Las Vegas Weekly

December 7, 2008 · 10:12 AM

Vegas runner cleans house at L.V. Marathon

By Robin Leach

Abebe Yimer wins the Las Vegas Marathon.

Photo: TVT

A former Palms housekeeping employee, 28-year-old Abebe Yimer -- who moved to Las Vegas from his native Ethiopia -- won this morning’s 4th annual Las Vegas Marathon with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 29 seconds. Abebe picked up a winner’s check of $8,000 for his victory.

His best time for any event was 2:13:52 in the Houston marathon in 2006. He relocated to Vegas after running the Boston Marathon in 2001. He reunited with family who were living here and landed a job at the Palms. He went on to win the old Vegas marathon in 2004 when it ran on a course from Primm.

Photo: TVT

Abebe Yimer.

"It was a little colder here this morning -- and coming from Africa, I really don’t like cold weather to run in," he told me seconds after he broke the tape at the finishing line. "I am so happy to win. I think of myself as a local now, so it’s great to win it for Vegas in Vegas."

Abebe gave up his Palms job when he decided to dedicate more time to distance running, traveling throughout the country and around the world. "Running is now my full-time life," he added.

Photo: TVT

Marathon runners at the starting line.

He says it will take him about three weeks to be completely back to normal after this morning’s grueling run, which began shortly after 6 a.m. in pre-dawn darkness.

Photo: TVT

Female winner Nadezhda Tuptova.

The first woman to cross the tape was Russian athlete Nadezhda Tuptova, who is from near Moscow and who had already won three American marathons this year.

Photo: TVT

Mike and Emily, a pair of engaged marathoners.

The most touching moment at the finishing line, where I held the winners’ tape, was when Mike Elsbree dropped down on bended knee and proposed to his girlfriend Emily Raymond. He pulled out a tiny box from his water-pack and slipped the square-shaped diamond ring on her finger. They both burst into tears when she said "yes" to his marriage proposal.

The couple from San Mateo, Calif., had dated for eight years but broke up for two years and reunited through running. "This was my first marathon," Mike said. "I vowed to myself if I made it, I'd marry her. She kept me going through the race, and now she'll keep me going through life."

More than 15,000 runners from every state in America and 47 countries participated in this year's marathon. Vegas hometown hero Bernie Yuman, who manages Siegfried & Roy and Muhammad Ali among many others, fired the starter’s pistol at 6.07 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay starting line. It signaled an incredible fireworks show to light up the Strip for the runners, It is the only time in the year -- except for New Years Eve -- that the Strip is shut down to all traffic.

Photo: TVT

Bernie Yuman, armed but not in a dangerous way.

Next year, the Las Vegas Marathon will be organized by Competitor Group, which produces several rock-and-roll themed marathons at different locations across America. Peter Engelhart, president and CEO, was on hand with Bernie to watch this year's festivities. It included some 47 couples who were married and renewed vows in a 3-minute ceremony at the 5-mile marker. Services were conducted by the Running Reverend, Jaime Firzlaff, at her Special Memory Chapel.

Photo: TVT

Competitor Group CEO Peter Engelhart and Bernie Yuman.

Last night, 171 running Elvis Presley-suited sports couples -- men and women -- bulked up for today's run, devouring more than 400 pounds of pasta and 40 pounds of salads.

Photo: TVT

The first Elvis to cross the finish line has that hound-dog look.

Photo: TVT

Marathon winner Abebe Yimer does some post-race editing with author Robin Leach.

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