Nevada Archives

REVEL Mt Charleston Race Report – Nicole Thome

April 4, 2023

Race: REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon

Runner: Coach Nicole Thome

Race Date: 04/01/2023

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Results: 3:50:11

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/8814708958

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Since it’s a downhill course, it’s wicked fast!
Exceptionally well-organized
Free photos/video

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Though I like the early 6 am start, the bus loading times are brutal — 3:15 – 4:15 am. The ride up the canyon is about 45 minutes. This means a fair amount of time standing around in a pretty small staging around in VERY cold temps! If you’re considering the half marathon, the staging area is much bigger and bus loading times are a bit more forgiving (it’s still pretty cold, though)

Note: this year it was a particularly cold/snowy season for Mt Charleston — starting temps were around 28 degrees. Fortunately, it was a lovely 60-ish for the finish.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Not really a “weird” thing but something that is different for this race (and most REVEL races) is the disparity in temps from start to finish. Because all of their races start up a canyon, it can be VERY cold. It isn’t unusual for temps to rise as a race goes on but for REVEL races, you need to be prepared and dressed for upwards of 30-40 degree temp swing from start to finish. Layers are key.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I PR’d by nearly 7 mins and Boston Qualified with a nearly 5 min cushion.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Dress for the finish but layer up for the start
Bring throw away clothes to stay warm at the start
This course runs downhill at approx 4% grade for 20 miles, you MUST incorporate a fair amount of downhill training into your plan or your quads will be TOAST!

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I went into it pretty prepared but I can’t emphasize enough: downhill training is key!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The course is a steady downhill for nearly 21 miles. The first half is exceptionally fast. Collectively, it’s around 4% grade.

Most courses, you want to aim for even or negative splits. For a course like this, where the first half is WAY FASTER than the second half, you can and should expect positive splits. Build some cushion in by running the FIRST HALF at least 20-30 seconds FASTER than your normal goal pace (ie, the pace you’d run on a regular/flat course). The last 10k of this course is still net downhill (approx 1.2%) but after pounding your quads downhill for 20 miles, it will feel flat (and there’s a slight but steady incline at mile 24). Don’t be discouraged if you’re running over goal pace at this point. This is why you want to build the cushion.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Very much so!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Depends on if you’ve trained for the downhill pounding. “Gravity-assisted” courses are a lot of fun. But, as mentioned above, pace management is important. Particularly since this one “flattens out” (seemingly) in the last 10k — which makes it feel harder after the fast downhill.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well organized. Plenty of aid stations with water and Nuun.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I think so since it’s known for being a fast course.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Pretty standard fare. Water, Nuun and Gu.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Layer for the start — I always wear the same thing for races regardless of temperature (shorts and crop top) but for a race like this I’ll add arm sleeves and throw-away mittens. You are running EAST into the rising sun so sunglasses are helpful (I forgot mine; wore a visor but wish I had the sunnies).

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Not so much. Hard for spectators to get up the canyon. There are plenty of spots in the last 5-6 miles though thru the neighborhood.

How’s the Swag?

REVEL is always good swag! The shirts are nice quality (choice of short or long sleeve) and they always give either a hat or socks. This year was a hat. They also provide free photos.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5

Nicole Thome is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with her, check out her coach profile.

Jackpot Ultra Running Festival Race Report – Barbara R

August 12, 2020February 22, 2020

Race: Jackpot Ultra Running Festival

Runner: Barbara R

Race Date: 02/15/2020

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Results: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=66966

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/3103159854/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1. Entertainment – Beyond Limits does a great job at bringing entertainment to what can be a very boring race.
2. 2.5 mile loops in horseshoe style w/ varying terrain (gravel, pavement, grass, single track trails).
3. Being able to set up my own aid station halfway through the loop and having my own crew!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The one thing that didn’t go well was the end of the race. They were supposed to blow a horn/siren to signify the end of the 6 hour race but no one heard it (apparently people near the horn heard it but said it wasn’t loud at all). So I wasn’t sure if the race was officially over or if I should keep running – it made me pretty anxious and unsure.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

They do weird things every year to keep it entertaining for the runners. This year they brought out Vegas showgirls and had an ice cream bike for runners to get ice cream from.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

My nutrition was on point so I didn’t have to worry about tummy problems. I prepped my crew (aka my partner Vinnie) with in-depth details of what I wanted and he rocked it. I was able to move efficiently through the aid station each time and he could help me at the other main aid station. It was pretty awesome. I also like the loop style because mentally I don’t have to worry about where I’m going or what the terrain/climbing might be. I knew exactly where I was at all times and where I needed to be if I wanted to hit my goal.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Set up an aid station for yourself in the grassy field. And way overstock it. You never know what you might need/want! It’s just nice to know that it’s there. Also, be prepared for crazy weather. One year it rained so much they had to reroute the course and this year it got so toasty I had to put on my arm sleeves and shove ice everywhere!

