I'm running in Vegas... are you? Yes! I'm running in Vegas! How about you? Are you running in Vegas? I am! You? Yes, indeedy...I will be running in Vegas...you, too?

"Once a year the 'whore' population of Las Vegas quintriples when a ton of self-entitled (runners) who are willing to sell their souls for chocolate milk endorsements roll into town to complain for 26.2 miles at a 10:30/mile pace" My friend has an awfully twisted sense of humor and said he'd pay me to put that in this post. Guess that makes me a... whore.

This coming Sunday, I am running The Strip at night. 

image info (artist: Matt Field)

I will be running with the 40,000+ other entrants (among them, what seems to be a sizable blogger population) in the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half-Marathon, but unlike almost every other female, I won't be in a slutty costume or sparkly outfit. 

Okay, okay... I might wear a SparklySoul headband that I won in a giveaway at my friend Megan's blog. And I might stick adhesive rhinestones on my awesome $2 knee-sock/armwarmers just so I blend. And sparkles can be fun. shut up, haters. But there is something to be said for not blending, too. 

For example, if it is really, really cold, I might be tempted to wear my award-winning Winter Workout Gear...for real, I won a gym wardrobe makeover this week by submitting this picture to a contest...

this would totally not blend in Vegas...am I right?

note: hat doesn't come with reservoir tip

Knowing me, however, I will be running in my plain black Target shorts and tank top...and running shoes. And... of course, I'll be wearing my awesome Moving Comfort Juno bra :) I run "hot." That doesn't mean I look 'hot' when I run...quite the contrary...it means I get hot when I run. But I'm sure you figured that out without me needing to explain it, right? 

13.1 miles is still quite an undertaking for me. A lot of people say they are running this race 'for fun.' I can't do that. Sure, I'll have fun while I am there, and it will be a fun experience. But something about sick physical effort and fun and costumes... it just all seems a little incongruous. I will be busting my butt to put one foot in front of the other for close to two hours, give or take (does 'give' mean that it would be less than 2 hours...or is that 'take'?). 

In addition to getting my run on, I'm looking forward to spending some time in a fancy hotel without my kids and meeting up with some of my good friends from the ol' Nuun Platuun glory days...Jess the Blonde Ponytail), Tricia who knows Endurance Isn't Only Physical, and Caitlin and Kim from Nuun. And we'll get to see our Team Nuun teammates and rivals for the Nuun Cup (which seems to have gone missing, am I right, Tonia?), AfterNuun Delight's Sweaty Emily of Sweat Once a Day and Mr. Mason, prez of Nuun.

And Emz!

And...well... so many others :)

I wonder if they have gluten-free food in Las Vegas?

*If this post makes no sense or is utter tasteless, remember that I am tapering...which means I can't be held entirely accountable for anything!*

Starring: Nose

Yes, I have awesome hair. That fact is indisputable. My hair will one day be super famous, and you can say you knew it when. But like most people with awesome hair, there are days when I wish I had different hair. The grass is always greener... or the hair less wacked-out... or something...

Did you know that I also have a love/hate thing with my nose?  I always have. It surely does its job well in that I have a great sense of smell. This quality I usually love...delicious baked goods, the earth after a good rain, blooming flowers that are not corpse lilies... dog crap and loaded diapers... not so much :P

But I have never been particularly fond of how it looks. I think it is just too big for my pinhead and too pointy for its own good. It sticks out so far that I whack it on things... like doorways... from time to time.

It didn't help that I was teased mercilessly about it in grade school. (Pokeynose... dumbass couldn't even say 'Pinocchio' right). Kids are brutal. My own kids have even made comments about it. Sheesh. Hold your "oh, it's not so bad" comments... please. Even though you might mean them, you don't live with this beast. I appreciate your efforts to see past it, but it's okay. Really.

Anyway...

Who'd've thunk my nose would be featured in a movie? Yeah... I know! I still can't believe it! 

I don't know how many of you took the time to click the Nuun HTC video link I posted a few weeks ago, but since I know it was so much work and might have maxed out the number of windows open on your screen at that given moment, I've embedded it for your viewing pleasure... and I am directing you to the most important scenes... Nose being of primary importance and Nuun Platuun a close second :) I do need to point these things out because they are not super easy to find in and amongst all the sparkle ;-) I kid you... I'm a kidder :P  Okay... enough emoticons... here's the video...

Nuun | Hood to Coast from eric becker on Vimeo.

