Las Vegas RNR half marathon - Race Report
So the wifey and I went out to Vegas this past weekend to run in the Vegas half marathon. I was going to run the full, but she put the kibosh on that, as it would have her waiting around on me for an hour after she was done (more on this later). However, it was a bit of a unique opportunity - get to run up and down the street at night (half marathon started at 5:30, which was fully dark in Vegas), and an opportunity to get away from the baby for a weekend and get some rest. We flew out to LV on Thursday, stayed at the Venetian (handy for packet pickup, which was at the Venetian/Sands Convention Center) for the weekend, and generally had a great time. I even left up $200 from gambling.
We left the Venetian at about 1:00 on Sunday, cabbed it over to the MGM, walked to the NYNY to kill a couple hours (wife played Pai Gow while I watched NFL games), then hopped on the tram at the Excaliber to get down to the Mandalay Bay. Finally found gear check, and since there were no volunteers in the corrals, or even signs as to where to go, we got in the first corral we could fine (I believe it was 23 - I was supposed to be in 7, and she was supposed to be in 32, so I guess this was a happy medium).
Race finally started - first 4 miles were a piece of cake, straight up LV Boulevard to the Stratosphere. The full marathoners, who started 1.5 hours in front of the half marathon, merged back into the half course about half a mile in. So, you had folks that were running their 13th and 14th miles merging into a wall of people just starting, many of whom were walking, pushing strollers, and had dogs on leashes (although the latter two were strictly forbidden by the rules). After the Strat, the race course hung a left, and ran through about 5 miles of neighborhoods/hotel parking lots/etc., emerged at Fremont Street, ducked back into the side roads, and came out again at the Strat for the 4 miles back to the Mandalay Bay.
Race time was 1:55:47, which should have been at least 3-4 minutes faster. The race was SWAMPED with people. 44,000 people in both the half and full combined (and race directors say they want to increase to 61,000 next year). I was dodging people left and right the whole course, even at the end. I run the Peachtree here in Atlanta, a 10K with 55,000 people, and it's very similar to that, you are dodging people the whole way. People will stop directly in front of you, walk on the left hand side of the road, etc. The Strip was not wide enough to accomdate the 44k - I can't imagine how it will deal with 61k. I won't be back if it actually does go to 61k.
Waited almost 2 hours after I finished for the wife. She had some issues with the cold (it was like 35-40 degrees when the race started) and the crowds, and looked like hammered cr@p when she finally showed up at our meeting spot. She actually got the very last half marathon medal, even though there were thousands of people that finished after her. Warmed her up, and got some water/cytomax in her, and headed back to the Venetian (via tram to Excalibur, walk to MGM, monorail to Harrah's, because the cab line was RIDICULOUS, and there were no signs (see the theme here?) for the free shuttle back). Flew back to Atlanta Monday morning.
All in all, had a great weekend, but only a so-so race. The RNR Las Vegas facebook page is exploding with complaints, and given my experience, I can't say I'd do it again unless a major overhaul is done. If the race expands to 61k next year, as rumored, someone might actually be trampled on the race course or afterwards.
Reasons the race was a disaster
1. No signage at the race site - we walked around for 30 minutes trying to find gear check. We weren't the only ones with this problem. Once we found gear check, we walked around another 30 minutes trying to find our corral, because there was no indication of where it was.
2. Despite 30 corrals for the half marathon, it became so crowded that people couldn’t even reach their assigned corals or even the entrances to the corrals (people were jumping the barricades, injuring bystanders, themselves, and fellow runners in an attempt to do the right thing, and start with their proper pace group).
3. People were not even aware of what corral they were supposed to be in. If they used LETTERS for corrals (like Comrades), and numbers (Say, A1005), there would be no confusion. People just joined any corral because they couldn’t reach their assigned coral, which caused slow runners to block faster runners. Another sign that the whoever planned this course had never done so before and did so in a very lazy, amateur way.
4. Several AID stations ran out of water. Some runners went almost the entire race without any fluids.
5. The phrase, “The Merge” has emerged as a swear word on Twitter. The marathon started 1.5 hours before the half, and ran 13 miles to the west of the Strip before merging back in with the half for the final 13 miles. When the marathoners hit the half marathoners, any sense of rhythm, race, or space disappeared. Many, many runners lost 15-30 minutes just because of the crowd. Although for the marathoners the first 13.1 miles wasn’t bad (if boring) for the 6,000 runners, the second half was horrible.
6. After crossing the finish line, the crowd of runners came to a screeching halt because not enough photographers were available to take finish-line photos, and thousands of people began to shiver and get sick because the crowd was funneled into too small a space too far from warmth. Although I have to admit, hearing 1,000′s of runners all go “BRRR!!!” at the same time with a gust of wind was rather funny, I almost barfed due to being stuck in the crowd and unable to move.
7. Despite knowing how many runners were in each race, they ran out of 1/2 marathon medals. You should ALWAYS have extras!
8. Bananas were raw – ALL of them. That was cool – not.
9. Placed AID stations in the middle of the marathon “Lane” on the strip, causing many runners to collide with those seeking water.
10. There's a rumor that some of the water was contaminated - many (experienced) runners were vomiting, hitting the port-a-potties, etc. Runners report seeing volunteers dip cups of water into pitchers (along with their hands) to fill them up.
11. The post-race at Mandalay Bay was a cluster-$k. Imagine 44,000 people trying to walk through the MB, after a race, with mylar blankets on, running into a crowd of people in a cramped hallway, heading the other direction, trying to reach a Michael Jackson show. Literally, the walkway was stopped for half an hour. Several people collapsed or vomited in the hallway, and it was impossible for medical personnel to get there for 20 or 30 minutes.
) will likely take a toll on your body and start having a negative effect. Watching even the amazing Grue's workout schedule you will see quality workouts mixed in with many recovery miles. Sho-Nuff: Rest?! You are a FBG. Git your damn dress off, and put on some workout clothes!
It's all part of the experience. You're tapering, so the extra energy isn't helping with the paranoid thoughts. I kept telling myself that it's normal and to ignore the bad thoughts. That's where the trust in your training mantra comes from.Hammer the bolded home into your head for race day. A lot can and will happen over 26.2. Be honest with yourself, but don't panic when things get hairy. Grue said it best some time ago - your body adjusts to stress in waves. Don't freak out at the first sign of fatigue.
Sounds like the RNR Group went and messed with a good thing. My wife and I ran the 1/2 the year before it was bought out by RNR. As I recall, it was called the Zappos Las Vegas Marathon and 1/2 Marathon. It still ranks among my top racing experiences. Logistics were great, aid stations were well stocked and staffed and we ran in to none of the issues listed at the finish. We even did the whole get married/renew your vows thing during the race. Sad to hear what a mess this has become.
since The Chase.
