Summary Good candidate race for a marathoner running their first downhill marathon and wanting a fast time. This inaugural race revealed several areas that ought to be improved IMO. Great … MORE
Summary
Good candidate race for a marathoner running their first downhill marathon and wanting a fast time. This inaugural race revealed several areas that ought to be improved IMO. Great runner support (fluids, porta potties) along the course and good post-race support. Generally not many spectators.
Registration/Communication
Generally good and frequent communication. Since this was the inaugural race, some communications weren’t tuned correctly (e.g., sending the bib number email without a bib number populated). The partner hotel list slowly grew over time after I registered: I wish that was settled once race registration opened so I had more options to chose from.
Expo
It was a 20 minute walk from the Downtown Grand (host) hotel. Easy bib pick up. The course overview presentation was very well done and highly recommended.
Race Mobile App
The Las Vegas Marathon mobile app itself provided little value unlike the content of more seasoned marathons (e.g., Twin Cities, Philly). They claimed if you ran with the mobile app, it would provide supplemental information on the area you were running through, but they also said it would drain the phone battery. I did not run with my phone so cannot verify either claim.
Course
1) The only timing mats I recall were at the start and finish lines.
2) This was a point-to-point race starting 6am from the parking lot of the Sandstone Quarry in Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive. Runners were bussed to the start, choosing one of four bus times between 3am and 4am. Temps in Vegas were ~44 F and in the mountain upper 30s at the time of bussing. The winds in the canyon were impressive. My guess it was a 20 mph sustained NNW wind with higher gusts, and there was no shelter. Gear bags (for post race) were dropped off in Vegas before we entered the bus. We were allowed to bring drop clothes. The race did provide a mylar emergency blanket in the expo bag presumably for pre-race. People sat on the ground in the parking lot awaiting sunrise and race start (both 6am). It was quite a sight seeing all the huddled mylar-clad runners with the mylar thrashing in the wind. When the race started, runners dropped their mylar blankets and drop clothes in the parking lot. There were very few garbage cans or receptacles in the parking lot, and my fear is that the wind blew a lot of mylar and clothes into the pristine Red Rock Canyon. It will be interesting to see how that is addressed in the future, assuming the park allows them to start there again. During our wait, the race organizers played music and provided banter to keep runners excited and engaged.
3) There were a few portable flood lights used to illuminate the parking lot area, but more were needed IMO. Layout of the parking lot had volunteers filling water/gatorade cups in the back of the lot, but to get there you needed to step around people on the ground, cut across people in porta potty lines, and try not to trip over the cement parking slot bumpers (I don’t know what to call those) which were hard to see in the dark. There were 2000+ marathoners: Some opined the number of porta potties was insufficient for a group that size. FWIW, my wait in line was 20-25 minutes. I could not the pace group I was looking for as the wind blew over the markers identifying where each pace group was located and the mass of people prevented me from seeing any handheld sign.
4) The course itself was mostly downhill. The first 2 miles had the most significant drop and were very scenic. After mile 7 you are out of the scenic area and back into a city street environment. The course had an enjoyable, gentle decline down one long straight road (albeit one deviation miles 9-11). The last 6 miles were flat as you are in the downtown area at that point. We mostly had a crosswind on race day with short periods of running into the strong wind. Course support (water stops, traffic control) was very good. There were pockets of spectators along the course. Race finish was on Fremont Street and had a modest number of spectators.
Post Race
Ample snacks and fluids once you crossed the finish line. No mylar wraps were given out, probably because they were in the race packet and most used it for the start area. I don’t recall any porta-potties at the finish, but I wasn’t looking for one either. The post-chute runner recovery area was a confined space where runners collected themselves before venturing out into the public space. Big enough? Meh. The beer garden and gear pickup were about 6 blocks away.
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Great option for first downhill marathon
Summary Good candidate race for a marathoner running their first downhill marathon and wanting a fast time. This inaugural race revealed several areas that ought to be improved IMO. Great … MORE
Summary
Good candidate race for a marathoner running their first downhill marathon and wanting a fast time. This inaugural race revealed several areas that ought to be improved IMO. Great runner support (fluids, porta potties) along the course and good post-race support. Generally not many spectators.
Registration/Communication
Generally good and frequent communication. Since this was the inaugural race, some communications weren’t tuned correctly (e.g., sending the bib number email without a bib number populated). The partner hotel list slowly grew over time after I registered: I wish that was settled once race registration opened so I had more options to chose from.
Expo
It was a 20 minute walk from the Downtown Grand (host) hotel. Easy bib pick up. The course overview presentation was very well done and highly recommended.