The parts you want to pay especially close attention to are as follows (times aren't necessarily exact):

• 0:53.... Cupcake's famous "Good job, girl!" 
• 1:17.... Super Kim and her winning smile :)
• 1:27.... THTH Susan (that stands for 'too hot to handle') who just ran a 3:18 marathon(!!!) stripping down to her super sexy shortshorts.
• 1:34.... Nose's DEBUT!!!! Looking sharp ;-)
• 1:57.... Nose's key scene... cut down by the director so you can't see her full range of abilities...
• 1:59.... Tonia, who is an awesome spokesperson and still questioning the whereabouts of our trophies.
• 2:06.... Cupcake again... giving her often-imitated 'thumbs up'!
• 2:11.... Blonde Ponytail, unfortunately obscured in the only shadow she experienced during that hot, hot leg so you cannot see how fabulously her awesome Moving Comfort Juno bra supports her... remember Boobs I Follow?
• 2:52.... Nose participates in a high-five with Megan from AfterNuun Delight... their team's Glamour Leg runner.
• 2:58.... Nose assists in a comforting, motherly kiss and hug for Megan. Nose knows how hard it was. Love you, Megan :)

I didn't mention everyone by name because this post really was all about Nose. But so that no one's feelings are hurt...and in the name of good teamsmanship... I will snag a corner of Nose's marquee and praise the rest... in order of legs run that would be: Tricia, Caitlin, Kerrie, our Faster Bunny, Lisa, and Harmony. Click on the words "AfterNuun Delight" here or above to get names and links for all those awesomely sparkly women :) 

That's enough... Nose is getting cranky about having to share the limelight.

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Pretty stellar how I calm my nerves, eh? Distraction, distraction, distraction...

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Thursday, October 6 is Taking It On's birthday or bloggiversary (how do you spell that anyway? anyone actually know?). ONE whole year. Wooo hoooo! What better way to celebrate than by helping Lucky Number 13 win an actual real contest with an actual real prize? Yeah! It's taking place today... on TIO's birthday and it will be here! There is some extremely talented competition and I could definitely use your help in getting the popular vote :)

{Bringing It Home} 2011 Hood to Coast Relay – Nuun-style: The Miniseries, Part 7

Objective:

Get HERE

|

V

Since 12:30 p.m. Friday, August 26, 2011,  Nuun Platuun ... along with 1200+ other teams... had been on a mission. 

Objective: Seaside, Oregon. Finish line. As fast as possible. 

Mission to include (but not limited to) severe downhill portions, brutal uphill segments, intense heat, bright sun, darkness of night, mist, sleep deprivation, no food... as well as mutual admiration for teammates and other competitors, laughing so hard no sound comes out, deep connection with strangers.... and plenty of Nuun love! 

By late afternoon Saturday, thirty-five legs had been run...it was now my turn to bring it home. I was nervous. My hip had been cooperating really well... surprisingly well, in fact. This might have had something to do with the fact that I was grinding that Stick on my butt and legs constantly. I also had popped a couple of ibuprofen before each of my legs... something I don't normally do. Anyway, I was nervous. Mostly about not being fast enough or tough enough or worthy of this incredible, unforgettable experience. 

I developed a race plan. HA! I got really specific with it in an attempt to squash my nerves. If I had something super specific to think about, everything would be perfect... right? Right? Again... HA!

The final hand-off location was not as I had imagined. I had read that my last leg would start off on an old logging road. I didn't know what that meant, so I assumed it would be a shady area. Logs = trees = shade. Well, logs are trees that have been chopped down. And chopped down trees are not able to shade you... unless you are lying on the ground under the prostrate branches. It was very exposed. Sunny and windy because it was very near the beach. I made sure I had water for this run.

I readied myself for Sgt. Style's arrival. I took the slappy strap and off I went. 

But where in the #%*@ was I going! 

I didn't realize I was supposed to be making a wide u-turn and started heading off the wrong way! The volunteers straightened me out :) 

The route started off on very chunky gravel on very rutted dirt...and lots of little ups and downs and twisty-turns. It was tough getting a rhythm going, but I managed. I glanced at my Garmin, and it showed me way faster than I had specified in my scientific race plan. I knew I had a big hill coming, and I wanted something for it and after. I fought my pace all the way to the paved road where the hill began. 

Yeah... it was a big hill.

As I chugchugchugalugged to the top, I passed a few people and was passed by 2. We were all nice to each other... encouraging and jovial :) I set my sights on the top of the hill and swore to myself by all that was holy to keep my pace around 10:30. Did it. 

Up and over the top. The plan was to hold 8:00 min/mile pace coming down the hill... that's where I just said, "SCREW IT!" and put the pedal to the metal. I averaged 7:20 coming down the hill... almost 2 miles long. Wowie for me :P Then the flat came. About 100 yards into the flat I started crying. I shook it off for about a half-mile, at which point all of my old demons came out. Not fast enough, not tough enough, not worthy. 

