2026 Run Through The Decades 6KM Race Recap - Las Vegas, NV

Starting Line Arches

Official Time: 27:56
Placement: 7th overall, 3rd male overall
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 60s. breeze from the north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:09	First .4 of a mile was slightly downhill, then a slow grind
2	10:10	Got a lot harder here. A lot of climbing. Finally hit the turn around
3	8:51	Took a bit to get going again, but slightly downhill.
3.66	8:45	Cruising here. Nice, gently downhill. Felt faster than I was going.
	Total Miles: 3.66- 33:58

Introduction

With a nice race streak going on and wanting to do something on the weekend following my last race, I decided I wanted to run something for Easter.  There were a few Easter themed races on Saturday but they sort of seemed to be "fun" runs.  I was looking for a race.  

I opted in for the Run Through the Decades Race.  This race is run by the same organizers as the race I did in January -- the Chilly Willy 5K.  It was even held at the same park, so I knew the course.  The race organizer had a well organized race and gave away age group awards.  It was something to do and a chance to make friends.

Moments before the race started

The Race

I arrived at the race site -- Bill Braire Park a little after 7 AM for the 8 AM start.  I recalled that there wasn't a lot of parking at the park and while there was plenty when I got there, I didn't want to get hemmed in. I found a nice parking spot on a residential street and made the short walk to the park.

Packet pickup was a snap and I made some small talk with other runners before running about a mile to warm-up.  It was already warm and by the time I made it back to the starting line, I had worked up a decent sweat.  I probably did too much of a warm-up but it felt good and I made the trip to the Kellogg Zaher Park where I used the toilets (MUCH cleaner than the ones at the Braire Park).

The race offered 4 distances to runners.  A 6K, 7K, 8K and if you wanted to run all three, a half marathon.  Each race distance was a celebration of the 60's, 70s and 80s.  The actual theme was loosely tied in, in that you were kind of supposed to dress up for the race distance you were representing.

Normally, I'd have jumped into the 8KM race given that is the generation I feel I represent but given I had just run a half marathon the weekend before, I decided 6KM was good enough.  I was tempted to dress up in neon pink to represent the 80s, but I actually just put on my Chick 'n Legs Easter bunny shorts on.

The race was lightly attended.  There had been a few Easter themed races the day before and it was Sunday and it was Easter. In over 2 decades of racing, I don't think I've ever raced on Easter.

After some instructions, the race started at 8 AM and we were off.  

Looking okay at mile .5

The first 1.55 miles were identical to the 5KM race I ran in January:  we made a loop around the backside of Braire Park before heading out onto the Bonanza trail and headed westward.  The first .4 of a mile or so was slightly downhill and I felt fast and eased into a comfortable pace.

I had lined up near the front (everyone was shy) and I quickly found myself passed up by at least a dozen runners. I wasn't too concerned about it.  I was running my own race.  There were a few people my age in the race but it was hard to tell who was running what distance.

I still had some residual fatigue in my legs from the week leading up to the race.  And while I was running / racing hard, I hadn't exactly tapered for the race.  If anything, I was using it as a hard effort and maybe I'd have a great race like I did in January.

Typical stretch of race route.

The first mile came in at 9:09.  Not exactly where I was hoping to be.  Given the heat and the fatigue, I wasn't too surprised.  There was also over 50 feet of gradual climbing here.  I knew, however, that there were more hills to come.

At this point, there wasn't anyone really behind me and it seemed like I was bringing  up the rear in terms of those racing a hard pace.  I was working with a younger teenager who happened to be wearing Chick 'n Legs shorts.  I was using her to pace me along and give me something to work towards.

The course had been well marked and my previous experience with the route gave me confidence  I wasn't going to get lost.

Heading out at about mile 1

However, I did have some apprehension when I got to 3 kilometers in the race. I had figured we were running an out-and-back thing and I kept looking for the turn around. No one else was coming back towards me yet.  Panic began to creep in that the course was going to be a lot longer or that had forgotten to put in a marker for the 6KM runners.

To compound my panic, the race was suddenly a lot harder.  It was a gradual uphill (nearly a 100 feet according to my Garmin) and I knew I was struggling.  I didn't get a sense if anyone else was in the same boat, as I felt like I was running solo.

Finally, I reached the west end of the park and I was at my wit's end as to how I was going to run a 6KM being this far out.  They had an aid station at this point and a couple of course marshals.  I blissfully saw the 6KM turn marker.  This would take us north and then down the other side of the park.

