Ugh! Let me just say this first because the actual running experience may make it seem as if I wouldn't mind if that place were melted into glass. The Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada is one of the most beautiful places I've been to. The night before the race the winds were very active with gusts threatening to uproot my tent and send us flying. It wasn't too much of a surprise then when I got a message early Saturday morning indicating the marathon had been canceled on account of the weather. It wasn't, ultimately, but it came pretty close. The full marathon course consists of two out and back legs--the first through the absolute most scenic roads imaginable. The second along a portion of the Valley of Fire Highway. The Park Rangers allowed the race to be held if, and only if, not one single cup was thrown on the ground and if it could be held entirely on the the first out and back section. The runners were all briefed and all agreed to the changes and requests. VOF is NOT a marathon to run for time so nobody really had a problem drinking at the aid stations and putting the garbage in a garbage bag or in the hands of an aid station helper. Valley of Fire is also VERY hilly. And I really wasn't prepared, but I did it anyways. Finished. Hurt and hurting. So, the report. 1/2 x 2 = 26.2 miles of some of the most amazing red rock scenery anywhere! With the changes to the full course I felt like I had every excuse and opportunity to drop down to the half--but in the end I stuck with the full. The best way to describe this course is undulating. Incessantly undulating. I finished the first half at about 2:20 and I felt OK so I turned right around and began the whole process over again. The second half took just under 3 hours--walking the ups and running the flats and down up until the last 5 miles when my knee started giving me fits. Only a handful of runners finished behind me. Somewhat demoralizing, but what the heck. I was able to run much of the race with an old friend from back in my days of Boy Scouting and his brother. The brother lost a leg in a motorcycle accident a while back and was sporting one of those really cool prosthetics that many amputees run in nowadays. This was his first marathon--and what a doozy! I took my camera and took all of none picture. | 