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Nope, I felt like I nailed that race!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Get ready to get really loopy. Like super duper loopy.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It’s pretty for a city park – you get to run around a small man-made lake and see mountain views. It’s nothing spectacular.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

No! Pretty flat and fast. For you flatlanders, there is a “hill” in the course.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes! Super well organized!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes, for the 100 mile USATF. Not much other distances though.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nope! Just sign up and show up! There’s plenty of places to stay in Vegas so that’s not an issue.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

There is one main aid station and they have all the things you could wish for (even ice cream, popsicles, and snow cones). I know they switch out the food for the night portions if you’re running in the night. And they take requests as long as you give them enough notice, they’ll make whatever you want! You can also set up your own personal aid station which I relied on way more. It’s nice to have your own area and not have to try to figure out what you want or try to get around people.

Weather and typical race conditions

Totally up in the air. It could be sunny and hot, windy and cold, or torrential downpours.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Nope! Just check the weather and plan accordingly. Especially if it’s going to be hot – have ice and plenty of water/electrolytes and a hat because there’s no shade on the course.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Super! You can see the runner the whole time and actually cheer/talk to them twice on each loop!

How’s the Swag?

The shirts are nice and super creative. The medals and awards are super awesome!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5! If you like to get loopy and run fast or see how many miles you can get in a certain time, this is the perfect race!

Las Vegas Rock n Roll HM Race Report – Ping S

August 12, 2020November 26, 2019

Race: Las Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon

Runner: Ping S

Race Date: 11/17/2019

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Results: 1:29:37

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

For one, these destination Rock n Roll races sure are good for the ego – not sure where else a 1:29 nabs you 3rd in your AG or 110/19,000 OA, but it did in Vegas =)

Secondly, as someone who enjoys Vegas for periods of time up to about 48 to 72 hours, but abhors the fact that it’s time spent almost exclusively indoors (with smokers) and that it’s one of the worst places to run (the strip, that is; except for pre-sunrise which is, ahem, difficult to achieve, in Vegas) outside, being able to combine Vegas with a road race is an ideal weekend.

Lastly, it’s of course a unique experience, the only private event for which the entire Vegas strip is shut down, and you get to run the entire length, twice, with all the lights, glitz, and glamour that you may (or may not) associate with that. The city turns out fairly well through the heart of the strip, though there are some quieter areas as well at the very north end of the course.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Logistics – I get that managing 20,000 half marathon runners and a few thousand marathoners is challenging, but clustering everyone in a “start line village” (read: empty parking lot off strip) with questionable signage and organization (there was one map showing where runners would eventually exit from but it was not easy to find – literally one poster-size map at ground level tucked away in a many-acres parking lot with tens of thousands of people milling about) and there was no other obvious way to tell where you were supposed to go (i.e., to get out of the village and to the start line, which was ONLY accessible from the village, once you were in the “village”) and then having everyone walk ~half a mile to the actual start line and corrals can’t be the best way, can it? I’ve done the race in past years where there was no start village and everyone just went to the corrals and it was a bit of a madhouse but I can’t say it was worse.

Weather – the race starts at sunset so you have the rather unique experience of weather that cools as you go versus the opposite with the more normal early am starts; that said, however, it was close to 75 degrees at sunset, which, at least to this Seattle-ite, is way too warm for good racing. Probably 65 or so by the finish, and no sun made things bearable, but definitely sub-optimal temps.

Combine this with Vegas being at 2,000 feet – which you don’t really feel but science says will take a little off your VO2 max – and the conditions aren’t that great for fast running. I will say that the first year I ran this (2014), temps at the start were ~55, so it’s possible to get decent weather, but I would not count on it.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

So, this was a first for me – potatoes on course as “fuel”. Literally, small cubes of baked potatoes in little paper cups. While I’m sure the Potato industry trade group or whoever thought that might be a great idea, that was a little bizarre to see.