It was at this point that I hit about 2 miles.  I don't think I even looked at my time; I knew it was slow.

Kellogg Zaher Park

I was doing math in my head -- was I going to be running a 4 mile race?  A 6KM race is around 3.72 miles, and I was figuring I'd be running over 4.  

Finally, it dawned on me. I bet we weren't going to run the backside of Braire park and that would put the race around 6 KM.  I recalled the lead organizer's early start messages (which I had missed most of) and the math finally added up.

My spirits lifted and no longer was I running uphill, but I had a nice downhill.  My pace quickened and I was now in race mode.  The teenager finally came into view and I was gaining ground.

The mile went by quickly and while my split wasn't exactly awe inspiring, it was a nice rebound.  Perhaps there was time to salvage the race.

By the time I made it to the east end of the park, I roughly knew how much further I needed to run.  And the distance was now going to be correct.  I wasn't exactly having massive downhill running, but my pace was quick and I was getting closer to passing my one and only target.

I was still running solo and there wasn't anyone behind me, but my goal was to crush the final mile.  I had been passed by the winner of the 8KM race and I saw a handful of half marathoners starting on their next lap.  

The teen that I had been working with, and who had taken quite a few walk breaks in the second half of the race, clearly had another gear in the final quarter mile and left me running solo.  It was nice to have someone to work with though.

The bike trail finally gave way to Braire park and just as I expected, we had to hang a tight left turn and cross under the arches.  The course was going to be accurate after all.

Smiles at the finish line.

Conclusion

So I had mixed feelings upon crossing.  I hadn't really obsessed about my splits while I was running but I wouldn't describe my race as a success or a trend in the right direction.  My time was about where I've been racing shorter distances at.  8:45 - 9:15 mile efforts.  Looking at some of the details, there were glimmers of promise: an 8:15 paced section and sections where I was moving pretty well. But overall, my time was pedestrian.

Not too bad at the finish line.

So some factors did play into my race result:

• I am still recovering from the Mt Charleston Half Marathon.
• I came into the race putting in what I'd best describe as a regular week of running (i.e. not much of a taper).
• The course was hilly, particularly miles .5 to 2.

Still though, I managed to place 3rd overall male and in the top 10 for the 6 KM race.  Granted, there were only 40 other runners in the race.

The medal was a nice one and this race organizer gives me you a bunch of pins to attach to the lanyard.  It is a nice tough and they are generous with the bling.  

I didn't get poked in the eye.

The race had a really cool shirt.  It is cotton though, which means it probably won't be worn much.  

They did have some refreshments at the finish line, but the pickings seemed pretty slim.  I think given the race size the perks where a little more limited, which was unfortunate, as the half marathoners definitely got left out.

Overall, I had a good time.  The people were friendly there and it was just a nice, warm day to run.  The event seemed a little informal, but it was a race.  Also the race organizer offers quick awards, so I could quickly claim anything that was due to me and head on home.

Medals and shirt

I'd be up for doing this one next year.  I would think it would do better, though, if it wasn't on Easter.

Upcoming Races

04/18: 2026 Signs of Hope 5K - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)
02/21: 2027 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed) 

2026 Mt Charleston Half Marathon Race Recap - Las Vegas, NV

Official Time: 2:00:15
Placement: 442 out of 1333, 22 out of 44 in the 55 to 59 age group
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 60's, very light breeze from the north, 70s at the finish
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:55	Off to a decent start
2	9:03	Taking in the slight downhill
3	8:55	Very consistent - this was faster than last weekend's 5K
4	8:52	Just cruising down the hill
5	8:44
6	8:46	Feeling a little tired in the legs but aerobically - I was fine.
7	8:42	Getting closer to the first turn
8	8:45	Finally back in the city limits
9	9:06	No more hills.  Pretty easy miles.
10	9:51	Slowed down from the quad smashing
11	10:30	On with the uphills.  It was suddenly very warm.
12	10:07	Just grinding away. The worst of the hills are over but not much left
13	9:44	Actually did better than I expected here. I was gassed though.
13.04	0:19	Glad to be done.
Total Miles: 13.04 2:00:23

Packet Pickup

Introduction

About a year ago I had a few friends who suggested I run the Mount Charleston Half Marathon, put on my Revel Races.  I had heard of the race before and had put it on my mental checklist of races I'd like to do.  The problem is, is that the race is in Las Vegas and comes on the heels of the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon.  At this stage of my running career, I am a little reluctant to pile on tons of half marathons.

