The ET Full Moon Marathon may be the most interesting race of the 20 half marathons I have participated in. However, it was fun and something different that I can recommend.

So, what is the deal with this race? This race takes place in late August to coincide with the full moon for visibility. The marathon starts at midnight and is run about two hours outside of Las Vegas on Highway 375, also known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, as it is close to mythical Area 51. You finish in Rachel, Nevada at the Little A'Le'Inn Restaurant.

My experience. I flew into Las Vegas the Friday before the race and checked into the hotel and got comfortable and had a nice dinner. On Saturday, I stayed off my feet and had a very late lunch before heading to the packet pick-up, which was held at the Silver Sevens Casino off the Strip from 4:00-8:00 pm. Our bus transportation to the starting line would also leave from the Silver Sevens about 8:45. The bus ticket cost extra, but was worth it since I didn't want to rent a car and drive into the desert by myself. Although I am a Vegas regular, I had not been to the Silver Sevens and really did not know what to expect from Packet Pickup. It was a very small event, and I would recommend waiting until later to attend. I got there really early and then had a couple of hours to kill and there wasn't much to do besides either sit outside or gamble in a smokey casino, which isn't ideal before running a half marathon.

As time approached for the buses to leave, more runners arrived outside, which was nice. Many of people were Vegas residents or people who had participated in the race before. Finally, we loaded on the buses and headed towards the infamous "Black Mailboxes" were the marathoners would start at midnight. Those of us that would run the half would start down the road and have a straight 13.1 mile run into Rachel. I will admit that the bus ride was strange since we were riding into the abandoned desert in the middle of the night. The road wasn't in great shape and it was rough in a bus, but it added to the atmosphere. There were a lot of costumes, inflatable aliens, and talk of Area 51 lore on the ride.

The race. The half started at 12:30 and it was dark!! I mean you are in the middle of nowhere. You are required to wear reflective gear and a light. However, it is still very dark. Although the road was rough in the bus, it was fine for running. Again, you couldn't see much, but you could hear cows nearby. It equal parts fun and creepy. The aid stations were good and kept us well hydrated along the way.

This was my first half after a two year break and it showed. It was my slowest half marathon, but the course was also fairly difficult. The first six miles are a steady uphill climb. After that it evens out a bit. I rated the scenery a 4 because of the lack of scenery, which was the part of the charm. Again it is dark.

As you approach Rachel, you realize how small the town really is. I was excited to reach the Little A'Le'Inn and finish the race. They have breakfast and beverages and an alien themed souvenir shop. I didn't stick around long, as once a bus fills up with finishers it departs back to Las Vegas. I caught one of the first buses and headed back to Sin City. The ride back was long and bumpy, and I was ready for a shower and a nap. However, it was neat seeing the sun come up over the desert and you could see Vegas in the distance. This is definitely a different way to do Las Vegas! They took us back to the Silver Sevens where I caught a cab back to the hotel for breakfast and nap before hitting the Strip!

Final thoughts. This was a unique race to say the least. Also, I am asked a lot about the temperature. Remember that it was at night and that area of the desert was much cooler than the Vegas Valley. Also, be ready to spend most of your night out there as you are at the mercy of the buses after you finish. Keep in mind that the course is not flat. It is a fun but challenging course. However, they do offer various distances ranging from an Ultra to a 10K. Finally Calico Racing does a great job putting on the race. I would love to do their February race that takes place in Red Rock Canyon! The race director sent out plenty of communication and was there at the start giving us detailed instructions. If you want a fun, different race near Las Vegas, check it out. And I did not see any little green men or spaceships.