Race Mobile App
The Las Vegas Marathon mobile app itself provided little value unlike the content of more seasoned marathons (e.g., Twin Cities, Philly). They claimed if you ran with the mobile app, it would provide supplemental information on the area you were running through, but they also said it would drain the phone battery. I did not run with my phone so cannot verify either claim.
Course
1) The only timing mats I recall were at the start and finish lines.
2) This was a point-to-point race starting 6am from the parking lot of the Sandstone Quarry in Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive. Runners were bussed to the start, choosing one of four bus times between 3am and 4am. Temps in Vegas were ~44 F and in the mountain upper 30s at the time of bussing. The winds in the canyon were impressive. My guess it was a 20 mph sustained NNW wind with higher gusts, and there was no shelter. Gear bags (for post race) were dropped off in Vegas before we entered the bus. We were allowed to bring drop clothes. The race did provide a mylar emergency blanket in the expo bag presumably for pre-race. People sat on the ground in the parking lot awaiting sunrise and race start (both 6am). It was quite a sight seeing all the huddled mylar-clad runners with the mylar thrashing in the wind. When the race started, runners dropped their mylar blankets and drop clothes in the parking lot. There were very few garbage cans or receptacles in the parking lot, and my fear is that the wind blew a lot of mylar and clothes into the pristine Red Rock Canyon. It will be interesting to see how that is addressed in the future, assuming the park allows them to start there again. During our wait, the race organizers played music and provided banter to keep runners excited and engaged.
3) There were a few portable flood lights used to illuminate the parking lot area, but more were needed IMO. Layout of the parking lot had volunteers filling water/gatorade cups in the back of the lot, but to get there you needed to step around people on the ground, cut across people in porta potty lines, and try not to trip over the cement parking slot bumpers (I don’t know what to call those) which were hard to see in the dark. There were 2000+ marathoners: Some opined the number of porta potties was insufficient for a group that size. FWIW, my wait in line was 20-25 minutes. I could not the pace group I was looking for as the wind blew over the markers identifying where each pace group was located and the mass of people prevented me from seeing any handheld sign.
4) The course itself was mostly downhill. The first 2 miles had the most significant drop and were very scenic. After mile 7 you are out of the scenic area and back into a city street environment. The course had an enjoyable, gentle decline down one long straight road (albeit one deviation miles 9-11). The last 6 miles were flat as you are in the downtown area at that point. We mostly had a crosswind on race day with short periods of running into the strong wind. Course support (water stops, traffic control) was very good. There were pockets of spectators along the course. Race finish was on Fremont Street and had a modest number of spectators.
Post Race
Ample snacks and fluids once you crossed the finish line. No mylar wraps were given out, probably because they were in the race packet and most used it for the start area. I don’t recall any porta-potties at the finish, but I wasn’t looking for one either. The post-chute runner recovery area was a confined space where runners collected themselves before venturing out into the public space. Big enough? Meh. The beer garden and gear pickup were about 6 blocks away.
Inaugural Las Vegas Event
Overall, I would say this event was very well run. Expo: Packet pickup was quick and easy. The expo was cramped and under staffed, and the queue for some of … MORE
Overall, I would say this event was very well run.
Expo: Packet pickup was quick and easy. The expo was cramped and under staffed, and the queue for some of stalls were probably about 10-15 mins. In the swag bag were disposable gloves and blanket which I thought was a nice touch.
Race Morning: Initially the half had been announced as bus only, but as the bus times got announced, they also introduced a self drive option. I opted for the self drive as I didn’t want to stand at the start for 1.5-2hrs. (Despite what people think, it’s cool in Vegas in Nov). It was easy to get to the start – parked the car in Target’s car park, and then an easy walk to the start. My husband then drove from the car park to the Fremont area to see me finish.
Adequate number of porta potties. Race was congested at the start, and would have benefited from a wave start. Took until mile 1 to thin out and get into my pace.
The course is gently downhill for the first 6.5 miles – enough to be quick but not that steep to make quads ache. Personally, I found this part a bit dull – not much scenery and the monotony of a downhill run. The route got more interesting as it turned up MLK, went around the Smith center, down Main St towards the Strat, up the Strip with a little wiggle to finish on Fremont St. It started to rain at about mile 10 which given how little rain we’ve had this year, made for slick roads.
The chute was short and efficient. Nice touch to have the race celebrations away from the finish to avoid congestion. I liked getting my results on a little card.
I was very impressed with course safety – all of the intersections on Charleston were blocked with coaches or trucks.
Overall, well run. Personally I would not do it again – I don’t think downhill courses are my thing.
Too Much Headwind
Haven't been back to Vegas for eight years so decided to visit again and check off Nevada at the same time with this inaugural race. Expo: Held at the World … MORE
Haven’t been back to Vegas for eight years so decided to visit again and check off Nevada at the same time with this inaugural race.
