Elite List for Vegas???

I was also interested in the list, perhaps there is none. Maybe a slowpoke like me can be in the lead pack.?

Is Haile G. considered elite?

That NASCAR dude, Michael Waltrip. Don't pass him on the outside, he'll nudge you into the wall.

Any news???

It is now Friday before the race...not good.

do not know but Eddy H was spotted out there with his wife today. Obviously he's not running but his wife has some of her athletes running.

My number one whore will be there. Everyone else is running for second place. If Christian doesn't come home with the bacon, he's in for a severe beating. He'll be wearing his performance enhancing lipstick, so he has no excuse to screw up this trick. Pimp Daddy's watching you Christian!

does this race even care about the elites? i've not heard good things so far, and it can't be any good if eddy and co are there.

??? wrote:

Any news???

It is now Friday before the race...not good.

somerandomdude wrote:

does this race even care about the elites? i've not heard good things so far, and it can't be any good if eddy and co are there.

I haven't heard good things either regarding the treatment of the elite athletes running this race. Atheletes are having trouble getting comped for simple hotel stays there. Not an expensive proposition in Las Vegas. I find this kind of treatment rather shortsighted on the race director's part, and can only hope he wakes up and improves the treatment of elite athletes running his precious race in the coming years.

Is this for real?

I have heard some lousy things about Elite treatment as well...mainly, Race Director/Elite Athlete Coordinator not returning emails, tough to even get a comp'd entry, etc. We'll see how this plays out...

And the elites attract the masses or press to Las Vegas how? It's a third tier race and most runners go for the downhill course and all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.

Can anyone actually give a compelling argument why this race needs to schmooze elites? Or is this just armchair race directing?

Oregonian wrote:

Can anyone actually give a compelling argument why this race needs to schmooze elites? Or is this just armchair race directing?

I don't think its unfair for the athletes to at least be comped an entry fee and have a hotel room paid for. This is a minor cost for a large race. There aren't any elite runners in the Vegas area that I know of, so anyone running a fast time there has to travel to run the race, an expense which can be mildly deferred with free race entry and lodging. In addition, elites bring a certain sense of excitement and legitimacy to a race. They make it exciting to watch, and give notoriety to the race and race director by giving the news media something worthwhile to print in the next day's paper. If a race is willing to give out a $1000 first place award, the race director must know this will attract elites to the race. Spending a few bucks to make their stay convenient and comfortable isn't asking too much especially when they are more than willing to shell out $1000 for first place.

third tier?

25 grand for first place is not too shabby...SHOULD bring in a few Elites.

how many other US Marathons pay 25K for first???

i know the winner of Columbus is running.

All that prize money and guys are griping about comp entries and travel allowances? As "fattie fattie fat fat" said, "...hotel stays there. Not an expensive proposition in Las Vegas." If it's cheap for an RD, it's cheap for a runner.

Pay-for-performance is the fairest way to distribute funds.

I also had trouble contacting the elite athlete coordinator. He would not return my emails. They have an elite athlete contact email on their website. As a common courtesy the elite athlete coordinator should have returned emails.

that haile is running somewhere else on sunday. i think eurosport is going to end up with egg on their face with this one. I do hope i'm wrong but my source has never let me down yet, sorry to burst any bubbles.

I agree with you, Joe. I like the PGA model myself. If want to make money, then you better play well. In golf, the golfers pay their travel, lodging, caddy, and other misc. expenses out of their earnings. A select few like Tiger or Vijay can net some appearance fees but that's usually for Pro-Am events or Euro / Asian Tour events looking for a bump in interest.

$25,000 is a nice chunk of change. It's too bad some (yes, I'm calling out Americans who think they are "elite") won't take a shot because they didn't get a $350 plane ticket and $300 worth of hotel lodging.

now I am not arguing with Joe's suggestion...many races do it this way, and that is great, HOWEVER, if you finish 150th in a golf tourney you MORE than cover your expenses, you finish out of the top 3 in a marathon--you are losing money, and you can't run another one for at least three to four months.

Golf? play again next weekend...stay mediocre, and still win money.

And cheap hotel rooms in Vegas, on a weekend? Not going to happen...weekdays yes, weekends it is one of the most expensive places around.