Returning for the big race

Britons coming to Las Vegas to run in annual marathon

From left in back, Mark Coomber, Steve Jessup, Chris Wolfe, and in front from left, Helen McDonald and Su Wolfe are coming from England to participate in the Las Vegas Marathon this weekend. From left in back, Mark Coomber, Steve Jessup, Chris Wolfe, and in front from left, Helen McDonald and Su Wolfe are coming from England to participate in the Las Vegas Marathon this weekend. From left in back, Mark Coomber, Steve Jessup, Chris Wolfe, and in front from left, Helen McDonald and Su Wolfe are coming from England to participate in the Las Vegas Marathon this weekend. From left in back, Mark Coomber, Steve Jessup, Chris Wolfe, and in front from left, Helen McDonald and Su Wolfe are coming from England to participate in the Las Vegas Marathon this weekend. From left in back, Mark Coomber, Steve Jessup, Chris Wolfe, and in front from left, Helen McDonald and Su Wolfe are coming from England to participate in the Las Vegas Marathon this weekend.

A team from England is traveling more than 5,000 miles to run a collective 26.2 miles in the 39th Las Vegas Marathon this weekend.

Chris and Su Wolfe were married at the Graceland Wedding Chapel six years ago and decided Las Vegas would be a nice place to run. Six additional supporters also are coming to cheer on the team.

"I really didn't tell them, actually," said Su Wolfe of her four other teammates. "I told them after I put their names in. Everyone runs the London Marathon, so (we thought we'd) do something different. It's kind of an excuse to go on holiday. It'll be worth it."

The English team, which consists of the Wolfes, Helen McDonald, Steve Jessup and Mark Coomber, will be running for a cause. Coomber, McDonald and Su Wolfe lost their fathers to cancer and Coomber's wife, Paula, has been in remission for six years.

The team is planning to raise funds for three causes --- Leukemia Research, Kent Hospice and Cancer Bacup, a telephone service for people with cancer. As of Jan. 17, the team members raised $3,000, with a limitless goal.

"They're just wonderful people," Wolfe said of the Kent Hospice, where her father spent his last days. "It's where angels work."

The Las Vegas Marathon, the 17th oldest marathon worldwide, has 10,000 runners from 50 states and 20 countries participating in three events, including the 26.2-mile marathon, half marathon, five-person marathon relay and the International Friendship 5K. Prizes for the winners total more than $100,000.

The two-day event will begin with the Fitness Expo from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Luxor, where runners can retrieve their registration packets.

The International Friendship 5K is set to begin at 6 a.m. Saturday in the Excalibur parking lot. On Sunday, the half marathon is set to begin at 6:30 a.m. in Sloan. The wheelchair division will begin at 7:20 a.m. and the marathon will kickoff at 7:30 a.m. at the Goldstrike in Jean.

Award ceremonies are set for Sunset Park, at Sunset Road and Eastern Avenue, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the official close of the finish line at 2:30 p.m.

The first 12 miles of the course will be closed to traffic with the rest of the course closely monitored and reopened according to a five-hour marathon pace.

The English team has been training for the flat course and its members are looking forward to the dry weather of Las Vegas. They've been training for the last four months in typical English weather, Wolfe said.

"We get wet (in England). You don't," said Wolfe, laughing

.Registrations for the Las Vegas Marathon, half marathon and International Friendship 5K are still accepted. The cost is $90 for each.