Expo: Held at the World Market Center near the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets on the Saturday before the race. Went in and out as I was in a rush so didn’t really stop by the vendors. Free parking.
Weather: Windy windy windy. The headwind was no joke. In hindsight I should have added more layers but who knew that it’d be this windy/chilly in Vegas this time of the year?
Race Start: Parked at the Neonopolis underground garage around 3:15am ($9/day because apparently Vegas doesn’t have free parking on Sundays unlike most metropolitan cities) and boarded the designated race shuttle at 3:45am near Main Street Station. The ride lasted about half an hour before we arrived at the parking lot area in Red Rock Canyon. It was windy as heck with no cover when we arrived around 4:15am; a bunch of people, including myself, had to hide behind parked cars to shield ourselves from the wind and chill. Although we were supplied with heat sheets at the expo that wasn’t sufficient at all and we basically shivered for 1.5 hours before the race finally started at 6am. I am not sure why we needed to be at the race start so early as that wasn’t necessary at all.
Course: Gentle downhill at start and gradually flattened out shortly after. There were some small inclines here and there but nothing major. The course was mostly point to point although there was a small section that was out and back in Summerlin.
Scenery: There were views of red rock the first couple of miles but after that it was mostly suburban roads. Race finished at the Fremont Street Experience area which was close to the initial bus loading point.
Aid Stations: Aid station at Mile 3 then every 2 miles. There were water and gatorade at every station. After 1/3 of the course, gels and orange slices were supplied at some stations. Special thanks to the spectators who offered milky way and gummies during the second half of the course, that helped a lot!
Crowd Support: None while at Red Rock Canyon but the spectators started trickling in once we got to the Summerlin area until the end of the race.
Post-Race Refreshment: Chocolate milk, bottled water, energy bars, bananas, doritos, and ice cream/popsicles. Free beer with the tear-off from the bib.
Finish Area: The setup was a bit odd because gear pickup was placed at the very end of the village so I had to drag my tired self all the way to the other side of the village, grabbed my belongings and then headed back to checkout the tents. If they had the gear pickup area closer to the finish line that’d help tremendously especially considering there wasn’t any bag provided to place the goodies we received after crossing the finish line.
Swag: Paid $5 extra for a tri-blend shirt instead as I have too many tech shirts and a shot glass. Slight bummer regarding the tri-blend shirt due to it not being distance specific, meaning it’s the same shirt no matter if you ran a full, half, or the 7.02-mile distance. Standard inaugural medal.
Final Thoughts: My lower back started cramping around mile 19 and the headwind was quite severe so my time wasn’t ideal considering that this race was flat overall, but the production was good in general for an inaugural race (which wasn’t surprising given that it’s the same company that organizes the RunRevel races).
Well Organized Fun Run
This company always puts on great races and this inaugural Vegas race was no exception. Best expo I’ve seen in years with amazing vendors and swag. Even better than the … MORE
This company always puts on great races and this inaugural Vegas race was no exception. Best expo I’ve seen in years with amazing vendors and swag. Even better than the major marathons. My 3 friends and I all bought expensive items because they had great prices and good selections.
While the full course was pretty at the start, the half was just a basic run through parts of Vegas and not the pretty parts. The downhill was nice. There weren’t any crowds but the same groups of spectators we did have were huge cheer squads.
The medal was huge and heavy and the tech shirts were awesome.
The host hotel, though convenient and cheap, wasn’t that nice and had zero amenities, not even a coffee maker.
Overall if you’re looking for a fun and well organized race this was a good one. Anything by BrookSee/Revel will be the most well organized race you’ll ever run with the best medals and swag
Good inaugural marathon
Great marathon for a PR - this was my personal PR and topped my previous time from nine years ago. Logistics were good with busses out to Red Rock Canyon. … MORE
Great marathon for a PR – this was my personal PR and topped my previous time from nine years ago. Logistics were good with busses out to Red Rock Canyon. As others have mentioned, it was cold and windy at the start area for the marathon. There was minimal shelter as the start was in a parking lot. This is only complaint about the inaugrual experience, and the event can’t control the weather, as everything else went smooth. Host hotel was in a great location for post-race as it was at finish area.
Inaugural Las Vegas Race
Enjoyed this race, the weather was a chilly start. A little windy and a few rain drops. Mostly slight downhill making it easy to PR. There were enough hydration stations … MORE
Enjoyed this race, the weather was a chilly start. A little windy and a few rain drops. Mostly slight downhill making it easy to PR.
There were enough hydration stations and also gel packets at a few. Last part goes through the Arts District and ends on Freemont Street! Really nice medals.
