Blog

March 7, 2024

By Paul Carmona, REVEL Online Coach

A course strategy – and overall race strategy – is necessary for optimal performance on race day. Whether this is your first REVEL Mt Charleston race, and your goal is simply to finish, or you are 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 five times at the REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon, has prepared a detailed description of the 2024 Mt Charleston 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.

The Mt Charleston Marathon course can be divided into seven sections:
Mile 1: Warm Up
Miles 2-4: Swift Downhill
Mile 5: Tiny Loop (with two short climbs)
Miles 6-21: Steady and Fast
Miles 22-23: Flatten Out
Mile 24: Get Past This Short Climb
Miles 25-26.2: Pick It Up for the Finish
The Mt Charleston Half-Marathon course can be divided into four similar sections:
Miles 1-8: Swift Downhill
Miles 9-10: Flatten Out
Mile 11: Get Past This Short Climb
Miles 12-13.1: Pick It Up for the 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
Mile 1: Warm Up
Starting at almost 7,600’ elevation, the start of the marathon is near the Mt Charleston Lodge on Kyle Canyon Road. The first 1/10 mile is around a small hook shape on the road adjacent to the Lodge, and it is extremely narrow with a short climb. Once you make the turn on that loop, you will be heading back toward the staging area. Then, after you pass the Lodge, the next 1/4-mile climbs almost 60’ as you exit the starting area. This should be just a nice easy warm-up for you. Start out nice and slow and conserve your energy. After you get past this first half-mile, the rest of mile 1 descends about 100' with zero climbing.
Miles 2-4: Swift Downhill
After the mile 1 marker, the next 3 miles drop well over 770’ total, with an average of 4.6% downhill grade and no climbing until the last 1/10 mile before the 4-mile marker. 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 miles to go, and you want to conserve your energy for the miles ahead. If you feel yourself working too hard, then simply slow down.
Mile 5: Tiny Loop (with two short climbs)
As you approach mile 4, there is a climb of about 40’ as you approach The Mt Charleston Resort on your right. Once you pass the Resort, this short climb is over. Not long after that, just before mile 5, you will reach a roundabout (traffic circle) at the entrance to the United States Forest Service’s Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway. At this point, the course diverts from the main road – Kyle Canyon Road – into the visitor center parking lot. You will make a counterclockwise loop around the parking lot before re-entering the main road again.
The loop around the visitor center begins at mile 4.85 of the marathon. It ends at mile 5.2, so the total distance around the parking area is only about 1/3 mile. However, you will climb about 35’ for the first half of that loop, and then descend the same elevation as you exit the parking lot.
Miles 6-21: Steady and Fast
When you exit the visitor center parking area, you will be at roughly 6,600’ of elevation. For the next 16 miles, you will lose more than 3,700’ of elevation. That’s an average of about 4.4% elevation loss per mile, which is what makes this course so extremely fast. More importantly, there is only one climb in that entire stretch, and it happens about mile 12.5. That one is a short but very visible climb that is over quickly: the entire climb is only about 1/8 of a mile long. Be wary of a 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 lower your level of effort.
Miles 22-23: Flatten Out
Just past mile 21, you will make a right turn onto the frontage road along U.S. 95. After the previous 16 miles of steady downhill, you will certainly feel how the 4% downhill grade quickly becomes a 2% downhill grade. Keep in mind that you will still lose about 226’ of elevation in this stretch of the race, with no elevation gain. However, the flatter terrain will make it feel like climbing.
Mile 24: Get Past This Short Climb
As you approach mile 23.2, with only three miles to go, you will make a right turn onto Grand Teton Drive. The elevation at that turn is 2,659’. Then you will run a short - but steep - climb to Fort Apache Road, where you will turn left. From that turn onto Fort Apache, it is just over a half-mile to “top out” a slow climb to mile 23.95, where the elevation is 2,690’. After that, the course begins the gradual descent to the finish.
Miles 25-26.2: Pick It Up for the Finish
Once you reach mile 24, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish" The elevation loss from mile 24 to the finish is over 170’ – a nice downhill for your final 2.2 miles! Better yet, you will encounter terrific crowds who will cheer you towards the finish line of the fast and beautiful Mt Charleston Marathon!
Summary of the Marathon Course
The Mt Charleston Marathon course loses almost 5,100’ 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 1-8: Swift Downhill
Starting at over 4,500’ of elevation, the course drops 1,660’ from the start to mile 8, with zero elevation gain in that stretch. That is an average of more than 200' per mile, which is a significant but manageable descent each mile. You will want to manage the early part of this downhill segment by easing into your pace, settling in for the long haul, and letting gravity pull you along at a comfortably fast pace. 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.
Miles 9-10: Flatten Out
Just past mile 8, you will make a right turn onto the frontage road along U.S. 95. After more than 8 miles of steady downhill, you will certainly feel how the 4% downhill grade quickly becomes a 2% downhill grade. Keep in mind that you will still lose about 200’ of elevation in this stretch of the race, with no elevation gain. However, the flatter terrain will make it feel like climbing.
Mile 11: Get Past This Short Climb
Just past mile 10, with about 3 miles to go, you will make a right turn onto Grand Teton Drive. The elevation at that turn is 2,659’. Then you will run a short - but steep - climb to Fort Apache Road, where you will turn left. From that turn onto Fort Apache, it is just over a half-mile to “top out” a slow climb to mile 10.8, where the elevation is 2,690’. After that, the course begins the gradual descent to the finish.
Miles 12-13.1: Pick It Up for the Finish
Once you reach mile 11, you can say to yourself "now downhill to the finish" The elevation loss from mile 11 to the finish is over 170’ – a nice downhill for your final 2.1 miles! Better yet, you will encounter terrific crowds who will cheer you towards the finish line of the fast and beautiful Mt Charleston Half-Marathon!
Summary of the Half-Marathon Course
The Mt Charleston Half-Marathon course loses more than 2,000’ of elevation from start to finish. With an average loss of more than 150’ 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 31-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.

