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)

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

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

2026 Red Rock Running Company St Patrick's 5KM Race Recap - Las Vegas, NV

Epic photo of me at the start.

Official Time: 27:56
Placement: 78th overall, 2nd in the 50 - 59
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 60s. 10 mph wind from the north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:03	Slow start. Definitely don't have my race legs today. Windy
2	9:15	Just exhausted and not getting anywhere.
3	9:31	Windy on the way back.  Just want the race to be over
3.02	0:05	Thank goodness the course was short.
	Total Miles: 3.02- 27:56

Introduction

With a little "race fever" after Friday night's race, I opted to sign up for the Red Rock Running Company's St Patrick's Day 5K race. The race was close by and while expensive, it was something to do and keep the good times rolling.

I had run on the course a few times -- at Floyd Lamb Park -- but never explored the west side of the park.  With the starting line there, I figured this would be a nice race to get acquainted with the park and see the entirety of it.

Note: the pictures of the course were taken during a long run and am providing them here so that readers will be able to see the trail and what runners had to run on during the race.

The Race

The race started at 8 AM and I made it to the race site at 7 AM. The race had nearly 500 attendants so parking filled up fast.  And fortunately I got a spot fairly close to the starting line.

I managed to get my bib in short order and did about 30 minutes of easy jogging and drills to get warmed up.

Area I warmed up near

The Floyd Lamb Park has 2 parts to it.  A part where there is fishing, shade and trees, and another part that involves a dirt trail that meanders around the park.  I had never explored the fishing area and it was incredibly beautiful in the morning.  I really enjoyed it.  Alas, the race would not be run there.

The race starts at the end of the parking lot and immediately leads you on a fairly wide dirt trail.  The initial outset is a little rocky but for the most part, the route is pancake smooth.  The course has some hills but I wouldn't call any of them dreadful.

The first mile was all new to me.  The course was a bit of a lollipop of a route, with an initial outbound, followed by a loop and then returning back on the route that took you to the main trail.  I am pretty well versed in the circle, having run it a few times on some of my long runs.

I had started somewhat close to the start - the last thing I wanted was to be hemmed in.  And with a race this big and on a somewhat narrow route, I never felt hampered.  However, my ego was a bit bruised as those half my age flew by me.

I had noted that I'd have a bit of a tailwind to start and I'd likely have a headwind coming back.  I knew the latter half of the race was going to be challenge.

Typical Stretch of trail 

I figured my pace was slow.  I had been up late the previous night and I had just run a race about 36 hours from the start of this one.  I simply don't recover as well as I used to.  I had taken the previous day easy but I felt like I should be able to at least pull off a mediocre race.

Running on the dirt trail almost feels like running on quicksand; at least for me.  Despite wearing my Saucony Speeds 5, I felt like the rebound from the ground wasn't giving me anything.  There simply was any "pop".  I knew it was going to be challenging but in a race situation, I felt like it was holding me back.

Just before a mile, the trail dumped us off at the circle and I knew where I was at this point.  A little while after my watch alerted me that I had just run a 9:03 mile.  That was barely faster than half marathon pace and slower than 10K.  Was I going that slowly?

I hadn't spotted anyone that I knew for sure was in my age group, but anyone over 40 I figured may be my competitor.  But primarily I was being passed and running with, people of the other gender or those half my age.  Unfortunately, I was getting passed -- a lot and doing very little passing.  I knew I had started up at the front and that I should expect this, but it is still mentally hard to deal with.

The trail does involve a bit of uphill and whenever I tried to muster up anything close to 5K race pace, a hill would set me back to reality.  I honestly just had nothing. Any willpower I had to turn in a decent pace -- my body wasn't cooperating.

The race organizers did have a Leprechaun mascot of sorts on the course and I saw him a few times. It was nice to get a few shouts of encouragement during my suffering from him.

Finally we reached the backend of the park and mentally I celebrated because we were halfway through.  However, now I had to content with a headwind.  I was further swallowed up by other runners and my pace slowed.  Mile 2 came up at 9:15.  I expected slower and all things considered, this wasn't too bad of a time considering the challenges I was facing.

