Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
I love everything about the Revel races - super well organized and supported by Revel and volunteers, beautiful and quiet courses, opportunities to run fast. Vegas is an easy place to "vacation" as much or as little as you want. This was my PR race (2025, when it was 20 cooler) and we will be back next year!
Train for sustained downhills and train for flat after downhill. Active recovery is key and Vegas is an easy place to walk a lot later that day. Book tickets for the Sphere night of the marathon to force yourself "out and about."
Stay close to (or at) bus to reduce race morning stress. But easy to get and Uber at 3am because it's Vegas. Don't walk too much the day before (as always) and get as early a flight as possible so you don't miss getting your bib at the expo.
Impeccable race organization, communication from RD, expo, bang for your buck, etc. I am 69 years old, and learned that for me, running downhill was harder than expected. On a muscular level, I felt fine. Skeletally, not so fine. But that's me. We had an unusually warm day and I think an anomaly for the event. Race management did their very best to keep everyone safe, including the provision of cold towels starting at mile 23 ?? and that was really great.
Hydrate well the day before the event and start early on the marathon too. I like Pedialyte so I drank 8 oz. before the start and had the rest as recovery once finished. I would suggest drinking Pedialyte the day before, and drinking 16 oz. before the start and 3-4 cups after the marathon. I learned this from ultrarunners and it's really been a game changer for me.
Also, I ran Honolulu in the heat and humidity in December. I normally alternate between one GU + water and one Saltstick capsule every 40-45 minutes. On hot days or hot and humid, I do better if I do that every 30 minutes.
The Home2 Suites is perfect, less than a mile from where the buses take you to the start, and a mile from the finish. There's nothing closer.
From the Las Vegas airport, it's also a 21-mile Uber drive, so no need to rent a car unless you want to linger and sightsee. Expo is about a 25-minute Uber ride as well, at the Rio Hotel & Casino + Conference Center.
This is my PR race (2025) and 2nd fastest (2026, even with an abnormally hot year). We already plan to be back in 2027 with some ambitious goals.
Highly recommend training for the downhill (and some uphill for mile 24) and practice active recovery. Downhill races with high leg turnover can expose the rest of your form, so incorporate core training with your strength and cross training. Dress for the finish line and bring heavy robe or toss clothes for start area in the cold mountains.
Stayed near finish line in 2025 and stayed off strip in 2026. I think off strip is easier for the rest of your time in Vegas if you have other "Vegas" plans in mind. (Highly recommend seeing something at The Sphere!) Lot of "active recovery" opportunities walking and taking the steps up and down, lol...
Gentle downhill that doesn’t wreck your quads like other Revel races. Revel races are always well organized with plenty of well stocked aid stations & bathrooms. I just wish they’d stop giving out Mylar blankets at the start which is environmentally damaging
Wear warm discardable clothing to the start. Skip the Mylar blankets!
Cheap flights to Vegas. Skip the casino hotels as bad air quality will affect your performance.
My 17th marathon and by far my fastest. Great organization, excellent aid stations along the way. Be prepared for a very cold start and a warm finish. Also, there are a few short hidden hills along the way. Finally, the audio accompanying the race app was amazing. Gave me very accurate, real time, mile splits.
Cold and dark start. Be sure to bring plenty of layers to shed. Excellent aid stations throughout the course so minimal need for carrying your own nutrition. Very few turns, but be mindful of your tangents on the long curves. Also, I read a prior review to half size up your running shoes. I did this, and it was a huge help on the down hill course. Finally, be prepared for some sore legs afterwards. Surprisingly the worst I have felt after a marathon, but only lasted a few days. Worth the pain.
Stayed at the Aria. Worked fine. But would stay at the Tuscany next time for more convenience regarding bus pick up. I flew into Las Vegas the night before the race and flew out of Las Vegas a few hours after the race. The airport is so convenient.
Beautiful race with scenic views, one of the most beautiful sunrise and very well organized, the organization is highly professional
This is a fast downhill course. But this race is extremely well organized and run. I rate it better than several of the majors. They have enough staff and have thought through all the little details that make this marathon to come off without a hitch that makes it totally enjoyable and allows you to just think about your run. Of the 50 marathons I have run I rate this and the other REVEL marathon I have run as the best organized!
