Columnist Dean Juipe: Marathons emerge as party central

Dean Juipe

Monday, Jan. 26, 2004 | 10:03 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

Books and movies have been devoted to the subject and without fail the long-distance runner has been portrayed in a specific, stereotypical light. The generic imagery paints a picture of an introverted man or woman who finds comfort in the isolation of marathon runs.

But that shortsighted view may be in the process of change, given the emergence of the marathon as a focal point of a gathering of like-minded contestants who revel in the feel-good atmosphere of a long-distance run.

As was evident at Sunday's Las Vegas Marathon, extroverts are giving introverts a jog for their money.

"Where are you from?" gushed a young woman to the man who coincidentally crossed the finish line with her as they completed the half-marathon portion of the race. When he replied "Delaware" she all but grabbed the guy for a hug.

"So am I," she said between breaths as they escorted each other toward the water and body wraps that awaited the giddy, if weary, participants. A race run, a friend made.

Despite the windy, chilly conditions, a warmth was apparent at the finish line as some 6,500 runners eventually reached the singular goal of completing the race without mishap.

"The people ... the energy," marveled race director Al Boka. "Marathons have changed over the years and I think we're about to experience yet another boon because these events are a happening, a social thing.

"There was a time when marathoners were wackos, but now they mirror the general population. There are introverts, extroverts and perverts like anywhere else, but they all come together for the social contact the race provides.

"It used to be that the only people who ran in a marathon did it to win, but these days it's not that kind of thing. This latest boon is about to explode because it includes more women, more walkers, more people who aren't into it for the direct competition."

What this has led to is the notion of a marathon as an excuse for a party.

"Now days the marathon industry is actually a travel industry," Boka said. "This is something the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority doesn't understand, but marathoners are travelers who have money and go to these events around the world."

Boka is on a short financial leash with the LVCVA, receiving only $15,000 to promote a race that brings thousands of people to town. He'd like to see something approximating what has happened in Phoenix, where that city gave its new marathon a $1 million budget and the result was a huge race that garnered national attention.

"There have been several racing boons in the past, but this latest one takes in a lot more people," Boka said. "For instance, there's a bartender at Harrah's who is running today because he decided he wanted to get in shape and be part of this kind of lifestyle.

"He told me that he was obese and that he weighed 400 pounds before deciding, one day, to do something about it. He read about our race and made a commitment to himself to take part in it today, and he's lost 200 pounds.

"He's not in it to win, he's in it to meet people and better himself and maybe even live a little longer.

"He's into it because it makes you feel good inside."

The race's 2004 champion, Utah's Kevin Herd, runs at a more elite level yet seems to have a similar view. He resumed marathon training last August after taking several years off between running for Iowa in the Big Ten and building a family and business contacts.

"Running got me out of my shell (as a kid)," he said. "It opened me up. Now I'm a lot more confident than I've ever been.

"It's been phenomenal."

Herd, who traversed the 26.2 miles in 2 hours and 28 minutes to win with some ease against a wind-blasted field, was congenial and sociable as he gladly recounted a few of the particulars of his run. He looked physically strong and felt emotionally assured, pleased that he was able to win a race in only his second try since his return to the sport less than six months ago.

He, too, was running for fun, even if some gal from Delaware didn't try to snag him as he hit the tape.