Gilles, Hird crowned Las Vegas Marathon winners
November 12, 2017 - 11:42 pm
Updated November 13, 2017 - 12:26 am

Gilles Rubio of Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, crosses the finish line winning first place at the men's marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Marisa Hird of Naperville, Illinois crosses the finish line winning first place at the women's marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Jeffrey Eggleston of Boulder crosses the finish line for first place of the men's half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Janet Bawcom of Flagstaff crosses the finish line for first place at the women's half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Matthew Liaw crosses the finish line winning the 10K men's run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Daniel Sgro of Washington crosses the finish line at the 10K women's run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Half marathon participants head out from the start of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Las Vegas on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Charlene Gamayo, 16, of Las Vegas, third from right, assembles medals for runners in the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Matthew Liaw of Crownpoint crosses the finish line winning the 10K men's run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Darius Stamps of Spokane crosses the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Kayla Hohlt of Austin crosses the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Mike Christie of Nepean crosses the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Jodi Jacobs, left, and Nathaniel Jacobs, right, both of Las Vegas cross the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Catherine Baran of Sandspit crosses the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

David Kiernan of Clogherhead, left, hugs Diego Simon of Las Vegas, right, after crossing the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

John Henley of Boston, 42, crosses the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

The finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Cathy Hanehan of Saratoga Springs, center, crosses the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Angela Newman, left, and her daughter Siona Neumann, right, both of Germany, cross the finish line at the 10K run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Marek Hladik of Bratislava catches his breath after crossing the finish line at the half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Second place winner Yuki Yagi of Japan, left, first place winner Jeffrey Eggleston of Boulder, center, and third place winner Wilkerson Given of the Woodlands, right, bite their medals after crossing the finish line at the men's half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Mark Burgess of Buckhurst Hill catches his breath after crossing the finish line at the half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Second place winner Sarah Crouch, left, stands next to third place winner Georgia Porter, center, as she hugs first place winner Janet Bawcom, right, all of Flagstaff, after completing the women's half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Second place winner Sarah Crouch, left, first place winner Janet Bawcom, and third place winner Georgia Porter, right, all of Flagstaff, gather for a photograph after completing the women's half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Runners cross the finish line at the half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Hoa Van of Sunnyvale crosses the finish line at the half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Gilles Rubio of Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, runs toward the finish line before winning first place at the men's marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Gilles Rubio of Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, wins first place at the men's marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Gaetan Fetaud of Petit Bourg, France, crosses the finish line at the marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Marisa Hird of Naperville, Illinois runs toward the finish line before winning first place at the women's marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Runners make their way to the finish line during the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

A police officer watches as a participant heads toward the finish line during the half marathon run of the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Runners make their way to the finish line during the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon along the Strip near The Mirage in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Participants, including, from left, Peter Smith, Scott Desbois, and Jen Desbois head out from the start line outside of the New York-New York at the beginning of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Las Vegas on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Rubio Gilles’ right forearm is a tribute to places the 37-year-old has run.
The Statue of Liberty and the Chrysler Building are etched in ink as a tribute to the New York Marathon, which he ran last year. Next to it is a signpost where Gilles is filling in all of the World Marathon Majors. So far, New York, Chicago and Berlin are marked. He still needs Toyko, Boston and London.
After winning the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on Sunday, the runner from Menton, France now has an idea of what to ink on his left shoulder. Coming soon: the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign.
Gilles surged ahead in the last mile of the race, completing the marathon in 2 hours, 38 minutes, 4 seconds while Marisa Hird of Naperville, Illinois, led the women at 2:55.19.
Hird took control of the women’s race in about Mile 9 or 10, she said, and never looked back. She finished 10 minutes before Elizabeth Ehrhardt of Denver, Colorado, the next closest female finisher.
The men’s race had a bit more intrigue, though, as Tyler Pence, who had been leading the pack, started to fatigue in the later miles, paving way for Gilles to take the lead. Pence finished third behind Rubio and Karel Buger.
Gilles said his sub-2:30 time set in Berlin was his personal record.
For Hird, Sunday night marked her third marathon victory of the nine she has competed in. She previously ran in the half marathon in Las Vegas in 2011.
She said running on the Strip was a lot of fun and, in the wake of last month’s shooting that killed 58 and wounded more than 500, she said the 2½ miles were “peaceful.”
“You could kind of tell everybody felt it,” Hird said. “You kind of couldn’t help but think about what happened.”
They’re off @RunRocknRoll: pic.twitter.com/zXunruvSnB
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) November 13, 2017
Eggleston, Bawcom win Half Marathon
Jeffrey Eggleston was still catching his breath following his Half Marathon victory, but he already had plans for his prize money: It would go to the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund, benefiting the victims and families of the shooting.
Eggleston of Boulder, Colorado (1:04.14), and Janet Bawcom (1:18.02), of Flagstaff, Arizona, were the Half Marathon winners, both breaking away from the pack late in the race.
Eggleston separated himself from Yuki Yagi and Wilkerson Given around the ninth mile to win his third Half Marathon in Las Vegas.
“I don’t gamble, but maybe my luck is good in Vegas,” he said.
Eggleston, who has also won other Rock ‘n’ Roll events, including the marathon in San Diego in June, said he has always liked running in Las Vegas because of the unique environment.
Bawcom, a 2012 Olympian visiting Las Vegas for the first time, said she loved the atmosphere of the race.
“I am so terrible at running in the night and just the crowd and the lights was so awesome,” she said.
And this year, the event took on a special importance.
“It’s a much different atmosphere then your typical Rock ‘n’ Roll where you have bands every mile and I think that was important because it’s just good to be mindful,” Eggleston said. “Even when I was out there in the first two miles we were running with a small group of us, it does give you time to reflect and appreciate life and being here.”
Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.
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