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REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Reviews
REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon
4.4 Stars from
16 Runners
Absolutely beautiful!
By Emily Gray about 2024
Review
The start is cold, dress warm but use that drop bag and shed at the start. Yes mile 4 is hard, don't let it get to you. 1-18 is amazing, stunning, fun, honestly spiritual. The last 6 miles of city running will test you.
Stay close to start so you don't have to worry about traffic in the morning!
4 /
5 Stars
Fly down the canyon, survive the last 10K
By CS about 2024
Review
Revel puts on a great event. Top notch communication, race swag, expo, bus organization etc. I would highly recommend the race. I trained consistently for a 3:20 at sea level and in Arkansas humidity and met my goal in 3:19:46. I did not notice altitude having an effect. Great weather in the canyon but gets hot/flat with some inclines in the last 10K.
Race Tips
Build a time cushion in from miles 5-18 and let gravity help you. You will need every ounce of the time cushion for the last 10K
The scenery is outstanding. The organization is great. No crowds until after Mile 18. The drop is severe for this mountain stretch, and your quads will take a beating.
Race Tips
Must hill train, unless you really think you are built for the mile descent. it was about 40 degrees at the start, but in the 70s at the finish. I wore a sleeveless top. Good choice. BANK TIME! See below.
Please pay attention to this: I had an easy BQ by 5 minutes up until Mile 18. The "out and back" at that point is abysmal. It will seem uphill both ways for you. I lost several minutes as it's uphill and much hotter than when you start at 10k feet. YOU MUST BANK TIME ON THE FIRST 18. GOT IT? Yes, your quads will hurt, but just do it. You may not walk well for a few days, but you do want to BQ, right? Then bank about 10 minutes so you can put up with the last 8 miles. Good luck! We liked the Residence Inn.
2 /
5 Stars
PR and BQ with 5+ min cushion
By SM about 2018
Review
Everything, great organization, beautiful course, fast course, weekly facebook live free coaching tips, everything as expected, no race day surprise.
Race Tips
Follow weekly facebook live coaching (free) by Revel coach, Paul Carmona. It helps to strategize your pacing. Everything else is taken care of by Revel, race day bussing, parking, on course hydration, after race nutrition/recovery.
Get any hotel nearby the race day parking/bussing area. May need to drive to the parking area the day before to get familiar. Also a lot of food options/restaurants there as your training needs. On race day get there by 4:30 to give yourself enough time for port-a-john at the starting area.
5 /
5 Stars
Tail of Two different races, be ready.
By Hamed Kian about 2017
Review
I'm coming from South Florida, humidity, temperature, and elevation and the change of it are extremely different. The first 18.5 Miles were fast! High altitude had negligible effects as long as you're going downhill. It was 45 degrees in the mountains and my Garmin recorded a PR from every distance from 2miles to 30k, what happened after that is a different story. The temp was 70 degrees with a slight incline at 4300 feet elevation. It was a brutal struggle to keep things moving. At the end, the final 8 Miles might have cost me 7 minutes overall but that's negligible compared to the benefits of the first 18.5. Race organization, race support, race expo and medical personnel were absolutely top notch. This was my 17th marathon and it was nearly flawless organization. Only suggestion is to put the GU people further away from the water people so I can wash it down. I ran a 3:01:26. I was worried about it being a small race but even at my level I had plenty of other runners around me to keep me motivated. Running up on slow half marathoners in the later stages of the race was not an issue.
Race Tips
Practice downhills, practice running faster paces because you'll be running 5k pace a lot. Use KT tape, practice longer runs so that you're prepared to work very hard after 18.5. Bring your space blanket for the top of the mountain, it'ss cold when you're not moving around.
I used Airbnb and I stayed near mile 23 of the course, woohoo. No issues for travel, and traffic before or after the race.
5 /
5 Stars
Great Race!
By Andy R about 2017
Review
This was not my first choice for my initial BQ attempt but really glad it worked out! Fast course, Size was perfect, plenty of aid stations, good local cheering!
Race Tips
When I heard about the dramatic downhill of this course I got scared. My advice- drive the course the day before. This totally calmed me down. Yes, it sure has a lot of downhill but only a few sections were really steep. I planned on going out just under my BQ pace but found that very hard. I was told to shorten my stride and have quicker step turnover. This was the best advice ever!! My avg pace for the first 19 miles was 30 seconds faster then planned and without the "long stride pounding" on the downhill my quads held up ok. Yes- Be prepared for the change in the out and back, it definitely was the hardest part of the course. All in all- I got my BQ by 8 min and PR'd by 23 min!!
Since this was a last min decision to run this course I just grabbed the cheapest, closest hotel to the start. Due to the size of the race I was able to get parking no problem and only walked 5 min to the busses. ALSO- I was planning on running in Idaho the same day but the fires made smoke so bad that running seemed unhealthy. Really grateful that this race still had entries the morning before so I could "road trip" down and make my BQ dream a reality. THANK YOU REVEL!!
5 /
5 Stars
Fast and Beautiful
By Vc about 2016
Review
Absolutely fast and beautiful course
Race Tips
Very cold on top of mountain. Buy a robe or onesies at a thrift store to wear while you wait for the race to start.
