CrossRoads Blog

Whenever you run (or least for me) with any real effort there comes a time where you start to feel the fade, a time where the energy levels start to lesson and the run gets a little tougher. There is all kinds of logical, rational and scientific explanations of course, but ever since I began running I call it “Running with the Devil”. The reason being it’s like the old movies and shows where they had one devil and one angel on each shoulder. Each was giving advice and of course it was the exact opposites.

When the ‘Devil’ for me starts in it’s always like.. “okay, we are getting tired, time to slow down and call it day”. “You did enough today, you are old you know”. “It’s crazy hot, if you keep pushing it may not be a good thing”. “I think your knee is going to pay for it if you keep going” etc., etc. etc. Basically it’s your body tiring and your mind (the angel in this case keeping with the analogy) that keeps pushing: “You can do it, don’t give up, keep pushing on, pick up the pace don’t fade, you need to do this if you are going to have a decent time in the race” etc. etc. etc. Anyway, lots of explanation, but the main point being, I, and Kimberly too always called it “Running with the Devil” – and we like to never give in to his temptations so-to-speak.

Well, as you can then imagine when I was looking for unique running races on a website and I came across one called (get this…) “Running with the Devil” I knew in an instant we had to do it! Next thing you know, we find ourselves about to run in one of the craziest races out there.

The ‘Running with the Devil’ is really several events, a 5K, a 10K, a Full and Half Marathon and even an Ultra. The event takes place in the Mojave Desert just outside of Las Vegas. The course is actually run right along the road that parallels Lake Meade on the Nevada side of the Hoover Dam. The road has several eight percent (8%) grade hills and the average race day temperature is about 110 degrees!

Seeing it was so close (4 hour drive) we decided to make it a simple overnighter and back. We headed up the day before the race and checked into the Hacienda Hotel near Boulder City (would not be our typical choice but it’s the one right across the Dam and less than 5 miles from the start line – plus it was race headquarters and we could pick up our packets and run into some of the other nutcases that night perhaps). We dropped our suitcases in the room and hopped back in the car to go check out the course for the run. Let’s just say after driving it we were looking at each other saying ‘I think we might be crazy”. It looked tough, two long hills for the 10K (Kimberly was running) and another two for me (I was doing the Half). A couple of the climbs were about (or at least it seemed) a good mile long. Yowzer… well, what are you gonna’ do, we are committed now (or maybe should be committed?).

Heading back over to the hotel we grabbed our bibs and cool Devil race shirts then went up to the room to lay out our gear for the run. This time, our ‘gear’ was a little different as it included horns, tails, and a lot of red. Yes of course, we are talking about Kimberly here, you know if she is running in a race called ‘Running with the Devil” there would be a costume involved. Like she says “costumes are not just for Belly Dancing you know”. I also partook of the experience with a red do-rag and some horns from and old Halloween getup.

We had a fun night actually at the Hotel. We ran into Jay who I had traded emails with on a running website and had dinner with him. Dinner was the hotel buffet, which we normally would not do but choices were thin. Seeing it was Friday night, the buffet included all you can eat King Crab. Let’s just say I think I ran the next day with 5 extra pounds and 30 extra legs in my body . After dinner we chilled in the spa and met some great folks from California that were doing the race too.

Race morning came early of course with all the stuff you have to do before heading over to a race, though a little different this time as Kimberly’s race started at 7:00 AM and mine was starting at high noon. We headed over to the start area by the Lake and got ready. I took my position with the camera and watched as ‘my little devil’ tore up the first hill and on her way. Even though it was earl morning, the Sun was beating down and the car gauge showed about 90 degrees. I chilled out (an odd term considering I know) for a bit and in just 10 seconds over an hour, Kimberly came humping it through the finish line with her face color matching the red of her Nike shorts. She did great, 3rd in her age group (40-49) and 39th overall. After getting her cooled down some, we hopped back in the car and back to the Hotel where I could get a quick bite and get ready for my race at noon.

