35,000 Marathon Runners Descend to Las Vegas

The 2014 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon has brought about 35,000 runners to Las Vegas for races, music, health and fitness expo, and parties from November 14 to November 16, 2014.

Comparing to most other marathons that take place in the early morning, it is a special nighttime event held under the neon glow of Sin City. The main races on Sunday November 16 start near the iconic "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, and finish by the Volcano at Mirage.

Races in Las Vegas will be incomplete without the infamous Running Elvi. Also as the wedding capital of the world, Las Vegas will set up a run-thru wedding chapel at Monte Carlo for couples to get married "on-the-run" or renew their vows in three minutes. With the recent recognition of same-sex marriage in Nevada, the ceremony will see same-sex couples for the first time. The Zappos.com 1/2 of the Half starts at 3:30 p.m. The full and half marathon will start at 4:30 p.m.

Running Elvi at the Health and Fitness Expo on November 15, 2014

Outgoing postcard US-2967689 to Russia features a runner at the debut of the popular Zappos.com 1/2 of the Half Marathon in 2013.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Dublin

Second annual Rock'N'Roll Dublin Half Marathon, doubled as Ireland’s National Half Marathon Championships, took place yesterday, attracting 7,500 runners from all over Ireland and around the world. The 21 km or 13.1 mile course started at the Docklands by the River Liffey, passing through such attractions as Christchurch, the Guinness Brewery, and Royal Hospital Kilmainham, and ended at the Phoenix Park. British Olympian Scott Overall took the men’s title in 1h 05' 19"; Sarah Mulligan won the women's title in 1h 16' 02". 

The featured postcard was distributed at the Health & Fitness Expo before the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon in 2013.

Run Disney

Outgoing postcard US-2540424 to Taiwan shows a running Micky Mouse that promotes Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, January 12, 2014. The 26.2 mile or 42.195 km course runs you through four Walt Disney World theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot, as well as ESPN Wide World of Sports and the Walt Disney World SPEEDWAY. The race starts at 5:30 a.m with the Start/Finish lines at Epcot. It is billed as the most magical race on earth. In addition, there are other running events planned at both Walter Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California throughout 2014.

Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

In just a few hours, more than 30,000 runners will cross the start line near the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in the Fifth Annual Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half Marathon at 4:30 pm. Runners will have a unique experience, passing by faux pyramid and volcano, replicas of the Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower, dancing water fountains in front of Bellagio, and Venice-themed canals. The finishing line is in front of the Mirage Hotel and Casino in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip.

Another 2,500 runners will run 6.5-mile "half of the half" Marathon, beginning at 3:30 p.m. They will finish at downtown, where following marathoners will pass twice beneath the Fremont Street Experience canopy. 

The race was pushed up from the first weekend in December in the past races. The postcard to a private swap shows gondolas and an ice skating rink over the canals at the Venetian Casino and Hotel, with the Marathon runners in the background on December 4, 2011.

Update: Collage photo from the races today. From left to right and top to bottom: runners pass 1) Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, 2) Crystals at CityCenter, 3) Volcano at Mirage, 4) Statue of Caesar and Colosseum at Caesars Palace, 5) Fashion Show Mall, 6) Forum Shops, 7) Band stage with laser beams near the finish line, 8) Montgolfier balloon and Arc de Triomphe at Paris Las Vegas, 9) Music Fountains at Bellagio.