Armed with a coupon code, I opted to jump into the race.  I figured that it'd be a fun trip or at the time I half figured I'd probably be living in Las Vegas, it'd be a local race.  As it turns out, this race is now a local race.  And my house and daily running routes are less than a mile away from the half marathon's first turn.  It is pretty much on my home court.

The holding pen at the start

Pre-Race

The Packet pickup for the race was held at the Rio Hotel, just off the Las Vegas strip.  I think it was held there to accommodate many of the out of towners who may have been staying on the Strip.  Fortunately, I had an invite to a Golden Knights game the day before, so I spent the night on the strip and headed over to the Rio after breakfast.

Golden Knights game

The Rio had ample and free parking.  While it was quite a walk from the parking lot to the expo, it was easy to navigate.  The Expo had a few exhibitors but it was a simple affair to grab my bib, shirt, and a swag bag.  I actually ran into a few people I knew at the expo as well.

I had a bit of apprehension about the race.  First off, in 2026, in Las Vegas, we've had some pretty warm afternoons.  The average day time temperatures have been in the mid 90s.  This would likely translate to a warm race.  While we were starting at somewhat higher elevations, where it would be cooler, we'd still be running at normal elevation for the latter half of the race, which would cause some heat related slowdown.  

In addition, after my Rock 'n Roll experience, I had a bit of buyer's remorse. I certainly didn't feel like racing a half marathon and I hadn't really put in any remarkable half marathon workouts into the mix between now and then (I did have a fairly successful 9.5 mile from the previous weekend, however).

My goal going into the race, was not to hate running and just finish without feeling terrible.  I told friends I was hoping for about a 2:05 to 2:10 race time.

Another advantage of this race, since I am now a local, is that I could sleep in my own bed (as fitful as it was) and eat my own food in the morning.

The Race

They had warned us that parking may be at a premium at the bus loading zone.  I got there about an hour early for my bus and I had no problems finding parking.  Coming in from the north, there was less traffic so I had a bit of an advantage.  The bus loading area was a large office building in a corporate center.

A nice touch by Revel is that they are rumored to be a top notch, well organized race organizer.  I noticed that they had bathrooms at the bus loading area -- nice touch. I don't think I've ever seen that before.  In fact, they had ample bathrooms throughout the experience.

I had arrived at the parking lot around 3:45 and was on a bus by 4:30 AM.  The ride was about 20 minutes long and I had about an hour to kill before the 6 AM start.  I ran into more people I knew at the race start and the time went by quickly.  The race's waiting zone was a dry, dirt parking lots of sort. There isn't much for shelter there but fortunately the weather was nice.  I had brought up a lot of warmer clothes, just in case, but wound up using none of it.

I was running in a t-shirt and short shorts and I was comfortable from start to finish.  I do wish I had brought a pair of sunglasses.  It would've meant carrying them for the first few miles, but they definitely would've been worth it in the latter stages of the race.

After the national anthem and some very informal introductions to the race, we were off at just past 6 AM.

I had had two days of tapering -- other than a few walks, but legs were about as fresh as they've been in quite some time.  

I just settled into a comfortable pace and figured the 2-hour pacer, who was kind of behind me, would soon overtake me.  The problem was, he never did -- at least until about mile 12.

The first 2 miles or so it was dark but the sun started to rise and it became more light.  There was a sense of urgency to push the pace a little to beat as much of the upcoming heat as possible, but I kept the pace in check.  I didn't want another crash and burn like the Vegas Rock 'n Roll race.

Typical stretch of running

The first 8.5 miles or so are entirely on Kyle Canyon road.  It is a gentle, but steady downhill, and runners are treated to some brown, dirt "mountains" to either side and desert vistas.  An occasional ranch or small cluster of home dotted the landscapes.  It was peaceful and the runners around me were cheery and casual.

I had started up in the front and I was quickly passed by many other runners (I think people were shy).  I didn't panic -- so long as the 2-hour pacer was behind me, I was happy.  But even if he passed me, to be honest, I wouldn't have cared too much.

