feb 10-14 a running vacation

My goal was to average a marathon (26 miles) a day of running for the four days in town. Came fairly close with 94 miles in little over 3 days.
With how bad Vegas weather had been before and after my dates, I lucked out with mid 50s and very little wind on Mon, Tues and Wed.
Home base was Silver Sevens, one of few places to leave outdoor hot tub open all year, which is great after a long day of exercise.
First day running was spent picking up LVA book and heading to various casinos to use gambling coupons. Later in day, the UNLV track was used to get in more miles and also avoid stoplight crossings. Got a chance to visit with head women's track coach and after sharing my interests in pole vaulting, was offered the chance be a volunteer coach for the event. Told her I was an out-of-towner, but thanks anyway.
Day two took me from Silver Sevens to Lake Las Vegas and back, with trail running at Wetlands Park in between. After pounding pavement of Flamingo Ave, it was a treat to hit the open spaces of rural Vegas.
The third day consisted of doing the circumference of McCarran and also much of Sunset Park, which is SE of airport. I was dragging ass that afternoon, but after an hour break of rest went back out later in the afternoon. Ran from Silver Sevens to Orleans, Gold Coast and Palms for gambling coupon usage. Felt recharged and ended up going until it after dark, for at least 8 hours total that day.
With a steady rain on the final day, I settled for about 10 miles in the morning and called it quits.
If I would have stayed around for there weekend, there was a 48-hour race (Jackpot Ultra Running Festival) going on near Henderson. And, for the lightweights, a simple 100 miler, as well. A running buddy of mine did the 100 and finished in around 14 hours for 2nd place. The winner for 48-hour race did 213 miles.

 

Wow. That is amazing!

 

As long as I've know you Chef... you still make me tired just reading your trip reports. Glad you enjoyed yourself buddy.

 

Chef I am SO glad you enjoyed yourself! Your dedication and drive make up for the debauchery of many of us. (My exercise in Vegas consists of lots of walking from slot to slot, and arm curls with cocktails.)

Seriously though, I know you love running, and it is amazing how many miles you can put in!

I've always felt what makes an artist great (art, music, food) is when they have a unique flavor/style you can spot even when you don't know who did the piece.

You definitely have a Chef "style" to what you do and love in Vegas...so that makes you a Vegas artist in my mind! Kudos again on a great job Chef, and I hope you worked in at least one buffet, and one that you really enjoyed!

 

Wow, I don't think I've ran that much in my life!

 

I don't even drive that far.

 

Having driven to Lake Las Vegas many times when Casino MonteLago was open, I can tell you that is no walk in the park.

 

Jimbucc, weren't you in Vegas the same time. I thought about calling you, but didn't have your number with me.

 

Yes, I took in Aria and Palms.

Funny story on a stop at Sam's Town buffet, though. I was returning from long run to Lake Las Vegas and the Wetlands park and decided to stop there to eat and also the play $10, get $10 free slot action.
Didn't have LVA book on me, but had coupons. No problem having slot coupon accepted at players club. Unfortunately, I managed to lose money on the proposition, which is hard to do.
Oh well, at least I'll get a half-price buffet. Got in line before it opened at 4pm and waited at least an hour to finally get to register. What irked me a bit more was an adjoining handicapped line that consisted of anyone seemingly over 50 years of age. Those "not so"crippled types were getting seated a lot faster than those of us in the unhandicapped line. After running since about 6 am that day, I was probably more qualified to be in the handicapped line than most of them anyway.
Admittedly, I wasn't in best mood when I got to the register. Then as I showed my coupon and player card, the cashier informed me that she couldn't accept it because I did not rip it out of book in her presence.
The combination of losing money on a slot coupon, waiting an hour to reach the front of the line, being very hungry and now being told I needed to have LVA book in hand caused me to: a.) blow up, b.) cry, c.) laugh, or d.) realize it was my fault for not following the coupon protocol?
Believe it or not, the answer was (d.) I had no one to blame but myself. I told cashier I had been running all day and didn't have place to keep book. She still wouldn't accomodate me, but suggested I go to players club and see if they could provide a coupon. That's what I did and they came through for me. All's well that ended well and a lesson was learned.

 

Yes wife and I were there Feb. 11 to 14. Not the first time we have been there the same time and didn't know it.

 

You mean you ran to the players club.