I actually won the entry via bib rave. which was pretty awesome. I have always wanted to go a race in the kettle merange(sp).
Things I loved: the aid stations the energy was amazing, the treats were great, and everything was always filled.
The course: beautiful
the afterparty: normally i just want to leave right away, but i sat and chilled for a while, the set up was great
things I didn't like. the race is a event, so there is a 50miler, 50k, marathon and marathon relay all going on at once. but they stagger the starts so its mainly the back of the packers hitting the overlap. I was a back of the packer that day, and the marathon relay people zipping by me running their 10k when i was on mile 29 were annoying me. in retrospect it was fine, i was just crabby by their happy faces racing by me, and i was ready to fall over.
parking was super easy, everything about the race is basically anything a first time 50k person would want. you are pretty pampered.
one minor thing, if you are into medals, its pretty basic. I like the medal. but I know I have a lot of friends who are into their medals who thought it didn't look like much.

Red Frog puts on a good race. I did this race in 2010, and 2011 respectively. I would of done 2013 but was out of town that weekend.
Pros:
you get to dress up and get muddy
easy race day packet pick up. probably the easiest packet pick up I have ever experienced
you get a furry helmet and a great shirt(i like cotton shirts)
they send you off in waves but if you miss your start its no big deal for them to let you go with the next one.

When I did it in 2010 it was challenging but doable.
When I did it again in 2011 I found it to be completely different experience the obstacles I felt were trying to compare more like the tough mudder. More obstacles involved climbing and just seemed more towards someone taller with a stronger upper body.
The race overall is so much fun. It makes you wish you encountered things to jump over every time you run.
and once you finish covered in mud and most likley a little scraped up. you get hosed off by the fire department, you can donate your shoes and there is a great party with beer.
the environment is great.
I normally don't enjoy the after race entertainment I want to go home, shower eat and nap.
even though I was tired and muddy I loved the warrior dash.

I did this race in 06 and 07 with work as a 5k and had a good time, and in 08 with a walking team and had fun. This year I did the race with a group of newbie runners to help get them through the 10k. What I learned this race is very 5k and walker focused. once the 5k and 10k split and the 10k goes onto the lake path there was nothing. At points the group I was with was not sure we were on the course. There were not any markings or volunteers on the course till you got down to the museum campus to let you know you were going the correct way. Then one block before the finish the roads were not closed and you had to wait for a stop light. and there was not anyone at the finish line. it was backwards so you couldn't even tell it was the finish line. The group i was with were new runners and going a slower pace, but the 5k walk group started 30 min after the 10k so there still should of been people at the finish line and the roads closed. Also out of the 5 of us running together, only my results showed up and it showed me finishing 10 minutes ahead of what our group actually ran.

In 2009 I attempted to do the full Marathon but due to injury I waddled thru the half. Last year I was given an entry and vip access for the Half.
I love Las Vegas I lived out there for a few months in 2005, and have friends a little over an hour away.
I wouldn't recommend running the full Marathon because the race starts at 4pm, the course is dark , and there is very little scenery or crowd support.
The Half however is a different story. It starts at 4pm in November. Which for the most part is great running weather. I will say a 4pm start is hard. You don't go to bed early the night before, and you don't want to do too much during the day but you don't want to sit around either.
The first six miles is on the strip with ample crowd support and well lite, and a fantastic view. Miles 8 and 9 are really dark because you are in a residential part between the stripe and downtown las vegas.
The medal is awesome it glows in the dark. I gave my shirt away so I don't remember what it looks like.
The expo was great. I was in the vip area. but the regular expo had a volcano and a giant shoe you could ride.
Vip access which you can up grade to when you register might be worth it. You get a better start corral. There are free massages and champagne when you pick up your packet, as well as a no wait area.
Then at the start there was a tent with food, water, and massages and right at the finish there was a party with anything you could want to eat and drinks.

I love this race. I did the 5k in 2012. I was suppose to do the 10k but it was really hot that morning.
So in 2013 I signed up again for the 10k. I had a really good race. I love the atmosphere of the race. I normally hate race t-shirts and don't take them. This race gives out a great shirt. There are mascots on the course and a slip n slide at mile 5. Overall the race itself is set up like a tailgate and everyone receives a medal at the finish. My only compliant for the race was the finish line. it was so crowded and very short.