Columnist Dean Juipe: Marathon belongs on the Strip

Dean Juipe

Monday, Feb. 8, 1999 | 11:16 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

Rarely do people feel so good about feeling so bad.

Hundreds of runners, who only moments before were participating in the Las Vegas International Marathon, were lined up awaiting a post-race massage from a team of volunteer physical therapists. Hundreds of others were drained, spent, fatigued. A few even threw up.

Yet appearances can be deceiving. And overriding the pain and suffering at the finish line of Sunday's event at Sunset Park was an atmosphere of self-satisfaction that only a lengthy race like this can produce. For many, the pride in simply completing the race is worth a good hurl.

It's a paradox of sorts. The world's oldest sport, as well as the world's premier feel-good sport, leaves its challengers with a weakened smile.

Not having run in the race, however, Al Boka's smile was bright and beaming. As race director his stomach may have had its moments of rebellion, but he was excited with the advances in an event that has unlimited -- if still untapped -- potential.

And that's something of a paradox as well. Here's Las Vegas, this great promotion-minded city, still dragging its heels and resisting an urge to throw its complete support behind what could be a stellar attraction of worldwide interest.

Put it this way: Of all the sporting events that make an annual appearance in Las Vegas, the marathon -- if it were allowed down the Strip, where it belongs -- might run second to a NASCAR race at the speedway in terms of widespread public appeal.

It would make the Las Vegas Bowl look like, well, the Las Vegas Bowl. In terms of showcasing the city, it would easily top the assortment of golf, bowling and swimsuit competitions we regularly see (and sometimes have to endure).

A Las Vegas Marathon with the complete support of the city fathers would be a beautiful thing to behold. Imagine the spectacle of thousands of runners on the very scenic Las Vegas Boulevard, and imagine those images being telecast the world over.

There are no negatives. If Boston and New York can accommodate a marathon through their streets, so can Las Vegas.

What are they thinking at City Hall? Or in the offices of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, for that matter?

For a fairly minimal investment, they could generate seemingly millions of dollars of publicity. The world has a few select long-distance races and Las Vegas -- if it would take off its blinders -- could have one of them.

Someday, it will.

While Boka says he's content with the course as it was run this year (and mastered again by Zoltan Holba), he's probably just tired of battling the obstinacy he feels exists downtown and within the city's power structure. If there is a campaign to move this race where it belongs -- and there is, this being about the 10th column written on it -- he's willing to let the fates decide particulars such as when and where the move will take place.

But that day will come, and it will be prompted not so much by a groundswell of public opinion as it will by an interested casino or an astute politician or marketing expert.

It makes too much sense for it not to happen. And when it does -- even if it's 50 years from now -- it won't be just the runners who are feeling good about themselves. It'll be the city, too.