Nice job, Devine. Corrals were hard to get to, and slower runners started in front of much faster runners. Splits? What splits? Where were the mile markers? They weren't accurate. The t-shirt was total crap - a three-dollar shirt. The race started 20 minutes late. After the race they had water, bananas, and apple slices - that's nice. This was the worst race I have ever run. I will never run this race again.

The new organizers did a wonderful job turning what I'd heard had been a rather disappointing marathon into a world-class event. The best marathon medal I've ever seen, a wicking shirt, a well run expo, there was some entertainment on the mostly flat course, and running through fireworks and the sun rise up the Vegas Strip was a great experience.

The cons? I won't hold the sponsors responsible for the weather being much colder than normal; I'd rather run a marathon in colder temps anyway. Some warning about how windy Vegas is in December would have been appreciated (this was the windiest race I've ever run). This was the only race I've run where runners were picking up discarded clothing and putting it on because of winds and temperature. And the desert dust cakes on your skin.

I suppose their permission to close down the Strip was only modest - the most fun part of the race was all in the first eight miles; after that you have ugly mountains on one side of the road and concrete buildings on the other; and the last three miles were down the utilitarian backside of the casinos looking at parking lots and dumpsters; and the last mile seemed to having you running forever in circles around the Mandelay Bay parking lot. You run for the sake of running after mile 10. The mile markers and the clocks didn't always coincide and porta-johns were hit or miss. Post-race amenities were non-existent. The post-race area was chaos, and if there was food, I never found it

In spite of all that, the first half of the course was so much fun that I'm planning on doing the race again in another year or two. The organizers seemed to be working very hard; they probably can't do anything about the ordinariness of the back half of the course, but they'll probably have the rest of my quibbles taken care of.

Disappointed, especially considering this is VEGAS! I guess it isn't much of a race city - more like a boxing town.... Anyway, other than the start on the Strip, the course was a HUGE yawn! Could not have been more boring running through Vegas 'burbs with little to no fan support. Post-race was also rather unspectacular - I mean c'mon, Vegas gives away buffets for free and there wasn't any food to be found! Stick to the casinos and the shows and do your races somewhere else....

This is late in coming, but I would like to congratulate all 78 runners who won their age group divisions in the 2005 New Las Vegas Marathon. The dedication, time, and sacrifices you made to win your divisions are a tremendous achievement; one I will never come close to. I admire each of you.
I hope you each consider that running has given you a lot more in life than all the awards you have ever received, more specifically, your age division award given for the 2005 New Las Vegas Marathon. I hereby nominate the 2005 New Las Vegas Marathon with the title of 'Worst Awards for Placing in a Division'. For those who are not aware, let me explain. Usually an award is given the day of the event. These winners had to wait 4 months. When the award finally arrived, it was a pathetic 6.5 inch assemble yourself, snap together, plastic award that doesn't even specify if you placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, no name, no time, just what age group you were in. Yippy! Needless to say, this is very disappointing coming from Devine Racing which presents themselves as a world class event organizer.
This is why I say hats off to all the age group award winners of the 2005 New Las Vegas Marathon.
Let's hope for better age group awards in 2006.

The 6 a.m. start with fireworks, the run down the strip and the course entertainment was fabulous, but the volunteers made the race. The expo was the smoothest one I've been too - no waiting for anything and if you looked lost for a second, someone was there asking if you needed help, and they were genuinely nice people. It was nice to see so many happy runners, too. No whiners, everyone was having fun. My only complaints would be not enough portos on race course and that the last 10 miles were pretty boring. The first 10 miles really make up for that though. Super-fun race, I definitely recommend it.

This race was a great experience. The start was in the upper 30's and finish was in the upper 40's - perfect. The slight headwind wasn't too bad, not demoralizing. The course started great, but as we entered suburbia it seemed as though the residents hadn't been notified that a race would be going on, and there were car traffic issues as people were waiting to make a turn to cut across the course and into their neighborhoods.

The shirt was a great technical shirt that can actually be worn while you run! By far the best finisher's medal I've seen - a sparkling gold Vegas sign that spun in the middle.

My only complaint was the seeming lack of porta-potties; I could smell them, but never saw them at the mile markers.

I don't know what others are talking about, but I got a bag of fruit, nuts, chips, etc. after finishing. They were handing them out by the massage tent.

This was my 5th marathon of the year. I had high expectations of this marathon and I was so glad I ran this race. The start was a bit chilly, and dark (6 a.m. start), but the fireworks show sure woke me up as the gun went off. We ran down the strip, through Freemont Street, and did a big loop as we headed to the finish at Mandalay Bay. The volunteers were excellent and very helpful. I'd encourage anyone to get a room near the Mandalay Bay as that is where the expo, the starting line, and the finish line all are. Very fun race! I'll be back for sure!

I loved it! The first half went by so fast. The run down the strip with all the events and all the entertainers every couple miles was great. I would have preferred a bit more logistical organization. The start was a bit "gaggled" and the end was even worse, but overall, I had a blast... a very fun way to beat yourself up! The course was flat, so it's a perfect first marathon!

Having run the both Las Vegas Marathons, this course is a 100% improvement. Running down the strip even with the wind in your face beats running in the desert. Nice first effort Las Vegas.

Except for the strip, boring course. Not enough portable toilets on the course. No after-race party like it was advertised on the website when I registered. No food after the race. Nice medal though.... Was expecting a lot more from Vegas.