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Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 3.3 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 2.7 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 2.8 
 
 
Number of comments: 736 [displaying comments 251 to 261]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 24 25 26 27 28 .. 74 > ]

 

A. S. from Phoenix, AZ (12/28/2009)
"Big disappointment after mile 10" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 1


The organizers need to realize that they don't actually want to hold anything more than a half marathon. The first 10 miles running on the Strip was fun and challenging (challenging because we were weaving in and out of half marathoners who started in the corrals 4 and 5, even though their bibs indicated they were to start in corral 24 - things like that). And there were some good bands. But as soon as we left the halfers, the course ran under the freeway, alongside Home Depot, and behind communities whose walls are so high that you can't even see the homes. Band quality seemed to drop off, too, and a lot of the bands were on break, smoking cigarettes off the side of their stage. If you're looking for a fun half, do it. If you want a fun and festive 26.2, this is not the best destination.

 

B. G. from Rochester NY (12/25/2009)
"no heart in this one" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


I ran the half-marathon and I will fully agree with previous comments about the walkers and slower runners way up front in the corrals - what wasn't to understand about corral assignments? The bands were sparse, I found running the Strip uninspiring. Lots of glitz but no heart. An awfully expensive half for what it was. I will not be doing any more R'n'R events. I did like the medal however.

 

D. C. from Las Vegas, NV (12/21/2009)
"My 6th LV Marathon was a charm!" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 6+ Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I am a local so I knew the course very well. This race used to start out at the state line. Then in 2005 it was moved to the Strip. Since then the course has changed, but this last version of the course was the best. The first 10 miles flew by. I loved running on the Strip. When it split off, the uphill climb was very gradual. I really liked the out-and-back turnaround. I was able to see the elite runners running by on their way back in. Also the last 6 miles were on a downhill grade. There were two overpasses at mile 24.5 and 25.5; yes, these sucked, but it sure beat running the last 3 miles behind the Strip like in previous years. Plus we didn't have to finish with the half marathoners.

Since this wasn't my first Vegas Marathon, I went to the expo, picked up my packet, and left. My husband was able to drop me off very close to the start (advantage of being a local). And I swam like a salmon upstream to get to my corral. The wave start was great. The streets also had plenty of elbow room. I qualified for Boston with time to spare, and I ran a faster time here with a 500-foot climb than I did in St. George with the 2000-foot drop. I really liked the tech shirts, although I thought the half marathon shirts were a better color. Also, after the race it was easy to find my family and go home. I am so doing this race next year.

 

M. M. from San Antonio Texas (12/19/2009)
"Great run on the Strip" (about: 2009)

3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Had a great time running on the Strip. Race was very well organized, as usual for Elite. The music was good. I think everybody was cold. Funny to see those still gambling walking out of the casinos 6 a.m. giving you a puzzled look. The whole experience was fun and made for a unique and memorable experience.

PROS
1. Great Location
2. Early start
3. Fireworks
4. Skydivers
5. Duh - VEGAS, BABY, VEGAS !

CONS
1. COLD
2. COLD
3. No timing strip at mile 24, so my family had a hard time standing in the cold determining when I would be there.

Overall, I can't wait to go back in 2010!

 

K. P. from Winnipeg, Canada (12/18/2009)
"Honored to be able to Rock the Strip" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


I ran in Vegas last year, and although it was a lot of fun, there were problems from the instant the race started. I was convinced to come back again because of the new ownership and the fact that they sent me a discount code for registration.

I loved every minute of this race. What better way to run a marathon than down the Strip in Las Vegas? Great organization, really good bands and tons of screaming spectators. My only problem with the whole event was a speaker that wouldn't cooperate at the starting line. We couldn't understand what the announcer was saying or who was singing. Otherwise, it was a great day!!

 

J. W. from St Louis (12/18/2009)
"Great inaugural event" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Loved the wave start and the run along the Strip! Thanks to all of the cheerleaders out there. It was too cold for some of the bands, but that had no impact on the race. Will do this one again! That long climb sucked but I was more than happy to run the last 10K downhill for most of it (except two killer overpasses between miles 24 and 25). Wish you would have had a separate receiving line for food and drinks for the marathoners!

