Yeah I'm still a bad blogger, what can I say I work crazy hours and by the time I get home it's pretty much dinner and bed.
Though I did want to tell you about my experience at the Inaugural Vancouver Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. Now I had zero intentions of doing this run until I saw the medals...yes it's all about the bling for me.
First off arrived in Vancouver and I love Haida art. It's everywhere in Vancouver.
The expo was at the Vancouver Convention Centre which is along the water
The official gear, the gear bag, tech shirt, band for the VIP and mini map. I dished out some extra cash for VIP as I will pay for indoor toilets and a warm place to wait for the start.
Brooks was the major merchandise sponsor so I picked up a tshirt
Cap
The jacket
As I spent enough money I got the VIP toilet sticker, which allowed me the use of the flushable toilets Brooks set up right outside my hotel. Though I didn't need it as I had that VIP thing and that was inside a ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel.
It's been a long time since I'd been to Vancouver so I was pretty dependant on google map though it thought my hotel was in the bay.
On the Saturday before the race I went to the Vancouver Aquarium. Love the jellies.
And the Sea Lion
And the Penguins!!!!
And the Beluga
This guy just kept spinning around with his ball
Underwater view of the Beluga
Picked up a fun Sea Otter umbrella, though Vancouver was plagued by rain it didn't rain a drop on race day.
I'm intrigued....Salted Watermelon???
I had to make second trip o the expo as I wanted the magnet and needed the pin.
Race day night was a wee stressful. I was checking out on Race Day so had to be super organized. I had originally planned to stay until Monday but changed it for a work opportunity. The Marriott let me use the showers in the gym post race so at least I didn't need to go to the airport grungy.
The VIP room was o.k, I got there early and it was just me and a few elite runners then others showed up. Not to many costumes but one guy in a red body suit with a white maple leaf on this front along with ski goggles was my favourite.
The corrals were a wee chaotic, now I'm used to Run Disney and appreciate how they manage the corrals. There were flags on the side of the road with the corral number that you just sort of stood behind. I was corral 22, second from the last. The actual last corral 24 got to start 15 min early. In retrospect I should have joined their corral. By the time we got to the start corrals 20-23 were one massive corral. While waiting for the start I heard a lot of folks talking about Run Disney events.
The race itself wound through Vancouver, I always find Gastown a wee slippery due to the tile. What I was looking forward to was how much of the course was along the Sea Wall. I didn't realize the Sea Wall would be open to the public. First time I ever had to dodge baby strollers and bicycles mid half.
I managed to shave a few minutes off my last half which surprised me. I felt good until about Mile 11 and that was in the middle of Stanley Park, while beautiful it has many many inclines.
The VIP band also got me into a special finish area where there was food and your bib came with a beer ticket, I didn't have any beer. The finish area was Devonian Park which turned in one big muddy field. For the 2nd run in a row had to throw the Nike's into the washing machine.
I wish I could have had late checkout as when I got back to the hotel it was shower, change, eat some lunch then off to the airport. Found a few things at the airport.
I don't think I'll ever do this one again but as far as the Rock 'n' Roll series I'd like to do Vegas and Montreal after my goal to do Dopey in 2016.
Hope you enjoyed my recap and I'll try to be a better blogger.
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