Gregg Maul's Staging Area

We had a good crowd, good weather, it get a little hot, all trails, lots of ups and downs, pay attention to the trail markers. This takes place in a very large city park in Colorado Springs. Well done race.

FYI, I am now 71, I have done 130 Marathons, 120 half’s, , 30 Ultras. This race was my 13th time for running it, The course has changed at least 3 times I know of. The organization did a marvelous job at putting this together. Fantastic community support and turn out. Lots of bands/drums etc. Volunteers had great attitudes. If you run this, if you park in a garage, park close to the exit, read all the race guide, take a space blanket just in case, mornings are cool.This race can turn hot later in the race. The swag is great and lots of thought has been put into this race. You will enjoy this for sure. There all hills, several so plan for it.

Lights, colors, swag, lots of folks, maybe 20,000 in the 1/2, another 20,000 in the 10K, no one could tell us for sure. Music all the way, Well put together. One issue, their web site needs some work also the communication via emails is weak. If you get same day bib pick up, they charge $50.00 plus processing fee, $10.00 plus tax. $60.00 plus to pick up. The web site also does not say where to go. But the runners are great and the bands are great too.

The organizers did a good job, lots of police, everyone had a good attitude. Aid stations is just water and Gatorade. Finish had no cold drinks, we finished at 77%. The mountains are very nice, but the flat land was boring. Your results are instant. All results posted in less than one hour of finish.

R & R did a great job, execution at every level. Start was good, well done, finish was also good. A very good course, out and back. Lots of bathrooms, so not problem there. Exit was a little tight because of all the people. 8500 1/2 marathoners. 5000 10K ers. Really a great crowd. Parking at my garage was free 201-South Ash Ave. for runners, they started charging later on. Exit out of town was easy and fast. Police presence was right on the money.

A good way to end the year. Great location, flat course, good food at the end. This is the last race of the year, I call it the left-over race. Un used shirt, medals from other races. All ages, all speeds.

The Revelers is a very fine group, really. However, this race and I have done 9 of their races ranked way down the list. The buss pick up was a mess. The location for pick up, no signs, no people, nothing was there. The delegated people showed up very late. A parking attendant not associated with the race helped out. Runners were so mixed up. So the race started late. Also no bathrooms on the lot, also a big problem. A total mess. The course is a nice course, not the fastest Revelers but good. Not a lot of locals out. Aid stations are just water and electrolytes so bring your own snacks. Weather war great and finish was great and very well organized.

Beware of the trail markers. Here again the boos is not checking up on the worker bees. Many people got turned around, off course for 2-4 miles, wrong direction etc. These folks have issues with proper markings and directional s. I thought I was on course, another lady coming from opposite directions said she was back tracking.. Turned out she was right, we both go messed up for miles. Also have many other say the same thing. Aid stations are great, this particular race the swag was very nicely done. The mountain is challenging, most is flat.

First off the Navajo nation was fantastic. Over all a good race, very beautiful for sure. Cliffs, Rocks, Trees and ……sand. 150 runners only, drawing only. They do a fine job for sure. The site says 2.5 miles beginning and end is sand. That is incorrect, its more like 22 to 26 miles of sand. So be ready.

This is the most challenging race ever. Two years in a row, got sick, and missed the cut off. Made all the cut off but the last. Can’t believe it again. 2024 will be better. Be ready, no matter what folks.

This is a lap race, originally signed up for the 31K, timer was not nice. I requested to drop down because for me, lap races are very boring. He ( timer guy ),said he would not do it but I could drop out if I wanted. Not a nice guy. Band speakers were directed to the spectators and not the course??? Mostly flat course, one hill, the trail was nice. They practice no cups which is so totally worthless. No cup races are no cup to help the directors do less work and make more money, which is a lot of Aravaipa races. Food was good, aid stations good. But friendliness of the race folks and runners is like a 2 on a 1-10 scale.

This one is a killer, only the really in shape people should do this, I run 30-40 races a year and I did badly. 8000 foot elevation gain, 3 mountains and 4 extra hills to climb, the whole race is done above 10,000 ft. I never thought I would get done. Crazy hard.

Rather level course, 9300 ft to 10,000 ft. You run along the river, very nice setting, the altitude is the only challenge. Starts in Silverton park, runs the river, local runners mostly. You will like it.

