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Las Vegas International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Las Vegas International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.7 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 2.1
Number of comments: 154 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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A Runner from Columbus Oh
(2/6/2001)
 "Fast: yes, Fun: No way" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Ok, so I've run 6 marathons so far, and yes I am not the fastest guy out there. But here is the deal: If you are looking for a PR, LV is for you. If you are looking for anything else, DO NOT. See, they drive you in a bus for about 30 minutes, almost to the CA border, dump you off in a Mobil gas station, and guess what? that's your starting line. There were no more than 10 Port-a-johns at the start. I did not even know the race got started until I heard people running. The first 15 to 16 miles, I counted about 7 people cheering. At the 1/2 mark, there was one guy standing, that's right, one guy. We were waving to the trains whistling by for cheering us on. Once you think you are about to enter the city, they take you into the slumps of the city, I saw car skeletons everywhere. As of there, I had yet to spot greenery. Finally, they make you run on an open highway by the airport, granted there were a lot of police directing traffic. By the end, they were a hundred people or so cheering on. Why have a marathon in Vegas if they do not want us to run in the city? Why have it in Vegas if you cannot run in the residential areas? I felt that the city did not care if we were there. Anyway, the transportation to and from the race was good, albeit we were given the wrong instructions in the brochure. If you are looking for a PR, go. If you are looking for a PR and fun and a good time, do not go. The high school kids did a great job at the splits. | |
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A Runner from The SF Bay Area
(2/5/2001)
 "Good first timer event" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Having just returned from Vegas, here are my comments. I did not run in the race, I rode a bike and watched/cheered for several friends. Positives: PR type course, it is fast, but fair. Awesome weather (in 2001). Plenty of water and sports drink at the aid stations. Number of port-a-potties was adequate. Vegas is an easy location to reach from most West Coast cities. Negatives: Is it really necessary to arrive at the start line before 600am? Consider staying in the motels near the start to avoid this. Not many fans along the course, but, a first timer would not know this having nothing to compare it against. Almost no solid food or gels on the course. I only found random fruit pieces and cookies. Lack of 'big name' energy bar company sponsor might be the reason for this. Timing chips were used, yet no split times provided. A timing mat was set in the middle of the course, where did these times go? Overall, a good event. Check it out in 2002. | |
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A Runner from Jeffersonton, VA
(2/5/2001)
"Good for PR and visit to Las Vegas" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Good for PR and an excuse to visit Las Vegas (if that is your thing) but not much more. No lines for registration, but there was nothing exciting at the expo. Tee shirt was not as good as previous years. Bus transportation (from MGM Grand parking lot) to the race start (25 miles south of Las Vegas) was well organized. However, do you really need to get to the start two hours before the race starts? At least they let you stay on the bus until race time. Lots of porta-potties at the start and along the way. First 8 miles are slight (200 ft) uphill, then ten miles of slight downhill (1000ft) and then 8 miles of flat. No spectators until about mile 20, and then only for a mile or two until the last half mile. Those spectators that were there were enthusiastic. Throughout the run, water support was plentiful and well staffed. Scenery was non-existent, consisting of desert and then commercial property or vacant lots until the finish. Finishers medal was nothing to write home about. Both the tee shirt and medal have dice showing which run they were for (i.e. 35th running); however, the tee shirt showed a 3 and a 5, and the medal showed a 3 and a 4 (minor flaw). Bus transport from finish to pick-up point (MGM Grand parking lot) was again, well organized. | |
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The Great Gatsby from Orange County, CA
(2/2/2001)
 "Bring a book...it'll break up the boredom" (about: 1998)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 First off, this is an observation/opinion and not a complaint. The organization of the run and the volunteers are top drawer. If you don't mind being able to see the finish line two hours before you cross it, then this is the run for you. You can see for miles ahead on this run and once you crest the hill around the halfway mark and look down into Las Vegas, your scenery doesn't change for quite awhile. This is a good third or fourth marathon but as a first, it has a major thrill deficit. Good luck to all. | |
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A Runner from PARTS, UNKNOWN
(1/19/2001)
 "GREAT RACE FOR A P.R." (about: 1992)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is a great race for a P.R. In 1992, I ran a 2:18 marathon here after trying to break 2:20 in three other races that year. I am thinking of going back now that I am a Masters runner to recapture some of the magic. | |
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A Runner from Randolph, NJ
(12/17/2000)
"Fast course, mostly downhill" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The course is a net downhill, but not too steep. Just right for a PR. The weather is ideal, starting in the 40s and finishing in the 60s. The first half is pretty desolate so there aren't many spectators in the beginning. Some runners say that the course is too straight but it's kind of fun seeing the strip from 10 miles out and running towards it. One improvement would be more portojohns at the start. | |
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A Runner from Portland, OR
(12/6/2000)
"Flat, Fast, and Sunny!!!" (about: 1999)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The Vegas course was flat and fast. You see the Strip in the distance, but it never seems to get any closer. The only bummer is waiting on the bus for 2 hours before the race starts. | |
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A Runner from New Orleans, Louisiana
(12/3/2000)
"Exciting because of being in Las Vegas" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Picking up the packets and finding the starting line for the 5K was confusing and not being familiar with the area required us to spend lots of time and money in taxi cabs. But had fun after all was said and done. | |
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A Runner from Southern California
(11/13/2000)
 "Great, mostly downhill course with cool temps!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have run this race 7 times starting in 1986. While being called a 'downhill course' because it loses about 1000 feet overall, don't be disappointed that the first eight miles are actually uphill. Once you get past that milepost, it's all downhill for the next fifteen miles and then flat for the final three. The weather is usually cool at the start (around 40ish), sunny and warming to about 55-60 by the finish. My most memorable race was in 1989 when the weather gods did a number on LV. The start was freezing rain with temps aroung 33and a forty MPH TAILWIND for the whole race. Now, if you have never been on a downhill course with a forty MPH tailwind, I can tell you it was quite a trip. By the time we hit the downhill, the Wheelchair participants, whom we'd passed on the 8-mile uphill, were flying by us at 40 mph!! The wheelchair winner broke the US record by almost 45 minutes! (it didn't count though because of the course and tailwind). I had turned 50 three months before, and was trying to run under 3:10. When I crossed the finish line the clock registered 3:03!! It was well worth the chilly start and first mile or so until I warmed up to get such a good time. I am now 62 and ran LV last in 1999, but I wont tell you my time. LV is always a lot fun to run and play. Highly recommended by this Southern Calif. runner. | |
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A Runner from San Diego, CA
(11/8/2000)
"VIVA LAS VEGAS" (about: 1998)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This is the race to run for a PR. The course is down hill (although not enough to kill your quads.) and straight. The weather is nice, and the aid stations are well run. I particularly liked the way that water is handed out in small, sealed plastic bags instead of cups, allowing the runner to drink as he runs, without spilling half of it down the shirt. Crowd support is minimum (except for a jack rabbit or two.) The expo, t-shirt designs and medal could be better.This race could be more exciting if it finished along 'the strip', but overall, this is a very nice race. |
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