Rock N Roll Las Vegas Marathon Reviews

  Caters to half marathoners

By lF about 2019

Review

Pace groups horrendous - they didn't line up in corrals in order. Full marathon course dark, hills, no crowd support. To get to your corrals is a pain. Marathon was a lot better in 2016. This was my fourth time doing the full and will not be back.

  Great expo and half course- full not so much

By WER about 2019

Review

I loved the expo and the organization to get that many runners (30k+ to the start).
I loved running on the strip for about half of the full course (i.e. the half marathon course).
I loved the abundant security and aid stations.
I loved the crowd and running on the strip.
I did not like running loops through a parking lot at the end.

Race Tips

It is very crowded for the first 3 miles and pretty crowded until the full course splits off from the half at about mile 8. I don't see how you could run this for a PR because of all the weaving you'd have to do. Run it for fun, not time.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

The expo is great, and easy to get to on the monorail (cheaper than an uber). The start area is great, too, lots of water, yoga, music, foam rollers etc. Shady, too. Loved it. You have some steps to get there (from the strip), and from there to the start.

The corrals, not so much, as my first group (blue) had walkers in it. From the start. Of the full. So again, don't plan on a PR.

The full course is pretty awful after you split from the half course. Dark, out and backs, even congested at points (like near a pace group). Abundant water and gatorade stops throughout the full course.

  Good race but not epic

By AL about 2019

Review

PROS:
You get to run the Strip
Expo is good and typical Rock N Roll expo
Music on course is decent
Plenty of aid stations Course elevation is flat with just 2 bridges.
Lots of U-turns which helps judge you versus the pack.
Plenty of post race food, milk, chips.
I felt safe, plenty of police and bike patrols.

CON
Aid stations did not have volunteers from mile 19 on, grab your own water off the table.
Fairgrounds is a lonely section to run, seems to drag on.
Finish chute for the FULL will have spectators and volunteers trying to cheer HALF marathoners while standing in your lane.
Post Race - you'll have to walk a bit for water. It is chaos getting out of the chute. If you need medical at the finish, good luck.
You don't run anything in old Las Vegas (Fremont). You basically run 1 mile in, around a corner and out.

Race Tips

The course is flat except 2 bridges that you cross twice. My day was warm, not hot but as soon as the sun sets, you should be comfy. No humidity so the sweat doesn't run but you have to drink. Lots of turns so get used to doing 5 to 6 u-turns (hairpin).

Finish chute is chaos. Plan to meet your friends at the Bellagio by gear check. It will be hard to find water, a heat sheet or a beer. Marathoners - you need to be mentally tough because the peaceful route from 11 to 20 is off the strip where it is quiet and nothing to see. There is plenty of lighting, no head lamp needed. Miles 22-23 in the Fairgrounds are lonely, they lacked volunteers to hand out water but the tables were stacked and ready so you could grab water.

Fast marathoners can place well and you will have your own lane to the finish line but beware, as people will cross your lane to hand water to the half marathoners. Bridges from mile 15 to 20, you will cross 4 times. Just be ready to hit them late in the race, but the rest of the race is super flat.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Park south of the Finish to get out easier. There is no "post race party" as the race dumps you out on the street in front of the Bellagio. We stayed at a time share, Blue and Green Reservation, 1 block from MGM, perfect location and saved $$.

Do not take an early flight the next day :(

  Mentally tough

By JTW about 2018

Review

Unless you need the full race, run the half.

The 5 hour cutoff will get in your head, and you'll wish you had time to stop for the 1st mile photo booth.

As you watch the half runners cross the finish line, you get diverted into a desolate parking lot for 3 miles of meandering. Crowd support is very thin off the Strip as well.

Couple that with the afternoon start and a lot of pre-race walking -- you can't plan for this like a standard race.

The portions on LVB are magical, and local businesses on the route turn out in unexpected places. Next time I'll do 13 and watch the marathon finish from Margaritaville.

Race Tips

Bathrooms aren't numerous after the 11 mile course split, but the lines are shorter.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Expect lots of walking to get to the start line

  Do the half marathon

By BF about 2018

Review

Marathon course was not great. Too much turning and doubling back. Dark and lonely in many areas which may make some uncomfortable. Could have used more entertainment along the course considering it is a Rock n Roll event. Is relatively flat and didn't notice any elevation changes except for one underpass in the downtown area.

Corral organization and lack of direction to the start line was disappointing especially for such a large race.

Running along the Strip is a unique experience and is definitely the highlight of this race. Do the 10 km or half marathon instead of the marathon to get that experience.

I did enjoy the finisher medals.

Race expo was fairly large. Brooks had a massive set up with some nice merchandise. Lots of race and RnR souvenirs as well.

