ET Full Moon Midnight Marathon

Published August 26, 2018

Weird 24 hours. Left Denver Saturday 1pm, same flight time Sunday leaving Las Vegas. Spent entire night in the Nevada desert, in UFO-friendly Area 51. Open sky, full moon, lotta cactus, few abandoned cows – but no UFOs. I don’t remember being abducted.

Blood tests back: zinc, lipase & bilirubin off. White blood cells, normal. Hope 🙏 Endoscopy Monday morning. Food fast begins Sunday a.m. – not great timing while marathoning. Ugly finish 2 weeks ago in Ouray. Skip Vegas? August streak’s already secure PLUS I’ve run Nevada multiple times, not needed for my 50 States x2 journey.

Hmm. Heck no, need the distraction. Running thru the desert on Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway – month’s only FULL Moon, timing perfectly planned. Shooting stars or UFOs lighting tonite’s evening sky? Area 51? The truth is out there 👽

Vegas touchdown. Lyft-rode to Silver Sevens Casino, event’s host hotel. Bib pickup at 3, sleeps ‘til 7. Comfy coach ride 3-hours north to Rachel, closest town to ‘the black mailbox’ – our MIDNIGHT Marathon Start. FULL runners bus-departed 11:45. Halfers rode on. Struggled to wake/completely out of sorts. Generally in bed by 9 each night. LOL>

Odd but true: met another Maniac runner. We’re EVERYWHERE. Andy’s 4^th time at ET, WEALTH of last minute knowledge.

Wouldn’t need a headlamp, FULL MOON enough in the desert. Everyone has G.I. issues ‘round 3am – it’s the norm, suck it up. No phone/cell service. Best to drop-dead near an Aid Station/no one hears you scream in the desert. Generous 51K surprise? Able to drop distance (on the fly) at mile 23 & complete the shorter Marathon course. Not eligible for awards but no DNF. Nice. I’d remember this info-jewel later.

Race Director called MIDNIGHT & we were off. ET Highway straight-shot to the Little A’le’Inn in Rachel, race FINISH line. ‘Last bus leaves at 8:05am; don’t miss that bus.’

Started out fast. Highway grade UP first half, crested at 5500ft. Air temp? Not the same 100-degree scorcher that welcomed [me] at McCarran. Mid-80’s; would drop 10+ degrees before sunrise. Dry empty desert. Pockets of heat, followed by waves of natural air-conditioning – swell temp changes like ocean swimming.

Ran a STRONG 1^st Half, right at 2 hours. Decent hill runner, more motivated by tonite’s spook factor. No lights, no homes, gas stations or towns – on a highway with no cars. Mighty desolate in the Nevada desert. “Last bus leaves at 8:05am“. BIG time ‘spook’ factor.

Stealthy ran with 2 runners, caught a second wind. They weren’t huge talkers but even minimal human interaction calmed my spook (tempered the crazies). Quiet, steady, constant highway. Stalked-couple: same pace, mile after mile after mile. WOW.

Marathon-switched/dropped distance at 23. Wasn’t feeling great but who IS at 3:45am.

Asphalt-ran parallel the desert shoulder, left side of highway. Garmin battery flashed pace once more, then died. 8:50/mile. Lotta wasted energy using Garmin bursts as my run buddy. Not another soul ‘til the Finish. Two miles out: LIGHT. I see LIGHT.

Medal & a seat on the next bus to Vegas. Physically wiped, marathon tired but ZERO drama. No food though, clock ticked Sunday morning – medical fast already in-progress.

One weird night. Checked into a Las Vegas hotel/casino. Slept 4 hours, NEVER gambled, out ALL night in the desert, hotel shower’d, returned the key next morning.

One really weird night. At least I don’t think I was abducted.