 

B. B. from Texas (12/17/2009)
"Good race" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


Pluses: Website, registration, communication with staff pre-race, help desk at expo, tons of volunteers, merchandise, number of vendors, quality of and convenience of expo, tech shirt, hotel discounts (we stayed at Four Seasons - amazing hotel and it's great to be have the start and finish outside of your hotel!), plenty of fanfare and excitement at start, started on time, perfect weather, well executed wave start, running on the Strip, plenty of aid stations, 2 GU handouts, roads all to ourselves, pace groups, good finish area, showgirls in photos, race results at the finish line, some food, great restaurants and entertainment in LV, just about everything you could ask for.

Negatives: This was my 3rd R 'n' R Marathon, and although they are good at what they do, the overall feel is overly commercialized and hyped. Not for the meek with the crowds, the merchandise, the selling you on their next race; it's almost as if you are not a runner so much as a running consumer. And Las Vegas is pretty sketchy - packed with a lot of wannabes who look like they couldn't even afford bus fare there, let alone lose it in the casinos. Leaving the expo, you passed a lot of cowboys there for the rodeo finals and dudes in line for the Metallica concert (and other assorted types), and we runners definitely stood out. Others have pointed out some picky things - the wave start and massive crowd makes for a long wait at the start, Vegas isn't very attractive, they apparently ran out of water (?), etc. but I have yet to run in a perfect marathon, and don't expect to.

All in all, this was a good race.

 

S. H. from Lawrenceville, GA (12/14/2009)
"Viva Las Vegas" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This was my first Rock n Roll Marathon. Let's just say I have already registered for The Country Music and Rock 'n' Roll Seattle. The Rock 'n' Roll Series won me over. The start was amazing: Celion Dion, Bengal tigers, skydivers, fireworks. Now, that is what a send off should be like for a 26.2-mile race. I stayed at Mandalay Bay and I am so glad that I did. The convenience was worth way more than I had to pay with the marathon discount. I waited inside the hotel until the last second. The race was fun. The Strip was amazing, and then after the Strip, you have the bands to keep you motivated. My only course complaint is the last mile weaving through the Mandalay parking lot. I loved where the race finished though; it finishes at Mandalay Bay so I could shuffle back up to my room with my medal and Boston qualifying time. If you do an end-of-the-year race, do this one. It's Vegas all the way, and you have a fast course to top it off.

 

julie adams from knoxville,tn (12/13/2009)
"Awesome medal, awesome organization, and the Strip" (about: 2009)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I got the best medal that I own, and the course had more bathrooms than any other marathon I have done. The expo was great. The course was pretty good; it was nice to run on the Strip. The volunteers at the water stops were some of the most enthusiastic I have seen. Bands were not that good. Great finisher pics. Post-race food could be better.

 

M. W. from Irvine, CA (12/13/2009)
"Some parts lovely, others lousy" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


I think my friend who has run over 150 marathons/ultras described this course best: "uninspired." The first 10 miles or so along the Strip were pretty cool, but the last 10-plus were totally bland - out and back on some boring street! Then throw in the hills right at miles 24 and 25 - it makes you wonder what the course designer was thinking! Maybe s/he likes half's over full's, because the halfway point was about where it got kind of lousy.

It was pretty well organized. Expo was crowded, of course, and a bit of a confusing set up. The pre-race morning was fine- it was great to have some warm coffee and a nice hotel lobby nearby to sit in until it was time to make our way to the start. Corrals were pretty unorganized and we could jump in wherever. On the course the bands also seemed uninspired. Not too many to be found, and not too great. But it was a cold day, so any course support was appreciated. Fair number of stations, and a great supply of GU.

Post-race was great, particularly the P.F. Changs tent! Great grub, warm, comfy - I felt like a VIP! :) I wish the beer garden would have stayed open a bit longer, and that the pre-race would have had closer and more ample parking. All in all, not bad.

 

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