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REVEL Big Bear Marathon Reviews
REVEL Big Bear Marathon
4.1 Stars from
8 Runners
Canceled with minimal prior communication
By NN about 2024
Review
Would have loved to run this race but it was cancelled via text message at 2:34 AM when I woke up to get ready for the bus to the start line. To say this was disappointing doesn't even begin to cover it. it is incomprehensible that organizers gave zero notice and said nothing prior to that if you are clearly watching for inclement weather and shows a huge disregard to runners who have travelled from all over, spent 100s of dollars, not to mention months of training.
Editor's Note: The 2024 Revel Big Bear Marathon was cancelled due to "unsafe and undrivable road conditions at the higher elevations of the course. The half marathon was held and marathoners had the option of running the half marathon or receiving a race credit for future Brooksee event.
0 /
5 Stars
PR city
By mikeaubz about 2023
Review
Lived up to the hype of being fast and beautiful! Be patient the first 9miles then let the gravity take you home! Race converter predicted i run 2:51:34 i ran 2:51:29 a 5min 32sec PR. REVEL races has nice small details like giving you armbands, gloves, foil blanket, post race bag tags and results card and free beer at the finish! Definately want to run another REVEL race.
5 /
5 Stars
LOVE this course!`
By Kerry about 2021
Review
I love Revel races but this is definitely my favorite. The views are gorgeous and the course is FAST! Tons of water stops along the way, but could've maybe used 1 or 2 more at the end because it got pretty hot at the finish. Love getting the finish info printout at the end and lots of food and drinks to choose from. I will be back next year to tackle the half marathon.
Race Tips
Definitely take the first 9 miles or so on the easy side, and then let it rip! I held back slightly under race pace and went easier on the rolling hills in the beginning, and then I was able to really pick up speed after that. Even with a warm finish, I was able to negative split the course, get a 13+ minute PR and my first BQ ever!
Stay at a hotel close to bus pickup so you can just walk over there in the morning. The buses take you from the finish to the pickup spot.
5 /
5 Stars
PR buster!!
By Bob about 2021
Review
This race was tremendously run and an absolute pleasure to run. My previous best was a 3:17 and I have been training for a sub 3:00 for a few years now but failed miserably in the heat and humidity of Chicago 2021 so I needed redemption. I ran an almost perfect marathon, for me, here in this race and ran a 2:54. The review that said to warm up the first 3 miles, go easy on the rollers and let the decline do the work for you was perfect. I slowed my pace a bit the last 3 miles so I still have work to do but this race was amazing!!
Race Tips
I had almost no preparation for this but optimally gym work to strengthen your quads would help a lot.
I stayed at a cheap hotel near the course which was gross, save your money a little and go to the Hilton!!!
5 /
5 Stars
Organizers Failed to Transport us to the Start Up in the Hill in Time
By TC about 2018
Review
The course is undulating, in the first half, downhill in the next 15 km, then flat for the last 6 km or so. The organizers did not communicate to the bus drivers where the full-marathon start was. Two buses, including the one I was on, went to the half-marathon start and were asked to wait there for more than 20 minutes, causing late arrival at the marathon start and a panic situation, with the national anthem playing, when we got down The organizers did not have an explanation as to what happened and could not contact the bus drivers, And when asked the same question in a weekly Facebook presentation later, the question was repeatedly avoided. The bag to drop off clothes tore off from the chord and fell to the ground, as I was walking to a bus. I had to get a new bag. The sad thing was that because of the bus delay, I put my Smartphone in the wrong bag in the darkness of the bus; lost important photos from other races and valuable stored data.
Race Tips
Advices would be to take the earlier buses and to hold onto your bag, while carrying it, by the belly or the neck and not by the chords. Check with the bus driver if he or she is going to the half- or the full-marathon. Ask it twice. In weekly FB presentations, keep on asking as to what steps the Revel is taking to transport runners to the start area in time. Let them understand that it is their "priority one" to transport you there. The revel is run by a few young people who are there to look after their own interests, not that of the runners. They also tend to ignore feedback.
