On Sunday December 2, 2012, I had the opportunity to run in the Rock and Roll Vegas Half Marathon. It was truly a remarkable experience.
The weekend began when I pulled into the Venetian Palazzo parking terrace. I needed to get to the Sands Expo Center to pick up my race packet. When I entered the Expo, I was greeted by a friendly staff of volunteers who were very helpful in getting me to where I needed to be. After I retrieved my race materials, I made my way into the Brooks running area. There were many products on display and company representatives were giving away free swag. I was able to get out of that portion without spending any money, but I could not say the same for the rest of the Expo. I was moverwhelmed by the amount of vendors that were on hand. There were vendors from all over the country who specialized in every aspect of running. The Expo was worth my time and I was not disappointed as I left with not one, but two bags of free goodies!
The next phase of the weekend came in the form of Rock icons at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Since I was a registered race participant, I was able to get a pretty amazing deal on Aerosmith tickets. I had never had the opportunity to see Steven Tyler live before and I never imagined that watching him engage in a unique relationship with his microphone stand would be so memorable. This was a standout concert experience.
The final evolution of the weekend was the race itself. 13.1 miles of scenic Las Vegas at night. The strip was shut down at one o clock in the afternoon for the race. The race began at 4:30 for the half marathon participants, which was just before dark. The race began south of Mandalay Bay and traveled north to Fremont Street, through some off strip streets, then back to the finish line at The Mirage. The most incredible part of the race was the spectators. So many people came out to support their loved ones, each with a different story and a different struggle. I found myself becoming emotional as I read signs of mothers who had beat cancer and soldiers who had overcome war related injuries. I had my own story to be told. I was running to prove that anyone can achieve their dreams of transforming their life. I was ninety pounds lighter than the lowest point in my life and accomplishing what I never thought possible. I was going to finish a half marathon with an average pace of 8:30 a mile!
As I crossed the finish line, I had a realization. It took only two years to gain my life back. Yes, it took work, and I experienced pain and suffering along the way, but I was a different man. A stronger man. I am proud to look at myself in the mirror and I am never going back. Thank you to everyone who has ever supported me through this struggle. I hope that I can be an inspiration to others as so many have been to me!
