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Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 3.3 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 2.7 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 2.8 
 
 
Number of comments: 736 [displaying comments 611 to 621]
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J. D. from Chandler, AZ (12/11/2006)
"Fun Race!!" (about: 2006)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I loved this race! The expo was great, the course was flat. I took 8 minutes off my time from my last marathon! The bands out performing were great. There were a bunch of spectators spread out all over. Their cheering helped me through the cold wind that set in from time to time. The weather was perfect for a marathon. Overall, I would totally do this race again. It was a great marathon.

 

K. B. from Kansas City (12/11/2006)
"Vegas doesn't live up to its name" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 3


I have run many marathons and this was my first Vegas Marathon. I give it low ratings based on the organizers failing on key elements. To be fair to them, there were a few high points as well. If they fix some of the key elements, this could be a great marathon.

Pros:
- Running down the strip at sunrise
- Running through downtown
- Fireworks at the start
- Running Elvis group
- Start and finish near the same spot and walking distance from many hotels
- One port-a-potty about every mile (rather than a cluster ever once and a while) and plenty of nature spots
- Great goodie bag with loads of free samples (coffee, marathon bars, breath strips, and others)
- Flat course
- More cops than at a Krispy Kreme doughnut convention
- Great city for a marathon
- Aid station volunteers were great

Cons:
- Mile markers were WAY OFF
- NO FOOD and long walk to get fluids at the end
- Longest straight road I have ever run on, which was a bit boring
- Finisher's medal is the least impressive one I own (the 2005 medal was nicer)
- Tiny expo and lame official race merchandise
- No food on course

 

S. O. from Ohio (12/11/2006)
"Disappointment - below standard" (about: 2006)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 1  FANS: 4


Worst marathon I've done!

THE GOOD: Tons of port-a-potties at the start; great volunteers; great running the first 7 miles on Las Vegas Blvd.; some very enthusiastic spectators; tons of Elvises - or is that Elvi?

THE BAD: 20 minute-late start; random mile markers (I think whoever was responsible for marking the course drank too many complementary drinks); Blue Man Group stopped performing after about 2/3 of the runners had crossed the starting line; port-a-potties in the first 6 miles were placed so the runners waiting to use them blocked over half of the road; the majority of the bands were finished before you got to them (11 minute-pace); between mile 14-20 you had to cross traffic to get to the port-a-potties; I paid $95 to get one short-sleeved cotton t-shirt (like you get at a $15 5K); only one GU station (should have been two, at miles 18 and 22, but GU was at mile 13); no fruit on the course; could not find the water/food at the end (normally you get something right at the finish), and couldn't find the family meeting tent (I heard the signs blew down, no excuse). I heard complaints about sweat check (bag check), but I didn't use that service.

THE UGLY: I knew this was a new marathon and there would be bugs, but I had higher expectations for the New Las Vegas Marathon. I wouldn't recommend it and I won't be doing it again.

 

J. S. from Washington (12/11/2006)
"Very disappointed" (about: 2006)

2 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 1  FANS: 3


I actually ran the half marathon, but much of what I was disappointed about had to do with the organization of the race as opposed to the race itself.

1) Cotton shirts... they gave out cotton shirts for crying out loud - for a marathon approaching $100 in cost!
2) Post-race food, or lack thereof. It was the most pathetic I've ever seen. There was water, bananas, apples and frozen (literally) smoothies. No joke, the instructions on the smoothies said, "Do not thaw, microwave on high for 1 minute." Where the @#$! are we going to find a microwave after finishing the race?!?! I saw that the volunteers were eating good, hot food, as well they should for their efforts. But the runners who shelled out the bucks and ran 13 or 26 miles and change got about $1.00 worth of fruit and water.
3) I could not make sense of the mile markers and course clocks. Sometimes they had them, sometimes they didn't, so I could never really tell how far we've gone. I never felt so lost at a race before. There was not even a clock at the split.
4) After the first 7 or 8 miles, the rest of the course was downright depressing in terms of the lack of spectators, scenery and entertainment.
5) The medals were borderline cheap. Not a big deal, and I wouldn't even mention it if everything else wasn't so crappy.
6) All in all, I've run local 5Ks that were MUCH better organized, with much better accommodations and at an insignificant fraction of the cost.

