REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon

Big Cottonwood Canyon to Murray, UT|Saturday, September 12, 2026|58 days away
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Weather

Climate Avg
TimeTempDew PtHumidityWindConditions
Start32.1 – 49.5°F25° Crisp34 – 80%4 mph SWPartly cloudy
8:00 AM32.4 – 47.4°F30° Crisp39 – 89%4 mph SWPartly cloudy
9:00 AM61.6 – 64°F32° Crisp24 – 42%2 mph SWPartly cloudy
10:00 AM50.8 – 66.2°F35° Crisp24 – 56%5 mph WClear sky
11:00 AM51.5 – 67.6°F35° Crisp23 – 55%6 mph WPartly cloudy
Finish53.3 – 69°F34° Crisp23 – 49%7 mph WPartly cloudy

Based on 3-year average for this date. Real forecast available in 42 days.

Elevation Profile

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Course Stats

Net Elevation (downhill)
-3,205 ft
Distance
26.22 mi
Total Gain
+2,081 ft
Total Loss
-5,287 ft
Max Grade
21.8%
Altitude (+2.9%)
9,731 ft

Mile Splits

MileGrade
1-9.1%
2-4.4%
3-6.3%
4+1.2%
5+0.4%
6-3.2%
7-7.0%
8-5.9%
9-5.9%
10-4.2%
11-1.7%
12-4.0%
13-2.3%
14-3.6%
15-7.9%
16-6.6%
17-5.1%
18-7.4%
19-4.9%
20+0.3%
21-0.7%
22+1.9%
23+3.1%
24+5.2%
25+6.3%
26+9.3%
27+8.0%

RM Difficulty Index

64/100Hard
The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon profile costs 4:37 vs a flat course at 4:00-marathon pace (terrain +0.67%, altitude +1.25%). Ranked #1 of 38 marathon courses see the full rankings.

Race-Day Weather History

Race-morning conditions on this date over the past 5 years: median 51°F with a 29°F dew point and 4 mph wind. Heat has rarely been a factor.

YearTempDew PtWindRainSky
202434°F29°F6 mphPartly cloudy
202151°F41°F4 mphDrizzle
202051°F20°F4 mphClear
201936°F27°F3 mphClear
201758°F37°F4 mphClear

Morning conditions (race window) on the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon calendar date each year, from the ERA5 reanalysis archive — the race’s usual slot, not necessarily each edition’s exact day.

REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Pace Calculator & Race Plan

REVEL Big Cottonwood starts at Guardsman Pass above 9,600 feet and drops over 5,000 feet to the finish in Murray. It is one of the fastest courses in the world for net downhill, and a top BQ destination. But 26 miles of continuous downhill running is brutal on your quads, and the altitude at the start affects your early-mile pace.

This is a course where our fatigue model makes the biggest difference. The quad damage from sustained downhill running accumulates exponentially. Runners who go out too fast on the steep early sections pay for it badly after mile 20. The splits account for altitude, grade, and cumulative muscle damage.

REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon FAQ

When is the next REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon?

The next REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon is on Saturday, September 12, 2026.

How long is the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon?

The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon is 26.2 miles (42.195 km), the standard marathon distance. It runs in Big Cottonwood Canyon to Murray, UT.

How much elevation gain does the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon have?

The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon has about 2,081 ft (634 m) of climbing and 5,287 ft of descent, with a maximum grade of 21.8%.

Is the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon flat, downhill, or hilly?

The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon is a net downhill course, dropping 3205 ft (977 m) from start to finish, with 2,081 ft of climbing along the way.

How hard is the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon?

Runner's Math scores the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon 64/100 (Hard) — #1 of 38 marathon courses in our library, ranked by modeled time cost. The profile costs about 4:37 versus a flat course for a runner at 4:00-marathon pace.

What's the weather usually like at the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon?

Over the past 5 years on this date, median race-morning conditions were 51°F with a 29°F dew point and 4 mph wind. Heat has rarely been a factor.