Edmund Arellano

2017 REVEL Mt Lemmon Marathon
Published: Nov. 22, 2017, 11:32 a.m.
  1. Overall Rating

    5/5 Stars

  2. Describe your race day.

    It started off a bit cold, although I was expecting it to be colder. The busses picked us up at a resort and dropped us off near the start line where runners were already lined up to use the port-a-johns for a last minute relief! About 15 minutes prior to start time, we all (reluctantly) gave up our warming blankets, and headed over to the start line. After the National Anthem, we hit the road on time and made our 4-mile journey up a nasty hill that seemed to never end. Indeed, this was my most memorable moment - reaching the crest of the hill to see the sunrise over the mountains as we made our way back down for 22.2 miles.

  3. Did you PR?

    Yes! I gained a 14-minute lead over my last marathon and finished with 3:50:04.

  4. How would you describe the course?

    Incredibly windy, but also incredibly scenic. It seemed that at every major turning point, the runners got another breathtaking view of the valley. The 8,000 ft elevation was rough for some, and may have been the determining reason why some did not do as well. But, I think the 4-mile up-hill at the start had a lot to do with it as well.

  5. Tell us about your training.

    I had been consistently running 3-4 days a week with active recovery exercises on non-running days. The distances increased 10% every week, with one long run a week (usually on Saturdays). My "long runs" were usually between 15-18 miles. Only once did I ever run 20-miles during my 3 months of training.

  6. What advice would you give future runners?

    Here's my tip: stick to the 10% rule. Increase your distances by 10% every week and include speed-training at least 1 day a week. Also, don't worry about your food consumption. If you stick to your training, your body will tell you what it's craving.

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

    After picking up my race packet, I drove the course the day before the race and put my drone up in the air near the peak of the mountain. After that, I spent a lot of time with family before heading back home to Tampa, FL.

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