I headed to one of my favorite cities — Las Vegas — for my 40th birthday. It was my first time racing the Labor of Love half marathon with Calico Racing in Lovell Canyon, which was maybe 30-45 minute outside of the city. It was a very crisp morning – a little chilly. I wore my thermal tights, windbreaker/rain jacket, and some gloves. That kept me warm enough for 13.1 miles. Skies were very blue and as you can see, there were snow capped mountains behind us. We never ran far enough (or high enough) to see know, but we were definitely in full sun the entire time. I didn’t mind too much since I’ve been cooped up inside during the Colorado winter.
Winter racing in the desert has got to be one of my most favorite things ever. Cool weather. Clear skies. Beautiful landscapes. This one might be a good one to put in my rotation, but I’m very curious about the Death Valley Marathon/Half next year. My friends traveled in for the race. How lucky am I to have friends who will come out and participate with me in these races? I feel so loved!
I took my race very easy…more like a trot and walk to enjoy the scenery and weather. I hung out with my friend during the race, and took lots of photos and videos. Even though there wasn’t any shade, I would still consider the weather absolutely perfect. It wasn’t a PR race, and wasn’t meant to be one. In fact, there were some pretty significant hills — manageable for a walk/trek, very challenging for a run though. I had a great time ringing in my 40th at this race!
Amara in Training 