Registration under way for Summerlin’s Half Marathon scheduled for April 9

Registration is under way for the inaugural Summerlin Half Marathon to be held April 9. Runners and walkers will leave The Vistas Community Park, 11311 Alta Drive, at 7 a.m. traveling 13 miles throughout the community before returning to the park.

According to Kevin Orrock, president of Summerlin, hosting a half marathon in the community has been in the works for some time.

"We organized a nearly 10-mile community run in 2009 to gauge resident interest in longer distance runs," he said. "The success of that event was the driving force behind organizing the Summerlin Half Marathon. Summerlin is home to thousands of running enthusiasts who enjoy the opportunity to participate in organized runs in their own neighborhood."

The route will travel through seven Summerlin villages, including The Vistas, The Arbors, The Crossing, The Trails, The Hills, The Hills South and The Canyons. Participants will run/walk on the scenic street-side trails as well as some of the community's most popular paseo parks, including Arbors Paseo Park, Trails Paseo Park and Cottonwood Canyon. Summerlin's paseo parks are often located in arroyos or man-made open space corridors and are designed to provide respite from noise and traffic.

"On any given day, hundreds of residents can be spotted running, walking or cycling on Summerlin's 150-mile trail system," Orrock said. "It is undoubtedly the most popular amenity in the community."

Desert Sky Adventures, a local company that coordinates runs of varying lengths for organizations throughout Nevada and its surrounding states, is coordinating the inaugural Summerlin Half Marathon on behalf of Summerlin.

According to Molly Sheridan, Summerlin resident, running enthusiast and co-founder of Desert Sky Adventures, the Summerlin Half Marathon is considered a moderate course with some elevation changes.

"It's a fun route in an amazing location," said Sheridan, who has already run the course twice. "More than anything, we want our participants to have fun, enjoy the scenic views and experience the joy of health and adventure."

To register for the run/walk, view the course map or elevation chart, or more information, visit http://desertskyadventures.com/summerlin.

Cost is $65 per person. This run is limited to the first 400 registrations. All participants will receive medals and shirts. The Summerlin Half Marathon is a chip-timed run/walk. Top male and female finishers in varying age groups will be recognized. Aid stations will be located throughout the course. Call 702-526-7317.

The marathon is one of several events planned for 2011. Other spring events include Tour de Summerlin, a noncompetitive cycling event, April 23 and Summerlin Kids Mix, an outdoor family festival, May 7. Visit www.summerlin.com.

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., Summerlin celebrated its 20th anniversary with a yearlong celebration that commenced in May 2010.

Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with 7,500 acres still remaining for development.

The community is home to nearly 100,000 residents with amenities that include more than 150 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 miles of the Summerlin trail system, 26 public and private schools, 14 houses of worship, nine golf courses, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities, business parks and more than three dozen selling floor plans.

Homes are available in a variety of styles -- from single-family homes to townhomes, condominiums and lofts -- priced from the mid-$100,000s to more than $1 million. Custom-home sites in The Ridges are priced from the $500,000s. For more information, visit www.summerlin.com, call 702-791-4500 or find Summerlin on Facebook.