March 2, 2024

REVEL Big Cottonwood Logo

 IMPORTANT UPDATE: EVENT CANCELLED

Due to weather conditions in the area exacerbating to a dangerous level, with winds at 45mph and a wind chill of 12 degrees, tomorrow's REVEL Mt Diablo Half Marathon has been canceled. 

We are very sorry to not be able to produce this race as planned. Our crew and partners have been working around the clock to bring this event to life, but it is no longer possible under the current conditions brought on by the blizzard in the Sierra Nevada.

We have been closely monitoring the weather and working closely with Mount Diablo State Park officials, and this decision has been made with our runner safety as our number one priority. 

All participants will receive deferral credit for the amount equal to the value that was paid. Instructions will follow on how to redeem your credit at one of our other 8 events within the next 7 days. 

We thank you for your understanding and look forward to seeing you at a future event.

- REVEL Mt Diablo Team

 

Jan. 24, 2024

A course strategy – and overall race strategy – is necessary for optimal performance on race day. Whether this is your first half-marathon, and your goal is simply to finish, or you are aiming for a PR, you must 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 Qualifier on all the REVEL marathon courses he has run, has prepared a detailed description of the Mt Diablo Half-Marathon course.

Managing the Course Based on Segments

A critical component of your race 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.

The Mt Diablo Half-Marathon course can be divided into three sections:
Miles 1-2: Severe Downhill
Miles 3-10: Settle In
Miles 11-13.1: Coasting In

You can study the course 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 half-marathon course is summarized below based on the segments described above.

Miles 1-2: Severe Downhill
Starting at just over 3,800’ elevation, the course drops 823’ from the start to mile 2. That is an average of 412' per mile, which is a significant drop.You will need to resist the urge to chase people if they pass you. Although you want to take advantage of gravity throughout this course by running “comfortably fast” on the downhills, you need to manage the early downhill drops by easing into your pace, settling in for the long haul, and letting gravity pull you along. 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.