The race is a large one and you are rarely running alone.  I couldn't tell who was in my age group and who wasn't but most of the runners were significantly younger than I was.  I knew an age group medal of any sort was off the table -- the race is very competitive and if I had finished in the top 10 of my age group, it would've been a miracle.

I felt good and I wish the entire race had been this gentle, downhill jog.  My heart rate was in a good zone. I was working but not redlining.  My legs were tired but not too tired.  And my splits -- for the goal of the day were absolutely perfect.

I knew the race began after we made our first turn and I also knew we'd have some hills to deal with at mile 10.  Given that my daily running routes involved hills, I kind of knew what I was in for.  

When the turn came, I was shocked at the pace I was holding.  And despite the lack of a gravity assist, I was still moving pretty good.  Perhaps this was my day.

I had taken a caffeinated Gu at mile 4 and consumed it over the course of the next mile.  The race also had great water stations.  Each offering water, endurance formula Gatorade, and sometimes fruit or a Gel.  Once again, course support was great.

The mile markers were pretty much spot on -- certainly within the realm of any rounding errors.  They did go off course around mile 10, however, and I think it was the course did lead us around an area where we could use the left hand side of the road for a bit.

The race began at mile 10 for me and I went up a tiny hill and I just ran out of gas.  I summoned up the strength to consume another caffeinated Gu but I wound up only eating half of it.  It was suddenly quite warm and instead of the gentle downhill, we  had to do some climbing.  And the mile 10 to 11 was all uphill.

The hill itself isn't a back breaker.  It is just long and it is a steady climb.  My Garmin says it is only 30 feet, but I'd have to say it was quite a bit more.  

My pace slowed.  I noticed others around me were also sputtering.  I wasn't alone and that sort of helped relieve any sort of panic about something wrong with me.

We were running in a residential area and while we were surrounded by HOA-approved shrubs and palm trees, gone was the loneliness and sprawling desert landscapes that served as our backdrop for the first 8.5 miles.

Finish line festivities

After the hill climb, I knew I was going to make it through the race.  It didn't feel like it, but my pace quickened -- just a bit.  I was rewarded with a bit of a downhill.  Unfortunately, I didn't have that much endurance to take advantage of it.  I really need to do more long runs.

I also saw a runner or two suffering in the heat.  The weather was no joke and if you weren't used to it, and hadn't hydrated, there was a chance your race would be ruined.  I saw one guy being helped in during the final mile.

As I got closer to the finish line, there were more people cheering you on.  I could feel the excitement building and despite my suffering, the quarter miles on my watch seemed come without feeling like an eternity.

Yeah, pretty much....

I never did look at my final mile split until just now and a sub 10 minute mile in those conditions; I'll take it.  The 2-hour pacer did slink by me, which was heartbreaking, but I didn't have much to give as I tried futilely to catch him.

Finally, the finish line came into view and I had lost track of time.  But I was pleasantly surprised to see I wasn't that far off from my A+ goal of 2:00 hours.  I know I looked like death warmed over, and I felt like it, but there was a bit of glimmer in my eyes in knowing I had done a LOT better than I anticipated I was going to.

Conclusion

Upon crossing the finish line, I grabbed some Gatorade and I was greeted with a wet, cold rag (and a medal).  The rag was an awesome touch.  It helped me cool down and was refreshing.

They had pre-bagged snacks, which again was a nice touch.  I had a chocolate milk when my stomach could handle it.

I spent a good 10 - 15 minutes recounting the race with fellow runners and watching other runners come in.

I think part of me was in shock that I had just run the time that I had.  And while the last 2 miles were a  challenge, they were nowhere near as bad as the Vegas race.  I never really felt like I was racing this one. Merely, I just did the pace I felt comfortable with and let intuition do its job.  I don't think I ever really put any pressure on myself whatsoever to nail a certain time.  And yet, I came away with my best half marathon time of the year.

I think the following things had worked in my favor:

• I had fueled with a Gu early and went through another one in the latter stages of the race.  I had also eaten some food 30 minutes before the race.
• I stayed hydrated
• I paced myself perfectly for the first 8.5 miles
• I had some heat training leading up to the race. I had done a lot of my easy runs in 90 - 95F weather.
• The course was very advantageous for a fast time. It just downhill enough to make the early miles easier and not smash my quads to the point where I couldn't run on the flats.

So this wasn't a flat course and I definitely would call it gravity assisted.  Could I run a 2-hour half on a flat course? I doubt it. But I'll take this "win" as a positive sign.

