Altered course may yield record times

For 12 years, Frank Plasso has watched to see if a runner would beat his record.

But now it's the course that eventually might do him in.

Plasso has held the Las Vegas International Marathon record since 1986, when he ran it in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 37 seconds. No other LVIM runner has even broken 2:13.

That, however, could change this year. The 26.2-mile course has been altered, allowing it to culminate at Sunset Park, the site of the race's finish line from 1970-82.

The change was made to accommodate the race's growth as nearly 7,000 runners are expected to compete. The parking lot at Vacation Village had long been the final destination. But asphalt isn't as comfortable as grass when a marathoner needs to recoup.

Pushing the finish four miles north moves the start to Jean, near the Gold Strike Hotel, and eliminates an entirely uphill stretch of State Route 604.

"The marathon course itself is faster," LVIM director Al Boka said. "The overall course is a minute or two faster than it ever has been."

The race starts at approximately 2,900 feet above sea level and rises to its peak of just under 3,100 feet barely beyond mile marker No. 7.

But from there it's all downhill, plummeting nearly 900 feet by the 18th mile. The finish line is at 2,200 feet.

That could bode well for three-time defending champion Zoltan Holba. The Hungarian ran his personal best time of 2:14:15 last year.

"I like the new course," Holba said through an interpreter Thursday. "But I think going up the first four miles was good for me. I think that's why I won the previous three races.

"I like running upward."

Plasso agreed with Holba, stating downhill running isn't as easy as many believe.

"It tends to grind you down the first half of the race," Plasso said. "It takes something out of you. Running downhill is hard on your body. If you're not prepared it's going to take it's toll."

Plasso still lives in Las Vegas and owns Elite Discount Health Foods with his wife, Donna. The four-store chain specializes in nutritional supplements for runners.

"Running downhill is about four times your body weight dissipated through your lower body," Plasso said. "When you run on an even surface, it's two or two-and-half times.

"The strain tightens your calves, quads, hamstrings, lower back. And it's hard to get through that. Once you tighten up, you're toast."

But Plasso said Holba's experience on the course should continue to pay dividends. Every year Holba has won, he has improved his time.

"I think he's mastered this course," Plasso said. "He never seems to be in pain. You see runners who have turned in sub-2:10s behind him.

"I think the fourth one is going to be the charm for him."

Yet Plasso, whose running career ended in 1990 when he was struck by a drunk driver while training, wouldn't mind too much if the winner didn't beat his time. He has breathed a sigh of relief the past few years as race officials routinely predicted the record would fall.

"You don't mind, put it that way," Plasso said of watching runner after runner fail to catch him. "Let's just say you're not squeezing for him to do it. I'm human in that respect.

"It was always a personal sentiment of mine to last until the year 2000. But if it happens, it happens."

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