ML - Vegas Magazine

2013 - Issue 7 - November

Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.

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DESERT PATROL Nicole Christenson (CENTER) is bringing rock-star appeal to an event that will attract some 30,000 participants. evening of November 17, is Christenson's biggest project of the year, and she's been training for this job for a long time. An enthusiastic runner, she studied marketing at UNLV, graduating in 2011, but her love of a good spectacle goes back much further. "I grew up obsessed with events and entertainment," she says. "All through college I worked around events and entertainment." This passion for putting on a show runs very much in the family: Her father, 1976 NCAA wrestling champ Pat Christenson, is president of Las Vegas Events Favorite run: and a luminary of local event planning. "Sunset Park, Like father, like daughter: After college, around the pond. It's the only place when an opportunity came up with the San to run near water Diego–based Competitor Group, an indusin the desert!" try leader in large-scale endurance events Pre- (or post-) and owner of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon race splurge: franchise, it was, Christenson says, "a no"Serendipity 3 brainer." Kicking off in San Diego more has desserts like no other. than 15 years ago, the concept adds live Comme Ça is by music along the course and a post-race confar my favorite cert, creating a dynamic and fun event restaurant in that's become wildly popular, spreading to Las Vegas." dozens of cities around the world. Including, of course, Las Vegas. It's Christenson's third year working the race and her first in the driver's seat. But what excites her more than pulling off a successful race, she says, is the chance to be responsible for an event that brings thousands of visitors to her hometown. "We're looking at over 30,000 runners this year," she says. "It's about 90 percent out of area. We bring people from all 50 states and more than 40 countries. It really does impact the city." Before the runners hit the finish line, however, there MARKETING PRO NICOLE CHRISTENSON IS HITTING THE are major hurdles to overcome. "The biggest chalGROUND RUNNING AS SHE PLANS THIS YEAR'S VEGAS lenge," says Christenson, "is also the greatest part of EDITION OF THE ROCK 'N' ROLL MARATHON. BY DAVID LANDSEL the race: shutting down one of the most famous streets in the world, and doing so at night. That challenge, I think, is not only working with the city; you're working ears before Green Valley native Nicole Christenson became event with all of the hotels—communication is important. "Last year I was at the finish line," she adds, "and I remember taking a secmanager of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Las Vegas, she had it in her sights. "I am going to run that race," she recalls telling her ond to look around, thinking, 'We did this.' Watching someone accomplish family. And while she has yet to actually run the marathon, that's only something they thought they'd never do, being a part of that and being able to do it in my home city, is really incredible." The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Las Vegas because she's too busy, well, running it. The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, which will take over the Strip on the starts on November 17 at 4:30 PM at the Luxor Festival Lot; runrocknroll.com V INSIGHT Y 52 PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACOB KEPLER Marathon Woman VEGASMAGAZINE.COM 052_V_SP_DP_Nov13.indd 52 10/22/13 11:25 AM

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