Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon
Salt Lake City (finish in Murray / Cottonwood Heights), United States · September · Independent
Why people love it
- Net drop of about 1,585 m (5,200 ft) from Guardsman Pass to Cottonwood High School.
- First 29 to 31 km (18 to 19 mi) run through a canyon that reviewers call picturesque.
- Boston qualifier with some runners reporting PRs of 20 minutes or more.
- Open entry, with school buses from the finish to the start.
Watch out for
- Quad-pounding descent: train for the downhill, and note the 2,926 m (9,600 ft) start.
- Out-and-back rollers from 31 to 37 km (19 to 23 mi), with heavy traffic beside the course late.
- Reportedly the BAA will apply a 10 minute penalty to this course from 2027.
- Cold at the top, hot at the bottom; toilet lines at the start reached 25 minutes in 2017.
- Few spectators and little crowd support.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
Marathon reviews run 3, 1, 4 and 4 of 5; the half earns 5s. Scenery and speed win praise; the final stretch does not. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.4
Buses ran on time, but toilet waits at the start reached about 25 minutes. One marathoner found only warm sports drink and bananas left. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Steep descent from altitude hammers quads, and rollers from 31 to 37 km (19 to 23 mi) hit tired legs. Reviewers advise training for it. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.3
Net drop of 1,585 m (5,200 ft). Some reported PRs of 20 minutes. Rollers over the last 13 km (8 mi) can cost time. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.1
The first 29 km (18 mi) in the canyon are called picturesque. The last 13 km (8 mi) beside heavy traffic are faulted. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Small field on a canyon road; out-and-back with rollers at miles 19 to 23 (km 31 to 37). · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.2
Entirely paved per the FAQ. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.4
At least one lane stays open with no shoulder, up to three lanes late. Reviewers mention heavy traffic in the last 6.4 km (4 mi). · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.0
Mainly steep descent, not flat; a steep Brighton loop and rollers; gain not published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillBig drop5.0
Net drop about 1,585 to 1,598 m (5,200 to 5,242 ft); USATF-certified Boston qualifier, but a 10 minute BAA penalty applies from 2027. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.0
School buses to the top ran on time, and parking was easy. Toilet lines were long and the summit start was cold. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
Boston-qualifier race likely has pacers; not documented. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
Mountain canyon with few spectators; limited info; busier at the finish area. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Every station has water and electrolyte drink; some gels and fruit; 2015 runners praised towels and food, 2017 marathoners found the finish food gone. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
Canyon shelter; valley average wind 19 km (11.8 mi)/h (12 mph). · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Cold at the summit, up to 28 °C (83 °F) at the valley on warm days; chilly start needs warm clothes. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
Dry mid-September in Utah; wide temperature swing between start and finish. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.0
Point-to-point from a mountain pass; hard to see runners. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeElevated1.8
Start at 2,926 m (9,600 ft), finish at 1,341 m (4,400 ft). Most of the course is above 1,500 m (4,900 ft) early on. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Salt Lake City metro; not verified. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
Not verified. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.4
Point-to-point: buses to the start at dawn, finish at a high school. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Salt Lake City International Airport about 30 km (19 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Packet mailing with an extra fee; early buses; start at altitude. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Salt Lake City nearby; not researched in detail. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.2
Open entry, listed from 110 to 165 USD. Whether it sells out is not documented. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
A reviewer calls it a great race at a reasonable price; 110 to 165 USD listed. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Salt Lake City (finish in Murray / Cottonwood Heights), Utah, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 11 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 2,500 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Descent
- 1,598 m (5,240 ft)
- Start time
- 06:45
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved road
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $125
- Air temperature
- 8–24 °C (46–75 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry; 34 percent in the valley per a historical average
- Altitude
- 2,926 m (9,600 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport, 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Downtown Salt Lake City
- Booking
- Buses from the finish to the start before dawn; parking easy per a 2017 runner.
What racers and reviewers say
- Revel review (Eric Guenther)Raced 2017 · survey · Mixed
3 of 5. First 18 miles (29 km) picturesque; last 8 miles (13 km) with out-and-back and busy road miserable; buses organised, toilet shortage with about a 25 minute wait.
“absolutely miserable”
- Revel review (Michelle Johnson, half)Raced 2015 · survey · Positive
5 of 5 for the half: beautiful course, moose sighting, buses on time, good food, long walk to toilets.
- Revel review (Erin Mikkelsen)Raced 2017 · survey · Negative
1 of 5. Out-and-back rollers at miles 19 to 23 (km 31 to 37) horrible; post-race food gone, only warm Powerade and bananas.
- Revel review (Patti Krebsbach)Raced 2015 · survey · Positive
4 of 5. Crazy downhill, beautiful scenery until the final out-and-back, heavy traffic in the last miles, gloves and mylar blankets at start, cold washcloths at finish.
- Revel review (Brian Glotzbach)Raced 2016 · survey · Positive
4 of 5, no comment text.
Show 4 more
- State College columnRaced 2019 · article · Mixed
Start 2,926 m (9,600 ft), finish 1,341 m (4,400 ft), first mile drops over 122 m (400 ft); school buses to the top; chilly start; walked from mile 22 for a 3:11:46; 26.2 miles is hard on any course.
“26.2 miles is still incredibly hard regardless of the course”
- Weeviews (Diogo Reis, half)Raced 2024 · survey · Positive
5 of 5 for the half: steep downhill, train your quads, beautiful canyon, fast Boston qualifier.
“Train your quads!”
- BiBRAVE (several runners)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Reviews 2015 to 2022: solid downhill about 18 miles (29 km), average 5 percent grade, quads sore; one qualified for Boston with over 9 minutes to spare; altitude matters little when descending. Seen via search snippets only.
- Fred Ayres (Substack)Raced 2025 · article · neutral
Notes net loss of 1,598 m (5,242 ft) and that the BAA will apply a 10 minute penalty to this course from 2027.
Raced Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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