Like I mentioned last week, an unexpected opportunity came up that Chad and I just can’t pass up……and I suppose it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. We are (hopefully) going to VEGAS! Vegas has definitely been on our “must visit” list for awhile now, but we’ve had some awesome opportunities to go out of the country on our last few trips (Riviera Maya, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic) that Vegas kind of got pushed aside. We’ve always wanted to go to see what the hype is about but haven’t rated it as the #1 must see on our list until now 🙂
My college roomy is going to Vegas with her sibs in December and they’ve asked us to tag along. I ADORE her so much and her family is awesome as well, so we knew it’d be the perfect group to go with! We kind of surpassed our trip budget this year though (thanks to me and needing to go to Seattle and Boston this summer), hence why I’m doing everything I can to help us save money (i.e. ask you guys for advice) so that we can afford to go. Don’t get me wrong, Vegas is one of the cheapest vacays out there, but money doesn’t grow on trees!
Also, I’m sure you’d all like to know, that the main reason they’re going in December is for something you may have heard of….a Rock n’ Roll Marathon!!!!! Yes, the Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon is December 6! Keebs (my college roomy), 2 of her siblings, and some various family members are all running the Half Marathon and wanted to make a trip out of it. I’ve decided to do the Half with them and it’ll be my 3rd half (for newby readers, I did my first Half in May and my second will be in 2 weeks!). Now, to elaborate….
I actually decided a couple weeks ago that I was going to go crazy and try for the Full Marathon….with where I’m at in my training, December was the perfect time to attempt a Full, and what better place to do it than Vegas?!?!? Right? Well after a crappy run on Monday, and some long, hard soul searching, I’ve basically decided to forgo my dream of running a Full Marathon. With my knee/joint history I knew a full marathon probably wasn’t the best choice, but I was feeling good and I knew that this is probably the only time in my life when I’ll have the energy and time to train that much. Well after Monday’s crappy run, I decided it wasn’t worth the toll on my body. My joints esp in my knee but also my ankles have been mega sore lately which is also what happened after I trained for my half marathon in May. After walking around like an 80-year old Monday afternoon, I figured it just isn’t worth it. I said it before and I’ll say it again – I don’t love running, I love how I feel after running and the fact that it keeps my body in great shape. I do really like going out for a 3-6 mile run, but that’s really it. I think part of it is that we’re so crazy busy on weekends that trying to squeeze in a 2+ hour run every Saturday morning is just taking it’s toll and I’m worn out. Plain and simple. And that’s the mental aspect of it. The physical aspect is that I’m realizing that I shouldn’t probably even think of running a Full anyway with the condition of my knee (i.e. no cartilage in my right knee so aka my bones rub together when I run). If I can’t walk when I’m 50, or need knee replacement when I’m 35, it’s definitely not going to be worth it.
I’ve tossed this notion back and forth in my head for months and months now….and don’t get me wrong, I’m still not 100% in my decision! SO, if 2 months from now I announce that I’m going to do a Full marathon, don’t holler at me or be surprised :) BUT, for now, I’m listening to my body and taking it easy so that my body can act like the 27-year old body it is and not the 80-year old body it probably would have felt like if I had decided to do the Full.
PLUS, I need to keep reminding myself that I’ve walked 2 Full Marathons!! This may sound easy, but trust me, it’s not! I’ve heard from people that have both walked and ran full marathons that walking one is actually harder because of the time it takes to do it! 7-8 hours of continuous walking is NOT easy people! So, technically I’ve done 2 Full Marathons and you guys might need to remind me of that every now and then :) Would it be wrong for me to sport a 26.2 sticker on my vehicle?? LOL
So…there you have it!
I LOVE the fact that so many of you like the jello shot in a syringe idea!! :) I have the “recipe” at work so I will post it for you guys tomorrow night!! It’s a keeper, for sure :) Chad joked that we should make a ton and just keep them on hand, LOL. They’re SO easy and SO yummy!
Question of the Day: Have you ran a full Marathon? Walked a full Marathon? If not, do you want to or do you think you ever will? ***Hopefully all of you answer no to those questions so that I don’t get my marathon fever back, LOL***
I did the Las Vegas Half last year (it wasn’t a Rock and Roll event then). If they keep the course the same, it’s nice and flat. You get to run down the Strip and people are out cheering you on (most likely people who are still up from the night before)!! In the middle, you’re kind of out in the middle of suburb Vegas but you get some great views of the plateaus that surround Vegas. There’s also a ton of people dressed as Elvis and in other fun costumes. It was a blast!
HELL YES!!! Rock it out 🙂
By the way, I posted all about my summer trip to Vegas (for my 21st birthday), here (there’s 6 parts to the recap series):
http://veggiegirlvegan.blogspot.com/search?q=%22LAS+VEGAS%22
Horay for VEGAS BABY! That’s so awesome and I couldn’t be happier for you.
Also, kudos to you for relaizing that running a full marathon is something that isn’t the best thing in your life. It’s so easy to be pressured to accomplish running goals for the wrong reasons. Right now, I am running my 1st 1/2 this weekend and at this point in my life, I think I will be content with that. I really don’t have the desire to do a full one at this point, but maybe someday. I woudln’t want to kid myself into reaching for a dream that I really wasn’t passionate about.
You have the right idea and I am so proud that you are able to embrace this decision! 🙂 Good for you love!
ow ow vegas or bust baby! stay positive have a GREAT TIME and best of luck to you, Melissa!
YAY!!!!!!!!! Congrats! I knew whatever it was, I was going to be super happy for you! I loved that surprise had multiple parts 🙂 Cant wait to hear how everything turns out (SUPER DUPER jealous of the marathon!)
NO to all your questions 😀 But good luck and vegas will be freakin awesome whatever u do!!! Def try to see a cirque du soleil show, or LOVE, the beatles show…OR i heard Jersey Boys is amazing!!!
You are going to love Vegas…it is an awesome time! For sure try and catch a Cirque show they are unbelieveable!
My answer is NO to all of your questons. I love to run but I have really no aspirations to run Marathon. I am quite content running 3 to 6 miles and that is about it!
I’m with you on the Marathons – I just don’t think it’s worth the toll on my legs! Even just training for the Army Ten Miler my hips, knees, shins, etc. are all sore, and I’m so exhausted after my long training runs! I am loving it, don’t get me wrong, but I think a Half is the most I could ever do. I just don’t think it’s good for you to run 26 miles all at once! I’d rather be able to continue running the rest of my life rather than burn out now trying to do a Marathon and getting injured or something.