In recent years, Nevada has been heavily investing in professional and amateur sports, adding new franchises to the NHL, NFL, and WNBA, and regularly hosting major UFC events.
Surprisingly, running has also made it to the list of the Silver State’s most popular activities despite the notoriously dry and hot climate. To offset the weather conditions, local enthusiasts constantly have to devise new and creative ways to organize running events, making them unique and truly unforgettable – and we’ve got the best of Nevada racing right here!
Top Nevada Marathons
Editor’s Choice: Red Rock Canyon Marathon
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: January 21, 2023
Track Difficulty: Hard
Due to the scorching summer heat, most NV and Las Vegas marathons take place during winter. Right off the gate, the Nevada running calendar starts with a bang: a trip to the Mojave Desert for the Red Rock Canyon Marathon.
Red Rock is a crown jewel of the Las Vegas natural landscape with mesmerizing views of the million-year-old mountains and rare desert plants. However, the tradeoff for the scenery is the extremely challenging course that begins and ends with long exhausting climbs. It’s possible to qualify for Boston Marathon here, but we recommend saving your best effort for a flatter and faster track (check our runner-up for the marathon category below).
There are not many spectators along the road, so you can soak in the spirit of the canyon to the fullest. As for the extrovert runners, they will definitely have fun at the after-race party and enjoy the weekend in Vegas, which is just 15 miles from the finish line.
Runner-up: Revel Mt Charleston
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: April 1, 2023
Track Difficulty: Medium
The PR hunters will be relieved to discover that some 12 miles northwest of the Red Rock Canyon lies the fastest marathon track in all of Nevada.
The first half of the Revel Mt Charleston course is basically one long downhill slope designed to shatter personal bests and easily qualify for the Boston event. The last several miles of the track are flat and hot, so they can feel a lot more difficult compared to the first part of the race, but by that time, you’ll already have too big of a cushion to worry about the end result.
What doesn’t change from the Red Rock event is the trademark Nevada nature which is as beautiful around Mount Charleston as ever. It becomes even better with homemade cookies and chocolate milk provided by an incredible group of volunteers who do a great job keeping everything organized on and off the race track.
Honorable Mentions:
- Mainly Marathons Southwest Series (Laughlin, NV);
- Cal-Neva Marathon (Incline Village, NV).
Top Nevada Half Marathons
Editor’s Choice: Rock Tahoe Half Marathon
Where: Stateline, NV
When: June 17, 2023
Track Difficulty: Medium
Looking at the map of NV, one may think that all running events there come down to either Las Vegas or one of the desert areas. Well, Lake Tahoe would like to have a word.
Hidden on the edge of the state border with California, Tahoe is a stunning natural phenomenon that’s the complete opposite of the predominantly dry and rocky Nevada land. Lush forests and snowy mountains make for a one-of-a-kind background you’d stare at for hours instead of racing. But you can do it any other day, so let’s get to the running part.
The downhill part at the beginning of the course trips you up by making you think the medal is already in your pocket. However, as soon as you reach your top speed, the road turns into a rollercoaster and stays like that for the rest of the way. Your legs are going to burn at the finish, but not for long, because Rock Tahoe ends with a giant pool party that includes beer, tacos, and BBQ.
If we had to choose only one half marathon in Nevada, RT would win in a landslide.
Runner-up: Run Laughlin Half Marathon
Where: Laughlin, NV
When: December 3, 2022
Track Difficulty: Medium
It’s a common mistake for race organizers to try and put too many eggs in one basket instead of focusing on the essentials. That’s not the case with the people behind Run Laughlin Half Marathon, who get an A+ from us for putting together a near-perfect running event.
It kicks off with a luxurious bus shuttle to the starting line, where runners can warm up in a local school gym. Once the race is underway, things become sweaty fast with a constant mix of up and downhill sections. Luckily, you’ll get lots of help along the way, with plenty of water stations, encouraging spectators, and beautiful views of Nevada and Arizona.
