I hit the road right after eating lunch. I pulled into the WorldMark Las Vegas - Tropicana Ave property at about 4:30 pm. The check-in process with the COVID-19 safety protocols was new to me as this was my first trip since the first shutdown back in mid-March. Face coverings were now mandatory. They installed plexiglass partition at each station to limit any potential exposure between you and the staff. Besides the muffled voices from wearing masks, it was pretty much the same routine. It was quick and easy getting my room key. A couple days prior to my arrival, I received a voicemail to call in for pre-registration. During that call, they invited me for another owner update in exchange for a $85 gift card which would be given to me prior to the update instead of afterwards. I declined as I didn't feel like I wanted to endure another update during this pandemic. Why put myself at risk for a greater chance of exposure to that coronavirus? However after I picked up my room key, they had me make my usual stop at the concierge desk where the lady tried to get me to attend the update. This time she increased the gift card amount to $100. Once again I declined. Before she let me go, she gave me an elastic wristband that can also be used to open the room door. She said that unlike the traditional room keys, the wristbands do not demagnetized. After parking my car closer to my unit, I went up to my room and got settled in.
At about 5:30 pm, I drove over to the nearby McDonald's to pick up my traditional pre-race dinner. I placed my order on the mobile app before going inside to pick up my food. I ordered 2 Hot n' Spicy McChicken sandwiches for $2 which qualified me for free medium size fries. Not bad for $2! On way way in, I noticed that the door had a foot hook installed so that you could open the door without your hands.
After getting my food, I drove over to the Chevron gas station that was located right next to this McDonald's. My tank was pretty empty after the drive up, so it was good to take care of that so I wouldn't have to worry about it tomorrow morning while heading over to the race.
Waiting for my order
Hot n' Spicy McChicken sandwich x2 and medium fries
I ate my dinner while getting ready to watch game 5 of the NLCS between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. Fortunately, the Dodgers avoided elimination by beating the Braves 7-3. Will Smith hit a go-ahead 3 run homerun in the 6th inning. Here's the video of the at-bat. The series now had the Braves ahead 3-2. It was good to see Kenley Jansen strike out the side to close out the game!
I laid out my flat runner before calling it a night. This will be my first race since the initial COVID shutdown way back in mid-March.
Flat runner
Saturday 10/17
I woke up early enough to catch the first half of the Everton v Liverpool match while I got ready. There was a bad challenge by Jordan Pickford on Virgil van Dijk in the box, but no punishment whatsoever was given by the referee. Virgil had to leave the game due to injury. He will have to undergo surgery on his right knee after sustaining damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.
EPL: Everton v Liverpool
At about 10 minutes before 6 am, I started my drive out to the Lower Red Rock Parking Area. I accidentally turned into the Red Rock Canyon Overlook parking lot. It looked like a few other cars did the same thing. Once I turned into the parking area, I was directed by one of the volunteers on where to park my car. After I parked, I headed over to the tables by the start/finish line to pick up my race packet. Dawn was just breaking so it was still a bit dark. I hung out a bit with Robert until it was time to get ready for the race. It felt like it had been forever since I had last seen him in person, but it was about 7 months!
Flat runner
Saturday 10/17
I woke up early enough to catch the first half of the Everton v Liverpool match while I got ready. There was a bad challenge by Jordan Pickford on Virgil van Dijk in the box, but no punishment whatsoever was given by the referee. Virgil had to leave the game due to injury. He will have to undergo surgery on his right knee after sustaining damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.
EPL: Everton v Liverpool
Packet pick-up
Race shirt
Back of race shirt
Start/Finish line
Latino Heat!
Having run the marathon on this course before, I knew that there would be some decent climbs. My goal going into this race was to run about a 2:20. My legs have been feeling great with all of the time off from running, but I still have to work on building up that endurance. I was hoping to take it easy on the climbs and to make up some time on the downhill stretches. However the day got warm and I started having to deal with leg cramps in the late miles. That stop at the last aid station to refill my bottle really helped out. Before running that last stretch to the finish line, I put on my mask.
After crossing the finish line and getting my medal, I made a stop at the post-race table to pick up some goodies and fill up my water bottle. I picked up a banana and a Nature's Bakery fig bar. I then hung out a bit with Latino Heat. It was good to see an old friend. We went from seeing each other almost every weekend to not seeing each other for about 7 months! That crazy guy was going to run all 3 half marathons today! After shooting the breeze about anything and everything, including politics, I finally got in my car and drove back to my vacation rental.
Finisher medal and post race snacks
After I got cleaned up, I relaxed a bit before heading back out to pick up lunch. I went to one of my favorite spots, Jollibee. I ordered the usual Palabok fiesta with 2 pc Chickenjoy, pineapple juice, and a peach mango pie. It was funny that the cashier asked me how many pies. Just 1 will be fine. :) As I was waiting for my food to be ready, I noticed that there were people dining inside the restaurant. That's just a strange sight to me as I'm not used to seeing that in CA.
Finisher medal and post race snacks
Palabok fiesta with 2 pc Chickenjoy, pineapple juice, and peach mango pie
I inhaled my food just as game 6 of the NLCS was about to start. The Dodgers scored early in the 1st inning with a homerun from Seager and Turner as well as a RBI single from Bellinger. That was enough offense for the Dodgers to avoid elimination again, winning 3-1. I know every Dodger fan was biting their nails, but Kenley Jansen once again pitched in the 9th inning to pick up the save with relative ease. The series was now tied 3-3!
Sunday 10/18
I didn't stick around too long. I checked out of my room pretty early at about 7:30 am because I wanted to get an early start to beat any traffic home. I made good time and got home before 11 am. I filled up the gas tank as I got off of the freeway which I haven't had to do much since the mid-March shutdown.
Later that evening it was game 7 of the NLCS. It's nervous time, as the winner goes on to the World Series to play against the Tampa Bay Rays. This game was a nail biter! The Braves went out with a 2 run lead, then the game was tied up. Then the Braves went up another run. The solo homerun by Kiké Hernandez in the 6th tied up the game. The go-ahead solo homerun by Cody Bellinger in the 7th was the winning run. Julio Urías pitched 3 clean innings to close out the game. The Dodgers won the game as well as the series, 4-3, and are headed back to the World Series!
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