Rick Wilson's Staging Area

This is my 4th running of the Revel Big Bear Marathon. There was a snowstorm just days before the race but the road was perfectly cleared, It was a cold start as the first 11 miles were all above the snowline. The first 9 miles have some hills and you need to pace yourself for a negative split. From miles 13-22 it’s a great downhill run and you make up anything you lost in the first 9 miles. I think the Revel Team puts on some the best run events of any I have run. I’ll be back again next year. I’m already signed up.

My pace was great for the first half even though there were a lot of hills. About 20 miles in you run on highway 163. That section is a very long grinding hill. Be more ready than I was. The time I gained in the first half was lost there. Overall a great event. Wish I was more aware of the hills during my training.

This was a great race. Good tough climb the first 2.5 miles at elevation then a nice long downhill section. The last 10 miles were very flat. I found those last 6 miles a mental game to just push through. I tried to make up too much time on the downhill section and learned a good lesson about pacing.

This was postponed from July 4th to November 26th then turned into a virtual event. Ran in my hometown… Was what it was – next year hoping to be there in Atlanta July 4th!!!

We lucked out with perfect weather – since then it’s been rainy and not so nice. The start was not as organized as they are doing construction at Dodger Stadium so getting into the corrals was not quite as easy this year. Once the race started it felt like the same course as the last couple of years. Crowd and volunteer support were awesome. Hoping that other races this year will follow suit and go on as planned with no delays or cancellations….

Revel Races are so well organized and from the moment you get to the expo you feel part of the Revel running Community. Coach Paul’s talk about the course and advice was so great and made me feel like I knew what was coming throughout the course when I was running the next day. I would highly recommend this race but prepare for a cold morning before the start.

This was a great race that I would do again but I would prepare with much more hill training. Running across (and back) over the Golden Gate Bridge is epic but we ran on the sidewalk path which is very narrow and wet from the fog. Amazing tour of the city and great people in it and running it.

Another great LA Marathon that ends in amazing Santa Monica. Great course was the same as the past 3 years. Excellent staff, supporters and volunteers. I will do it again in 2020! My 4th in a row for this race.

Train for the altitude (starts at 9,700 feet) and prepare for the “out and back” at mile 18. After thinking you are about to crush your PR you get to the “Out and Back” at mile 18 a long slow climb which in some crazy way seems like a long slow climb on your way back. Anything gained in time is quickly negated. But don’t let this dissuade you, train for it and know it’s coming. I would highly recommend this race!

A true running tour of LA – from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. Some hills in the first 5 miles and then rolling hills from that point on. A classic that can’t be missed in my opinion. I live in the area weather this time of year can vary greatly from heat wave to hard rain – be prepared for whatever the weather is that year.

The race went off without a hitch – Lucked into great weather after a rather wet SoCal winter. Same course as last year. Not my best finish but I had a great time and met great people. Thanks to the support staff, organizers and volunteers. I will be in it again next year!