COURSE DESCRIPTION ~ We're certified!
The Running with the Devil Marathon, 1/2, 10K, 5K and 50 mile ultra is run completely inside the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The Running with the Devil races will challenge athletes to contend with extreme Mohave Desert heat in the middle of summer, in the middle of the day over continual rolling hills. Average temperatures can get up to 110 degrees with low humidity and little cloud cover. Note: The 10K and 5K start times are earlier in the day for those not wanting to race in the extreme heat.
The course is an out and back on the very scenic Lakeshore and Northshore Drives, and is run completely on pavement. You are not required, nor allowed to supply your own crew and aid. Aid stations will be well stocked and placed roughly every 1.6 - 3.4 miles (see "Aid Stations"). In 2007 they were 3.1- 3.8 miles apart, but were moved slightly closer together for 2008, and remain the same for 2009.
All races start and finish at the Boulder Beach Special Events Beach, which has ample parking. The course is continual rolling hills with some long (about a mile) gradual ascents and decents ranging from 1-8% in grade. Some shorter rollers may be a bit more steep. See the race specific mileage descriptions below. As you race back to the Boulder Beach Special Events Beach finish line, you can quickly be refreshed by jumping in the lake, only feet away from the finish line!
** Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a "fee" area. Vehicles entering the park are subject to a $5 entry fee or display of a National Parks Annual Pass (ID must match the Pass!). This entry fee is not included in the race entry fee. Carpool to save money.
*** Since the park is federal lands for the public, the roads must remain open. Signs will be posted warning motorists that runners are on the road, but you must stay on the lakeside shoulder of the road at all times. Please request that your spectators keep their driving along course to a minimum for the benefit and safety of all runners.
ELEVATION PROFILE- 50 MILER- 4277 total ascent/ net zero
CERTIFIED MARATHON MAP AND PROFILE- 2839 total ascent/ net zero
ELEVATION PROFILE- 1/2 MARATHON
CERTIFIED 1/2 MARATHON MAP AND PROFILE- 911 total ascent/ net zero
CERTIFIED 10K MAP AND PROFILE- 337 total ascent/ net zero
CERTIFIED 5K MAP AND PROFILE- 186 total ascent/ net zero
1/2 MARATHON COURSE ** 12pm START TIME!! USATF Certificate # NV08007DCR
Departing the Boulder Beach start line there is a gradual climb of about a 1/4 mile until you turn right onto Lakeshore Drive. The next 3.5 miles are a series of rollers and flat-ish sections. Then there is a series of 1 mile long stretches of downhill, uphill, downhill repectively taking you to your course turn around. There you will reverse the stretches of 1 mile sections going uphill, downhill, uphill. Mile 9.5- roughly 12.9 is a series of rollers again leading you to a strong downhill finish the last 1/4 mile. ** This course has a 7 hour cut-off.
MARATHON COURSE ** 10am START TIME!! USATF Certificate # NV08008DCR
Departing the Boulder Beach start line there is a gradual climb of about a 1/4 mile until you turn right onto Lakeshore Drive. The next 3.5 miles are a series of rollers and flat-ish sections. Then there is a series of 1 mile long stretches of downhill, uphill, downhill repectively taking you to the 1/2 marathon course turn around- keep going straight! You'll continue with another 1 mile downhill. Then miles 7.7 to mile 10 are a series of rollers with a slight net gain. At mile 10 you'll take a right onto Northshore Drive. A 1 mile downhill preceeds a series of rollers which lead you to your course turn around. Heading back you'll cover rollers for about 2 miles, climb 1 mile back onto Lakeshore Drive (you are now at mile 16.2) Roughly 2 miles of rollers with a net loss leads you to a 1 mile climb. Now you again start the stretches of 1 mile sections going uphill, downhill, and uphill. Mile 22.5- roughly 26 is a series of rollers again leading you to a strong downhill finish the last 1/4 mile. ** This course has a 9 hour cut-off.
50 MILE ULTRA **6am or 8am START TIMES- SEE DETAILS BELOW COURSE DESCRIPTION!
Departing the Boulder Beach start line there is a gradual climb of about a 1/4 mile until you turn right onto Lakeshore Drive. The next 3.5 miles are a series of rollers and flat-ish sections. Then there is a series of 1 mile long stretches of downhill, uphill, downhill respectively taking you to the 1/2 marathon course turn around- keep going straight! You'll continue with another 1 mile downhill. Then miles 7.7 to mile 10 are a series of rollers with a slight net gain. At mile 10 you'll take a right onto Northshore Drive. A 1 mile downhill preceeds a series of rollers which lead you the marathon turn around- keep going straight! The next 11.9 miles to the turn around are a series of rollers and "flat" sections. The turn around is at mile 25 (duh), though ironically denoted by a highway milepost 15 
Be sure to give your bib number to the "clipboard volunteer", turn around and come on back. You have a series of rollers and "flat" for 14 miles until a 1 mile climb takes you back to the left hand turn back onto Lakeshore Drive (you are now at mile 40) Roughly 2 miles of rollers with a net loss leads you to a 1 mile climb. Now you again start the stretches of 1 mile sections going uphill, downhill, and uphill. Mile 46.5- roughly 48.8 is a series of rollers again leading you to a strong downhill finish the last 1/4 mile. ** This course has a 11 or 13 hour cut-off, depending on start time.
50 Mile Ultra Start Time Explaination
The Running with the Devil 50 Mile Ultra has 2 different starting times. The 6am start time allows runners 13 hours to finish the course as an official finisher. However, I realized that the front of the pack runners will be finishing well below this amount of time, and if they started at 6am, they would likely be finished before the extreme heat of the day; desert heat doesn't reach it's peak until late afternoon. The intent of this race is to challenge runners with extreme heat- so I'm gonna put you right in the middle of it, thus the 8am start time!
The 6am start time is for those runners requiring up to 13 hours to complete the course. Aid stations will be set up in time to accommodate a 6am starter on a 8hr + pace. If you think there is a chance you will finish before 8 hours, you MUST start with the 8am wave!
The 8am start time is the competitive wave. These runners may run a sub 8hr finish but the course allows for 11 hours. Don't underestimate the conditions!
**Overall and age group awards will be determined on runner net time, regardless of start time! Since aid station support is not set up to accommodate sub 8hr runners on the 6am start, it is likely that the "competitive wave" will produce the overall winners. However once it gets to 8hr + finishing times, the runners will be subject to somewhat similar heat and sun exposure. No handicap due to differing start times will be applied. If awards and finishing place are important to you- please consider this in your wave start decision! No bitching allowed!
10K COURSE** 6:30am START TIME! USATF Certificate # NV08006DCR
Departing Boulder Beach you will climb 1/4 mile until you turn right onto Lakeshore Drive. You will traverse rolling terrain until your turn around at 3.1 miles. Give you bib number to the clipboard volunteer, turn around, and come on back. The left hand turn back down to Boulder Beach will treat you to a 1/4 mile downhill finish.
5K COURSE** 6:15am START TIME! USATF Certificate # NV08005DCR
Departing Boulder Beach you will climb 1/4 mile until you turn right onto Lakeshore Drive. You will traverse rolling terrain until your turn around at 1.55 miles. Give you bib number to the clipboard volunteer, turn around, and come on back. The left hand turn back down to Boulder Beach will treat you to a 1/4 mile downhill finish.