 

A. M. from San Francisco, CA (12/11/2006)
"Basic needs not met" (about: 2006)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 1  FANS: 1


I was very surprised to find innacurate mile markers, no food sations late in the race (besides two pretzels at mile 18) and no post-race food. Not set up to meet runners' needs. There was also very little spectator support once you left the Strip.

 

Bret Simmons from Reno, Nevada (12/11/2006)
"Never Again - Worst Organization Ever!!" (about: 2006)

6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 1  FANS: 3


The race had a lot of potential, but the organization was the worst of any race I have ever run. I finished in the middle of the marathon pack, and by the time I got to the end there was NO FOOD - NONE. And you had to search to find water. That is just UNACCEPTABLE! The start was also chaos. The official race directions said to bring your own drop bag, but when you got there everyone was forced to use a drop bag that was just being provided at the start, so there were LONG lines for the bags. This should have been taken care in the pre-race goodie bag. No finisher's shirt. Just a participant's shirt that you got at the expo - and it sucked. The course was OK for the first 8 miles, and the volunteer support and support of the LVPD was also solid. The Blue Man Group at the start was somewhat neat, but it was annoying that the race did not start on time. The weather was fine. This race was so poorly organized - we all agreed that the organizers took the money and ran. Best part of the event was the free admission and free drink at the Tao that night. AVOID THIS RACE!

 

M. O. from K.C, MO (12/11/2006)
"Overall, pretty fun" (about: 2006)

First Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


The organization was very good, and the start was a blast with the fireworks and getting to run up the strip. The most difficult thing for me is that the mile markers were all off kilter so I had no idea what kind of pace I was actually keeping. But the course was nice and flat, although the wind was kind of tough.

 

W. S. from Chicago, IL (12/11/2006)
"Shame on You!!" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 1  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 1


First marathon that I finished ANGRY at the race organization. Most (not a few) mile markers had been long or short or absent. Those who had been shooting for a Boston qualifier really suffered. Only race I ran where the general theme included cursing of the race organization during the marathon. Really really bad mile markers. Could someone have moved them to play a joke on the runners? To add insult to injury, this is the second year that there was no post-race food. Even after criticism on MarathonGuide.com. Yes, the strip is cool, but after that there are 20 miles of not-so-nice territory to cover with very, very few spectators. My mom taught me that if I cannot say anything good, I should not say anything, but I feel compelled to speak so that maybe the race organization will hear the cries and keep an eye on the details.

 

N. Y. from Los Angeles (12/11/2006)
"What happened to the mile markers?" (about: 2006)

1 previous marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 4


I was extremely upset about the mile markers - they were not off not just by a few yards; some of them were off by as much as a half mile. The registration was extremely unorganized. There was no water at the start line. I could not even see any food/drinks after the finish. The course was extremely boring (other than the first six miles).

 

Scott Stocker from Columbus, OH (12/11/2006)
"UNACCEPTABLE!" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon
COURSE: 1  ORGANIZATION: 1  FANS: 5


I want to thank all the volunteers at the start, manning the aid stations, and helping at the finish. You did a wonderful job considering the amateur race organizers you were working for.

Devine Racing, the race director, and his staff should be embarrassed by their efforts. The start was exciting with the fireworks and the performance by the Blue Man Group, but that was the highlight of the race. The clock and sign for mile one were either invisible or nonexistent. It became apparent after reaching the mismarked mile two clock and sign that more money and time was spent on the start than on the actual course. I do not believe one single clock and sign location on the course was correct. The aid stations were plentiful but under-staffed. I do not recall seeing one single first aid/medical station. The police and course marshals did a good job with the exception of the last three miles, when the course turned into a local bike trail, crowded with folks out for a Sunday afternoon stroll. The finish area was disappointing. No entertainment on the stage. No food to be found. Save your $85 entry fee and your $200+ a night hotel money and go to another race. I will.

 

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