5/5 Stars

HALF MARATHON Beautiful start into the sunrise. REVEL thought ahead and provided blankets and gloves for corral. Plenty of porta potties. First class busing. Early start good to keep from heating up the day. Felt great, ran by feel, not by my watch or phone. I was able to maintain pace throughout the race. My fastest mile was mile 13. A little competition near finish line pushed me to the end. Nice finish area, with enough massage folks and support.

(HALF) Set a PR at age 54 on this fast course. PR by 4 plus minutes. My previous PR was 1:44, but that was when I was 4 yrs younger. Prior to this race, my times had been slowing. I may have qualified for Boston had I completed the Full.

(HALF) Course is beautiful. Into the sunrise, with the snow on Mt Charleston shining in the sun. Interesting fauna along the course. Straight course, only a few turns that force some breaking. Cones in middle of lane were a hazard, but necessary for traffic. Downhill was NOT so steep that it caused breaking, jarring impacts. Slight rise mile 11 of the course separated some of the runners, which I liked.

I trained for a full marathon, in the event a slot opened up. Used a course that was mostly downhill, with a 2 mile uphill in the from mile 2 to 4 for a few long runs. I believe this was a difference maker. I would try to more speed training, I didn't think I had it in me. I would recommend longer (16-20 mile) training runs for seasoned runners, to build stamina for late push.

I would have tried to stay at the Mt Charleston Resort, or closer to the pickup area, had I not been staying with friends. Bring a disposable blanket to keep warm at start. I wore shorts, a no sleeve shirt and a technical hooded shirt, and was warming up near the end. For shoes, have your foot analyzed before buying, and buy local, they will normally exchange them if they do not work for you first week. Pray for the weather to be the same as this day!! It was absolutely perfect!!!

We spent time short hike at Red Rock Canyon, don't wear your running shoes hiking! Following the race we did some sight seeing. In the days following the race, I went out early and ran the Strip 8 mile round trip, ran the Hoover Dam Rail Trail, 8 mile round trip. Hiked to Mary jane Falls Mt Charleston (Snow on the trail, deer in the woods, and trail that can be done with effort. Hiked red Rock Red Spring. Geat rock formations, grippy rock surfaces for trail shoes.TAKE WATER WHEREVER you go, if you think you need 2, take 3 of 4. I kept a case in my rental car.Or use camelback. Travelled from Altoona PA

5/5 Stars

The race organizers did a great job at expo, start and finish. It was like an event for runners by runners who knew what was important to make it memorable. I had to get up very early (middle of the night?) to take time to eat, prepare and drive to bus area. It was cold during the hour before the start, but it warmed up nicely after sunrise. Great food and immediate results at the finish area! Looking forward to running this event next year!

Yes! Was hoping for below 2:00 and did that easily

Beautiful, peaceful 1st 8 miles with nice surface and straight shot down. Miles 9 and 10 flatten out a little and are on the frontage road. At miles 11 and 12 or so it gets challenging with a slight longish uphill, then briefly flat before another short uphill over an overpass. Then the last mile or less is mentally relaxing with a nice downhill to finish. I had to be careful and steady during miles 11 and 12 to avoid tweaking a hamstring or calf. Overall a great course.

I was only able to run about a 4.5 mile stretch of the course for downhill training by running uphill then turning around. But it seemed easy to find a comfortable fast efficient groove without hurting anything so I just focused on regular half training.
The grade is not extreme. I would advise not "over focusing" on downhill and instead to get in good shape by regular half training including long hilly courses. Your fitness will pay off during the last 3 miles of this race.

Bring layers of clothes to wear during the hour or so wait at the start area. You'll be glad you did! It is very easy to just put the clothes in the bag at the last minute so no worries. During the race you will warm up fast so either start a little cold or be ready to tie your top shirt/jac around your waist later on. I wore thin tights and didn't need them later in the run but they were no problem, and a definite plus during the wait. The weather this year was cooler and windier than usual, but the wind doesn't kick in until the sun is up for a while.
Overall this is a great event that anyone would enjoy!

