Disney vs Vegas

[CamColt]

Have any of you Disney runners done the Vegas (Rock N Roll) half or full? If so can you compare the experiences?

I'd like to give Vegas a try but from what little info I've found I've seen a couple of negative points made. I'd like to hear more info and compare it to what I know and love. Thanks!

 

[SheHulk]

Following this thread because I want to know too!

 

[jennamfeo]

I just did the RnRLV Half this year (here's my race report).

I am planning on doing it next year, too. Organization was okay. If you have done any other RnR races, then you know the Corrals are a MESS. We had to push our way up to Corral 2, it was annoying. There was not a set place to get into the Corrals otherwise (that I saw) except from the back. We were staying off the Strip so we had to plan for travel and we did that poorly. Staying on the Strip should make it a lot easier. The race itself was really good. You basically get to see the whole Strip and part of Downtown Fremont. I didn't really deal with any course crowding. Next year I am definitely going to just go slow and have fun. I want to stop for more beers and get more pictures. While this race is flat and you could race it for a PR, I think the atmosphere just screams HAVE FUN!
From what I heard and saw about the Full, the course took you to a lot of industrial areas and you didn't even get to see Fremont. I had a guy tell me not to do the full from his experience that night.

Hope this helps!

(Also tonight is the last night to get the early $99 deal for the Half and Full!)

 

[CamColt]

Great report, jennamfeo! Thanks for sharing! Love the medal...and the spinning on the strip moment. Way cool!

The corral mess was 1 of the negative points I had heard. Are corrals not assigned or are they and just hard to get to? We would definitely stay on the strip, preferably some place close to the start. I would be worried about walking too far before the race.

I think it would be a really neat experience, but I also don't like change or the unknown so sticking with Disney sounds appealing too.

 

[derekleigh]

I did the RnR Vegas half two years ago. It went alright. If I was out there during race weekend I’d sign up again.

- As mentioned, the corral system has three different start times but no specific pacing breakdown for each corral. I was in the first corral so I cannot tell you what the race was like afterward. Very congested for the first mile or two.

- The first 1/4 and last 1/4 of the course is very nice as you run on “the strip” but the middle 1/2 is kind of boring.

- Packet pick up was easy. Expo was fun. We went the very first day and it was empty (unlike rD events). Lot of cool SWAG.

 

[Steve Dexter]

My wife and I have ran the Las Vegas Half Marathon a few times, every time it was freezing. We finally just quit doing it because we couldn't take the cold. I will say there is nothing like running down the strip at night, it's amazing. Unrelated, a trip to Disney World always ends up costing us a lot less than Las Vegas.

 

[Professor_Cookie]

I ran the Vegas r&r years ago when it was a day race(and haven’t run a Disney race since W&D was night), as far as Vegas goes, the only disappointment was that a couple of the stages had no one at them or someone with their iPod. Well, I guess that, and Brett Michaels was singing the same poison song at the same time as the original was also the song playing on the course, but several measures off.

 

[CamColt]

My wife and I have ran the Las Vegas Half Marathon a few times, every time it was freezing. We finally just quit doing it because we couldn't take the cold. I will say there is nothing like running down the strip at night, it's amazing. Unrelated, a trip to Disney World always ends up costing us a lot less than Las Vegas.

What were the temps? I thought I saw it's at 4:30. Is that right?

 

[Steve Dexter]

It starts right a dusk, it was low 50's down to upper 40's and high winds. One time it was cold like that, and actually rained for awhile. I don't know if we were just unlucky several years in a row or what. The start time is so weird, we run a lot of races, and nearly every one of them is in the morning. It makes for a weird race day, we basically didn't quite know what to eat and when to eat, it's Las Vegas so there are lots of good eating options but I didn't want to eat anything weird and feel it for the race.

