"Viva Las Vegas" was sung as fireworks lit up the sky at 6:30 am along "the strip" in Las Vegas on Sunday morning to kick off the 3rd annual Las Vegas half and full marathons. As the Philadelphia area received snow, 11 of the 14 Fast Trackers braved the cold but bearable weather (at least as compared with Saturday's windy day) as they joined the over 12,000 runners & walkers in the races. Our 3 other Fast Trackers were out cheering us on but got a later start to their day.
Shows, gambling, walking, eating, oohing and aahing at the glitz and the glamour of the hotels was the basic agenda leading up to the race.
Some tidbits from the largest Fast Tracks contingent weekend outing to date . . .
*** Jen Lavelle, a 'newcomer' to our outings, celebrated her birthday with her Fast Tracks friends in Vegas
*** Milo decided along the course at the split between the half and the full to run the full marathon instead (how does that happen? and ask Ethel what she thought when Milo caught up to her at mile 15!)
*** Our president-elect, Ethel, did us proud by being the first woman Elvis from PA to finish the marathon
*** Beth Proffitt, running her 2nd marathon this fall, couldn't figure out how to remove the trash bag she wore before the race to keep her warm until after 4 miles!
*** Tom C. completed his 50th marathon
*** Terry C. completed her 9th state in half-marathon walks
*** Bobbi completed her 19th state in half-marathon runs
*** Keith Straw 'shook up' the first Elvis by outkicking him in the last 400 yards
*** Andi & Eric Lieberman led the cheers
*** Kathy Hughes (George's wife) provided gambling tips to those of us who were faint of heart
*** Kerry Wilson showed how to really enjoy a half-marathon in Vegas by capturing many of the course entertainment opportunities in pictures
*** Robin McMonagle and George Hughes say they ran the half, but with no results and their watches 'supposedly' not working, did they really?
Of course, we can't reveal all that happened in Vegas as it is surely true that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas . . . maybe you'll catch one of the 14 at a weak moment to share some more but above is all that I am allowed to share . . . :)