Also, spied for the first time a man wearing a pink Vaporfly Next on one foot, and a green Vaporfly Next on the other – humble brag that he owns not one, but TWO pairs of $250 Nexts?! Or, somewhere out there is his buddy wearing the inverse mix of colors =)

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Always a fun race, I was glad that although I struggled over the last few miles, I didn’t completely blow up.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Do NOT do the full marathon here, unless you like running endless circles around parking lots off the strip in the latter miles of the race (seriously, check out that map – yikes!).

Also if you are staying anywhere not immediately around the start area, give yourself PLENTY of time to get to the start area as the monorail and other ways of getting around Vegas, with the strip closed to autos, are completely overloaded that entire afternoon.

Lastly, while the finish is at the Mirage, you don’t actually exit the finish area until the Bellagio (it’s cordoned and fenced off otherwise) so just know that if you want a hotel close to the “finish”, the one that matters is where you exit, not where you actually stop running.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The last few miles are actually a steady, if slight, uphill, so be ready for that. Good news is, you can see the sign for The Mirage (where the finish line is) from at least 2 miles away, so that, to me, is always comforting/motivating.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

If you think Vegas at night is a sight, then yes. If you think Vegas is a natural-resource obliterating @#%$hole in the middle of the desert that should not exist, then no =)

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Not really – as noted, slight elevation and generally warm temps don’t make it a super fast race but the course itself is pretty straight and relatively flat, with some steady but pretty gradual uphill and downhill sections making up most of it (heading north on the strip is mostly downhill, somewhat surprisingly).

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Given the size I suppose they do a decent job – but as I noted earlier, the start line village was not my cup of tea and could be better managed. Honolulu, for instance, is larger than this race and somehow managed to get the race off without the use of a pre-start line staging area.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Oddly, they had a 1:20 pace group and a 1:25 pace group for the half, which is quite fast for a race with 19000+ people where a 1:29 almost made the top 100.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Some of the hotel rates through the RnR site were actually quite good. This surprised me – we ended up staying at the Cosmopolitan, which was very convenient to both the start and finish.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Potatoes!! Get em here. Otherwise, water and gatorade and one station with SiS gels this year.

Weather and typical race conditions

Noted above – typically dry (though I believe it rained in 2017) and expect warmer temps.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

If you’ve been really dying to wear that Elvis costume while running – this is your chance.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Pretty good for spectators along the strip, and various vantage points like outdoor restaurants and bars, etc.

How’s the Swag?

It’s ok – probably getting a little cheaper for the Competitor/Wanda group…no more Brooks shirts, etc. Just your standard generic tech fabric shirt.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

All depends on how you feel about Vegas! If you like Vegas and racing, you should probably do this race.

Las Vegas Rock n Roll half marathon race report

Las Vegas Rock n Roll HM Race Report – Jeff J

August 12, 2020November 25, 2019

Race: Las Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon

Runner: Jeff J

Race Date: 11/17/2019

Location: Las Vegas

Results: 1861 out of 19931 overall

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2873089733

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Great/fun group of runners, great location, great music

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Like any big race, it’s very crowded so you have to bob and weave to pass.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

People didn’t seem to line up in their corrals very much.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

This was the first time I’ve run a half marathon and am happy that I finished in under 2 hours. The weather was perfect.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Arrive well in advance of the race to deal with lines for the bathrooms, gear check, etc.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

The elevation was a couple thousand feet higher than I’ve run in prior races. Found my HR to be higher than expected. Also, staying in a Vegas casino (New York NY) was very smoky and my sinuses were very aggravated.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Lots of volunteers directing folks, so it’s easy to navigate.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

The Vegas strip is beautiful at night!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It’s a very flat course which is why I chose Vegas as my first half marathon.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes, well-oiled machine for the half marathon. I’ve heard the gear check for 10k was a little confusing.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Lots of great runners here.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I registered early on so it was easy.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Gatorade, gel, water every couple of miles.

Weather and typical race conditions

It was mid-fifties during the race in November. Perfect conditions!

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

I brought 4 packets of Gu, in addition to my normal supplies.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, but it would be hard to find you since there are tons of people.

How’s the Swag?

Lots of cool gear available to purchase.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 out of 5 stars. Definitely a fun time!

