Amber Gleason

2018 REVEL Big Bear Marathon
Published: Oct. 14, 2018, 7 p.m.
  1. Overall Rating

    5/5 Stars

  2. Describe your race day.

    Amazing course that was well supported. The weather was perfect. Well organized start line area with runner set corrals based on finish time. Very little course congestion.

    At the end when I was struggling other runners asked if I was ok and encouraged me to keep going. Such a great race experience. It reminds me of the trail running community.

  3. Did you PR?

    Yes. I set a 29 minute PR. This was a trail run to see how close to my BQ I was. I was on track until mile 21 when I had some GI issues.

    I LOVE Revel Races! The atmosphere is so much different than a regular road race.

  4. How would you describe the course?

    Gorgeous scenery. I loved running through the cloud covered mountain tops. The uphill sections at the beginning of the course were challenging due to both the altitude and elevation gain but were manageable. Downhill grade was perfect but I did t like how much the course flattened out at the end.

  5. Tell us about your training.

    I have an amazing coach who trained me well. I ran 7-10 miles on a downhill course every week. I also completed a 16-mile long run down Mt Lemmon in training.

    I ran a 5k, 01k, half marathon race challenge three weeks prior to this race in Paris, France. I had signed up prior to Big Bear. The running and international travel had a small impact on my final training runs.

    Downhill training is key. The more you run downhill the better your body will be adapted for a Revel Race.

  6. What advice would you give future runners?

    Use gravity to your advantage. It shouldn’t feel easy but it shouldn’t feel hard. Watch out for the banked curves downhill. Try to find the flattest spot so you don’t put too much pressure on your body. Throw away clothing is key. It’s always colder at the top than it is at the bottom. Too many runners dress for the cold and end up carrying their extra layers when they get too warm. Thursday is dollar day at Goodwill - take advantage. It doesn’t matter how ugly it is as long as it keeps you warm and it is easy to shed.

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

    I traveled from Phoenix, AZ. We drove in Saturday and attended the expo and left after the race since I have to work Monday morning.

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