Then I found my dad. 

For those of you who don't know it, go here for a little of the backstory, but briefly, my dad lived in Seaside before he died in 1993.

Focusing on him got me through. It is a long way from the bottom of that hill to the beach... and it feels even longer than it really is. The little footbridge they erect over the highway nearly did me in :P

I made it to the Promenade and the people... the cheering, screaming, enthusiastic people! I was able to feed off of that energy and pick it up a little and smile. Gathering and giving energy...high-fives all around... it was AWESOME!

Then I hit the sand... 

I like that it's kind of blurry... 

that way you can't see that my shirt is tucked up exposing my soft, white underbelly. 

But Cupcake got the money shot...

and filming while screaming and shrieking the whole time, 

encouraging me to find the will and grace to finish strong...what can I say?

Cupcake ROCKS!

The demands of celebrity were too great...

I had to turn my back on the paparazzi and autograph hounds.

People were just doggin' me... you can't tell here, but everyone wanted a piece o' me.

Remember, I was the closer running the Glamour Leg, and don't you forget it ;-)

Actually, I think I was about to vomit. I know I was about to fall over. Everything hurt...

but I felt victorious.

The beach scene was total chaos.

The sand is super fine and soft and very, very dusty with lots and lots of people walking around.

Us Nuuners who were present headed to the Beer Garden to await the arrival of Megan, AfterNuun Delight's twelfth runner, and both teams' Van 2 runners.

When we got word that Megan was close, we headed back over to finish area. I wish I had gotten pictures of myself at that point... I believe this was where I was walking around with a huge ice bag stuffed down the backside of my shorts... a big, lumpy butt. Almost as sweet as my thigh-highs ;-)

Anyway...

When Megan came down the chute, she was all smiles... and the woman has a beautiful smile :) But once off the course, her pain found her and it was a different story... and I knew exactly how she felt.

And I knew exactly what she needed...

I love it that Emily got these pics :)

And Team Nuun in its entirety had achieved its objective...

Mission: Hood to Coast complete!

Celebration followed.

The faces of the victorious racers...

Old and slow on the left vs. young and fast on the right...

 

I love this bunny runner... me and Margs, The Faster Bunny (Capt. Underpants).

Live from New York...

it's SUUUUUSAN!

(Nightingale)

I always think of that bit of dialogue in the kids' movie Monsters vs. Aliens...

I can't believe you don't know what I'm referring to.

I was either talking exhuberantly or about to sneeze... it was all a blur and I don't remember.

But since both Cupcake and Nightingale are still talking to me like nothing happened, it must be the former :)

  Tonia and Kerrie (Sgt. Style and Capt. Obvious) are happy!

And so are Cupcake and I :)

I kind of wanted a beer but I also didn't. I knew that drinking anything other than water was potentially disastrous, given the state of my innards. I wanted mashed potatoes but none were available. Isn't that a weird thing to crave post-race? I settled for a hamburger. Alex was the absolute sweetheart who fetched one for me... and I rewarded the poor guy by peeling off the bun and handing it to him, 

"here... can you hold that?"

*peel other side off*

"and that?"

He was anticipating that I would condiment the meat and then put the bread back on...imagine his surprise as I left him there, holding soggy bun pieces, as I dipped my hockey-puck-like patty into the ketchup and mustard on my little plate. It must've looked good because vegan Cupcake thought it was a cookie and wanted a bite...

"oooohhh! I wonder if those are vegan? probably not, right?"

Dude...

it's beef.

Double-fisting?

Why not?

After driving us to victory... and the finish...

no sleep and no real food...

running part of the hardest leg of the race...

smiling and jovial the whole dang time...

Casey not only earned and deserved those two...

but many more that night, I am sure :)

Lucky for Jess...

our Blonde Ponytail found her RoadKilt fan! 

Dude spent some serious time applying her temporary tattoo the day before...

and he loved every minute of it :P

And lucky for the Speedo guys...

they made it to the finish intact... I think.

I tried not to look that closely.

Nuun Platuun found Amanda-Runninghood...

I was bummed to miss this part, 

but I was feelin' a might peaked and had already gone to lie down.

We are goofballs...

But we can straighten up and run fast and look pretty good on command :)

Back row: me, Susan, Harmony, Cupcake, Tonia, Lisa, Tricia

front: Kim, Kerrie, Jess

Shortly after these team pictures were taken, I realized I was going down... for real and hard. I am so grateful to Kim for rescuing me and walking me back to the hotel... I probably would have wandered off into a seedy part of town...if Seaside has a seedy section. 

