Rock n Roll Las Vegas Half

[adcobe]

Has anyone ever done this race? Reviews? I think I am going to do it. I talked my mom and husband into going with me and making it a fun trip. Hopefully it is a good one

[SuziSaysDa]

It is on my list to do one day, likely next year, especially now that they have moved it back (it conflicted with a large local race previously).

I had some friends in my running group do the full the inaugural year and said it was a shit show and would not be returning, even though competitor group offered those finishers a steep discount. The full course runs out into the desert, which is cold at night in December and pretty boring, the strip was fun, but only a small part of the race. Major issues with the finish line, disorganization, long walk before they got any water after finishing, unable to get their bags - then they all ended with a mysterious stomach bug (they think it might have been contaminated water).

Most races have some growing pains, so hopefully they have worked all the kinks out, I think this is the third year and I did not hear any complaint last year. I am still planning on doing it one year, but I love destination halfs and I like running R&R events.

[stinkerbell6879]

I have done it twice and honestly YES it is fun, lots of people, get to run down the strip etc...BUT. It is a zoo! Expect long lines at porta potties, carry your own water, and plan on weaving through people taking pictures, etc....Also they have changed it from December to November I believe? Which might make for some good running weather.

[InBetweenDays]

I only know people who ran it the first year it was held at night (2 years ago). And they HATED it. Said it was extremely poorly managed, people got sick from the water, they weren't prepared for the number of runners, it was freezing and they had no space blankets or anything to hand out so everyone went into the finish line hotel (that was meant for runners) but there were too many people so the fire marshall had to kick people out into the cold, the full marathoners started before the half and did a loop that wrapped them back around to the start of the half when the half was starting (making a huge cluster), etc. My brother said it was by far the worst organized race he has ever run. But maybe they've made improvements since then.

[stinkerbell6879]

I ran the year that InBetween is talking about, hence bring own water and the how it can be a clusterf---k. They made improvements last year that seemed to help. I will also say beware of the hotel you decide to stay at because it is/will be hard to get back to your room, due to the fact that the strip is closed and all cars, taxies etc are diverted to the back roads.

[suzyp]

I ran it that year too - did the half. And had absolutely no problems. I don't carry my own water, drank what they gave out on the course and was compeltely fine. I got a space blanket, was able to get food and water, met my husband at my designated letter spot and it was fine. I know that there were a lot of other problems people experienced but I experienced none of those. The race was VERY crowded and I probably didn't stop weaving in/out of people until the last 3 or so miles, back down the strip. I loved running up/down the strip because it gave me a good sense of how much I had left to do. I was only looking to finish (it was my second half that I had run) and I had no real time goal.

That said, while it was cool to run at night, it was also kind of annoying. I run slow, so I was in a later corral, which means I finished the race later. By the time we went back to the hotel, showered, etc. we got to dinner at like 11:30pm or midnight. Just made for a long evening.

You have to be smart about how you do it - that year people were mad that the only thing open in the casino by the finish line was McDonalds or something, whcih was slammed, well, of course it was - we had made plans to have dinner at a casino not hear the finish line and EVERY casino has a 24 hour food option. We also walked to the MGM, got a cab, took it up the back roads to Planet Hollywood and then walked across the strip to our hotel. You just have to plan for the strip's closure.

[adcobe]

It looks like this year they are starting it at 4:30 which may make it a bit easier. I will definitely take into consideration where my hotel is in regards to the finish line. Maybe have my mom and DH meet me somewhere near food away from the chaos. Thanks for all the tips. Hopefully it isnt too bad. This race gives me a great excuse for a weekend getaway.