Miles 3-10: Settle In
Overall, you will drop 2,567' in miles 3-10. That is an average of 321’ per mile, which is remarkable. Compared to the noticeably fast – and steep – downhill miles from the start to mile 2, this section is a much more “comfortable” downhill.

This is the section where you can really settle into your race pace. The downhills are less sharp than the opening segment, and all of them lose between 262’ and 367’ per mile. At the same time, be wary of a 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. If you are tracking your splits every mile or every few miles at marked intervals, don’t be surprised to see that you are running well ahead of your goal pace.


Miles 11-13.1: Coasting In
Remember that the opening 2-mile segment loses an average of 412’ per mile, and the second 8-mile segment loses an average of 321’ per mile. This final segment loses an average of about 85’ per mile. This is still a net downhill per mile, but it is much less than the earlier miles. As the course begins to descend more gradually, you might notice that your pace is beginning to slow.

Pay close attention to your own level of effort. Whatever level of effort you feel on the opening downhill segments is your benchmark; duplicate that level of effort on the less downhill miles, but do not go harder. Pay attention to your breathing and heart rate. If you feel yourself working too hard, then simply lower your level of effort. You should be coasting in for the final miles. Keep in mind that although you still lose 261’ total in the last 3.1 miles, that amount is minor compared to the average elevation loss from the start-up to mile 10; every mile from 1-10 loses more elevation per mile than the entire final 3.1 miles combined. The slowdown you will experience in the last 5K is expected.

Summary
The REVEL Mt Diablo Half-Marathon course loses 3,651' of elevation from start to finish. That's an average of more than 278'; per mile (-5.3% grade), 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 "faster than normal" pace on the downhill segments.

Paul Carmona is the Online REVEL Coach who has designed training plans specifically for REVEL downhill courses. He is a 30-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.

Aug. 1, 2023
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 ONE MONTH TO REVEL BIG COTTONWOOD

We are thrilled to officially reveal the gorgeous medals for REVEL Big Cottonwood 2023 presented by Albion! This unique medal is sure to stand out in your collection with the intricate depiction of the famous "S" curve on the course, the majestic shield shape, and that epic black metal. We can't wait to put this around your neck in just over one month on September 9, 2023!

 REVEL Big Cottonwood Price Increase

This is your FINAL CHANCE to save on REVEL Big Cottonwood presented by Albion! Prices will increase one final time on August 9, 2023. Don't miss your chance to get the best price on registration and join us at REVEL Big Cottonwood's best year yet on September 9, 2023!

 

 REVEL BIG BEAR PRICE INCREASE

Prices for REVEL Big Bear will increase on August 16, 2023! REVEL Big Bear will be the final REVEL event of 2023 on November 18, 2023. This course is the fastest marathon and half marathon in all of California! Taking runners through the breathtaking San Bernadino National Forest into the foothills of Redlands, California, this fast and stunning race is one you can't miss! Register today to save!

 

 REVEL WHITE MOUNTAINS SPECIAL EDITION

By now we are sure that you have heard all about REVEL White Mountains, but have you registered yet? Remember, this race will be a special edition event! This means that it will only happen ONCE. Nobody likes to have FOMO and trust us this is one event you can't miss! Register for this gorgeous race which is sure to be New England's fastest marathon and half today! We can't wait to see you all on May 5, 2024 in Conway, New Hampshire

 BECOME A TRIPLE REVELER

Did you participate in one or both of REVEL's spring events? Then there is still time to become a Triple REVELer! Be sure to register for REVEL Big Bear and/or REVEL Big Cottonwood presented by Albion so that you can go home with the highly coveted and beautiful Triple REVELer Medal! Hurry, there is just over one month until REVEL Big Cottonwood presented by Albion, so register today!

 SHOKZ

Be open to pushing your limits with open-ear headphones. Shokz open-ear bone conduction headphones bring you:

✅ Greater awareness
✅ Connection to your audio and the world around you
✅ Open-ear comfort, nothing in and over your ear
✅ All-day power for any challenge 

 DÖTERRA

dōTERRA is excited to partner with REVEL again in 2023 and provide the fan-favorite Deep Blue(R) stations.  From fueling your body with doTERRA protein to providing a relaxing aroma with our Lavender essential oil, we want to be with you every step of the way. Want to learn more? Check out our dōTERRA booth at the REVEL Big Cottonwood expo and after the race.

