to do it!
That medal and shirt are adorable! I so want to do this race next year. I’m looking forward to your half recap!
That sounds like fun! Glad you were able to meet up with some friends even if you stood up Meb!
this race is definitely on my bucket list! and so cool so many people got to run with meb. I met him this past fall and he is seriously such a nice and humble guy. My mom and I really want to go out to vegas for this race! we’d probably stick to just the 5k (I think there is a 10k too right? could be another option).
I ran the Vancouver Night Race back in September – here’s the race report:
http://bradleyontherun.com/2015/09/27/night-race-vancouver/
Your event sounds like FAR more fun! Crazy about you and Meb – star-crossed!!
You should have felt right at home seeing how your from the windy city, right? Man, that wind was crazy! Still a fun race. Have fun with that snow, glad it went south. On Wisconsin!
This series is now on my radar. I want to do a night race after my 10k in May, and what better night place than Vegas? I can celebrate with Vegas chocolate (Ethel M’s).
Sounds like so much fun! Running at night would definitely be different for me, but still fun I’m sure!
I love the 5K shirt and how cool that they gave you those light sticks to run with. The Brooks shoe mechanical bull sounds hilarious! What a fun weekend!
I so wish we had had more time to spend together!!
Never thought of how perfect a Vegas buffet would be for carb loading!