Monday, June 11, 2012

Utah Valley Half Marathon As Nacho Libre

On Saturday I ran the Utah Valley Half Marathon. Months ago I bought a Nacho Libre wrestling mask to wear at a race, so this half marathon seemed to be the perfect opportunity. I bought some kids shorts and a flesh-colored shirt from the women's section of Walmart to complete the outfit:

My brother Kenny and sister Hollie also ran the race. I sincerely appreciated their help the night before the race to draw a few markings on my shirt to make it look more realistic:

I ran the full marathon last year and the year before but was happy to do the half this year. This race was the first time I have run on pavement in months. The temperature as we began the race was pefect.

I may have been half asleep for the first half of the race. We had to wake up at 2:30am to get to the bus loading in time. No. That is not a typo. 2:30am. That is positively disgusting. But I suppose the scenery is worth the early wake-up:

I was thankful I remembered to look behind me to see our surroundings from a different perspective:

I learned a few valuable lessons running the race as Nacho Libre:
1) Running 13 miles in a wrestling mask feels like running 13 miles in a sauna.
2) Capes are itchy and scratchy.
3) A sweat shirt tucked into your shirt will bounce around like CRAZY.
4) A few people will look at your lumpy stomach and ask in all seriousness "Is that real, or do you have something stuffed in there?"
5) Did I mention that capes are insanely scratchy?

I arrived at an aid station and took my mask off for a second to take a drink. One of the volunteers looked over at me with my mask off and said "Way to go! Are you a.........um..........pregnant mom?"

Here is another valuable lesson I learned: When you dress up as Nacho Libre at a half marathon, you INSTANTLY have a couple thousand new friends. It was funny to see how excited the spectators became. I gave a high five to every single person I saw. And then I saw the finish line up ahead. I grabbed my cape and started weaving through the chute. My friend Amber finished the race earlier and happened to catch this picture:

I must say - I loved every second of this race. I had so much fun. My body felt great for every step of the race. I have so much fun running comfortably, stopping to take pictures, and running with only one goal: have a blast. I'm not sure I will ever "race" at a race ever again. The siblings encouraged me to get a side profile at the finish line:

Some people at the finish line said they loved the movie Nacho Libre and asked to get a picture. Afterward I asked if they would take a picture of me, Kenny, and Hollie. This fine photographer snapped one of my favorite jumping pictures ever:

Two thumbs up for the excellent race organization. And the excellent volunteers. And the excellent crowd. And my excellent new runner friends. The finishers medal was the best I've seen from Utah Valley.

30 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you didn't die inside that mask! I thought it would be pretty hot, AND, I'm so glad you got a jumping picture with it on. Way to go, Cory!

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  2. love the profile pic and the jumping pic!!!! both are amazing! so glad you had a blast and im pretty sad I didnt get to see you IRL in that outfit;) so true about enjoying the race...i enjoyed every second of UV and I know I will remember it so much better in the long run:)

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    1. Props to you for getting a negative split on the marathon! I have yet to pull that one off. You are going to do so awesome at the 50 miler!

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  3. Agreed - best finishers photo ever!

    That's a sweet medal, maybe I'll have to do that race someday.

    You should get a special medal just for wearing that mask the entire time! That's some serious dedication to a costume!

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  4. Wow, the scenery was AMAZING, and your costume is hilarious. Major props to you running in that. I did a 10k dressed as a witch, and that cape seriously got on my nerves.

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  5. I thought maybe it was too many Hostess products after your 100. :)

    What a great adventure, despite being itched almost do death with the cape. Hahah. Very cool medal, too. I had a friend do the full and she said it was horribly windy. And warm. Nothing your cape couldn't handle though! :)

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    1. Someone actually did ask if I had Twinkies down my shirt. Wish I had thought of that pre-race!

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  6. I need that mask. I already have the stomach thing down, I'm just missing the mask. :)

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  7. You are awesome!! Sounds like such a fun experience and I'm sure all the stares, cheering, and funny looks you got made it extra exciting.

    For the record I did not wake up until 3:15am. It must have taken you 45 minutes to stuff your stomach. :)

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  8. Love the pictures! Great job on the Nacho run. I am glad to see that you didn't get bloody nipples either. ;)

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    1. We looked for a red marker to draw some blood but didn't have any luck.

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  9. I love it! I bet it was suffocating to run with a mask on! That jumping picture is awesome, although getting up at 2:30 in the morning is not awesome!

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  10. So awesome! You really know how to enjoy a race. I bet that mask was not comfortable to run in but I'm so impressed that you did it. As usual, gorgeous photos!

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  11. So crazy how much you resemble your brother, or vice versa. He even sounded like you! I thought you were so hilarious running around pumping up the crowd before the race started. You certainly have a lot of guts.
    Seriously, no racing ever again?? You definitely know how to just go out and have a blast then.
    Loved the jumping photo, as usual.

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    1. It was great to see you at the staring line. Congrats on another awesome race!

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  12. Speechless! You are awesome as always.

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  13. That mask is crazy cool, Cory! Love it. I need to run a Utah race, all these pictures make me soooo jealous. SO PRETTY!

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  14. Capes don't make you faster?? I'm so disappointed. It was my only hope.

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  15. I cannot even IMAGINE running 13.1 in that mask. But I SO love that you did it!

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  16. Wow. I am a heat wimp, so running a half in a mask will be something I will only do vicariously through you. LOL. Sounds like you had a great time!

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  17. It's easy to see that you enjoyed a wonderful scenery along the running track. Great race!

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  18. HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Cory I love this! more than words can express and right on for your fav jumping pic! Nacho is looking spectacular! great marathon kicking off the season!

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  19. This is so awesome! I have a hard enough time running 13.1 miles normally, so I can't even imagine running it with a mask, cape and stuffed shirt!

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  20. Wonderful fun in a wonderful race! Well done!

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  21. A lot of fun! You are a superhero if you succeed in finishing a half with that mask.
    The jumping picture is wonderful!!!!!

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  22. I don't have a wrestling mask. A couple of years ago I almost bought a job-lot box of 50 wrestling masks on eBay. I think drink was involved. Somehow I thought better of it. Now I'm regretting that moment of lucidity.
    wrestling mask

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