Running with the Santas

There is isn't any place that does a 5K quite like Las Vegas!  While we were there last week we participated in the Santa Run along with 15 thousand other Santas.

It started in the old downtown Fremont Street area of Las Vegas.

Even the dogs were decked out for Christmas.

Robin Leach, remember him from Life Styles of the Rich and Famous, was the emcee for the event.  You'll never guess who else showed up--Wayne Newton.  See him on the stage (the guy with the suit on)?

Here's a blurry closeup just in case you don't believe me.

The Mayor was also there along with Holly Madison (????).  Apparently she's some famous playboy bunny.

Olivia Newton John also stopped by to say a few words which made Mr. W really happy to have another Ozzie nearby.

In case you're wondering why all these half naked men are around--the Chippendales were the Grand Marshalls for the run.  You'll notice I wasn't shy at getting a closeup as they walked through the crowd.  :)

After all the festivities we all made our way to the starting line.  There were no timing chips for this run which was really good because it probably took us 10 minutes just to get to the start line.  This event was a fundraiser for a local charity called Opportunity Village.

Santa was there to cheer everyone on.

You see things in Vegas that you don't see elsewhere.

This restaurant on the corner caught my eye--The Heart Attack Grill.  It advertises that if you weigh more than 350 lbs., you eat for free and there's a huge scale out front where you can publicly weigh yourself.  All I can say about that is...wow!

Before long we made it to the finish line.  Woohoo!

They had really nice finisher's medals (sorry for another blurry shot).

We then found out how cranky a pregnant Mrs. W can be when she's had to do a 5K without proper nutrition.  Both her and the little Miss W were famished.

We made our way back over to a little out of way place called "Eat--the Breakfast and Lunch Joint".  I had the Huevos Motulenos which was described as "two eggs over-easy w/red & green new Mexican chili, black beans, peas feta, sauteed bananas on corn tortilla".

Irv had the Country Fried Steak.  All I can say is "yummy".  This will be a new favorite stop on our Las Vegas trips. (It was a good thing we did this 5K before eating or we would soon be able to have free meals at the Heart Attack Grill.)

On they way back to the care we stopped at a doughnut shop that had very unusual doughnuts.  Mine was a popcorn doughnut.  (Stop judging me...there is nothing wrong with breakfast dessert.  After all, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!)

We then had to waddle back to the car, go back to the hotel to shower and change, and then make our way to our third and final Cowboy Christmas before heading to the 3rd round of the NFR.

Have I mentioned that I love Vegas?  We probably see a way different version of Vegas than most visitors do--not one adult beverage was consumed and only $19.95 was donated to the casinos.