Yes, the marathon is a USATF certified Boston-qualifying marathon course. Certification AZ17304JOE.

Runners must complete the race in 6.5 hours or less

Assuming the daily cap of 262 registrants is met and the race proceeds, it will NOT be possible to withdraw from this race and receive a refund, nor will it be possible to defer participation from this race to a future REVEL. This policy is due to the nature of this race being capped at a very small participant count, and purchases being made immediately following the closing of the registration window. 

It will be possible to transfer a race entry to another individual, per usual at REVEL events.

The entire policy can be seen on the Transfer page.

Because this race is being capped at an extremely low participant count, we fully anticipate that the event will occur. Steps are being taken to ensure that we adhere to all permit and health department guidelines. However, in the extremely unlikely scenario that the race is forced to cancel due to COVID-19 restrictions, all participants will receive a full refund. 

If the race is cancelled for any other reason not related to the COVID-19 pandemic (such as weather conditions) refunds will not be issued. Under this scenario, runners would receive a partial credit of their registration fees that may be used towards future REVEL races.

The entire policy can be seen on the Transfer page.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will not be a traditional large pre-race expo. Instead, runners will need to attend a simple Packet Pickup on the afternoon before their race, anytime between 3:00-6:00PM.

Runners will be allowed to use earphones on the course. However, for your safety we highly recommend that you keep the volume of your music low enough to still be aware of your surroundings, as police officers, volunteers, or emergency vehicles may need to get your attention at some point along the course.

Because of both logistical and liability issues, we are not currently allowing strollers on the buses or in the event. We're sorry that we are not able to accommodate you at this point, but will keep these requests in mind for future years.

We will send an email prior to race-day asking for permission to have the photos given to you directly via Facebook. Alternatively, they will be made available on your results page several days following the race. Once the photos are in your possession they are all yours! 

The entire race is run on paved road. 

Because the canyon portion of the race is significantly downhill, the cardiovascular requirements during this portion are largely minimized. Additionally, atmospheric oxygen levels will increase as runners descend the canyon, allowing runners to benefit from increased oxygen intake as they progress in the race. Based on the experiences of runners coming from lower elevation in previous years, altitude has not been a factor and many have been able to achieve personal records by significant amounts.

Increased speed on a downhill slope also increases footstrike impact and works your muscles differently compared to running on flat surfaces or uphill slopes. The bottom line is that if you prepare by following a few simple training guidelines that are specific to downhill racing, you will be able to take full advantage of this course without adverse effects. See our Training page for more specific and comprehensive advice on preparing for a downhill race.