It’s not that often that I read something in a major East Coast paper promoting the cause of running in Las Vegas, so I’ve got to link to this Bill Ordine piece in the Inquirer:
I have a daily ritual when I’m in Las Vegas that’s probably a little different than that of most visitors.
About 7 a.m., I run the Strip. Well, jog actually – a modest four-mile jaunt from Caesars Palace to south of Mandalay Bay and back. With the Strip nearly deserted at that hour, I’ve always enjoyed having what’s usually one of the busiest ribbons of concrete in the world mostly to myself.
But I’d hardly be alone on Dec. 2, when thousands of runners will flood the Strip amid fireworks and fanfare in one of the fastest-growing events in the country. The Las Vegas Marathon will start in the predawn darkness on Las Vegas Boulevard and follow a 26-mile, counterclockwise loop through Sin City.
Last year, the combined marathon and half-marathon drew more than 16,700 runners, up from nearly 11,000 in 2005, when just the full marathon was held. Before that, the race – now in its 40th year – never drew more than 2,000 runners, say the organizers who took over two years ago.
The breakthrough came as the new promoters recast the race as a “destination marathon,” sort of a fun jaunt that would attract not-so-serious runners as well as hard-core marathoners. More than three-quarters of the people who show up are from out of town, with many combining the run with a vacation. At the same time as the marathon, the half-marathon goes up the Strip to downtown and back. The day before, there’s a children’s run.
And, of course, there’s plenty of attendant Vegas flash.
Gaming Traveler | Las Vegas the place to run, play | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/21/2007
The marathon is going to be a lot of fun–as frequent readers know (or don’t), I’m running it for the 3rd time this December. If you’re in Vegas on Sundays, come out and train with the Las Vegas Roadrunners. We’ve got a 22-mile training run this Sunday that’s sure to be a blast.