Congratulations! You’ve trained for months, gritted through the mileage, raced under the glittering lights and crossed the finish line of the Las Vegas Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon. And now you’re tired, hungry and cold, your legs feel like pool noodles and your feet are protesting with every step. Don’t worry. Vegas has your back, and everything you need to recuperate after an epic race.
The Park
Give your body a boost. Prolonged exercise depletes supplies of antioxidants and electrolytes, but you don’t have to guzzle Gatorade to recover. Hit the Juice Standard at the Cosmopolitan for cold-pressed, nutrient-dense elixirs like the immune-boosting Bee WHealthy with cucumber, kale, apple and ginger or the Bee Energized with cucumber, carrot, apple and beet, designed specifically for post-workout sipping.
Chill out. Skip the ice soak and head to Qua Baths and Spa at Caesars Palace, where the Arctic Ice Room provides a chilly counterpoint—complete with snow!—to a full array of saunas, steam rooms and tubs of various temperatures.
Refuel the Vegas way. Depending on your weight and pace, most runners torch over 2,000 calories during the course of a marathon. Lucky for you, the Strip is a buffet of restaurants from opulent steakhouses to sleek sushi bars to actual buffets, like Bacchanal at Caesars Palace. This expansive all-you-can-eat buffet cooks up about 500 items daily, so you can refuel with crab legs, dim sum, pasta, tacos al pastor or all of the above.
Stretch out in the sky. Sore muscles love the gentle stretching and lengthening of yoga. But this is Vegas, so there’s no need to lock yourself in a steamy studio to work it out. Take your downward dog and warrior 1 to The Linq’s High Roller observation wheel for hourlong, personalized yoga sessions inside moving pods that soar 550 feet above the Strip.
Treat your feet right. Canyon Ranch’s Healthy Feet Center knows what running a marathon does to your body, so let them guide your post-race recuperation. Book the All-Star Treatment for Athletes to address tight muscles and painful IT bands or the Foot and Leg Rejuvenation to reduce swelling and boost circulation. And because running wreaks havoc on toes, there’s also the Foot Rescue pedicure—new toenails not included.
Party—but not too hard. You deserve a celebratory drink, so wear your Runner Perks wristband to Bellagio’s Lily Bar & Lounge for two-for-one pours or enjoy VIP entry for the runner and a guest at Hakkasan after the race. More in the market for a low-key cocktail? Make your way to Skyfall Lounge atop the Delano, where you get 25 percent off the check and a panoramic view of the miles you just completed.
Skyfall Lounge
Take a walk in the park. Your hamstrings are on fire and your quads feel like jelly, but spending the next few days curled in the fetal position or sitting on the couch will only make things worse. You need to go for a walk, warm up sore muscles and help them rebuild. Stroll through the new Park between New York-New York and Monte Carlo and maybe treat yourself to a waffle sandwich from Bruxie. You’ve earned it.
Bear up for what's next. Finding the motivation to work out after a big race is tough, but one of the best ways to get pumped is grabbing some new gear. Between Champs Sports, Under Armor and Lululemon, there’s enough sweat-wicking, Lycra-infused athletic wear at Fashion Show to prepare you for whatever adventure is coming up.