I live here so went home and relaxed.

5/5 Stars

I think both 2016 and 2017 races were lucky in terms of weather. We finished in about low/mid 60s and sunny, but it's actually more common for the weather to be 10 degrees warmer.

I did quite a bit of research on this race ahead of time, and I thought I would gain a 15-20 minute advantage over an equivalent flat. fivethirtyeight's marathon predictor estimated that for a flat marathon I would have been able to run a 3:19, which I thought would translate to between 3:00 or 3:05 on this course, but I ended up running a 3:11. I believe 2017's course change slowed it down some compared to 2016, but 2017 had a strong tailwind for the last couple miles.

I think based on my faulty assumption on how much this race would give me, I went out a bit too hard. Breathing didn't seem very labored, but heart rate was higher than what the effort felt like. While the decline gave me speed, the elevation took away some, though definitely not as much as I got from the decline.

Once I got to mile 23 and had to go out and back against the wind, my wheels pretty much fell off. Heart rate would not go down at what I usually consider a very easy pace but I never stopped running.

Yes -- set a PR by about 2 minutes.

Course was beautiful. Loved the sunrise in the beginning. The lodge at the top was great, though it wasn't big enough to hold everyone.

I modified a hal higdon advanced 2 and switched some days due to other life obligations. I didn't follow the plan's interval workouts but instead did much longer tempo intervals, and every week I ran on a treadmill with bricks elevating the rear to simulate a 4% decline.

I came into this race feeling like I was in the best shape of my life, having recently set PRs in the 5k and 10k from the previous fall. Though my weight was 7 lbs heavier than it was at my previous PR marathon (St George) about 7 years ago. This was the first marathon where training was complete and I didn't skimp on any workouts due to illness/injury, and since I assumed that this course was faster than St George I thought I'd get a bigger PR than ~2 minutes.

All of my training was at sea level, and I definitely felt some effects from the elevation. I feel like if I had trained at a higher elevation it would have helped a lot.

Weather at the top was probably in the mid 20s or so with some wind? It wasn't as uncomfortable or as cold as I thought it would be, but I think it helped that I used to live in the midwest and northeast. Gloves and arm warmers went off at 2.5 miles.

Tracking accuweather.com 10+ days out from the race isn't super accurate, but once it got to about 10 days out, weather.com/wunderground.com/accuweather were a lot more accurate. wunderground.com gives you an approximate idea of what the temperature would be at the finish, and adjust expectations accordingly.

Another recommendation is that runners should consciously try to run tangents if there is room. There aren't many tight turns but there are quite a few curves and running along the curves adds up.

If anyone wants further information feel free to try to find me on facebook and message me - I can provide further details and my garmin data.

Went to Red Rock! It was beautiful. Went to a bunch of restaurants. Las Vegas has some of the yummiest food. Stayed at Aliante Resort, very nice place!

4/5 Stars

Race day went well. Hats off to Mt Charleston Lodge for opening their dinning room. With a temperature of 37 degrees and a one hour wait, I don't think I could have survived without that lodge. The volunteers on the course were amazing. I don't know how they kept their spirits up for the entire time of the race. I toured the course about an hour after I finished and there wasn't a stray cup left on the course

I have been trying to BQ for three years, I finally made it here.

I was apprehensive about the down hill grade. I figured that my quads would be shot. That grade helped me the whole way. when I reviewed my mile splits, I could tell exactly where the course flattened out. The course was beautiful until we got to town. By that time my brain was addled. I would liked to had a longer run in to the finish maybe 1 mile or so. I might have been able to keep pace better.

I mostly concentrated on building up my mileage. I started running 1/4 mile a day and slowly built up to 6 a day for 5 or 6 day s a week. I am going to do a lot more speed and pace work next time.