This race offered 3 distances, 7.02 miles, 1/2 & full marathon.
Would do this one again!
Great inaugural race!
This is a must do if you are looking to BQ! Downhill grade most of the race…aid stations were well stocked/staffed and it ends in old town LV which is … MORE
This is a must do if you are looking to BQ! Downhill grade most of the race…aid stations were well stocked/staffed and it ends in old town LV which is very cool! I’d definitely do it again
What happens in Vegas
This was my 32nd marathon in my 22nd state. This was the inaugural running of this version of the Las Vegas Marathon. a gradual downhill decent from the Red Rock … MORE
This was my 32nd marathon in my 22nd state. This was the inaugural running of this version of the Las Vegas Marathon. a gradual downhill decent from the Red Rock Canyons to Fremont Experience in Vegas (Downtown). The expo was a good size with a lot of excellent free items for vendors. The race packet included a t-shirt, shot glass and a few other items.
The race started in a parking lot in the scenic red rock canyons. Buses took us Marathoners up there early for a 6am start. It was colder and windy at the start. I was up there 2 hours before the race started with not much to stay warm, the did provide mylar blankets and gloves in the race packet. The gradual downhill flattened out around mile 20. The first 6 miles were beautiful in the canyons. plenty of aid stations and enough crown support, after the first 6 miles we traveled through different parts of the metropolitan area of Vegas. The weather was windy but pretty nice other than that (40 to 60).
The finish line and festival was in the Freemont District in Downton Vegas. Cool Medal, free beer, and plenty of snacks and drinks. There is a lot to do in the area as the Host hotel was in the location and also where buses loaded. However, a lot of streets were closed so this caused a lot of disruption for residents. great race and excellent choice for vegas and Nevada.
Great start for a brand new race
This was the inaugural Las Vegas Marathon, but hopefully will just be the 1st of many more to come. Despite just a minor glitch here or there, this was a … MORE
This was the inaugural Las Vegas Marathon, but hopefully will just be the 1st of many more to come. Despite just a minor glitch here or there, this was a well run race with beautiful scenery to start up in Red Rocks. To start with the minor issues: I personally felt there could have more social media, more discussion, more responsiveness in the months leading up to the race. With it being the 1st, you really want to get the word out, and I thought that was lacking. The other thing took place at the expo. They needed more people to help give out the bobs. I had one woman who was trying to handle 4 or 5 lines all by herself. This understandably slowed things down. But, as mentioned, those were minor compared to the positives. The Expo was held at the World Market Center. Plenty big with a number of vendors. The Marathon-specific merchandise was great. They had 3 races: marathon, half marathon and 7.02 race (for the area code). Bussing was required at least for the marathon and Half (don’t recall about the 7.02). This was a massive production, and I thought it went pretty smoothly. We had to get to Red Rocks early—think 4-4:30am for a 6:00am start—but they had numerous busses ready to go. If you plan on running this race, please understand that it is noticeably colder up at Red Rock than down in the city. Also, it is always very windy in Vegas in November—and even more so at Red Rock. The wind was gusting and it was freezing. There were numerous people just wearing shorts and tank tops. Bring plenty of disposable winter clothes. You’ll need it while you wait. The race started at 6:0am and the sun was just rising then. Absolutely stunning scenery. You work you way down from there, and then cover a fair amount of the city. The aid stations start at 3 miles, and then are placed approximately every 2 miles. There was plenty of water (they had Gatorade, but I didn’t have that, so can’t comment). The people at the stations were great. At times they even offered to fill my water bottle for me. Gu was given out at 3 stations, and fruit at a couple more (at one, the guy was even cutting up the oranges into bite-sized pieces!) There weren’t a lot of people, but that never bothers me. They had a gold medal for the marathon; silver for the half; and bronze for the 7.02. The gold medal is gorgeous. Instantly one of my favorite medals. I’m not a fast runner, and there was plenty of food at the end. Your basics: banana, chocolate milk, other drinks, chips, protein bars. There was a free beer for those who wanted it. Bottom line is I really enjoyed this race, and I thought it was run very well-especially considering this was the 1st time.
Wonderful inaugural race!
I picked this race because I wanted a cool slightly downhill race to maximize my chances at a good finish time. Although an injurt kept me from my goal that … MORE
I picked this race because I wanted a cool slightly downhill race to maximize my chances at a good finish time. Although an injurt kept me from my goal that did nt detract from the many positives of this race. The Managment was excellent, especially the transport to the start to the expo to the amazing extent to which they blocked off intersection to protect us runners. The scenery was amazing especially Red Rock Canyon for the first 7 miles or so. The finish was also great right at the Fremont street experience, and the medal was beautiful. I would definitely do this again.