How would you train for a big time net down hill marathon?

Run down long hills. It's the only way.

Yep, downhill speedwork.

800 meter hill repeats, running both the up and downs

1 mile downhill repeats

5k downhill time trial - should be about 2 minutes faster than your 5k PR

Boom!

This^

Unless you live in an area with big elevation change. If that is the case, I'd do a lot of my MP runs on long, gradual downhills.

Also, squat at least twice a week.

Some gym treadmills have a decline mode that shows as a negative incline.

I assume your talking Canyon City in Nov. Google search reviews written to understand how to run it once youve followed the instruction above for getting your quads up to speed. The first half looks like a total knee jammer too.

Strengthen the quads... squats or leg extensions... not a ton but enough. I would argue that is more important than downhill running.

1. Long downhill repeats. A mile would be about right. Run down at your goal downhill pace. Jog back to the top. Repeat.

2. Run in a downhill shoe. I've found that some shoes are much better downhill shoes than others. I'd suggest Hoka, Skechers, or On. The rocker heel of the Hoka and Skechers shoes helps take the pounding out of downhills. The On shoes are similar with their cloud cushion on the heel. I'm not a fan of the Hoka Clifton 1 model, but it's a good downhill shoe. I wear it on my local hilly trail course and it's noticeably faster and less jarring on the downhills. I've run the same trail course downhills in my regular trail shoe and at faster paces, it's a teeth-jarring experience with every foot fall.

I don't know, personally - but I was training once for a downhill course and a man told me that if he were me, he's start logging some time on the bike - strengthen the quads, shore up the knees. I didn't do this, at the time (I wasn't riding at the time and it was winter). Anyhow... sound like you are older and maybe some cross training on the bike - esp up hills - could be a plan?

Ton of it wrote:

I am old and slow. My best times are behind me and I have done most of the other local marathons already.

Running a marathon that drops about 5000 feet mostly in the first half and looks to have nice scenery along the course would be something different.

I am not naturally a good downhill runner compared to others and running downhill usually beats up my legs more than most. Boston takes a toll on my legs. It takes me longer to recover than most to recover after Boston

So how would you train differently for a marathon course that drops a a lot in the first half and totals about 5000 feet net elevation?

I have a good base and about two months to get ready for it

Put the back of your treadmill (if you have one) up on a platform. Here's some information on that:

http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Treadmill_Descent

I haven't personally tried this yet but it seems like a reasonable approach, and this guy's site has been useful to me in the past.

Just don't run it.

Problem solved.

Well you will probably screw up your legs running downhill. Downhill is torture on your legs.

Other than that read a book and run

Do some backward walking and running uphill on your treadmill. A couple of times a week. Real steep.

the rev/canyon marathon may be the 'easiest' BQ spot in the country but its actually usually a total $hithow past mile 20

you won't be aerobically taxed but your legs will be tested. Your only hope is trail running/hill repeats imo.

I expect the standard $hitshow experience past mile 20 that happens to everyone on this course unless you go in overprepared on hills.

Since there are no courses that allow you to only run downhill, you'll have to do the 'ups' too. Work the ups and the downs, and good luck.

Basically its a pile of bodies of the un-prepared around mile 20, dead legs and cramping everywhere.

Train on the course.

I second biking. Has made me better going up and down hills.