Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Really touched by all the positive comments, thank you.

Full report incoming, this morning.

[tikay]

Well she did it - completed the course.

Can't tell you how proud she was to have got to the end without once stopping. She had never run or jogged until late June this year, & this was her first organized run.

Pretty thrilled to get this.......


https://www.resultsbase.net/diplomabg.aspx?Id=1484998&type=individual

I organized a little trophy for her, too, got it engraved with her name, date of the run, everything.

Got a nice little medal, too.

[tikay]

The whole thing was wonderfully & efficiently organized, with just the right touch of informality.

As every runner crossed the line - they were of course well strung out - the announcer woman announced their name over the PA System, "well done John" sort of thing.

730 odd started, about 525 finished, so she was at the back of the field, but that was the plan for this one - just get home with pride intact & revved up to do another. They started in 5 batches, to avoid bunching, so I made sure she started at the very back of the last batch. They adjust the time anyway. She averaged about 7.5km per hour, which is about half the speed of the winner.

Really, it could not have gone better, & she was on cloud nine all day, still is.

 

[tikay]

I found the while thing a bit emotional - there was an abundance of good vibes, everyone - everyone - was smiling & wishing each other "good luck". The runners came in all shapes & sizes, fat & thin, tall, short, young, old, one chap had cerebal palsy, another 2 were blind. And every single one of them smiled from ear to ear as they crossed the finish line, having won their own little battle. 

What a lovely thing.

[tikay]

Pretty good value, too. Think it cost £22, including £2 to the Macmillan Nurses Charity, Gill added £8 to make it a round £30, with a tenner to charity. Can't think of many boxes that does not tick, & £30 is a neat price to pay for a memory that will last forever.

She's hooked for life now, I reckon.

[tikay]

They had all the first aiders & medical peeps on hand, too - one proper Ambulance, & three "Ambulance Bikes".

Not sure if they were paid pros or volunteers.

[tikay]

A little cottage industry has sprung up, too, there was a van selling toasties & burgers, & this enterprising chap had fitted a coffee machine in the back of his little van & was charging £2 for a coffee or tea.

With most of the runners having a partner who had to hang around at the start finish line for an hour or two, he had a queue all morning, I'd be surprised if he did not take north of £1,000.   

[vegaslover]

I found the while thing a bit emotional - there was an abundance of good vibes, everyone - everyone - was smiling & wishing each other "good luck". The runners came in all shapes & sizes, fat & thin, tall, short, young, old, one chap had cerebal palsy, another 2 were blind. And every single one of them smiled from ear to ear as they crossed the finish line, having won their own little battle. 

What a lovely thing.

Send my congrats to Gill, as you saw Teeks, runners are a friendly bunch.

How long before Gill gets you into it too?

[Kev B]

Superb well done Jill.

[tikay]

I've never really given much thought to how Nike, Adidas & Co make so much money, but yesterday set the mind ticking.

Gill is a novice, but as she starts to learn the ropes, she goes & buys new gear. She is on her third pair of running plimsolls already, & the average cost was £100 per pair.

Running shorts, tops, bottoms etc probably, what, another £50?

Fancy GPS watch, £100.

Heart monitor, £25?

She has probably spent some £500 so far.

There were 700 runners there yesterday, if they all spent the same, that's £350,000. At just one event.  

Now do the Fermi thing.

No wonder this guy is smiling.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Oh, I forgot - her GPS watch device thing said she broke 4 records, or "Personal Bests".

Fastest 10k

Longest ever run

Fastest 5k

Fastest mile

It's all relative, of course, but it meant a great deal to her. 

[Rod Paradise]

Good luck to your (far) better half Tikay.
Meanwhile I'm in Hamburg and my hosts are threatening to take me to see a big model train....fml

Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg

I can only imagine it is this one and you should be begging them to take you.

My hosts agree with you!! I think we'll get there at some point later today after the harbour boat trip & the trip through the old harbour tunnel.

[tikay]

I found the while thing a bit emotional - there was an abundance of good vibes, everyone - everyone - was smiling & wishing each other "good luck". The runners came in all shapes & sizes, fat & thin, tall, short, young, old, one chap had cerebal palsy, another 2 were blind. And every single one of them smiled from ear to ear as they crossed the finish line, having won their own little battle. 

What a lovely thing.

Send my congrats to Gill, as you saw Teeks, runners are a friendly bunch.

How long before Gill gets you into it too?

I expected them to be warm & friendly, but not to the degree they were. Not the time to get on my tired old hobby horse, but if only Poker Pros took that attitude to newbies, instead of so many of them abusing them, labelling then as "fish" & their play as "tragic".  It's hardly an incentive to return, is it?

Me, run? I have thought about it long & hard. Think I'm too far gone now. My weight has ballooned, I'm all aches & pains, & I struggle to catch my breath after walking up stairs. I truly think I'd keel over if I tried to jog. 

Deffo a mistake not to have looked after myself better.

[Tonji]

Well done Gill.

[tikay]

Good luck to your (far) better half Tikay.
Meanwhile I'm in Hamburg and my hosts are threatening to take me to see a big model train....fml

Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg

I can only imagine it is this one and you should be begging them to take you.

My hosts agree with you!! I think we'll get there at some point later today after the harbour boat trip & the trip through the old harbour tunnel.

Make sure you do. And we want photos. Not leaded glass stuff, that can go on Arty Farty Tom's Diary, we want interesting photos.