This being my first race truly tainted my entire expectation and experience. I have a lot of friends who have raced other RnR events, and also this one last year and all of them had glowing words to say about their experience. I am wondering what happened this year? Did the organizers get greed? Bit off more than they can chew? For whatever reason, this is one to avoid in the future.
1. Sanitation issues through out the course. Volunteers (god bless them) were scooping water from bins lined with trash bags. A lot of runners were sick after the race.. It was a puke fest at the finish line, inside the Mandalay Bay, and on cab lines. I had to all of a sudden throw up at the lobby of the Luxor (oops sorry) .
2. Picture taking right at the finish line, blocking all runners from taking shelter from the cold!? Are you kidding me?!? There was a stand still at the finish line because of this. And to replenish out bodies, we were provided the greenest bananas they can find!
3. Stand still for 2 hours inside the Mandalay BAy. Fire hazard! Medics could not get to people in need. Runners throwing up everywhere. The new Michael Jackson Cirque show also had its opening weekend. So while 44k plus runners were trying to leave the hotel, it was welcomed by 8-10K plus show goers either exciting the show or trying to catch the 10pm show. Poor planning!
4. Ran out of medals!?!? Can you imagine training for moths and not get one at the finish. I know it seems childish cause "its just a medal" but seriously folks the reason why they ran out, was because they over sold the event!
peace out.