Elvis (aka Mike Wardian) Wins Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon

Elvis (aka Mike Wardian) crosses the finish line after winning the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday evening on the closed-down Las Vegas Strip. Photo: Ryan Bethke

On a night when more than 30,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes ran along a packed Las Vegas Strip beneath the glare of casino lights, the GEICO Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon celebrated a fitting winner.

Elvis!

Running his first race in an Elvis Presley costume, Mike Wardian not only won the marathon, but set a pending Guinness World Record for fastest marathon in an Elvis costume. With his black pompadour bouncing off his head, Wardian crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 38 minutes, 4 seconds.

The old Elvis marathon record was 2:42:52 set by Ian Sharman on Nov. 29, 2009.

Standing in front of the Mirage Casino moments after the volcano erupted, Wardian was asked how he pulled off the feat.

“The energy of the crowd,” he said. “And Elvis definitely helped. It was much less me and more him tonight.”

The Strip is closed to traffic two nights of the year–New Year’s Eve and for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon. Thousands line Las Vegas Boulevard and they filled Wardian with love.

“The King is here,” some shouted as he passed.

“Viva Las Vegas,” others screamed.

“Thank you, thank you very much,” cried some.

At 42, Wardian is a three-time U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier and recently set a new record for running all six World Marathon Majors in an average time of 2:31:09. He lives in Arlington Va., and pays the bills as an international shipping broker. On a beautiful warm evening beneath a golden full moon, Wardian needed all the spectators’ love.

He barely beat 24-year-old Eric Fitzpatrick of Boise, Idaho. Fitzpatrick finished 53 seconds back in 2:38:57.

“The guy is very humble and down to Earth,” said the 24-year-old Fitzpatrick. “I hope I’m doing that when I’m 42.

Idaho’s Chelsey Leighton won the women’s division of the marathon in 3:12:11.

History was set in the half marathon as well. Kenya’s William Kibor set a race record, winning in 1 hour, 1 minute, 21 seconds. The old record was 1:01:40, set by Ethiopia’s Bekana Daba in 2009.

Elkanah Kibet of Kenya placed second, more than two minutes back in 1:03:35.

It turned out to be a Kenyan sweep in the half marathon as Elvin Kibet won the women’s race in 1:15:32. Katja Goldring of Flagstaff, Ariz., finished second in 1:16:10.

In the men’s half marathon, Kibor wasted no time taking the lead, zooming out in front early, running by himself the rest of the way.

“Always, when I’m alone, I’m running terrified,” said Kibor.

It worries him, he said, that someone might be gaining. So he kept looking over his shoulder but no one was in sight.

“Can’t help it,” he said. “When I’m in front, I’m scared.”

As for The Strip, at night, Kibor loved the atmosphere.

“Las Vegas, the lights, the music, the spectators, it is very beautiful,” he said. “Maybe I can stay in Vegas. Maybe I can get married here.”

Elvin Kibet, the women’s winner, was aiming to break her personal record, set last month when she won the Denver Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. She finished 10 seconds shy of her time in Colorado and blamed it on going how too fast, too soon.

“I was excited,” she said. “Maybe a little too excited.”

The 5-foot, 90-pound Kibet gave Las Vegas two very big thumbs up.

“It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “The music is great. I think I will come back every year. This is the best course ever.”

The Geico Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon attracted runners from all 50 states and 83 countries.

The race began in the late afternoon on the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard across the street from Mandalay Bay. Among the costumed characters were Spiderman, Forrest Gump, T-Rexes, Wonder Woman, Superman and too many Elvis impersonators to count.

San Diegan Henry Chan may have been the most dedicated Elvis. He ran bare footed, which he has now done for more than 50 half marathons.

A common line Chan hears from fans along the course: “Where are your blue suede shoes?”

But on this evening, Chan, at best, was the second most famous Elvis.

Mike Wardian stole the show. He didn’t know he was leading the marathon for certain until the finish line was in sight.

“It was so cool,” he said. “I kept repeating this phrase. ‘Taking care of business.’ I just repeated that mantra the last couple of miles.”

Knowing the victory was his, he finally celebrated.

“I was so happy to see the (finishing) clock,” he said. “That’s when I could start slapping the spectators’ hands.”

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