I arrived friday before the race, I should have given myself another day. On this course I would watch your splits early on, but don't get too upset if you are running 10 seconds per mile faster. I saw one person that had a full head to toe Tyvec suit at the start. He looked plenty warm before the race.

traveled from Wyoming

5/5 Stars

This was my first 1/2 marathon. I can't describe in words what an achievement this was for me. The weather was perfect. I have never seen the Vegas Valley so clear. Mt. Charelston run was amazing!!!!!! The way the whole run was set up was great. There was no need to worry about not finding your way. The water stops were awesome. Having the porta potties at each water stop was very relieving. I still can't believe I did it.
The encouragement that the marathon runners gave me when they passed me, made my heart fill with pride. When I came down that last block down towards the finish line, I found enough energy to run that last leg with my eyes full of tears. I couldn't believe I did It!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU for providing me with a life remembering experience. I am truly honored.!!

Sincerely Kathy Renfeldt

Yes. I thought that I would run the 1/2 in 4-4.5 hours. I accomplished it in 3hrs and 37mn.

For my first 1/2 run, I wasn't even sure I would finish.

The course was well laid out and easy to follow. It would have been a little more fun if we had a little bit of a dirt trail to run down. I am not used to running on pavement.

I usually run/fast walk in sand and dirt. Mostly I run a couple times a week about 3 miles or so. The furthest I had been was 8 miles. Most of the runs I do are 10k trail type runs. My advice to another first timer would be to try out the distance so that you had an idea how far it really is.

Never give up. You can start out slow and gradually move out more. Try some different types of courses and race types. Make sure you have the right equipment such as shoes, clothes and SOCKs. I found out the hard way of running in the wrong type of socks.

I came a day early, because I live in Phelan, Ca. This is in the Ca. High Desert. Then I left the day after the run. Being together with friends and watching the Vegas Lights.

5/5 Stars

My race day was fantastic! I have run over 50 marathons and this was an A+ course! Very well organized! Perfect tempeture, beautiful scenery, downhill for 20 miles! I have not run this time since '03.

Yes PR for 40's and 50's. I ran this time in 2003 at St George and have done at least 15 Marathons since '03. My best time was in 1990 3:15. St. George I was only 8 seconds slower than '03. I qualified for Boston 8 weeks ago at Phoenix Marathon 3:54 Revel 3:44:17

The course was wonderful! It felt like we had a tailwind and the weather was perfect! I was worried that it might be too windy. The elevation at the start was a little tough with uphill for less than a quarter mile than downhill until 20 miles. Totally my kind of course!

I have been running marathons since 1984 and also doing triathlons. I train 40-60 miles a week 5-6 days.

Practice more downhill training! Very sore afterwards!

We went to the Las Vegas Strip and traveled from Phoenix.

4/5 Stars

No I did not PR but I finished 20 minutes under my Boston qualifying time.

5/5 Stars

Saw lots of friends and loved volunteering at the Expo!

No slow and steady Marathon and ultra number 227.

Downhill, scenic and fast!

Well I run a marathon or ultra every weekend so that keeps me trained for the next 26.2 or beyond.

Train on downhill's as well as speed workouts. Train regularly.

Casino, shows and lots of rest. I traveled from EL Paso TX.

5/5 Stars

Early day, but I don't think it could be very any other way. I like the early start to beat the heat, though none this year. Weather was great. Nice buses. I loved the finish

Yes I did by 3 minutes and I qualified for Boston!!!!

I love the course. I expected the grade to be hard and I found it to be gentle. The desert was peaceful.

Unfortunately I was less prepared my last 6 weeks due to an injury that I also ran with. My mileage was cut in half. Advice would be to reign in the speed, I got greedy and ran about 30 sec a mile faster than I should have for the first half. Conserve and have a specific plan and pace and don't go over it. Wear polarized sunglasses

Bring cash for coffee. Bring throwaways, or donation clothing. Don't be a slob and throw stuff at aid stations, some people! More cushion for shoes than normal. I didn't use flats but more heel cushion. Night before

Night before race walking the strip but very early day so retire early, stay close to race.

5/5 Stars

The sunrise was incredible

No went out to fast.

Challenging but the scenery was beautiful.

More down hill training!!!

Run the first half at your marathon target time verses doing negative splits. Dress warm for the start.

We traveled from Florida.