Straight Up the Strip

Straight Up the Strip

Would you like to see the largest group of running Elvises in history? Oh where, might you ask, could one possibly see such a history-making sight? The answer would be this Sunday, December 2^nd at the Zappos Rock “n” Roll Marathon Series that is happening in, where else, Las Vegas! 

Yes, the call has gone out for marathoners to dress as Elvis Presley as they make their famous nighttime run down the middle of the Las Vegas Strip. So, if you plan on running and don’t want to be a hound dog, email elvis@competitorgroup.com to get in on the fun.

Speaking of fun, race weekend activities will start with the kickoff party at the Freemont Street Experience 3^rd Street Stage. Live music starts at 5pm but the headliner, Australian rock band Sick Puppies, won’t be on until 9pm. It’s free and open to the public so if you want to get a spot close in, get there early.

Also starting on Friday is a bigger and better Health & Fitness Expo. It’s located in the Sands Expo and Convention Center adjacent to the Venetian and Palazzo hotels. Admission is free to the public and this is the location where runners will pick up their race packets. There will be about 100 exhibitors showcasing everything from new running technologies, fitness apparel, health and nutrition information and more. Parking at the hotels’ garages is also free, that is if you can find a space. A better bet is to walk if you are staying close by or take a taxi to save yourself the frustration. 

While you’re there, make arrangements to see “Da Vinci: The Genius” that will be located in the Venetian. This traveling exhibition is billed as the most comprehensive exhibition on Leonardo to ever tour the world. It’s open from 10a.m. to 8p.m. and there are senior, child, military, student and teacher discounts available.

Mannheim Steamroller is also in town, performing their Christmas renditions at 7p.m. at the Palazzo Mannheim Theatre. So far, the $103-a-piece tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday haven’t sold out.  If you want a seat, call 800-947-1081.

What would a visit to Vegas be without a magic show? David Copperfield tickets are available pretty much every night leading up to the marathon and afterwards too. They can be had for $119 each and the show is at the Hollywood Theater in the MGM Grand. 

For night life, Las Vegas can’t be beat. There are themed nightclub VIP tours that fit into any imaginable fantasy and some that you’d probably never imagine, or remember afterwards. There is a “What Women Want Pass” that includes a Stripper 101 class, because, yeah, that is what women want... There are pool parties at Tao Beach and Wet Republic and a bunch of other nightclubs with names like Tryst, Tabu, and Blush. I’ll leave you to figure out those last three.

But if you want something outdoorsy and different, jump on a bus leaving from the Excalibur Tour Bus Rotunda as it heads up into the Red Mountains for two and half hours of flightlining. Similar to a zipline, flightlines are suspended from cables but you sit in a para-gliding harness instead. Flightlinez Tour by Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon offers hourly transport from the Excalibur and consists of a multi-run and multi-line series that range in length from 1150ft. to 2545ft. There are four lines per run and four people can fly at the same time. You’ll hit speeds of up to 60 miles per hour while viewing Lake Mead, the Eldorado Valley and Boulder City from 3800 feet above sea level. Absolutely spectacular!

However, there are lots of Rock “n” Roll “official” events, some free and some not, including pasta parties on Saturday and pre-race on Sunday. Saturday’s carb fest starts at 6pm at The Mirage Hotel with tickets that cost $35. There is a pre-race party at Chateau Nightclub and Gardens and one at 10AK, also at The Mirage. To get everyone revved up, there will be a live music concert right before the race starts on Sunday. 

So SOAS wishes you a great time in Las Vegas this weekend and don’t forget to do the run-through wedding on race day. It only takes three minutes. If you can say your vows faster, it won’t take that much off your split!