Sawmill 35 Miler Race Report – Barbara R

August 14, 2020June 8, 2019

Race: Sawmill 35 Miler

Runner: Barbara R

Race Date: 06/01/2019

Location: Sawmill Canyon, Las Vegas, NV

Results: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=63664

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2415787156/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

I got to explore new trails at our local mountain, Mt. Charleston! And the weather was beautiful!
The slap bracelets that matched the color loop a runner was doing. Really helped when I was fatigued and not paying attention.
The views – we had incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the valley.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I wonder what the race would be like if it was run in the clockwise direction. We ran the loops counterclockwise so each loop started with a downhill on a jeep road, the middle part of each loop consisted of long climbs on awesome single track, and the end of the loop ended on a mostly downhill trail and jeep road. Runners spent majority of their time climbing up single track and I would love to see what the course felt like if we got to go down the single track and climb up the jeep roads. Not really a make or break for me, just curious. I feel like so much awesome single track was wasted because we ended up hiking all of it.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

That taxidermy lizard again!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I stayed mentally really tough during the whole race – the race had 3 different loops that you had to run 2 times. So the second time through was exhausting and draining but I stayed really positive and kept pushing through. I treated this race as a training run which helped with my mentality and allowed me to be more relaxed while running. I had a super good time the whole time – no down moments!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Take your time. The climbs are brutal. You have to be patient and work your way up them slowly but surely.
And if you have your own nutrition/hydration you like to use, you can set up your own little area at the main aid station – I personally like to mainly rely on my own stock of nutrition and it’s nice when I can set it out and have quick and easy access to it at an aid station.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Don’t do the 35 miler…stick with the 17 miler. 😉

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

This course is at elevation (~7,000 feet) with lots of climbing in each loop. This by no means is a fast course and it will do a number on your legs because all you’re doing is going down, going up, and then going down again.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Oh my gosh absolutely! Runners got awesome views of the Spring Mountains and the valley below. There was a lot of diverse vegetation we got to run through too – anything from high desert to forest! I personally love our mountain range so I enjoyed every step of the race!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

YES! Way harder than I (or anyone) expected it to be! We ended up doing over 6,000 feet of climbing and they were long gradual climbs. Not steep enough to power hike but steep enough were you couldn’t run. Each loop started on a nice downhill for 2ish miles but once you hit the trails it was a slow and steady forever climb until you hit the top and then ran back downhill to the main aid station. There were zero flat areas in this race. Luckily it wasn’t very technical and the trails were smooth and nice; there were some rocky and gravely sections but nothing that was a killer on the legs/hips.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Triple Dare Running and Bristlecone Events 100% rocked this race! This was the first year they ran it and it went incredibly smoothly. The course was marked perfectly. There were 3 loops: Blue Loop (4ish miles), Red Loop (8ish miles), and Green Loop (4ish miles). Each loop was marked with ribbon and signs with arrows that matched the loop color. And to top it off, everyone was given a slap bracelet to wear that matched what color loop they were running. When coming down the road to the main aid station, a volunteer would radio your number down so the other volunteers would have a new slap bracelet ready to switch out. I was blown away by how well marked the course was!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Not this year. Hopefully in the future more competitive people will come out. The 35 miler started with 25 people and only 12 finished…there was an option to drop down to the 17 miler if you didn’t want to do all the loops again so I think a lot of runners did that once they got a taste of the climbing. And since there was so few runners I ended up running the entire race by myself.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

This was the first year this race was run so it was a pretty small field. But it had a lot of positive reviews so I wouldn’t be surprised if more people signed up in the upcoming years, possibly becoming a sold out race. Since this race is in the mountains it is pretty remote – lodges and hotels are available but it’ll be a 45+ minute drive. There was free camping though so if you want to be close to the action and not worry about driving, camping is the way to go.

There is also a relay option for this race where runners can create a team of 3 and each runner has to run every loop so if this would interest anyone, make sure you get a team together or find a local team looking for another runner!

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Aid stations were great! The main aid station at the start/finish area was bumpin’ with lots of food (cold and hot) and drink (kegs) available for before, during, and after the race! (They did run out of watermelon which was a bummer but someone from the race, Aubrey maybe?, drove off the mountain to the store to get more watermelon! Yes!) There were 2 manned aid stations on the course and 1 unmanned water only aid station. The race directors had an off road vehicle that was driving around and making sure all aid stations were fully stocked and had water. The aid stations were placed at the beginning or end of a loop due to easy of access so there were no aid stations in the middle with the big climbs.

Weather and typical race conditions

Typically the mountains are about 10 degrees cooler than the valley, so running up there in the summer time is beautiful! It did get a little toasty during the more exposed sections but all in all it was in the 70’s and sunny with a little wind!

