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

The head coach of REVEL’s Online Coaching Program, who has run a Boston Qualifying time in all the REVEL marathons that he has run, has prepared detailed descriptions of the Revel Rockies Marathon and Half-Marathon courses.

Managing the Course Based On Segments

A critical component of your strategy is the course profile itself. Where are the sharp descents? Where are the climbs? Where does the course “flatten” a bit?

You want to plan your race with course segments in mind, and with an overall strategy for varying paces throughout. Your varied paces will be dictated by the elevation losses and gains, and you want to know before the race where those variations will occur.

Generally, the Revel Rockies Marathon course can be divided into five sections:

Miles 1-13: Fast Half (with 4 subsections)

Miles 14-16: Evergreen Rollers

Miles 17-20: Steady Drop

Miles 21-22: Flatten Out

Miles 23-26.2: Fast Finish

Similarly, the Revel Rockies Half-Marathon course can be divided into four similar sections:

Miles 1-3: Evergreen Rollers

Miles 4-7: Steady Drop

Miles 8-9: Flatten Out

Miles 10-13.1: Fast Finish

You can study the courses yourself on the REVEL website. You can zoom in, use the interactive elevation chart, and get a feel for what lays ahead of you on race day.

If possible, you should drive the course before race day to get a feel for what the segments look and feel like. Knowing what to expect, and when, is helpful when preparing your course strategy.

The marathon and half-marathon courses are summarized below based on the segments described above.

THE MARATHON COURSE

Miles 1-13: Fast Half

Starting at over 10,500' elevation, the first half of the marathon loses nearly 3,000' of elevation, with minimal climbing over that entire first half. The average loss per mile is more than 228' per mile, which is a 4.3% downhill grade. Be wary of a sensation of “running too fast” in this entire stretch of the race. If you feel out of control, or if you feel yourself working “too hard” while running downhill, then slow down.

Generally, it is never a good idea to divide a marathon into "first half/second half" for strategy purposes. The best way to break down the first half of the course is to think of it in 4 subsections:

Miles 1-5, which lose over 1,300' and gain less than 10' overall. In this section, the downhills are sharp at times, and you will want to take advantage of gravity by letting yourself move comfortably fast. Each of these first five miles drops well over 200' per mile, and the only climb - which is minor - is in the first mile. After you pass mile 1, the next 4 miles each drop 250' or more and gain zero.

Mile 6, which flattens out slightly, with a net loss of only 150' while gaining about 10' along the way. After the early miles of higher elevation, you will find it slightly easier to breathe, but you can expect a mild slowdown due to the lesser amount of elevation loss.

Miles 7-11, where the elevation loss is similar to the first 5 miles, but have almost no gain at all. The course drops over 1,100' over these 5 miles, and gains zero. Like the opening 5 miles, this section is where you will want to take advantage of gravity and let your pace accelerate to the "comfortably fast" edge of your ability.

Miles 12-13, where you will have turned off Squaw Pass Road onto Evergreen Parkway. Here, you will encounter short, gradual climbs. You will climb a little more than 30' here, which is more in these two miles than you had in the entire first 11 miles of the course. Although you will still be running downhill, the elevation loss of approximately 370' in this 2-mile section, paired with the short bit of climbing, will feel slower than the opening 11 miles. It won't be your imagination: the course will feel slower here.

Miles 14-16: Evergreen Rollers

Just past the start of the half-marathon, the course continues on Evergreen Parkway and gradually rolls through miles 14 and 15, then turns onto Douglas Park Road and Meadow Drive as you approach mile 16. Over this 3-mile segment, the course drops approximately 500'. The challenge is the climbing, which will be visible as you run on Evergreen Parkway. Remind yourself that overall you are still running downhill. The net elevation loss over these 3 miles is about 500 feet!

Miles 17-20: Steady Drop

Not long after you pass mile 16, you will make a hard left turn onto Bear Creek Road. Here, miles 17 to 20 each drop between 71' and 108' per mile. These are much more gradual drops that what you encountered in the first 13 miles, and are also less than the elevation loss on Evergreen Parkway in miles 14-16.

Miles 21-22: Flatten Out

Make no mistake: this is where it gets tough for a short bit. Miles 21 and 22 together lose a total of just over 120' of elevation. Compared to the early miles of steady downhill at more than 4% elevation loss, you will definitely notice how in miles 21-22, with a 1% downhill grade, it is harder to hold your pace. Moreover, the climbs that do appear in miles 21 and 22 might slow your pace noticeably. But don’t panic if you find your pace slowing in this segment. You don’t want to “push” yourself to try matching the fast pace that you held in the more downhill miles preceding miles 21-22.

