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Kate Mee

 

Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon Dec 2011 

 

Skimming through the pages of my Runner’s World Magazine an article caught my eye:

 

Las Vegas ½ and full marathon… it’s the only nighttime event...it’s a fundraiser for the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America.

 

Well, I thought, I have always wanted to go to Vegas, I need a winter event to enter, it sounds crazy but fun and its a fundraiser - that’s sold it, I am in!

 

I flew into Vegas on Friday evening with my partner and we quickly realized that the weekend’s population was very diverse. There were cowboys in their Stetsons ready for the rodeo, Gucci clad party goers there for the gambling, and of course runners in warm-up pants and running shoes.

 

As we made our way to the expo and race pick-up on Saturday morning we discovered 44,000 people had signed up for the event and there were 42 corral’s just for the ½ marathon. This was definitely going to be the most people that I had ever run with. However, the organization at the race pick-up was great and the volunteers were fantastic. 

 

On Sunday, event day we left our hotel about 3:30 pm for the 5:30 pm start. As we walked down to the Mandalay Bay Hotel (otherwise known as the starting line) we joined hoards of excited runners, many in costume.

The whole of the Vegas strip had been closed off to vehicles for the race and the course took us right into downtown, which must have been a mammoth challenge in itself.

 

Bands entertained us as we waited our turn along with wide screen monitors counting down to each corrals start. We were so excited, the atmosphere was something that I had never experienced before. It was great to be around so many people who just love to run and wanted to challenge themselves.

 

The first ten minutes was a crawl as we all struggled to find a natural rhythm in the crowds. After 30 minutes of dodging people and sprinting to pass others, I realized I was using twice as much energy as I would in a straight run. I decided it was not the day for a PB and was a time to just relax, run with the crowd and enjoy the sights.  I oooee’d and arghhh’d at the magnitude and grandeur of the hotels. As we passed the Bellagio Hotel the famous fountain display was going; this was the highlight of the run for me.

 

I have to say that apart from the last two miles when my feet just ached from running I enjoyed every minute of the race, the time went so quickly. The spectators and volunteers were so fantastic, banners, bands and dancers lined the streets of Vegas to cheer us on.

 

As we crossed the finish line the announcers cheered everyone in and we were given the most impressive medals I have ever seen. We joined thousands walking back to our hotel, everyone still so excited about the race and their achievements.

 

These events are definitely not the kind of events you go to for a PB, but sometimes it’s great just to don a pair of Elvis glasses and run for the fun of it. Now I wonder if I can convince someone to do the Disney Marathon with me, I mean who doesn’t want a Tinkerbell medal!