Marathon
Type
Road. Point to point
Course
Mainly downhill – average 5% grading- for 17 miles then undulating. First part of course is through spectacular scenery but once out of the canyon the surroundings are much less attractive.
Expo
Good expo with some unusual products eg. race themed jewellery. Some of the stands also available at finish line.
Start Line / Aid Stations
Runners are bussed to the start which is at 9000ft so can be cold. Bag drop available but throw away clothes recommended too. The space is quite tight in the start area and the dark makes it slightly confusing but plenty of toilets, water etc. The actual start was so low-key that we missed it.
Medal/Tshirt/Goody Bag
Choice of tshirts – long/short sleeves. Good quality medal with add-ons for age category winners. Food and free beer available at finish.
Accommodation
There are a couple of designated race hotels that provide transport to the start. We stayed at the Hyatt Place, Cottonwood and would recommend it.
Restaurants
Good local restaurants in Cottonwood. We particularly liked the Market Street Grill which served excellent clam chowder.
Comments
This is an unusual but spectacular race – running steeply downhill through the Cottonwood canyons. It could be a very fast course if your legs can cope with the change of incline when you leave the Canyon. We both had problems (see race report). Also the temperature when you leave the shelter of the Canyon rockets up – we finished in 33 degrees and bright sunshine.
