3/5 Stars

No

More flat and hilly than expected
I didn’t like running on the main highway without cones or something to tell drivers to move over and share the road

4/5 Stars

Boston Qualifier!

Yes. By 9 minutes. My first BQ.

Very challenging after mile 20. I wasn’t expecting rolling hills.

I believe I have trained properly for this race.

3/5 Stars

My race day went as planned. I just wanted to take it nice and easy. It's unfortunate we have to be really quiet and penned up but I do unsetstand the reason. Made it difficult to warm up the legs with a light jog.

I did not set out to PR. So no.

The course at the beginning was beautiful in my opinion. I started at wave 3 and wondered if wave 1 people were able to enjoy the early morning scenery. This was the best part of the whole race experience, the early part of the marathon.

I run a marathon or 2 every weekend and 2 to 3 times a week small runs between 3 to 10 miles. This was my 35th marahon/ultra for the year. After this race I set out to run the Angry Owl Ultra at midnight so I am always trained for marathons.

I am a big fan of Revel races but this one is my least favorite. If changes are not made, I would avoid it at all costs. After speaking with many that ran the marathon in person and online the last few days, the general consensus was we felt very unsafe running down highway 26. There was only a small strip we could run on and some runners were 2 abreast and made passing on the left very stressful. Again, I am a big fan of Revel and I completed 50+ marathons every year so I have to be honest with what I see as a very dangerous course. I've promoted many of the Revel races, even though I'm not an ambassador for the race but I have to tell my friends to stay away, from this one and sign up for your other races instead. On a positive note most that I have spoken with loved the half marathon course.

I did not have time to do fun things. I arrived late the day before the marathon and immediately after the race I drove odd to the next race that began at midnight.

5/5 Stars

The half was a fun run, rollers in last 3 miles were a challenge but I made it through them. The 2:10 Pacers were great. They made the race fun!

No but considering the last 3 miles I'm happy w my time. I was 5 min past my usual but I am going to try for under 2 @ cottonwood and lemmon this year.

Beautiful, shady. I prefer a steeper grade.

Trained well for it, still pounding my feet and trying to find the right shoes, ran in Altra this time as opposed to Brooks glycerin as before. I would bank up more time at the beginning of the mt hood half course.

Start in a gap of running pack so that you can bank up more time early.

Before was early! So just getting body ready...had plenty of time for bathroom visits. After I hung out at finish for an hour or so and cheered on other runners.
Traveled from Minneapolis, running three revels this year for personal goal.

5/5 Stars

Scenery was great. Enjoyed the music before getting ready for the race. Great whether . Volunteers and staff were helpful and pleasant . I was impressed by the organization of the race.

I did my PR by 1 min

Scenery was great. Grade and elevation were good.

Nothing to change because I was ready mentally and physically. Tips and pointers from coach Paul were very helpful for my preparation

Get to the race city a few days before the race to get enough rest (with no stress). Focus on your objective snd be realistic. Enjoy the race

After the race, I did the trolley tour and visited the zoo, aerial tram and submarine. I took the rail system (tri met MAX) for transportation. I am from Ottawa, Canada

5/5 Stars

The beauty of Mt Hood at the start. The first 5 miles down From Timber Lodge. Breathtaking. Well organized event.

Did not PR or BQ. Was very far from a PR (almost an hour). Was doing great until 20 mile marker. The steep downhill must have taken it’s toll on me...

4/5 Stars

Had to get up at 2:30 am. That was a bit harsh, but worth it to avoid the heat of the day. Did manage to get 6 hours of sleep.

The first 5 miles was quite stunning. Then the highway. I bought some AfterShokz and had a running playlist set up. They were great! The further we went, the less interesting the view and surroundings, so the music helped. Then we passed a Dairy Queen on our side of the highway. It was closed. That was just cruel.

The temperature was perfect for most of the race - comfortable in shorts and a singlet. Running felt good - no pains or unwanted sensations, everything was working, lot's of energy - so rather than counting down the miles until the end I was very much engaged in the moment - the music, the scenery, the other runners, how I was feeling - it was very zen.

After the finish I was just happy to be alive. It was warm and sunny, the iced towels felt great, had a cold diet coke, got a good picture taken, no rush to get anywhere, plenty of happy looking people around. It was perfect.

My PR is 3:25:58 I think. Did 3:27:37 at Mt Hood. 2nd fastest of 12 marathons. Wasn't trying to PR. Was aiming for under 3:30:00 so I had a 10 minutes or faster BQ, which I did get with a couple of minutes to spare. Did Boston last year and this year. Wanted to have the option of doing 3 in a row. Got it!

