Here we go again! It’s almost time for me to leave for Las Vegas and run the Rock and Roll Half Marathon for the third consecutive year! The strip is shut down for only the first time each year (the second is on New Year’s Eve of course!) so thousands of runners can flood the roads and run their way to a celebration only Vegas can offer. I cannot wait to get there again this year and make more memories in the city of sin.
Just before the start of the 2017 race, which was filled with emotions, coming off the mass shooting that happened just one month prior.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 29, 2018
RUNNING
The hay is in the barn and I have done all I can to prepare for 13.1 on the strip! As I have shared before, this training cycle has been amazing and I’m feeling great. That said, the amount of walking, drinking, eating and lack of sleep I have in the three days prior to the race will definitely be a factor and I would not think, for one second, of changing a thing.
We have a big crew of friends going to Las Vegas with us this year so there’s no chance of me going to bed early or not participating because I have to run a half marathon on Sunday night. This is not the Olympic Trails and most of the reason I’m there is to have fun and enjoy my friends and family. I know where running is on my priority list.
Celebrating after a grueling track session.
Tuesday – track session | 2 x (1600, 1400, 800, 400, 200) | 6:29, 4:51, 3:14, 1:34, 0:55, 6:31, 4:53, 3:16, 1:31, 0:55) | 9.52 miles | 7:37 average pace
Thursday – 4 miles easy before strength | 8:50 average pace
Friday – long run before swim | 11.3 miles | 8:28 average pace
Total = 24.82
CYCLING
I’m really starting to miss spending more time on my bike. I’m excited for this running cycle to be over so I can have longer, more intense rides as I gear up for the Duathlon National Championships in the spring.
Wednesday – spin up and single leg work before swim | 12.0 miles
Sunday – recovery ride | 18.3 miles
Total = 30.3 miles
SWIMMING + STRENGTH
I had more time in the pool this week and I’m hoping to get some time at the pool in Las Vegas. Sometimes the weather is just hot enough to go poolside so, fingers crossed!
Monday – strength session with Andre then swim | 2,000 yards
Wednesday – cycling then swim | 1,400 yards
Total = 3,400 yards
Let’s hope this happens later this week…
Look Ma! A pool I don’t have to do laps in!
THINGS I LOVE
I knew this day would come. Today I can finally announce that I may never have to buy another pair of Apple beats by Dre headphones again. Why? Because I finally found a better pair! And by “better” I mean they fit better, sound excellent and are considerably less expensive.
Screw you Apple! Introducing the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100. Boom!
Whenever I see a “best gear for runners” article I click on it faster than my kids can run from one house to the next on Halloween. I’m always searching for better products and Wirecutter is an extremely reliable source. Without hesitation, I ordered up these babies from Amazon (they are $100 cheaper than beats!) and have used them several times already. So far I have zero complaints and that is saying a lot!
For the record, this is my third pair of beats in as many years and a few months ago, this happened…
I first tried super gluing the piece back on and when that didn’t work, I just prayed they stayed in my ears for the duration of my run or bike. This should not happen with a $200 pair of headphones!
Bye Felicia.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Whenever someone asked me “what are the boys going to be for Halloween this year?” I cringed. When relatives said “send me pictures of the boys on Halloween,” I flat out refused or at least cautioned them saying “you don’t want to see it.” You see, my friends and relatives were living in the past, back in the days of adorable 5 and 6 year-olds who once dressed like this…
Vaughn INSISTED on being Daphne back in 2013.
Now? The creepier, the better. The more blood, the more they want it. The more it may scare the elderly and small children (which are basically the same) they can’t get enough.
I took this adorable shot in the grocery store about 10 minutes after we left Spirit Halloween this year. It may have still been September.
Every year it seems to get more frightening, kind of like parenting.
MUSIC
Apparently I’m late to the game when it comes to The Greatest Showman soundtrack. No surprise there. What is surprising is the movie soundtrack has been number one on iTunes for like a year! What the…? I previously wrote about how much I love the song “This Is Me” and how much I really love hearing it say around 45 minutes into hammering around the track, and now I can add “A Million Dreams” covered by P!nk, for The Greatest Showman Reimagined, and it’s everything!
As if that wasn’t enough, she did a duet with her daughter Willow…
“I think of what the world could be, a vision of the one I see, a million dreams is all it’s gonna take, a million dreams for the world we’re gonna make.”
