We had an early start the night before the race by having a pre-race dinner with Todd Byers and his friends, Bud and Kathy Barela, and Margaret Everitt. They joined myself and my wife, Judy, son Jason, daughter Sam, daughter in law Maggie. Judy, Maggie, and Jason had run the 5k in the morning and all did very well!
Todd asked if I wouldn't mind if he ran the race with me. I warned him that I was going to be running quite slowly and had planned to finish in 6:54. He indicated that he would be honored to run with me, but only if I wanted him to do so. So, I said sure!
We got up in the morning to winds howling so loudly that the windows on the sixth floor of the Tropicana were rattling. The Mandalay Bay lost several windows to wind gusts! The temp seemed to be in the low 40s and the wind was at least a consistent 20-30 mph.
It was 5:00 AM when we got on the bus and rode the 26 miles to the start. Las Vegas Marathon is a straight course that begins deep in the desert and enters town at about mile 10. There are small hills, ridges really, that pepper the beginning of the course for about eight miles, then a very gradual downhill (not noticeable) to a flat finish.
Getting off the buses put us in the midst of a desert wind storm with icy temps. I thought it would get warmer when the sun came up, so I stripped off my pants and tossed them. I found Todd in a port-a-potty line and we waited for the start shivering (at least I was). I felt strong and prepared. I had run a 10K in the mountains in similar wind conditions and was wary of their effects psychologically. I knew from experience that they could be draining.
The race started and I used my planned 3 minute/1 minute run/walk formula. I felt good about the pace and we kept it at about 15 minute miles a mile for awhile. A few miles out, we noticed a runner collapsed on the road. Todd stopped to check him and found he was being cared for so he caught up with me. The man was an 80-year old Brit who had run the 5K the day before. I give him a lot of credit for getting out there.
At about 6 miles, I began to feel the wind's effects. I knew this was going to be a very difficult day. Todd cautioned me against talking too much early. Better to save energy. He also was quite perceptive and noticed a slight increase in my pace as two ladies passed us!
Running in a fierce wind is a real challenge. At the end of the race, I discovered that the winds were a fairly sustained 40 mph with gusts at 50 mph and much of this was in the face. The lead female runner was blown by the wind into a police officer riding a bike and this was the slowest LVM in its history.
The wind picked up dust and sand and over time I noticed that my eyes were quite milky and I couldn't see very well. The wind has a way of eroding concentration and inhibiting thinking. So even the tricks of distraction have a hard time. The wind just gets in your head.
At mile 13, I felt terrible. My ankle that had been broken was hurting, my toes hurt, and I could feel my hamstrings tightening. We hooked up with another runner, Lisa, who asked to run with us "because we looked like we knew what we were doing." (Right, one foot in front of the other, I'd say.) So, there we were, a merry band heading to Oz.
My wife managed to rent a car and found us on the course. Suddenly there was a whoop and a cheer! Great feeling! This race has absolutely no cheering support. And under these circumstances, this was a serious problem. I was so happy to see my family at various points along the way!
At about mile 18 or so, I felt very much like dropping out. The wind and pain were taking a serious toll. I could no longer run, I felt. I walked. I walked fast. Todd told me I had a fast walk. So, I thought I would at least finish this way. I really thought I would be able to rest a bit and rally at the end with a run over the last few miles. I would jog a bit here and there and Lisa dashed into a store for water. She bought me a Hershey bar and I ate it as if there was nothing left to eat on earth! After a while I felt a little better from the energy point of view, but I was still in pretty good pain from the feet up. A mantra helped, I focused on getting each step out and going as fast as I could.
Toward the end, in the last 10th or so, I ran (if you could call it that) across the timing strip. And that was that. The wind, my Zen friend was there even in the end. And the mylar blanket was whipping about like a frantic sail unleashed.
One noteworthy incident: Somewhere along the way, we found a lady running past us. Todd talked with her. It seems she got on the wrong bus and had run four miles of the half before discovering that she was in the wrong race. She got a ride all the way back to the marathon start and started the race again. So, she ran a 30 mile marathon that day!
Feelings: I felt enormously grateful to Todd and all of the Penguin Brigade. Todd was a lifesaver. Walking with me, encouraging me, supporting me, with not a thought for himself. This is the heart of being a Bodhisattva, an awakened being dedicated to service of others. At the race conclusion, I placed my palms together and bowed to him.
I was very happy to finish and was actually surprised by the time, although Todd assured me that I would finish under seven.
There is nothing that can compare to having that medal placed around my neck. Each of you have been honorable teachers of the Way...
HARVEY HILBERT, LAS CRUCES NM 6:57:56