The last time that I ran this event was back in 2015 when I ran the marathon. This time around, it will only be the half marathon. Similar to last weekend, I hit the road shortly after getting back from my usual morning walk. The one difference was that I was leaving on a Saturday instead of a Friday.
My first pit stop brought me out to Indio. As I approached Indio, it kept showing on the map that there would be a short or medium wait. However, once I had arrived at the Tesla Supercharger station, there were quite a few vacant charging stalls. I did consider making a detour over to the charging station at Rancho Mirage, but I was kind of set on having McDonald's for breakfast.
Tesla Supercharger Indio, CA
It would turn out that that McDonald's was having staffing problems. There was a long line for the drive-thru and the lobby was packed with people waiting to place their order. The older female employee who I believe was only employed to clean tables was informing the customers that they were short staffed. Apparently 3 employees did not show up for work. They didn't bother calling in sick. I didn't really experience too much of a delay as I had placed my order on the mobile app. I'm not sure why those people in line didn't use one of the kiosks to place their order, but a few of them eventually gave up and left. When I got my food and finished eating it, not once did I see an employee come out to take orders. I think they were all hands on deck in the kitchen making the food for the orders that they've already received from via the drive-thru, mobile app, or the ordering kiosks.
Sausage McMuffin with egg and hash browns
My second pit stop brought me out to the Tesla Supercharger station in Ehrenberg. Per the usual, after plugging in the car for a charge, I headed over to the Flying J to use their restroom. I also bought 2 Bodyarmor drinks for $5.
Tesla Supercharger Ehrenberg, AZ
My third pit stop brought me out to the Tesla Supercharger station in Buckeye. Per the usual, after plugging the car in for a charge, I headed over to the McDonald's across the street to eat a late lunch. I used a mobile app deal to get 1 quarter pounder with cheese at regular price and a second one for 29 cents.
Tesla Supercharger Buckeye, AZ
Quarter pounder with cheese x2
After I finished my burgers and the car was done charging, I drove over to the Super 8 in Phoenix just off of the 17 freeway, not too far north of the 10 freeway. Yikes. I think I'll need to start looking into staying at better locations. When I pulled up, everything just seemed really sketchy even in bright daylight. The lobby wasn't open and they were only doing check-ins through the walk-up window which is normally reserved for late night interactions. While I was checking in, there were a bunch of young thugs that were dropped off at the motel. I wasn't really paying attention, but they were hurling what I would guess were some comedic remarks towards me. I was assigned room #212 and was given a parking pass to place in my car. As I was leaving, I noticed that there was someone there that was making them uneasy. It looked to be either a bounty hunter or someone serving an arrest warrant. I didn't stick around to see what happened. I grabbed my bags and quickly made my way over to my room.
Yikes again when I opened the door to my room. I guess it was to be expected, the room was a total dump. The comforter was cut up in a few places. The pillows had stains. The bedsheets had cigarette burns and didn't look clean. There was no luggage rack or any clothes hangers. The towels were long from being white and one of them had pubic hair stuck to it. The only thing in the room that was nice and stain-free was the TV. This location was a total embarrassment to be associated with the Wyndham brand name. The Red Roof Inn phone would suggest that it was recently acquired and rebranded as a Super 8 motel. I know that the area wasn't very nice, but they really need to doing a complete overhaul of these rooms!
Safety and security tips
Red Roof Inn phone?
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir
I debated whether to call it a night and stay in or to get dinner. Eventually, I ordered dinner via the Whataburger mobile app. I got their spicy chicken sandwich for free with the purchase of a drink and fries. Sorry Chick-fil-A, I can't turn down free food! I grabbed my bags and hopped in the car to go pick up my meal. I did not trust leaving my stuff in my room while I was gone. I brought my food back to my room to enjoy.
Free spicy chicken sandwich with the purchase of a drink and fries
My nose was super congested to the point that I had to shut off the air conditioner. That AC unit was probably super dirty and blowing really bad air. Also it did kind of smelled like marijuana. Thankfully the sun had gone down and the weather hadn't been that hot, so I was able to get by without running the AC unit.
After I finished my dinner, I laid out my flat runner for tomorrow's half marathon. I then took a shower and called it a night. Taking a hot shower helped with the congestion. I ended up sleeping on top of the sheets. There was no way, I was going to cover myself in that nasty comforter! Just laying on top of those sheets was bad enough.
