Runners flocking to Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

In the 10-plus months since it was announced that Competitor Group was taking over the Las Vegas Marathon, there have been several new additions to the race

A new name -- the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon -- that falls into line with the widely successful brand Competitor has spread around the country.

A new course that will include more of the Strip than ever, with the half-marathon contested almost entirely on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Now, nearly six weeks before the Dec. 6 race day, it's clear the event will draw new numbers, as well. General manager Adam Zocks said registration topped the 20,000 mark last week.

"We have jumped right over the 20,000 plateau, and we're probably pushing 21,000 right now," Zocks said Tuesday afternoon. "Obviously, we're very excited about the way things are progressing and about how many participants we'll have on hand Dec. 6. I think we'll have 25,000 when all is said and done."

The previous event record was approximately 17,000 in 2007, when Devine Racing oversaw the event. Zocks was pleased to have overtaken that total, but he wasn't surprised.

"No, not really. We've been on this type of pace most of the year, since we announced the event and the new course," he said. "The one thing we definitely have in our favor is the Rock 'n' Roll brand. We have runners who follow the Rock 'n' Roll brand from one event to the next.

"We tell them we're coming to Las Vegas, we've got a half-marathon course like no other, and the marathon course is unique, too. With the spectacle of Las Vegas, the draw is there."

So much so that Zocks said Competitor might actually have to cap the number of entrants.

"We will not take more than probably 27,000, maybe 28,000 -- 8,000 on the marathon, and 20,000 on the half-marathon," he said, noting the current breakdown is about 6,500 for the main event and 14,000 for the half. "I'm pretty confident we'll pass 25,000 and be pushing 27,000 to 28,000.

''There's still enough time, and there's enough interest out there."

• KIDS ROCK MARATHON -- The event has launched its Kids Rock Marathon, a training program in which children in kindergarten through sixth grade complete 25.2 miles between now and Dec. 4, then run the final mile Dec. 5 on the UNLV track.

The program was created by world-renowned marathoner Rod Dixon of New Zealand.

Zocks said the program is capped at 1,000 participants but that there are still plenty of spots available.

"We've been working with the Clark County School District and the physical education teachers," he said. "We're working hard to get kids involved. Hopefully, they'll be our future marathoners and half-marathoners."

For more information or to register, go to www.las-vegas.competitor.com/lv-kids.

• VOLUNTEERS -- Zocks said the event is also seeking more volunteers from Dec. 4-6.

"We're looking for groups to get involved and be a part of it," Zocks said. "You can volunteer at a water station, or at the health an fitness expo on Friday and Saturday. And we need plenty of people at the finish line."

For more information about volunteering, go to www.las-vegas.competitor.com/volunteer.

Contact reporter Patrick Everson at peverson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0353.