Above is the party scene I was leaving that, fortunately, Kim returned to about an hour later. 

Everyone had a blast.

Below is my chip...the team's chip. And my tired legs.

I guess it's pretty obvious from the 'artistic' bent of this photo that I was mentally toast.

As I lay on the bed in the hotel, I read tweets from my teammates and made very confused phone calls to my husband... leaving strange-sounding messages because he was at his own beach party. Everyone was partying at a beach somewhere... except for me. I was so bummed that I felt like shit, but I knew that was the price I had to pay for greatness :)

And don't for one second think I'm done talking about this race...

I'll be back.

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Point of interest (to some anyway): my hip did great through this ordeal. Two days later, it hurt like all get out. I think sitting on my duffel bag in the back of a van with my thigh-high, sexy maternity compression stockinged legs in the air for two days, grinding The Stick on everything from my bottom rib to my ankle really helped. And I think my screamy, whiny, clingy, missing-mama kids rebuilt the dispersed tension literally overnight. I think I might need to run away and join a perpetual relay team... or something.

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I need to thank all members of the Nuun teams...the blogs are listed in my sidebar :)... 

I used the photos of many of them to create my miniseries. They were awesome at documenting much of this memorable experience!

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Want to try Nuun or need to restock your supply?

Save 25% on your next order by using the promo code 

"nuunplatuun" 

through the end of the month!

{On Our Last Legs} 2011 Hood to Coast Relay – Nuun-style: The Miniseries, Part 6

At this point in our story, the first two rotations had finished up... Major Miles received the slappy strap from me in Mist to finish the second go-round and set off on her Last Leg!

We saw her running and, though I was still somewhat out of it, we all whooped and hollered for her as we drove past. From the reports we heard, traffic was worsening and our trusty driver/coach, Casey, had the foresight and Kim/Capt. Phoenix had the experience to know that we mustn't dillydally...we needed to march ...or drive... onward to make our final major van transition at Exchange 30/31, where Gen. Confusion from Van 1 would slap the strap onto Private Chafe for the final time!

But let's not get ahead of ourselves! Here's what went down leading up to that moment...

While Major Miles was out there crushing her Last Leg, 

Capt. Cupcake eagerly waited for the hand-off...

She was either doing ballistic stretching or standing on her tippy-toes to see farther, hoping that Tricia had come into sight.

And she came...

hand-off complete!

And Tricia was DONE!!!!

And tallying her roadkillz :)

The first runner had completed her legs in the 2011 Hood to Coast Relay

for

Nuun Platuun!

Cupcake cranked it.

And grimaced in delight at being done with her part of the mission.

Cap'n Crunch was so stealth that she eluded the photographers,

but Capt. Obvious was obviously thrilled to be done and happy with her Stick :)

Underpants killed her BRUTAL leg and handed off to Confusion...

Who we saw and photographed as we were driving along to that final exchange...

did I mention that traffic was horrendous? 

It was like Rush Hour on the San Francisco I-80 commute.

Seriously, about the traffic... an additional 200 teams were entered in the race this year, it being the 30th anniversary and all. That made for an additional 400 vans on these little backcountry roads. The infrastructure was taxed to the max! The backups were massive, sometimes taking over an hour to drive 2 miles.

This photo of Casey could have been taken at several instances. I don't know if it was actually taken as he was navigating/negotiating the traffic or parking lot at the final Van 1/Van 2 transition, but it was such a mess there that it very well might have been! I am pretty sure he was laughing at the chaos and not perplexed by it... he had a remarkable ability to take everything in stride. Truly unflappable.

After parking, Pvt. Chafe, Lt. Love and I went on a reconnaissance mission... we could see the Honey Buckets, but where was the end of the line? Turns out the whole crowd was one big horseshoe-shaped line! And Chafe had to get ready to run...

Was getting in this line a good idea? Was this line the right line to choose?

 Well... it was the only line.

except for the cheater line off to the side...which we didn't see until we were done

She really had to go.

 So badly.

Thankfully, she made it in time and even got a Bucket with adequate paper!

So much better...

She was then ready to go :)

As we waited for her hand-off, we actually were debating leaving her there to stay ahead of the traffic. Her running leg wasn't very long or very challenging (that's what the piece of paper said, anyway) and we were worried we'd be late to the subsequent hand off.

We ended up milling around the van taking pictures instead... 

Would you believe I had no idea as to the extent of our supplies until this moment?

I knew about the rice cakes and the Nuun...

but all the other stuff... I was seriously clueless!