The race bag was filled with goodies and the shirt was a technical shirt that I'll definitely wear again.  The race also transported you back from the finish line to the parking area.  Like the ride to the start, it was in a nice coach bus.  From start to finish, the race was well organized and obviously run by experienced race vendors.

I understand the course's true beauty lies in the full marathon, where you start closer to the real Mt Charleston.  The half marathon is basically a teaser course.  I am not going to say the course was boring; if you like desert scenery (and generally I do), it is a nice race.  But is it the most beautiful half marathon ever, at least for me, no.

I had come into this race so of dreading it.  My last half marathon hadn't gone well and my last few races weren't quite up to par.  But once I was finished and let the dust settle, I began ask myself if I wanted to do this race again?  Was it a one and done?  And while I initially told myself yes, I am now leaning towards signing up for it again.  It was a fun day, a fast course, and I think I can do better.

See ya in 2027?  Probably.

Upcoming Races

04/18: 2026 Signs of Hope 5K - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

02/21: 2027 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

2026 Great Chef Run 5k Race Recap - Las Vegas, NV

Welcome sign at the start

Official Time: 27:36
Placement: 36th overall, 1st in the 50 - 59
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Low 70's, no wind
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	8:53	A little hampered but feeling okay.
2	9:22	Half way though this mile I just ran out of gas
3	9:19	Some periods of running strong, but I was running on fumes here
	Total Miles: 3.00- 27:36

Runners assembling before the race start

Introduction

Looking for something to do, I opted to jump into the Great Chef Run 5K at the James Regional Park on the south side of Vegas.

The race seems to be held annually and is growing larger each year.  It supports hospitality students training to work in the hospitality industry.  The event seems geared towards chefs and those working in the restaurant sector.

The race was about a 30 minute drive for me and started at 8 AM.  The race was held at a soccer / sports complex that also doubled as a community park. The race also boasted of a post race food choice and a goodie bag worth getting excited about.

I wanted to test my fitness and it was another opportunity to make friends and get acquainted with other runners in the Vegas area.  The more races I do, the more I learn about the area and make new friends.

Ready-set-go

The Race

I arrived at the race around 7 AM for the 8 AM start.  There was ample parking and the park was easy to find.  The race started on the west side of the park and I was able to procure a goodie bag and my bib in short order.

The morning started off pretty warm.  It wasn't summer warm, but after about a mile warm-up I had broken a decent sweat.  I am glad I wore my sun glasses -- the sun was pretty intense.

Typical stretch of park

The race started a few minutes late, but it wasn't unreasonable.  They encouraged slower runners to start in the back and faster runners up front.  I surveyed the crowd of runners and the race was a large one -- Organizers said they had over 350 registrants and it was their largest event.  I kind of figured there wasn't anything on the line except my ego in terms of age group awards.  But passing by the awards table, I did notice they had a bunch of cutting boards that appeared to be age group awards.  Perhaps something was on the line.

The race was on the sidewalks of the park.  Only a few small portions were on dirt trail, I would say less than .15 of a mile in total.

Sun was blazing!

Given that the race needed to be held entirely in the park, there was a lot of out and backs on the course.  While the sidewalks were pretty wide, I had my doubts as to whether I'd be running headfirst into groups of runners.  Fortunately, for the most part, that fear was unfounded.

I expended a lot of energy at the start and quickly found myself in oxygen debt. I think I wanted to make sure I wasn't hemmed in.  From the looks of it, there were quite a few casual runners and after 100 meters or so, I was able to run freely without fear of being trampled or running over someone.

Soccer fields. Pretty much the views from the course.

I was a little worried about the course. I was told it involved a lot of out and backs.  And I couldn't find a map of the course and when I did my warm-up, I wasn't sure where I'd be going.  The website promised the race was well organized -- and it was!

The course was almost entirely flat and this time I didn't have to pay a penalty with any sort of wind. Other than the 70F degree weather, it was ideal running conditions.

For an 8:53 mile, I felt like I was working entirely too hard.  I dialed it back a bit but for whatever reason, I was barely out the gate and was redlining it.  Where has my fitness gone?  

The mile markers -- at least on my watch -- were off for the entire race.  They consistently came in around .9 or .92.  I did later use MapMyRun and it would appear the course does come in around 3.09 or so.  So with all the turns, I suspect my Garmin mismeasured the course.