There is a pre-race concert. I did not go because I did not want to walk all the way to the show and then walk all the way back to the start line. Wouldn't be so bad if you are approaching the area from the north.

Race Tips

You may want to consider a headlamp.

With all the turns and being in the dark, felt it was hard to follow the best line. GPS ended up having me going 0.5 km extra.

The half and full marathoners started together so it was a bit crowded for the first part. It thins out quite a bit once the course splits.

If you're about the bling and don't mind spending the money, do the 5 km on Saturday to earn the extra Re-mix medal.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Many hotels along the strip offer race weekend rates but you may be able to find better deals through booking websites.

Depending on where you stay, the monorail is useful for getting to the expo and start line for all distances.

It was busy and the roads are shut down. Don't try to get to the start by car.

  Worst marathon course EVER

By CLK about 2018

Review

This marathon was a complete disappointment!!! Ran just a few miles on the strip and the rest was in dark and dangerous neighborhoods, I almost tripped over a homeless person sleeping on the side of the median, countless miles around traffic cones in a dark parking lot! What a joke!!! I've run 25 marathons and this was by far the worst!!! Getting to the start line was a complete mess. I booked my hotel based on the start line proximity but that didn't matter. I still had to walk 55 minutes to get to my corral which was flooded with half marathoners who clearly didn't belong there. I didn't feel safe waiting in my corral since there was a backpack just sitting there unattended on the side of the fence. Never doing this one EVER again!

Race Tips

Just don't do it. Opt for the half if you want to run the strip at night.

  Las Vegas Marathon AWFUL route

By LAR about 2018

Review

The route was AWFUL! Advertised as running at night in the lights and it was great only on the start and finish, the rest of it was tons of circles in dark sketchy downtown vegas, loop after loops around the convention center, and worst of all miles 22-25 were all in a DARK PARKING LOT with cones set up. So monotonous and boring and very very disappointing! Will never do again!

Race Tips

Air very thin and hard to breathe, got extremely cold at night. Most of the race was quiet and dark, except for beginning and last mile.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Wynn is the beat hotel but not close to start, traffic was a nightmare getting to starting line.

  

By kb about 2016

Review

The race started in the late afternoon. It was a hot day with temperatures in the 70s at the start of the race. The temperatures dropped into the 60s after the sun set. Running up the strip was fun but that was over pretty quickly.

Pros:
Plenty of hotels available near the start/finish Pretty good size expo but not close to the hotels near the start/finish Large number of port-a potties near the holding area A number of good bands on the course

Cons:
Terrible, profanity riddled pre-race concert (Snoop Dogg) Late afternoon start - it was very hot with very little shade to be found Long walk to the start from the holding area Uninspiring course that doubled up on itself Some poorly lit areas where it was difficult to see ones footing Difficult for spectators to get around the strip due to numerous barricades.

  

By PT about 2016

  

By Melissa about 2016

Review

Very organized. Very entertaining, I didn't even run with music. Great flat race and warm weather!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

We stayed at MGM which was close to the race start. Using the monarail was great!

  

By MS about 2016

  Great venue to run a marathon

By D about 2015

Review

I like the race stating at 4:30 pm, you have all day hydrating and eating a good meal before race day, however runners usually have a couple of drinks Saturday before the race day sunday. The evening run on the strip is slow for the first 8 miles because the marathon cuts off the las vegas strip into the close neighborhoods, narrow streets runners bottle neck for miles. Running away from the strip and city its running up and back on long residential roads, several very long roads, vegas looks tiny but as you start running back into the city lots of water and gator drink, last few times wind is an issue can be 19 to 25 mph, head wind. The lights, thousands of spectators, expect a slow race time, you cannot make up the time lost in the early miles. Go, eat play, pool, great venue to run a marathon.

Race Tips

When running stay to the right of the road when very windy.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Spend the extra money stay close to the end of the marathon casinos, weather cools down, legs get sore and trying to exit from the end of the marathon safety zones set up by rock and roll group it will tale a while to get your race bag and exit the marathon, 20 minutes after the finish line.

  

By Ksw about 2014

  

By Anonymous about 2011

  

By EMR about 2011

Review

Running on the Strip at night was nice but the poor planning ruined the event. The merge w/ the Halfers was awful. The pre and post race area didn't come close to accomodating all the runners. You really feel that the Rock and Roll races are all about making money. I've heard the organizers have tried to address last year's debacle but who knows for sure.

Race Tips

First half of race is boring then you run the strip which would be great if not so crowded. Super flat course.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

It is easy to get a decent deal in Vegas. I got a great air and hotel deal (MGM) which was nice.