Michael O'Neill Completes Las Vegas Marathon for the Second Time
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Author: Aramco ExPats
Released 16 January 2008
Annuitatnt Michael O'Neill, wearing his marathon medal, with his children Frances (left) and Brendan.
Michael O’Neill completed the Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday, December, 7, 2007 in 4 hours, 19 minutes, shaving off two minutes from his finish time in 2005. This was his second running of the Las Vegas Marathon and his third marathon.
Michael worked in the Saudi Aramco Materials Supply department in Dhahran from 1979 to 1987 and, again from 1991 to 2004; he took an early retirement in June 2004. His running career began during his time in Dhahran.
“The Dhahran Road Runners were very active and running with them was one of the best experiences you could have. Running with a wonderful group of friends – well, you can't find that everywhere. For those of you still there, I recommend you treasure the experience for as long as you can,” Michael said.
Michael took on his first marathon in 1997 for the Bahrain Marathon on Bapco’s Compound. The Las Vegas Marathon was a good opportunity for Michael to keep running since he lives in Henderson, a residential community just 10 miles south of the hectic bustle of the Las Vegas Strip.
“Lots of people come to run the Las Vegas Marathon for the bright lights of the Strip,” Michael said of this race, which has been taking place since 1967. It is one of the oldest marathons in the United States and embraces the chaos and excitement of Las Vegas, with Elvis impersonators running alongside you and a Cirque du Soleil performance at the finish line. You can even get hitched (or renew your vows) at a Run-Through wedding chapel.
But Michael doesn’t let these distractions deter him from his goal of crossing the finish line. “Since I live in the area, there is no special attraction that brings me to this particular marathon. For me, it’s about convenience, which is important if you are going to run 26 miles. The course is flat and while you can’t always count on the weather, both Marathon Days for me were perfect for running- no wind, rain or heat.”
“If you’re thinking about running a marathon, start out slowly,” Michael advises. “My style has always been slow and steady – a friend defines this characteristic of mine as 'persistence.’”
“You should also go to the library and read books on running and training. Follow their recommendations. If you’re starting from scratch, give yourself 12 months to train for a marathon. And don’t overdo it one day because it might prevent you from making your next work out.”
Since he “can’t stop on an odd number,” Michael hopes to fit the 2008 New York Marathon into his schedule this fall. “Since I’m originally from New York, it would be a real thrill for me.”