Hoover Dam Half Marathon

Boulder City, Nevada

Saturday, December 10, 2016

On Saturday, December 10, 2016 I race walked the Hoover Dam Half Marathon in Boulder City, Nevada.  The entire event was held in Lake Mead National Park.  It was a nice day for the race as the temperature varied from 55 to 59 degrees with mostly sunny skies and little wind.  The mostly out and back course was somewhat challenging as there were almost no flat sections and many of the up and downs were long and steep.  The course utilized 5 miles of newly paved bike path, 5 miles of fine packed gravel that was an old railroad bed which also featured 5 tunnels utilized both directions, and the rest was fine gravel of varying degrees of packedness which made the footing less than perfect.  The course is very scenic with views of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam from high altitude.  Water/Gatorade stations were located approximately every mile and each had one table with three volunteers who efficiently took care of the needs of the approximately 250 participants in the full and half marathon.  Each station was used to serve the participants during both the out and back part of their journey.  Half marathoners completed the circuit once and marathoners twice.  I have done the Hoover Dam event 4 times, doing one marathon and three half marathons.  It has always been a small friendly well organized fun event that offers a nice challenge.  I enjoyed myself as usual and even managed to win first place in my running age group even though I walked the entire way.  My time this year was 17 minutes faster than I did it in 2014 and 2.5 minutes faster than in 2010.

Before then Race

After the Race

Receiving first Place Award

Men 70-79 Age Group