It was an emotional run for Whitehorse runner Sara Galbraith in her fourth trip to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon.

The phrase ‘Vegas Strong’ streamed the marathon course, Galbraith said, and a memorial was set up to honour the victims of the Las Vegas shooting in October that killed 58 people.

Galbraith, who was running the full marathon in Vegas for the second time, said the race used to start around where the shooting happened and it was moved further away this year.

She also noted the added security, but people were out to have a good time.

“You could almost tell there was an overwhelming sense of love and people were happy to be there,” she said. “People wanting to overcome that sense of fear.”

The race itself was almost picture-perfect for Galbraith who had the goal of running under 3:50:00 after finishing in 3:55:00 in last year’s race.

She was able to beat her goal by almost a minute finishing in a time of 3:49:13.

Galbraith said she hoped to place in the top 10 in her age group as well, but her goal time put her in 15th out of 212 runners.

“It was amazing. I was so happy with my time,” Galbraith said. “It’s nice to be able to improve from year to year.”

Normally going down with her young family, Galbraith went alone on this trip but was joined by another Whitehorse runner Ceerena Rows who ran her first half-marathon finishing in a time of 2:32:10.

With the cold and snow upon Whitehorse, Galbraith said the weather in Vegas was a great running change and also praised the atmosphere on the strip and all of the fans.

“As a Yukoner, it’s really nice to come to these events,” Galbraith said also noting the Kiss and Elton John impersonators along the side during the race. “Running in the Yukon is another type of sensory overload, in nature and not being around people. Running down the strip and there’s lights everywhere, bands playing around the strip the whole time.”

Galbraith grew up in Whitehorse and started running at the age of 13 when her father asked her to join his team for the Klondike Road Relay from Skagway to Whitehorse.

She grew up as a middle-distance runner competing in cross-country in university before “embracing the fact” she’s more of a long-distance runner.

Next for Galbraith, she is pondering participating in the Yukon Arctic Ultra in January following the route of the Yukon Quest trail. With race distances up to 400 miles, she said she would look into the marathon.

Running is also a family affair for Galbraith and she doesn’t do her training alone.

“I’m appreciative of the fact I’m still able to train with my baby in the stroller,” Galbraith said. “Twenty kilometres with her and then 10 kilometres on my own.”