RANDOM EXCHANGE OF THE WEEK
That wondrous parenting moment when you over hear one identical twin tell the other…
Vaughn to Miles: You’re adopted.
#micdrop
Have a great week everyone! I will see you back here, at some point, with a race recap and some good stories from fabulous Las Vegas! Until then, follow me on Instagram and Facebook for spoilers…
[Tweet “The Rundown is leaving for #LasVegas and the #RockandRollMarathon! Before that, let’s talk @pink and the #best #headphones for #runners ever!”]
How was your week?
Ever run in Las Vegas?
What headphones are you wearing?
I’ve thought about running Vegas but I don’t think I would be happy running that late.
Your boys are adorable and even as their creepy Halloween costumes.
It’s actually not that bad. I was worried about the first year but doing the half was not a big deal…the marathon is an entirely different story. Speaking of – CONGRATULATIONS again on your epic PR at NYC!!! Hope you’re at a diner somewhere getting delicious food and whipped cream in your coffee 🙂
Have so much fun in LV! I didn’t go last year and you’d think I have regrets, but I really don’t! I think I must be getting old or something.
I’m so glad you have no regrets about not going but I hope you consider doing it at some point! I think you would love it…and I would love to have a meet up!
I ran the full a few years ago. I didnt like it. It was cold and dark and ran out towards desert. This year I will be going back to run the half which is so much more fun up and down the strip. Good luck!
I don’t blame you! When I saw the map for the full I was like “no way!” There are so many turns and yes, it’s super dark out there. Good luck with the half! I’m sure you will LOVE it as it’s a totally different experience 🙂
Have so much fun in Vegas! Now that I’m getting in the pool, I’m even more in awe of your swim workouts.
Haha – thanks Laura! Good luck with your swims and lmk if I can help in any way! I love that you’re swimming 🙂
I hope you have a great race and a wonderful time in Las Vegas! You’ve got a great attitude about having fun and not stressing over the race. I suspect the lack of stress will work great in your favor. Go get ’em!
“You’re adopted” – hilarious! I love kids!
Thanks so much!! As long as the high winds don’t kick up – all should be well. And yes, you have to love the kid banter…
I ran Vegas last year and in 2015. I’m not really a Vegas person and yet I had SO MUCH FUN! 100% agree with you those are THE BEST wireless headphones ever. Sadly a certain pup who shall remain nameless chewed mine up. A very sad day indeed.
I was never a Vegas person either but I love this race and a bunch of our friends meet out there which makes it super fun. I don’t ever gamble (not even a slot!) but I eat and shop and dance and spa and it’s all good.
SO sorry your dog ate your headphones!! OMG I would cry.
I had no idea Pink did A Million Dreams… I’m excited to check it out!
I’ll be thinking of you this week as we both travel and race- draw on that strong training cycle you had. You are so ready!
You will LOVE it and you can show the video to your girls 🙂
Good luck my friend!! I will be thinking of you!!
I have those same earphones! My co-worker recommended them. Love!!!
Good luck in Vegas!!! So jealous you get to go play. I need a vacation.
Also, Pink is my spirit animal.
Of course you have those headphones 🙂
Thank you!! Too bad your all the way in Atlanta now and so far from play land, although I’m sure you will make it back at some point!
And is there nothing P!nk can’t do well? Love her so much!
One day I’ll make it to Vegas for this race. However, I have a feeling that I wouldn’t make it to the race. I’d be taking a nap because I was exhausted from the previous days of having fun. Good luck!
Yes, one day I will force you there…with peace and love of course 🙂 And trust me, being in Vegas and away from your kids in a beautiful (quiet!) hotel room for three days prior gives you more sleep then you have now! You will feel energized and raring to go!!
This is incredible! Hats off to you for being so fit and in such amazing shape. Honestly though, before reading about this, I would’ve never thought people go to Vegas for marathons. I have a whole blog post about things to do in Vegas besides gambling and partying and now i know running is another! What other places have you been for marathons?
Oh that is funny but yes, Las Vegas is an odd place for racing but also SO much fun! I have been to the usual places for marathons – NYC, Boston, my hometown of Connecticut but I have done triathlons all over the world – Spain, Italy, Portugal and Cuba. My father was born in Cuba so that one was very special! Happy travels to you!