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Traveling to Vegas for work - Finding ways to train

Patrick MarshPatrick Marsh
in General Training Discussions
I want to train outdoors while I attend a three-day conference for work in Las Vegas, a town not famous for healthy lifestyles.  Has anyone ridden out to Red Rock and rented a road bike to do so?  

So far, I have plans for a long run and swim.  I am doing a 10-mile trail run on Monday at Red Rock, and have found a municipal pool for laps.  However, I am contemplating a 3-hour training ride and was wondering if anyone has done this.

I will post everyone next week with my training experiences.  

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer!

Comments

  • Attila MatyasAttila Matyas
    Maybe something like this: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/04/recovery-riding-swimming.html https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/04/working-weekend-in-vegas.html
  • Patrick MarshPatrick Marsh
    Thanks @Attila Matyas

    Here's what I was able to accomplish:

    - Cycling: There are two good bike shops that rent high cycles: Pro Cyclery and Mcghei's Cycles.  Both shops are pretty close to Red Rock Canyon.  They are about a $15-$20 Uber ride from the airport or from the strip.  (There may be more shops, but these seemed to have the most reviews and easiest to find online). I was able to get 55 miles and 3000 feet of climbing in by doing a ride up Red Rock Canyon Rd, past Blue Diamond (a small village) and then on to Route 160 back into Las Vegas.  Then you take a left on to Fort Apache Rd, which can get a bit trafficky, back to the bike shop.  That loop is very popular and about 32 miles.  Then, I went back to the Red Rock Canyon overlook point to add another 22 miles to my ride.  The crew at Pro Cyclery was knowledgeable and had my bike ready when I arrived (you have to call 24 hours ahead).  It was a great ride.  Highly recommended.  People also do 100-mile rides out to the Hoover dam.  While this may seem far, the desert is easy to navigate because you can see landmarks that are 50 miles away.  

    - Running: I did the "Scenic Loop" at Red Rock Canyon.  Incredibly beautiful place with easy to follow trails.  However, there were a lot of steep (greater than 10%) grades that were very tough.  Unfortunately, the park is pretty far from the strip.  We did it as a group of 20 and rented a small bus.  You may want to get a rental car for a day.  A roundtrip Uber ride would probably be $70.  (The scenic loop would be a great place to ride your road bike, however it was under major construction while I was there.  Also, the guys at the bike shop warned me against going during the weekend afternoons given the amount of car traffic.)  We ran at 5:30 am and it was empty, except for the construction crews.  Last year I ran along the strip in the morning, which was kind of fun.  However, there are lots of spots where the sidewalks end, or where you have to run up steps and then through some indoor shopping areas in order to cross the street.  Running up to the airport and getting a photo of the Welcome to Las Vegas sign seems to be the go-to route.

    - Swimming: There are municipal pools.  $3 admission fee.  However, all of the outdoor pools are closed during the colder months.  I went to the Pavilion Center Pool.  It is indoors and open year-round.  There were just two senior citizens in there while I swam, but you should call ahead (702-229-1488) because they do have youth swim teams that train there.  This pool was far.  It was a $23 Uber ride each way from the Strip.  

    Key takeways: 
    - Great cycling opportunities outside of Las Vegas
    - Running along the strip is novel, but not all that pedestrian friendly if you want to run far
    - There are municipal swimming pools.  However, only a few are open during the cooler months, and these are far from the strip.  However, at $3, they are a bargain
    - Uber is nearly 50% less expensive than taxis
    - If you are going to a conference, find triathletes in advance - we are everywhere - because the transportation to these good work areas can get pricey.  I have to do this same conference next year.  However, I met two triathletes that are in the same business, so I will arrange swims and bike rides before we get there so that we can split the transportation costs.  
    - Winter mornings are cold (30-40s and windy) and summer afternoons get above 100 degrees.  However, mornings are good year-round.  Just check the weather reports and bring appropriate gear.
  • Ross KaffenbergerRoss Kaffenberger
    @Patrick Marsh Great writeup. I'm impressed how much you were able to fit in on top of a conference. Must've taken quite a bit of planning in advance.

    It occurred to me it'd be a great resource to compile best swim/bike/run options for travelers to major urban areas around the US and the world. "Yelp for traveling triathletes"
  • Patrick MarshPatrick Marsh
    @Ross Kaffenberger Thanks.  Hearing about the trail run the year before, and having a brother who rented a bike before in LV made me realize that there were training options available if you planned ahead.  That is a good idea about a compilation of city travel tips.  One of the things I like best about EN is the ability to tap into other triathletes' experiences  

    @Brenda Ross How do we create a new training discussion for EN triathletes to get workouts in while traveling?
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