Lean forward and let gravity help your pace. they have a couple of uphill sections and at that elevation they are a harder than you might be used to so walk those and recover for a faster downhill pace.
The race buses leave at 3:15 - 3:45 AM for the start. So, I recommend arriving two days prior to get a great night's sleep 2 days prior.
My 17th marathon and by far my fastest. Great organization, excellent aid stations along the way. Be prepared for a very cold start and a warm finish. Also, there are a few short hidden hills along the way. Finally, the audio accompanying the race app was amazing. Gave me very accurate, real time, mile splits.
Cold and dark start. Be sure to bring plenty of layers to shed. Excellent aid stations throughout the course so minimal need for carrying your own nutrition. Very few turns, but be mindful of your tangents on the long curves. Also, I read a prior review to half size up your running shoes. I did this, and it was a huge help on the down hill course. Finally, be prepared for some sore legs afterwards. Surprisingly the worst I have felt after a marathon, but only lasted a few days. Worth the pain.
Stayed at the Aria. Worked fine. But would stay at the Tuscany next time for more convenience regarding bus pick up. I flew into Las Vegas the night before the race and flew out of Las Vegas a few hours after the race. The airport is so convenient.
Well organized start, was intimidated by the 3am wake up to make the buses to the start but was a none issue. Is cold at top (will be 10-15C colder then Vegas at 6am) so be prepared for below freezing start. Beautiful scenic run down the valley, super fast!! As long has your are ready for the temp variation on the run you will PB.
I ran conservative the first half and built speed from 13-21miles, then tried to hang on during the flatter last 5miles, worked out well.
Stayed at Flamingo which was walking distance to Tuscany (Strip Bus to Start pick up). This was fine but next time will stay at Tuscany, or wherever the Strip Bus pick up is (for convenience).
Well run race and great expo explaining how best to run the race. Not much crowd support but beautiful scenery. It is very cold 12 degrees wind chill and you have an hour or more wait, Bring clothes for the drop bag. They did have heaters that helped.
Train running many long downhills or repeats because it is extremely fast. Run at 70% effort and let gravity do the work because you need to save it for later when your legs are tired.
Stayed at the host resort and bought the bus ticket to make it convenient. Try to get as late a bus as you can so your wait is the least.
I run almost 100 marathons. Revel marathon - especially Mount Charleston. It's an early bus ride, but very organized, and the volunteers always make sure everyone makes it to the start (even if you are rushing trying to find a parking spot, looking for the bus, and at the tail end of the line).
The course is fast!!!! beautiful and full of water, electrolyte and gel stations. I've never carried my own.
I have never got lost (which is a horrible deal) The crowds and volume of cheers is awesome at the finish!
No better race!!
This year (I've run it 3 times), I paid attention to the suggestions about running downhill - very helpful on getting me through last 6 with more leg energy
Well organized, and a great race if you are a strong hill runner. Strength training (leg day), and training on hills will help. Fight the temptation to bank time - the first half is 3000 ft down, making it tempting to get greedy. I broke 3 hours (2:58:15), setting a 5 minute PR.
Be sure you know how your shoes fit with downhill running! I sacrificed a toe nail and attempted "surgery" around mile 20 (blood blister under my big toe, used a pin from my bib), which cost me time, but was worth it - it felt like someone was taking a hammer to that toe with every step! Also, be prepared for temperature to rise by 20+ degrees from start to finish. With the dry heat, you won't feel your sweat, so going by feel will backfire in those late miles.
Stayed on the strip and had a rental car. Smooth getting to and on the bus and to the starting line. I wish this race started 30 minutes earlier (or a month earlier). It would have made a big difference with the heat - there's no shade or clouds, so if it's warming up, you just bake.
The race course and race organization are both top-notch. The race start was cold (30s), the race finish was hot (70s). Bring throw away layers! Study the race course, 4% downhill is steep, there are some hidden hills you can't see on the elevation map because of it. I came from sea level one day prior, and had no issues with acclimating to the higher elevation.
The only issue I had was too few people handing out water/nuun. After I missed water at the first station, I made sure to stop and grab my own for most of the rest of the aid stations.
