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☰
Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon Runner Comments
Back to Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 5.0 
Spectators 2.2
Number of comments: 13 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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M. L. from Vegas
(7/12/2016)
"Challenging course with no spectators" (about: 2016)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 The comments by HV about the 2015 are very detailed and spot on. I ran both the 2015 and 2016 marathons. I live in LV so this is a great local race for me. The RD, Joyce, puts on a great event and takes care of her runners. There are no spectators because the course is about 25 miles outside of Vegas. However, the volunteers are amazing, great aid stations and always in a cheerful mood. I always find that helpful when I'm tired, about mile 16! | |
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H. V. from Salt Lake City, UT
(5/23/2015)
"Small, challenging race worth the effort" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Registration: One of the advantages of small races is that they usually do not fill up, and there is no need to register months and months in advance. This is a big plus for me, as then I can wait to make sure my training is going well and that I am injury free before signing up. The race director provided thorough information on the website and in the logistics email that was sent to runners a few days before the race. Packet pickup: There is no expo. Packet pickup was held at an REI store on the Thursday evening before the race and the day of the race (Saturday morning). I would have preferred a Friday night pickup, but it ended up working out well for me, as I arrived on Thursday afternoon in order to get a less expensive flight. (The race weekend happened to coincide with the boxing "fight of the century" in Las Vegas, which made hotel and flight prices shoot up shortly after the fight was announced.) I was glad I arrived to Las Vegas early, as it gave me an extra day to start adjusting to the heat and do an easy run at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday morning. Start line and parking: There is limited parking at the start, and most runners must park a few miles down the highway and take a shuttle to the start line. As a solo runner, I was able to park at the start, and appreciated the convenience of being able to do so. The weather was only a tad bit cool as the sun started rising, but you know it is a bad sign that the race will be hot when you don't need extra layers to stand around at the start. (I would say that it was around 60F at the start and 80F by the time I finished.) There were sufficient port-a-potties in the starting area, and the starting time was punctual. Full marathon, 50K, and 50M all started at 7:00am (there were only about 80 of us in total). The half, 10K and, 5K all had staggered starts between 7:30-8:15am. I would suggest that the full marathon start should be shifted to 6:00am, as that would have been one less hour of running in the heat of the day. I did not envy the runners who were doing 50K or 50M, as I was ready to be done at 26.2. Course: This was my 9th marathon and also one of the most challenging because of the heat and the course. I felt prepared for the course, but not for the heat. I was able to do high elevation and long canyon runs, so I was ready to embrace the extended inclines and declines. I actually appreciated the topography in the course (except for the demoralizing uphill at mile 20), as it meant that the same muscles were not used continuously, and my legs didn't feel beat up after the run. But I imagine it would be a different story if I had not trained accordingly. The high desert scenery was pleasant, but not breathtaking. I was not prepared for the heat, as most of my training occurred in late winter and spring in Salt Lake City. I did try to stave off the heat with Columbia arm sleeves and a Kool Tie around my neck, which I kept rewetting at the aid stations. If this had been a fall marathon and my training occurred in the summer, then perhaps this wouldn't have been such a slow race, but I knew going into this race that it would not be a PR. Aid stations: The aid stations were well-spaced and staffed by friendly volunteers. I avoided the Heed sports drink but appreciated the Endurolyte tablets. Some of the stations designated as "ultra" stations had an assortment of snacks like chips and chocolate. I took advantage of the sunscreen at one to reapply midway through the race. Finish line: There were plenty of food options at the finish (though no chocolate milk). I took advantage of the watermelon (yum!) and potato chips. There was not much shade for spectators or runners, so runners seemed to clear out pretty quickly after finishing. Bling: There were two color nice options for the t-shirts in both men's and women's sizes. I am not into medals, so I can't comment much. I did, however, appreciate the unique first place finisher trophy, which was a beautiful amethyst crystal. Overall: I appreciated the low-key, intimate feeling of this race. If you train right, the challenging course will be manageable. Be prepared for warm temps. | |
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T. L. from Canyon Country, CA
(4/22/2013)
