More than 27,000 registered participants from around the world converged in Las Vegas, Nevada to experience the World’s Largest Running Party at the 17th anniversary of the Athletic Brewing Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series Las Vegas. The half marathon and 10K races once again took over the iconic Las Vegas Strip on Sunday night with runners and walkers passing iconic sights including the ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign, Downtown Las Vegas, all before finishing at an electric finish line unlike any other in the world ending mid-Strip at The Fountains of Bellagio, steps away from Resorts World Las Vegas’ 100,000 sq ft LED screen creating the World’s Largest Selfie opportunity for participants.
A field of elite athletes toed the start line in the half marathon. It was Johannes Motschmann (30 years old from Magdeburg, Germany) who took the overall win in the men’s elite competition with a time of 1:04:13 besting the field. The women’s elite title went to local Las Vegas runner Ellie Stevens (40 years old) with a time of 1:17:21.
“I have never raced in Vegas before. The atmosphere is amazing,” said Motschmann, following his victory on Las Vegas Boulevard. “I have been training in Flagstaff for a month, working on my marathon, and was using this as a fitness test.” Asked if he passed his test, Motschmann answered emphatically, “Yes!”
“I ran a marathon two weeks ago, but I love this race and I run it every year that I can,” said Stevens at the finish. I started running it seven years ago and every year I’ve got a PR. I just love the community and it’s so much fun to come out here and run the Strip. Wouldn’t miss it.”
Participants hailing from all 50 States and 60 countries, regions, and territories took on The Strip at Night on Sunday night.
Las Vegas’ Mason Tope (28 years old) took the overall win in the 10K with a time of 30:24. Lindsey Knast (35 years old of Lafayette, Colorado) was the first woman to cross the finish for the 10K on Saturday night with a time of 39:03.
“This was super flat, super fun, and just so cool to have the crowd there cheering you on,” said Tope after finishing over four minutes ahead of his nearest competition. “Every time we passed under the bridges with the people cheering on them, it made me feel like I was part of a bigger community. I love that!”
“I like that they have bands on stages across the course. That’s always helpful when you are out there suffering,” said Knast. When asked why she chose to do the 10k as opposed to the half marathon, she replied, “Well, so I can have more energy to party.”
Prior to Sunday’s triumphant finale to the weekend, the annual Health & Fitness Expo presented by Resorts World Las Vegas kicked off on Thursday, Feb. 20 featuring a live DJ, photo opportunities, fitness apparel, and much more.
The energy went into overdrive on Saturday, Feb. 22 with the 5K at the Fremont Street Experience location in Downtown Las Vegas. It was Ishmael Anguiano (32 years old from Shoshone, Idaho) who took top honors in the men’s race on Freemont Street with a time of 16:04. Kim Ovadia (18 year old from New York, N.Y.) took the overall win in the women’s race with a time of 20:55. The downtown 5K on Saturday, Feb. 22 was followed by the “Encore Entertainment” concert and festival at Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, coined the Saturday Night Runners Party featuring a lineup high energy musicians and DJs, including DJ Cable, DJ Machi and DJ Mal-Ski, as well as interactive games, we’re bringing all the action of The Strip to our participants on Saturday night.
Just before runners prepared to take off on their half marathon and 10K journey’s Sunday, Feb. 23, 400 participants took part in the second annual “lululemon Yoga on The Strip” presented by Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas. The event participants and spectators were invited to join professional yoga instructors provided by lululemon for a first of its kind experience on the closed roads of The Vegas Strip.
