2016 Canyon City Marathon and Half-Marathon Course Previews

A course strategy – and overall race strategy – is a must for optimal performance on race day. Whether this is your first REVEL Canyon City race and your goal is simply to finish, or you are Canyon City veteran aiming for a PR or BQ, you should have a well-planned strategy for how you intend to manage the course!

Our head coach, who has run a Boston Qualifier in all of the REVEL marathons, has prepared a detailed description of the Canyon City Marathon and Half-Marathon courses.

READ MORE

REVEL Canyon City Runs Past Historical Area

Just past the start of the REVEL Canyon City Half-Marathon, and near mile 14 of the marathon, is the Rincon Fire Station for the Angeles National Forest. The fire station sits on the former site of the historic Camp Rincon, which was one of the premier resorts of the San Gabriel Canyon from the late 1800s to late 1930s. Camp Rincon offered a popular swimming pool, cabins, and hotel resort for tourists and gold miners until it was washed away by floods. Nearby, in the West Fork of the San Gabriel Canyon, are several large rocks bearing ancient Native American markings.

REVEL Canyon City: A Famous Road and a Bridge Without a Road

Looking for something "off the beaten path" to do while traveling to race at REVEL Canyon City? Spend the afternoon or evening walking the downtown area of Azusa, along Foothill Boulevard (the famous "Route 66") near Azusa Avenue. Visit the site of the iconic Azusa Foothill Drive-In Theater, which opened in 1961 and closed in 2001 as the last remaining drive-in theater on Route 66 west of Oklahoma. The drive-in sign is still standing, and you will see it only a few hundred feet past the race finish line! For more adventurous types, check on the day long hike to the famous "Bridge to Nowhere," a dramatic arch bridge built in 1936 that literally goes nowhere. The road that was intended to cross the bridge was washed out completely in 1938, after which the project was abandoned. Be advised: this is a day-long hike, which begins a few miles north of Azusa off of Camp Bonita Road, but well worth the trip!

Training Tip: Practice Your Pace

When training for a marathon or half-marathon, be sure to practice your goal pace regularly in the weeks leading up to your race. How far and how fast should you run? That depends on your race distance (26.2 or 13.1), and your experience level. Advanced marathoners should run anywhere from 7-14 miles at or close to goal pace several times in training. Beginner marathoners should run 4-7 miles at goal pace a few times in training. For the half-marathon, advanced runners should tackle at least 5-6 miles at pace once or twice, while beginners should practice 3-4 miles at goal pace.

CHECK OUT REVEL COACHING OPTIONS

Online Coaching for Boston Marathon

Now Available: 2017 Boston Marathon Coaching Program! Using his coaching methods that have proven successful for runners of all levels for more than a decade, our coach will help you reach your Boston Marathon goal using a custom tailored plan specifically designed for the Boston Marathon.

BOSTON MARATHON COACHING

Price Increase Nov 22, 2016!

All finishers at this year's REVEL Canyon City will receive a nice refreshing bottle of Aloe Gloe to help rehydrate after the race. With over 200 bio active ingredients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and more, this locally made Aloe Vera water is certified USDA Organic to help you Gloe from within!

Get ready for the colder weather with a long sleeve REVEL running shirt. This lightweight yet warm quarter zip will be the perfect addition to your Fall running wardrobe!

REVEL Quarter Zips

With REVEL Canyon City coming up next month we have some very large teams nearing the finish line for the largest team! SoCal MRTT is currently in the lead with 63 while Pasadena Pacers, Forrest Runners Club, and Keep it Moving 2016 are close behind with 55, 44, and 40 participants respectively.

Arianne Brown, a 3 hour 15 minute pacer at the Big Cottonwood Marathon shares how helping others achieve their goals can also help you. Read how Arianne got past her own race day woes to help a group of runners achieve their Boston Marathon Qualifying goals. 

Congratulations to Lesley Bodley who ran the 2016 REVEL Rockies Marathon. She was randomly selected as the winner of a FREE race entry to any 2016/2017 REVEL event. Keep your eyes out each month to see if you're the next random winner. Lesley, email revel@runrevel.com to claim your prize.