Running the Las Vegas Strip at night is EPIC! There is no other race like this one! Lots of runners in costumes, the strip totally shut down, all of the glittering lights along the route, running past the Vegas Sign, crowds of rowdy onlookers cheering you on, and even a mass wedding during the race! So fun! However, the downsides are extremely limited aid stations, almost no porta-potties (Seriously, maybe 2 or 3 single toilets for 13 miles!), and the fact that a lot of the course is not blocked off! There is also no finish line festival after the half, and it is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to get out of the race area and back to your hotel. It’s honestly a real struggle, due to the crowds and blocking of the streets. Most end up just walking, which is not ideal after a race. Always great bling and shirts at this one, if you choose to go!

This race is strictly for fun! Most participants are in costumes, the race is at night, and there is a super fun live concert afterwards! If you’re a “serious runner” unable to just do a fun run, I don’t recommend this race for you! It often starts late, is extremely crowded and chaotic, and the streets are dark and full of holes and cracks! Most people (I would guess 75%) walk this race with groups of friends or their kids. The medals are always great and so are the RnR Vegas shirts! So, this race is an annual one for me! It’s a annual family trip to Vegas, where I get some race bling and a fun concert with my runner friends from all over the country! Because, who doesn’t love Vegas?!

This is a race I’ve done twice, but only out of necessity. I was pursuing a goal to complete a certain number of races with RnR both times. The first time to do 15, and this time I was to complete 10 RnR Half Marathons to achieve my goal. It’s only because there are limited options to complete so many races that I have journeyed to RnR VB more than once. What I don’t like about this race is the course. It’s extremely uneventful, with absolutely nothing interesting or beautiful to see, and contains an extremely long out-and-back portion! This is what I call a “course of necessity.” A course that simply gets you the 13.1 miles needed to complete the race. The only saving grace is the finish on the boardwalk along the beach, although you’re forced to dodge beach goers trying to get to the finish line! The finish festival on the beach is also a pretty cool perk, but definitely not worth doing this race!

The RnR Virginia Beach 5K is pretty cool! It starts and finishes one block from the beach, while taking you along the beach (and past the famous Poseidon Statue) and through the main area of shops, restaurants and beachfront hotels. This course honestly shows you everything worth seeing in Virginia Beach, in 3.1 miles! This race takes place the same weekend as an annual music festival. So, the beach area where the race is held is full of fun people cheering on runners, and there’s lots of free music, exhibition booths, food trucks, and other fun activities going on all day!

This race is a tough one, as San Francisco is extremely hilly! Steep hills, and lots of them! The race begins in the heart of downtown, heads through the touristy Fishermen’s Wharf area, along the water’s edge and then into Golden Gate Park. The finish line area is pretty uneventful, other than collecting any medals you’ve earned. Then, after doing a half marathon, you’re required to take a LONG walk to the shuttle bus area to get runners back to the start line/finish festivities. The walk and the wait in a VERY LONG LINE to get on a bus are brutal on your legs and feet! This shuttle process has got to get better!