5 /
5 Stars
By DW about 2016
Review
I thought the race was well organized and there were plenty of aid stations. I did PR at this race, but the course was a lot tougher than I expected. You start out with 18 miles of downhill, very steep in sections, and that beat the crap out of my legs. There's a 5 mile out and back section when you get out of the canyon that i thought was boring, then a gentle 3 mile downhill to the finish.
Race Tips
It is really cold at the start, so bundle up. They gave us hats, gloves and blanket for a reason. No place to warm up before the race.
We stayed at the Hyatt and thought it was great. Busses pick you up outside the hotel and there were a lot of food/drink options within walking distance.
2 /
5 Stars
By KS about 2016
Review
Down hill, beautiful scenery, fast, well organized.
Race Tips
practice downhill running before hand its hard on your quads.
5 /
5 Stars
By JF about 2016
Review
Beautiful course! Well supported, friendly volunteers.
Race Tips
This race can be divided into 2 parts. 18 miles of challenging, fast downhills - then 8 miles of flat/rolling hills. At that point, the scenery isn't as beautiful, you are in full sun, and the toll that the down hill took on your legs is realized. Be mentally prepared for this section of the race...it sneaks up on and can get the beat of those who aren't prepared.
Plan to rent a car!! Recommended hotels are not in a pedestrian friendly area, and cabs are a 15-30 minute wait.
5 /
5 Stars
By BAB about 2016
Review
The marathon was gorgeous and very well run.
Race Tips
The first four miles are incredibly steep. (I intended to run 7:45 minute miles, but ran the first mile in 6:27 because it was hard to hold back) The only way to get the full time advantage of this downhill course is to practice on steep hills. I ran hills and did one and two legged squats in preparation but, still, by the end of the race my legs were completely spent and sore for ten days after. The first 18 to 19 miles are beautiful, shaded and downhill, then it begins uphill (admittedly mild, but by comparison jarring) and in full sun. Also, it is very cold at the start because of elevation and early morning so bring lots of layers and the provided space blanket. The drop bag system is extremely efficient. Overall, I really enjoyed this marathon, but wish I had gone out slower.
The Crystal Inn provides nice accommodations (including race day snacks starting at 3:00 a.m.) and is within walking distance (about 1 mile) of the finish.
5 /
5 Stars
By Eric B. From Costa Rica about 2016
Review
Excellent Organization. Love the downhill. I did not feel it was hard on quads since I trained on various types of courses with hills. Made PR and only made my training for 8 weeks because of a surgery. Will do the race again.
Race Tips
Did all the race at a steady pace. Ran with 5 people at my side, did not feel crowded. Hydration every mile.
Stay at a Race recommended hotel , since organization will send pick up buses at hotel.
5 /
5 Stars
By Eric Bermundez about 2016
Review
Excellent organization and small Expo, which help me not to spend too much time walking so I could rest my legs for the race. Stayed in Crystal Inn and they offered FREE pasta dinner and breakfast to go at 3:00am. 2 race buses picked us up at the hotel to the starting line. Hydration points every 2 miles and funny signs along the race made me kept going. Very fast course and did not feel I had to brake along the course. I did a PR and only trained for 8 weeks since I had a surgery. Will race it again in 2017 and hope to train for at least 16 weeks!!!!
Race Tips
For me Miles 20 thru 24 are the tough ones, since they are flat and little slopes, also weather gets a little warm. Miles 24 til finish line are flat and little downhill which are good to give all you have left. Do some training in downhills and running hills to help legs getting used to the course...., but this course is not so bad if you have Marathon experience.
If you do not want to drive and avoid hurries, stay in the recommended hotels....the Race organizers will send buses to the hotels. Most of these hotels will offer pasta dinner and early breakfast. There is plenty of parking where the buses are waiting also.
5 /
5 Stars
By JL about 2015
Review
Revel runs a fantastic marathon. This one is scenic and fast. I have gotten my 3 fastest marathon times on Big Cottonwood (I've ran BC 3 times and done 9 marathons) the portion of the run done on Wasatch Blvd is the only negative to this marathon...it is hot and has rolling hills...I'm always on pace to qualify for Boston until I get to Wasatch Blvd.
This is one of my favorite marathons and the only one I've repeated. The course is the prettiest one I've done.
Race Tips
Practice running rolling hills in the heat at the end of your long runs and make sure you do adequate downhill training runs
5 /
5 Stars
By jimbo about 2014
Review
If you are looking to PR or BQ this is your race. Very fast race. I loved this race and will run it again in the future.
Race Tips
You will spend the first 15 miles trying to slow down. The race really begins the last 11.2 miles, make sure you still have something left for the rolling hills between 15 and 23 mile markers. Wear warm clothes because its cold at the startline.
Make sure that you pick a hotel that is part of the marathon, they will bus you from the hotel to the start line. There is plenty of parking at the finish for any people coming to support you.
5 /
5 Stars
By af about 2013
Review
It was so steep that i had to "put on the brakes" a lot. When it got to the last 10 miles of rolling hills. my legs were trashed. Definitely don't do unless you train on "steep" downhills and a high elevation. My friends that trained on that course and lived there did well.
The first 16 miles are very very steep. hold back a little because when you hit the last 10 miles of rolling hills and gradual uphill, you will need feeling left in your legs.
Absolutely beautiful!