I read many race recaps of this race & everyone blew up in the last 10k. Therefore I ran off of heart rate and made sure the first half felt easy. Using this strategy, I was able to negative split, BQ and get a 6 minute PR. The last 10k was still brutal, but I was able to run the whole time and finish strong. Strength training for runners definitely helped me with this course! This was my 18th marathon and I have never been more sore because of all the downhill.
I took the shuttle from the Vegas strip with no issue (stayed at the nearby Holiday Inn, which has a full kitchen). You can grab a coffee/banana at the gas station in front of the platinum hotel before boarding. The space blanket and throw away gloves from packet pick-up are so useful! Plenty of port-a-potties at the start line. Took a very long time after the race to grab gear check, so if you don't need to use it, you'll save some time.
All around great race! I'm in pain now, but very proud of my performance.
There were warnings not to go too fast the first half. I ignored these, banked as much time as I could, and by the time I hit the harder last 10K I could have almost walked and still BQ'd, which is a great feeling.
Strip bus was convenient. You have to get up early so if you are traveling from the East Coast, DONT ACCLIMATE; I went to bed at 6 PDT pre race, up at 130AM.
This is easy Course of 26.2 miles and the down hill is legit , the last mille it is flat but it is not a big deal only couples of miles believe me ! I got PR Shaved -14 minutes then my previous race thats huge got BQ Amen :) Highly recommended for everyone looking for PR ,PB or BQ . Staff , the event ,merchandize , T shirt , hat etc & food are awesome perfecto ! The Medal Supercool . I'll be back !! #SchwarzeneggerMode
Just let it flow run downhill as fast as you can !
Air BNB near finished line or the hotel sponsor good to go
Fantastically run race. I thought the Marine Corps Marathon was well run. This one tops that! Everything was well planned out. Race communication was on point. Precautions for COVID-19 were thorough at the Limited Edition race. I'm already signed up for the next race. I highly recommend REVEL and this course was just amazing.
Take advantage of REVEL's coach. He does a phenomenal job prepping you for the downhill course. Wear layers as it gets warm fast. Strengthen your quads. Course has plenty of aid stations. Don't fret running in the high elevation.
Arrive a couple days early. Drive the course. Take a quick practice run for 1/2 mile at the beginning of the course to confirm that you can handle the first small uphill at 7,600 feet of elevation. It will alay your fears.
Great Race! Thanks REVEL for all your hard work. Ran a PR and my 2nd BQ time. I thought I had done plenty of downhill training, but I wish now I had done more. My time was almost exactly what I had set as my goal, but it has taken me much longer to recover from this race than previous marathons. I attribute that to not enough downhill training. Still, don't be afraid to register for this awesome, fast marathon.
Revel Mt. Charleston is pretty close to downhill all the way, and it's scenic, especially at the top. There's almost no crowd support along the course, but you don't run this race for crowd support; you run it to go fast.
It's a steeper downhill at the top. Resist the temptation to go out fast and bank a lot of time. You'll have to work harder nearer the finish, so don't pound your quads harder than you have to at the start.
I targeted this race for a BQ and it delivered.
As with any point-to-point, you have to get up quite early. Bring extra clothes to stay warm before the start. If you are on one of the first buses you can grab a seat/table in the lodge when you arrive; otherwise you can either stand in the lodge and stay warm or bundle up and sit outside. I preferred to rest my legs and bundled up. You should plan for a 20F - 30F temperature rise over the race. In 2018, it was quite warm at the end (high 70s) and many people were dehydrated. If I were to do it again, I would run with my own hydration to supplement the water stops. Even 2-3 drinks at each water stop was not enough for me. The relative humidity was in the low teens. The first 2/3 of the race is directly into the sun, so have sunglasses. Also realize that you will be running above one mile high for the first 9 miles or so, so your heart rate will be a little more elevated than you might be used to in the beginning of a race, so plan for that. But you do get the downhill, and it's a nice steady downhill with no rapid drops. The last few miles really feel like a slow uphill grind, even if the numbers don't show it. I planned for it, passed nearly 200 people in the second half, and I still ran my last few miles a minute slower than my average race pace. Ensure your preparation includes a lot of cross-training that focuses on the quads and hamstrings - dips, squats, lunges, stairs, etc.
If you stay on the Strip, stay near Bally's so you can catch that bus.
