Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon

The Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon is open to runners and walkers. The event debuted in 2009 as part of the Rock 'n' Roll series by Elite Racing. It replaces the marathon and half marathon run by Devine Sports from 2005 to 2008.
Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half-Marathon. For the 2011 event, the time limit for the marathon was reduced to four hours and 30 minutes, making it out of reach of most walkers. The half marathon had a time limit of four hours.

The event is held in early December. The start/finish is near Mandalay Bay, on the far south end of the Las Vegas Strip. For 2009-2010, the event had a Sunday morning start. For 2011, it started in late afternoon as a "Strip At Night" race. The time limit for the half marathon is four hours. As of 2011, the time limit for the marathon was reduced to four hours, 30 minutes, making it unfriendly to walkers other than world class racewalkers. The half marathon starts 90 minutes after the full marathon as of 2011.

Register online. For 2011, there was an exclusive registration window open March 8-10, 2011, then closed until May 31, 2011. Pricing started at $121 for the exclusive window, $130 for the first week it reopens, then $140 until Sept. 4, then $155 until Nov. 30. There is no registration at the event. Packet pickup is at the Performance Expo, dates to be announced.
Register for the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half-Marathon

The half-marathon course is entirely on the Las Vegas strip. The marathon diverges from it. The area is flat with only slight uphill and downhill stretches. It is a certified marathon course and a Boston qualifier. As typical of the Rock 'n' Roll series of events, 24 bands perform along the route.

The finish stays open for four hours for the half marathon. The time is adjusted to account for the starting time of the last corrals (which was 45 minutes after the starting gun in 2009.) Water stops remained open for the slower racers and energy gel was still available at the designated stop. The finish has been open and welcoming for the half marathon four hours after the last corrals started in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The finish was well stocked with a full range of food items at that time. Runners reported extreme finish line congestion in 2011 for those finishing in two hours, with food and drink running out faster than it could be restocked. It was a very walker-friendly event for those who can finish in the stated time.

All registrants receive a short-sleeved technical T-shirt and goodie bag at the Expo, with medals for finishing. The shirts and medals are different colors and designs for the marathon and half marathon.

Typical afternoon temperature is 50 degrees, and it can be very windy. At night, it can cool down below freezing. Rain and snow are rare but possible. It is best to come dressed in layers. If driving, plan for an extra 60 minutes to 90 minutes in detours and traffic jams, plus a half-mile walk to the start. You can take the tram from the Excalibur to Mandalay Bay -- catch it at the Tropicana/Las Vegas Boulevard pedestrian overpass. In 2011, there was a lot of crowding within Mandalay Bay to get through it and out into the start/finish area through the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Early December is low season for Las Vegas, with good hotel deals. Many shows are "dark" in early December, so you may miss some of the fun. I love having thinner crowds, though, and it is easier to get in to good restaurants or find a spot at your favorite gaming table.

The event faced massive congestion in 2011. Walkers who started in their designated corral at the back of the race had a far better race experience than the 40,000 runners ahead of them. But getting to the right corral was almost impossible in the congestion. Changes will need to be made for coming years. Also, they ran out of medals for the finishers by the time I finished. Full review: 2011 Las Vegas Strip at Night Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

Many racers reported vomiting and diarrhea during or after the race, prompting the Southern Nevada Health District to conduct a survey and analyze responses looking for a common source. While some racers took issue with serving racers fire hydrant water at water stops, the health district's outbreak analysis suggested that the water was not the source of illness. Experts suggested that it is more more likely that the diarrhea was due to a virus being passed around no later than 24-26 hours before the race, which became symptomatic during the stress of the race. Additional testing for possible viral causes is ongoing.

My opinion on the use of hydrant water and possible sources of the illnesses.

_Sources:

_{Brian Labus, MPH, Senior Epidemiologist. "Gastroenteritis Outbreak Among Competitors at the 2011 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon - Interim Report." Southern Nevada Health District. December 15, 2011}

_{Christopher S.D., et.al. "Hyponatremia among Runners in the Boston Marathon." N Engl J Med 2005; 352:1550-1556. April 14, 2005}

I walked the inaugural Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in 2009. Previously, I walked the New Las Vegas Half Marathon in 2006 and 2007, before the event was replaced by the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half Marathon. The Elite Racing production was far superior for organization, overcoming the snags seen at previous versions.

The Expo was almost worth the trip itself, featuring dozens of booths for running and walking apparel and gear. Running Elvises pose for photo ops with the racers and everyone is ready for a good time. Couples register to get married or renew their vows at the run-through wedding chapel on the course.

It is a blast to walk the full length of the Las Vegas strip. On-course support was excellent for the half marathon route, with plenty of water and Cytomax electrolyte drink, plus a GU energy gel stop that was still stocked for the slower walkers and runners. Porta-johns were provided at each mile, plus the racers had access to all of the casinos and restaurants along the Strip.

The course was well marked, with the splits staffed to ensure racers headed the right way.

In 2009, the bands were excellent and I was happy to switch off my iPod and listen to the live music at regular intervals.

With over 25,000 racers, walkers can expect to be in the final corrals and wait 45 minutes or more to start after the starting gun. Be prepared for cold temperatures while you wait. In 2009, racers were not locked into their corrals and I waited by the row of porta-johns until my corral was ready to start. Many racers arrived late due to parking and transport but didn't have to worry due to the long wait for the final corrals to start.

The race enforces its time limits for the marathoners with two cut-off points. Those reaching 10.5 miles after 9:45 am are directed to continue down the Strip and finish the half marathon. Those reaching the 16.8 mile mark after 11:15 detour directly to the marathon finish.

While this is a mostly flat course, it can be challenging with cold and wind and racers may not achieve their best times. For 2009, temperatures were around the freezing mark. I used a windbreaker, long sleeved technical t-shirt, running pants, gloves and ear-covering hat. I carried a light backpack to stow my gear in as I warmed up. In past years, temperature have gone from 30F at the start to 60F four hours later.

This is a race I would happily do every year.
Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon Photo Gallery