Interesting races that I’ve heard about recently:
Hot Chocolate 15K/5K
There isn’t a ton of information about this race online, but from what it looks like is that it is hoped it will be a series that is in several different locations. Right now they have a Chicago and a Washington DC race scheduled for this fall. The finish line party includes hot chocolate and chocolate fondue from Ghiradelli and the participant goodie bag contains a wind & water resistant running jacket. This race does not have Vegas on the schedule right now, but they should!
Merrell Naked Foot 5K
While the focus of this series is to educate people on minimalism, anyone can run in it no matter what footwear they elect to wear. The series started in Santa Barbara, CA, then to Boulder, CO and will continue in Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, Tennessee and Texas. The event will include a 5K, but also they plan on having 1 mile grass runs, free kids 1K, Tarahumara games and green living vendors involved. Again, another race that doesn’t have Vegas on their schedule.
Night of the Running Dead
This is a race that my brother-in-law sent to me, asking if we had a race like this in Vegas. I only wish! It is a hilarious concept! The race takes place in Salt Lake City and benefits the Huntsman Cancer Foundation (my mom was treated at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in SLC, they took good care of her!) The unique and funny part of the race is that everyone is encouraged to dress up. You can either register as a “Human” or as an “Undead” participant. The human runners start 2 minutes before the undead wave. Thus, you have the undead chasing the humans!
Las Vegas needs more cool running series to come to town. We don’t have any of the big series you see advertised, except the biggest series of all (the Rock ‘n’ Roll series – which would be absolutely ridiculous if they didn’t come here.) But I think we need the Women’s Half or Diva Half or See Jane Run or Warrior Dash or _______ (fill in the blank) series. (But it does appear that Tougher Mudder is going to be here in 2012!)
Jill Will Run 
I haven’t heard of those races. They sound like fun! I would love some of the women’s races to come here as well. Tinkerbell is the closest for us. You running that one??
The Gladiator Run is a fun one that comes here. You should e-mail them and tell them to go to Vegas. The creator seems very open to suggestions. I’m surprised they don’t already.
My old coworker would be all over the barefoot race. Her and her husband would run barefoot all the time.