 

 

June 7, 2023
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 REVEL ROCKIES 2024 REGISTRATION OPEN

Thank you to everyone who joined us at REVEL Rockies 2023. The REVEL Race Series team is thrilled to have had the largest number of finishers at the 2023 event in REVEL Rockies history!

We are excited to announce that registration for the 2024 REVEL Rockies Marathon & Half is NOW OPEN! The 2024 event will commence on June 1, 2024.

Join us next June in beautiful Denver, CO for REVEL Rockies 2024 and save $20 on your registration with code EARLY

 REVEL BIG BEAR PRICE INCREASE COMING SOON

Prices for REVEL Big Bear will increase on June 15, 2023. REVEL Big Bear will be held in Southern California on November 18, 2023. With a smooth downhill slope, this incredible course carries runners through the spectacular scenery of the San Bernadino National Forest.

Don't miss your chance to register for this gorgeous Southern California race at an excellent price! 

 

 SAVE BIG ON REVEL WHITE MOUNTAINS

The REVEL Race Series is thrilled to be coming to the East Coast for the first time ever in 2024 with REVEL White Mountains Marathon & Half! Right now you can save big and get $20 OFF on your registration with code EARLY

REVEL White Mountains will commence on May 5, 2024, in Conway, New Hampshire. This race will be a Special Edition event, meaning it will only happen ONCE! Whether you are looking to score a BQ or PR, run a REVEL Race at a lower elevation, or check New Hampshire off of your 50 states list, REVEL White Mountains is sure to be an incredible event! 

 MT CHARLESTON VOTED BEST MARATHON IN NEVADA

REVEL Mt Charleston was just voted Best Marathon in Nevada by RaceRaves! Thank you to everybody who voted for REVEL Mt Charleston and all of the REVEL Races! 

Are you ready to see what REVEL Mt Charleston is all about? Register today and join us on April 6, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV! As a thank you to all of you for voting, for a limited time you can use code NEVADASBEST for $15 OFF of your registration for REVEL Mt Charleston! Hurry, this code will expire on June 8, 2023.

 BECOME A TRIPLE REVELER

Remember that if you run three or more REVEL Races within a calendar year, you will become a Triple REVELer! If you participated in one or both of REVEL's spring events, be sure to register for REVEL Big Bear and/or REVEL Big Cottonwood presented by Albion so that you can go home with the highly coveted and beautiful Triple REVELer Medal! 

 GLOBAL RUNNING DAY

The REVEL Race Series would like to wish you a happy Global Running Day! Celebrate with us by sharing a post or story of your favorite REVEL Race memory to your Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag us @runrevel and use the #runrevel for a chance to be featured! 

To celebrate Global Running Day, TODAY ONLY, June 7, 2023, you can use code GLOBAL and save $10 off on your registration for ANY REVEL Race

 SHOKZ

Be Open to pushing your limits with open-ear headphones. Shokz Open-ear bone conduction headphones bring you:

✅ Greater awareness
✅ Connection to your audio and the world around you
✅ Open-ear comfort, nothing in and over your ear
✅ All-day power for any challenge 

 RAPID REBOOT

Rapid Reboot is offering 10% OFF on all recovery products for all Revel Rockies participants! Discount is applied at checkout. All pneumatic compression packages are eligible for purchase with HSA/FSA. Follow this link to claim your 10% off.

 

 

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May 10, 2023

 

Volunteer Coaches Needed

If you are interested in volunteering as a coach to help train the youth, please Apply. Coaches who complete the program receive a free entry to the REVEL Big Cottonwood Half Marathon. Duties include meeting twice per week with their team to follow the prescribed training program. No previous coaching experience is required; only a passion for running and a desire to help youth develop a love for running.

 

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