I couldn't wait for the race to end.  The wind just seemed to push me back and I was getting nothing in return from any sort of rebound.  Was I even going to place in my age group?

I finally got back to the side trail we took and I got a bit of a break from the wind.  My pace quickened a bit as a result but most of my energy was gone.  And the last .4 of a mile was into the wind.  I could  hear the music coming from the distance of the finish line and I could see it out of the corner of my eye, but I still had to run a bit extra.

There wasn't much of a finishing kick, but I attempted one half-heartedly.  The course, fortunately, was short, and I came in at 3.02 miles.  My finish line photo shows the look of exhaustion on my face.

Conclusion

So this was another "just do it" race.  I didn't have much going in my favor from the get go and the results were already written for me before I even made it a 100 yards.  

That being said, though, I had a good time at the event.  I was able to make small talk with people, it was a beautiful day, and there was a good "vibe" at the race. I tried to get a sense from a few other runners how their time measured up to a "normal" 5K and I didn't get a very clear consensus as to whether it was a fast course or not.  I was mostly looking for a ray of excuse for my slower than usual time.

Medal and t-shirt

The medal was actually pretty nice.  It was big and heavy and seemed to nice for a 5K.  The t-shirt was nicely designed but it was cotton.  It'll likely be something I wear around the house but not for another run.  Post race refreshments included liquid-IV and an energy drink provider.  I probably should've looked around for other things but I had brought my own Gatorade.  The course was well marked and marshalled.

There were no age group awards.  This was kind of a bummer, especially for me. The age group awards really encourage me to try my best.  I still would've tried just as hard had I known there weren't awards but still, it is a race.

I did finish 2nd in my age group and coming in with all the disadvantages of the morning, I should probably cut myself a little slack, but I was and still am, disappointed with my overall time.  I am not trending in a good direction despite some pretty decent training sessions.  But I also realize, I am coming into a lot of these races not primed for excellence.

I paid close to $50 for the race -- 2 days before the race entry, so I expect to pay a lot.  With an age group award, I would've been tickled pink with the value.  No age group awards -- this was an expensive fun run.  Still, I had a good time and I really enjoyed meeting / talking to people.

Upcoming Races

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

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

2026 Friday the 13K Race (6.5K) Race Recap - Las Vegas, NV

Race location

Official Time: 36:23
Placement: 8th overall, 3rd masters, 1st in the 50 - 59 age group.
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 70s, breeze from the west / north
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	9:06	After a fast start, had to make a climb uphill and into the wind.
2	8:51	I smashed it at the turn around but this was worst of the uphill section.
3	9:15	Wish the entire race had been like this. Screamer downhill
4	8:48	Uphill and into the wind but did better here.
4.04	0:21	Uphill and into the wind but did better here.
	Total Miles: 4.04- 36:23

Running at night has its challenges

Introduction

Well, it's been a while since I've raced a night.  And I've never run a 6.5 KM race before.  So this past Friday the 13th of March 2026, I opted to toe the line at the Friday the 13KM Race held at Mountain Edge Park in Las Vegas (probably Summerlin).

The race had 2 distances, a 13 KM and a 6.5 KM race.  Given I was coming into the race a little fatigued from a typical week of training, plus still recovering from last weekend's 5K, I sanely chose the shorter race.

I was pretty excited about the race. I was going to explore a new course, in a new area and it was another opportunity to ingratiate myself into the Las Vegas running scene.  The thought of making it just beyond a 5K as well made it unique and it was on a Friday night.  The race checked off a bunch of new milestones for me.

Typical stretch of trail

  

The Race

I made the trip over to the race site -- a beautiful park on the south west side of the Las Vegas metro area.  It had a pair of soccer fields, playground equipment and even exercise equipment at the park.  There was also quite a bit of sweet smelling desert plants along a paved walking trail that went around the circumference of the park.  The park was crowded with a pair of youth soccer games plus families enjoying the warm night.

Parking was at a premium and I had to park on a residential street.  Fortunately, I was there early, so the walk to the park wasn't too bad.

It was super dark here in another 30 minutes.

