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Michael Schwartz
2016 REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon
Published: May 8, 2016, 3:07 a.m. 
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Overall Rating
4/5 Stars
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Describe your race day.
Plastic cups? Plastic cups??!! Bad choice. You can't pinch plastic cups. Drinking on the run or while walking quickly can be a little messy if you don't pinch the cup. And lots of those plastic cups ended up on the ground. If you kept moving at a good pace, you ended up past the last trash container when you finished drinking. One or two more trash containers are needed at each aid station. Other than that, everything went smoothly. The buses were the nice ones, not school buses, the race started on time, volunteers were all great and stayed at the side of the road without crowding the runners path, the medal and shirt were quality stuff, the timing tag stayed on the bib, not the one that goes on your shoe, and so many other details that make a race more enjoyable. One more cool detail that most people won't notice: The course elevation profile is a subtle design element in the upper left corner of the bib. As the Terminator would say: I'll be back!
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Did you PR?
PR by 6 minutes
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How would you describe the course?
The course started out in a forested area at high elevation with a prominent, somewhat demanding downhill grade, transitioning to the high desert landscape with a more moderate downhill grade, and going into a suburban area with some flat stretches during the last 10K. The finish is at a very nice park with lots of places to stretch, relax, meet with friends, etc.
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Tell us about your training.
I didn't train any differently for this race since I always do hill repeats when preparing for a marathon. It's somewhat hilly where I live so training runs always involve running uphill or downhill. Make hills your friend and find a place to run that has an uphill section of at least 3 miles, then run back down that part.
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What advice would you give future runners?
Even though it's downhill, the high elevation in the early miles will have you breathing a bit harder than normal. And be ready for cold temperatures. The beanie and mylar blanket you get are a good start, but the gloves are too open a weave. Have gloves that keep the cold air out and your fingers warm.
Make sure your shoes are in good shape. If you have too many miles on them, the cushioning will compress too easily and won't protect you from the greater impact of downhill running. If you're not sure, go to a running specific store with a staff of experienced runners and get their input. Get shoes that are the right type for your feet and running mechanics and feel right as soon as you put them on, not the ones that look cute or cool and just feel okay. -
What fun things did you do in the area before or after the race?
My post-marathon recovery always involves staying active. Keep moving, stretch often, and you recover better. I went hiking in Zion National Park for 3 days.
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