MIGHTY & MAGNIFICENT MARATHON
Runners from all 50-states and 46 nations around the world are arriving in Vegas for our third annual marathon. It will start with a fabulous fireworks display and Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas” at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning from Mandalay Bay right on the Strip. Excitement is building for the hometown Zappas.com sponsored event which will also feature 56 couples tying the knot or renewing their vows at the Mile five Run-Thru Wedding Chapel. In addition, over 150 people will run dressed as Elvis Presley in a ‘blue suede shoes’ bid to set a world record for the largest number of people participating in a marathon as “The King.”
I’ll be alongside my friend, Bernie Yuman when he fires the starters pistol on Sunday morning at exactly 6:01 a.m.–and as many as 20,000+ runners will tackle two courses: the official 26.2 mile run (capped at a 15,000 runner maximum) and the half marathon (capped at a 10,000 runner maximum). Weather is expected to be perfect for the run with a “sunny and dry” forecast. With Zappos shoes onboard, a new timing and tracking system will be used for the marathon runners for the first time in any worldwide run. A mini-computer chip “icon” with transponder timing is peeled from each runner’s numbered bib and stuck to the shoes. It’s activated the moment the run begins to keep perfect time scores, and they can keep it as a souvenir afterwards! Also this year for the first time is an additional $40,000 Megabucks Challenge prize to the first man or woman over the finish line on top of the $20,000 first place award to each.
The excitement is building with two live 45-minute performances planned by the Venetian’s headliners, the Blue Man Group at a secret location on the course to spur on the runners, and the cast of Monty Python’s Spamalot will work the mile one water station with Cirque du Soleil performers presenting medals to participants crossing the Finish Line. They’re among the 2,500 volunteers helping out along the route.
“We are thrilled to be performing at this year’s marathon,” said Blas Elias, Blue Man Group performer. “As a runner myself, I am excited to help motivate participants to push themselves to complete the course and to keep the spectators excited as they cheer on their friends and family. Blue Man Group is always thrilled to be included and participate in community events. We’re proud to be participating in the Las Vegas Marathon festivities again this year.”
This morning at 11 a.m. I will join the Cirque characters to cut the red ribbon to officially open the Quality of Life expo at Mandalay Bay which has attracted over 200 exhibitors to this year’s Marathon. Then tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. over 2,000 local school children will run the last mile of the 26.2-mile Kids Marathon in the Finish Line area. The Kids Marathon will be led by two-time NYC Marathon winner and former world champion, Tegla Loroupe. At 3:45 p.m. tomorrow there’ll be a “photo-op” of all the Elvis runners at the Finish Line followed by a pre-race gathering of the Run-Thru Wedding Chapel couples. At 5 p.m. it’s the “Elvis All You Can Eat Pasta Party” with an Elvis Karaoke sing-along in the Tradewinds ballroom at Mandalay Bay.
On race day I’ll be at Mandalay Bay for the 6 a.m. start and we expect the first winners to break the tape at the finish line between 8:15 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. At 7:15 a.m. the ceremony at the Run-Thru Wedding Chapel (located downtown at 4th and Gass) will be led by Pastor Jamie Firzlaff, who will stop to perform the ceremony while running the Half Marathon. We’re estimating that some 250,000 spectators will be up and about to cheer-on the runners this year, including some of Saturday night’s late night/early morning revelers getting ready for bed as dawn breaks! Only in Vegas at sunup could you have cheerleading squads, singers, showgirls, school-kids and stars all come out to cheer on the challengers who will include cancer and heart-attack survivors, 25 wheelchair racers and at least ten female runners dressed as Marilyn Monroe! These are entertainment attractions that you’d never see on the Boston or New York City marathon routes! And there’s even a betting line at the Mandalay Bay gaming center!
All eyes will be on 33-year-old Kenyan runner, Tegla Loroupe who weighs just 88 lbs. She’ll have run two marathons in less than a month – NYC back on November 4 and now Sunday’s Las Vegas challenge. She’s regarded as one of the world’s best women’s distance runners, and it all began as a child when she ran six-miles each way barefoot from her home to school and back again each day! She held the world marathon record for almost four-years and among marathon officials is regarded as the most accomplished and elite runner to race in Vegas. She wants to win the big money prize to fund her orphanage and school and help children in war-torn parts of Africa. Luxe Life will be back on Monday with a full photo report and the first winners through the finish line!