Prior to the race, I made small talk with fellow races and wound up doing an easy 1 mile warm-up.  I got a sense of the race we were running and found out the entire route was paved.  With the race starting at 7 PM and sunset at 6:55, I knew we'd be running in the dark by 7:20 or so.  We were advised to bring a headlamp and I had brought a small flashlight.

Packet pickup was a snap and the race started on time. 

The course started off at the east end of the park and was run on a sidewalk surface.  There were about a 100 runners between the two races, so it wasn't crowded at all.

Initially the lighting wasn't perfect. The park itself was well lit and I could easily navigate the course.

Almost immediately, I ran into some headwind. My Garmin really doesn't indicate there was a wind, but it definitely was there and after the race people did complain about it.  We were on the edge of the desert and it was definitely blowing into our faces.  While I had done a good warm-up, my legs were slow in responding to race pace.  I had done a fairly hard workout on Tuesday and I think I was still carrying residual fatigue from Saturday's 5K.

I had surveyed my competition at the start and spotted a few over the age of 40 runners who might just be over 50.  The question was, which race distance were they running?

I didn't waste any effort looking at my watch. I was running by feel.  Besides, it is really hard to estimate your pace in the darkness.  I was working hard despite the fatigue and wind.  

After about half a mile, we left the park behind and headed out into the desert.  It got significantly darker, but there was still a little light left.  The course had a lot of loops and turns but none of them were what I would consider something that slowed me up.  It was actually kind of fun.

A little over half a mile an older fellow caught up to me and slowly put some ground on me.  He was my first competitor and while it was early in the race, I figured he would continue his progression and I'd regress.

But I was dogging him as best as I could and every now and then, I'd come up beside him, only for him to make a little bit of a gain.

Mile 1 came up at a low 9 minutes per mile.  Was I running that slow?  Given the darkness, the heat (it was in the mid 70s, and the fatigue in my legs, I wasn't outwardly surprised.  But I felt like I was working a little too hard for the time I was getting.  A little bit of panic started to settle in.  Where was my fitness?

Around mile 1.6, we jumped onto a sidewalk along a busy road and then hung a right.  Finally! The wind was at my back.  With the renewed sense of the worst was over, I picked up my pace.  I came side-to-side with my would-be competitor and surged past him, expecting him to come with me again.  But this time he didn't.  I didn't see him again except at the turn around.

I didn't know if the course was going to come in at 6.5KM or not, but I am happy to report that soon after my watch beeped 2 miles, that I hit a turn around.  It was indeed going to come in pretty darn close to a 6.5 KM race.  This was also the race's only aid station.

The turn around signified the race was half over and I was doing okay.  Not great, but I was holding it together.  Unfortunately, I was running into the headwind again and almost immediately, my pace slowed.  My 5K pace turned into slow half marathon pace.  I was growing frustrated.

However, once I made it off the sidewalk and was running on the bike trail with the wind at my back, my sense of vigor increased.  I began to look for people to pick off.  Some of the lead runners from the 13KM race were already heading out for another lap, so seeing them fly by was inspiring.  For a large segment of mile 3 I was running at 5K pace.  

It was incredibly dark out in the desert. Fortunately, the runner ahead of me had a headlamp.  And while he was my target he was very instrumental in helping me navigate the course.  I still had a flashlight but I suspect my large arm swing wouldn't make it too useful.  Once the park came into view and the floodlights illuminated the trail, I overtook him (and another runner) and sped forward as best as I could.

I didn't quite have the finishing kick I was looking for, but my 10K pace would have to do.  I kept looking for my age group competitor but he was nowhere to be found.

I crossed the finish line in 36:23, about a 9:01 pace or so.

Looking strong at the finish

Conclusion

So I was slightly disappointed with my time.  I felt like I had run hard though and I didn't give up on myself.  The conditions of the race were definitely harder than what I thought: residual fatigue, night running, warm, pretty warm out, and not knowing the course.  

I did feel like I had fueled properly for the race. I was worried that I had overeaten prior to the 7 PM start.  Around 3:30, I had a bowl of Cream of Wheat cereal, which happens to digest very quickly for me.  It was a good choice.