"Gorgeous small race, read the instructions" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This event has a full, half, 50 and 100 milers, and 10K all starting on the same morning. The location is breathtakingly lovely and completely unexpected this close to Las Vegas. Course is tough uphill climb to the turnaround, with the exception of a steep downhill into a wash at 5 miles, and what goes down is going to have to climb up again at mile 21. While this resembles a trail race because it's out in the wilderness and there are few if any spectators, this is all on pavement, mostly aggregate and concrete. The road IS open to traffic, be aware. Also if you are doing one of the longer races (I was in the 50 miler) be aware that some of the water stops set up for the marathoners will close down by the middle of the day. Carry plenty of water. Slather on the sunscreen. If you are doing the 50 or 100, suggest a flashlight and reflective gear if there's any chance you will still be on the road after dusk. And keep a sharp eye out for snakes. I spent some time running in the middle of the road after meeting up with a good sized rattlesnake who wasn't happy to have runners invading his turf. Scaly spectators aside, this is a good race and I would recommend it for someone looking for a small, friendly event. Because of the ultra components there is a very generous time cutoff (32 hours!), so a marathon walker could enter this without worrying about time limits. | |
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T. D. from Detroit
(4/10/2011)
"Most difficult I've run, but also most beautiful!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was the most difficult marathon - mentally and physically - I've ever done! The wonder of running in this canyon is worth it. Because it is out of the way, there were few spectators, but the volunteers were great. It is an excellent race and I recommend it to others. Be prepared for hills, and weather extremes, but do it. | |
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D. W. from Louisville, KY
(7/6/2010)
"Hell of a First Marathon" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 My wife and I chose this to be our first marathon without looking at the course map. In a way, I'm almost glad we didn't, because we would have missed a great experience. The course is beautiful, with a few gradual inclines and one killer climb around mile 22. Extremely well-organized with tons of water stations along the way to keep you going. Not many spectators, but having the course open to both 50- and 100-mile ultra marathoners was awesome. It really put into perspective what we were trying to do! Great marathon; highly recommended! | |
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Corey Baker from Dimondale, MI
(4/30/2010)
"Life-Altering" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was by far my most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. The course is the most beautiful route I have ever run. There is not a portion of this race that did not have a breathtaking vista. It is a very difficult course. If the grade and hills weren't enough, I only previously ran around sea level. This is not a complaint, because I traveled two thousand miles to challenge myself. I gave the "Spectators" a mediocre rating because there were no spectators. Personally, I enjoyed that, as the other runners and volunteers were all I needed, but some people may not do well without crowd support. | |
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M. A. from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
(4/12/2010)
"Marathon course not for beginners!!!" (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran this marathon on April 11, 2010, having run two marathons before it. I was planning to shave a couple of minutes off of my last time, which was 3:50:50. But with the tough course of this race, and having had an upset stomach on the day of the race, my time ended up exceeding 4 hours. But I had a lot of fun after my stomach settled down, and the return trip of the course was much easier, with spectacular weather and snowy peaks. Joyce, the organizer, and all of the volunteers did an excellent job . It was a good day after all, and if I get a chance to run it again, I will never hesitate to do so. Blue skies!! - MA | |
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A. S. from Sparks, Nevada USA
(4/10/2010)
"Unique, beautiful and challenging" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Joyce does an awesome job organizing this race. It's a fantastic course. I never expected such awesome high desert just outside of Vegas. Lots of aid stations and very friendly volunteers. It was a challenging course, especially the hill at mile 20 (approximately 2000 feet of elevation gain). If you pace yourself, it's a very rewarding run. Breakfast at the end was a nice touch. If you are looking for a smaller but well organized race, try one of Calico's events. | |
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M. B. from Missouri
(5/11/2009)
"Tough course with exceptional organization!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Thank you, Joyce, for putting on such a terrific marathon. I knew there wouldn't be many spectators but the aid stations were exceptional and the volunteers were quite welcoming! The baked ziti at the finish line was an awesome touch. This was my 25th state and what a fantastic run for this occasion. | |
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R. K. from Valencia, California
(5/3/2009)
"Difficult but rewarding" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Labor of Love Marathon@ Lovell Canyon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I have run 12 previous marathons but this one was the most rewarding because it was the most difficult. The early climbs, the high altitude, the light snow, and the winds culminating with the monster climb at the end made this a monster of a marathon. However, the beautiful scenery at the top of the hill at Mile 2 overlooking the entire valley, the nice volunteers and the satisfaction of overcoming a challenging course made this quite a worthwhile marathon to run. I will definitely try to be back next year! |
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