Rick Wilson's Staging Area

I’ve run both the full and half marathons at Surf City. The full has huge out and backs that proved to be very tough for me. The half marathon is a great course, mostly flat with great production and views. I’ll be back for the half vs the full next year.

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.

Be ready for some long hills from about miles 13 – 16. I was not (lol). Another race I’ll be doing again in 2023. Revel always puts on great events

Stayed at the Pasea Spa and Hotel – it was right across the street from the Expo and start line – awesome experience. The course leaves the beach and heads into Huntington Beach’s Central Park where you loop around the whole park and then head back to the beach – there is a huge out and back along the ocean and all I kept thinking was where is the turnaround (lol). Out and back’s are mentally tough for me. The weather was perfect the course was scenic with gentle hills. I would do it again and stay at the same hotel.

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.

I would do this race again. Not a typical Revel race with big descents. There were long gentle downhill sections though. Amazing scenery, great town to stay in. Well done production by the Revel Team.

Even with COVID restrictions, this race was awesome. Everything was done for safety and enjoyment of the racers. The course is beautiful but the first 4 miles are challenging. TRAIN FOR HILLS up and down hills! My quads were on fire the the first two days after the event but I’m feeling much better today. FAST COURSE!!!!

Not much to say created my own local course for 10K distance – missing real races very much!!!!

2021 should be a very busy race schedule to make up for the lost year since LA Marathon (which we just made by a week) before they did the major shutdowns of real events.

When you read in reviews train for the hills, take it seriously. This course does a double out and back so you get to doeach of the hills at lease twice and just for fun both directions. I’ll do it again next year but you can bet there will be more hill training. Overall very organized, great crowd support, excellent swag, and a good group of runners and volunteers.

This is a good scenic course with up and down hills – not a downhill course in my opinion plenty of rolling hills along the way. I have done this 3 years now and will do it again next year.

Surprise spring stormy weather with off and on rain throughout the race. The course is a beautiful run through Ojai to Ventura. Hilly start with a nice gentle downhill section from about mile 9 to 18. Then rolling hills and a long grind from 22 to 24 then flat for the finish. The weather was not too conducive to stay and hang out after for too long so headed home pretty quickly. I’ll do this race again and again and again. Prefer this route to the similar but different Ventura Marathon in the fall.

I would recommend this race – rolling hills to start – good descent in the middle leading to rolling hills and a flat finish. I will do it again next year!

The course is in a beautiful area of California with great weather and a nice rolling up and down course. Limited stations for energy food so bring some of your own. Small expo and small party area at the finish. This is a true runners race.

This course is similar but different than the Mountains to the Beach Marathon. This one started with a double loop around Ojia that took up the 1st 7+-miles. A lot of up and down before you head for a long steady downhill (with some rolling hills. Before heading into town for the finish. Really cold at the staging area for the start come prepared!!! Fun race will do again and again! Train for hills this race is not easy but worth every mile!