The course was also fairly flat and I didn't detect any hazardous situations where I was worried about tripping.  Perhaps the only spot was on the sidewalk near the turn around point.  There were a few non-runners along here and it required going off the sidewalk a bit to get around them at times.

Post race refreshments were granola bars and drink. Pretty basic stuff.  I had brought my own Gatorade for after the race and used that.  The t-shirt was optional.  Having run with the organizer for the Chilly Willy 5K, I knew it was a cotton one. I really only wear technical apparel and I would've gladly bought one as they have cool designs on them, but I really don't need another cotton t-shirt.

The medal was cool and they have a very generous award system, so I went home with a slew of medals.  I've been impressed with the race organizer with the speed of which they give out awards and their races have been absolutely rock-solid when it comes to organization.

Overall, I'd give myself a grade of "B-" for my efforts.  Definitely not a PR day but I felt my running time was underwhelming.  However, the race result was fairly predictable given the way I was feeling.

I am not sure how often they have this race, it would be hard to hold it annually given the nature of the race (i.e. running on Friday the 13th), but I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and would gladly run it again.

Upcoming Races

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

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

2026 Skye Canyon Fit Fest 5K Race Recap - Las Vegas, NV

All smiles at the finish line

Official Time: 29:56
Placement: 18th overall, 3rd in the 50 - 59
Results:  Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Mid 50s. Strong winds from the north and west (13+mph)
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: First Year for Me

Mile	Time	Comments
1	10:03	After a fast start, had to make a climb uphill and into the wind.
2	9:51	I smashed it at the turn around but this was worst of the uphill section.
3	8:08	Wish the entire race had been like this. Screamer downhill
3.20	1:52	Uphill and into the wind but did better here.
	Total Miles: 3.20- 29:56

Too much wind to put up the arches

Introduction

So I wanted to a race this past weekend; looking to stay sharp and test my 5K speed.  It had been since January since I had raced at my fastest.  

The only one I could find that was close, was the Skye Canyon Fit Fest 5K (and 8K).  It was located about 3 miles from my house, so it was convenient and it would give me a chance to see a new area.

I didn't do a whole lot of research into other than it was a 5K, had medals and t-shirts and looked like something cool to do.

8K runners off and running

  

The Race

The race started at 9:30 and I arrived a good 75 minutes early.  Parking was a bit rough. There was limited parking at the actual park so I had to park on the main street.

The race caused a bit of a road closure.  The police had already closed off many of the streets so as someone who didn't know the area, it offered a little extra anxiety.  

Slight uphill to the turn around

I found packet pickup, which was in the fitness center.  I was able to get my bib in short order and a goodie bag, before walking back a good third of a mile (or more) back to my car.  There were ample bathrooms here -- the health club served as the toilets, so it was nice to be able to wash my hands afterwards.

Start of the climb

The race was definitely a community event, geared towards giving families an opportunity to check out the health center as well as be entertained and do something health orientated.  They had inflatable devices and plenty of activities for the younger folks.  They also had a smattering of food trucks.

30 minutes before the race I wound up doing about a mile warm-up.  I immediately determined it was windy and the route that we'd be running would definitely be impacted.  I also scoped out the course and saw that we'd be running uphill and into the wind for the first half of the race. I am not sure if the photos I took do justice but I knew immediately it wasn't likely to be any sort of a personal record day.

About a third of the way up.

The race started off in the park and we had a very quick exit before heading out to the street.  The race started off with the 8K runners and about 60 - 90 seconds later, we started.  It seemed like the great majority of runners were quite run and the event seemed very family friendly.

It wasn't long before I caught up to the slower 8K runners.  Getting to the street docked me a few seconds as I had to leap over curbs and such, and for the first .4 of a mile, I settled into a decent pace.  I was running slightly downhill and had a gentle breeze pushing me.  But when I had scoped out the course before the race, I knew this advantage was going to be short-lived.

Half mile to go.