More soccer field views

I was mostly running with people half my age. I saw a few people well over the age of 40, but I figured I was holding steady of being the most senior runner.  It was hard to tell.  Occasionally the front runners would fly by on one of the out and backs, but I wasn't seeing a lot of masters runners.

I had run sections of the course on my warm-up so it was all familiar to me on some level.  I was trying to get a sense of where the route was going to take me.  Roughly, though, we were running a clover-like pattern.

There was one aid station on the course and it came in around the half way point.  I was tempted to grab something as I was overheating.  But I was so focused on just getting it done.  I was still overtaking people though and occasionally a runner would come up behind me.  But I was struggling.

I really started to feel it right before the half way point. I realized I was cooked and I just wasn't having it.  I think it was the heat and just being undertrained to run hard in it.  I had consumed half a Gu gel before the race, so it wasn't a fueling problem.  

Unbeknownst to me (my Garmin didn't seem to beep during this segment), I ran a 9:20 mile 2.  This wasn't even half marathon pace.  And I was struggling.

There were 2 segments where the paved sidewalk led onto dirt.  If you view the Garmin map, on the east side, they were segments run to the south.  They were short, but they were slightly hilly and afforded no bounce.  The rocky / dirt trail just stole any gains I was making.

Yeah, I feel that bad

The race was also odd in that there were about 3 times where you got close to the finish line.  To the point where you could see it.  There were moments when I just wished I could continue and just finish.

There were marshals at all the major turns (or cones) and despite the course's complexity, it was easy to follow.  There were some fans as well offering encouragement.  

Some of the dirt road segments.

Finally, the final mile approached and while I was spent I was still competing.  There wasn't anyone to work off of -- no one to catch and there wasn't anyone approaching.  But I was still pushing to the best of my ability.  I knew my time wasn't going to be great today, but I wanted to secure whatever placement I was going to get.

The final stretch

I flew by the mile 3 marker despite my watch saying I was around mile 2.90 (I could hardly read my watch due to the brightness of the morning).  The dance music could be heard as I ran the final .1 of a mile and crossed under the JusRun arches.

Finishing

Conclusion

Despite running like I was finishing a full marathon, I was able to rebound fairly quickly.  I grabbed a wooden spoon which was demarcated with the Great Chef Run 2026 logo.  This spoon was your finisher's medal (everything was chef / cooking related).  I was also handed a bottle of water.

T-shirt + finisher's medal

It took a bit for me to feel normal again. I think the heat indeed had gotten to me.  As I saw other runners crossing under the arches, I figured I had better sample some of the post race refreshments.

They had coffee, which I hadn't had prior to the race, which was nice and halfway decent.  They also had a huge assortment of overnight oats, fruit bowls, and even some sort of acai (I think) granola / fruit thing.  I am still unsure of what I ate, but it was absolutely fantastic.  And that is the best part of this race -- the food.  I didn't expect much but the food was on an epic level and it was all good. The hospitality workers, in which we were supporting via the race, pulled off a great show.  

I had had plans of visiting a buffet post-race to either drown my sorrows or celebrate a good race, but the food was so good and plentiful, I wound up having a pretty decent breakfast.

The race goodie bag was also well worth the price of admission.  I got a technical t-shirt that resembles a chef's jacket and a chef's hat.  There were some other product samples in there.

The highlight of this race is definitely the post race food.  It was a real treat to have something different besides a banana or oranges or granola bars.  You are definitely paying for the experience (I paid about $50 for the race a week before the start date).

Despite the turns and out-and-backs, the course was mildly interesting and was pancake flat.  I do think it was highly raceable.

My only gripe was the age group awards. I think there were only 3 groups, under 18, over 18 until 39, and 40 and above.  For a race this size, I'd love to see 5 or 10 year age groups.  They were giving away wooden cutting boards and it would've been nice to win one of those.  From what I can tell, I would've placed 1st in the 50-59 age group had their been awards for that category.

I think I'll come back next year for this race.  This race checked off a lot of my boxes for a great race and this one may have the best post-race food / breakfast I've done in a very long time (I still have to give a slight nod to the Farmington Days race).  The race also had a strong party-like atmosphere and it was hard not to feel good about the experience from start to finish. 

Upcoming Races

03/28: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

04/06: 2026 Run Through the Decades 6K  - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

04/18: 2026 Signs of Hope 5K - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

02/21: 2027 Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)