Mount Charleston Marathon and Half

The Mt Charelston Marathon starts in the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area (SMNRA) which encompasses more than 316,000 acres of remains beauty and surprising diversity. It is part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, but is better known to locals as Mount Charleston, and is located just 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas. Enjoy snow-capped mountain peaks that are surrounded by hardy desert and home to 58 sensitive plants and animals found only in this special area. The panoramic ranges provide a quick getaway and a haven for solitude.

It is very important that you read the following information. It should answer most of your questions. If not, you can e-mail us. Follow us on Facebook for updates. See you in November!

I COURSE

The Full-monty marathon course gradually decends 5200 feet with less than 100 feet of climbing. The marathon starts near the top of Mt Charleston and follows Kyle Canyon down to the Las Vegas valley and over to Thunderbird Family Park.  The Top-Down Half follows the first half of the marathon course. The Waist-down Half follows the second half of the marathon course and gradually decends 2150 with less than 25 feet of climbing. The course may not be closed to local traffic and we ask that runners please stay allert and run defensively.

AID STATIONS

Aid stations will be located throughout the course: at the start, mile markers 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and the finish. Water and sports drink will be available at each station. Portable restrooms will be available at select aid stations. Nutrition will be available at aid stations 7, 13 and 19. 

TIMING

The race is chip timed.

BUS RIDE

All runners are required to ride buses to the start unless you are staying on Mount Charleston. Runners board buses at Thunderbird Family Park, and must show bib numbers to board. Buses depart beginning at 4:30 a.m. Remember: we are on PACIFIC DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME — adjust watches accordingly. The last bus will leave at 5:30 a.m. The time window to get buses to the start is very tight; please help us start on time — take an early bus! 

CLOTHING

Plastic bags for warm-up clothing will be given to you with your bib number. Please put your bib number to the bottom right corner of bag. Please place clothing in the bags and drop in the truck at the starting line no later than 6:30 a.m. Discarded clothing picked up along the course will be given to a charitable organization. Do not leave any valuables along the course or at aid stations. Race management will not be held responsible for lost/misplaced items.

START TIME

Runners will start at 6:30 a.m.; wheelchairs and handcranks will start at 6:25 a.m

TIME STANDARD / CUT OFF TIME

The marathon course route re-opens on a roling basis at a 6:30 finish time pace (14:53 minutes/mile)

A vehicle traveling at approximately 14:53 minutes per mile will open the roads to regular traffic.

If you are behind this vehicle, you must proceed on the road shoulders or sidewalks, and you are subject to pedestrian traffic laws.

No race services (fluid stations, mile splits, traffic controls) will be available on the course for runners progressing slower than the 13:53 minute/mile pace.

Race management will attempt to provide, but cannot guarantee, race medals, finish times, and refreshments to runners finishing after 6:30 hours.