We were off at the crack off noon. Needless to say with temperatures that hit 112 (plus heat off the pavement) I was feeling the love right from the get-go. It was an out an back course and I felt fairly strong considering the climbs and the heat the whole way out. Though I think it may have had something to do with knowing I would see Kimberly at the turn-around. She had volunteered to take times at the turnaround spot for Joyce (the Calico Racing Founder who runs the event). As I hit the turnaround and saw Kimberly smiling and taking pictures, my mind was given a brief respite from “the Devil”, but he was soon to return. I can’t tell you how tough it was for me to keep pluggin’ and finish this race. The last 2-3 miles were brutal. I passed one guy down for the count with ambulances to the side of the road (I even though they may shut the race down). So I dug down, fought the Devil best I could and finished just under two hours 1:59:04 to be exact. The time was good enough for 8th overall and second in my age (40-49). I can tell you for sure I have never ran a harder race. With the heat and elevation change, this half was harder than the full Marathon in Sand Diego. For sure, the name of the race is perfectly matched!

Will we ever run this crazy race again? Hmmm… Kimberly said when was running the sun was in perfect position - she looked to her side and saw the shadowy figure with a long tail and horns coming from its head. Was it her shadow – or perhaps that old running nemesis who will once again someday coax us back to the heat and hills of the Mohave?

They say there is a correlation between happiness and getting older. Seems the older you get the happier you get. I always thought that this was odd, why would you be happier the closer you get to the end of the party? But the older I get the more I understand it. I could say it’s because you truly learn that it’s all about family, friends and health and the rest is just minor nothings so why sweat it – and you don’t. Or we could say that getting comfortable with who you the older you get are plays a bigger role. Or maybe even there is some genetic thing? Well I have a different take. It may be all of those, but the BIGGEST reason you get happier the older you get – because your kids move out of the house!!! (I’m only half kidding here ).

But of course we love our kids, and when you they are gone you miss the heck out of them. So when Zac told us that he and Amanda had planned to vacation out Phoenix way we were thrilled. We wouldn’t get to be seeing the youngin’s as they are off doing their Summer thing, so Zac and Amanda would be by themselves this trip. Bummer no little ones, good news it means a couple of day’s Adult time in Vegas would be on the agenda!

We ended up having a great time. We got to really get to know Amanda a lot more (we really like her by the way ). The whole time they were here I think we were on the run, which is fine for the twenty something’s, but afterward we needed a vacation from their vacation.

The day after they arrived we were headed up Sedona way and hiking the West Fork. This is our ‘must do’ agenda item for every ‘out-of-towner’ that comes AZ way. We had a great hike, took lots of pictures and did our packed lunch on the creek. After walking the shops and scoring some Mackinaw recipe fudge, we were headed back home and sill had time for a nice night hanging in the pool and doing up some BBQ.

The next day we did the Scottsdale thing during the day as Zac and Amanda wanted to do a little shopping. We did one of my favorite local joints, Dos Gringos for lunch – hard to beat Margarita’s and fish Taco’s on the Patio in old town for lunch. That night the Robinson clan came over for dinner. We reminisced with some old Zac stories for Amanda and had a nice night. A short sleep later and we were off for Vegas (the other thing you do when visitors come to town..).

Vegas was the typical lots of walking and good food trip it always is, though a little check in issue at TheHotel was a little frustrating. We hit Sea Blue in MGM with Zac and Amanda and the next night we split up with Kimberly and I hitting up Rao’s and Payard again (man do I love that Chicken Cacciatore – and we both think Payards is the best chocolate on the planet). During the jaunt we also spent one whole day hanging at the Mandalay Pool. They redid the design some, and improved on what is still my favorite pool/beach in Vegas. They even have a nice ½ mile or so loop around the outside that Kimberly and I ran that morning.

All in all a great trip and so nice to spend the time with Zac and Amanda. And of course then back to that happiness after – we love you, great to see you, now time to go, momma and daddy be likin’ the empty house

PICS HERE