Miles 23-26.2: Fast Finish

Once you reach mile 22, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish!" Even better, the downhill in the closing 4.2 miles is roughly 750’. That is over 180' per mile, or approximately a 3.4% elevation loss. You should find yourself able to resume some of the faster paces that you were able to run in the first half of the race.

One word of warning: there is a short 20-foot climb at the very end of the course as you turn onto Bear Creek Avenue and Union Avenue. It is literally within the last .10 mile, but hopefully at that point you will be glad to see the finish line ahead of you and won’t notice the short climb as the crowds cheer you on.

Summary of the Marathon Course

The Revel Rockies Marathon course loses over 4,700’ of elevation from start to finish. Over the 26.2-mile course, you likely will surprise yourself with your speed on the downhill segments. Although it is generally true that you never want to "go out too fast" in the opening miles of a marathon, remember that gravity is your friend, and you want to take advantage of the benefits of downhill running.

THE HALF-MARATHON COURSE

Miles 1-3: Evergreen Rollers

Starting at 7,500’ of elevation, the course drops almost 500’ total from the start to mile 3. You will encounter a few gradual climbs in these opening miles, but nothing too severe. What you want to do at this early stage of the race is take advantage of the downhills, take it easy on the uphills. The downhill is noticeable but comfortable – not too steep, but just enough to let your legs turn over quickly. At the same time, be wary of a sensation of “running too fast.” If you feel out of control, or if you feel yourself working “too hard” while running downhill, then slow down. But be mindful that it is expected for you to be ahead of goal pace at times during the downhill segments. Meanwhile, don’t push your pace on the gradual climbs. Remind yourself that overall you are still running downhill, and that the net elevation loss over these 3 miles is about 500 feet!

Miles 4-7: Steady Drop

Not long after you pass mile 3, you will make a hard left turn onto Bear Creek Road. Here, miles 4 to 7 each drop between about 50' and 105' per mile. These are more gradual drops than what you encountered on Evergreen Parkway in miles 1-3. There are no steep, fast drops, but also no hard climbs. As the course gradually drops, you want to maintain a steady level of effort to hold your pace.

Miles 8-9: Flatten Out

Make no mistake: this is where it gets tough for a short bit. Miles 8 and 9 together lose a total of just over 160' of elevation. Moreover, the climbs that do appear in miles 8 and 9 might slow your pace noticeably. But don’t panic if you find your pace slowing in this segment. You don’t want to “push” yourself to try matching the fast pace that you held in the more downhill miles preceding miles 8-9.

Miles 10-13.1: Fast Finish

Once you reach mile 9, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish!" Even better, the downhill in the closing 4.1 miles is steady and gradual, dropping over 700’. That is more than 170' per mile, or approximately a 3.4% elevation loss. You should find yourself able to resume or exceed some of the faster paces that you were able to run in the earlier miles of the race.

One word of warning: there is a short 20-foot climb at the very end of the course as you turn onto Bear Creek Avenue and Union Avenue. It is literally within the last .10 mile, but hopefully at that point you will be glad to see the finish line ahead of you and won’t notice the short climb as the crowds cheer you on.

Summary of the Half-Marathon Course

The Revel Rockies Half-Marathon course loses over 1,700' of elevation from start to finish. With an average loss of around 130' per mile, this one of the fastest half-marathon courses you will ever run. Over the 13.1-mile course, you likely will surprise yourself with your speed on the downhill segments.

 

Paul Carmona is the Online REVEL Coach who has designed training plans specifically for REVEL downhill courses. He is a 22-time REVEL Marathon Finisher and has run multiple Boston Qualifiers on every REVEL course that he has run, with his current streak at 20 BQs in a row at REVEL marathons!

Training Youth to Run the REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon The Launch Team's mission is to train youth of all abilities to finish the REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon in Salt Lake on September 14th. They follow a fun and progressive training program that begins in June. Participants meet with their team twice per week. Salt Lake has six locations: Cottonwood Heights, Davis County, Daybreak, Provo/Orem, Surgarhouse, or Thanksgiving Point. Las Vegas has two locations: North Las Vegas or Henderson. The program fee of $99 Includes: Race entry into the REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon on Sept 14, 2019. 12 week coaching program Group training sessions twice per week Launch Team T-shirt Las Vegas participants have the option to pay an extra $100 for travel and lodging.   TheLaunchTeam.org Volunteer Coaches Needed If you are interested in volunteering as a coach to help train the youth, please Apply. Coaches who complete the program receive a free entry to the REVEL Big Cottonwood half marathon. Duties include meeting twice per week with their team to follow the prescribed training program. No previous coaching experience is required; only a passion for running and a desire to help youth develop a love for running. unsubscribe from REVEL mailing list.

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

The head coach of REVEL’s Online Coaching Program, who has run a Boston Qualifying time in all the REVEL marathons, including all three Mt Charleston Marathons in 2016-18, has prepared a detailed description of the 2019 Mt Charleston Marathon and Half-Marathon courses.

