Bette Voorhees 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon Published: Oct. 25, 2016, 9:56 a.m. 0 1

1. Overall Rating

   5/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   Cool weather, great run down the canyon. Another run with my daughter Jami! She keeps me motivated and running straight ahead to the finish!! Love her!

3. Did you PR?

   Cut a few seconds off. At 73 that's good news, don't you think!

4. How would you describe the course?

   One of the best ever. Fall colors are coming on, love to run down hill, it keeps me cool.

5. Tell us about your training.

   Not a good thing this year. Had eye surgery so I had to stop for a few weeks. Started in June and it was hard to stay focused and stay motivated. Did one long run a week before the race. I'll do better next year.

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

   We enjoyed the treats, picture taking and cheering others has they came to the finish line. It is one of the best organize runs I have done. Thanks to all the volunteers!

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Benjamin Higbee 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Published: Oct. 5, 2016, 3:32 p.m. 1 1

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Rose Henry-Madison 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Published: Sept. 21, 2016, 9:52 a.m. 1 1

1. Overall Rating

   3/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   Most favorite were the Photographers! They were great. Expo was a disappointment, and I was told I would have to pay $5.00 to exchange my shirt size. Bummer

3. Did you PR?

   Yes I PR'd by 20 mins ;)

4. How would you describe the course?

   Loved the course, with the exception of miles 18.5 to 23.5. took the wind out of the race.

5. Tell us about your training.

   I trained, injury free for 16 weeks solid, 3 weekday runs, and 1 long run on Saturdays. No down hill training, but lots of leg work in the gym.

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   Just have fun!!!

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

   Visited Downtown SLC. I traveled via plane from Atlanta, GA

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Roxanne Hutson 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon Published: Sept. 16, 2016, 10:48 p.m. 0 1

1. Overall Rating

   3/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   Running by a stream.

3. Did you PR?

   No, 7 minutes later.

4. How would you describe the course?

   Running through the chilly shadows of the canyon, listening to the babbling stream, muscles feeling the aching from the constant steep downhill, and seeing the stunning sunrise bring the Trees alive to look like fire.

5. Tell us about your training.

   Training runs in our local canyons that similar elevation grades. Trail running.

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   Bring throw away sweats from a thrift store or hand warmers for freezing wait at the top.

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

   High west distillery, scheelzs, antelope island, sugar house, Ruth's diner!

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Taylor Curran 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Published: Sept. 13, 2016, 9:48 p.m. 0 1

1. Overall Rating

   5/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   Unforgettable experience! I'm from Iowa, so training for a downhill like that and the change in elevation was a huge challenge and my legs are still feeling it, but overall the scenery was so beautiful and everything about the course was so well organized I didn't have a complaint. My favorite memory from the race would be the last mile when I made a running friend and we helped distract each other for that last leg then raced each other to the finish :)

3. Did you PR?

   Yes!! I PR'ed by 11 minutes and also, I qualified for Boston with almost 5 minutes to spare!

4. How would you describe the course?

   The elevation change is huge and there are some very steep downhills that are fun to go fast down at first, but near mile 15 my calves were screaming for me to stop and run uphill instead. The beautiful scenery is a great distraction when you remember to look around and enjoy the view. For the out & back, you run into the sun on the uphill then when we turned around I didn't feel the wind anymore. That whole section was difficult for me, but once you get back on the main stretch, the sun is at your back and the wind is coming towards you again to cool off, which made as a great finish for me.

5. Tell us about your training.

   After my first marathon, I stopped following a schedule. I think that you really need to listen to your body and do it when you're ready physically and mentally. I did a lot of hill training and ran in the middle of the day when it was the most humid to try and adapt for the elevation change (600 ft in Iowa to 9,000 ft at the start) and I think that really helped because I didn't feel like the elevation affected my performance like I thought it would. I didn't do as many longs runs as I should have over the weekends, but I ran more 6-10 mile runs throughout the week. I did a 20 mile run two weeks before then 13 a week and a half before and felt like that worked well for me. I started writing my runs down on a big calendar and that really helped me follow through better. I will definitely be doing that for Boston and planning out my runs much further in advance.

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   It is very very chilly at the start! Bring baggy sweatpants and a warm sweatshirt that you can wear up until the start. They are very organized with their drop bag system so you can get your stuff very easily after the race. I ran with a sweatshirt for the first few miles then dropped it near an aid station, but a lot of runners start in shorts and a tank. The course is going to work your calves and quads like crazy so make sure they are trained and ready to go for race day!

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

   Prior to the race, we visited Park City one night and downtown Salt Lake City all day before the race. There are lots of things to see and do that aren't too far from Cottonwood Heights. The massage and compression boots offered after the race were super nice, but unfortunately I didn't get to try them because I got in line too late. After the marathon, we traveled down to Moab to visit Arches National Park ,which was spectacular, and I highly recommend for any out-of-staters to make the trip!

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Rachel Miner 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Published: Sept. 13, 2016, 1:30 p.m. 3 1

1. Overall Rating

   5/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   The top was a little crowded and I felt like I had no room to warm up and move so I was really stiff when starting.

3. Did you PR?

   Yes. My last marathon was 4:08 and I did 3:53. I was shooting for boston I missed it by 8 minutes.

4. How would you describe the course?

   Great until mile 18 and then not prepared for the 5 out and back.