Marriott Residence Inn worked out for me. It is about 7 minutes walk to the bus pick-up. Most of the hotels are in that area.
3 /
5 Stars
Train for Downhill or Die
By DH about 2018
Review
Revel always puts on a wonderful race. It rained so the outdoor Bib P/U was a bit of a letdown. All the workers were great and very positive. Race day is well planned. I agree with the other comment about Canyon City much more scenic but the course was definitely more downhill. I finished pretty late at 5 hours and 15 minutes ( augh) so the finish line was rather uninspiring. You can't beat the medal, free photos and the boiler plate video with your personal pictures mixed in is really nice. This years shirt was pretty sharp as well. I really hope the new venue builds a bit bigger field... although the smalle field does lend itself to faster times.
Race Tips
I made a big mistake and didn't train very much for this race..... so I died. The comment about training and getting used to a faster cadence is really important. I want to go back and run this while being in shape next year because I know there is a killer time waiting. This year I wish I would have called UBER around mile 21. The downhill is endless and speed is there for the taking if you train for it.
I stayed at a hotel 7 miles away and it took 10 minutes to get there and get dropped off. The instructions given by Revel are very good.
5 /
5 Stars
Boston Here I Come!
By Russel Y. about 2018
Review
Fantastic super-downhill course + the usual Revel excellence in race support, admin, and features = a great race experience and my best race ever (it was my 15th marathon, this one became my new PR, and a solid BQ!). Great communication and logistics, great support stations on the course plus mile markers every mile. We got perfect weather (canyon shade for first hour, then mostly cool & cloudy). Not quite as pretty as the old Revel Canyon City course that this one replaces but still plenty scenic and a much better elevation profile. BUT it did rain the day before, so could have easily rained the day of, that would have made it a very different day.
In the Revel swag bag you get some thowaway gloves and a space blanket to use while waiting at the top. (Was in the low 40s while we were waiting for the start.) I also brought some disposable hand warmers to stick in the gloves, those are great. I saw some folks shivering hard. Revel runs an excellent bag check, so I wore a down jacket to wait in, and stuffed it in the bag close to start time. Lots of portapotties at the top but always still a wait of course. You might want to bring some TP just in case you get the lucky one that ran out.
Race Tips
Starts with a couple of fast downhill miles, then some mild rolling and climbing, just take it easy. Miles 9 - 21 are fantastically downhill, this is where the magic happens. Last 5 are milder downhills plus a bit of flats and tiny bit of climbing. Last 0.7 mile is a straight downhill shot with the finish line visible all the way. The only very slight problem was traffic along miles 24-25 or so, it's a pretty main road there and they couldn't keep the vehicles single laned, so sometimes they crowded us a bit.
Plenty of water, gatorade, gu, and portapotties on the course.
Had nice coach buses to bring us up to the top, comfy enough for a little snooze (it's like an hour ride).
Easy to fly into Ontario then drive about 45 min. to Redlands. We stayed in an Airbnb house in Yucapia, which worked out well. University of Redlands looks very lovely, I wish we had made time to visit. We did drive all the way up to Big Bear Lake (1h+ drive), which was beautiful.
5 /
5 Stars
Great Course!
By Andy R about 2018
Review
Like all Revel races it was very well planned out. Plenty of support and not too big.
Race Tips
Race starts out with rolling hills for the first 8.5 miles but still is net downhill for this section. Legs feel especially heavy in a couple of the hills since you are running at altitude. DO NOT LET THIS WORRY YOU!! You can make up the difference on the steady decline which starts just before mile 9. Try to save a little for the last couple miles since it has some flat sections- Need to have a good finish stride. Overall, I recommend this course for a PR. But.. Be carefull on the downhill, my advice is to increase your cadence so you are not running your typical stride. The downhill will feel great but many runners I saw pass me with long strides were slower after mile 22. Brag section.. My previous PR was a 3:07. Here yesterday with great conditions I was able to get a 2:53 and change. Very pleased by this course!! I will be there again next year for sure.
