A course strategy – and overall race strategy – is a must for optimal performance on race day. Whether this is your first REVEL Big Cottonwood race and your goal is simply to finish, or you are a Big Cottonwood 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, Coach Paul, has run a Boston Qualifying time at all of the REVEL marathons and has excellent insight on how to tackle the REVEL courses. Coach Paul has prepared a detailed description of the 2023 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon and Half-Marathon courses. See his course preview below!

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 Big Cottonwood Marathon course can be divided into five sections:
Miles 1-3: The Steep, Speedy Start
Mile 4: The Loop
Miles 5-18: The Canyon Drop
Miles 19-23: Around Holladay
Miles 24-26.2: Flat 5K
Similarly, the Big Cottonwood Half-Marathon course can be divided into three sections:
Miles 1-9: PR Territory
Miles 10-12: Gradual Downhill
Mile 13-F: Flat Finish
You can study the courses yourself on the REVEL website. The online interactive chart allows you to zoom in and get a feel for what lies 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 1-3: The Steep, Speedy Start

Starting at over 9,600 ft elevation, most of the first 3 miles of the course are on Guardsman Pass Road and include several turns and switchbacks. Overall, this first 3-mile segment loses more than 900 ft of elevation. That is a significant elevation loss, and you will want to manage the drops by easing into your pace, settling in for the long haul, and letting gravity pull you along at a comfortably fast pace. Resist the urge to chase people as they pass you. While you want to take advantage of gravity, 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.

Mile 4: The Loop

You will leave Guardsman Pass Road where it intersects with Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, turn left, and start climbing towards the Brighton Resort where you will loop around the resort area and then head back toward the point where you began the loop. Over the course of The Loop, you will climb 130 ft to the highest point of the loop. 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, many miles to go, and you want to conserve your energy for the miles ahead. If you feel yourself working too hard, then simply lower your level of effort. Do not work extra hard in this mile trying to maintain a target pace. Climbing 130 ft at a high altitude is hard enough, so just keep moving to get past this mile.

Miles 5-18: The Canyon Drop

From mile 4 to mile 18, just before you exit Big Cottonwood Canyon, you will experience the fastest part of the marathon course, with an elevation loss of nearly 3,800 ft. There are a few small, short climbs here and there in this segment, but they are minor in comparison to the overall elevation loss. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself running well ahead of your goal pace throughout this section. The average elevation loss is 270 ft per mile. This segment is where the downhill profile of the marathon course will benefit you significantly. At the same time, be wary of the sensation of “running too fast.” If you feel out of control, or if you feel yourself working “too hard” while running downhill, then lower your level of effort. But be mindful that it is expected for you to be ahead of your goal pace during this long downhill segment of the race.

Miles 19-23: Around Holladay

Just before mile 18, you will leave Big Cottonwood Canyon Road and make a right turn into the parking lot for the Big Cottonwood Canyon Park & Ride. The course runs along the back side of the parking lot and then enters the Big Cottonwood Creek Trail. For the next 5 miles, the course winds through trails, bike paths, and roads as you run north and west around Holladay. Much of the course is shaded in the segment. This 5-mile segment loses 556 ft of elevation. Although this is a -2.1% grade (averaging -111 ft per mile), it will feel slower compared to the preceding 14-mile segment where the average net downhill per mile was 270 ft. Don’t panic or become discouraged if you find yourself slowing down, or if it suddenly feels harder to maintain your pace. After the significant drop of the early miles, along with the typical late-stage fatigue that is common in marathons, your legs might feel heavy and you might feel as if you are working very hard to keep going. But the key will be to keep going.

Miles 24-26.2: Flat 5K

Past mile 23, the course flattens noticeably and has a gradual, 2-mile climb at miles 24-25. Mile 24 gains 24 ft, and mile 25 gains 20 ft. Also, the tree cover is mostly gone in these closing miles. Expect to slow down in the segment. Just keep your legs moving and accept that your pace will slow markedly. Mile 26 loses 40 ft, which is not much but will make it easier to slowly get back to your goal pace, or close to it. The final .2 loses 8 ft, which is essentially flat. All totaled, the course has a net downhill of only 4 ft from mile 23 to the finish, which is why this is called “Flat 5k” (although at 3.2 miles it technically is slightly longer than 5K). The good news is that you will start to encounter terrific crowds who will cheer you toward the finish line of the fast and beautiful Big Cottonwood Marathon!

Summary of the Marathon Course

The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon course loses almost a mile of elevation from start to finish, dropping a total of 5,231 ft. 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 1-9: PR Territory

Starting at almost 7,300 ft elevation, the half-marathon course drops 2,531 ft from the start to mile 9. That is an average of 281 ft; per mile (-5.3% grade), which is a significant drop. You will want to manage the early downhill drops by easing into your pace, settling in for the long haul, and letting gravity pull you along at a comfortably fast pace. If you are keeping tabs on your splits, don’t be surprised to see that you are running well ahead of your goal pace throughout this section. At the same time, be wary of the sensation of “running too fast”. If you feel out of control, or if you feel yourself working “too hard” while running downhill, then ease back a bit and aim for a “comfortably hard” pace. But be mindful that it is expected for you to be well ahead of your goal pace during this long, downhill segment of the race. Shortly after mile 8, you will leave Big Cottonwood Canyon Road and make a right turn into the parking lot for the Big Cottonwood Canyon Park & Ride. The course runs along the back side of the parking lot and then enters the Big Cottonwood Creek Trail. For the next several miles, the course winds through trails, bike paths, and roads as you run north and west through neighborhoods. Much of the course is shaded in this segment.

Miles 10-12: Gradual Downhill

Miles 10, 11, and 12 together lose 344 ft; of elevation. Although this is a -2.2% grade (averaging -115 ft per mile), it will feel slower compared to the preceding 9-mile segment where the average downhill per mile was -281 ft. You can expect a short slowdown here due to the lesser elevation loss. You will need to “switch gears” to a slower pace based on even effort and should be prepared to run much slower than the first 9 miles of the race. Likewise, you really do not want to concern yourself with runners passing you if that happens. It is easy in a race to get caught up with the pace of other runners. You still have a few miles to go, and you want to conserve your energy for the closing downhill miles ahead. Pay attention to your breathing and heart rate. If you feel yourself working too hard here, then simply slow down.

Mile 13-F: Flat Finish

The final 1.1 miles of the course loses 41 ft of elevation, making it feel totally flat compared to the preceding 12 miles. However, there are no significant climbs, so you might feel comfortable locking in right at goal pace, if not slightly faster, for the finish. In this final stretch, the crowds of spectators will grow larger as you make your way toward the finish line of the fast and beautiful Big Cottonwood Half-Marathon!

Summary of the Half-Marathon Course

The REVEL Big Cottonwood Half-Marathon course loses 2,916 ft; of elevation from start to finish. That's an average of more than 220 ft; per mile, making 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 29-time REVEL marathon finisher and has run multiple Boston Qualifiers on every REVEL course. His streak stands at 24 successful BQ efforts in a row at REVEL marathons.

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 a 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 four times at the REVEL Rockies Marathon, has prepared a detailed description of the 2023 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 lies 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 the 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 has 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 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 than what you encountered in the first 13 miles and are also less than the elevation loss on Evergreen Parkway in miles 14-16. This is where you want your pace to be steady and even, mimicking the steady, gradual downhill.

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 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 to match 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 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, and 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 the 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 to match 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 is 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 29-time REVEL marathon finisher and has run multiple Boston Qualifiers on every REVEL course. His streak stands at 24 successful BQ efforts in a row at REVEL marathons.