My wife enjoy an every-other year trip to Las Vegas to see the band 311 on their fan appreciation weekend. It usually takes place on March 11th (3-11) and is aptly called: 311 Day. The band has been around for 30+ years and the fan base is aging, to put it kindly. Most of the fans enjoy the party that comes with Vegas, but a small group of fans was forming that was using their shared connection of music to share their fitness journey.
While poking around fan groups, I stumbled upon that Facebook group sometime in 2021 and quickly made friends with the very welcoming members. The group was filled with everyone from people just starting to move to high powered athletes. Seeing the positive energy in the group motivated me to get everyone together for some kind of event. With Las Vegas being the city of sin, I decided we needed an athletic based event for us all to meet. What better than a no frills 5k?
I scoured the local map looking for something reasonably close to the strip while also being a valid venue for a bandit 5k event. The idea was to just show up and run it. No timing, no t-shirts, no frills. Just a bunch of music fans walking, jogging and running a 5k the day of a 4 hour concert.
Sunset Park presented itself as the perfect setting: an urban desert park with a perimeter running path that I could map a perfect 3.11 mile long course. My wife created commemorative bibs to hand out to participants; the most official aspect of the entire endeavor!
The 2022 edition of 311 Day would serve as the inaugural 311 Day 5k. I put out the message and quietly hoped more than my wife and friend would show up to run. As it turned out, enough people showed up that I was instantly nervous! Before the event I ran the course myself to check distance. Still winded from my own 5k, I stood on the bench and welcomed all the participants to a gorgeous race morning. We handed out bibs, lined everyone up and started the first ever 311 Day 5k.
We did it in 2024. And again in 2026 marking the 3rd edition of the event. We all showed up at Sunset Park and ran the day of the concert. Again. And loved every minute of it. I offered free couch to 5k coaching for members of the group and was able to take one motivated athlete to the start line!
So long as there is a 311 day, I will be race directing this free 5k for the love of running!
2022
2024
2026
