Inaugural Alien Escape Half Marathon 2020

Saturday 11/14
Per the usual, I left the house just after finishing lunch. As a WorldMark owner, I've always stayed at either the Tropicana or the Spencer St properties whenever I'm in the Las Vegas area. This was my first time staying at WorldMark Las Vegas Blvd. I was pleasantly surprised with this location from the moment I arrived. Once I checked in at the gatehouse, I was given a parking placard. On the placard were instructions on how to do a drive-thru check-in. I called the number on the placard and stayed in my car. After a brief call, there were 2 friendly employees that showed up to my car. One got me check-in and gave me my room keys. He informed me that due to COVID, the children's playground, hot tub, and lazy river were closed. Also using the pools required reservations. The other gave me a bottle of water and invited me to an obligatory owner update with a $75 gift card as my reward. Upon agreeing to the owner update, he collected a $20 refundable deposit which I would get back when I showed up. Before heading on my way, he also gave me a bracelet which they were giving out to eventually replace the traditional room card keys.

I stayed in a studio room in building 13. It was a pretty basic motel style room with a kitchen and a murphy bed. That was plenty adequate for a short solo trip. The only thing wrong with the room was that one of the 2 bath towels had black stains on it. Sure, you could tell that it was cleaned, but come on, if the stain doesn't wash out, you should take it out of rotation! That just rubs you the wrong way as an owner because of the maintenance fees that they collect each year!

Murphy bed

Stained towel :(

After getting settled in and relaxing for a second, I hopped back in the car to fill up the gas tank as well as to pick up a quick dinner. I drove down to Silverado Ranch Blvd as both Chevron and McDonald's were right next to each other. I wanted to get fuel as I needed to leave pretty early tomorrow for the roughly 2 hour drive out to the start line at the Black Mailbox.

After getting gas, I drove next door to McDonald's. Per the usual, I placed my order on the mobile app before heading inside to pick up my food. I ordered 2 McDouble sandwiches and used their deal to get a large order of fries for $1. They had stickers on the floor to help people with traffic flow as well as physical distancing. Once my food was ready, I took it back to my room to enjoy.

Just follow the signs

McDouble x2 and large fries

Per the usual after finishing dinner, I laid out my flat runner before calling it a night. The original forecast was for some pretty cold weather in the 20's, but the forecast kept getting warmer every time I checked.

Flat runner

Sunday 11/15

I got ready and left my room at about 6 am. In all of the years that I've run any of the ET Midnight races, I've always opted to pay for the bus ride. This was my first time making the drive myself. I'm not sure that I would want to make this drive ever again. I have a pretty big lead foot, but it would turn out that my friend has an even bigger one. As I was nearing the 318, I noticed that a car was riding my ass especially as we were driving through a small town where the speed limit dropped quite a bit. As we were leaving that town, I didn't drive as fast as I normally would to allow that car to pass. Of course, I instantly recognized whose car that was with all of the stickers on it. I followed them in. Once we reached the Black Mailbox, the whole race packet process was very well done. Everyone stayed in their cars as it was a drive-thru packet pick-up. In addition to getting our forehead temperature scanned, we were to read a set of statements to determine if we were recently exposed to the Coronavirus. Once we were deemed okay to participate in the race, we gave them our ID's so the volunteer can bring us our race packet which included the race bib and race shirt. Then we were directed to the parking location that was along the road that was perpendicular to the 375 Extraterrestrial Highway.

Race shirt

Back of race shirt

As soon as I parked, I headed over to the starting area to use the portapotties to empty the bladder. I checked the weather along the way. The air temperature was cold, but strangely enough, it didn't feel all that cold. I think it was a combination of elevation and no cover from the sun. The warmth from the sun felt good. I decided to ditch the gloves and arm sleeves. While waiting for the start of the race, my friends were laughing at just how pale I had become! :)

Portapotty line

Robert, Karen, and Seth

The 51k and marathon runners started their race at 8:30 am. After that, the half marathoners gathered near the start area for the race at 9 am. The Half Fanatics gathered near the Black Mailbox to take the obligatory pre-race photo.

Half Fanatics

Robert, Karen, Seth, Vanessa, and alien

Going into the race, I was hoping to run about a 2:15. For some reason I always underestimate the effect that the higher elevation has on my breathing. The course was a straight out and back. I really enjoyed running it in daylight and being able to take in the beauty of the desert landscape. The first half was a gradual uphill climb. I was hoping to run the entire way back to the finish line, but I just didn't have the endurance. The downhill sure didn't feel like downhill and I had to take a lot of walk breaks. In that final mile, I had several opportunities to pass the 2nd place female, but I didn't feel like passing her as I saw that she was struggling. On the final stretch, I took a walk break to put on my mask and I ran with her to the finish line with her crossing just ahead of me.

Finish: 2:18:42
Click here for my Garmin data.

After crossing the finish line, I picked up my finisher medal and had to catch my breath as I was feeling a little dizzy. It might have been the mask or the elevation or the combination of both. Once again I hung out with Latino Heat. We waited for our friends to finish the race. I waited until about noon before I started heading back to car to make the drive back. I grabbed a Cup o' Noodles with me which looked really good. I haven't had one in decades! I think my body was craving the sodium.

Finisher medal

Post-race goodies

Marcia at the finish line

Marcia and Robert

After getting back to my room and getting cleaned up, I boiled some water for the Cup o' Noodles. While probably not the best thing to put into your body... boy, did that hit the spot! For an early dinner, I decided to go check out Picanha Steak Restaurant. I went with their picanha plate with the arepitas and garden salad as my sides. Unlike California, they were allowing customers to dine inside, but I took mine to-go to enjoy back at my room.

Dining area

On the way back to my room, I stopped at the Chevron gas station on Warm Springs Rd to fill up the tank for tomorrow's drive home. Once I got back to my room, I was finally able to enjoy my early dinner. The picanha was good as is, but even better with the chimichurri sauce! I see a return visit to this place in the future.

Picanha plate with arepitas and garden salad

Monday 11/16
I was up pretty early. I was all packed and ready to go long before the new earlier check-out time of 10 am. Before heading home, I went down to the lobby to attend the owner update at 8 am. As promised, I received my gift card reward at the start rather than at the conclusion. Apparently instead of the usual complimentary breakfast, we now only get snacks and bottled water. Contrary to what they told me, the whole update went over the 1 hour. They always say no pressure, but they're always trying to sell me more credits no matter what answer I give them. I understand why I should buy more credits, but no means no, especially during a pandemic when nothing is for certain!

After I was done, I used the restroom in the game room before hopping in my car for the drive home. I made really good time. There's certainly less cars on the road these days.

Red Rock Half Marathon 2020

Friday 10/16
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!

Packet pick-up

Race shirt

Back of race shirt

Start/Finish line

Latino Heat!

When the start of the race approached, all of the participants lined up 2 people across and about 6 feet behind the people in front of you. It was a small field, so the race was recorded based off of the gun time.

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.

Almost to the finish line!

Finish: 2:24:24
Click here for my Garmin data.

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.

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!