Flat runner
Sunday 2/20
I got ready and checked out of the motel at about a quarter after 5 am. The drive out to Prospector Park took about 40 minutes. I arrived at the park just before 6 am and was able to get a parking spot in one of the lots at the northern part of the park. It was dark and chilly when I got out of the car to go pick up my race packet which was at the southern end of the park near the tennis courts. I used one of the portapotties before heading back to the car. Just let me tell you, stay away from spicy food the night before a race! Fire in the hole!
Long sleeve race shirt
I met up with my local friend. He had jacked up his neck, so he was dropping down to the 8k race instead of the half marathon. He was getting significant pain when he tried to run, but walking seemed to be okay. He figured that we should finish at around the same time for him to walk the 8k.
Beautiful sunrise
My AZ buddies
Starting corral
PK pacing the 2 hours group
Race course map
The race started at 7:15 am. The half marathon course was a simple out and back course. I ran out harder than what would have been prudent for that first mile. What else is new? The first couple of miles had us out on Lost Dutchman Blvd heading east. Then we turned right and headed south on Goldfield Rd for 2 miles. The kids near the 5k aid station thought my McDonald's shirt was funny. Apparently, they don't see too many Asians in Arizona as one of them asked me where I was from. I knew what they meant. I've only been asked that 2 other times during a race. Once in New Mexico and another time while running through the corn fields of Iowa. If they only knew just how "white" I am. We then turned left onto Broadway Ave heading east for another 2 miles before reaching the turnaround point. The run up to about mile 10 along Goldfield Rd was a pain in the butt. It felt like a never ending uphill climb with a headwind. During that last 5k to the finish line, I was running on fumes as it was an absolute grind. I was just happy to have finished in under 2 hours with a few minutes to spare.
Finish: 1:56:59
Click here for my Garmin data.
After crossing the finish line, I got my finisher medal and a bottle of water. I tried to head over to the final stretch of the course to capture my friends crossing the finish line, but I was a little too late in getting there. I walked back to the finisher chute to meet up with them.
Finish line
Finisher medal
Bottle of water
Friends at the finish
PK bringing her group right on schedule
My friend and I drove over to the closest Culver's for an early lunch before I started my drive home. It was only about 6 miles away on Crismon Rd. Thankfully, they opened at 10 am. I ordered the Culver's Deluxe with cheese curds and a concrete mixer. I got the concrete mixer with salted caramel and bananas. We got our drinks first. Then they brought out our food to our table once it was ready.
Concrete mixer with salted caramel and bananas
The Culver's Deluxe with cheese curds and a concrete mixer
After we were done with our meals, it was time for me to hit the road. I first drove over to the Tesla Supercharger in Buckeye. Since I had already eaten, I didn't feel like walking over to McDonald's. Eventually, I dozed off a bit while I waited for the car to finish charging. I charged just enough to get me over to the next charging station.
Tesla Supercharger Buckeye, AZ
My next stop brought me out to Tesla Supercharger in Ehrenberg. For a while the charging station was showing up with no vacancy on the map. I checked one last time as I approached Quartzsite and it was finally showing vacancy, so I continued on to Ehrenberg. I pulled up to the charging station to find pretty much all of the stalls to be open. After parking and plugging the car in for a charge, I went inside the Flying J to use the restroom and to buy a couple of drinks. When I returned to the car, pretty much all of the stalls were taken.
Tesla Supercharger Ehrenberg, AZ
My next and final stop brought me out to the Tesla Supercharger in Rancho Mirage. The charging station in Indio kept showing that there would be a short or medium wait as I approached the exit, so I decided to keep going and head over to the one over at Rancho Mirage. Man, even though I got a spot without having to wait, this station was pretty packed. It would seem that these charging stations are much more popular on the weekends.
Tesla Supercharger Rancho Mirage, CA
After plugging the car in for a charge, I walked over to the mall to check out what they had to offer. I decided to get an ice cream cone at Ben & Jerry's. I got the salted caramel blondie on a chocolate dipped waffle cone. It was good, but I still prefer Handel's ice cream which is better, bigger, and about 3 dollars cheaper. The remainder of my drive home took me about 2 hours.
Salted caramel blondie with chocolate dipped waffle cone
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