 

[jennamfeo]

It starts right a dusk, it was low 50's down to upper 40's and high winds. One time it was cold like that, and actually rained for awhile. I don't know if we were just unlucky several years in a row or what. The start time is so weird, we run a lot of races, and nearly every one of them is in the morning. It makes for a weird race day, we basically didn't quite know what to eat and when to eat, it's Las Vegas so there are lots of good eating options but I didn't want to eat anything weird and feel it for the race.

I wanna say you were unlucky or maybe I was just lucky but this year the weather was absolutely perfect! 50 degrees and no wind!

You know, it's always a gamble when you go to Vegas.

 

[Steve Dexter]

You know, it's always a gamble when you go to Vegas.

Nothing more true than this has ever been written on the internet.

 

[TCB in FLA]

1. I ran Vegas about 5-6 years ago and thought it was okay. The course, outside the beginning and end, was residential and therefore no entertainment or crowds. My year was crazy crazy windy at times, not fun in the sandy areas. I also didn’t know what to do with myself in Vegas while waiting for the race — needed to stay off my feet, didn’t want to sit in smoky casinos, too cool for the pool. I’m glad I ran it, but I wouldn’t necessarily run it again unless I was already out there

 

[CamColt]

Thanks everyone! This is all great information to consider.

 

[Keels]

I ran the Vegas r&r years ago when it was a day race(and haven’t run a Disney race since W&D was night), as far as Vegas goes, the only disappointment was that a couple of the stages had no one at them or someone with their iPod. Well, I guess that, and Brett Michaels was singing the same poison song at the same time as the original was also the song playing on the course, but several measures off.

The iPod thing is not just Vegas, but every RnR race. Bands can't play constantly for the length of the course opening. Also, in lots of places their options for electricity are limited OR there are noise ordinances in place that won't allow live music before/after a certain time.

 

[Professor_Cookie]

The iPod thing is not just Vegas, but every RnR race. Bands can't play constantly for the length of the course opening. Also, in lots of places their options for electricity are limited OR there are noise ordinances in place that won't allow live music before/after a certain time.

Ah, yes.

 

[ScooterScott44]

DW and I have done the race (1/2) a number of times, 3 times for her and 4 times for me. We only once did it in the same year (back before RnR when the buses dropped you outside of town and you ran back). Here are a few things I can share.

- Marathon course has changed and really is partially the 1/2 with lots of little out and backs or twists to add the extra distance. Not the most scenic areas and too many turns to be a good pr course.

- 1/2 course has really improved over the years. It is pretty fun to say that you ran this course. The extreme south and middle north parts of the course are not too exciting and thin crowds but no worse than the mileage on World Dr. The surface can uneven.

- Weather is usually pretty good at that time of year. It can be a little warm which is not too common. Wind is much more likely. Winds were moderately strong this year I did 10 miles in the am into 18-24 mph. DW ran the race in the afternoon and it had died down some but still was about a 10-15 mph headwind going up the strip.

- Expo is pretty good and can be navigated with minimal headaches. Seems to have a little more variety of vendors and a little less crowded than Disney.

- Corrals as mentioned are the biggest downfall for the event. Even with the changes to have everyone enter through the pre-event area DW reported that it was still pretty disorganized.

Overall, I say the half is something to consider. The afternoon start gives a few logistics to work out but it is not too hard to figure out for your own routine.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I did Vegas back in 2011 and after that experience I vowed to never do it again, even if they literally paid me to race. It was a debacle of epic proportions and their post race efforts to fix the situation were laughable. I have heard things have improved since then but I'll never be able to verify for myself.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/runoregon/2011/12/2011_rock_n_roll_vegas_recap.html

 

[CamColt]

I did Vegas back in 2011 and after that experience I vowed to never do it again, even if they literally paid me to race. It was a debacle of epic proportions and their post race efforts to fix the situation were laughable. I have heard things have improved since then but I'll never be able to verify for myself.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/runoregon/2011/12/2011_rock_n_roll_vegas_recap.html

Yikes! That sounds awful!