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

I would definitely recommend carrying hydration, either a pack or handheld. The aid stations were few and far between, with big climbs so having hydration and snacks on you is a great idea for this race.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, for the most part. Each runner has to come to the start/finish area like 6 times, so you can see the runners there! You can hike to see runners on the course, but most spectators stayed at the start/finish area.

How’s the Swag?

T-shirts were great! Soft with a great design.
Medals made from wood with a great forest-y color scheme.
Winner’s plaques were okay. (So sad they’re not a bit fancier…)

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I give this race ALL THE STARS!! I totally recommend that others run this race!

Flight of Fire Half Marathon Race Report – Barbara R

August 10, 2020May 14, 2019

Race: Flight of Fire 1/2 – Whitney Mesa Edition

Runner: Barbara R

Race Date: 05/04/2019

Location: Henderson, NV

Results: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=62523

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2341584801/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Totally brand new area to me – super fun to run something new and unknown!
The race directors – awesome human beings, great organization, loud cheerers, and they named their taxidermy lizard after me. 🙂
The varied terrain – pavement, crushed gravel, and singletrack; flats, uphills, and downhills!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The race usually takes place at Red Rock Canyon on my favorite trail, the Grand Circle Loop. Unfortunately BLM was being super finicky and did not issue a permit for the race – even though this race has taken place here for years! Red Rock is super beautiful and challenging where Whitney Mesa does not have the “wow!” factor and is much easier.
Course changes at last minute – not only did the course location change, but the course itself changed a couple times! So when I was mentally preparing myself for a new course, we get there on race day and they changed it again.
The winners plaque – this race company makes incredible wooden medals and wooden plaques for the top 3 finishers. Not to sound snooty, but they definitely were trying to save money and the wooden plaque came out looking like a grade school project. Totally bummed since I finally won this race, but they cheaped out on the plaque. Oh well!

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The taxidermy lizard. It comes to every race and the winner gets to hold it.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I raced the whole race really well! Despite course changes and going completely into the unknown, I executed my race perfectly.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

I hope this race only takes place at Whitney Mesa this year and it gets moved back to Red Rock Canyon for the rest of the years. Whitney Mesa is very runnable with 2 really big climbs and 1 moderate climb. It is looped – you run the 1st loop twice and the second loop once. The first loop is the easier side (1 moderate climb and pavement/crushed gravel) so the pace can be pushed on this part.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Sticking to my race plan and paces and not trying to go crazy with my pace at the beginning. Settle in and cruise.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Anyone wanting to do this race and they are not used to heat, be prepared for the heat! It gets toasty in May! I wear a Kool Tie or use a bandana with ice. I also dump lots of cool water on my neck and arms.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes for the most part. You do have to run next to a neighborhood and near a busy road but the top of the mesa is super cool with spectacular views of the valley! And the singletrack is a little barren but the climbs to the top are worth it.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

The only tough sections are the 2 big climbs. Very steep and slippery so I power hiked up them; even had to use my hands and scramble towards the end of the first climb!

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well oiled machine! Even though they didn’t get their permit and had to find a new location and did a last minute course change, everything went super smooth! Course was well marked, there was plenty of aid, and course marshals at important turns. Their t-shirts were the best ever this year with a nice soft blended material and the logo is, as usual, super badass.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

This is a local race, so no competition. I also think since the race changed locations, many people did not sign up because they didn’t know what Whitney Mesa would be like.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nope! Just gotta sign up and show up!

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Great aid, since it was only a half there wasn’t much offered. Plenty of water to drink and pour on our bodies and the main aid station had volunteers spraying us with water which was awesome.

Weather and typical race conditions

Roasty toasty! Usually sunny with temps in the 80’s.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Like I mentioned before, Kool Tie is the way to go! I also recommend white arm sleeves to help stay cool and not get sun burnt.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Whitney Mesa was a GREAT course for spectators! If it does get moved back to Red Rock, unfortunately that one is nearly impossible to be a spectator on. Also since it was an out and back/looped course, I was able to see my partner Vinnie multiple times and high five for extra energy!

How’s the Swag?

Race logo – badass
T-shirts – soft and comfy
Race medals – carved wood and super amazing
Winner plaques – cheaped out this year

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

Even though it was moved to Whitney Mesa, I will also give this race 5 stars! It’s the only local race, or any race, that I will do multiple times and never get sick of! Perfect time of year – yes it does get toasty but the wildflowers are all blooming and it’s the one time the desert it super colorful and not dead looking.