5/5 Stars

I was surprised that the bus ride from parking to the start line was about an hour. Given the number of hours I put into training however I suppose this is a small price to pay. I am from Missouri and I found the landscape on Mt. Lemmon to be stunning.

I did PR by over 20 minutes, and 60% of that improvement I would attribute to the fast course. I have been training hard since my last marathon 14 months ago so was going to be somewhat faster either way.
I qualified for Boston with over eight minutes to spare. After cancelling two other races in the past six months due to injury, Mt. Lemmon was a last minute "I am healthy lets do it" race. It paid off.

Miles 1, 3, and 4 are tough at over 8,000 ft. I overheard a course veteran suggesting not to worry, plenty of time to make up the difference. I ran an 8:44 on the first mile, and was over 9:30 on 3 and four and finished with a 7:53 overall pace...and thats with two slow miles at the end due to cramping. I train on hills, lots of hills. Most of this course felt like recovery running. Great course.

As someone training to qualify for Boston, I subscribed to a Jack Daniels type strategy. I ran about 200 miles a month for over a year (except when injured) and mixed up long slow runs, tempo runs, and intervals. One suggestion I found helpful was to shorten stride when running down hill.

One thing I would have done differently is I would have backed off on some of the middle later miles when the grade down made it easy to run 20-30 seconds under target pace. The last two miles are flat which feel like your are running uphill after all the downhill. While I cramped on the last two miles, I also was running on fumes and determination.

I flew into Tucson at 10pm the night before and flew out at 1pm after the race. It sure looks like a wonderful place to visit though. I traveled from Columbia, MO.

5/5 Stars

Race day was fun! Great support staff and well organized.

It would be nice to have some spectators cheering us on during the course...but I know it’s hard to get that many people on the mountain.

No PR.... I didn’t train too hard

Beautiful

Start training early

Use the Deep Blue...it works! Dress in layers

Visited family...I drove in from Mesa

5/5 Stars

Yes by 1 minute (broke 3 hours). BQ

4/5 Stars

Race day was what I expected . Beautiful views and nice folks everywhere. My forever memory will be the 2:30 PR I’ve been working for for years. I finally made it and my friend Nikisha also made it.

Absolutely. Better than expected based on my training . My fastest down hill half has been a 2:31 which was 3 years ago. No. Boston for me.

The course was very fast with a couple of mild inclines. The views were amazing as always with this series. I would highly recommend this to my 50 states club. The elevation was the highest I have experienced as of yet .

I should have trained more for endurance and could have seen myself easily making a sub 2:30 based on my time at the 11 mile mark. Since I hadn’t completed many long runs mile 12 was difficult. Please complete your long runs faithfully to prepare and get some hill sprints in.

Rent a car so that you are able to get to race pick and shuttle pick easily. Also it will allow you to shift see at limited expense. Ride share becomes expensive. Pace yourself on the course watch your garmin . Don’t let the elevation drop just take you away. It is cold at race start so come prepared to be warm before start. Don’t assume Arizona and hot. The overall temp was much cooler than I expected. Make sure you you run with cushion due to down hill pounding.

There wasn’t a lot of info about sites and restaurants. The host hotel wasn’t very helpful. I traveled from Atlanta so it would have been nice to have suggestions to make the trip a bit better.

5/5 Stars

Absolutely beautiful, well organized, and a superb fast course. I will be back next year.

No, but was within 3 minutes of my fastest race ever in Big Cottonwood last year.

The grade made it feel effortless.

I trained online w/ Paul Carmona who knows this course well. Instead of lots of running, I trained in a gym to build up my leg strength.

Build up your quads and gluts to help carry you down the hill.

Not much. It was a quick in & out from Denver, CO.

5/5 Stars

Early start
Lots of beauty
Smiling faces
Relative ease, on lungs
A but tough on legs
Wonderful!!

No- I was undertrained, thus the comfort of the downhill

Beautiful!!!

Not enough— too much travel in flat flat areas!!

Train for downhill and ice bath after!

Hiking, eating nad drinking— came down from Phx

5/5 Stars

Wonderful!!!

No but I BQ’d

Fun!!!!!

My buddies and I did long steep downhill training on weekends starting in Sept.

Consider boosting water and salt intake before the race. And bring salt on the run. Cramping can be bad on a course like this.

Fantastic restaurants!

5/5 Stars

I took a Lyft from my hotel to the buses. I walked from the entrance of la Mariposa to the buses as the traffic was backed up. This was not a huge deal, but I would have been a bit nervous if I couldn’t have walked. The scenery was amazing and the weather was perfect. .

I did not PR as I have had a Achilles injury and didn’t push myself. However, I commented to a friend that I believe I coiuld PR on this course if I was healthy.

I have run most of the other Revel races and really like them all. I believe this course is my new favorite due to the scenery, the elevation, and the grade. I like that it is truelly almost all downhill and it isn’t too steep.

Unfortunately I was limited to what I could do for my training due to my injury. My advice would be to train downhill. I would encourage a lot of squats and lunges and hills.

I flew in early Friday morning. I took Lyft to my hotel and then to the expo. This worked well. I then took Lyft back to my hotel where I enjoyed the sunshine by the pool. Walked around the area near my hotel to find dinner. I wore a tank top for the race. But had a sweatshirt on until it started and put it on my drop bag. Bring a change of shoes in your drop bag for after the race.

I flew in from Denver. I didn’t really have a lot of time
To explore the area.

5/5 Stars

Challenging, super fun and well supported.

Yes, even with fight some pain the last 6 miles. I been dealing with for awhile. I did not set a goal, but PR’ed by 10 minutes witn a BQ.

Beautiful! The elevation was not an issue. The grade was super fun!

I did not train as well as I should of. Little more road train with longer downhills.
Find a good downhill with a nice flat finish.

Great supported, well run race. Bring throw away warm clothes. Try to remember to lean forward from the ankles - save the quads!

Visited local brewers. We travel up from Scottsdale.

5/5 Stars

Great!

Yes I did a PR

Beautiful.

Great training.

Train hard and enjoy. Good nutrition.

Beer ,pizza, and french toast