If you were thinking of embarking on a marathon in a different country, Las Vegas probably wouldn’t rank top of your list.
After all, the city in Nevada’s Mojave Desert is more famed for its vibrant nightlife, with its focus firmly on 24-hour entertainment rather than keeping fit. But as Luxurious Magazine’s Senior Reporter Sabi Phagura was about to find out, the phrase “Strip at Night” has a whole other meaning than when first encountered.
When the email screaming “Rock’ n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon”, with the hashtag #StripatNight, slipped into my mailbox, I did raise an eyebrow. Surely another spam email and the innuendo there to entice. But curiosity got the better of me, and when I clicked on it, I realised this was clever marketing.
This was no chain email but an invite to run the Las Vegas Marathon, the only private event to shut down the iconic Las Vegas Strip at night.
Never would I have ever thought the folk of Las Vegas (residents or visitors) to be of the health-conscious type. But I soon discovered that this was no joke, and there was indeed a marathon taking place with the options of running the full, half, 10k and 5k runs. I decided to take the plunge and duly packed and boarded the flight.
In order to acclimatise to the time difference (Vegas is eight hours behind the UK), we arrived two days prior to race day. Staff at Park MGM, which was to be our home for a few days, were ready to receive us.
All around us, racegoers in Lycra-clad gear were milling around amidst non-runners, and we soon felt part of a bigger family. Some of the participants have been entering the race for years.
The annual Rock’ n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon foot race takes place on the Las Vegas Strip and takes in Downtown and parts of the Las Vegas Valley. It is one of the oldest marathons in the United States and has been running since 1967.
The initial concept was to attract nationally and internationally recognised runners, and today, it attracts around 40,000 runners. And while the number of full-distance marathoners has diminished, more and more people opt for the half marathon and 10k races.
Still, running any race is no easy feat – it requires stamina, determination and preparation. And the latter is taken seriously here with the helping hand of the Health and Wellness Expo – a three-day event to get you psyched up.
This is where participants pick up their race packets (race number and T-shirt, etc.). There’s also plenty to keep you occupied here, with the latest running technologies, fitness apparel, and health and nutrition information all on offer.
The place was like a mini town and abuzz with runners and non-runners alike, and it gave us a sense of ‘belonging’ and being part of something really important.
Anything that can aid your running performance on race day should be embraced. Yoga is hugely beneficial because it stretches tight muscles, which raises the range of motion in related joints.
Increased flexibility decreases stiffness, results in greater ease of movement and reduces aches and pains. With this in mind, we headed to a YogaBlend class at Sahra Salon at The Cosmopolitan Hotel on the Strip.
This is a great class to introduce yoga to newbies and blend elements from multiple disciplines of the practice.
The class was a great flow between passive and active stretching, giving our bodies a full-body workout. I walked out, feeling like every limb had been pulled and stretched in preparation for the race.
But if you want to elevate your yoga experience to a different level, quite literally, I would highly recommend doing yoga on the High Roller observation wheel at the LINQ hotel.
Instructor Ally from popular yoga company Silent Savasana ($75 per class) dished out silent disco-style headsets as we took our places in the pod.
Throughout the one-hour class (two rotations), we tuned out while listening to serene music while doing downward dogs practically above the Flamingo’s hotel pool. It was a truly surreal experience. Although we were fully engaged in our practice, we did have time to stop and gaze out over the beautiful Vegas skyline at 550 feet and admire it in all its glory.
It totally beats a dark and mirror-filled yoga studio, but we still achieved a full body stretch just hours before the race.
And finally, the big moment. Like the parties, the race doesn’t start until the sun goes down at 4.30 pm, presumably to take advantage of the more favourable temperatures.
The fact that the timing matched up with the sunset, and the Strip had just started to light up, was a bonus and added to the appeal of running the race.
The atmosphere among the participants at the Start Village adjacent to the Planet Hollywood hotel – many of whom were in fancy costumes – was just as light-hearted. We were all here to have fun and get fit simultaneously.
And that’s exactly what this race turned out to be from the onset, with the announcer counting down to zero along with pyrotechnics going off right at the start line banner, signalling the time to go.
Entertained by cover bands en route, the cheering and encouragement from onlookers and the camaraderie from the runners themselves made it a joyous experience.
Discovering the sights, lights and sounds of the car-free zone boulevard helped ease any aches and pains we felt during the run. The race, like the atmosphere, felt bigger and brighter than I’ve ever run.
Heading towards the finish line directly in front of The Mirage Hotel felt epic. And despite my legs giving way, walking through one of the longest chutes (stretching for approximately half a mile) was made easier as I grabbed my medal and stocked up on water, Gatorade, chocolate milk, bananas, and other post-race refreshments.
And while we had been careful in what we ate to fuel our bodies (including Italian dinners at Ambra at MGM Grand and Ferraro’s, sushi at Zuma at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas and healthy smoothies at The Juice Standard bar at The Cosmopolitan).
We ate plenty that night without an ounce of guilt, kick-starting with hot alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the ice rink on the rooftop of the Cosmopolitan Hotel at the post-marathon party.
The hardcore runners continued their fitness frenzy by ice skating. I instead was happy to be entertained by Benji, the ice-skating dog. Yes, really!
Our fitness fill didn’t end at the race, and we decided to take part in one more activity before getting a VIP massage at Sahra Spa, Salon and Hammam at The Cosmopolitan Hotel and half a spa day at the Wynn Hotel’s newly renovated spa.
And it was at the latter we enrolled on a spin SoulCycle class. And just like everything else in Vegas, it was over-the-top fun. Our instructor (Jarreau) was so enthusiastic; it was catching.
The music in the 45-minute class was akin to that being played in a nightclub, and with dimmed lights that are the norm in a spin studio, it felt like we were in one. And instead of lighters, we swung our hand towels above our heads to illustrate the immense fun we were having.
So that is what a health and fitness trip to Las Vegas looks like. It’s like a secret underground club running alongside the better-known hedonistic city. But it doesn’t mean you cannot dabble in both.
Plans for the 2020 marathon are already underway, so your next trip to Las Vegas can be both a healthy and indulgent one.
Depending on your race and your fundraising commitment (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the National Featured Charity of the Rock’ n’ Roll Marathon Series), you could get a complimentary weekend hotel stay, race entry, race day hospitality and more.
Whether you choose to be physically active in Las Vegas or not, this city will open your eyes and magnify your experience one way or another. We certainly ended ours with a bang with a cheeky visit to see the Atomic Saloon inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort. This raunchy but belly-aching hilarious Wild West show sure did give our abs a thorough workout.
Rock’ n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon – Where and How?
Registration for the 2020 Humana Rock’ n’ Roll Las Vegas marathon opens in March 2020 for the 5k, 10k, half and full races. To sign up, visit www.runrocknroll.com/las-vegas.
We stayed at the Park MGM at 3770 South Las Vegas Blvd (parkmgm.mgmresorts.com), where room prices start from $99 per night, and guests can upgrade to a Stay Well room for an additional $21 per night (subject to availability). The trip was organised by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (www.visitlasvegas.com).
Direct return flights from London to Las Vegas to participate in the 2020 Humana Rock’ n’ Roll marathon start from £345 per person with Virgin Atlantic (www.virginatlantic.com).
Read more articles by Sabi Phagura here.
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