Managing the Course Based On Segments

A critical component of your strategy is the course profile itself. Where are the sharp descents? Where are the climbs? Where does the course “flatten” a bit?

You want to plan your race with course segments in mind, and with an overall strategy for varying paces throughout. Your varied paces will be dictated by the elevation losses and gains, and you want to know before the race where those variations will occur.

Generally, the Mt Charleston Marathon course can be divided into seven sections:

• Mile 1: Warmup
• Miles 2-4: Swift Downhill
• Mile 5: Tiny Loop (with two short climbs)
• Miles 6-21: Steady and Fast
• Miles 22-23: Flatten Out
• Mile 24: Get Past This Short Climb
• Miles 25-26.2: Pick It Up for the Finish

The Mt Charleston Half-Marathon course can be divided into four similar sections:

• Miles 1-8: Swift Downhill
• Miles 9-10: Flatten Out
• Mile 11: Get Past This Short Climb
• Miles 12-13.1: Pick It Up for the Finish

You can study the courses yourself on the REVEL website. You can zoom in, use the interactive elevation chart, and get a feel for what lays ahead of you on race day.

If possible, you should drive the course before race day to get a feel for what the segments look and feel like. Knowing what to expect, and when, is helpful when preparing your course strategy.

The marathon and half-marathon courses are summarized below based on the segments described above.

THE MARATHON COURSE

Mile 1: Warmup

Starting at almost 7,600’ elevation, the start of the marathon is near the Mt Charleston Lodge on Kyle Canyon Road. The first 1/10 mile is around a small hook shape on the road adjacent to the Lodge, and it is extremely narrow with a short climb. Once you make the turn on that loop, you will be heading back toward the staging area. Then, after you pass the Lodge, the next 1/4 mile climbs almost 60’ as you exit the starting area. This definitely should be just a nice easy warmup for you. Start out nice and slow, and conserve your energy. After you get past this first half-mile, the rest of mile 1 descends about 100' with zero climbing.

Miles 2-4: Swift Downhill

After the mile 1 marker, the next 3 miles drop well over 770’ total, with an average of 4.6% downhill grade and no climbing until the last 1/10 mile before the 4-mile marker. This is a segment where you do not want to get caught up with the pace of other runners if they are passing you. You still have many miles to go, and you want to conserve your energy for the miles ahead. If you feel yourself working too hard, then simply slow down.

Mile 5: Tiny Loop (with two short climbs)

As you approach mile 4, there is a climb of about 40’ as you approach The Mt Charleston Resort on your right. Once you pass the Resort, this short climb is over. Not long after that, just before mile 5, you will reach a roundabout (traffic circle) at the entrance to the United States Forest Service’s Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway. At this point, the course diverts from the main road – Kyle Canyon Road – into the visitor center parking lot. You will make a counter-clockwise loop around the parking lot before re-entering the main road again.

The loop around the visitor center begins at mile 4.85 of the marathon. It ends at mile 5.2, so the total distance around the parking area is only about 1/3 mile. However, you will climb about 35’ for the first half of that loop, and then descend the same elevation as you exit the parking lot.

Miles 6-21: Steady and Fast

When you exit the visitor center parking area, you will be at roughly 6,600’ of elevation. For the next 16 miles, you will lose more than 3,700’ of elevation. That’s an average of about 4.4% elevation loss per mile, which is what makes this course so extremely fast. More importantly, there is only one climb in that entire stretch, and it happens about mile 12.5. That one is a short but very visible climb that is over fairly quickly: the entire climb is only about 1/8 of a mile long. Be wary of a sensation of “running too fast” in this entire stretch of the race. If you feel out of control, or if you feel yourself working “too hard” while running downhill, then slow down.

Miles 22-23: Flatten Out

Just past mile 21, you will make a right turn onto the frontage road along U.S. 95. After the previous 16 miles of steady downhill, you will certainly feel how the 4% downhill grade quickly becomes a 2% downhill grade. Keep in mind that you will still lose about 226’ of elevation in this stretch of the race, with no elevation gain. However, the flatter terrain will make it feel like climbing.

Mile 24: Get Past This Short Climb

As you approach mile 23.2, with only three miles to go, you will make a right turn onto Grand Teton Drive. The elevation at that turn is 2,659’. Then you will run a short - but steep - climb to Fort Apache Road, where you will turn left. From that turn onto Fort Apache, it is just over a half-mile to “top out” a slow climb to mile 23.95, where the elevation is 2,690’. After that, the course begins the gradual descent to the finish.

Miles 25-26.2: Pick It Up for the Finish

Once you reach mile 24, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish!" The elevation loss from mile 24 to the finish is over 170’ – a nice downhill for your final 2.2 miles! Better yet, you will encounter terrific crowds who will cheer you towards the finish line of the fast and beautiful Mt Charleston Marathon!

