I ran the Rock n Roll Las Vegas in 2014. It was the first year they offered the Remix Challenge, which involved a 5K on Saturday night and the half marathon and marathon on Sunday. If you do the Remix Challenge, you get 3 medals. I’ll admit that I’m sometimes encouraged (blinded?) by the bling, so I was swayed to do both races.

Rock n Roll race expos are always my favorite, and my wallet’s least favorite! There are always great vendors and so much fun stuff to buy. The expo was held at the Convention Center. I stayed at a race hotel that provided transportation to the start line and was in reasonable walking distance from the finish line. I highly recommend staying at a race hotel for the convenience and support they offer participants.

The headliner was Macklemore, and he performed before the race started. Then the race began with elite runners and down. In all, I waited 75 minutes from the first corral until my corral was released (and I’m not a walker!). I wasn’t really sure why it was called Strip At Night because it scheduled to start at 4 pm. But since I didn’t even cross the start line until 5:45 pm, the sun had already set and I then understood the moniker.

The course started and ended along the strip, where race support was the best. There were some – ahem – colorful characters that made their way close to the course, which made it really fun to interact with them. Miles 7, 8, 9 took us off the strip and down some dark side streets. In all my visit to Vegas, I had never been to this part of the city – and let’s just say, it was an encouraging to keep up your pace to get outta there. But then you deposited back in Downtown Las Vegas and made your way back down the strip. The course was as flat as could be. There were bands along the course, but I found them difficult to hear during this race.

Overall, the expo, the infectious and supportive crowd, the course, and the bling will keep me coming back!

More from my experience: http://racesandrescues.com/race-report-rock-n-roll-las-vegas-half-marathon/
Separate review on the 5k here: http://www.bibrave.com/races/rock-n-roll-las-vegas/2068#.VN0OCPnF_Vo