Great course. Well organized. Got a PR.
Practice lots of downhill runs with some uphill at the end. Weather was cool at start and warm at end but could potentially be very warm at the end.
Was an awesome breathtaking downhill course that is a fast bq. No complaints as everything was awesome
Its all downhill except 2 small uphills in first few miles and around mile 21 was a out and back that was a gradual uphill.
The temperature was perfect, the wind was not. Was not happy about the last minute course change that added the out and back. All in all, it was a great race though. I BQ'd by 13 minutes and beat my goal by 7 minutes. Would do this race again for sure! Plenty of bathrooms at the top and loved the fact that there was a bathroom on the bus.
Dress warm for the top. Wished I had taken a bus at 4:30 not 4:45 as it took about an hour to get to the top. By the time I stood in line for the bathrooms, it was only 5 minutes to race time so didn't give me much time to be prepared.
Revel offers amazingly beautiful courses, they are mostly downhill & super fast. The course has great volunteers, plenty of water and aid stations, they charter bus you to the start and have an amazing finish line with lots of goodies including a free massage. Revel marathons are an awesome opportunity for a BQ!
Register early because they sell out fast, Prepare your quads for downhill running, get to the charter bus early, they start at higher elevations..so layer up and take off as you warm up, get ready to BQ!
The expos for Revel races are pretty small, but nice, stay near the marathon bus pick up to avoid traffic, bus pick up to the start is about 4 a.m. so bring some food and hydration with you on the bus
Fastest marathon yet. I beat out my previous time by 5 minutes-- Big Cottonwood 2016-- and qualified for Boston. Revel does a pretty good job with organizing these events. Beautiful courses and well marked course. This year's course seemed to be a little off on mileage at the beginning but, this could be the result of not being able to run tangents for the first couple of miles with how many people are trying to run in one lane. A staggered start would be nice.
Aid stations in my 3:35 group got a little sparse and the volunteers were having a hard time keeping up at the beginning.
You will go a little faster in the first 20 miles and still have a decline until mile 22. Mile 22-23.5 was tough. Save a little for this section.
The race is point to point. Its cold at the top so I recommend NOT taking the earliest bus. A bus about 10 minutes before the last one is probably ideal in order to use the bathroom and leave your drop bag in time.
This is a fast steady downhill course, but not so steep that it tears you up
Can be cold at the start line, but that makes for great running once warmed up
The route was wonderful.
If you want a BQ you must run it
I prefer to stay in Las Vegas and rent a car to go, you can park at Target
I loved how organized it was. The course was beautiful. The pre run gloves they gave came in handy. Maybe have the water at the finish colder.
Expect the start to be chilly and come with warm clothing. Because of the down hill don't go out too fast, gravity will take you so keep a steady pace.
Parking was not a problem, just try to plan your trip accordingly to leave room for any delays.
Great course, scenic for the first 20 miles, then suburbs to finish. A nice downhill flowing runners course. Love the start in the snow ridge line, perfect weather, low 40's at the start , , finish around 60, definately the fastest course in the west. Just prepare to train on long downhill and some uphills and you can fly in this course.
Best pacing is to hold back with easy pace the first half, but it will be fast with the steepness, then hold on and finish second half strong as slope decreases. Weather was 40 at start 60 at finish, wear layers-shirt, sleevless, tshirt throway, gloves, ski hat, sunglasses as sun can pop out. Aid every 2 miles, every mile has marker,
Lots of motel choices, north vegas is closer, easy parking for expo and race start. 5 minutes after race to cars. Great buses-high end, not school buses. No fires at start so bring warm clothing to stay warm. Early in the morning, zero traffic so anywhere in Vegas is a short drive to the start, under 25 minutes.
Absolutely the BEST marathon I have ever run! A fast course, but not so fast of a downhill that you feel like you are out of control. I didn't even feel the decline until after the next few days...quads and hamstrings weren't too happy. A BQ and PR by several minutes! Wonderful communication and AWESOME freebies at the start line for the cold top of the mountain temps - beanie, gloves and mylar blanket.
Definitely do some downhill training and plan for snow, rain, hail, sun on race day! The weather constantly changed, but not enough to make much of a difference. Plan to wear layers.