The morning of the Marathon

	We sort of fell out of bed about 4:30 a.m. and found our way downstairs where we each got a bagel. The next problem was figuring out exactly how to get the busses. We finally settled on that famous mid-pack runner strategy . . . "the guys in front of us probably know where they're going."
	The MGM Grand at night looks like something out of the Emerald City. In fact, it IS an Emerald City.
	It was a stark transition from the posh hotel and neon electric night sky to the inside of a school bus for the ride into the desert. Here we were, runners in little pods of reality, being transported out of a fantasy world into the unpretentious desert to do what we had come to do.
	We drove southwest out of Las Vegas on US15 to Nevada State Road 161. It's a strange cross roads, with a casino and gas station in the middle of nowhere. The return trek would parallel the highway on State Road 604. As our bus took it's place in line, the pre-dawn sky was heavy with clouds, but not threatening rain.
	This little guy will get to see the course the easy way. Hats off to dad for setting the example with some quality time on the road.
	We were now in that "just before dawn" light that marathon runners know so well. Very low wind, temperature in the low 40s, headed for the low 60s by the finish. If the overcast holds, it should be a cool and comfortable run all the way.
	Moments before the start, looking northeast over the pack toward the starting line. The clouds, now backlit by the rising sun, outline mountain silhouettes.