REVEL Big Cottonwood Presented by Albion

Edwin Churchill

2015 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon
Published: Sept. 16, 2015, 7:33 p.m.

Overall Rating

5/5 Stars
Describe your race day.

It was chilly but not cold at the start of the full marathon. After the start, it was a fast run with simply amazing scenery. This was my seventh marathon and it was the most scenic one by far! The aid stations were well manned and the volunteers were extremely helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.
Did you PR?

I PR'd by nearly 15 minutes.
How would you describe the course?

The scenery was amazing. The elevation start at about 9700 feet allowed for an 18-ish mile downhill start with only one short (half mile) uphill section around Brighton Ski Resort. After the out-and-back on Wasatch Blvd, the course again turned downhill to the end. This is a great course to PR on if you've trained your legs for the downhills.
Tell us about your training.

I thought I included enough downhill training, but my legs (quads) were pretty shot by the end. I guess there's no such thing as too much downhill training!
What advice would you give future runners?

Train for long, hard downhills. During the race, just appreciate the amazing views and the first 18 miles will just vanish! Save a little energy for the out and back on Wasatch and then cruise on home!
What fun things did you do in the area before or after the race?

Coming from New Jersey, the low humidity made the temperatures seem cooler than the thermometer was reading, and that made it fun to go hiking in the mountains, even in the midday.