This one-time only race was created to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang. A four day celebration began on Thursday and was to conclude on Sunday. There would be a multi-day car show, social banquets, and automobile track races, just to name a few of the activities. Melissa and I drove her fully restored Candy Apple Red 1967 Mustang to enter into the show. Her father purchased the car brand new and he joined us for the extended weekend. I enjoyed the opportunity to have a vacation and combine two of my hobbies in this event.
In signing up for the race, there was an option for seeding at the start line. The requirement was to submit proof of having completed a half marathon in 1:48:00 or less within the past year. All 4 of my recent finishes were well below that time, so I picked one and forwarded the results with my entry.
The race took place within the grounds of the Las Vegas Speedway. The course wound its way around the oval track, on an autocross slalom track, perimeter and interior roadways, and near the pit garages. I have never made so many turns in a running event, so it kept things interesting. We started on the north side of the inside oval track, made nearly a full lap, and then exited. We would return to the interior track between miles 11 and 12.
Throughout the course, Mustangs of various styles and years were parked on display. It was a great distraction from what was otherwise a maze of meandering concrete and asphalt. With all the turns we were making, I was able to see runners positioned ahead and behind me. My placing was 7th through mile 5, then I was passed by one runner just prior to mile 10. As he passed, he gave me a high sported pat on the back and told me I was doing great. Most runners have been on that side of the fence at some point! One more runner made a pass around mile 11. He asked if I was feeling crappy like he was. I was actually feeling great, though at a slower pace than his. My right calf started to seize shortly thereafter, but I looked back, and the nearest runner was at least a quarter mile away. My form began to suffer, but getting passed once again and my finish were not in question.
The course read long by .36 mi. according to my Garmin. With all the turns, I tried to run the tangents whenever possible. I didn’t think to ask other finishers the results as according to their GPS devices to arrive at an overall consensus.
I enjoyed this event as it was unique and a far cry from the nearly all downhill canyon races I’m accustomed to. I knew it wouldn’t be a pr in the half for me, but I felt that running a sub 1:30 would be well within reach. That goal was reached, and a top ten finish out of 1,703 total runners was a nice bonus.
My Garmin splits were:
1. 6:11
2. 6:16
3. 6:52
4. 6:46
5. 6:24
6. 6:29
7. 6:26
8. 6:21
9. 6:48
10. 6:52
11. 6:36
12. 6:43
13. 6:44
14. 6:36 (3:00, .46/mi.)
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