Knowing the course now I am pretty confident I could PR on it. Have another marathon in September, than New York in November. This was a bridge run between Boston and New York - trying to stay in marathon shape all year this year - just to see how that goes.

The grade was just about perfect for most of it - never awkwardly steep. The climbs during the last part where more than I expected, but turned out not a problem - I had another 5 miles in me at the finish line.

The first 5 miles were quite amazing - the view, the full moon, the sun coming up.

The long trip along the open freeway was kinda weird. I didn't mind it really - it just seemed odd to have big trucks zooming past you as you ran. Not a favourite way to run. That made it a 4 start rating rather than 5. The AfterShokz helped. I get that it would a huge logistical problem to shut down the lane nearest the runners, particularly as I think I recall there being times when it was only one lane on our side of the road.

It started getting warm during the last 4 miles and the sun was now mostly on us. That made me a bit nervous but didn't cause any problems.

The last mile, down that lovely country lane, was really nice.

After Boston I did several shorter races - a half in May, and a fairly ridiculous trail race (kusamklimb.com) where you descend 5,000 ft. over about 10 miles - after you run/climb up the 5,000 ft, sometimes using your hands and arms. After Kusam I trained almost exclusively on hills, which is easy where I live - they are everywhere. Having hills nearby made training for Mt Hood easy. Found a few long routes with steep uphills and long more gradual downhills. If something like that exists nearby where someone is training it would be great for Revel. I had no problem with the long downhill sections. Legs do not feel any worse now that after any other marathon, except maybe my first. Wouldn't do any thing differently.

Three things. First, resist the urge to go much faster than your goal pace during the first 15 miles - the last 6 miles are going to be much harder and you'll need the energy. 10-15 seconds faster is good. 30 seconds faster will cost you. I passed a lot of people walking during the last 5 miles, and noticed my placement kept improving as the race went on. Second, don't think of trying to do a negative split - do use the gravity to bank a little bit of time and expect to give some of it up. Third, dress for the last 5 miles where it could get quite warm.

Flew in from Victoria, BC Friday early afternoon. Rented car, went to Expo, drove to hotel in Gresham, found something to eat, prepared stuff for the morning, slept, up early, did the run, back to hotel for shower, straight to airport for flight home at 3. Had a backyard barbecue with friends that evening.

I would have liked to stay in the Portland area for a few days. However, I have cancelled a bunch of travel to the US the past few months because of what Trump has been doing and saying about Canada, as have many of my friends and family. I changed plans for Mt. Hood to be in the states as short as possible. Got it down to 26 hours!

5/5 Stars

Perfect weather. First light of sunrise was incredible on Mount Hood.

PR by 15 minutes. Should have been more but legs just gave out at 18 miles.

First half of marathon is very fast. 9 minutes faster than by Half Marathon PR.

Lots of training with hills.

Do lots of speed work as you are running faster than normal.

Columbia River Gorge and Ocean US Hwy 101. Hiking around Government Camp.

4/5 Stars

Very memoriable- tough towards the end.

Yes by 32 minutes.

A little scary with all the trucks and cars

I followed coach Paul’s marathon training schedule- highly recommend! Was a game changer for me. I’d tell people to get in Lots and lots of hill training.

Wear super warm clothing up there and store in your bag- I wasn’t warm enough. Be prepared to be the sorest you’ll ever be lol

3/5 Stars

Started out at 2:30 in the morning taking a bus from downtown portland, was annoyed that the email said buses would leave between 2:30 and 3:00 only to find out after getting on the bus at 2:30 that no buses would leave before 3 because they wanted all of the buses full first instead of sending one each time it filled up so I had to spend an extra half hour sitting in an uncomfortable school bus seat on top of the 1 plus hour drive to the start. The fact that the buses back downtown to Portland only left on the hour was frustrating as well, had to sit and wait an extra hour in line for the next bus which after a marathon is the last thing you want to do, also annoying that there was no designated lines for sandy vs portland buses which led to a lot of people cutting their way to the front, would have been less annoyed with buses if I hadn't paid an extra $50 Aid stations and supplies were well stocked, volunteers all really friendly

Nope...on track to then died in the last 6 miles

First five miles have beautiful scenery along a quiet road, then it was all erased by running along a freeway the rest of the way with trucks blowing by at 60 mph, did not feel safe at all

Toured portland and astoria and the northwest coast of the state