Summary of the Marathon Course

The Mt Charleston Marathon course loses roughly 5,100’ of elevation from start to finish. Over the 26.2-mile course, you likely will surprise yourself with your speed on the downhill segments. Although it is generally true that you never want to "go out too fast" in the opening miles of a marathon, remember that gravity is your friend, and you want to take advantage of the benefits of downhill running.

THE HALF-MARATHON COURSE

Miles 1-8: Swift Downhill

Starting at over 4,500’ of elevation, the course drops 1,660’ from the start to mile 8, with zero elevation gain in that stretch. That is an average of more than 200' per mile, which is a significant but manageable descent each mile. You will want to manage the early part of this downhill segment by easing into your pace, settling in for the long haul, and letting gravity pull you along at a comfortably fast pace. You should not feel as if you are running “too hard” or “too fast.” If you do, then you should ease back a bit and aim for a “comfortably hard” pace.

Miles 9-10: Flatten Out

Just past mile 8, you will make a right turn onto the frontage road along U.S. 95. After more than 8 miles of steady downhill, you will certainly feel how the 4% downhill grade quickly becomes a 2% downhill grade. Keep in mind that you will still lose about 200’ of elevation in this stretch of the race, with no elevation gain. However, the flatter terrain will make it feel like climbing.

Mile 11: Get Past This Short Climb

Just past mile 10, with about 3 miles to go, you will make a right turn onto Grand Teton Drive. The elevation at that turn is 2,659’. Then you will run a short - but steep - climb to Fort Apache Road, where you will turn left. From that turn onto Fort Apache, it is just over a half-mile to “top out” a slow climb to mile 10.8, where the elevation is 2,690’. After that, the course begins the gradual descent to the finish.

Miles 12-13.1: Pick It Up for the Finish

Once you reach mile 11, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish!" The elevation loss from mile 11 to the finish is over 170’ – a nice downhill for your final 2.1 miles! Better yet, you will encounter terrific crowds who will cheer you towards the finish line of the fast and beautiful Mt Charleston Half-Marathon!

Summary of the Half-Marathon Course

The Mt Charleston Half-Marathon course loses more than 2,000’ of elevation from start to finish. With an average loss of more than 150’ per mile, this one of the fastest half-marathon courses you will ever run. Over the 13.1-mile course, you likely will surprise yourself with your speed on the downhill segments.

Paul Carmona is the Online REVEL Coach who has designed training plans specifically for REVEL downhill courses. He is a 21-time REVEL Marathon Finisher and has run multiple Boston Qualifiers on every REVEL course. His current streak is 19 BQs in a row at REVEL marathons!

Paul Carmona is the Online REVEL Coach who has designed training plans specifically for REVEL downhill courses. He is a 21-time REVEL Marathon Finisher and has run multiple Boston Qualifiers on every REVEL course. His current streak is 19 BQs in a row at REVEL marathons!

As you work your way through a training plan, your mileage and intensity build over a course of weeks. If you are training properly, your plan will start with relatively light effort and modest distances a few months from race day. As the weeks pass, your mileage and intensity levels will build, peak, and then taper.

Your total weekly mileage is your training volume. Your total weekly mileage and intensity together are your training load. Your overall goal is to gradually increase training load, with regular “step down” weeks for recovery, until you are about a month out from your target race. This is known as the “peak” of training, when your volume and intensity – your training load - are at the highest points of your training cycle. In other words, your mileage and intensity both “peak.” After that, you taper to race day.

There is no “magical point,” like a specific day, where your training load should peak. Instead, it is a period, generally about a month away from your race, where you are running more miles and with more focused intensity than at any other time in your training cycle. This is your “peak period,” not a “peak point.” Accordingly, you should think of your “peak” in terms of weeks, not a single point.

Keep in mind that the peak period is not the point at which your performance should “peak.” Ultimately, you want your performance to peak on race day. Your training plan should still contain high intensity, like pace work and speed work, inside the final weeks of training. You do want to give yourself more rest by lowering your volume, but you should maintain your speed and high-level performance as you approach race day. If all goes according to plan, the lower mileage during the taper will leave you feeling more rested, but the continuing intensity will have you feeling fast and ready for race day.

If you are uncertain about how to structure a training plan for your half-marathon or marathon, consider working with an experienced coach who can guide you through training. Your coach will help you find the proper volume, load, buildup, peak, and taper for your race.

 

Paul Carmona is the Online REVEL Coach who has designed training plans specifically for REVEL downhill courses. He is a 20-time REVEL Marathon Finisher and has run multiple Boston Qualifiers on every REVEL course that he has run, with his current streak at 18 BQs in a row at REVEL marathons!