Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon
By Elizabeth Buehring · 0 Comments · Leave a Comment
This past Sunday was the latest run of the Las Vegas Marathon and there were some changes to the course, format, and parent company organizing the event. This was the first year I personally got to run it (I ran the half marathon), but in years past, I was the person cursing at the road closures as I attempted to navigate my way around the city. This time I got to giggle at the frustrated drivers I saw lined up and trying weasel their way towards the Strip trying desperately to get into the casinos.
The first major difference with the event this year was the change in leadership to the company who puts on the Rock and Roll marathon series across the nation. In previous years, the Las Vegas marathon was run by a company that seemed to fall short of good planning and sound financial practices (the winners were not paid until many months later and had to hire lawyers,) so I was glad to see someone who knew what they were doing take over the huge task of running a major marathon. The second major difference this year was the new course. The tag line this year was “Runners own the Strip,” since in years past only one direction was blocked off towards downtown, and the runners took a back road to the Mandalay Bay finish line. This year, half marathon runners ran toward downtown on the north bound side of The Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) and then all the way back to the finish line on the other side, while full marathon runners veered off at Spring Mountain to make their full 26.2 mile course on neighborhood streets. Personally, I loved the course! The Strip is a mostly flat, wide road, and there is plenty of eye candy to distract you from running the long distance. Spectators were allowed practically on the street, as well, to cheer on their friends. The run-through wedding in front of Paris chapel was crowded with Elvi (plural for Elvis) and Planet Hollywood was supporting by posting Twitter messages to their Jumbotron from friends of runners on the street. The third major difference this year was the addition of bands along the course to cheer on and motivate the runners. This aspect I wasn’t so thrilled about. I know it’s the theme for the company’s marathons, but it really was a slight nuisance running by random bands blaring not-so-great music on not-so-great sound systems (and drowning out whatever my iPod was playing.)
I had a great time participating in the massive crowd of 27,000 people running but there were two things that really bugged me. First of all, and most concerning to me, was the ill-prepared aid/water stations. I am not the fastest runner so my starting position was towards the rear of the race and by the time I got to the stations (which started out fifteen tables long) there were only one or two tables still open with four or so volunteers scrambling like crazy to fill cups. There were still thousands of runners and walkers behind me who were probably at the same or lower experience level than me who would be more apt to need the aid than a seasoned marathon runner. I sometimes had to really search and look for water and I ended up having to drink the overly sweet electrolyte drink because I could see that the water table was insanely crowded and under stocked. The same was the case with the GU station at mile nine. I saw that it was filled with eager volunteers and GU when I passed by on the north bound side but by the time I got to it forty minutes later, the smiling volunteers and GU were gone, though it seemed like some boxes remained. I am really glad I had stuffed away a couple of pouches in my running clothes before the race or I would have been drained and sadly disappointed by then. The second concern of mine, which was not as serious, was the lack of portable toilets. I know the number and placement had greatly improved from previous years but the number of participants was much greater this year. My suggestion would be instead of one or two toilets put five to ten in each area. Friends of mine waited twenty-plus minutes for one around mile four. I was able to hold out until mile ten in front of the Mirage where I found a bigger cluster of toilets with no line.
The end of the race was great. The finish line was lined with people cheering, video was taken of your personal finish, medals were handed out, and they made the ending wind around past water bottles, fruit, granola bars, and Mylar body wraps. To end it all you had the option of getting your picture taken with a showgirl the likes of which Mayor Oscar Goodman has in his entourage but I personally was too tired to stand in line after running for well over two hours. I definitely will be in attendance next year but I hope they correct these faults to make it an even better race.
