Sherrie Shepherd

2017 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon
Published: Sept. 10, 2017, 3:05 p.m.
  1. Overall Rating

    3/5 Stars

  2. Describe your race day.

    This is my 3rd time running the full. So, I'm well aware of the course, but somehow it managed to chew me up and spit me out. It's a very tough course and deserves respect for sure. I struggled but that doesn't have anything to do with race planning other than the difficult course. I have plenty of suggestions for the finish line, though. I didn't like that the only place you could get water was right after the finish and once they corralled you out you could go back in. I was dying of thirst and couldn't get more water. Also, the food at the finish is wanting. Pizza? Yuck. That's for the night before. Some good cold chocolate milk and some fruit (not a banana) would have really hit the spot. And could the course be rerouted to finish at a park so there's more flat grassy areas for runners to stretch and recover?

  3. Did you PR?

    I set a goal for a 4 min PR. I PRd in April at Revel Mt Charleston and I had high hopes to exceed that performance. It wasn't in the cards. My finished time was about 17 min slower than my A goal, 13 min slower than my PR and 4 min slower than my course PR for BC. I did BQ by about 13 min though!

  4. How would you describe the course?

    Scenery was amazing! The downhill section is tricky because you want to just coast down and there's not much left in the legs for the out and back and the finish. It is definitely a difficult course and deserves respect!

  5. Tell us about your training.

    I used The Hansons method. I piggy backed off my my mileage base from training for Mt. Charleston in April. I trained 6 days a week, averaging between 50-60 miles per week. I believe my training was solid. I believe my bonk was purely mental and emotional fatigue due to personal circumstances.

  6. What advice would you give future runners?

    Practice on the course, dress for the heat, stay hydrated and mentally prepare for the grueling trek of the out and back.

  7. What fun things did you do in the area before or after the race?

    Watched friends cross the finish, then went home. I live in a Davis County.

Comments

  1. Erin Mikkelsen
    Sept. 14, 2017, 1:54 p.m.

    They ran out of chocolate milk and everything else. I finished in 3:45 nothing was left but used towels, warm Powerade and water. I agree with you, up your game Revel and take care of your marathoners!

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