I discovered this storehouse while we were taking this picture...

Nuun Platuun Van 2

left to right: Pvt. Chafe, me, Capt. Phoenix, Nightingale, Sgt. Style, Lt. Love

A kind competitor took this picture for us...

Pvt. Chafe, Casey, Capt. Phoenix, Sgt. Style, Lt. Love, me

and Nightingale in the foreground, flexing :)

Please note my attractive hosiery... many people are accustomed to seeing compression sleeves on runners, but it isn't often you find a runner sporting thigh-high, maternity compression stockings. I remembered how awesome they were when I was pregnant and decided that bringing them along was possibly a good idea... it was. I honestly had no idea how freakin' ridiculous I looked in them. Holy cow, teammates... y'all could've clued me in! Or maybe it was just the chuckle you needed every now and again... looking at me in those unbelievably dorky things :P Well, at least they did what I was hoping they'd do.

A recap of the race wouldn't be complete without this:

I have such fond memories of The Stick.

It made me feel good in ways I never knew it could.

I did share it with my teammates, but it was my special friend.

Typical in-the-van scene included...

my weird stockinged legs up in the air as much as possible,

Lt. Love with her cockeyed visor ;-) and...

a sleeping Nightingale... with coffee next to her.

She slept curled up like a kitten... it was the cutest thing :)

But we still had our Last Legs to run...

Suddenly, someone came running to the van... "she's gone! Let's go!" The hand-off from runner 6 to runner 7 had happened. We took off and made it to the next hand-off spot. There was some confusion in the chute as Capt. Phoenix was a little "occupied" right as Pvt. Chafe flew through the hand-off zone. Things were put to right quickly.

I missed all the excitement because I had realized that I needed some food besides gluten-free protein bars and almonds, cashews, and chocolate chips. You might have noticed that no mention has been made in all 6 parts of this miniseries of real food. That's because we didn't do that... real food is for pussies and we're hardcore Nuun Platuuners. I had about 3-4 hours until I would be embarking on my Last Leg. I had a can of tuna in my bag and a can opener. I had been putting off this 'meal' because we spent so much time in the van... opening a can of tuna in a van would be just wrong. But the moment had arrived. I grabbed my can and opener and high-tailed it to the edge of the parking lot. Hunkered over a garbage can, I cranked that puppy open and scarfed it down like Oliver Twist. Please, sir, may I have some more? But there was no time...

Capt. Phoenix was done! 

We piled back into the van. Fortunately, I had double-plastic-bagged my can opener.

Watching Nightingale run this next leg was a powerful and inspiring experience. She is super speedy. We hadn't really had the opportunity to watch her in action because her first leg was on a trail with no real access and her second was in the darkest hours of the morning on a dusty gravel road. Here we got to see her do what she does... run her little heart out! 

It was a long leg and in the sun. We were able to stop and give her water and cheer her on as she completed something like 33 roadkillz!

Lt. Love handed her a water bottle... she didn't break stride at all.

She drank from a water bottle handed to her by Capt. Phoenix a little later... didn't break stride at all.

She was like a machine... mowing down the competition and tearing up the asphalt. Just WOW.

I am so bummed I didn't get any pics of Lt. Love rockin slammin jammin on her Last Leg. 

She tackled it with the resolve and determination of a champion. We knew at this point that we were ahead of our stiffest competition, and she was ready, willing and able to lay it all on the line to hang on to our lead. 

She had maintained it when she passed off to Sgt. Style.

This Last Leg for Sgt. Style was likely the most difficult leg of the entire race. 

8 miles. 

Hills that kill. 

Hot sun in the heat of the day. 

And she crushed it.

It hurt.

It hurt more than any of us really knew.

Except Coach Casey knew. And he acted. 

He jumped out and ran the last 2 miles with her.

T has the heart and drive of a true winner.

And Casey has the intuition and generosity of the coach of true winners :)

Meanwhile, these three ladies were all smiles.

They had finished their running parts and were now the most awesome cheerleaders ever :)

Once we dropped Casey with Sgt. Style, we raced ahead to the absolute final transition point... 

where 35 meets 36...

where the anchor gets the slappy strap and heads for home.

My turn.

I was kind of in a daze.

It was really going to happen.

I was going to run up and over a hill and down to the beach...

to the finish line.

I kind of had a race plan. I think I went pee. I filled my handheld water bottle. I pinned on my number and attached the finish chip to my shoe. Oh, and I took off my thigh-high, maternity compression stockings.

I was ready.

I look kind of scared.

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The first five parts of this miniseries and the events leading up to this amazing adventure made possible by Nuun, go to the tabbed page up top or click here.