5. Tell us about your training.

   I have been training for 30 weeks. I took some of Hal higdon training sheet and then worked up to where I needed to be to start at the last 25 weeks. I did take off 4 weeks in May for Thyroid surgery.

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   Be ready to go up hill at mile 18, so train past 50 miles a week to get the endurance.

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

   Just stayed in the finish area until I could walk, haha I thought there would be more at the end, booths, expo, etc...

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Jack Brechtel 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon Published: Sept. 13, 2016, 8:53 a.m. 2 1

1. Overall Rating

   5/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   Nothing really prepared me for waiting in the cool weather being from the New Orleans area where it is almost completely flat and currently still hot/humid. Cold temperatures rarely bother me when I am moving around, but holding still for an hour even in the manageable 40s was difficult, I needed to also bring a blanket and some windbreakers. Once we got going though, I warmed up easily and no issues.

3. Did you PR?

   No PR, but as long as weather and conditions are tolerable, I'm typically satisfied with a sub 1:40 time in a half-marathon distance, which I achieved (1:37:55). Was pretty content with this one esp. since I am not used to thin air/altitude and downhill racing.

4. How would you describe the course?

   Absolutely beautiful. I enjoy the scenery where I live, but I like to travel every now and then to hills and mountains. I was not prepared for how steep some of the declines were though, if I went too fast in some spots I felt like I was going to trip over myself.

5. Tell us about your training.

   No real defined training method for this. It's currently still humid where I live and few hills, so any hill training is hard to simulate. Basically through all summer I tried sticking to a schedule of running 5 days a week of about a 5-7 mile distance, and I biked once a week. I've also run plenty of full marathons so as long as I maintained some form of distance training, I knew I would probably be all right.

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   Try to bring your own blanket or extra layers if possible. Gear check is simple and I'd over-prepare with extra clothing while waiting in the mountains. Just shed all the extra layers BEFORE starting and check everything in right before race time.

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

   Traveled from my hometown of Mandeville, about a 30-35 minute drive north of New Orleans. I really enjoyed Ensign Peak in SLC and Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake when I was in the area as well.

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Paul Carmona 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Published: Sept. 13, 2016, 8:20 a.m. 2 0

1. Overall Rating

   5/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   30-ish degrees at start, cold/cool downhill course, excellent volunteers, outstanding finish area and volunteers.

3. Did you PR?

   No PR, yes for BQ (8 REVEL marathons, 7 BQs).

4. How would you describe the course?

   Tough but manageable mile 3 to 4 around the ski resort, nice downhill all the way to canyon exit, challenging out-and-back (but manageable with proper course strategy and planning), and very welcome downhill the last 2 miles.

5. Tell us about your training.

   I trained with REVEL Online Coaching!

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   Consider training that is specific to DOWNHILL racing. REVEL Online Coaching provides exactly that.

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

   Rested! Came from Austin, TX.

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Amy Archibald 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Published: Sept. 13, 2016, 7:57 a.m. 0 0

1. Overall Rating

   4/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   Great race organization. Parking and busses were convenient and on time. Gloves, hats, and blankets in race packets were perfect to stay warm while waiting for start. Plenty of portapoties. Gorgeous scenery.

3. Did you PR?

   I didn't pr but it was my 3rd fastest of 11 marathons. Easily qualified with 1/2 hr under my BQ time.

4. How would you describe the course?

   Spectacular scenerey. Plenty of well stocked water stops. The steep grade was much harder than I expected. After about 16 miles the pounding began to be painful on my legs, especially my calves. I didn't notice the high elevation even though I came from Oklahoma 1200 ft.

5. Tell us about your training.

   Living in Oklahoma I wasn't able to train on steep hills so I wasn't prepared for the grade. If I did it again I would do a lot of squats and lunges. If you are going to run this marathon I would only recommend it if you are able to train on a steep grade.

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   We had a great experience at holiday inn express- clean, free shuttle to busses, sack breakfast with banana, muffin and water. Delicious lunch at porcupine grill. Bring clothes to shed, it was only in the 30s at the top.

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

   We had fun meeting up with friends. We planned to see the sights after, but were so sore we just layed in bed and watched college football!

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Julie Montoya 2016 REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon Published: Sept. 12, 2016, 11:26 p.m. 0 0

1. Overall Rating

   5/5 Stars

2. Describe your race day.

   I was in UT for a wedding and decided to do this last minute. Everyone involved was so nice and helpful from the expo to the finish line. Probably the most memorable thing was seeing a moose in a meadow around mile 2. Scenery was beautiful. Glad I did it!

3. Did you PR?

   I did PR.

4. How would you describe the course?

   Beautiful scenery. Downhill. Was afraid the elevation would bother me, being from sea level, but I was fine. It didn't bother me at all.

5. Tell us about your training.

   I'm preparing for a Half in Oct but hadn't trained for downhill. My thighs were very sore the next day.

6. What advice would you give future runners?

   I had planned to wear a long sleeve and capris. After a day in UT, I purchased a throw-away fleece at a local thrift store. I'm glad I did. It was very cold at the top and a long wait. The mylar blanket keeps you surprisingly warm and I wore the gloves for a few miles. I shed the fleece at mile 4 and was fine in my light long sleeve.

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

   I traveled from San Clemente, CA. Visited with family, ate amazing food at Waffle Love after the race. Twice. Visited downtown SLC and attended a wedding reception in Tracy Aviary in Liberty Park. Beautiful!

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