After crossing the Davis Dam twice, you’ll finally make your way to the finish line to receive a nice medal and a bottle of cold craft beer to bring you back to life. Don’t forget to stay for the afterparty with live music and some cool prizes!
Honorable Mentions:
- Rock Reno Half Marathon (Reno, NV);
- Twilight Red Rock (Las Vegas, NV).
Top Nevada 10K Races
Editor’s Choice: Hoover Dam Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 K & 5K
Where: Boulder City, NV
When: December 10, 2022
Track Difficulty: Hard
Hoover Dam is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the USA, so whoever thought about organizing an annual running event at this historic location deserves a raise.
The day at the Dam has all the necessary ingredients for a top-notch running session: cool December weather, a spectacular landscape, little to no crowds, and a good selection of distances (42K, 21K, 10K, and 5K). Only marathon and half marathon runners get to see the engineering marvel of the Hoover Dam from up close. However, all courses feature an unusual gravel section through old railroad tunnels.
While the tunnels are fun, they are by far the most challenging part of the track, so make sure you wear shoes that can withstand rough terrain and some compression gear to keep yourself warm. The Hoover Dam course is not designed for a PR but makes up for it with a unique setting and good organization.
Runner-Up: Labor of Love
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: March 11, 2023
Track Difficulty: Hard
Labor of Love is yet more proof that substance matters much more than style. This Las Vegas race is hosted by Calico Racing, known for its “by runners, for runners” philosophy which is evident from the moment you sign up for the event.
The location at Lovell Canyon Road has just enough spice to keep things interesting without crossing the line: it’s paved but not straight, with a 50/50 ratio of uphill and downhill parts.
(If you DO wish to cross the line, come back to Lovell Canyon in June for the annual Running with the Devil race in extreme heat conditions).
As for the scenery, if you’ve read this article to this point, you already know it’s going to be unforgettable: rocks, Joshua trees, and glorious Nevada sunrises included.
The usual suspects, such as protein bars, energy drinks, and water stations, are high-quality and can be found in abundance along the track. It’s just one of many things that Labor of Love does right, making it a solid all-around race that focuses on running experience more than anything else.
Honorable Mentions:
- Dirty Wookie 10K (Reno, NV);
- Fire Fest Ultra (Moapa Valley, NV).
Top Nevada 5K Races
Editor’s Choice: Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: February 25-26, 2023
Track Difficulty: Easy
Running events in the desert typically start before sunrise to have enough time to finish before the heat turns up to 11. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas organizers have found another way around this problem: the race doesn’t start until it’s completely dark!
It could’ve been a disastrous idea elsewhere, but we’re talking about Vegas, also known as The City That Never Sleeps. Instead of a boring race, you’ll find yourself at the most fabulous running party in the world, amplified by blinding neon lights, fireworks, and kilowatts of bumping music at the famous Strip.
The course is flat and fast, but to reach your optimal pace, you’ll have to survive a tightly packed and wildly chaotic start. Close to the end of the race, the temperature drops to a cool 60°F, allowing the runners to finish strong and leave enough energy for the epic night festivities.
Runner-up: Devil After Dark
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: September 17, 2022
Track Difficulty: Hard
For the final entry, we’re going to revisit Lovell Canyon, but this time, we’re going to run at night. At Devil After Dark, you can see the Spring Mountains in a completely new light. Well, technically, there will be no light whatsoever, and only the Moon and the stars will illuminate the road ahead.
Speaking of the road, it’s the same up-and-down terrain as in the Labor of Love event, only darker. Because of that, all runners are required to wear reflective clothing and have at least one portable light source.
Despite being the shortest distance of the day, the 5K race provides a decent challenge and leaves you plenty of time to get to Vegas for some exciting post-race activities.
Honorable Mentions:
- Out with the Old (Las Vegas, NV);
- Candlelighters Superhero 5K (Las Vegas, NV).