Fun course, lots of runners, 800 in the 10 mile, 574 in the 10k. Good aid stations and good food, and this is always well done. All road, one can not ask for a better done race.

Great run, 3000 runners, fun folks, Good running weather, great busses, good race production, good everything, could not ask for more. The amazing race. The photo is race morning, everyone ready to go.

Race production, Only the finish was really well done. One other aid station was OK. The rest :(. The runners were good, not as friendly as most. The course was a good course, lots of hills, all single track. Lots of trees. Again, they failed to give medals, I am seriously thinking about moving on from this group. Just not to friendly of Organizers. We did get a nice whiskey glass. Much better than the last 3 we received. They are most focused on making money first. Still can not get calls back or emails returned.

This was my 7th race with Revel, some changes I do not like, course was good, it was put together well, Medal was great, however, finish line was sad, food, drink-sad, they dropped the box lunch, they dropped the mud/insulated drinking cup, the retail was sad as I never carry credit cards in a race, worker enthusiasm was not there. So, in my view, on a scale of 1-10, old rating a 12, they have dropped to a 5 or less. Rather sad. Just focused on the money.

Fast course, good sights, lots of cliffs, we had a big group. Well done. Cold but all good. Local, easy to get too, every one there was an outstanding example of running community.

There are some great views in this race, recent storms put lots of water in the creeks, several creek crossing. Nice running area. Good aid stations, mostly OK marked trails but needed more markers out, at one fork in the trail, no markings, that caused a delay. Award pick up is still up in the air, or lacking information. This organization gives out very cheap glasses or wine glasses, so cheap they break easily. If they are going to do that, spend some money and get good ones we can use. I have spoke up on this but no one wants to hear that.

Much improved all the way around. Trail markings were perfect, aid stations were all well done and full, and a good selection. Still no National Anthem. That part is sad that a few cry and the rest have to agree??? Swag was good, t-shirts are good, the medal was smaller but very nice. A bunch of us used the GPS on the site, took us to the wrong place, about 20 cars ended up wrong. 2nd Try we went right to the Church address, it was closed and Locked gate. So we ask around, the correct entry was a short distance 1 +- mile away. The actual address of the park or guard shack should be used. Overall, it all turned out well.

I have ran this course at night and in the day. It is a good event to run, all paved ( 99%), nice people, good organization. These people do many Las Vegas area runs. Weather is almost always good. This time, early cold start, good temps. all day. Location is great, don’t miss this one. Calico racing. The results were posted in less than 12 hours.

If you are a regular runner, you need to know, this organizer is OK at best. The swag gets worst. They seem to change from medals ( wooden ) to very cheap wine glass type the might have cost them 19 cents. I ask the organizer about this and he told me he did a “survey of his runners “, I never received a survey and I have done several of his runs. Runners are here for fun, the race, the location and the medal. 100 plus dollars, sometimes 200, or more and you can not put out a good swag????? Thats called profiteering. Also this race and two other of his races have issues with trail signage. The photo posted was sun rise on race morning.

Very difficult course, 4,000 ft. elevation gain, straight up the mountain. Turn around is at 13450 ft. Most of the runners are repeat and very good. Lots of women runners, more than I have ever seen in a race by percentage. Snow at the top, turns hot on the way down.

I believe this one was a cold one. Start was 16 degrees. Good course, good run, no trail issues, very well organized, good aid stations. Fun people and good support from everyone. This group, ( Mad Moose-Utah ), I have ran many of their runs, Utah, and Colorado. I think they are fantastic. Sometimes cutoffs are hard but most often they are doable.

Fine race, good folks, all ages, great views and a good trail that kept everyone on there toes. Good aid stations, folks with good attitudes. No issues with people of the course.

Just loved the race, on the horse shoe race, I would follow the river for 2-3 more miles and then turn to the finish. Loved the scenery, it was great, improve that if you can. Love trail running, so much more fun than street. Just returned from Chicago Marathon. This race beats that one 5 to 1. It was good but not grand. VR’s are just fine. Mostly, good folks. Who ever reads this, this “Trail Fest” is a must do. P.S. the medal is the 2nd best one I have received in 44 years and 150 races. The photo I posted is just the tip of the iceberg. That is Horse shoe bend from the top of the cliff, I diverted off the trail so to get the photo, no worries, your not running the edge. Safe as can be.