After about .4 of a mile, we hung a right and had to make a 1.25 mile climb up Grand Teton Avenue.  It was a relentless hill and involved at least 220 feet of climbing (according to my Garmin).  To make matter worse, there was a howling wind.  My pace immediately declined.  

I didn't get worked up about my pace or the effort.  I just soldiered on.  I had already set up expectations on the race: this wasn't going to be a personal record day.  

Mile 1 came in at just over 10 minutes. I wasn't really surprised and to be honest, I am not even sure I was paying attention to my watch's splits. I was there to cover the distance and try and place in my age group. I had noticed one person who was probably in my age group but there was no way I could catch him -- he was way ahead of me in no time at all.

Finish line festivities

I was never running solo and was surrounded by people of all abilities and ages -- mostly younger.  I was still overtaking some of the 8K runners, but at this point, we were all running about the same pace.

I saw the flashing of a police car way up at the top of the hill and I figured that was going to be our turn around point. It was so close, yet so far away.  And the wind wasn't letting up at all.

The course was on city streets and to be honest, it wasn't the sexiest course I've ever run.  Just typical, walled off Las Vegas HOA communities.  It was just a 5K though.

Finally the top of Grand Teton arrived and I figured that was our turn around.  At least on the course maps it seemed to be.  But for whatever reason, we had to hang a right.  The hill continued but the wind settled down.  I wound up getting a bit of extra energy here. I knew now was the time to try and make up some time.

Back to the starting line.

Finally we hit the turn around and it came in at 1.6 miles.  The half mile marker was spot on, so I knew we'd be running at least a 3.2 mile 5K.

Once I hit the turn around, I turned on the jets.  There was a sense of urgency and I flew by a few people and began to pick off more. I was in race mode.

For next mile, I was cruising.  A wind at my back and a steady decline.

Mile 2 came in at just under 10 minutes.  But to be honest, I didn't care.  This was all about attrition and getting it done.

Finally, I got to the bottom of the hill, sailed by the .5 mile to go sign, and hung a left.  It was a steady grind back to the finish line and while the wind wasn't as intense as it was going west, it was still a factor.  Any pep in my step was lost, but my head was still in the game.

I glanced behind me and only a woman was tailing me.  2 guys probably half my age were in front of me and putting distance on me.  I hadn't seen anyone that looked to be in my age group.  And while I had had plenty of company on the way out on the race, the runners had thinned out as I had lost the 8K runners and was with the speedier 5K runners.

I wound up working with the woman and out kicked her at the end.  I wasn't surprised to see a 29:56 on the timer's clock. 

Awards Stage

Conclusion

So it is hard to measure any sort of success on this race.  It was just a race under difficult conditions and it was probably my slowest 5K in a very long time.

I actually felt good at the end. I figured that I had run a 7:45 mile between 1.6 and 2.6 miles.  My final half mile, while slow, was still solid given the uphill and breeze.  Mentally I was strong and didn't give up on myself.

After the race I found out one of the lead runners was indeed in my age group and the age divisions were 10-year increments.  I am not sure who else was in my age group, but I was 3rd.  Unfortunately, only top 3 overall were given medals.

Shirt and finisher's medal

I got a decent swag bag.  It had flyers and a few things I could use in it.  The t-shirt was a nice design and fit nicely, but it is cotton.  Sadly, I probably will never use it except to bum around the house.  The medal was nice though.

Post race refreshments included bottled water, bananas, oranges and granola bars.  You could buy coffee and donuts from vendors and they did have a coffee shop on the premises as well.

I think this race is more geared towards family.  With your race entry, your children would get to use the inflatable jumping things and enjoy the park.  Post race, it was nice to watch everyone and relax in the sun.

I suspect a lot of your entry fee is used for road closures and police presence.  It was about $40 a week or two before the race started.

The course was a tough one.  I just wish they had had age group awards (even first overall in the age groups).  It would give me something to shoot for and compete for.  Let's face it, as a middle of the packer, over 50 runner, I am very unlikely to take a top 3 overall.  The race did have over 300 runners though and I again, I enjoyed myself at this one.

Upcoming Races

03/13: 2026 Friday the 13K Race (6.5K) - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

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